Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“You’re awake.”
His heart hammered, then immediately calmed as his eyes found her. She was washed and wearing one of his black dress shirts. Her hair was twisted into a sexy little bun on top of her head.
“You had a bath?”
“Gideon—I mean, Gentleman Starr—came by to ask if we needed anything. I hope you don’t mind. I asked for the bath and for them to send up supper.”
“Supper?” He looked at the port window, shocked that it was nearly dusk. How had he slept through all of that?
“There’s a hot kettle by the fire and fresh water in the tub for you. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to eat first.”
He glanced at the tub. Tendrils of steam rose into the air. He thought of all the years he’d plunged into frigid water at the orphanage, stunned that she would do something so thoughtful as to keep the water for his bath warm.
“Thank you.”
She smiled and stumbled over a bashful, “Y-you’re welcome.” Blushing, she averted her gaze and wrung her folded hands. “So, which will it be, food or a bath first?”
At the moment, he wanted to devour her, but he wasn’t sure he could eat with this lump trapped in his throat. “Bath, I think.”
“Perfect.” She set a folded towel over the ledge of the tub and sat on a short stool. “Come on then.”
He had the strangest sensation he was being set up. Scanning the room, he looked for signs of trouble. Not only were there no signals of danger, it looked as though she’d been busy. His quarters were spotless.
“Did you tidy up?”
“A little. I was bored.” And now she was being shy.
Climbing out of the bed, he stretched and stilled when her eyes widened. She quickly looked down as her blush darkened.
“No point in modesty, now, darling. I’ve been inside of you every possible way a man can.”
She kept her gaze averted, but he spotted the twitch of a smile. As he stepped into the tub, he caught her taking a peek at him.
“Look your fill. I have no shame.”
Her breath hitched, and he chuckled, sliding into the water and removing his body from view. He liked having her eyes on him more than he should.
“What do you see when you look at me?”
Her gaze jumped to his. “Authority. Strength. Power.”
“Scars?”
Her head tilted. “Yes. But also beauty.”
That was enough of that. He eased back and closed his eyes.
“Is the water warm enough?”
The heat was divine. “Yes.”
“Good.” She reached over his shoulder, and he caught her wrist faster than a croc snaps up its prey. She held a washcloth in her hand. “I was only going to wet the cloth.”
“Why?”
“So I could wash your back.”
No one had ever bathed him that he could remember. He was a grown man. He could wash himself. But still, he released her to see if she actually would.
As she dragged that cloth over his chest, he discovered new levels of pleasure. Never before had bathing been more than a necessity. She transformed it into something luxurious and sinful. Shutting his eyes, he leaned back and rested his arms on the ledge, allowing her to carry on.
“Are you sore?”
Her hand stilled, and he took that as confirmation. “I was. Soaking in the bath helped.”
“I shouldn’t have been so rough with you—at least not for your first time.”
“I didn’t mind.”
He glanced back at her. “You don’t have to say that.”
“But I’m fine. There’s just a satisfying ache where you’ve been. It’s nothing I can’t live with.”
He lifted a brow. “Satisfying?”
She blushed again. “Yes, very.”
His cock hardened under the water. “The ache will ease in time.”
“Not if you have me again before it fades.”
Was she truly offering herself? Or was this another game?
She bit her lip in that sexy way she often did. “What are you thinking?”
Her shoulder lifted in a delicate shrug. “That you were right—about all of it.”
“What do you mean?”
He watched her struggle to put her feelings into words. He suspected she knew what she wanted to say, but some part of her still feared the sky would fall if she said it out loud. Her gaze lowered, and she licked her lips. “The more I surrendered control, the freer I became.”
She was either telling the truth, or he was a damn fool because he felt her sincerity in his gut. She was being honest. She liked his depraved darkness.
“You’re a dangerous woman, Wendy Moira Angela Darling.”
Looking through her lashes, she gave him a half grin. “Maybe I’m a pirate at heart.”
She’d certainly stolen more than he’d willingly given. “Perhaps you are. But such a charming name would never work on a pirate. We’ll have to think up something a little more threatening.”
Her grin stretched. “Like what? Red-Handed Wendy?”
He thought of how she’d stolen his knife. “We’ll call you Red-Handed Jill.”
Her smile faltered. “Why Jill?”