Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

ever he’d beheld one. “And if he doesn’t?”
    Somehow he’d leaned closer. Close enough for her breath to whisper against his cheek. He ran his hand down her neck and across her shoulder, her increased breathing making her breasts push against her gown. He clenched his jaw as desire rushed through him.
    She shivered. “There is nothing I can do about it in any case. I will have to be content with what I have.”
    Content? The delectable Miss Hester deserved much more than content. Her life should be full of passion, adventure, life. No matter what his dealings with her father, she deserved much more than mediocre. He wanted to touch her more, to run his hand across her breast and seduce her to sin. Stephen gritted his teeth and pulled back. Fought with what little there was left of him as a gentleman and not act a cad. “If ever you decide to see what life could be like with a real man, just ask me. I’m more than willing to show you.”
    The words left his mouth before he could stop them. Around this woman, he lost all sense of control and decorum. Her eyes flared before a blush stole over her cheeks. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary. In any case, do you not have a woman at some port, just lying about waiting for her pirate captain to ravish her?”
    “Ravish? You do hold me in high regard.” Sarcasm laced his tone. He liked a good tumble as well as any other, but he never ravished women. Where was the fun in that? Should a woman lay with him, he liked to receive as well as give pleasure. There was nothing he wanted more than a willing participant in bed sport. “Perhaps you ought to have a taste of my abilities. I promise I won’t bite. Much.”
    For the first time he pulled a grin from her lips and it dazzled him silent. He hadn’t thought Miss Hester could get any more handsome. How wrong was he?
    “Thank you, but no. I’m sure my future husband will do quite well enough. And you never answered my question.”
    “What question was that?” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. The thought of Lord Montague doing any woman justice in bed laughable. From what he’d heard of the fortune hunting popinjay, his tastes leaned more toward his own sex than those of the female kind.
    “Is there a special woman in your life? Are you married or have you been?” Was that a tinge of interest in her query?
    “You do ask a lot of questions for a captive woman. Why would you think I would answer them in the first place?” Stephen asked, enjoying the banter between them. For the first time since he’d thrown her delectable derriere over his shoulder, she was speaking to him in a relative normal manner.
    “I suppose you don’t have to. I was just curious about your life. It’s a trait my father has tried to cure me of, but with little success. I am what I am.”
    Stephen caressed a curl that had fallen over her shoulder. Never in his life had he wanted to kiss a woman so much. She watched him, the question in her eyes asking if he would act on his desires or not. “There is nothing wrong with who you are.”
    “I don’t believe you know me well enough to make such a claim.” She pushed his hand away. “Now, if you don’t mind I’d like to go to bed.”
    Stephen stood and held out his hand to assist her up. She stared at him a moment before allowing him to help. Her fingers were cool to the touch and so much smaller than his. “I think it’s time for you to commence the task I asked of you when you first arrived.”
    “What task was that?” She stopped near the bed just as she reached for the covers.
    “To help me dress and undress. I require your assistance morning and night.” He grinned at the disdain that bled into her features.
    “The hell I will. Undress yourself and somewhere else. You’re not sleeping in here.”
    He walked over to her and tipped up her chin. Her lips opened on a gasp or invitation he wasn’t sure. And as much as he wanted to take her, taste