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If not for his uncle, he rown into a man ould be worthy of Anne He’d have been eht have met her at a ball before she’d co lord she’d denied, although for the life of hiine that he’d not have enticed her into his bed From the moment he’d spied her, he’d wanted her too desperately

"Why Crimson Jack?" she asked

He sed hard He didn’t want to tell her and yet he see in the words "The captain na fro Got into a fight with one of the ize I wouldn’t They took the lash to ize I was a bloody mess when I finally lost consciousness"

He heard her tiny cry of dismay, knew if he looked he’d see tears in her eyes So he didn’t look It was easier not to feel anything

"Crimson"

"Yeah After that I was known as Cri me"

She squeezed his hand "I hate that they hurt you so badly"

He didn’t want her sympathy It made him feel weak, not quite the man he knew himself to be

"It all worked out satisfactorily in the end" He turned to face her Her hair was loose, flying in the wind The low Touching her cheek, he felt the da tears "But what am I to do about you?"

She smiled sweetly "Remember me, perhaps" Her inflection was that of a question, doubt, insecurity

"That Ithe taste and feel of her That she scared the bloody hell out of hiht For now, he was greedy for whatever ive him He would leave her in port He would watch her -enshrouded shadows--

He would be left behind, but this time it hat he wanted He wanted to sail the seas He wanted to command his ship, his men He wanted only h parks, and flirt with gentleht-after, desired She would have a husband and children She would possess everything that he had no aspirations to own

So it ith a ive her that he swept her into his arms and returned to his bed for what he could bestow on her

Tristan, Tristan, Tristan

She murmured his name as she nibbled on his neck and ear while he carried her to his cabin as though she weighed little e that she had never thought he looked like a Jack to her, had never called to hiht his name was until after they’d made love

And only then to discover that his true name was Tristan It suited hi sea captain

He shouldered his way into his quarters and kicked the door closed without releasing his hold on her He set her on her feet near the bed She quickly undid the buttons on her gown and let it slide down her body It was all she’d bothered to put on before seeking him out on deck

She saw his eyes darken with appreciation just before he dragged his shirt over his head He unfastened his trousers and dropped the with desire for her?