A Pirate's Wife for Me by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online Page A

only knew that she wouldn't leave the country she had adopted with her marriage. When she saw him onto the ship, she had sworn to stay and lead the fighting, and to bring him back as soon as she could.
    But he had heard no word. So probably … probably …they held her in prison.
    Or… or she was dead. He never dared think much about it, but at night he dreamed, and his dreams were horrible. He wanted to cry. But men never cried.
    Caitlin's strong voice shouted, "'Twas a good battle, lads! I could watch you both all day."
    Unhurriedly, Taran turned his head.
    Caitlin was sitting on the fence, her skirt tucked around her, grinning at him like a brownie bent on mischief.
    As she was. Kiernan's gangly, graceless sister had grown into an exquisite young woman of sixteen, and she knew it. Knew it, and used every one of her feminine wiles to trap him.
    He couldn't allow himself to be trapped. He was a man who had no future, because he was a man too cowardly to do what should be done – to return to Cenorina and face the villain who had stolen his home and sent him into exile. Aye, he should go to Cenorina, march up to Maddox Davies, and demand the return of his kingdom. Although Davies claimed to have noble English blood, he was nothing but a common tutor, and a coward. Davies would not dare harm Taran … his student. Although Taran half-hoped he would try, for then Taran would fight him as he had found Graeme, and no one would stop him when he delivered the final blow.
    Kiernan was talking to Graeme, demonstrating how to parry those slashing blows.
    Caitlin jumped off the fence and sauntered toward Taran. Her long, auburn hair was tied back in a bow, and the wind ruffled the wisps that came loose around her face. Her complexion glowed with a touch of the sun, and her rosy lips smiled at him as if he were the only man on earth.
    She had a way of making him feel like that.
    Gripping his shoulder with her gloved hand, she whispered, "Take me to Granny Aileen's hut in the mountains across the water. We could meet there and you could teach me everything about making love." Her green eyes glowed with excitement, and she caressed his flesh with a subtle touch.
    Instantaneously, his cock stood up and crowed.
    How could she do this to him, every time, everywhere, no matter who was watching?
    To hide his condition, he turned his back on Kiernan.
    Aye, Caitlin was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and he wanted her more than any other woman in the world. But he knew in his mind she was the one willing woman in Scotland he couldn't carelessly bed.
    If only he could convince his body!
    Caitlin didn't seem to notice. She stared at his face in adoration.
    And he loved it. He had become addicted to her saucy wit, her husky voice, her swaying hips and glorious, long body. But he couldn't allow that to continue. He had duties to fulfill … someday. Surely someday he would have duties once more.
    When he danced with Caitlin at parties, or conversed with her after horse races, or played cards with her on long winter evenings, he forgot his guilt, his rage, his frustration, and for one moment in time was no more than a young man fascinated by a stunning young woman. If things were different, he would wed her. He would make her his princess, and she would charm everyone on the four islands. But that wasn't possible. He couldn't wed her. The future king had a duty to advance his country's wealth and position, and he could not do that by marrying a Scottish laird's sister, regardless of how attractive she was.
    But did it matter, when he didn't even have the stomach to demand the return of his kingdom?
    Other lasses came to him, offering themselves, exclaiming over his brooding gray eyes and his braw body. He took them. He learned what they had to teach him. He was seventeen. Ruefully he admitted his weakness. He could turn down no offer.
    Except Caitlin's. She wanted him, and tormented him until he couldn't sleep at night, until the other