Read Online Crimson Rapture by Jennifer Horsman - Free Book Online

against the side of the boat. He turned
to Christina and in a single sweep of motion, he lifted her up. He held her
hard against his body and forced her terrified gaze to confront the gruesome
sight. "Look at him! You might have been responsible for that!"
    Shutting
her eyes tight, she cried in protest, trying desperately to twist from
mercilessly strong arms but Justin held her still, nodded to Jacob, and the
dead man was quickly thrown over the side. Then he turned her to face him and
said what she could not believe.
    "I'm
willing to tolerate a lot more from you than I would from any other women, but
I will never tolerate interference in my actions. I'll warn you once; the next
time you elicit my anger the consequences will not be pleasant. Do you
understand?"
    And
her nightmare began. She managed to nod through a silent scream. Justin set her
back in the seat. She started trembling with fear. A fear born not of the storm
or its promise of doom but of him. The real Justin Phillips frightened her more
than any storm in heaven or on earth could.
    Strong
arms and thick ropes hoisted the lifeboat up the side of the great ship and
Justin instantly became an essential actor in the bustle of activity. Everything
not built into the ship had to be secured to something that was. Jacob and two
other men led the women beneath deck and into a small cabin. Four bunks, a tiny
closet and porthole, that was all.
    Each
woman in turn submitted to being tied tightly to a bunk's pole. Christina sat
on the floor with the pole to her back and her legs stretched in front of her,
while Jacob tied a rope around her waist and chest, leaving her arms free. As
he worked to secure each woman in turn, he explained that their small chance of
surviving rested in a slim hope that the masts and sails withstood an
unimaginable force of gale winds just long enough to see the ship through the
center of the storm's eye. "The danger lies in the waves. You'll feel the
ship rock on its side real soon now and this here room will turn upside down.
Don't be afraid now, for we're only in trouble if she don't right herself,
'cause then the next wave will crush her under and, madonna," he shook his
head, "if that happens just say your prayers, ladies, 'cause we all goin'
ta hell for bein' such sinners—present company excluded, of course.
    "The
trick is keepin' the ship on keel and knowin' when she goin' under before she
does, then at least the lifeboats might be some hope, if only a slim one. I
swear, though, ladies," he surprised them with a sudden grin as he stood
up, "if there's any chance of seein' the next day, it's with Justin. Young
as he is, he's got the damnedest intuition and the sharpest senses I've ever
watched. He'll know when our time's up.
    Jacob
left and for a long while no one had a word to say. They suffered silently as
the monsoon's forces gathered and grew stronger by the minute. The wind howled
savagely, unceasingly, and the ship rocked violently. Eyes widened and faces
paled as the room slowly darkened; the black outside penetrated their small
sanctuary and destroyed any feeling of safety.
    Katie
seemed to be getting sicker. She shook visibly as though with chills and this
despite the warm air of the storm. Her pale face was drawn, a ghastly pallor
covered her skin, and Christina was becoming increasingly worried for her.
    She
had no idea how long they sat in silence, perhaps an hour or more, but suddenly
the door swung open and in walked Justin. Water fell unnoticed from his person
and he looked taller, even more devastating in the small room. The strain of
the battle showed on his face, making his sharp features harsher somehow. There
was an unmistakable air of anger about him. This was owed to having just lost
his sixth man to the storm, a responsibility he bore himself.
    The
anger dissipated when his gaze fell on Christina and he smiled. He called out
behind himself. The largest dog she had ever chanced to lay eyes upon pranced
excitedly into