Read Online A Pirate of her Own by Kinley MacGregor - Free Book Online Page A

foolish thought.
    He was a man of the sea. A man who would no doubt live and die on board a ship, and she was just the plain spinster daughter of a printer.
    It wasn’t for her to have such thoughts.
    Clearing his throat, he moved to his trunk and pulled out a towel and shirt. “I’m afraid we’re lacking in feminine garb. You’ll have to make do with this until we can find more suitable clothing.”
    Serenity took the clothes from him, stung by his obvious rejection. She had been so sure he was going to kiss her. He’d had the same look Charlie Simms got right before he made free with his hands.
    “I’m sure I look a fright,” she whispered, moving toward the table. Morgan came up behind her so close that she could smell the salt of his skin, feel the heat of his body.
    Until he put a small mirror up to her face. “I must say I’ve seen you look better,” he said.
    Serenity gasped. Goodness, she looked worse than she’d feared.
    “I should caution you against any further inclination to roll around in the dirt, Miss James,” he said, with a teasing note in his voice. “Fresh water is scarce on a ship and we have very little for washing.”
    That said, he took a pitcher from the cabinet in the wall and poured a small amount of water into the washbasin. Before she could move, he dipped a small cloth into the water and brought it up to her face.
    She couldn’t move. She held her breath as he slid the cool cloth over her face and neck. His long, lean fingers brushed her skin, raising chills all the length of her. And even stranger than the chills was the sudden warmth that began to drum through her entire body.
    “Captain?”
    “Yes, Miss James?”
    “I…” Serenity couldn’t finish her sentence. All she could do was stare up at him, aching for something she couldn’t name.
    And then he did it.
    His lips claimed hers with a firmness that took her breath. Arms as strong as steel wrapped around her and brought her up close against a body so hard and solid that she couldn’t imagine any man feeling better.
    Her legs weak, she surrendered her weight to him.
    Now, this was a kiss, she thought, as he parted her lips and explored her mouth with the expertness of Don Juan. This was the wonder, the thrill that romantic authors wrote of, and in that instant, she knew that she would never want another man to hold her so intimately.
    Serenity felt him tense an instant before he stepped away. Her mind numb, she could do nothing but stare at him in confusion.
    What had prompted him to kiss her so passionately?
    And why did he look so upset now?
    Did he regret it?
    He ran his thumb over his lips and stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face. “You are a very dangerous woman, Serenity.”
    “Me?”
    “Aye. And the worst part is, you don’t even know why.”
    Completely baffled, she stared at him as he strode to the door.
    “There are extra blankets in the chest, should you need them,” he said, pulling open the door.
    He paused in the entrance and turned to face her. “And Serenity?”
    Still dazed, she looked up and met his dark stare.
    “Make sure you lock the door.”

Chapter 5
    Serenity stared at the closed door. Lock the door indeed! Yet even through her mortification, she was thrilled that a heroic man like Morgan could be attracted to her.
    Her heart light, she placed his shirt on the oak table and quickly locked the door as ordered. Not that she was afraid of him, nay, far from it.
    Her Sea Wolf had proven himself a most honorable man.
    “My Sea Wolf,” she repeated, wondering if any woman could ever lay claim to such a man.
    Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She felt giddy, even a little silly. Oh, but it was an incredible feeling. One completely new to her.
    Her thoughts still on her magnificent Captain Drake, she finished scrubbing the soot from her cheeks. Even now with the cold water splashing against her skin, she could feel the heat of Morgan’s touch, smell the raw and wild