Too Great a Temptation by Alexandra Benedict Read Free Book Online

killed! Didn’t she realize that?
    “You should have more respect for the sea,” he chided. “Instead you scoff at danger like your brother Quincy.”
    Her nostrils flared. “That ship”—she pointed to the horizon—“is just sailing by. It’s not a pirate ship.”
    “It could be.”
    “Even so, we’re armed, so I’m still not worried.”
    At her flippant response, he grabbed her by the wrist and squeezed.
    Mirabelle’s breath trapped in her throat at the sudden attack. “Are you crazy?” Her eyes darted to the crew, presumably to check if anyone had yet to notice their little entanglement.
    “Break away,” he bade.
    She trembled in his embrace. He could feel it, the vibrations ripping through her. “If anyone catches us…”
    “So fight,” he demanded.
    She looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. She made a noise of frustration and, wriggling, twisted her wrist this way and that, attempting to break free.
    “Try harder, Belle.”
    Tight-lipped, she glowered at him, clawing at his clenched fingers, leaving glaring red marks all along his hand and forearm.
    With a flick of the wrist, he jerked her closer to him, their noses bumping.
    Delving deep into the pools of her honey gold eyes, now flashing mad, he whispered roughly, “Remember, Belle, there is always someone bigger and stronger out there, just waiting for a chance to hurt you.”
    The salty musk of her hair swirled around him, and Damian suddenly realized just how close to her he really was, his eyes dropping to her full and rosy and damned kissable lips.
    Sensing his poise was about to crack, he admonished, “Don’t you ever make light of that again,” and then let her go.
    Mirabelle staggered back, massaging her wrist, her eyes burning orbs. She looked ready to hurl a slew of obscenities his way, but one look at the crew, casting her curious glances, and she seemed to reconsider.
    In the end, she only warned, “Stay away from me.”
    I intend to, thought Damian, as he watched her sultry figure stalk away. Being close to Mirabelle was a guarantee of hardship, physical and otherwise, for the woman sparked within him emotions he could not tame—or fathom.

Chapter 4
    “O h, good. Someone to keep me company. I can’t stand counting the wood knots in the ceiling anymore.”
    Damian stepped deeper into the cabin and closed the door. “Feeling better?”
    “Aye,” said Quincy. “I should be up and about soon.”
    “I’m glad to hear it. For a while there, I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
    “I’m tougher than I look,” was his cool reply, but then his eyes lighted with anxiety and his voice took on a pleading pitch. “Oh, and if anyone asks, you saved me from two Americans, not five.”
    Damian quirked a brow.
    “Just promise me you won’t tell my brothers the truth.”
    With a shrug, Damian acquiesced.
    The kid sighed, his demeanor blithe once more. “So tell me, how do you like life aboard the Bonny Meg ?”
    Collecting a nearby chair, Damian positioned it next to the bed and sat down. “It’s…interesting.”
    “How?”
    “The choice of crew.”
    “Belle, you mean?” Quincy chuckled. “She’s a challenge, I know. The captain has trouble handling her himself.”
    Damian could commiserate. “So why did he bring her on board?”
    “Bring her?” Quincy snorted. “That’s not the way it happened. Belle stowed away.”
    Now that made sense. It had so often plagued Damian, the reason for her being on ship. A stowaway certainly explained everything. It meant the odd family union wasn’t so odd after all—only Belle was odd.
    “That must have been a surprise,” said Damian, “finding her here.”
    “Was it ever! A fortnight into our journey, Eddie strolled into the galley—the lummox is always hungry—to ask Cook about dinner. And there she was, hunched over the piping cauldron, sampling the stew. Eddie couldn’t believe his eyes. He lunged for her, but she got away, and he almost ended up in the bubbling