“For how long? Eventually, he’ll realize no one is coming.”
Christian stared at her with those all-seeing eyes and her scalp prickled.
Would he recognize her? Her hand lifted to push a mess of curls over her shoulder. If only she could braid it. But she couldn’t risk it. Not with how perceptive he was. With a sigh, she wiped at her sweat-dampened neck.
“For a timid wallflower, you’re handling this all quite well.”
The term sent a barb of heat through her. “Just because I choose not to socialize doesn’t mean I’m incapable of surviving a crisis.”
He blinked at her sharp retort and flashed her a rueful smile. “Clearly I’ve been searching for competent partners in all the wrong places.”
She rolled her eyes. Flirting? In a filthy brig. How romantic. Her blue dress had gone grey in places and the wrinkles made her skirts stick to her legs in the most unsightly way. Still, she couldn’t help holding his intense gaze.
“Surely you have more women to choose from than you could ever know what to do with.”
His lips curved. “I suppose.”
Something cold flashed through Samantha’s belly and she blinked.Jealousy? She nearly laughed. She had no right to be jealous.
“Even with my... hordes of women, I can’t stand most of them.”
This conversation was entirely inappropriate. But she couldn’t help asking.
“Why? Don’t you want to marry?”
He shrugged. “They want the idea of me. The brave lieutenant. But they don’t want the reality. The fact that I spend more time at sea than at home would drive them away eventually. Why would I want that?”
“What if you found a woman who wanted to make her home at sea with you?” She flushed and dropped her gaze to the floor.
Christian snorted. “Good luck finding a woman like that. Besides, even if she existed, the navy wouldn’t allow it.”
The navy. What was she doing? Even if he said yes, she would never be a consideration. At the end of the day, Christian remained her enemy, and she’d do well to remember it.
“What about you, Miss Warstein? Why aren’t you married? Don’t tell me a woman as beautiful as you hasn’t had offers.”
“Believe it or not, Lieutenant, not every young woman dreams of leaping into the arms of the first man who asks for her hand.”
“What about the second or third?”
She winced. He would never understand. Besides, what could shetell him?Because I want to be a pirate, to sail the seas with a ship under my command, and no man would accept that.She bit back a laugh. Imagined his reaction. Any man’s reaction. No, marriage was not for her.
But deep inside, a dull ache started. The same one she got when Abigail tried her silly close-your-eyes trick. She wrapped her arms around her legs. He’d shown her what it could be like between two people. For one brief, glorious, hour she’d experienced passion. And now she wanted more.
Damn him.
She searched for a generic answer. “I haven’t found the right man.”
“Ah. Say no more.” The words dripped with male knowledge.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re one of those girls who believe in true love. You’re waiting for a knight in shining armor to come sweep you off your feet.”
She choked. She couldn’t help it. While her shoulders heaved, she bent, gasping for breath. When she finally regained her composure, she straightened. Christian stared at her with wide eyes.
“Oh, Lieutenant. I’m afraid I don’t harbor such fanciful notions. Love is for fools.” He blinked and she cleared her throat. “I meant, I haven’t found a man willing to give me freedom. One who won’t keep me under his thumb.”
His head tilted to the side. “You’re looking for a spineless fool then? One who will bow to your every whim and never stand up to you.”
