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against the material holding them, but all these feelings added to what he was doing.
    Then he plucked a nipple with his free hand. One little added touch. Once, twice, and by the third time, she came apart. Her whole body shook and convulsed. Her toes curled in her slippers and every muscle tightened and strained and came apart. She cried out long and loud, calling his name, calling for God, praising the unbelievable way this one man made her fly.
    He stayed with her body as she writhed and screamed, and only when her muscles went completely lax, only when her breaths were mere pants and her head hung to her chest, did he move away.
    Elise was past thinking. She was aware of his movements, though. Her eyes were too heavy to open, so she listened. He swept her skirts back over her legs, he swiped a cloth over her chest where he’d spent himself and he tugged her bodice back up. He untied her arms, his own hands sure and strong, and rubbed them until feeling returned in a stinging rush. Finally, he swept her up into his arms where she snuggled against him, her face pressed to his warm neck that smelled spicy and enticing.
    She placed a lingering kiss on the thick cord of muscle and didn’t speak. Where he wanted to take her or what he wanted to do, she didn’t care. But she knew there would be no turning back now.
    A niggling part of her brain told her he hadn’t truly taken her, she was still a virgin, but with her new knowledge from this one evening, would that matter?
    Unfortunately, her uncle would probably say no. She’d been warned that a doctor would be called to confirm her virginity as her fiancé was expecting a virgin bride. She sneered inside. The fiancé wanted her pure. And this pirate wanted her pure. Two men, both wanting her intact for two different reasons. So long as her virginity remained, she was valuable. What would happen when it was lost? Then she’d be free.
     
    Raphael held her close as he took her back to her cabin. The men, thankfully, didn’t approach him. With the way Elise had screamed tonight, he had no doubt they knew what he’d been doing. Did he care? Not as long as they kept their hands off her.
    In the past, when he’d had a willing woman on board, if she didn’t mind, he’d share her with the crew. But this girl was different. He could tell himself it was because she was a virgin and he didn’t trust his men with untried flesh. He’d be right, but more than that, he wanted to be selfish for once with a woman. He wanted her touch and her sighs and her lips to cry out only his name.
    When they reached her cabin, he laid her on the bed and brushed her hair back from her face. She smiled and turned to her side as if she’d go back to sleep. He considered joining her. But it was one thing to love her body when he had a clear head. If he slept with her and woke up with her in his arms, he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from taking her fully. And if the governor even thought she was ruined, Raphael could say goodbye to revenge.
    She murmured something when he pulled away, but he didn’t turn back. He’d exhausted her untried body. Better to let her sleep it off and come what may tomorrow.
    He closed her door with a quiet click and returned to his cabin. His first mate, Reddy, was waiting by the door. He didn’t want to speak to anyone, but Reddy wouldn’t be here without a good reason. Raphael had an idea what it was about, but he’d let Reddy be the one to open up.
    Without a word, Raphael entered the room, Reddy following and closing the door behind him. Raphael poured them both a drink and collapsed into the chair behind his desk.
    They remained silent for long moments. Finally Reddy spoke.
    “The lads were talking about what they’d do when we land in a few days. Some of them are thinking of taking their share and buying land.”
    Raphael nodded. “ Bien . They need to plan out their futures.”
    “But then, some wanted to know if they’d have to take up