Read Defiant: 5 (Noble Passions) for Free Online Page B

horrified him. “You climbed the mainsa’l?”
    “That’s what they call it, you know. The mainsa’l. I could
see forever. The wind whipping past. It was glorious.”
    “Don’t ever do that again.”
    “Ned, you better sit down. You don’t look well.”
    “Sophia—”
    She put out a lip. “You’re starting to sound just like Ewan.”
    Hell and damnation. He was beginning to understand Ewan,
that raging look of dread in his eyes, his incessant warbling.
    He grabbed an extra blanket from the bed and threw himself
into the chair. “You take the bed. I’ll sleep here.”
    Her eyes widened. “You can’t sleep on that chair. You’ll
fall over.”
    “I’ll survive.” He dragged his trunk over and propped his
feet on it and then tried to make himself comfortable. He covered himself with
the blanket. Would that he could hide. “When you’re ready, blow out the lamp.”
    It swung above the bed on a hook, casting eerie shadows. She
frowned at him but did so, and with that puff the shadows were gobbled up by
pitch black.
    Ned shivered as he listened to her nestling into the bed.
The sound of the sheets and covers raked on his nerves. She would be warm and
soft to sleep next to. He scuttled the thought as his cock rose.
    Damn it all to hell anyway. What had he ever done to deserve
this? Bad enough they had to sleep in the same cramped room but to have to
listen to her—rustling about and breathing —wanting her as he did. It was
torture to be sure.
    He reminded himself this was the best solution. Now that
MacDougal knew she was a woman, there was no way he could allow her to stay in
his room. And Percy—well, that did not bear thinking about. They could have
asked Billingsly to move out, he supposed, and let Sophia sleep with Prudence,
but that thought made his gut clench as well.
    This was the best option by far. For everyone. Everyone but
him.
    At least he could keep an eye on her.
    Or so he thought until he sputtered awake hours later to
find her gone.
    * * * * *
    Sophia stood on the bow of the boat in the dark as the wind
and rain lashed her face. She loved it. Loved it. Not only was the storm
elemental and fierce, it hid her tears.
    Surely she hadn’t expected Ned to greet her with open arms.
Not when she had barged in on his adventure as she had. But she certainly hadn’t
expected him to be so horrid. His expression had devastated her.
    Foolish girl , it said.
    But then her heart agreed.
    She was foolish.
    Foolish to ever think that he—
    “You’re soaked.”
    She whirled around though she knew what she’d see. More
glowering.
    She was right.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m reveling.” She thrust out her chin in case he didn’t
believe her.
    He gaped at her. “Reveling?”
    “Yes.” She didn’t mean to shout but his wintry demeanor
annoyed her tremendously. She threw out her arms. “Look at this!”
    “It’s a storm.”
    “It’s beautiful. The waves are wild, untamed—”
    “You could be swept overboard.”
    “The wind is howling and the rain is savage. It’s glorious.”
    “It’s freezing. Come inside.”
    “It’s not freezing. It’s summer.”
    “ I’m cold.”
    “Then you go inside.”
    “Sophia Fiona—”
    “Don’t call me that.”
    “It’s your name.”
    “You sound like Ewan.”
    “I’m starting to think Ewan is a saint.”
    She glared at him. “What a beastly thing to say.” She hated
that her chin wobbled a little. Hated that he winced.
    “I’m sorry, Sophia. This has been trying for me.” He sluiced
the water from his face. “Won’t you please come inside?”
    “All right. Fine.”
    “You will?”
    “You did say please.”
    He blew out a breath and offered her his arm.
    She frowned at it. “I’m a cabin boy, remember? You don’t
offer a cabin boy your arm.” When he didn’t lower it, she smacked it. “Someone
will see.”
    That caught his attention and he slowly lowered his arm. “Right,
then. Come inside.” He