Read Online A Pirate's Possession by Michelle Beattie - Free Book Online

twinkled.
    â€œWell, someone has to man the helm. Get some sleep, Vincent. In the morning, once the crew’s about, we’ll continue this conversation. In the meantime”—he turned to Claire—“I’ll be having that map back and don’t think I won’t try to get it again just because Vincent’s here.”
    Her spine went straight as a mast. “I hope you rot in Hell.” Vincent’s eyes almost popped from his head. “Jesus, what happened between you?”
    â€œNothing important,” Nate said, anxiousness skittering in his gut. He’d worked damn hard to keep his past where it belonged and he’d succeeded, dammit. He wasn’t about to have it dissected now.
    Claire’s venomous gaze raked over Nate. Her eyes narrowed and her quick breaths told him just how angry she was. He remembered that, the fiery temper that went with her hair.
    Vincent took a chair, plopped into it, his feet hovering above the floor. “Then you won’t mind discussing it,” he said.
    â€œVincent, I’m needed on deck.”
    â€œGo,” Vincent said with a wave of his hand, “but I’m not leaving. I’ve known something was going on, and only this afternoon you denied it. Now suddenly there’s a treasure, a map, and a woman stealing into your cabin. Clearly the only way I’m ever going to get to the truth is to hear it from her.”
    Claire suddenly smiled, though her eyes didn’t warm at all. Hell, Nate thought a moment before she turned that smile on Vincent.
    â€œI’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
    She glanced at Nate and raised her brows in challenge. She was relishing his uneasiness. And damned if he was going to let her see just how much he hated to have his past discussed. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest, forcing his tight shoulders to shrug.
    â€œYou can talk all you want, after you give me back the map.”
    Her eyes jumped from his to Vincent’s, as though weighing her choices.
    â€œYou can have the map,” she countered, “ after I talk to Vincent.”
    Nate ran a tired hand through his hair. Vincent jumped off his chair, took hold of Nate’s arm, and guided him to a corner. “Let me talk to her.”
    â€œI don’t trust her with that map.”
    â€œWhere can she go with it? Besides, you’re not having much luck on your own.”
    â€œI was,” he snarled, “before we were interrupted.”
    Nate realized too late how that sounded and, to his horror, felt heat rise into his face.
    â€œWell,” Vincent smiled, “I can be the one to leave if you think you’ll fare better ...”
    â€œI’ll go. I’ll rouse someone to take the helm for me while we get this sorted out.” He sighed. “Whatever she tells you,” Nate said quietly, feeling a little sick now that some of his past, a past he’d fiercely guarded, would be revealed, “stays in this cabin.”
    For once Vincent didn’t tease or badger. He nodded seriously. “It always would have.”
    Nate nodded. What could he say? It was a little late for apologies. Besides, he reminded himself, Vincent couldn’t divulge all of Nate’s past because he didn’t know it. Nobody did. The knot in his stomach eased. Nobody ever would.
    â€œI won’t be long.”
    But once Nate was on deck, with the air cooling both his face and his temper, he didn’t immediately go fetch a crew member. Instead he checked the horizon. It was too dark to see anything, Nate couldn’t see if James was following but he changed his heading anyway when he took the helm. It was a habit he’d used over the years never to leave any port in the direction he really intended to go. It was always more prudent to head one way and then alter his course after he was away from watchful eyes.
    Although that matter was easily taken care of, he knew sorting through his