Page 37 of A Prince Among Pirates
“You can look, but I can tell by the expression on your face you think you’ll get much more than that.”
I sigh dramatically and sit up, then haul myself to my feet so quickly, I sway and stumble into the table, just barely catching myself on it before I hit the floor.
Perfect.
“I’m going to bed,” I announce.
Captain Sharpe is on his feet behind me; I can tell by the way his shadow moves as I stumble towards the door.
“You aren’t leaving my cabin in this state,” he says as he comes up behind me to take me by the shoulders. His hands are firm and strong, and I am even more aware of how much drunker I am than him.
“You can’t change your mind now that you’ve rejected me.”
He laughs as he guides me back towards the settee. “I haven’t changed my mind. You’ll fall overboard and drown.” I stumble, and he hooks an arm around my waist to stop me from going down. “On second thought, I’ll sleep on the settee. I fear you’ll roll off and smack your pretty head on the floor. You can have my bed… just this once.”
“Such a gentleman,” I say in a mock-swoony voice. Or maybe I really am swooning; it’s hard for me to tell my own mind right now.
“I told you so.” His voice is soft beside my ear, and I shiver against him. I know he feels it, for his body goes rigid and he tightens his hold on my waist just a little bit. “Get into bed, Kitten.”
I’m losing control of the situation somehow. I reach out for his bed and allow him to help me climb up into it. It’s a struggle to sit on it without face-planting into the blankets, and I’m sure that when I turn to face him, it’s with as much grace as a newborn colt, but I manage it without retching in his face or falling off the bed—which is a small sort of accomplishment.
“Don’t complain to me if you regret turning me down in the morning.”
He smiles at me as he draws the lower curtain closed. “I won’t.”
“You won’t regret it?”
“I won’t complain.”
“Good. I’d much prefer that youdidregret it, but I daresay listening to you complain about it would be so very unattractive.”
He laughs and leans against the bed frame with his arms crossed. “Would it, now? How unromantic of you.”
“Romance is for ladies and children’s stories,” I point out as I struggle to get under the blankets.
“Is it? What kind of love story do you prefer, then, Kitten—if not arranged marriages or forbidden romance?”
“I think we’re talking about two very different things, Captain.” I sigh once I’m under the blankets. I decide it’s far too hot in my trousers. I wriggle out of them and toss them onto the floor.
Captain Sharpe watches this with brows raised and eyes wide, then looks back to my face. “Are we?”
“You’re talking about love. I’m talking about lust. You’re too romantic for your own good.”
“Maybe I am,” Captain Sharpe says, his voice softening as he smiles at me. “Sounds like you aren’t interested in love at all. Are highborn lads not allowed to fall in love?”
“We’re allowed, I suppose. Not many of us do. But either way, it doesn’t matter.”
“Why’s that, Kitten?”
“I’m unlovable,” I say matter-of-factly as I lie back against the pillows.
“What makes you say that?” he asks. I can hear the frown in his voice even as I close my eyes, but I can’t understand why he’s frowning.
“Because…” I trail off as sleep begins to pull at me. “I killed my mother when she gave birth to me, so I’m cursed to live a loveless life.”
There is a long stretch of silence, and I’m quite sure I have fallen asleep, until I hear Captain Sharpe speak again.
“Who told you that, Kitten?”
