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.”Zachariah rose solemnly and went to the desk, offering his hand to the captain, who shook it firmly.“You do me a great honor, Captain Whiddington.”“Mind you treat her well! As long as you do, we’ll be friends.Raise a hand to her in anger or drunkenness, and your death is a foregone conclusion.”“You have no need to fear for her.I love her more deeply than I ever believed was possible.”They shared a toast to the occasion and passed a quarter hour in man talk.Then Zack was given his cue to depart.He desperately longed to see Persia to give her the good news.But that was for her father to do.He would come to supper the following evening to make it all official.At that time, he might kiss her cheek to seal the engagement.They would be married in two weeks at the church on Main Street.Zack had asked for a shorter wait, but the captain told him that would be impossible.Zack walked out the front door never feeling his boots touch solid earth.Light, powdery snowflakes were beginning to fall.They swirled in pretty patterns in the lamplight streaming from the windows.Moving on without even realizing he was walking, Zack shuffled through the fine covering of snow until he stood in the exact spot where he had first seen Persia.He glanced up.She was there at the window, and his heart gave a sudden, soul-wrenching lurch.He ached to have her in his arms, to kiss her, to touch her, to tell her all the wonders of love that they would share.“Soon,” he whispered.“Soon, my darling.”Persia stared down at the darkness.She couldn’t see Zack below on the street, but somehow she knew he was standing there, watching her window.She had heard the front door close moments before.And the gooseflesh prickling her skin told her that someone was staring up at her unshaded window.It had to be Zack… dear Zack.If only she could see his face.She would know then what had happened with her father.How could she wait any longer? This was a slow kind of death—waiting and not knowing.She had half a mind to storm downstairs and demand to know what had been said between them.After all, it was her life that was being decided! But no.She could not disrupt the accepted way of things.She would simply have to try to sleep tonight and wake up in the morning to find out the news—good or bad.It had to be good! She wouldn’t allow herself to think of any other possibility.Persia had changed out of her blue-and-yellow dress and now wore a long flannel gown that covered her from ankles to chin.The soft material caressed her bare flesh as she moved, causing her nipples to respond each time she thought of Zack.Tucking the hem under her feet, she curled up in the window seat and stared out at the swirling flakes dancing past.She let her mind flow, imagining what it would be like to snuggle close to Zack’s warm body on such a night.In his arms, she would have no need of long gowns to keep her from the cold.She would be wrapped in his love and filled with the heat of their newfound passion.Even now, she could imagine how it felt to have his full lips taking possession of hers, demanding with his silken tongue that she obey his fierce will.A weakness of willing surrender washed over her.She could remember the intense sensations aroused deep within her when his fingers fondled her breasts.What would it be like when no fabric stood as a barrier keeping flesh from aching flesh? She shivered at the mere thought, and a gnawing ache took possession of her deepest, most private parts.“Zack,” she sighed.‘Oh, my darling, how I need you!”Persia had drifted off to sleep dreaming of her wedding night by the time her father finally gave up work at his desk and climbed the stairs wearily.He had planned to finish early tonight.He needed Victoria’s softness beneath him, surrounding him.He had planned to make slow and satisfying love to her tonight.But now it was late.He would probably have to wake her.And once she heard his news, she would be in no mood to lavish affection on him.He knew that the last thing she wanted for either of her daughters was marriage to a seafaring man.Victoria was adamant about it.But what could he do? They were in love.And the man had saved her life! But for Zachariah Hazzard and his daring rescue, they might be anticipating a funeral now instead of a wedding.Asa moved down the hallway silently.Both his daughters’ doors were closed and their rooms quiet and dark.He didn’t want to wake them.Reaching for the brass handle to the bedroom he shared with Victoria, he turned it soundlessly.She was sleeping, her lovely dark hair spread out on the pillow like lush strands of black silk thread.He undressed and pulled on his nightshirt before waking her.When he reached the bed, he touched her linencovered breast, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “My darling?”Her eyes fluttered open and a slow smile curved her elegant mouth.“Home from the sea, my captain?”“Aye, woman! And demanding my usual welcome,” he said in a teasing voice.“Well, you shan’t have it!” She turned away from him, playfully daring him to steal a kiss from her.Instead, he touched her arm lightly.“Victoria, we must talk.”She turned back to him, her smile gone and a worried look in her eyes.“What is it, Asa? What’s wrong?”“Nothing’s wrong, darling.It’s just that we may be about to lose one of our girls.”She sat up in bed, her face wild with apprehension.“What are you saying?”“It seems love has struck, my dear
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