“Then what?” She huffed a breath. “I acknowledge that I’m a larger woman, Percy. Lacing my stays will always create a bit of a…abulge.”
“Thebaby, Heather,” he burst out. “Your stays could harm the baby.” And fuck if he didn’t find all her bulges erotic as hell.
A cough escaped her, and the flush on her cheeks deepened to a fetching crimson. “Thewhat?”
The now-familiar unpleasant swirling began in his gut once more. “Thebaby. It has been several weeks since our tryst, and this morning you were nauseated?—”
Her loud, abrupt laugh cut him off. “Pardon. But I’m not pregnant, Percy.”
Hope fluttered in his chest. “Truly?”
If it were possible, her blush deepened yet further. But she maintained contact with his gaze. “I had my courses aboard theSapphire.”
A gusty breath left him in a whoosh, his shoulders sagging as profound relief rushed through him.There is no baby.
“Thank fuck,” Percy breathed on a laugh, the lightness in his chest making him feel almost giddy. “I cannot tell you just how worried that’s made me. Even the thought of it…” He gave a little shiver.
Heather’s expression puckered in a frown before it cleared.
“As for our sleeping arrangement,” Heather began, then hesitated.
“We’ve already established a fictional romance between us for the benefit of the crew, but, despite my warnings, I don’t trust these men. They are dangerous and accustomed to quick gratification and getting everything they desire. While I trust your skill with a weapon, we cannot risk your being set upon in your sleep an entire deck below me. For that reason, I think it best that you and I share this cabin.”
Heather nodded, her arms still crossed over her breasts.
“You shall have the bed. I will sleep elsewhere,” he added.
She nodded again, pulling her lips between her teeth to worry them.
With a harsh clearing of his throat, Percy scanned the room and found his satchel leaning against the wide desk. He hurried to it, found a greying black shirt within, and pulled it over his head.
“We need to discuss?—”
“No, we don’t,” she interjected.
He spun to face her. “Pardon?”
She stood, boldly as you please, with her calves and feet bared. “We do not need to discuss that night.”
Ignoringthe wobble of hurt in her chest, Heather straightened her spine.
Percy spluttered. “But you were a?—”
“I am aware of what I was, Percy.” Undoubtedly, he’d deduced that he’d taken her virginity. But it did not bear discussing. It was over now. “I made my choice, and I do not regret it.”
But, evidently,hedid. And while she didn’t wish for children—with him oranyman—it bothered her that he foundherso objectionable.
That thought was lowering, indeed. Her stomach wobbled again, and she gritted her teeth against it.
Despite his obvious distaste for her as a partner in life, it was evident that he found her desirable for bed sport. For, no matter his words, his erection couldn’t lie.
And perhaps that was all that she could hope for with this man. Mayhap it would be so withanyman, and such would be a fine life for her.
Right now, however, she had more pressing matters to which she must attend.
She pressed her lips together before blurting, “Might there be a chamber pot in this cabin? I looked, but I haven’t found one.”
“Shite,” he cursed, his eyes widening. “I’d thought Donovan would have shown you. My apologies. The seat of easement is directly through this door.”
