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Gwen couldn t believe she d resorted to offering Stede Bonnet sex for his help. At
the time, she hadn t been able to think of anything else but thank Goddess, it had
worked. Her body heated at the memory of his face nestled between her spread thighs.
She blinked and looked away, trying to force the lurid memory from her mind.
Stede paced in the small room, curiously switching the lights off and on and
playing with the television remote, while she sat on the bed huddled in the waffle-
weave robe. Although electronics and modern conveniences seemed to interest him, he
was far more consumed with the task at hand.
 We re going to need a jolly boat with a jib sail.
Gwen turned to him.  A jolly boat?
 A small boat, he explained. His gaze scanned her arms.  You don t look as if
you d be much for rowing.
 I ll rent one with a motor.
 A motor?
 Trust me. You ll love it, she said blandly.
 We ll need shovels.
 I m sure there s a Wal-Mart somewhere nearby. She fought a yawn and lost. She
was terribly tired but she didn t dare go to sleep even though she knew she would need
her strength tomorrow. Now that he d had her again make that again and again, she
thought he might reconsider and leave.
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Watchkeeper
Stede glanced at the clock and Gwen s gaze followed. It was nearly midnight. She
yawned again.
 It s late, he said.  Why don t you get some rest and we ll venture out at the first
light of dawn.
She bolted upright in the bed.  No. You can t trick me into that.
 Trick you? His hands found his hips.  Madam, I wouldn t presume to trick you.
He moved toward the bed.
Gwen s breath froze in her chest. Did he intend to fuck her again? Her traitorous
pussy flooded with wetness. Her legs shifted restlessly and she was reminded of the
pearl thong. She d been too afraid to slip into the bathroom to change into something
more modest because she thought Stede might leave.
He slid onto the bed, the jeans creasing and tugging in all the right places as he sat.
Now wasn t the time to change clothes. Her breathing stopped as he moved next to her
and slipped his arm around her shoulders.
 I ll stay with you. His voice was but a whisper.  Take a caulk.
Her confusion must have been evident on her face because he added,  A nap, luv.
Close your eyes. I ll keep watch.
Gwen leaned against him. Oddly, she felt perfectly safe and perfectly secure with
Stede Bonnet acting as watchkeeper. His body felt so good. She wanted to stay here
forever, to pretend he was a husband who loved her, to forget everything that had
happened. Just for a minute& What would it hurt?
Her eyes fluttered shut.
Long fingers threaded into her thick, black hair and made lazy circles at the nape of
her neck. Part of her wanted to disappear in his arms again, to feel his body joined with
hers, his luscious cock moving in and out of her pussy. She knew she shouldn t want
him but she couldn t help it. Still, the reality was that he wasn t a man who loved her.
He was a pirate who d jumped into her husband s body the second he d died.
A flash of remorse for Roger flitted through her but she forced the feelings away.
She couldn t think about that. Not now. Not with everything else at stake.
Stede Bonnet was a man who d been hanged as a criminal three hundred years ago.
He was not a man she could trust and definitely not a man she could love. He d been
about to walk out on her until she d prostituted herself to make him stay.
He shifted and she felt a warm blanket being drawn over her legs. His arms
tightened around her and he drew her head against his chest. The T-shirt smelled like
home, like the fabric softener she used. It seemed odd that the scent wafted around this
stranger this pirate from the past.
Still, she needed this embrace, even if it was only temporary. She needed to feel
strong arms around her. Dropping her guard, she wound one arm over his abdomen,
sliding her hand underneath the T-shirt and laying her palm against his skin. It radiated
a warmth she d never felt from Roger.
45
Debra Glass
Stede s breathing was different. Deeper. His touch was altogether different. During
sex, he d been on the verge of rough and demanding. Now he was gentle and
soothing and more dangerous than ever.
Sleep slipped over her like a placid wave and she drifted, but only for an instant
before she jerked awake. She couldn t sleep. Not in Stede Bonnet s arms.
His arms tensed.  Lie quietly, Gwendolyn, he murmured.
 I can t.
 Tell me about your grandmother. Were you close to her? His voice was whisper-
soft.
 I lived with her. Images of Granny s welcoming arms assailed her. Although
Granny s death had left a hole in her soul she knew would always feel empty, she d
known her spirit was close when she could faintly detect the scent of dried herbs
mingled with the homey aroma of sugar cookies.
How many times had she run in from school to be greeted with a fresh batch of
cookies while Granny chopped and brewed herbs for a spell?
A little smile tinged with longing pulled at her lips. As long as she felt Granny was
near, she d always known which path to take, what to do. Now she felt lost.
 What happened to your mother? Stede s voice dragged her out of her reverie.
Gwen wished she d fallen asleep now. She swallowed and snuggled closer against
his warmth.  My mother couldn t take care of me after my father left.
Stede s body grew taut.  Your father left?
 I don t remember much about him. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]