Read Online A Pirate's Heart (St. John Series) by Lora Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lora Thomas
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ripped easily. She quickly ripped the shirt off her body. When it was removed, it felt like a weight had been lifted from Kristina’s chest as she took a deep unrestricted breath. She hadn’t realized how hard it was to breathe in the overly tight garment. She quickly donned the borrowed shirt and found that it reached down past her knees.
“This will have to do,” she said as she tied the laces as tight as she could get them.
She tiptoed to the bed and snuggled back down. The bed was so soft and warm. As she snuggled deeper into it, the faint scent of the prior occupant drifted to her senses. It was a clean, leathery scent, almost erotic. Anxiety entered her. What would happen if the occupant returned?
“Stop worrying, you ninny,” she scolded herself. “It will be hours before whoever lives here returns.”
As she lay in the bed, she began to calm down and get drowsy. A plan formulated in her mind. After her nap, she would sneak into the cargo hold and hide until they were well out to sea and then find the handsome man she followed. Surely, he must be the captain. A dreamy expression crossed her face. The man was the captain of this ship and she was going to marry him. She peacefully drifted off to sleep with her fantasy running through her mind.
* * * *
Max barked orders at the crewmembers aboard The Abyss while Alex finished settling their bill with the magistrate. The orders came easily for Max. He had lived at sea since his mother died eighteen years ago. Sybil passed when he was fourteen and left him few options. Granted, Alex had offered him a place to stay, but he knew Alex’s father did not approve of him and wouldn’t agree. Max had lost count of the times Jonathan had forbid Alex to socialize with him. Alex’s mother would have taken him with open arms as a project, but she would not defy her husband’s wishes. However, she always liked Max and went behind her husband’s back to educate him on the proper ways “good” people behaved at every opportunity. While Jonathan was at his store, she would have Alex bring Max to their home. She taught him how to read and write, how to add and subtract, along with the proper etiquette of the wealthy. She occasionally purchased him clothing so he would be properly attired, although Alex’s father was unaware. Whenever Alex’s father was away on business, she would insist that Max come stay with them. He enjoyed the times at Alex’s house, but knew he was an outsider.
The other options were continuing to work at Red’s Tavern, which Max deplored, or join a crew. So Max took the latter option and joined the crew of The Judgment , which just happened to be pirates.
During his five years with the crew, he had numerous exploits. He began as the powder monkey, carrying gunpowder from the powder room to the cannons. His speed and small stature made him ideal for the job. During this time, he learned all there was to know about artillery and operations of the cannons. But he hit a growth spurt and grew and grew and grew. When his height made it a disadvantage to dodge the bullets shot towards the ship, he was made the gunner thanks to his knowledge and expert skill of cannon operations and the fact that the previous gunner was killed during battle. He had higher ambitions though and soon challenged the bos’n for the rank. He lost the fight with the bos’n by going easy and controlling his temper in fear of retribution from the captain. But he learned a valuable lesson from that outcome . . . weakness is not tolerated or rewarded on a pirate ship. For his rebellion and weakness he received ten lashes—thankfully with a standard whip and not with the cat o’ nine.
Whenever his ship docked near Governor’s Harbour he would always find an opportunity to visit Alex. Alex would always try to get him to stay, but Max refused. He had lived there his entire life, a life that he hated. He only stayed because of Sybil. Granted, she treated him
“This will have to do,” she said as she tied the laces as tight as she could get them.
She tiptoed to the bed and snuggled back down. The bed was so soft and warm. As she snuggled deeper into it, the faint scent of the prior occupant drifted to her senses. It was a clean, leathery scent, almost erotic. Anxiety entered her. What would happen if the occupant returned?
“Stop worrying, you ninny,” she scolded herself. “It will be hours before whoever lives here returns.”
As she lay in the bed, she began to calm down and get drowsy. A plan formulated in her mind. After her nap, she would sneak into the cargo hold and hide until they were well out to sea and then find the handsome man she followed. Surely, he must be the captain. A dreamy expression crossed her face. The man was the captain of this ship and she was going to marry him. She peacefully drifted off to sleep with her fantasy running through her mind.
* * * *
Max barked orders at the crewmembers aboard The Abyss while Alex finished settling their bill with the magistrate. The orders came easily for Max. He had lived at sea since his mother died eighteen years ago. Sybil passed when he was fourteen and left him few options. Granted, Alex had offered him a place to stay, but he knew Alex’s father did not approve of him and wouldn’t agree. Max had lost count of the times Jonathan had forbid Alex to socialize with him. Alex’s mother would have taken him with open arms as a project, but she would not defy her husband’s wishes. However, she always liked Max and went behind her husband’s back to educate him on the proper ways “good” people behaved at every opportunity. While Jonathan was at his store, she would have Alex bring Max to their home. She taught him how to read and write, how to add and subtract, along with the proper etiquette of the wealthy. She occasionally purchased him clothing so he would be properly attired, although Alex’s father was unaware. Whenever Alex’s father was away on business, she would insist that Max come stay with them. He enjoyed the times at Alex’s house, but knew he was an outsider.
The other options were continuing to work at Red’s Tavern, which Max deplored, or join a crew. So Max took the latter option and joined the crew of The Judgment , which just happened to be pirates.
During his five years with the crew, he had numerous exploits. He began as the powder monkey, carrying gunpowder from the powder room to the cannons. His speed and small stature made him ideal for the job. During this time, he learned all there was to know about artillery and operations of the cannons. But he hit a growth spurt and grew and grew and grew. When his height made it a disadvantage to dodge the bullets shot towards the ship, he was made the gunner thanks to his knowledge and expert skill of cannon operations and the fact that the previous gunner was killed during battle. He had higher ambitions though and soon challenged the bos’n for the rank. He lost the fight with the bos’n by going easy and controlling his temper in fear of retribution from the captain. But he learned a valuable lesson from that outcome . . . weakness is not tolerated or rewarded on a pirate ship. For his rebellion and weakness he received ten lashes—thankfully with a standard whip and not with the cat o’ nine.
Whenever his ship docked near Governor’s Harbour he would always find an opportunity to visit Alex. Alex would always try to get him to stay, but Max refused. He had lived there his entire life, a life that he hated. He only stayed because of Sybil. Granted, she treated him
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