Falling for the Pirate by Amber Lin Page B

slayed him without even trying, and for that, well, he might have hated her.
    Except, it felt like something else entirely.
    …
    Julia dozed for a long while, floating in a dream. Inside this dream, she was cradled in a tantalizing contrast of warm silk and coarse hardness. The musky scent of sandalwood and something undefinable drifted around her. Back and forth, back and forth.
    Thwack.
    A thud came from far away, drawing her back to consciousness. She fought it, struggling to remain asleep. Back and forth. Back and—
    A muffled male voice shouted from above her. Thwack.
    All right, she was awake. Her eyes flew open. Her body froze as she took stock. She was on a ship. She was on the pirate’s ship. And she was sleeping next to him. Not precisely naked, but not precisely clothed.
    Well, if she’d been trying to completely ruin herself, she couldn’t have succeeded better. Don’t think about it. That plan had merit. She could go up on deck, casually depart the ship, and return to his house. There was no need to dwell on that rather hard, ridge-like pressure against her hip. Even though… What did it mean, that ridge? No. No dwelling.
    This was simple, really.
    She could extract herself from his warm, cushy grasp. Even though…really, how many limbs did he have? Every single one of them was on her or around her or shoved bluntly between her thighs. And then she could leave. He would be angry—but with her embarrassment fresh in her mind, facing his wrath seemed preferable to facing his awkwardness.
    Or what if he wasn’t awkward? What if he had women entertain him in his cabin all the time and this was just an ordinary morning for him?
    Yes, definitely leaving. And maybe she wouldn’t even stop at his house. She would keep walking and walking until her shame swallowed her whole.
    She pulled herself free and smoothed the dress. Unfortunately, the silk would rather stand out on the docks. Nate snored, and she jumped. He turned over with a sigh, sprawling over the place her body had been. Was it still warm? Was he seeking her without knowing it?
    Stop thinking, remember? Oh, right.
    In a sea chest tucked into the corner she found men’s clothes. They were much larger than the ones she’d had before. Still, they were less conspicuous than the rumpled turquoise supper gown. She changed quickly, imagining at any moment that Nate would wake and find her with one leg in her stockings and the other in his trousers.
    Her luck held.
    He was still sleeping when she rolled up the sleeves and hems. At least the black boots Mrs. Wheaton had given her to wear here could pass for men’s boots on first glance. And that was all she had—first glance. If someone gave her a second glance, she was done for.
    She crept into the hallway, wondering if she could find the way she had come. It turned out to be easier than she’d expected. In the large companionway, a group of boys finished filing up the ladder. Keeping her head down, she followed them up. The sun blinded her and the deck bent her knees—but she caught herself before falling. The ship didn’t move much, just a slight sway that made her unsteady.
    She was completely out in the open. Exposed. And yet, strangely, unafraid. Maybe she was still dreaming. But it seemed as though for once she was competent, in a way she hadn’t felt climbing the chimney, getting caught by Nate. She was a thief, wasn’t she? And so, she would act like one, blending into the setting, sauntering across the deck as though she had every right to be there.
    No one shouted, “ You there, stop!” No one noticed her at all.
    The boys had spread out to various stations on the ship, most of them well clear of the gangway. Only a couple of boys were here, working together on the rail.
    Then someone did shout. “Stupid boy! What are you doing?”
    A man smacked a boy in the face. The boy staggered back, hand over his face, glaring at the man. It was the boy from last night, the one who had allowed her