Fiery Pursuit (Passionate Pursuits, Book One) Read Online Free PDF Page B

scratchy thwab. Most of Arabian garments are soft, but I guess I picked one made for slaves when I visited the market in a hurry. One of our deck hands is a youngster I’m trying to train, and I’ve got him washing out some of his things for you. Until they’re dry, this will offer some protection for your skin.”
    Her smile as she accepted the soft shirt made his unruly cock twitch again. She evidently didn’t find it strange he seemed to know her skin was unusually sensitive.
    “Oh that feels so good. It will be heaven to have something soft to wear. Every garment they gave me in Constantinople was soft, actually, but so, so suggestive. I appreciate something that’s not meant to be too revealing. Thank you once again. You’re such a wonderful man.”
    Her admiring look almost cast him into gloom. He didn’t want admiration from her. Well, he desired it, but only as an adjunct to something much deeper and richer. Startled, he realized he’d like more from this one girl than he’d ever even contemplated with another. And she wasn’t ready. With her sad experiences, he wondered if she would ever trust a male again.
    “Your yacht is luxurious. I’m sorry I didn’t see the name when we boarded. I fear I wasn’t myself. Does it have a name?”
    “Of course. Angelina . Because she handles like an angel.”
    She smiled at him and then looked down at the hands twisting in her lap. With a hesitant air, she started to speak again. “I have much I want to talk to you about, but could you step outside for a moment? I can’t wait to get this soft shirt on.”
    Lars smiled at her as warmly as he could. If he dwelled on the image of her stripping down to her skin and putting on his shirt he’d get so stiff he wouldn’t be able to walk. He turned and left the cabin, leaning against the wall outside while he waited to be called back in. The moment she said she was ready he returned. She stood smiling in front of him, his shirt reaching below her hips, her shapely legs bare.
    He prayed he could keep her eyes on his face, instead of between his legs.
    She took his hand and kissed it. “Oh this shirt feels so good. I couldn’t bear to put on that scratchy robe. This is more covering than I had as a slave. You are wonderful, Lars.”
    “I’m glad you’re pleased, Sophia. But we’ve got to find you something warmer before you go on deck. We’re nearing the passage from the sea to the ocean and it’s getting colder.”
    He didn’t mention his men would riot to see who could get to her first if she appeared as she was. Fortunately the waters of the Atlantic would be colder as they rounded from the waters of the Mediterranean into the ocean so he had a legitimate excuse to cover her more than she was.
    She looked up at him, her eyes anxious and yet hopeful.
    “I so long for fresh air. Your cabin is luxurious, sir, but I feel a little confined.”
    “Lars,” he corrected automatically, even as he thought. He had a sinking feeling that even the deck boy’s garments wouldn’t do much to diminish her unstudied sexual appeal.
    “I can think of only one solution. If we wrap a blanket securely around you we could possibly keep you warm and still shield you from unwanted appreciation. My men are handpicked and trustworthy, but you, my dear, are quite strikingly beautiful.”
    Sophia turned a lovely shade of rose. “No one has ever told me that.”
    Dammit, she even blushed more seductively than any female he’d seen.
    His astonishment was unfeigned. “I believe you, but it’s hard to understand. You truly are lovely.”
    Her color didn’t fade, but she faced him squarely. “I haven’t been out in public too often, Lars. I helped my father as much as I could, and went to the mathematics meetings in case he needed me there, but I stayed in the background. His reputation was of prime importance to me.” She flashed a sudden smile. “I’ll put your remarks down to poor eyesight or poor judgment, if you wish, but I