The Rogue Pirate’s Bride Read Online Free PDF

he felt her give. The tension drained out of the wrists he was holding until they went slack in his grip. Her mouth yielded to his, her lips becoming full and lush under his. But when her tongue joined with his, he almost jumped away.
    A zing of pleasure raced through him, the strength of which caught him off guard. He tightened the reins of his control, reminding himself that he was taming her . But then she let out a soft sigh, arched, her hips against him, and stroked his tongue expertly. Suddenly, he couldn’t get enough. His blood was drumming in his ears, and his body felt tight as a sail in a storm.
    He released her wrists and fisted his hands in her hair. It was thick and luxurious. He used it to tilt her head upward to give him better access. He wanted to explore her mouth fully, explore her fully. If he could just pull away from her mouth long enough, he could have her naked and under him on the berth. If he could…
    Three hard raps on the cabin door echoed through the room, and Bastien jerked away from the girl like a man struck by lightning.
    “Cap’n, come to let you know the cargo is loaded. We ready to sail.”
    Cargo? It took a moment for his mind to clear, a moment before he recognized Ridley’s voice and made sense of the words.
    “Cap’n?”
    He made the mistake of looking down, saw the cabin girl beneath him. Her mouth was red and swollen, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes still flashed that same hatred. What the hell had just happened?
    There was another rap at the door, and Bastien jumped up. “I’m coming, Mr. Ridley.” He strode to the door, took a moment to right his clothing and sweep his loosened hair back out of his face. He put a hand on the knob and, without turning toward her, murmured, “You might want to get up off the floor.”
    He opened the door and nodded at Ridley. “Good work. Ready the ship to sail. I’ll be on deck in a moment to supervise the last preparations.”
    “Yes, Cap’n.” To his credit, Ridley’s eyes never left Bastien’s face, apparently seeing nothing. And still, Bastien had the feeling Ridley saw everything.
    Bastien closed the door and turned back to the cabin girl. She was standing on the far side of the room, looking cool and composed. “I’d say I won that wager,” he drawled.
    “You would think so.”
    He opened his mouth to retort and shut it again. He didn’t have time to exchange verbal ripostes with her. Not to mention he couldn’t seem to focus. She had done something to him with that kiss. Bewitched him somehow. Between the first touch of their lips and that last fervent joining, the kiss had become less about her emptying his chamber pot and more about taking her to bed.
    But he was still the captain of this vessel, and she was under his command. She would do his bidding.
    “Empty the chamber pot,” he commanded. She raised a brow, and he added, “And tidy the cabin.” Nothing save the candlestick she meant to use to dash his brains in was out of place, but he felt more orders were needed. “We’ll speak again when I return.”
    And he strode from the cabin, stopping outside the door to lock it securely. On his way to the main deck, he rubbed his face several times, trying to clear the lingering haze. He had no idea what the hell had happened. One moment he was in control; the next he was little more than a bumbling youth who couldn’t wait to get his breeches off.
    He strode on the main deck of Shadow and felt instantly better. This was his ship, his place. Even though the ship rolled with the motion of the water, he stood on solid ground again. The girl had definitely bewitched him, but his senses were rapidly returning.
    Ridley approached him, nodded. “Everything to your satisfaction, Cap’n?”
    He nodded. He hadn’t inspected so much as a thumb knot, but he had faith in his crew. “Won’t be long before the tide goes out. Lower the boats.”
    “Yes, Cap’n. If you got a moment, Mr. Maine been wanting to speak wit