Taken by You by Connie Mason Page B

had given up on trying to seduce her, but something in the depths of those blue gray eyes told her otherwise. Had he been merely biding his time all these weeks? She took a deep breath and began her mealtime prayers, a ritual she had grown accustomed to at the convent and continued on Andros.
    Morgan waited patiently while she prayed, unaware that she had deliberately launched into a lengthier version than customary. Something told her she was going to need all the help she could get tonight.
    “Are you finished. Sister Luca?” Morgan asked, stressing the title. “The food grows cold.”
    “Si,” Luca said, concentrating on the food on her plate. She picked up her fork and began eating.
    Morgan watched her, his gaze hot and hungry.
    “Is… is something wrong?” she asked nervously.
    “No, you look lovely tonight, though I’d prefer seeing you in something more colorful. Nevertheless, black suits you. It is far more fetching than drab gray. Too bad it’s raining. A walk on the beach would be a perfect end to an enlightening day.”
    “Enlightening? How so?”
    “You wouldn’t be interested. Let’s just say I learned something today that pleases me.”
    Luca didn’t like the direction of the conversation, so she changed it. “I saw the Queen’s Glory arriving today. Is Mr. Crawford back? Why isn’t he joining us?”
    “Mr. Crawford is busy tonight.”
    “Oh. Have you decided to set me free? You’ll be leaving soon to be about your business of pirating. I’ll just be in your way.”
    “In my own good time, Sister, in my own good time. Are you finished eating?”
    Luca set down her fork. “Sí”
    “I’ll see you to your room.”
    “There is no need.”
    His eyes turned pure silver. “Oh, but there is. Come along, Sister.
    Luca knew they were alone in the house; after preparing dinner, Lani left to be with her own family in the village. She would not return until early the following morning.
    “Good night, Captain,” Luca said when they reached her room.
    Morgan quirked a tawny brow and opened the door. Lani had lit a brace of candles within before she’d left for the night; they bathed the room in a golden glow. When Luca stepped inside and tried to close the door in Morgan’s face, he pushed past her.
    “Excuse me while I say my prayers,” Luca said. Her voice held an unwelcome tremor. The way Morgan was looking at her made her tingle and burn. She approached the bed and dropped to her knees, praying more fervently than she ever had before.
    Morgan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. She prayed long and hard, until her knees hurt and her back ached. Morgan appeared unmoved by her lengthy prayers and more than a little impatient while Luca renewed her vows to keep herself pure for God, asking for strength to avoid Satan’s evil temptation. Morgan smiled without humor during her recitation.
    “Enough, Luca,” Morgan said impatiently after a lengthy period of time.
    “Please leave the room so that I may retire.”
    “This is my home and you’re my… guest. I go where I please.”
    “Your prisoner, you mean.”
    “Call it whatever you like. I’ve been more than patient with you. You know what I want.”
    “What you want is to rape a woman intended for God.”
    His eyes glittered dangerously. “I’ve never raped a woman in my life and I don’t intend to start now. How do you know you are meant for a religious life? That kind of life seems singularly unappealing. A fool can see that you’re a sensual creature, as unsuited to a religious life as I am. And I am no fool.”
    Luca sucked in a ragged breath. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Until I met you I had never been kissed. I hated being kissed by you.” There, Luca thought smugly, now he knew exactly what she thought of his attempts at seduction.
    “Did you now?” Morgan said. “Perhaps I didn’t try hard enough.” He grasped her arms and pulled her from her knees onto his