So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

“I will.” Rupert pushed off from the pier and grabbed hold of the oars.

“It looks like we argued over nothing.” Ansel shaded his eyes as he watched her progress. “You wanted her to decide her own destiny. She’s doing it.”

“She can’t travel alone.” Rupert pulled hard on the oars. Dammit, why was she doing something so dangerous? Was she that desperate to get away from him?

As he continued to row, he inhaled deeply and blew air in her direction. The breeze increased in power as it crossed the water till it finally hit her boat and stopped her progress. She didn’t give up. Bending over the oars, she heaved hard and once again moved toward the shore.

He’d have to use a stronger wind. With his hands, he gathered up some air and blasted it toward the Golden Star, taking his dinghy with it. As he skipped across the surface headed toward her, the wind shoved her boat back toward the ship. Using an oar, she jabbed at the side of the ship, trying to push away.

“Brigitta, stop!”

She twisted around, half standing, to see who was calling her. Waves, caused by his wind, rocked her boat hard.

“No!” He cut the wind off, but there was no way to stop the waves. Her boat tipped, dumping her into the sea.

“Brigitta!” Dammit. Did she know how to swim? Even if she did, the waves could slam her against the side of the ship or cause the dinghy to crash on top of her.

He yanked off his jacket, hat, and boots, then dove into the water. The impact shoved his mask askew, and he tore it off. Swimming furiously, he reached her in a matter of seconds, although each second that ticked by seemed an eternity.

He spotted her blond head breaking the surface a second time. She reached for the dinghy but couldn’t get a good hold on it.

“Brigitta.” He reached for her and managed to grab an arm.

She stiffened with a gasp, her eyes wide with shock, then she went limp and sank underwater.

“Brigitta!” He pulled her up. Dammit. Why did she always react like this? He held her close and patted her face. “Brigitta.” Her eyes were closed, her face pale.

He stroked her cheek, then eased a finger between her lips. With her mouth slightly open, he leaned close. “Don’t leave me.” His lips grazed hers as he blew gently into her mouth.

Her eyes flickered open.

“Are you all right?” He skimmed a hand over her wet hair. “Did you hit your head?”

“Nay, I.…” She still looked stunned.

“No injuries?” He ran his hand down her back.

With a small gasp, she reacted, arching against him. “Y-ye can let me go.” She started to tread water, but when her legs brushed against his, she grew still.

He tightened his hold on her. “You scared me. I thought I’d lost you.”

A pained look crossed her face. “Ye’ve lost before. Everyone ye loved.”

He stiffened. “How would you—” He stopped when she touched his face.

“Yer mask is gone.”

“Hard to swim with it.”

Her hand skimmed up his cheek to his temple, where she slipped a thumb beneath the sodden scarf tied around his head. “Ye might as well take this off, too.”

He stopped her and pressed her hand against his chest. “Sweetheart, are you eager to undress me?”

Her mouth fell open, and he thought about kissing her again. Properly, this time. But just as he leaned forward, she shoved him back. “Haven’t enough women undressed you today?”

“What? What women?”

“I saw you. With all yer … admirers.” She pulled away from him and swam toward the ladder.

“Wait.” He followed her. “You think I…” Water splashed into his mouth, and he spit it out. “Dammit to hell, woman. You think I bedded them all?”

She grabbed on to the rope ladder and glared at him. “Isn’t that what pirates do?”

He grasped the rung closest to her. “Have you forgotten that I’ve been keeping my identity secret? How could I bed a woman without risking the loss of my disguise?”

She blinked. After nervously tucking some wet strands of hair behind her ear, she gave him a shy glance. “Then ye didn’t…”

“No. I didn’t bed anyone.” As her cheeks grew pink, he eased closer. “Were you worried about that?”

“Nay, of course not.” Her cheeks bloomed brighter. “I just keep hearing about all this ravishing ye supposedly do. Seducing women and stealing passionate kisses. ’Tis all Sister Fallyn can talk about. I’ve grown quite tired of hearing about it.”

“Then would you prefer to do something about it?”

She gasped. “I have no idea what ye…”

“Were you jealous?”

“Nay!” She looked aghast, then lifted her chin. “If I cared, would I be trying so hard to escape?”

Damn. That hit home. He scowled at her. “How could you risk your life like this? I told you I’d never harm you.”

“Ye’re holding me against my will. That is harm.”

His chest tightened as a stab of guilt struck him hard. How could he explain without revealing too much? The urge to confide in her was starting to overwhelm him, but he had to ignore it. He could never trust her.

She closed her eyes briefly, then gave him a weary look. “I was so close to getting away. Why did ye have to stop me?”

He could say he needed her for the ransom. Or claim he was helping her because she would be worse off with her brother. Or he could explain how dangerous it would have been for her to travel alone with no protection. But the yearning in his heart overpowered all his logical thoughts, so instead, he whispered, “Reason number five.”

Her eyes widened.

He wanted to spend more time with her. He wanted to get to know her. And dammit, he suspected he simply wanted her. He motioned toward the ladder. “Ladies first.”

She grabbed a rung, but the weight of her wet clothes made it difficult for her to climb. He planted a hand on her bottom to give her a boost up to the next rung.

“Stop that.” She turned toward him, and his heart stuttered in his chest.

Her breasts were now above sea level, and the white linen shirt was glued to them, blatantly showing the sweet round contours, the extra plumpness of her nipples, and even the tips as they hardened in reaction to the cooler air. A sound escaped him, somewhere between a moan and a gasp.

“Oh!” She dropped back into the sea.

He glanced up and spotted Tucker and some other crewmen staring down at them. “Get back to your jobs!” As they scattered, another face peered over the railing. The nun. “Sister, please fetch her cloak.”

The nun nodded and ran off.

Next to him, Brigitta groaned, her hand pressed against her chest.

“Don’t worry. I’ll carry you up, so no one can see. Just climb onto my back.” His mouth quirked. “And wrap your legs around me and squeeze me tight.”

She snorted. “That again?”

“Just trying to help.”

“No thank you.” She started up the ladder again. “Be a gentleman, if you can, and try not to stare.”

“As you wish.” He stared at her nicely rounded rump as she ascended.