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Hands balling into fists, Courtney said a silent prayer that Slayde would learn so, that his trip to Morland would yield results That, upon his return, they’d be one step closer to finding the pirate who’d seized her father’s ship, and one step closer to peace and resolution

Unsteadily, sheher father’s ti it in her hands Was it madness to believe he was alive? Or, if not ht, the idea had seeht of day, the events of last night were distant and dreamlike

All the events of last night

Propping up her pillows, Courtney leaned back, her fingertips brushing her lips as hts Pensively, she reflected on those unexpected moments in Slayde’s arms

Unexpected, but unsurprising, given the intensity of the conversation that had preceded them, the revelations and emotions that had been roused

What was surprising was how natural it had felt—being close to Slayde, having his mouth touch hers, teach hers, take hers She, whose romantic ideals, transient life, and protective father had precluded even the most innocent of courtships, had welcomed a man to her bed and participated in the inable

She was overreacting, she reminded herself silently After all, it had been only a kiss, not a coupling Then again, perhaps that ued back True, nothing had happened, and yet…it had felt so incredibly right, having hi their pai

n, their pasts, and ultimately their embrace

With a pang of es had spawned her overreaction: her father ’Twas he who’d assured her, tiain, that her heart was meant to be awakened but once, that her treht one She was meant for a man who needed her asinto her life when the tiht

Had that tihtout to another? Papa, she nize that uide me?

Her throat tight with unshed tears, Courtney gazed down at her father’s tirief and confusion It was the sa their kiss, but after He’d been as affected as she And given her newly acquired knowledge of his past, she understood why E Slayde would per to himself Thus, he’s alone And lonely, whether he chooses to realize it or not

But last night he hadn’t kept everything to hirief in a way that both startled and unnerved hi about himself he hadn’t known existed and didn’t intend to tolerate: vulnerability So he’d done the safe thing, the only thing he could—he’d retreated

The creak of the bedchas

“Courtney? Are you all right?” Aurora poked her head in, relief flooding her face as she saw Courtney reclining against the pillows “I was onnoises froht be in pain”

“Thank you” Once again, Courtney felt deeply touched by Aurora’s concern “I’m fine What you heard was my feeble attempt to move about I crept to theand back, which is as —” She broke off