Captivated by the Captain by Amanda Mariel

Author:Amanda Mariel
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Jasper studied Prudence as he held her. The woman was a contradiction. So brave, yet so vulnerable at the same time. She had dozed off into a restful sleep more than an hour ago. He should leave her and go attend to his duties, or wake her and take her from the Marion so his men could see to the repairs and maintenance of the ship. No matter what he believed he should do, he could not bring himself to act. Holding her seemed natural, like he had done it all his life.

She fit perfectly against him. Her body molded to his, one of her legs rested across his thighs, her head lay on his chest, and one of her hands touched his shoulder as if she too were holding him. He lifted a lock of her hair and inhaled her scent. It was so soft, so feminine. When had he last held a woman? Last touched something so soft?

Miss Anna, the Viscount Heartford’s daughter. Jasper had fancied himself in love with her. Planned to offer for her and believed she loved him too. Their courtship had been intense. The entire ton believed they would wed. Until she cast him aside for his own brother. Next in line for the dukedom. Unscarred by the war—unhindered from all Jasper had seen and experienced. The memory stabbed at him as it always did. Anna had been nothing more than a title hunting miss. “Why settle for second in line when you can have the heir?” Her words pained him almost as much now as they had those ten years ago. Though he never truly believed her words, they still stung. It was the scar he returned home from war barring that she could not accept.

Jasper closed his eyes against the unwelcomed memory.

Prudence stirred, her leg sliding down his. He opened his eyes, returning his attention to the slumbering beauty he now held. If not for the hard lesson he’d learned at the hands of Anna, he would be on a mission to woo Prudence. She was not Anna. She had touched his scar without the slightest indication of revulsion, and kissed him passionately despite his marred appearance. Did she sense a connection between them as he did?

Bloody hell. What was wrong with him? She was no doubt like every other woman. Being American did not make her honest or true. She would no more settle for an imperfect spare heir marked by the horrors of war than she would a pirate, and he did not want a wife at any rate.

He gave her a gentle shake. “Prudence.”

After a moment she tipped her head up, their gazes meeting. “Yes?” she asked in a sleep strewn voice.

“We need to leave the ship. My men cannot perform their duties with us still aboard.” He moved out from beneath her and rose to his feet, gaining some much needed separation. “I will allow you a few minutes to ready yourself.”

“That is not necessary.” She stood

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