Read Online Bring Me the Horizon by Jennifer Bray-Weber - Free Book Online Page B

with Cutler. He was both primal and gentle, oscillating between unbridled tupping and sweet love-making. Somewhere along the way, she lost herself with him. In his arms, a crazy feeling elated her, like floating on the mists of a waterfall, buoyant and colorful.
    She had awakened curled into him, naked flesh to flesh, sometime in the early morning—the sky beyond his windows still cloaked in darkness. She’d snuggled deeper into his warmth, breathing his musk, and had fallen back to sleep. When she woke the second time, he was gone. He had left her alone in his cabin—a sign of trust. Take that, Antonia.
    Now, as she looked out across the harbor at two more ships as large as Rissa , her excitement muddled with anxiousness. Soon she would be face to face with the man who took her sister. And she had every intention of making him pay for what he had done.
    “That grand ship is Captain Fox’s Triumph .” Cutler sauntered up beside Gracie, pointing to the ship directly across from them.
    She glanced at his profile, itching to rub her knuckles down his stubbled cheeks, as she had done last night. Mercy, he was beautiful. Mayhap when this was over, she’d get the chance again.
    “The Triumph ,” she said. “A name like that sounds pretentious.”
    “A ship is only as prosperous as her crew,” he said.
    “And captain.”
    He bent low to drip husky whispers into her ear. “Aye. A captain who can lead her to uncharted horizons and discover and conquer bountiful treasures. Relentlessly, I might add.”
    A shiver stole over her skin, stirring her most private spots.
    He chuckled, steering the conversation back into safer waters. “And that one there, beyond the Triumph is Sablewing , Carrion’s bucket.”
    That drew her attention away. “So we will be boarding his ship?”
    “ We won’t be boarding anything. I will meet him at his favorite drinking hole in port.”
    “But I’m coming with you.” He didn’t think he’d leave her behind, did he? ’Twas absurd. She had to go.
    “No. It’s too dangerous, turtle.” He swiped at a wayward tendril of hair caught on her forehead. Too quickly, she popped his hand away.
    “You mustn’t deny me. I need to see Carrion. I have something to say to him.” Her voice crackled with fear and anger. She swallowed against the growing lump in her throat.
    Cutler tilted his head down as if reprimanding a child. “I will relay any message you wish to give, but you will stay on this ship and out of harm’s way. There is no argument.”
    Gracie drew in a fiery breath. “Richard is right. You are a stubborn arse!”
    His brow shot up. “Richard? When have you spoken to Richard?”
    Suddenly, she regretted her temper and blurting out Richard’s name. “I...”
    He slapped the railing. “Cough up your clack,” he barked. “When have you spoken to him? Have you been prowling my ship when you were to be in your cabin?” The lash of his harsh accusation stung.
    She struggled to recover from the bite. “I may make questionable decisions, but you charge me with being a fool.”
    “Which is accurate, lass, if you are putting yourself at risk amongst a crew of pirates. Pirates who might find a pretty pullet temptation enough to go against the laws of this ship. Thus, your foolishness could land them in trouble.”
    “I take offense,” she bristled, “as I have not left my cabin. How could I when you keep me locked up inside. Richard comes to me.”
    Lucid eyes narrowed, as if he hadn’t heard correctly. Cutler bent closer. “Comes to you? When?”
    “When I am to sup.”
    “Hobbs doesn’t bring your food?”
    “Nay.”
    “Does he use a key to gain entrance?”
    “Nay. He comes through your cabin.”
    “Does he,” Cutler seethed.
    Admittance might be doing Richard harm. She didn’t want to be responsible for a hostile clash between the friends. “He comes only to talk...and pray,” she sputtered all too quickly.
    “Pray,” Cutler snorted. His hand moved to his