A Pirate's Possession by Michelle Beattie Page B

fingers over the exposed flesh and felt both her shiver and her heat. He’d kissed her many times in the orphanage, but he’d never touched her inappropriately. He’d never seen this much of her before.
    And he’d never ached to see more than he was aching to in that moment.
    He wanted to tear off the shirt, rip open the undershirt, and feast, both with his eyes and his hands. Then, if there was a God, his tongue. She swayed slightly, drawing Nate’s attention back up to her face.
    Her eyes were dark, her lips parted. Desire hammered his lower body. He slid his hand into her undershirt and felt the slight swell of her breast.
    Her hand clutched his, locking it into place.
    â€œThat’s enough,” she said, sounding out of breath.
    â€œI don’t have what I’m after yet,” he said and he couldn’t have said which it was he wanted more, her flesh in his hand or the map he’d been after for years.
    They both reared when the hatch suddenly opened.
    â€œOh good, you’re awake,” Vincent said as he came down the ladder. He stopped dead when he looked at Claire, her shirt still unbuttoned, then to Nate, whose arousal was painfully obvious. Despite his own embarrassment, Nate stepped in front of Claire to allow her some privacy while she fastened her shirt.
    Vincent’s cheeks flamed but he didn’t move. He wiggled his eyebrows and his grin reminded Nate of a very satisfied cat who’d just discovered a bowl of cream.
    â€œI’m sorry, had I known ...”
    Nate hadn’t thought Vincent’s grin could get any wider. He was wrong. It spread across his friend’s face until his eyes almost disappeared.
    â€œI came to wake you but I can see that’s not necessary,” he chuckled.
    â€œI was just leaving,” Claire said. She stepped around Nate but he grabbed her hand.
    â€œNot with the map.”
    â€œThat’s twice you mention a map. What map?” Vincent asked.
    Nate scowled. He knew by saying it now, only after he’d had it taken from him, that it would seem as though he’d deliberately tried to keep Vincent from one of the most notorious treasures in the Caribbean, which he hadn’t been. He’d never do that to his friend. But he knew, under the circumstances, that it would appear that way.
    His gaze raked over Claire before he faced his friend.
    â€œYou were right. In Nevis, I was after something. It was part of a treasure map.”
    â€œSo why didn’t you say so when I asked?”
    â€œBecause Nate wanted it all for himself,” Claire said.
    â€œYou don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nate growled.
    â€œDon’t I? Vincent already told me you’ve known each other six years. Why didn’t you tell him about it before now? It’s not as though you haven’t been looking for it for the past eight years.”
    Vincent looked struck. His eyes were huge in his face, but it wasn’t Nate he turned to, it was Claire. The slight wasn’t lost on Nate.
    â€œWhat treasure are you talking about?”
    â€œFrom the Santa Francesca ,” Claire said.
    â€œThe Santa Francesca ? She suffered a storm and ran aground nearly a hundred years ago!”
    â€œYes, but only after leaving Nombre de Dios with a treasure room full of silver, gold, and gems of every color.”
    â€œAnd she was empty when she run aground. The treasure had already been moved to another ship,” Nate added, earning him another dagger from Claire’s direction.
    â€œThat’s legend talking,” Vincent said.
    Claire shook her head, and the light caught the bruise that Sid’s punch had left on her cheek.
    â€œIt’s real.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œIt’s too late to get into all this tonight,” Nate interrupted.
    â€œI’m not tired,” Vincent argued.
    Nate sighed. No, Vincent didn’t look tired. His brown eyes all but