Read Online Unexpected Treasure: A High Seas Adventure by Tammy Andresen - Free Book Online Page A

He was the son of a duke and a man of the world. He had probably been with many women and this was just one more time. But the things he had said about her being his angel and watching her sleep. Surely, she meant something to him.
    The door opened and Rex walked in with a tray full of food. Her stomach growled loudly at the sight and Sarah groaned. All her careful arranging had been for not.
    He chuckled. “I’m hungry too. It takes a lot of energy… we’ll have to keep you well fed.”
    He set the tray down and Sarah sat up, pulling the covers up as she went. Her thoughts had made her bashful. “Have you… have you done this with many women?” She looked at the piece of bread she pulled from the tray, picking at it. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Rex, afraid of what she might see. It was silent for so long, that finally, she lifted her head.
    His look was soft. “I won’t lie to you, Sarah. There have been others. But never like this and never again.”
    “Oh,” she muttered because she didn’t know quite what to say. Her feelings were a jumble. It somehow hurt to think of him with other women but that wound was salved by his promise to be with only her.
    “We are meant to be together, Sarah.” He sat next to her bringing his lips to hers. “I knew it even before I knew who you were. Everything about you fits me. And I think you felt it too. I know you were at ease with me even when you trusted almost no one.”
    “I did. Though I doubted it whenever we weren’t together.” She clutched the blankets tighter.
    His arms wrapped around her and Rex pulled her into lap. He grabbed a fig and held it before her. He raised his eyebrows in question and she nodded her ascent. His fingers gently placed the fig between her lips and she closed her lips around it. Its sweet flavor was only enhanced by the delivery into her mouth. Squeezing her, he gave the blankets a slight tug. “We’ll never be apart again.”
    She let him pull the blankets away, no longer feeling shy. “What shall I do when you sail the pirate ship to my uncle’s?”
    Popping another morsel of food into her mouth, he asked, “What do you want to do?”
    “I want to face him.” She sat straighter.
    Rex gave her the most beautiful grin she had ever seen. “We had better make some time for shooting lessons. If you’re going into that, you’re going to be armed.”
    “I agree. We can go out in just a little bit?” she squirmed in his lap and his made a soft growling sound, his hands began running down her back.
    “A little bit.” The tray of food was forgotten as Sarah lost herself in her husband’s arms.
    A few hours later they stood on the deck as Sarah fired round after round. “You’re getting much better.”
    Taking a final shot, she lowered the weapon and gave a satisfied nod. She was better and learning to fire the weapon made her feel more in control than she had in a long time. Maybe ever.
    “I suppose you teaching me how to shoot proves you’re motives are not nefarious. Who teaches a woman they are kidnapping how to defend herself?” She giggled but Rex did not appear to share her humor.
    He gave her a fierce scowl, “That is what proves to you that my intentions are honorable? Not marrying you? Protecting you from pirates or spending the night―”
    “Have you had honorable intentions for every woman you’ve spent the night with? Or saved from pirates? I suppose I am the only one you married…” Her grin deepened. The entire relationship, she had been insecure. It was nice to see the shoe on the other foot, though she wouldn’t make him squirm too long.
    His scowl went from dark to black. “Of course you are the only woman I have ever married. Sarah, how could you think otherwise?”
    “Rex, I am teasing you.” Her laugh was swallowed by the waves.
    By degrees, his expression softened until he joined her in the laughter. Then, in full view of the crew, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.