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

The Mermaid's Pearl (Tears of the Deep Book 1) by Brooke Kennedy Page B

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Authors: Brooke Kennedy
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out.”
    “I don’t intend to be around you that long,” I said, finally finding the strength to push him off me. I stepped back, thankful to have space to breathe again and think clearly.
    “You will get bored and lonely soon enough, and you will come crawling to me. The longer you wait, the longer I will make you crawl as well, dear.”
    As much as I wanted to argue with him, he was probably right. The rest of the crew seemed to be less than happy to see me aboard the ship, so I didn’t want to deal with them. Aiden was a lot less revolting than the others…and really attractive.
    But I wouldn’t tell him that.

Chapter Eight
    “I’m going to call you Rae.”
    “Stop trying to change the subject, Aiden, I’m serious.”
    “No, I’ve decided already, lass. Rae it is. So much easier on the tongue, so much sweeter ,” he said as he took another drink from his large mug. “Grog” he called it. It was a mixture of rum and water. It was nasty, but it did the trick, and made Aiden somewhat aloof this evening. I’d lost count of how many he had in the time we were there, but it was just now affecting him. He spent most of the night telling me of his grand adventures, stories of piracy and plundering, or fighting and bounty. He was proud of himself. Surprisingly, the alcohol made him more tolerable.
    We sat at one of the large tables in a spacious room in the lower decks of The Devil’s Pearl , just the two of us at this particular table. I suspected word spread to stay away from me because no one had spoken to me since Aiden threatened the one-eyed pirate. They all knew he would follow through with his threats.
    Tonight I couldn’t fight off the hunger anymore, so I decided to take Aiden up on his offer for drinks and dinner in the lower decks. It was a meat and potatoes kind of dinner, something you’d expect a ship full of men to enjoy. I slowly made my way through my food, happy to have gotten my appetite back. The rum, however, added a welcomed excuse to feel a little tipsy and clear my mind. It was the only reason, I insisted, I wanted anything to do with him.
    I reached across the table and rested a hand on his. Apparently, liquor made me more touchy than usual, but it also toned down the fire his skin ignited in me. I was thankful for that. During the time we spent together, I tried not to get too close to him so I didn’t have to feel it. After a moment, I realized I was, perhaps, flirting with Aiden. I pushed the thought away. That would never be something I did purposefully. Or, well, seriously.
    “Come on, Aiden, you know you want to.”
    He leaned over the table with a sly grin on his face. “Oh darling, there are many things I want to do with you, but you fight my advances. What you are asking now, no.”
    “But I want to learn how to use a sword,” I insisted. “If you want me aboard this ship, and any way happy, until you get tired of me then—”
    “I will never get tired of you,” he stated and enclosed my small hand in his. His was so much larger than mine.
    “Stop trying to change the subject!” I said, slight giggle erupting from my lips. I was getting along way too well with him, the one who had taken me away from my family and friends. The one who captured me and wouldn’t hesitate to hand me over to someone for money or keep me as a slave once he found out what I was. I longed for the sea, not this ship.
    The sudden need to be free slammed into me. I couldn’t breathe, and this time it wasn’t because of him. The burning returned to my lungs, and my free hand flew up to my chest. Jerking my hand from his, I pushed myself to my feet. The world spun around me for a second, and I reached out to put my hand on the table before I fell to the ground. If I didn’t stop touching him, flirting with him, whatever this was, I would be in dangerous waters.
    I should have stayed away from the rum.
    “Are you…sloshed Rae?” he asked with a twisted smile on his face. He brought his hand

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