Read The Pirate Prince for Free Online Page B

it.”
    “That is not your concern, my lord. Nothing matters except your life and Saliha Sultana’s safety. Allah placed Lady Willow in your path for a reason. She will make itpossible to bargain for your mother’s life without sacrificing your own.”
    Dariq sent Mustafa a censorious glare. “Mother should have come with me when I was forcibly carried from the seraglio. You know I would not have left without her had I been conscious.”
    “Had you been conscious, you would not have gotten out of the seraglio alive. I would not have struck you if your mother had not given me permission.”
    Dariq sighed. “We’ve gone over this a thousand times, Mustafa. No matter what you and Mother agreed upon, I would have stayed and fought to avenge my brothers.”
    “Your mother’s life was not in danger; yours was.”
    Dariq did not reply. His mind was still on the tempting blond houri inside his cabin.
    Could he survive weeks upon weeks without touching Willow?
    Would she leave his stronghold a virgin?
    Those were questions he could not truthfully answer.

Chapter Three
    Willow didn’t see Dariq again until he returned later that evening to escort her on deck. Recalling his warning about covering her hair, she pulled a knit cap she found in his trunk over her head and stuffed her hair beneath it.
    “Good, you are ready,” Dariq said when he arrived.
    He held the door open. With the eagerness of a child, Willow stepped onto the deck and walked to the rail. Moonlight illuminated her features as she lifted her face to the warm breeze and inhaled deeply of the fresh, salt-scented air.
    “The stars are so bright I can almost reach out and touch them,” Willow said. “And look at the moon! It’s magnificent.”
    “Aye, magnificent,” Dariq replied, his gaze riveted on her face. “Shall we stroll? The exercise will do you good.”
    He wound her arm through his and proceeded along the deck. When they approached the night watch, theman deliberately looked away. Willow couldn’t help wondering at this strange religion that wouldn’t allow a man to look upon a woman’s face.
    “Who is the large man you call Mustafa?” Willow asked curiously.
    “Mustafa was the captain of my personal guard. Now he is much more than that. I would not be alive today and master of the
Revenge
if not for him.”
    “What an odd name for a ship.”
    “Perhaps, but the name suits my purpose. Seeking revenge for Ibrahim’s sins against those I held dear is my soul purpose in life.”
    “What did Ibrahim do?”
    Dariq came to an abrupt halt. His face was stark, as if beset by painful memories he’d rather forget. “ ’Tis best you do not know the worst about Ibrahim.” He started walking again.
    Willow wanted to know what Ibrahim had done to earn Dariq’s hatred but realized Dariq would tell her nothing more. Instead, she said, “This is a large ship.”
    “She carries forty guns,” Dariq said proudly. “The
Revenge
is the flagship of my pirate fleet.”
    “Why did you become a pirate? It seems an unlikely life for a prince.”
    “My reasons are none of your concern. Suffice it to say, I had little choice. I escaped the seraglio with my life, a few loyal men and little else except for a bag of gold and gems my mother gave me from her own coffers.”
    “Who threatened your life?”
    “You ask too many questions, my curious little houri.”
    “I’m merely making conversation. Why did you call me a houri? What does it mean?”
    Dariq grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the moonlight.“A houri is one of the beautiful maidens who pleasure men in a Muslim paradise.”
    Willow’s mouth opened and then snapped shut. Stopping abruptly, she pivoted to confront Dariq. “Do not call me that again.”
    Seeing her face upturned and her eyes spitting fire, Dariq thought the word houri had been invented to describe Willow. Curling his fingers around her narrow shoulders, he pulled her against him. His right arm slid around her as his left