Once a Pirate Read Online Free PDF Page B

wasn’t aching to shake sense into her daft little head, he was dying to kiss her soundly. “I can hardly wait to dump the infuriating wench in Richard’s lap.”
    His steward, cabin boy, and first mate frowned at him.
    Damnation.
“Is this mutiny, then?”
    Their expressions remained unchanged.
    Andrew held up his hands in surrender. “Fetch some biscuits and salted beef from Willoughby and feed the woman, then.” Eyes narrowed, he glared at each man in turn. “However, do not forget that she is our cargo.
Cargo,
gentlemen. With no more rights than the crates of oranges belowdecks. Do I have your complete understanding?”
    “Aye-aye,” the men chorused, aiming three crisp salutes in his direction. “Cargo.”
    Carly shoved aside the curtains covering the large window that faced the stern. A long, lonely ribbon of foam unfurled to the horizon, a horizon empty of ships . . . below an equally empty sky. She filled her lungs with sea air scented with wood smoke, exhaling with a groan. Nothing in her training had prepared her for this.
    Instinct told her this was no ordinary imprisonment. It smacked of something personal, as though she’d stumbled into the middle of a long and bitter feud.
    Between Andrew and someone else.
Not
her.
    Gibbons trudged through the open door into the cabin and set a tray on the bedside table. “Milady, the cap’n wants you to eat.”
    At the sight of the biscuits and dried meat, her stomach clenched with hunger. “Nice of him not to starve me.”
    “That wasn’t his intent.”
    She snorted. “Right.” Anchoring a strip of jerky with her teeth, she tore off a piece and chewed angrily. It tasted as though it had come close to spoiling but had been rescued in time by a heavy dose of salt. Regardless, she was too hungry to question the origins of her first meal in twenty-four hours.
    She perched stiffly on the edge of the bed and took another bite. Gibbons watched her, his expression pleasant. A cutlass hung from a leather strap worn over his blue-and-white-striped shirt. Wide-legged canvas trousers covered his boots.
    “Question for you, Mr. Gibbons.”
    He nodded.
    She cleared her throat. “Are you guys . . . pirates?”
    “Aye, that’s the way of it, milady.”
    She nearly choked. She’d been hoping for some other answer.
Any
other answer.
    The big man’s good eye gleamed. “Cap’n snatched the
Phoenix
from under their very noses. They’ve been chasing him for three years.”
    “Who has?”
    “Why, the Royal Navy.”
    A groan escaped her. Of all the ships in the Atlantic, she’d hitched a ride on a stolen maritime museum. “Tell Adonis that people are looking for me, and the first port I see, I’m swimming.”
    Gibbons chuckled. “Is that what you call the cap’n?”
    Oops, she thought, shrugging. Shouldn’t have let that slip.
    “Adonis? Have I heard correctly?” asked an all-too-familiar deep voice.

Chapter Three
    Delight curled Andrew’s expressive mouth. “Adonis. I rather like the sound of it. Shall I call you Aphrodite, then?” His gaze drifted over her body. “The goddess of love and beauty?”
    To her dismay, her cheeks warmed. “Go to hell.”
    “Already been there.” He swaggered toward her.
    She scooted backward off the bed. A mistake, for now her back was to the wall. “I’m not Lady Amanda.”
    He simply sighed.
    “I overheard you say she was dark-haired. See this?” She lifted her waist-length braid. “Exhibit A. And listen to my accent. Do I sound British?”
    “I fear not, milady.” The corners of his mouth twitched as he walked to where she stood. “You were raised in America. Virginia, I believe.”
    “But you said my family was British. They would have spoken the Queen’s English, right?”
    “The King’s English, I trust you mean.”
    “Whatever.”
    “Perhaps the lack of nourishment has aggravated your head wound.” He took another step forward. She took another step back. “I pray your abilities will return as you heal.