He moved to her end of the table and held her chair while she stood. He took her by the hand and led her to the small clearing away from the table, which was closer to the windows. When he pulled her into his arms, so wonderful and strong, she feared she might faint.
He was really too handsome and delightful for his own good.
And for her own.
She looked up into those guarded eyes that betrayed nothing of his thoughts or feelings and remembered how charming and boyish he’d looked while he slept. The candlelight played in the golden highlights of his hair and cast a soft glow to his skin. His hands were strong and yet gentle to her hand while he led the dance with expert skill.
“You know what I’d like?” she asked.
“For me to take you home to your father?”
“Besides that.”
“I can’t imagine.”
She bit her lip for a moment, testing her courage. Did she dare say it? Before she could cower out, she spoke. “I would like, for one moment, for you to let me inside you.”
His look turned devilish. “Funny, I was thinking the same of you.”
Her cheeks burned. “You’re wicked, Jack.”
“Just beguiled.”
As am I.
And she was. Being here in this room alone with one of the most notorious men alive, dancing in the arms of a bandit who had more charm than the devil himself, it was all she could do not to give him what he wanted.
What would it feel like to run her hands all over the beautiful body she’d seen?
What would it be like to lie with him and have him educate her in the pleasures of sexuality? To experience all the sensations a man could make a woman feel….
Kiss me, Jack, her mind pleaded.
But if he did that right now, she might be his.
As if sensing her thoughts, he looked down at her, his eyes fastening on her lips.
“I love when you stand close to me,” he murmured. “I can feel your breath fall against my neck and it sends chills and fire all over my body.”
She should be shocked, but instead his words thrilled her.
Take me, Jack.
Luckily, the words lodged in her throat.
He dipped his head to her lips and she opened her mouth for his taste. Their breath mingled.
And a loud knock sounded at the door.
Jack’s curse rang in her ears. “The devil take you if this ship’s not on fire,” he roared.
“Ca-Captain?” Kit’s voice stammered through the door. “I’ll come back.”
Jack looked immediately contrite. “Come in, Kit. I thought you were someone else.”
He stepped away from her as Kit entered.
Lorelei swallowed, trying to regain her composure while she shook all over from her need and inappropriate wants.
Thank goodness Kit had come when he had. Another moment and she might have…
She didn’t want to think about what she might have done.
Jack looked at her from over his shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She just nodded as he closed the door behind him. Her hands cold and trembling, she pulled the small vial of Kesi’s sleeping syrup from between her breasts. Now was her chance to use it, and use it she must. If for no other reason than to safeguard her virtue.
Pouring the concoction into his wine, she stirred it with her finger, then returned the vial to her cleavage.
While she waited, she went to the windows to stare out at the sea. Moonlight splashed against the waves. There was such tranquility out here with the ocean sounds to lull her.
She heard the door open behind her. Turning, she saw Jack watching her.
“Was he all right?” she asked.
“He thought one of those heads had found its way into his room. It turned out to be the head of a wooden horse he broke a few weeks ago.”
She laughed.
Jack came nearer and her laughter died on her tongue. Her heart hammered in fear of what she might do if he took her into his arms again.
“Would you bring me my wine?” she asked.
He paused.
“I would like to propose a toast,” she said before he had a chance to deny her request.
His look turned suspicious. “A toast?”
“Yes.”
He picked up their glasses and brought them over to her. Lorelei tried to keep her panic down as she stared at the tainted cup. There was only a slight shake to her wrist.
“And what toast is that?” Jack asked.
“I wish to toast the…the sea. May it always be so…so beautiful.”
Jack glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. There was something amiss here and when he took a drink of his wine, he knew immediately what it was.
The wench was trying to drug him! There was no mistaking the taste. It was Kesi’s disgusting brew that she used on wounded sailors when their laudanum supply ran low. A concoction he’d built up a tolerance for years ago.
What could Lorelei hope to gain by rendering him unconscious?
She couldn’t escape him. There was nowhere on board this ship she could run to.
Henri! he thought, his gaze instantly dulling. She was going to Henri.
He froze at the thought, then dismissed it. Henri had more sense than to impose himself on a woman Jack had already claimed. Nay, there was something else she wanted. Something he hadn’t thought of.
But, he would soon find out. Tipping the goblet back, he drained it.
Lorelei swallowed her panic as she watched him finish off the wine.
How long would it take to work?
Jack put his hand to his brow as he frowned. “I feel so strange.”
Had she given him too much?
“Are you all right?” she asked, terrified she might have unwittingly hurt him.
“I…I think I need to lie down.”
Moaning, he stumbled slightly. “Oh, the pain in my head. I need to get to my bed. But I don’t think I can do it alone.”
Please don’t let me have hurt him, she begged silently. “I’ll summon Tarik to help you.”
“Ooh.” He gasped. “I…don’t know if I can wait that long.”
He stumbled again.
Fearing there was no time to get Tarik, she offered him her shoulder. “Lean on me and I’ll help you.”
Jack draped his arm around her shoulder and leaned against her. “It’s through that door,” he said, inclining his head to the door to her right.
She headed for it.
In no time at all, she had him in his cabin and on his bed. No sooner did he lie down than he was out cold.
“Jack?” she asked, shaking him. “Jack, are you awake?”
Her answer was a soft snore.
Relieved, she sat down next to him. The scent of sandalwood hovered around her and she realized the smell had increased when he flopped down on the bed.
Leaning closer to the spread, she sniffed.
She saw red, and it was not the color of the spread. “You rake,” she accused him as he lay there. “You thought to get me in this bed tonight, didn’t you? Well, who’s the clever one now?”
Lorelei rose to her feet and stared down at him. He was quite exceptional lying there so quiet and vulnerable. She could do anything she wanted to him and he would be powerless to stop her.
The thought sent an unexpected thrill through her.
Yielding to temptation, she ran her fingertip over the gentle curve of his jaw. His skin was so different from her own. It was firm and…masculine.
“I would never do this if you were awake,” she whispered. “But I’ve wanted to do it for a long time.”
She touched his hair and marveled at its silken texture. The honey strands were laced with brown and gold. He was definitely the forbidden object of her desire and she would take great pleasure finishing her sketch.
She smiled at the thought. Until it occurred to her that she couldn’t finish her drawing with him fully clothed!
&
nbsp; “Oh, no. You’re still dressed. What am I going to do?” she whispered.
You could undress him.
Oh no, I could not!
Why not? He’s not going to wake up and no one would ever know.
Biting her lip, she wondered if she really had the courage to go through with this.
No, she didn’t.
“I’ll get Tarik to do it.” Yes, that would be the proper thing to do.
“Stay put, Jack,” she said, then went to find his quartermaster.
A short time later they returned. “He was drunk you say?” Tarik asked as if doubting her words.
“He drank a lot at dinner.”
A deep frown drew his brows together into a deep vee. “Drank what?”
“Wine.”
Tarik scoffed at her. “There’s not enough wine on board this ship to make Captain Jack pass out.”
Trying to look innocent and praying she was carrying it off, Lorelei shrugged. “He must have had something else before I arrived then, because you can see he’s quite asleep.”
Tarik approached the bed skeptically. Once he assured himself Jack was still breathing, he shook his head. “All right, Miss Lorelei. I’ll tend him. You go on back to your room.”
Turning around, she quickly retreated.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Tarik moved to undress Jack.
“You so much as touch a button and I’ll have you gutted.”
Tarik froze as Jack opened his eyes and gave him a heated glare. “I thought you were unconscious,” Tarik said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“You know me better than that.” Jack sat up and ran his hand over his jaw as if he could still feel Lorelei’s touch. “Let’s just say I’m having a bit of fun with our guest.”
Tarik laughed. “All right then, I’ll be off.”
As soon as he was alone, Jack quickly disrobed and returned to his bed. His little vixen had wanted him undressed for some reason, and by God, he was going to lie here for her if it killed him.
And it bloody well might.
12
Lorelei waited quietly in her room until she was sure Tarik had had enough time to undress Jack and return to his cabin. Time seemed to move slowly as she clutched her sketchbook and charcoal in nervous hands.
She shouldn’t do this. It was wrong and well she knew it. But then she’d always been a bit improper, and a bit too curious for her own good.
As soon as she heard footsteps crossing the front of her door, she carefully eased it open enough to peek outside.
No one. Not in any direction.
Very well then, this is it.
Her heart in her throat, she eased the door open enough to let her through, then headed down the short distance that separated her from Jack.
Tiptoeing into his room, she set her sketchbook and charcoal down on his desk and crept toward his bed. He lay on his side, facing her, with the spread pulled up over him. His loose hair fell over part of his face and he breathed quietly.
“Are you still asleep?” she asked, giving him a slight shake for good measure. “Jack? Jack, are you awake?”
He didn’t answer.
Satisfied, she smiled. Oh, this was wonderful. At last he was hers and she didn’t have to worry about battling him. She could do most anything she wanted to him and he would never, ever know. In truth, she liked this feeling of power. It was probably the only time anyone had ever had such power over Jack. And she was going to enjoy it.
Pulling the spread down, she exposed his torso.
She yearned to run her hand over his lean ribs, to feel his hard muscles in the palm of her hand. But she didn’t dare touch him. She wasn’t sure how deeply he slept and the last thing she wanted was for him to awaken to her touch.
No, she would just arrange the covers like they were the morning she’d found him, and then she could finish her picture and be gone.
With that thought in mind, she lifted the bottom of the spread to expose his long legs and feet.
Retrieving her sketchbook, she compared his pose to her drawing.
“Not quite right,” she whispered. She set her book down in front of Jack’s chest and adjusted the material over his hips. As her hand brushed against his abdomen, she felt his body stiffen beneath her left hand.
She squeaked and jumped back.
Was that his…?
Her face flamed. It must be.
What does it look like?
I’m not going to find out.
Please! He’ll never know.
But she would, and quite frankly she didn’t know if she could look him in the eye after she’d looked him in the…Well, she wasn’t about to, and that was all.
Forcing herself to pick up her sketchbook instead of the cover, she went to pull his chair closer to the bed. She took a seat and began her drawing.
Jack watched her from beneath his lashes. It took every ounce of control he possessed not to move, and he still wasn’t sure how he’d kept himself still when her hand had innocently brushed up against him. Even now his gut burned with furious need. A need that had only gotten worse when he had been sure she was going to pull the covers back and reveal him.
Only she hadn’t.
The little vixen had only wanted to draw him. He couldn’t believe it.
Women. There was no understanding them.
Relaxing his body, he watched the way her brow furrowed as she worked. He’d loved watching her these past weeks. Watching the way her arm curved as she manipulated the charcoal and paints. The grace she used as she blended colors.
How could Justin not want her to pursue something she obviously loved so well and had such talent for?
If she were his woman, he’d…
There was no use thinking about what he’d do. She wasn’t his. Could never be his.
All he could do was savor her body and try to hold on to her memory. And it would be one he’d treasure until some enemy ended his life.
Finally she looked up and he could tell she was finished. She held the pad up and compared it with him.
“Perfect,” she declared. “I finally got it.”
How he wished he could say that.
Lorelei stood and moved over to the desk so that she could pack up her charcoal. She was completely satisfied with the results of her drawing. Of course, Jack would kill her if he ever learned what she’d done.
But it had been worth the risk.
She traced the line of his hair on the paper, remembering how it had felt under her hand.
“It’s a wonderful likeness.”
She gasped at the deep voice resonating by her left ear. “You were awake!”
“The entire time.”
Horror engulfed her. She turned around to face him, only to realize he was standing naked before her. Her eyes wide, she quickly turned back to face the door.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Lorelei,” he said, running his hand through the curls on her neck. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You’re naked.”
“So I am.”
Heat stole over her cheeks. She’d never in her life had such a conversation, and at the moment, she didn’t like it one bit! “Would you please put some clothes on?”
“If it would make you feel better…”
“It would.”
He trailed his finger down the back of her neck. Chills erupted all over her body. Her breasts tingled at his touch. “Turn around, Lorelei, and face me.”
As if she had no will of her own, she obeyed him. Still, she didn’t dare look down. Resolutely, she kept her gaze locked on his face.
He took her hand in his and placed it against his bare chest. She could feel his heart pounding against her fingertips and palm as a thousand shards of desire pierced her body.
“I want to make love to you, Lorelei,” he murmured, leaning his head down until only a hand’s breadth separated their lips. “I want to feel your body against mine and to touch every part of you.”
&nb
sp; And then he kissed her. Hot and wet, his lips covered hers as he plundered her mouth and stole her breath. His kiss was demanding and fierce, yet somehow tender and welcome.
Lorelei clung to him.
She felt his hands at her back, unlacing her gown. She knew she should stop him, but for some reason she couldn’t tell him no. Didn’t want to tell him no.
He lifted her skirts.
Lorelei trembled as he deepened his kiss. She heard the whoosh as her hoops fell from beneath her dress and landed in a puddle at her feet. Jack moved his hand to her buttocks and she gasped at the foreign sensation of a man touching her there.
“I won’t let you go tonight,” he whispered as he pulled away from her lips.
Her gown slipped to the floor.
Afraid, Lorelei stood before him wearing nothing save her petticoat and corset. She wanted to run and yet she didn’t. Part of her wanted this, demanded this. Against all reasons and arguments, she wanted this night with Jack.
Jack scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. “Jack, I—”
“Shh,” he said as he laid her gently against his sheets. “Forget about everything else. Tonight, there’s only us.”
He buried his lips against the sensitive flesh below her ear and she moaned in pleasure as a needful ache throbbed through her.
What was this burning, bittersweet pain he caused?
Needing to quench it, she reached for him, running her hands over the flesh of his back, where she felt his strong muscles ripple beneath her palms.
He rolled her over so she sat on his stomach and quickly removed her corset and petticoats. He sucked his breath in sharply as her breasts were bared to his sight. “You are so beautiful,” he moaned, lifting himself up to take her right breast into his mouth.
Lorelei gasped in pleasure as his tongue flicked over the taut nipple. She buried her hand in the soft waves of his hair, cupping him to her.
Once more he rolled her in the bed until he pressed her down against the mattress. Jack pulled back from her and stared down at her as he separated her legs with his thigh. She felt him warm and wet as he probed the center of her body with the tip of his shaft.
“I want you as I’ve wanted no other,” he said between clenched teeth. “And I wish you knew how much it’s killing me not to take you.”
Master of Seduction Page 18