Romancing the Pirate by Michelle Beattie Read Free Book Online Page B

“bring a bucket of warm water and a cloth to my cabin.” Blake handed Nate the soiled pail and ignored his questioning gaze. “Clean that, too, please, and bring it back with you. The rest of you have duties to attend to. And don’t forget to mop below. It bloody stinks down there.”
    They knew better than to argue or dawdle, and soon the way was once again clear. Despite his feelings toward her, as Blake looked down upon Alicia, he didn’t have the heart to wake her. He couldn’t imagine the long night she’d spent being sick, and knew if he wanted to get her off his ship with as little guilt as possible, he needed to have her well. Otherwise he’d never have peace.
    He dipped low and slipped her into his arms. Cursing at how little she weighed, he carried her up the stairs, onto the deck, and across to the hatch that led to his cabin. Vincent’s eyes looked ready to explode from his head.
    “A woman?” he gasped. “How did I miss that?”
    Blake didn’t want to think about her gender, or the way she’d turned her head against his chest and snuggled in. He didn’t want to notice the way the sun hit her hair and made it shine, or the freckles he saw across her cheeks when he looked down.
    “I don’t know, but we need to discuss it. Thanks,” he added when Vincent opened the hatch for him. “Nate will be bringing me some water in a moment. When he does, I’d like to see both of you in my cabin. Get Billy to man the helm. Hopefully it won’t take long.”
    “Aye, Captain.” Vincent smiled, gesturing to Alicia, who remained sound asleep in Blake’s arms. “You know, chivalry becomes you.”
    Blake scowled. “You really must need sleep, you’re delirious.”
    Vincent’s chuckle followed Blake into his cabin. Blake told himself he wasn’t being deliberately gentle with her when he lay Alicia onto his bed, then covered her with a light blanket. It was simply common sense. As long as she slept, she wasn’t bothering him, wasn’t looking at him with those deep blue eyes.
    She sighed, then turned her head onto his pillow, which allowed him to gaze fully upon her face. She was young, barely more than a girl, but even dressed as a boy, she was undeniably pretty. His gaze moved from dark gold eyelashes that fanned over her pale cheeks, to her slightly parted lips. The fullness and the pale pink captivated his attention. Had she been anyone else, he’d have been sorely tempted to see if they were as soft and sweet as they appeared.
    But she wasn’t. He took a deep breath, shook his head, and turned from her before his eyes could betray him any more. Yes, indeed, the sooner she left his ship, the better.
    Alicia awoke to the sound of hushed voices and no idea of where she was. Opening her eyes, she looked around. Light floated in through a small porthole to her left, shining directly onto the three whispering men. She recognized Blake. The second man was taller, and the third was the dwarf she remembered seeing not long after she’d come aboard.
    The large table they were standing beside and the comfortable bed beneath her left no doubt she was in Blake’s cabin. And at the moment he was likely hearing every lie she’d told to get on board his ship. Considering his feelings toward her, something she had yet to understand, this wouldn’t help him see her in a better light. Since she’d never been one to avoid any task, even the unpleasant ones, Alicia gathered her courage and threw off the light blanket that covered her. She paused in the action. He’d covered her up?
    A sensation she’d never experienced before fluttered through her stomach and warmed the area around her heart. Had Blake taken the time, had the compassion, to place the blanket over her? She’d never had anyone treat her so delicately before. Women mostly turned the other way, even when she wasn’t dressed for work, because she wasn’t “normal” in their eyes. The men’s reactions varied.
    Some resented her for doing a job she