Her Very Strict Captain by Carpenter, Maggie (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

she yawned and stretched her arms over her head. Sunlight peeking past the sides of the window shades suggested another beautiful day in paradise.

“You’re awake,” Scott declared, stepping into the cabin.

“That’s the best I’ve slept in forever,” she said gratefully, thinking how safe she’d felt when she’d fallen asleep next to him. “I’m almost glad you threw that sim card away. I like being off the radar.”

“There are times when being unreachable is a good thing,” he said with a grin.

“Is it time to go ashore?”

“We’ll have breakfast first.”

“Okay. I’ll get up.”

“Don’t take forever. I know how you females can be.”

“That’s blatantly obvious,” she quipped, emerging naked from the sheets and crawling down the bed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Plenty of condoms at the ready? On land you’d have notches on your bedpost,” she remarked, staring at him with raised eyebrows. “What is it on a yacht? Knots in ropes?”

With lightning speed, he threw her backwards and pinned her arms above her head. “I’m not taking the bait, Elizabeth,” he said solemnly, frowning down at her.

“I think you just did.”

“Nope, I’m just getting your attention,” he continued, tightening his hands around her wrists, “and if you have knots and ropes on your mind, I’ll be happy to oblige. If we didn’t need to get to the house I’d tie you up right here, right now. But you can count on it happening very soon. You will learn, Elizabeth. One way or another, you will learn.”

“Learn what exactly?” she whispered, daring to push the envelope.

“When to speak, what to say, and how to say it. In other words, when it’s not wise to be a smart ass.”

Abruptly straightening up, he climbed off the bed and walked away.

Though a hot flush burned across her face, excitement surged through her body. The thought of being bound and at his mercy while he teased and tormented her sent a flood of moisture between her legs and goosebumps popping on her skin. She’d planned to take a quick shower, but as she slid off the bed and moved into the bathroom, a naughty grin curled her lips.

Don’t take forever. I know how you females can be.

He’d thrown down the gauntlet.

She was happy to pick it up.

Finding guest-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the medicine cabinet, she took her time washing her hair, then leisurely rubbed it with a towel and combed it out. Ambling back to the cabin, she opened her bag, pulled out a clean tank top and shorts, then padded barefoot up to the salon. Standing at the compact stove, Scott turned, then eyed her up and down.

“This looks good,” she remarked innocently, noticing a thermos of coffee and several pieces of buttered toast plated on the table, “and it seems we have another sunny day to enjoy,” she continued, sitting down and leisurely picking up a piece of toast.

“Actually, we’re in for some wind and rain later,” he said, pouring beaten eggs into a pan.

“You’d never know it.”

“Storms come and go, especially this time of year. Nothing to worry about.”

Quietly watching him sprinkle grated cheese and chopped tomatoes into the scrambling eggs, she ran her eyes up and down his body. He could have been a professional athlete.

“Have you ever heard the expression about the apple and the doctor?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“Of course. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

“I have a similar saying,” he declared, plating the eggs and carrying the dishes to the table. “A spanking a day keeps the brat at bay.”

The comment caught her by surprise.

Butterflies bursting in her stomach, and a hot blush crawling across her cheeks, she began running her fingers through her wet hair.

“I need to give my hair another rub with the towel,” she exclaimed, rising to her feet.

“Stay where you are!”

He hadn’t barked, or shouted, or even raised his voice, but his authority wrapped around her as if she was in his arms and they were tightening their hold. Wordlessly, she sat back down.

“At some point, every day, you’ll be over my knee.”

“You can’t mean that,” she protested, her eyes wide as she stared at him.

“I do, and how hard my hand lands on your ass will be up to you.”

“Why would you say something like that?”

“Don’t play the innocent with me,” he warned, leaning across the table and lowering his voice. “It doesn’t suit you and it insults my intelligence. Finish your breakfast. I want to get to the house before the weather rolls in.”

A tremble rippling through her, she picked up her fork and took a mouthful, but an awkward silence fell between them.

“These eggs are delicious,” she finally remarked, desperate to break it. “Probably the best I’ve ever had.”

“Thanks. I spent some time with a Brit who’d once been a chef. He taught me a few things.”

Taking another mouthful, his tantalizing but disconcerting threat still hanging in the air, she tried to think of something else to talk about.

“This house of yours. How do we get there? Is it a long walk?”

“Not really. We’ll be taking the dinghy to the small beach, then hiking up the hill. It’s not steep. You won’t have any trouble.”

“Do we need to take any supplies with us?”

“I have a housekeeper who takes care of the place and keeps it stocked up. There are a few shops on the other side, but, Elizabeth, we won’t be going anywhere until you start opening up.”

“I’ve already told you—”

“You’ve told me very little, and I can’t help you if I don’t know the whole story.”

Letting out a heavy breath, she stared at him intently. “Sometimes ignorance is bliss,” she said gravely. “You can’t begin to imagine what I’m facing.”

“I might surprise you,” he said, his voice softening. “You’ve survived because you’re as smart as an alley cat, but think about this. Telling me won’t hurt you. Keeping it to yourself very well could.”

* * *

Letting his words sink in, Scott began devouring his breakfast. She was connected to Conchello, and a crooked