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He slammed down the lid and shoved his ar it down over his head and shoulders, welcoliness was once again hidden "They’re nothing"

"They ritted out

"But the pain long renore the pity in her eyes, he gazed over at her She was sitting up, clutching the blanket high at her throat with both hands, as though that could protect her from him Her eyes ide damp saucers Damnation but he never flaunted his scars and he hated that she’d seen them "I believe that’s the point, Princess"

Chapter 8

He was angry at her, furious in fact, judging by the tautness in his features And so profoundly proud, standing there soto show that the scars didn’tShe wished she hadn’t seen how terribly he’d been hurt But she had and she couldn’t undo what she’d seen She felt sicker in her sto the worst part of the stor adventure, not er than Mouse Had he been as slender, as vulnerable? Had he been near that age when he felt the bite of the whip? Had he screaed them to stop?

"How can men do that to another?" she asked

"It’s standard practice on a ship when soquite properly," he bit out

"Do you take the lash to your ainst their wishes They share in the bounty They work together because it adds coins to their pockets"

"You said you went to sea for adventure Were you forced--"

"No," he interrupted before she could finish her question

A knock sounded, and relief washed over his face as though the disturbance would bring a natural end to this conversation, which he obviously loathed She watched as he strode across the roo over his wide shoulders She wondered what he would say if she offered to take a brush to it, to sift her fingers through it, to provide comfort to him as he had to her He opened the door and Mouse scurried in with his rocking gait On the desk, he set a tray with a teapot and soht ye be needin’ this"

"Good lad"

"She gonna be a’right?"

"Should be Just a bit of seasickness" He placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder It see the lad out of the room Had anyone placed a kind hand on the captain’s shoulder or brow after the flesh on his back had been ripped apart?