Beautiful Tempest(60)

"A promise you can't keep? No difference a'tall."

"But already you don't hate me as much. In the Caribbean, yes, your rage was beyond containing after you found that bloody ransom note. You would have killed me then in an instant. But what you feel now is only an echo of what you felt then. Why don't you admit it?"

"You ought to stop thinking you know me when you don't. Now let me up!"

He sighed again, deeply this time. When he inhaled, his chest pressed more tightly against hers, making her nipples peak, which shot heat up her cheeks this time. But he rolled to the side of the bed and got up. She rose more slowly, propping herself up on her elbows, and then was trapped in place, watching him remove his shirt and examine the damage her nails had done. Good God, she had to stop seeing him half-naked like this. Even aware of that, she couldn't manage to look away. But finding him so blatantly masculine, so incredibly attractive, brought her anger back. It wasn't fair!

And why the devil wasn't he angry? It certainly wasn't in his tone when he merely said, "I should cut your nails."

"I'd like to see you try."

He glanced back at her with a grin. "That might be fun. But be easy. You've-mostly-been behaving, Jack. Resist being stubborn for once and keep the bed for yourself. As you can tell, it's more comfortable." He put a hand up to forestall her getting back into high dudgeon. "I meant alone. I'll use the cot."

Well, that seduction did get her the bed at least. She laughed to herself before she turned over and got comfortable. But tomorrow, one way or another, she'd see her brother.





Chapter Twenty-Nine




YOU MIGHT BE GETTING your feet wet on this ship, but if you really want a career on the sea, you'll want to sign on to a ship that's going to see more of the world."

Jacqueline had coaxed Jackie to sit with her on the quarterdeck while she ate the lunch he'd brought. She was giving Damon the cold shoulder again. She'd asked him first thing that morning to take her to her friends. This time she didn't get an answer of any sort.

She had noticed him watching her a lot more today than usual though. And while he asked her a number of questions of little import, he gave up rather quickly at trying to get a response.

"Do your family's ships sail to a lot of countries?" Jackie asked.

She smiled at the boy, but since they weren't quite alone and she didn't want Damon hearing her answer, she whispered, "Skylark Shipping is the name of their company, and yes, they have traders who sail to all parts of the world, even the mysterious Far East." Then she raised her voice to a normal level. "This ship, on the other hand, is doomed. There's no future on it for you other than a nautical education."

"How is it doomed?"

"Even if it doesn't get blown out of the water at the end of this voyage, your captain still doesn't have a long future ahead of him. I'd be surprised if he survives the year."

Jackie didn't appear frightened by her prediction that the ship was doomed. He just looked avidly curious. But he frowned at her prediction for his captain. "That isn't nice, m'lady."

Scolded by a child. She almost laughed. "D'you know why I'm here, Jack?"

"So you do still have a voice?" Damon said directly behind her.


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She ignored the pirate, wouldn't even glance back at him. But Jackie couldn't get up fast enough, grabbed Jacqueline's plate, and nearly ran down the stairs. At least she'd finished eating first, but it was surprising how the boy could be afraid of the man, yet loyal to him at the same time.

"You shouldn't fill his ears with your woes," Damon continued. "It's not as if he can quit his job and hie off in indignation on your behalf."

He didn't move away. Had he tied off the wheel? She still wouldn't look back to find out. She waited to hear if he had anything else to say, but after a few silent minutes passed she began to feel a little uneasy. But she refused to ask him what he wanted.

"I don't mind your silence, Jack. It's an improvement over what usually comes out of your mouth."

She recognized testiness when she heard it. He did mind! And his remark wasn't even true anymore. Since the day she'd gotten out of the cabin, she'd been cordial, mostly, except for last night, but definitely cordial in comparison to how she'd behaved before.

"So don't mistake my offer."

What offer? Ah, temptation to get her to talk. She wasn't falling for that. She got up and headed for the railing at the back of the ship, still without looking at him.