Read Online Romancing the Pirate by Michelle Beattie - Free Book Online

stomach, braced herself on her elbows to look up at him. “Wouldn’t it be more comfortable lying down?”
    Blake’s mouth suddenly went dry as powder. Good God, he knew she was talking about stars, but his mind had taken a dangerous route into murky waters. She was wearing another pair of trousers and a man’s shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her hair was tied back into a braid again. She shouldn’t have stirred anything within him. But ever since he’d touched her that afternoon, he couldn’t stop thinking about how soft she was, how she’d felt in his arms. And now, blast it all, with her lying on her stomach, with a few buttons opened at her collar, he could see just enough creamy skin to taunt him. Would it be as smooth as her hand had been?
    “Well?”
    He shook his head, cleared his throat. “Well, what?”
    “Isn’t it more comfortable lying down?”
    He loosened a few buttons of his own so he could breathe easier. “It, uh, depends.”
    “On what?”
    His gaze dipped to her breasts again. He’d never noticed them before, thanks to the large shirts she wore and his feelings toward her, but he knew he’d never be blind to them again.
    “Blake?” Nate’s voice called from the stern. “Are you busy?”
    Blake ran an unsteady hand down his face. “No, I’ll be right there.”
    “Duty calls?” Alicia asked.
    He nodded. “Go back to your stars.”
    “Thanks, I will.”
    And as easily as that, she flopped onto her back, dismissing him as though he hadn’t even been there.
    He strode away, everything inside him hotter than it should be, considering the temperature had cooled significantly. And he knew, even before he looked back, that he wouldn’t be able to dismiss her near as easily as she had him.

Seven
    “Is there a problem?” Blake asked Nate, when he’d returned to the stern.
    His friend leaned against a gun, arms crossed over his chest. “The hammock’s ready.”
    Blake sighed. “We talked about this. She’s safer there than in with the rest of the crew.”
    “I agree. But nobody said
you
couldn’t sleep with them.”
    “Are you out of your mind?” he bellowed, then immediately lowered his voice. “I won’t be thrown out of my own cabin by the likes of her.”
    “Everyone will assume she’s your wench.”
    Because he couldn’t remember Nate ever arguing with him over anything, let alone a girl, Blake paused.
    “I can’t help what they think, Nate.”
    “Sleeping in the same cabin will tarnish her reputation.”
    “What reputation? Nobody here knows her or will ever see her again. Besides, I don’t think a girl who stows away on a stranger’s ship is the kind of girl that’s worried about her reputation.”
    “You said she came for your help.”
    “Yeah.”
    “So that’s all this is about? Helping her?”
    “It’s not by choice, Nate.”
    “Mmm.”
    Blake glared at him. “What?”
    “I didn’t say anything. I simply acknowledged your comment.”
    “Not likely. You meant something by that.”
    Nate laughed. “Did I? I’d be curious to know what it is, then.”
    A steady pounding, not unlike the Navy’s drums, began beating behind Blake’s right eye. He heaved a sigh.
    “Hard to know which one of you irritates me more,” he muttered.
    “It had better be me,” Nate answered. “I’ve been at it far longer.”
    Despite the burden Alicia’s presence was putting on his mind, Blake smiled. “Well, now that you mention it.”
    Nate examined him a moment. “I was beginning to think that frown you’ve been wearing all day was becoming permanent.”
    “It was beginning to feel like it might.”
    “But my engaging presence remedied the situation?”
    “Not likely.”
    “Shame. Seemed to work with Alicia earlier.”
    Blake went very still. “When did you see her?”
    “I found her in the galley. We had a nice talk.”
    “About what?”
    “Well, now, a gentleman never tells.”
    Blake frowned. “You’re not a gentleman.”
    “She