Open Waters Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Valerie Mores
was foolish to challenge. She had never lost one, not yet, and she damn well didn't plan to start now.
There was a moment, just a moment where Jane was sure he was going to continue on and do something rash all in the name of defiance. But then he relaxed, shoving Cecily away from him with a shrug and a flippant gesture, as though he couldn't care less about some whore. Like she wasn't worth it. Just that gesture alone almost caused Jane to run him through right then and there, damn the consequences.
"Take her to my quarters," she ordered Worth, without taking her eyes off of Cooksley. When Worth, with Cecily now safely in his grasp, had been swallowed up in the throng of crew, Jane relaxed her stance and sheathed her sword. She looked about, glaring at her men with all the authority she could muster. "As for the rest of you, this woman is not to be harmed in anyway whilst aboard this ship. Is that understood?"
Nods and "ayes" sounded in answer from the men before her, but she took note that Cooksley did neither and his features remained coolly detached. He was going to continue to be a problem, she could tell. "If any of you so much as touch her, you will be taking a little trip down to Davy Jones for a permanent stay."
And without waiting for any other replies or protests, Jane strode toward her quarters, the line of crew parting respectfully to let her pass.
As she approached, Worth exited the quarters, his face neutral, despite the strange way his captain was acting. Or at least she assumed he thought it strange. She certainly did and she was the one who was acting as such. Frankly, it scared her.
"Order the men to disengage from the Liberty and set sail for the island immediately," Jane ordered in a tone perhaps a little too harsh for talking to the first mate who had shown her no ill will. "I want to unload this lot before the Navy even realizes one of her ships has disappeared."
"Aye, Captain," Worth answered with a nod before looking over at the slowly-sinking galleon. His brow was furrowed and she could tell he was contemplating something, but was hesitant to speak.
She sighed, pausing to turn and face him. "What is it, Worth? Spit it out."
His light azure eyes found hers as he crossed his arms over his chest and jerked his head toward her quarters. "What do you plan to do with her?" Jane noticed he failed to add her title, but it bothered her little.
She was more focused on finding an answer to his question, for she hadn't the slightest idea. She had acted on instinct: an instinct that hadn't arisen in her in years. An instinct she had thought she had gotten over and moved past so she could live, breathe, and not have to deal with loss, pain, and heartache. Clearly, that wasn't the case. There was something about Cecily, something that sparked a… feeling—no, that wasn't it. She really couldn't place it, to be honest. But it was there, and it made her act in ways she normally wouldn't have.
But she needed to tell Worth something, needed to assure him that his Captain was still here and still in her right mind, even if she felt far from it.
"I plan to drop her off at the next port and be done with her. But I refuse to listen to the men fight over her until that can be done," she stated, hoping it came off nonchalant.
Worth stared at her for a second longer, his eyes searching her for who knew what. She kept her face impassive and her body relaxed, slipping back into her arrogant persona with ease. And Worth seemed to accept it, for with another nod, he turned and started relaying her orders to the men.
Jane stared after him, wondering what sort of gossip she may have just incited before deciding she didn't much care and strode into her chambers, closing the door behind her.
*~*~*
"So, ya are the Captain?" a silky voice drawled from the depths of her quarters. Jane turned around, unbuttoning her coat, expecting to find Cecily standing in the center, awaiting her. But the whore was not there, and Jane
There was a moment, just a moment where Jane was sure he was going to continue on and do something rash all in the name of defiance. But then he relaxed, shoving Cecily away from him with a shrug and a flippant gesture, as though he couldn't care less about some whore. Like she wasn't worth it. Just that gesture alone almost caused Jane to run him through right then and there, damn the consequences.
"Take her to my quarters," she ordered Worth, without taking her eyes off of Cooksley. When Worth, with Cecily now safely in his grasp, had been swallowed up in the throng of crew, Jane relaxed her stance and sheathed her sword. She looked about, glaring at her men with all the authority she could muster. "As for the rest of you, this woman is not to be harmed in anyway whilst aboard this ship. Is that understood?"
Nods and "ayes" sounded in answer from the men before her, but she took note that Cooksley did neither and his features remained coolly detached. He was going to continue to be a problem, she could tell. "If any of you so much as touch her, you will be taking a little trip down to Davy Jones for a permanent stay."
And without waiting for any other replies or protests, Jane strode toward her quarters, the line of crew parting respectfully to let her pass.
As she approached, Worth exited the quarters, his face neutral, despite the strange way his captain was acting. Or at least she assumed he thought it strange. She certainly did and she was the one who was acting as such. Frankly, it scared her.
"Order the men to disengage from the Liberty and set sail for the island immediately," Jane ordered in a tone perhaps a little too harsh for talking to the first mate who had shown her no ill will. "I want to unload this lot before the Navy even realizes one of her ships has disappeared."
"Aye, Captain," Worth answered with a nod before looking over at the slowly-sinking galleon. His brow was furrowed and she could tell he was contemplating something, but was hesitant to speak.
She sighed, pausing to turn and face him. "What is it, Worth? Spit it out."
His light azure eyes found hers as he crossed his arms over his chest and jerked his head toward her quarters. "What do you plan to do with her?" Jane noticed he failed to add her title, but it bothered her little.
She was more focused on finding an answer to his question, for she hadn't the slightest idea. She had acted on instinct: an instinct that hadn't arisen in her in years. An instinct she had thought she had gotten over and moved past so she could live, breathe, and not have to deal with loss, pain, and heartache. Clearly, that wasn't the case. There was something about Cecily, something that sparked a… feeling—no, that wasn't it. She really couldn't place it, to be honest. But it was there, and it made her act in ways she normally wouldn't have.
But she needed to tell Worth something, needed to assure him that his Captain was still here and still in her right mind, even if she felt far from it.
"I plan to drop her off at the next port and be done with her. But I refuse to listen to the men fight over her until that can be done," she stated, hoping it came off nonchalant.
Worth stared at her for a second longer, his eyes searching her for who knew what. She kept her face impassive and her body relaxed, slipping back into her arrogant persona with ease. And Worth seemed to accept it, for with another nod, he turned and started relaying her orders to the men.
Jane stared after him, wondering what sort of gossip she may have just incited before deciding she didn't much care and strode into her chambers, closing the door behind her.
*~*~*
"So, ya are the Captain?" a silky voice drawled from the depths of her quarters. Jane turned around, unbuttoning her coat, expecting to find Cecily standing in the center, awaiting her. But the whore was not there, and Jane
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