Her Pirate to Love: A Sam Steele Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

associated to the land she’d been born to.
    When Roche had come at her with the knife she’d feared not only for her life and that of her child, but also that she’d never have the chance to get back to Ireland.
    Thanks to Steele having killed Roche, it was once again a possibility. After a dozen years as an indentured servant and another five months as Roche’s prisoner, she finally had a chance to be master of her own fate. Neither she nor her child would be anyone’s slave ever again. She was Grace Mary Sullivan from Ireland and as soon as she earned passage she’d find her way home. Then, finally, she’d feel whole again.
    Just then the hatch to the cabin banged opened and a man came rushing down the ladder. All thoughts of Ireland scattered. With every beating and degrading touch Roche had inflicted upon her racing through her mind, Grace shot her hand under her pillow. She grabbed the dagger she’d found in the captain’s trunk the moment Jacques had left her, kicked the covers free, and leapt from the bed.
    Sharp claws of pain speared her side as she lurched for the table.
    “Damnation, woman!” He cursed.
    The fury behind Steele’s voice did little to alleviate Grace’s fear. Only once the table was solidly between them did she look at him.
    Where earlier his face had been unreadable, it was now glaringly obvious just what he was feeling. Anger. Shock. Disbelief. And then it hit her. Jacques. She’d asked for the doctor; Steele must have asked the man why she’d wanted him. Sweet Mary, what would he do now?
    Her knife wouldn’t hold against his pistol. More, she only had to look at the breadth of his shoulders to know, even unarmed, he could best her. It didn’t mean, however, she was going to make it easy for him.
    Though he remained near the ladder and hadn’t given chase, Grace nonetheless warned him to stay back. Then, to show she was willing to go down fighting, she pointed the blade at him. Her sutures stretched with the movement and she winced.
    “Dammit, you’re going to hurt yourself further.”
    “Stay where you are!” She barked when he took a step.
    “I’m not going to hurt you,” he growled, though his tone implied he was capable of it. “As it happens, you’re likely doing a fine job of it all on your own. I only want you to get back in bed.”
    “Oh, aye, I’m sure you do.” Grace shrieked as he charged toward her and, before she could jab at him, he clasped her wrist within his large hand.
    “Drop it.”
    Overpowered or not, she wouldn’t yield. “No.”
    “Oh, for the—” He dug his fingers into her flesh until she yelped and dropped the weapon. It clattered to the table.
    Then, in a move that was surprisingly gentle, he took her arm and guided her around the table. The minute she was laying on the berth he ordered, “You try something like that again and I’ll shackle you to the bed.”
    He wouldn’t be the first. She couldn’t keep the bitter thought at bay.
    He eased the blanket over her, ensuring it covered her modestly. His piercing gaze clutched hers. “How many times do I have to tell you I won’t hurt you?”
    “You’re a pirate, are you not? Pirates don’t care for anyone except themselves.”
    Shadows of pain clouded his eyes. She didn’t believe for a moment she’d actually hurt his feelings, but he had saved her life and he hadn’t beaten her for having a knife. His first concern had truly seemed to be for her health. Had it been Roche…
    She swallowed the lingering fear that had engulfed her when she’d seen his fury. “I wasn’t going to let you hurt me.”
    He ran a hand over his beard. “I’m sorry if I scared you but I’ve just come from talking to Jacques.”
    Grace wiped her palms on the covers. Would knowing of the child change his mind about taking her to Santo Domingo? Taking her anywhere?
    “Is it true?”
    “Aye,” she answered.
    “The man who stabbed you? Did he know about the child?” His tone was sharp as the knife