Читать книгу Masters of Desire - Layla Chase - Страница 8

As Melodie dove beneath the surface, Rafe could feel the change come upon him. His legs became one long writhing tail and his lower body coated in the shiny silver scales of the mighty sea serpent. Sunlight penetrated the ocean’s surface reflecting off those hated scales sending shiny spots of light in every direction with each movement. He swam out to where Melodie had been, searching and yet not finding her in the clear blue depths of the sea. How had she escaped him?

No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t help worrying about her welfare. So many dangers lurked in the ocean’s depths. Even among the coral reefs, sharks trolled the waters for an easy dinner. What had happened to her?

Until the sun was at its zenith, he searched for the beautiful Melodie, determined to find her and get her back to shore where she would be safe from creatures like him.

Was she safe in Siren’s Cove? With Braithwaite determined to take the plot of land for his own, was Melodie safe hiding there with the witch Busara? And why were they so fierce in their protection of the cove that the Obeah woman would cast a curse upon him?

He’d never considered he might be wrong about the cove. Hell, he hadn’t bothered to ask the old woman what was so important about the still waters that she felt it necessary to keep all humans out.

When he’d exhausted all hope of finding the elusive Melodie, he turned toward Newport. If he couldn’t find the siren, he could at least check on Braithwaite’s doings in the busy port.

Skimming the bottom of the bay, Rafe swam slowly toward one of the loading docks, careful not to leave a wake and thus give his position away. He surfaced in the murky shadows around the piers and stared up at the dock opposite his hiding place. The native Caribs carried boxes and barrels up the planks of a British warship. From what he could see, the supplies weren’t provisions for a long journey but enough weaponry and gunpowder to wage a battle with any unsuspecting vessel.

“Hurry along, we don’t have all day!” A burly man dressed in the uniform of the royal navy cracked a whip, the sound making the workers jump and cringe.

A man dressed in the pompous costume of a man of royal lineage joined the burly taskmaster. Rafe recognized him as Governor Lord Braithwaite, his successor. “How soon until the ship is ready?”

“By midday tomorrow, yer lordship.”

“Good, we’ll need the cover of night in order to find Siren’s Cove.” He tucked his hands behind his back and rocked on the heels of his shiny black boots.

Another man in the garb of the ship’s captain joined the governor, a satisfied grin lifting his lips. “Are we waging war on the Spanish Main, yer lordship?”

Braithwaite frowned. “Don’t be insolent, Captain Jensen.”

Unaffected by the governor’s ill temper, Captain Jensen’s brows raised on his forehead a subtle challenge to Braithwaite’s authority on the island. “’Tis only the Obeah woman guarding the cove, is it not?”

“True, but we know not what manner of trickery she might engage in. I will have whatever treasure she’s hiding in Siren’s Cove. There is also the matter of the Serpent’s Curse. Better to be prepared than not.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Move along! Hurry it up!” The taskmaster snapped his whip over the back of an old man laboring beneath the weight of a gunpowder barrel.

The man stumbled and dropped the barrel. The wooden sides split open, scattering the gray powder over the planks of the dock.

“Stupid fool!” Braithwaite grabbed the whip and lashed out at the dark-skinned Carib. The whip slashed the man’s skin, leaving red welts and open wounds. Bright red blood stained the whip’s length, the sun glinting off the moisture.

Rafe’s own blood boiled.

The governor showed no signs of stopping his brutal rein of terror on the old man, his whip snaking out over and over until the man lay moaning.

Unable to stand by a moment longer, Rafe dove down and a moment later and surfaced beneath the dock.

With a mighty roar, he burst from the water, rising fast and sure, splintering the wooden planks of the dock. Sailors and natives scattered, screaming and racing for the shore. Some fell into the water, while others held on to the piers anchoring the dock to the land.

Lord Braithwaite dropped to his knees, whimpering like a child scared of the monster beneath his bed, only the monster was real and angry.

Captain Jensen regained his balance quickly and drew his cutlass, ready to do battle.

As quickly as he’d ascended, Rafe fell back into the water, taking the old man with him. He held the man above the water, skimming the surface all the way back to where his ship hid among the lesser islands surrounding Mystique.

He roared with his approach and a rope ladder and spare rope dropped over the side of the sloop. Crew members climbed down the swaying ropes to the water, displaying only mild concern over the fearsome monster. Having dealt with Rafe for the past few months, they knew he posed no threat to them as long as they remained loyal to him and the rest of the crew of the Serpent’s Curse.

One sailor reached out and snagged the limp man beneath his arm. “Let us ’ave ’em, yer lordship. We can take it from ’ere.”

Rafe gave over his hold of the injured native and slipped back into the depths until he completed the transformation. Each time he sank deep into the ocean, his body shifted and shrank. Bones redeployed to different locations until his legs divided and his gills disappeared. Once the transformation was complete, he had only minutes to reach the surface and breathe.

When he breached, he swam to the rope ladder and hauled himself aboard.

“Good te see ya, Rafe.” Murphy met him at the railing and pounded his back in a hearty greeting.

Seumus met him with a pair of trousers. “Thought ye might have run into a wee bit o’ trouble in Siren’s Cove.”

“As a matter of fact, I did.” A siren by the name of Melodie. Rafe slid damp legs into the trousers provided and then strode barefoot across the deck to the captain’s quarters.

Murphy followed. “As ye showed up as a serpent, I assume you didn’t kill the witch.”

“No, I didn’t kill the witch. Somehow she knew I was coming.”

“Did she send an army of natives to stop you?”

“No. Only one.”

“He must have been a big, brawny sort to put a halt to your plan.” Murphy circled him, inspecting his bared skin. “I see no battle wounds.”

His skin heated, not so much from embarrassment over being bested by a female, but because of what had deterred him from his goal. Hot, passionate sex with a virgin sacrifice. “Not a man. A siren.”

Murphy’s eyes widened. “Bless my soul.” Then he was pounding Rafe’s back again, his face wreathed in grins. “And you lived to tell about it? You are one lucky man.” He rocked back on his heels and smirked. “Perhaps I should attempt to find this Siren’s Cove. To kill the Obeah woman, of course.”

A flash of rage overcame Rafe so quickly, he grabbed Murphy by the throat and raised him from the wood flooring. “You will stay away from Siren’s Cove, do you understand?”

Unable to speak with a fist wrapped around his vocal chords, all Murphy could manage was a slight nod.

“Let ’im go, Capt’n.” Seumus laid a hand on Rafe’s shoulder. “He was only temptin’ yer ire.”

For a moment longer, Rafe held Murphy until rational thought returned. Then he dropped his friend and shook out his hand.

Murphy rubbed at the marks on his neck. “A bit touchy, are we?”

“Don’t.” Seumus gave him a warning glare.

Rafe’s eyes narrowed. What had come over him that he would attack a loyal friend over a taunt? Had it been the image of Melodie splayed naked against the rocks, her legs wide, her pussy wet with passion? Or the image of Murphy as the next man to partake of her sweet offering?

He shook his head to clear the wool gathering in his mind. Melodie was a distraction who’d set his mind adrift. He had bigger problems than protecting her from one of his own. “Braithwaite prepares to launch his own attack on Siren’s Cove in two nights.”

Seumus nodded. “I suspected as much. He wants whatever Busara is hiding in the cove. Must be fantastic treasure for him to want it so much. Did ye at least discover what that might be?”

“No.” What had he accomplished by his night’s sojourn? Nothing. He’d failed miserably. But he wouldn’t let it happen again. “I’ll go back tonight and find Busara and either she lifts my curse or she dies.”

“Are you sure you don’t need a little help?” Murphy asked.

Rafe’s blood pounded in his ears and his hands clenched into tight fists, but he held his calm. “I’m quite certain.”

Seumus nodded. “This time, plug yer ears with cotton or wax to avoid the lure of the siren’s song.”

“I will.” He wasn’t as concerned about the song luring him from his destination but the woman herself. Having tasted her honey he was drawn like a bee to return for another sip. Not tonight. He had to break free of the spell in order to fight Braithwaite on his own terms and free the island of his tyranny.

“Kanoni, I’m so glad you’re here.” Melodie hurried toward the Obeah woman’s hut, her belly tied in knots, her body afire with memories of her pirate’s tryst. “Where is Busara?”

“She’s away tending to a sick man in the village.” Kanoni rested her hand on Melodie’s forehead. “Your face is flushed. Are you well?”

Melodie pushed her hand away. “No, I’m not well.”

“Then sit. I’ll gather mother’s herbs.”

“You can’t cure me with herbs.” She spun and walked a few steps away, wrapping her arms around her belly. “My stomach and chest hurt so bad I think I shall die.”

“Did you eat something bad?”

“No.” Tears welled in her eyes and she turned to her friend. “It’s him!”

Kanoni’s brows dipped into a fierce frown. “A man? Did he hurt you?”

“No. Yes. Oh, I don’t know,” she wailed.

Her friend propped her fists on her narrow hips. “If he hurt you, Kanoni will do terrible tings to him.”

“No, no, he didn’t do anything to me I didn’t want him to.” Melodie’s cheeks flamed and she shied away from her friend’s knowing look. “He touched me in the most glorious places.” Her voice faded off as her mind recaptured the magic of his hands and tongue.

“Is that all?” Kanoni let out a relieved sigh. “For a moment you had dis girl worried.”

“Is that all?” Melodie flung her arms wide. “He wants to kill your mother!”

The Obeah’s daughter shrugged. “Dat will never happen. She has de magic about her.”

“He is a very determined man, Kanoni.”

“Determined to kill my mother, or to deflower virgin mermaids?” She smiled and wrapped her arm around Melodie’s shoulder. “Come, girl, talk to Kanoni. What happened last night? Did the stars cast their spell on you? Did my mermaid friend fall in love?”

“No!” Melodie pulled away. “How could I fall in love? I’ve only known him for one night.”

The dark-skinned young woman shook her head as if blessed with a maturity beyond her nineteen years “It only takes a moment for some.”

“But that’s impossible, I tell you.” Melodie paced in front of the Obeah’s cabin. “He held me captive and…and…did things to me.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper.

“Ah.”

Kanoni’s lips tipped upward in a gentle smile. “He made love to my Melodie, did he not?”

“Yes.” Melodie sank to the dirt and buried her face in her hands. “I thought I could lure him in and kill him. But once he came, he was so beautiful I couldn’t kill him. I couldn’t. He could just as easily have killed me.”

“Der, der, my sweet.” Kanoni sat on the hard-packed earth beside her and patted her back. “All is not lost.”

“But it is!” Melodie looked up through tear-soaked eyes. “He’ll be back to kill Busara and I won’t be able to stop him.”

“Are you afraid he will come back, or more afraid he will not?”

Melodie stared at her friend for a long moment and then dissolved into even more tears. She hadn’t cried this much since her parents died. “How could this have happened? How could I?”

“How could you fall in love?” Busara’s deeper voice sounded from behind the two younger women. “Why do you think I sent you to ward off Lord Rafe Herrington’s attack?”

“To make me fall in love with him?” Melodie stared at the woman she’d come to for help.

“No, to make him fall in love with you.”

“But he doesn’t love me! He only…” Her chin dropped to her chest. “Made love to me.”

The Obeah woman crossed her arms over her breasts. “He will be back.”

“Only to kill you.” Melodie leaped to her feet and grasped the older woman’s hands. “I failed you.”

“You did no such ting.” The woman’s boney fingers clutched hers. “I am still alive, am I not?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. ’Tis true. And he will be back, not because of me, but for you.” She held her hand up to stem the flow of Melodie’s denial. “Oh, he will tink he comes for himself, but he is only a man. They don’t always know how to listen to de heart.”

“What if he kills you?”

“He won’t. ’Tis not in de bones.” She tapped a finger to the sack tied to her waist containing her collection of bones. “He will come to know his love for you.”

“But we are too different. He is a man. I’m half mermaid.”

“You are alike in more ways dan you tink,” Busara said. “You will have decisions to make.”

“Decisions? Rafe Herrington is the former governor of the island. I could never fit in his world. I’ve already made my decision. I want to be a mermaid forever.”

“You haven’t changed your mind?” Busara asked.

“No.”

The Obeah woman’s eyes narrowed and she fixed a hard stare on Melodie. “Then tomorrow you will have your potion.”

“I will?” Melodie’s heart leaped. After years of being caught between two worlds, she was finally going to get her wish.

“Yes, now, go. I have much work to do. Play with de little ones in de cove. They love to swim wit’ you.”

Despite having her greatest wish within a day’s wait of coming true, Melodie warred with uncertainty. She looked to Kanoni.

The younger woman grabbed her hands and squeezed. “Trust Mamma. All will be well.”

What more could she do? Lord Rafe Herrington was a man. Melodie would soon be a mermaid forever. Their worlds were vastly different. Even if Melodie chose to be human, she’d never fit in his life. Not that he’d made any declarations of undying love. Nor would he.

Melodie left the small cottage and walked down to the cove, her heart heavy with thoughts of her future. She couldn’t deny she wanted to see Rafe again. But what good would it do? And what if Busara was wrong? What if Rafe killed her?