Page 47 of Unbound Boxset

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Jack took a long pull of beer and gazed out at the ocean. Feet propped up on the back deck, the schooner cut through the water with steadfast smoothness and grace. The sails hugged and caught the wind, and the lights of the horizon flickered in the distance.

He wanted her.

The knowledge twisted his belly with disgust. The irony was almost too much. He searched for a woman who’d love him for himself. Yet, he bodily craved one who was the literal poster image of a greedy, shallow socialite wanting to marry for the exact wealth and title he possessed.

She pissed him off. Her date barely looked her in the eye, let alone bothered to see past that horrible outfit she wore. For God’s sake, jeans and a tank top would have looked sexier than that buttoned-up floral number. The fabric covered her from neck to ankle.

He cursed under his breath. Why the hell did he care? He had a dozen contacts stored in his phone from this past week. Some were more suited to one night, but the other half might point himself right to his future wife. Julianna Waters was a dead end.

Why did she call to his sense of challenge? He wanted to be the first to claim her virginal lure. The hunger in those seething dark eyes made him crave to touch her and bring pleasure. He yearned to wipe the polite façade from her face and unearth the glimmer of passion and rawness hiding beneath. When he quoted Whitman, he’d almost had her. The connection surged hot and strong, and she’d been ready to crumble. But his temper reared. For God’s sake, her mission to marry a man with money trumped all other impulses—even pleasure. She was the culmination of everything he despised and was trying to escape. A woman who revered money and title over passion and love.

He put the beer down and focused on retacking the sail to change direction. The tangy scent of salt water calmed his nerves. The ocean roared in his blood since youth, and often when he was uneasy or needed to clear his thoughts, sailing was the only activity to bring him calm. Once he married and the company had the necessary stability, he planned on traveling for most of the year, especially to the ports in the US where his heart now lay. Newport soothed his soul. He missed his father, especially out on the water when he felt a piece of himself was missing.

Time to rebuild. Time to step up, claim his heritage, and be the man his father always wanted. If he found someone to love within the marriage, his life could be complete. If not, he’d do his duty, but crave his soul mate for the rest of his life.

Jack finished his beer and headed back to the harbor.

An image of half-parted lips and sleepy dark eyes haunted him. He fought the impulse to hunt and bury his aching cock inside her.

There would be no sleep tonight.