First Comes Desire. Tina Donahue
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Название: First Comes Desire
Автор: Tina Donahue
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Исторические любовные романы
Серия: Pirate's Prize
isbn: 9781516100620
isbn:
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Tristan pulled in his oars and rested them to the side. He removed his waistcoat and draped the garment over Diana.
She stirred a hunger in him he found nearly painful, as any man would, yet she didn’t flaunt her beauty. As a reverend’s daughter, she’d probably learned to be quiet and plain.
Imagining Diana in either role was impossible. Her loveliness was undeniable, her courage nothing short of a miracle. Never had he known a woman to take the risks she had. Although her strong will rankled at times, her spirit mostly impressed.
He captured a lock of her hair. Her tress whispered across his palm, then floated on the wind, black as night, smelling fresh and flowery, like a proper Englishwoman.
Everything he’d left behind was here now with Diana, but only because of Peter and her sweet rescue. Back home, she would never have looked Tristan’s way. Circumstances wouldn’t have allowed a reverend’s daughter to wed a man who’d had nothing, once made his living as a mariner, and then was a pirate. Of course, no one expected more of someone who came from poor beginnings. He’d surely had the humblest.
He lifted his face to the stars, knowing them far better than he had his father, a man who’d given him a name and nothing else. Best not to recall what his mother had done to fill their bellies. Most times, they hadn’t food or a place to live. They’d left Wales, which had been misery itself, and came to England and found the new land far worse. Going to sea at ten hadn’t posed a hardship for him. Working on ships was a way to eat and survive. In those early days, his shipmates hadn’t thought him strange for not being able to read or write, since most also lacked the skills. Eventually, he’d taught himself those things, craving knowledge only books could offer and wanted to use his newfound talents to get a better life. That’s when the men thought him odd.
Tristan hardly cared. He wanted to be educated and clean. He needed to be free. He craved respect.
Once, he’d even hoped for love.
Diana’s delicate profile was to him, her lips parted in sleep, hands pillowing her head.
She’d agreed to be his wife, nothing else. He could take what he wished from her, but she’d offer nothing freely. She considered him uncivilized and without redemption, certainly not a man she would have chosen for herself.
James cleared his throat. “You all right?”
Tristan nodded. He picked up his oars and rowed hard. No matter Diana’s initial appraisal of him, he would change her mind and have her desire.
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