The Mermaid's Pearl (Tears of the Deep Book 1) Read Online Free

is no speaking to a kidnapper.”
    He snickered. “You think I captured you? You’re the one who got yourself tangled up in my fishing net.”
    “I, uh, I’m not afraid of you,” I clarified and sat up straight to show him. Not the most convincing, but I wasn’t sure I could pull off being human.
    The man paused and cocked an eyebrow. “So brave, my lady. But perhaps you should be scared.”
    “I’m not yours, and I want out of here. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
    “I hate to hear that, dear, because there is a lot I want to do with you.”
    I frowned at his innuendo and crossed my arms. There was no way I would let this cocky human belittle me so. I wouldn’t show him any fear or doubt as long as I had the fight in me. If he tried to touch me, I would fight back.
    “Apparently you don’t know where you are just yet. Let me let you in on that information. You are now a prisoner aboard my ship— The Devil’s Pearl . This is the captain’s quarters, and you’re speaking to the one and only Captain Aiden Flynn,” he responded with a devilish twinkle in his eye. He placed one arm behind his back and took a small bow, his eyes never leaving mine. He was so arrogant and cocky that he made even the silly bow seem natural.
    I stop my sudden intake of breath. Even below the surface, we knew his name. I heard all the stories. It was worse than I feared. One of the most dangerous pirates on the seas kidnapped me. Captain Aiden Flynn, notorious womanizer, drunkard, and selfish man, who ruled his boat with a rather sharp sword. He walked into taverns as if they were his own, out drinking anyone he came upon. From what I heard, he always finished a fight, never afraid to severely wound or kill his opponent.
    If he found out what I was, he would hunt down the last of the merfolk and take them hostage just as humans had done before.
    I jumped from my seat and stumbled for the porthole next to me. A yelp flew from my mouth as I fell forward, but my hands managed to grab the wood before I hit the ground.
    “What the bloody hell are you doing?” Aiden cried out.
    His rough hands grabbed ahold of me as I reached out to open the porthole. I yanked on it with all my strength, but it wouldn’t open. My elbow flew toward Aiden’s face, but he ducked out of the way.
    “I’m trying to get out of here!” I growled. “Are you that dense?”
    He chuckled and danced his fingers up my sides, causing me to laugh loudly and fall backwards.
    “So the lady is ticklish.”
    “I don’t know what that is, but you better let me go,” I screamed and brought my foot up with the intention of slamming it between his knees.
    Aiden sighed and pushed me against the wall before my heel could connect. He brushed my hair out of the way so he could nuzzle his nose along my ear and whisper, his breath hot on my neck.
    “Such in a rush to leave…I do believe you’ve heard of me.”
    Before I could respond, he spun me around and pressed my back against the wall. He placed his hands on either side of my head.  His eyes sparkled, as if he knew everyone was familiar with him.
    The sudden rush of blood through my system made the world zero in on him. It was shocking and almost deafening as I replied. “Yes.”
    Up close I could see he was certainly more confident, daring, and striking than the suitors the king offered me, but I shook those thoughts from my head. They would do me no good.
    “And what exactly have you heard?” he pressed on.
    “You’re selfish, full of yourself, drink too much…and I suppose the ladies find you charming.” Each word was littered with spite to show him how much I loathed him, loathed pirate-kind as a whole. They were ruthless and evil, pillagers and plunderers of other’s fortunes with absolutely no manners. I had heard only despicable horror stories of pirates and what went on in their lives, and on their ships. I wanted no part of it.
    Aiden smirked. “I would say drinking too much may be a