“I’m sorry.”
He lifted his chin slightly. “Why? It’s a common enough story in the ports. It’s not an easy life for a lot of people.”
“That couldn’t have given you any comfort when you were little.”
“I didn’t dwell on it much.”
“Too much for you to do?”
He chuckled. “Baba always said I was out looking for trouble every minute I was awake. She couldn’t figure out how I survived my childhood.”
“Any incriminating stories or just the usual thievery and knavery?”
Marc turned his head to me, and his eye twinkled. “Do you think there’s anything usual about me?”
My attention invariably fell on his eyepatch. “No, I suppose not.”
He brushed the back of his finger against the thick cloth. “Some stories are best left untold.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”
His good humor fled, and he rolled onto his side away from me. “We should get some rest. We might have to leave here early to avoid our old acquaintances.”
I pursed my lips, but gingerly lay down beside him. My thoughts swirled with questions, and they all focused on what lay underneath that eye patch. I was still thinking about it when I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 29
A sun-chapped hand shook my shoulder. “Rose. Time to get up.”
I wrinkled my nose and buried my face deeper into the pillow. “Just five more minutes.”
The whispered voice came closer, and warm breath wafted over my cheek. “I could do a lot in five minutes.”
My eyes flew open, and I rolled around so quickly that I crashed into my bedmate. Or rather, my former bedmate. Marc sat beside me, fully clothed and with a teasing smile on his lips. He grasped my arm to help me with my balance.
“Going somewhere in a hurry?” he teased.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not if you keep holding me.”
He brushed his thumb over my arm. “I thought you might need the help, and it keeps me entertained.” His eyes dropped lower. “Though we could do more entertaining.”
I followed his gaze and saw that the sheets had pooled in my lap, revealing my bra and most everything else about me. A red-hot embarrassment climbed up my cheeks. I grabbed the covers and intended to yank them up, but he grabbed my hand.
“We don’t have time for that. It’s time to get up.”
I lifted an eyebrow and glanced at the window. No light came from the street besides lamplight. “What time is it?”
“Half past four,” he told me as he leaned back, releasing me. “The pirate hour.”
I sat up and furrowed my brow. “Really?”
“Any hour is a pirate’s hour if there’s treasure and adventure to be had,” he quipped as he stood. “We need to head out now so the night will cover our tracks.”
“It’ll be hard to cover shambling. . .” I murmured as I leaned over and grabbed some of my clothes. A faint whistle floated from behind me. I twisted around and beheld Marc admiring my butt. The covers had fallen further in my efforts to cover myself. I yelped and dove under the sheets. “Turn around!”
A wicked smile slipped onto his lips as he tipped his head. “As you wish. I’ll meet you out in the hall.”
He gave me another appreciative look before he strolled out of the room. I hurried into my clothes and soon stepped out into the hall. The passage was cast in deep darkness. Everything was as silent as the grave. I only hoped it wouldn’t be mine.
