Read Online A Taste of Paradise by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page B

porthole clearly revealed the outline of her upper body. Her breasts were round and deliciously full. The taut buds of her nipples thrust against the sheer material of the shirt, plump and inviting. He wanted to rip away the damn shirt and look his fill.
    He wanted . . .
    Sophia opened her eyes and scooted as far away from him as she could get. “What are you looking at?”
    â€œYou. You’ve grown into a stunning woman.”
    She pulled the blanket up to her neck and fastened her eyes on his face instead of his naked torso. “You slept nearly twenty-four hours. You were so exhausted, I knew you wouldn’t stir, so I decided to sleep in the bunk too.”
    â€œYou don’t have to explain, Sophia. The bunk is far more comfortable than the deck.”
    â€œIt won’t happen again.” She eased out of bed and gave him her back.
    Chris knew she expected him to rise and dress, and he didn’t disappoint her. “I’ll wash and shave in Blaine’s cabin so you can have some privacy,” he said. “Casper should arrive soon with hot water. Perhaps you can talk him into bringing the washtub into the cabin so you can take a hip bath.”
    Sophia’s face brightened. “Would he do that?”
    â€œI’m sure he would. I’ll have a word with him. I’m dressed—you can turn around. Just give me a moment to gather what I need and I’ll get out of your way.”
    â€œThank you.”
    He glanced out the porthole. “You can come up on deck when you’re ready. It promises to be a pleasant day.”
    Sophia thanked him again and he departed.
    â€œCaptain said you wanted a bath,” Casper told her when he arrived with her breakfast a short time later.
    â€œWould you mind?” Sophia asked.
    â€œNo, miss. The captain asked me to fetch the tub for you, and I wouldn’t think of disobeying him. I won’t be long.”
    Sophia ate her breakfast while Casper dragged in the tub and filled it with hot water from the galley. He even left a bucket of warm water beside the tub for rinsing her hair. Sophia was so grateful, she wanted to kiss him. Fearing she might embarrass him, she resisted the urge.
    â€œAnything else you need before I leave?” Casper asked.
    â€œNo, thank you. I know where to find towels and soap.”
    â€œI’ll return for the tub later. Take your time, miss.” Ducking his head, he scooted out the door.
    Sophia fetched towels and soap and placed them near the tub where she could reach them. She undressed quickly and stepped into the bath, sighing contentedly as she lowered herself into the steaming water.
    She scrubbed her body clean, dipped her head into the water, washed her hair and rinsed out the soap with clean water from the bucket. When the bathwater began to cool, she stepped out of the tub, wrapped her hair in a towel and dried herself with another. Unwilling to put soiled clothes on her clean body, she washed her shirt and breeches in the bathwater and placed them on a chair before the brazier. Then she wrapped herself in a blanket and waited for her clothing to dry.
    When Casper returned for the tub, he averted his gaze from her blanket-clad form. “I can string a line and hang your clothes topside, miss. They’ll dry faster outside in the breeze than they will inside the cabin. I can return for the tub after I’ve hung your clothes.”
    â€œThank you, Casper, that’s kind of you.”
    Casper gathered up her shirt and breeches and left.
    Feeling chilled after her bath, Sophia fed charcoal into the brazier and pulled the chair close to the heat. That was how Chris found her, toasting her toes before the spreading warmth.
    â€œDid you enjoy your bath?” he asked.
    â€œImmensely, thank you. I washed my clothes, and Casper took them outside to dry.”
    â€œI saw them hanging on a line. They should dry in no time.”
    His gaze slid over her thinly clad form.