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

him with his emotions so nakedly revealed, he turned away and shouted at his men, but his loins ached with a white heat that wouldn’t be tamped down. More than ever, he longed for port when he might put more distance between him and his prisoner. Or was that what he really wanted to do? He’d told her he would take her as his own, but he hadn’t meant it. Or had he? He thought of the past months when the image of her nude body had flooded his dreams and nagged his every waking hour. She’d awakened a need within him that no other woman could fulfill. And he had tried many women.
    “Pah!” he exclaimed and stalked away.
    She was just another beautiful woman. She possessed no special powers over him, only those ties that he allowed her, and he could easily cut them.
    Still, standing in the prow of the ship with the soft, evening light dancing off the waves, he saw her face illuminated in his mind’s eye and knew he must possess her. When he’d taken her prisoner, he’d thought she was just one more of his brother’s possessions, which he would take and hold as ransom as he fought for the return of his throne. Now a thought came to him. She was not Mohan’s betrothed. His brother had never been informed of the outcome. When Rajak had returned to India, he’d found his father dead and his brother sitting on the throne. Rajak had had to flee for his life so there was no exchange of information.
    Azara was his. He had taken her and she belonged to him. He would claim his prize this very night. He summoned one of his men and sent a message to the princess, asking that she join him for super in his cabin then crossed to the outdoor shower facilities and washed himself. In his cabin, he dressed in his best clothes, ordered a meal suitable for a princess then sat down to wait. Impatiently, he waited well beyond the appointed hour and when she didn’t appear, he sent a note to her room requesting her presence immediately. Soon, a gentle knock sounded at the door.
    “Enter,” Rajak said imperiously, annoyed that she’d kept him waiting. The door opened and Oma stood bowing in the entrance.
    “Princess Azara declines your invitation,” Oma said without meeting his gaze.
    “What do you mean she declines my invitation?” Rajak demanded. “Go tell your princess it wasn’t an invitation, rather a summons and I wish her to join me, at once.”
    Oma was silent for a long time as if warring within herself.
    “She will not come,” she finally said. “She has already retired for the night.”
    The sheer impudence of her actions left Rajak furious. Did she think because he no longer claimed his throne that he was to be dismissed in such a disdainful manner? Heat stained his neck, and he gritted his teeth as he brushed past the serving woman. Oma scurried out of his way, her eyes wide and frightened looking. Rajak took no time to notice her further. He stalked down the deck to the cabin that held Azara and, without a knock, threw the door open and entered. Women in various stages of undress screamed and scurried to cover themselves.
    “Where is she?” he demanded.
    With trembling fingers, they pointed to a silk screen, which had been erected at the other end of the room. Rajak tore aside the silk panels and stomped to the bed where Azara lay. At once, she sat up and glared at him.
    “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded.
    “Madam, I have summoned you to my cabin and you have chosen not to come, thus I have come to you.” Rajak glared at her, forcing himself to ignore her beauty.
    “Leave my room immediately,” she said, delicate nostrils flaring, eyes dark with outrage.
    “I intend to do just that,” he declared and before she could react, he bent over and gathered her in his arms.
    She shrieked and struggled, nearly slipping out of his grasp, so he slung her over his shoulder, swatted her on her soft rounded behind and walked toward the door. Amid squeals and much fluttering of hands, her serving maids