The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) Read Online Free PDF Page A

weapon you have hidden about yourselves,” Azara stated. “And do not encourage any of them, not by a glance or word. Do you understand me?”
    “Yes, princess ,” they answered, all save Hestia, who met her gaze mutinously.
    “My task is to spy for your father. I cannot do that unless I go among the men,” she stated adamantly.
    “Then go at your own risk,” Azara snapped and turned away. She didn’t like the girl and counted Hasna’s advice not to trust the woman as valid. A deep weariness passed through Azara.
    “Send them away,” she told Oma. “See that they’re well settled.”
    Oma bowed slightly and shooed the chattering women from the room. Alone, Azara looked over her surroundings and found it to her liking. There were books and charts on the massive desk that took up one end of the large quarters. She looked through them, marveling that man could make his way over the oceans of the world by looking at the stars. There was much she had not learned in her father’s palace. She felt a surge of excitement for her present predicament. She’d longed for an adventure and now she was caught up in one, involving a handsome pirate prince.
    She felt little fear. She sensed he would take care of her and her servants and none of the atrocities of which her women had spoken would occur. He seemed a gentle man in spite of his barbaric calling. Could she really blame him, given his throne was taken from him and he was, no doubt, in danger of losing his head? She pushed the thought away.
    “Do not pity them,” Hasna had advised. “If you do so, you will entangle your heart and no longer be in control.”
    So be it. No pity for deposed rulers and their hapless plight.
    At the thought of Hasna, a memory of all the shocking secrets the courtesan had taught her heated Azara’s cheeks. She’d been surprised, no, amazed at the variety of sexual intimacy. The positions alone had made her laugh, but Hasna had remonstrated her. A man liked variety, and she must be prepared to do all she could. Still, the thought of nearly standing on her head and bending in such outrageous positions caused her to giggle behind her hand until even Hasna had smiled and admitted some of them were ridiculous and nearly impossible for the human body.
    Azara had a sudden image of Rajak maintaining some of those positions with his strong, slim body and her body pulsed with a sudden need she’d never experienced before. Hasna had told of these feelings, but Azara had not understood.
    “Do not worry about it now, little princess,” Hasna had said. “One day, if you are very lucky, you will know a man and he will make you feel these things.”
    The words rang in Azara’s head so she came to a sudden halt in her pacing, her eyes widening, her lips forming a perfect round of consternation. Not Rajak, she thought. He was not to be her husband. Mohan was, and she should feel this way only toward him. But Mohan was not here, Rajak was, and she had to depend on him for her protection. She must put aside whatever attraction she felt for him. To act on these feelings would brand her an adulterous woman, and she could be put to death. She must heed all of Hasna’s warnings and protect herself.
    * * * *
    Azara spent the following days in the cabin, not even going above deck when her women went to get air and exercise. During her days, she was able to control herself and her thoughts of Rajak, but at night, her dreams of him were vivid, causing her to writhe on her bed and awake flushed with her throbbing muscles clenched in a paroxysm of ecstasy that embarrassed her and made her long for more. She wondered what it’d be like to reach such heights of pleasure in Rajak’s arms. Hasna’s words came back to her. A woman should not concentrate on her own pleasures but those of the man. Only in that way could she control the relationship between herself and her husband.
    She thought of Mohan. That is the man she must concentrate on, she scolded herself,