Brazen Temptress by Elizabeth Boyle

Author:Elizabeth Boyle [Boyle, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-05-21T15:08:47+00:00

* * * * *

She thought it strange that Julien sent her to his cabin on her own, but he said he wanted to check over his ship before he joined her.

And then he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Unlatch the rear window and wait for me."

Entering his cabin, she almost laughed at her earlier speculations as to the decor of his pirate den. It was neither the Turkish harem she'd imagined nor the stark world of a puritanical American.

Instead, it held a warm, welcoming ambience. From the rich wood paneling to the worn oak table where she laid her wedding bouquet to the wide, deep berth she would soon be sharing with him.

She looked over at the bed and smiled. Scattered over the green coverlet were more flowers.

The back of the cabin, which took up most of the ship's stern, was dominated by long, wide windows.

Heeding his request, she unlatched them and threw them open.

Outside, darkness had settled over the West Indies cay. From the beach and the nearby ships, music still played, the wild, unbidden cadence rising and falling over the gentle waters, calling to her.

Truth be told, Maureen felt that the night before had been their wedding night, but tonight ... there was something different in the air.

A hint of mystery, a wish for the future.

The soft scents of the ocean and the palm-covered cay floated inward. Maureen stepped back and closed her eyes, letting the magic of the night and the magic of what was to come wash over her soul.

She wanted to never forget this night. Ever.

"Julien, I love you," she whispered into the breeze.

When she opened her eyes, she found her new husband swinging in from a rope through the open windows.

He grinned as he landed right in front of her. "Ah, a bride calling for her groom."

He'd removed his coat and now wore only his breeches and white shirt. He'd tied a red sash around his waist, where an ornate dagger was tucked. His feet were bare, and his hair was still tied back in a queue — like a pirate of old.

"What are you doing?" she asked, stifling a giggle. Why, she never giggled, but tonight even that seemed possible.

"I swore more than one oath today, my lady. I am now a member of the Alliance, fully sanctioned to carry out the duties of a pirate." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "My first act as a buccaneer was to follow a rumor I'd heard."

"And what, pray tell," she asked, "was this rumor?"

He raised up one finger. "Aha. I'm glad you asked. I heard tell that the most beautiful woman was married here today, and I thought to come and steal her away." He caught her in his arms, tugging her close. "Could it be I've found her, or I have come across some lost Spanish treasure?"

It was Maureen's turn to grin. She was more than willing to play along with his game. It was made of pure magic.

"Oh, sir pirate," she exclaimed in mock horror.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.