deck, her body still imprinted upon his mind. Her fiery, azure eyes challenged and seduced. If she didn’t soon behave and dress as a proper woman, she would find herself on her back beneath him.
That was what he wanted to do, but he wouldn’t. He was betrothed to another woman, and he would not betray her. After he rescued his brother, his future was planned, and he wouldn’t deviate from the promise.
He couldn’t.
Morgan strode to the quarterdeck and surveyed the orderly brig and the efficient work of the men. Everything was as it should be. No one demanded they be assigned elsewhere, no mess, no clutter. He stared out over the blue sea—the same color as her eyes when she was angry—surrounding the Sea Dragon as far as the eye could see.
What was he going to do with her?
He scratched his neck. He wouldn’t slap a female in irons, and he couldn’t lock her in his cabin. Pursing his lips, he shook his head. He couldn’t believe she had thrown the key in the ocean.
Morgan crossed the deck to where Grimes sat, leaning against a chest with canvas piled beside him, and hunched down next to the old seaman. “I want to inspect the sail Arianna sewed.”
“Arianna? You mean the lad was a lady? I know my eyes are failing me, but I could have sworn she wore a shirt and pants.”
“She did. She is a very unusual woman with unusual ideas. She wants to sign on the Sea Dragon .”
Grimes raised a bushy, white brow. “I have met a few women in my day who rebelled against their lot in life, but she is young and will learn her place. When she marries and her husband puts a babe in her belly, she will settle down. I say let ’er try. She’ll find out soon enough she’s not suited to the life. You’ll be doin’ her a service.” He held up a sample of her work. “But she can sew. Of course, women are taught at an early age.”
Morgan examined the neat, tight stitches and then handed it back. He had thought to have her work with Grimes, but the old seaman had given him a different plan. If he assigned her chores that were boring or taxed her ability, she might soon abandon her crazy notion.
“Thank you, Grimes. I may take your advice.” He rose and brushed his hands against his pants.
Had he allowed sufficient time for her to change and return his cabin to its former condition? He pictured her shapely, round rear in those pants, and blood rushed to his nether regions. He didn’t want to be alone with her again, but he had no choice.
Mark crossed the deck in front of him, and suddenly another option took root in his mind. He called his cabin boy to him. “Escort Arianna to the quarterdeck.”
“Arianna?” he asked with a frown.
“The woman in my cabin.”
Alarm and excitement crossed Mark’s face. Did she have the same effect on him?
“Aye, Cap’n.”
Mark hurried off but with an uncertainty in his step. Morgan felt for the boy. He remembered being his age and the sensations that clamored and fought within him when a pretty girl walked by or hovered near. He grimaced. Similar to what he felt now. And he didn’t like it.
****
“He’s a high-handed, authoritative, demanding brute,” Arianna muttered as the door slammed in Captain Danvers’s wake.
She refused to stay in this room for the entire trip. Arianna strode to the window and gazed out at the sea. The shining sun caused ripples of diamonds to sparkle across the surface. She yearned to inhale the fresh air and feel her muscles increasing in strength and ability as she fended for herself. It must be a marvelous feeling to wear pants that didn’t restrict your movements as your natural attire, to go wherever you wanted whenever you desired, and never have to answer to another person for your actions. She stared at the package in her hand. Maybe if she acquiesced to his wishes and used her feminine charms on him, he would grant her request.
Never. He was mean-spirited and always angry, although when he gazed into her eyes, she tingled with
That was what he wanted to do, but he wouldn’t. He was betrothed to another woman, and he would not betray her. After he rescued his brother, his future was planned, and he wouldn’t deviate from the promise.
He couldn’t.
Morgan strode to the quarterdeck and surveyed the orderly brig and the efficient work of the men. Everything was as it should be. No one demanded they be assigned elsewhere, no mess, no clutter. He stared out over the blue sea—the same color as her eyes when she was angry—surrounding the Sea Dragon as far as the eye could see.
What was he going to do with her?
He scratched his neck. He wouldn’t slap a female in irons, and he couldn’t lock her in his cabin. Pursing his lips, he shook his head. He couldn’t believe she had thrown the key in the ocean.
Morgan crossed the deck to where Grimes sat, leaning against a chest with canvas piled beside him, and hunched down next to the old seaman. “I want to inspect the sail Arianna sewed.”
“Arianna? You mean the lad was a lady? I know my eyes are failing me, but I could have sworn she wore a shirt and pants.”
“She did. She is a very unusual woman with unusual ideas. She wants to sign on the Sea Dragon .”
Grimes raised a bushy, white brow. “I have met a few women in my day who rebelled against their lot in life, but she is young and will learn her place. When she marries and her husband puts a babe in her belly, she will settle down. I say let ’er try. She’ll find out soon enough she’s not suited to the life. You’ll be doin’ her a service.” He held up a sample of her work. “But she can sew. Of course, women are taught at an early age.”
Morgan examined the neat, tight stitches and then handed it back. He had thought to have her work with Grimes, but the old seaman had given him a different plan. If he assigned her chores that were boring or taxed her ability, she might soon abandon her crazy notion.
“Thank you, Grimes. I may take your advice.” He rose and brushed his hands against his pants.
Had he allowed sufficient time for her to change and return his cabin to its former condition? He pictured her shapely, round rear in those pants, and blood rushed to his nether regions. He didn’t want to be alone with her again, but he had no choice.
Mark crossed the deck in front of him, and suddenly another option took root in his mind. He called his cabin boy to him. “Escort Arianna to the quarterdeck.”
“Arianna?” he asked with a frown.
“The woman in my cabin.”
Alarm and excitement crossed Mark’s face. Did she have the same effect on him?
“Aye, Cap’n.”
Mark hurried off but with an uncertainty in his step. Morgan felt for the boy. He remembered being his age and the sensations that clamored and fought within him when a pretty girl walked by or hovered near. He grimaced. Similar to what he felt now. And he didn’t like it.
****
“He’s a high-handed, authoritative, demanding brute,” Arianna muttered as the door slammed in Captain Danvers’s wake.
She refused to stay in this room for the entire trip. Arianna strode to the window and gazed out at the sea. The shining sun caused ripples of diamonds to sparkle across the surface. She yearned to inhale the fresh air and feel her muscles increasing in strength and ability as she fended for herself. It must be a marvelous feeling to wear pants that didn’t restrict your movements as your natural attire, to go wherever you wanted whenever you desired, and never have to answer to another person for your actions. She stared at the package in her hand. Maybe if she acquiesced to his wishes and used her feminine charms on him, he would grant her request.
Never. He was mean-spirited and always angry, although when he gazed into her eyes, she tingled with