Page 11 of The Pirate's Daughter

Mia dropped her gaze and was relieved to feel Devin pull her chair so she could stand. As many times as these men seemed intent to stare at her it made her more aware she wasn’t yet part of thecrew.

“Mrs. Winthrop?” Brinkscalled.

“Yes?” She knew the man wanted ananswer.

“Fourdegrees?”

Stepping around and letting Devin pull her to his side, she replied, “I listened. The sea told me.” It wasn’t a lie. Papa always taught her to listen. The waves, the wind, every part of the world would speak, one only had to listen to know what was said. Mia was good at hearingit.

A good round of nervous laughter ensued as Devin propelled her out with barely a polite goodnight. He kept them walking until middeck. Stopping short he pulled her around to face him. “That cove does exist, doesn’tit?”

“Of course,” she said, enjoying the night air as it cooled her. The more formal dress she’d been forced into by Hong nearly suffocated her as she sat for dinner. “And it’s deep enough that it is a safejump.”

“There’ll be no jumping, Mia,” he warned and Mia gave up. Maybe after he saw it, he’d agree. Perhaps he’d never done it and she could encourage him to try once. He’d be hooked like a mackerel. “You’re not directing me into a trap. I’m not going to come along broadside and be fired upon by one of your fat— papa’sships.”

“Why would Papa fire on you? You said you didn’t steal me from him.” She stepped back to cast him a hardlook.

“I didn’t steal you.” He stepped closer and put his hands at her waist. The relief the air gave her heated body vanished. “I did try to shove youoff.”

He pulled at her hips, bringing her flush against him, and she felt the tightening in her belly, and like happened so often around him, her sex clenched and wetnessformed.

“But I want you now, Mia. I want you quitebadly.”

Anything she might have said was lost as his lips crashed down on hers. The act stole her breath. She’d been kissed before, but what Devin was doing was nothing like the butterfly softness of the boy in Jamaica. Devin was practically devouring her. When she managed to gasp in a breath, his tongue plunged in. Mia could only think it to be instinct that made her use her own tongue to fight against his. The first sweeping motions filled her senses with his taste. Warm and spicy from the cup of rum at dinner. It made her heady as if she’d drunk the liquor directly. When he broke the kiss, Mia cried out like she feared being swept overboard. His lips settled on her throat, licking, kissing, even biting up the column. With her hair put up in an elaborate coiffure there was nothing to impede his course. He worked his way to her ear, then took the lobe between his teeth and bit down until she moaned. His tongue was swift to lave away the ache. With his next breath, his lips were again on hers. More gentle this time, but no less able to make her bodystorm.

“I want you now, Mia,” he said against her lips. “I can’twait.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, but something drove her to say, “I want you too.” She felt his smile and then needed to run to keep up with his long stride as he made his way back to the captain’s quarters, her hand firmly gripped inhis.

He pulled her through the multi-roomed space to the sleeping cabin she’d only been let out of this morning. He dragged her in, nearly flinging her to the middle as he turned, shut and locked the door. He was pulling off his formal jacket as he crossed to her and Mia couldn’t take her eyes from his broad chest as his shirt followed it to the floor. Every muscle he had was defined and rippled like an undercurrent beneath his skin. She gave in to the urge to touch him as soon as he was in reach and she wasn’tdisappointed.

His skin was warm and smooth and that spicy scent he carried washed over her. This time when his mouth came down on hers, she was ready. Working her lips the same way his worked, she was rewarded by his own deep harsh moan as his arms circled her and pulled her against him. This time when she hit against him she didn’t miss the hard shaft that pressed into herbelly.

She knew what it was. Saw it in action any number of times. It was hard not to growing up as she had. But Papa always warned never to let any man other than her husband close to her with it. Only a husband would have care enough not to hurt her as her mother was hurt. Devin was herhusband.

“Mia,” Devin called as he pulled away and sat to remove his boots. “Turn around let me help you out of thatgown.”

Mia giggled and wondered if the sway she gave was due to the way he spoke or the rolling of the sea below the ship. Either way, she turned and gave him her back. The formal dress was held with laces not buttons and like any seaman worth his salt, no rope, line or string could slow him down. The laces loosened and the dress dropped away. Devin’s hands slid up her back and pushed the sleeves of her shift off her left shoulder as his lips kissed along the back of her neck. She wore no corset, her waist narrow enough. She wanted to be able to take a deep breath in case she should find herself in the ocean. Corsets were for land. When Devin’s hands settled on her hips, she leaned back against him and brought her arms up to reach for him behind her head. His fingers moved and the gown pooled at her feet. He continued to drop kisses along her neck and shoulder. When she threaded her fingers into his hair, she was more than pleased to find its thickness to be silky soft. His hands slid up along her ribs and when he slid them beneath her breasts and lifted Mia groaned and squeezed her thighs to keep the wetness from slipping down more than ithad.

“Mia,” Devin said her name as he moved to stand in front of her. He dipped his head and kissed her collarbone then set his lips to the top of her breast. “God save me, you’re beautiful,” he said then began sucking on the flesh heheld.

It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the compliment, but for some reason coming from him, it made her flush hot. So hot her head felt light and she needed to clutch him to stay upright. Every place he put his hands, fingers and lips he seemed to both create a flame and soothe the burn. She felt her shift slip, his mouth settled over the stiff nipple and Mia was jarred by the explosion in her body. She cried out from the pleasure and again wove her fingers through his hair, this time to hold him againsther.

Devin’s hand splayed out over her belly and smoothed down to the juncture between her legs. She wanted to care that he’d find all that seepage, but she couldn’t. When his fingers brushed that small pulsing nub a second explosion, no less than that of cannon fire, ripped through her. Her knees buckled and if Devin hadn’t swept her into his arms she’d have hit the deckhard.

He carried her to the bed, laid her down, and shucking his pants, climbed in beside her then crawled atop her. “Mia.” Her name came out on a sigh as he again dipped his head and took her tit in hismouth.

His weight forced her to spread her legs and his body dropped perfectly into the space. Again his fingers found that part of her she’d been warned not to let any man touch, but if he didn’t touch her she’d die for the want ofit.

“So wet, so ready,” Devin said and he slid up her body. She felt his shaft nudge at her and the reality of what he was about to do hit like a tidalwave.

“Devin, I,” she started, only to feel some pressure as he slipped forward more, “Devin, please I haven’t. I don’tknow.”

“What Mia?” he stilled and his dark blue eyes fairly stormed as he looked down onher.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” She felt himchuckle.

“We’ll discuss it for next time. This time do what feelsgood.”

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