Free Eden's Pass by Kimberly Nee Page B

He was obviously angered and embarrassed by his own reaction to his cabin boy. His voice was brusque, his words clipped as he said, “I will be back shortly. Whilst I’m gone, you’d best make use of that blasted tub. Do you understand?
    She nodded, more than willing to obey his order as she almost sympathized with his discomfort. Almost.
    The good captain made haste to re-dress himself and she almost laughed again as he pointedly did not ask her to assist him. Instead, he swiped up the cat and stalked from the cabin, slamming the door behind him.
    At last, she dissolved into those delicious giggles. After indulging for a good five minutes, she caught her breath, wiping her eyes as she calmed herself. Her sides still aching, she made haste to strip off her clothes, her humor fading as she unrolled the filthy bandages and took in the broken skin beneath them. It stung worse than ever, as the grooves were deeper and frighteningly red. Patches of raw skin had gone rawer still—a feat she didn’t think was even possible.
    Kicking aside her filthy clothes, she carefully stepped over the tub’s lip and into the tepid water. She sucked in her breath, swallowing a rough cry of pain as she sunk into the water and it lapped at her seared skin. However, she fought down the pain as she set out scrubbing the filth from her hair and the grime from her skin.
    When she finished, the water was practically ice-cold, and the towel not very dry, as it was the same one Iñigo had used. She wrapped it about herself as she knelt beside the tub, paused, and dunked the bandages into the soapy water, twisting as much moisture from them as she could.
    “I’ll simply have to hope I don’t give myself away,” she muttered, scurrying behind the hammock in search of a place to allow the bandages to dry where they might not be easily spotted. It seemed every place she looked was one Iñigo was sure to spot rather easily. Apprehension curdled in her belly. She had to find someplace and quick. Iñigo was bound to return momentarily.
    Finally, she hit upon it. “Beneath the bed. I highly doubt he goes under there on a regular basis and these will be dry by tomorrow eve.”
    She slid across the carpet on her belly to lay the linen strips out flat, pushing them as far back as she could reach. She backed out and rose before bending forward to wrap the wet towel about her head. Having her hair swept back from her face left her feeling too vulnerable, so she rubbed furiously to dry it. When she was satisfied that it was dry enough, she shook her head, letting her hair fall where it may.
    Tossing the towel over the tub’s lip, she finished dressing, breathing a silent, relieved sigh when the door opened as she finished up fastening her trousers. Her mood greatly improved without those bandages slicing into her and she even managed a smile. “Good evening, Captain.”
    Iñigo stared hard at her, obviously a bit suspicious about this sudden burst of friendliness. He closed the door, moving to set the whip on the table once more. “Feeling a little less churlish since you’ve bathed, boy?”
    She nodded. “I am.”
    “Good. I expect you will obey me with a mite more ease than you’ve done these past four days.”
    It was a reminder of why she was onboard the María . It mattered not, knowing the captain felt more than whit of desire for her. She was still his prisoner, despite being given the moniker of cabin boy. Prisoner and cabin boy were interchangeable. Her good spirits faded. “Aye. I suppose you do. However, I’d not be surprised, if I were you, to find little has changed. I still will not serve you willingly.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Aye.”
    Iñigo rubbed his chin. “Then I suppose we shall start our morn with a lashing, Finn. You need learn your place.”
    She eyed the cat-o’-nine-tails back on the table and hastened to ask, “Might you be willing to strike a bargain?”
    His eyes narrowed. “I’ve already told you, boy. I make no