Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
All this said as he wrapped her in a blanket. Because, yes, it was cold.
And the candles were flickering, and the food… it smelled a whole lot better than the slop she ate day in and day out. Usually, Eugenia only got to watch other people eat like this, unless she conned one of the crew into giving her a bite for free.
After taking the chair across from her, he nodded at the food. “Go ahead and eat.”
But it felt… completely against the rules she’d adjusted to. Rules that had grown comforting in their familiarity. “I’m not sure I’m hungry.”
“Indulge me.” His grin grew, roguish and self-possessed. “Or are you going to keep shaking in your boots?”
Brow cocked, she gave him a glare and picked up the fork. And knife.
The man was pretty damn sure of himself to give her a knife. And she couldn’t help but laugh, looking down at the serrated edge and the polished glean of stainless steel. Using it to cut flaking fish that had no need for a knife… felt foreign. But she did, preparing a forkful covered in some kind of herb sauce.
And took a bite.
Understanding what he was saying loud and clear.
He wasn’t afraid of her temper. Or that she’d tried to kill a man the day before. Or that even in that moment she watched candlelight play off the blade and considered if she could stab him before he might stop her.
Distracted by such thoughts, Eugenia muttered, “Who’s going to shoot you in the back of the head, I wonder?”
“Thinking of Neil?” Such manners, such suave smiles. Where was the lazy cowboy, and who was this stranger?
“He got what he wanted. You said you’d never seen him happier. And then that was the end of him.” This person was a stranger. One she looked dead in the eyes. “No one gets to be happy in this world, on this ship… not even you, I think.”
Daring to lean closer, to put his fingers on hers, the captain said, “I’m happy right now.”
“And I have a knife in my hand.” And his wrist was right there. She was looking right at it.
“One I hope you’ll use before your dinner gets cold.”
How he could pour it on thick, knowing just how low to drop that southern drawl to make her shiver. Shaking off his touch, needing both hands, another bite of fish went to her lips.
Yet, once her hand went down, his touch came back. “I’ve been thinking of ways to make you happy too.”
“Oh, this should be good. Let’s hear them, cowboy.” She shook off his fingers again. “Considering the stellar job you’ve done over the last six months, I anticipate excellent dinner entertainment.”
Playfully wounded, his eyes glittered in the dark. “We’ve had some fun here and there.”
“True. I really enjoyed breaking your fancy dinner plates.”
“I think that’s when I first knew I loved you.” He took a sip of water, wine conspicuously not on the table that evening. “Don’t get me wrong. There was something the moment when you stared up at me on the dock. I wanted you then like I’ve never wanted anyone. But when you had your hair tied up, humming as you scrubbed. The way your cheeks got pink to be caught. Even that cute scream. I loved you that moment to the point there was no undoing it.”
“Men don’t talk like this.” How she wished her words would have come out less breathless.
“I do. To you.”
Whatever this was, she was going to put an end to it. After all, he’d given her a knife. “Aaron, you can cut the seduction routine. You already fucked me.”
His correction was paired with a sinister smirk. “Made love.”
“I wouldn’t know the difference. It sure felt like I was being fucked.” As in fucked over. Which brought out that very color to her cheek he commented on.
That made him laugh.
Shoving the rest of the fish in her mouth to make a point that she’d had enough of whatever this was, Eugenia said, “Well, this was exceedingly domestic, but I’m done. Let’s get the fucking over with so I can ice my swollen crotch and go back to sleep.”
“No sex tonight.” He took a bite of fish, chewing slow.
“How are you going to get me pregnant if you don’t—”
“Fuck you?” Another slow bite of fish, the captain taking his sweet time after interrupting to answer. “There’s no rush. There’s also no doubt that I’ll get to watch your belly swell with my baby. Boy or girl, our kid will be perfect, and you will be beautiful.”
Too much by far, she crossed her arms over her chest and got out of his reaching range. “Planning for me to whelp the next governor of Mississippi?”
That set him laughing. “Maybe a doctor.”
Low blow. Faking an obnoxious yawn, Eugenia said, “My vagina hurts and I hate you, so let’s wrap this up. You got duties, and I’m tired.”