Read The Sea Rose for Free Online

beautiful women, and I don’t know what was wrong with your
father, but I love you in this dress.” Jack tossed his leg behind
her and straddled her. She was cradled in his lap, one of his legs
on either side of her. His fingers deftly worked the laces of the
corset he’d tied several hours earlier.
    She sat dutifully still. “I wish you
wouldn’t keep saying that.”
    “ Saying what?” He
stretched the laces wide and pulled the corset open. Roselyn
inhaled deeply, filling her lungs completely. Jack had the lovely
view over her shoulder of her breasts rising and falling as her
chest expanded. “Saying that you’re not beautiful would be a lie,
and I may be many things but I’m not a liar.”
    Jack stood from the bed, deftly
lifting her to her feet with him. He turned her to face him and he
looked into her inebriated eyes. He knew that she probably wouldn’t
remember any of this in the morning. And that was all the more
reason why he couldn’t, why he wouldn’t, take advantage of
her.
    Like he said earlier, he was many
things but lecher and rapist were not among them either. He had a
reputation, that was true, but a reputation that he himself had
built and cultivated, and at least ninety percent of which was a
lie. He liked this woman. She was gutsy and brave and charming
besides being beautiful. He hadn’t figured out exactly what her
father had done to her, but he knew how harsh words from a beloved
parent could crush a child’s soul, and he would do his best during
their time together to make her see she was something
special.
    “ Look at me,” he lifted
her chin, and watched her try to focus on him. “You are a
beautiful, sensual woman. I want to bed you so badly, I ache.” He
grasped her hand and showed her how much he desired her. “I give
you fair warning that I will continue my pursuit…”
     
     
    Roselyn looked into the pirate’s rich,
black eyes, and then her gaze slid to his mouth and she watched his
lips as he formed words, but she wasn’t really listening. She
wanted him to kiss her again. Maybe it was the wine–it was
definitely the wine–but she liked the way he looked at her. She
really liked the way his kiss made her feel: both wanted and
pretty. But being pretty was proud, and therefore wicked. Her
father had drilled that into her head her entire life. The concept
was dangerous, she knew, but the inhibitions she had were slowly
drowning, and she liked feeling pretty.
    Rose put her finger across his lips
and effectively silenced him. “Too much talking, not enough
kissing.”
    This time she initiated the
kiss.
    Roselyn placed both hands on his
shoulders to steady herself as she stood on wobbly tiptoes to place
her lips on his. She didn’t know how to continue since her entire
resume of experience could be summed up in their one previous kiss.
Fortunately, her pirate was there to guide her and his arms slid
around her waist and he deepened the kiss. This time, she didn’t
bolt when he pulled her close and she felt his arousal. Soon
enough, Roselyn’s instincts took over and her hands roamed his
skin, down his strong arms and across his broad, well-muscled back.
She found the waist band on his breeches and, slowly by degrees,
she pulled at his shirt until it came free and allowed her access
to his skin.
     
     
    Jack was overwhelmed. Her soft hands
glided up his stomach and curled into the soft hair that feathered
his chest. The act nearly ended his resolve. He wanted to have her,
it was true, but not because she was weakened by alcohol. This
woman was a wonder and he wanted her to choose him when she had all
her faculties.
    But dear God, it was all he could do
to resist her temptation. She was all passion and eagerness, her
hands never stopped roaming once she discovered how her body
affected certain parts of him.
    “ Beautiful Roselyn,” he
whispered into her hair, “how is a man supposed to act like a
gentleman with such passion and loveliness before him?”
    “ But you’re