The Black Morass (Pirates of the Coast Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

not a hotel.  It is a ship, in the middle of the ocean, filled with randy sea dogs who would love to give you a quick poke.”  She was not sure what that meant, but she suspected it did not bode well for her.  Jean Marc collected a washcloth and again motioned for her to take the item.  “Second, as long as you are a guest aboard the Morass, it would be better for you to avail yourself of my protection.  If you sleep in this cabin, the crew will presume you are mine, and they will not touch you.”  He shrugged.  “Otherwise, you are fair game, Mon Chou .”
    At his pronouncement, she gulped.  “Fair game?”
    “No prey, no pay, Maddie.  And we accept all forms of compensation, especially those of the flesh.”  With a flick of his wrist, he beckoned, and despite her reservations she took a single step in his direction.  “If you wish to avail yourself of my cabin and, thereby, my protection, you must obey my orders, as agreed.  What is your answer?”
    With nary a protest, she stomped to the tub, snatched the soap and cloth, worked up a thick lather, and scrubbed his back.
    “Lower.”  He chuckled, and she bit back a curse but, oh, what she thought, as she inched further below the water line.  “Lower.”
    Biting her lip, she stretched long, grazed the cleft of his bottom, and shrieked.  Recoiling, she met his taunting expression, flung the wet rag at his face, and fled the cabin.

THE BLACK MORASS

    CHAPTER THREE
    A sennight later , anchored just off the coast of a tiny island, Jean Marc handed Maddie to Tyne, who stood in the jolly boat.  “Careful, as she is valuable cargo.”
    “Where are you taking me?”  The lady yelped, as a wave crashed against the hull of the Morass , and the smaller craft shifted.  With jerky movements, she glanced left and then right.  “Are you sure this is safe?”
    “Easy, Mon Chou .  You will be all right.”  In a flash, he slid down the rope.  When he sat on the bench beside her, she scooted so close she might as well have occupied his lap, which was fine with him.  “Shove off, Tyne.”
    “Aye, Cap’n.”  With another scowl of disapproval, the first mate grabbed the oars and heaved hard.
    As they neared the coast, he admired the palms gently swaying in the soft breeze, while she fidgeted and peered over the edge.  Ah, his plan worked perfectly, and with a little luck she would sleep in his bed that night.  A sharp lurch signaled they landed on the beachhead, and she jumped.
    “Oh, dear, are we sinking?”  With a death grip on his elbow, she met his stare and widened her eyes.
    “No.”  Laughing, he shook his head, stood, and leaped into the tide.  Then he turned, outstretched his arms, and flicked his fingers.  “Come.”
    Just as he expected, she hesitated.  “But I cannot swim.”
    “It is shallow enough that you can walk, Mon Chou .”  At the end of his tether, he cursed, and she gasped.
    Wrinkling her nose, she looked on the ocean as though it were some sort of mud pit.  “But I will get my dress wet.”
    To wit he snapped his fingers.  “I am waiting.”
    “You will not be satisfied until you kill me.”  Grumbling incoherently, she did as he bade.
    “Cease the dramatics, as I have no patience for such nonsense.”  A sack filled with provisions rested at the bow, and he snatched the bag.  “Tyne, return for us just after sunset.”
    “ Return —wait, where is Mr. Tyne going?”  Maddie craned her neck, as he caught her about the waist and led her to the shore.  “Jean Marc, what is happening?  Am I to be marooned?”
    “How your imagination twists and turns, Madalene.”  When she dug in her heels, he tightened his hold on her wrist and trudged alee through the dense tropical foliage.  “If I were going to abandon you, do you think I would be here, now?”
    “I have made no secret of the fact that you frighten me.”  She shrugged.  “And I do not understand how that surprises you, given what you asked of