Master of Seduction (21 page)

Until she started laughing.

Lifting his head, he stared at her. “What’s so funny?” he demanded.

“You are.”

Offended, he pushed himself up on his elbows.

“It does tricks!” She laughed, then trailed her hand lightly over the tip of his shaft. Of its own accord, his body strained for her touch, then retreated as her hand left him.

Joining her laughter, Jack relaxed. “May I offer you some advice?”

She looked up with wide eyes.

“Never, ever laugh at a man’s…piece during sex. We don’t like that.”

She bit her lip and looked at him from under her lashes. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

“You’re forgiven, but—” The words died on his lips as she bent her head down and took him in her mouth.

Jack threw his head back, striking it against the wood of his bed. But he didn’t feel the pain. All he could feel was her mouth working magic on him.

Closing his eyes, he placed his hand on her head and savored the most pleasurable moment of his life. No woman had
ever
done that to him. Never.

The pleasure was so intense, he could swear he saw stars, and considering the fact that he had most likely just given himself a concussion, he probably did.

Lorelei’s laugh drifted to his ears once more. “I take it you like that.”

He couldn’t speak as she trailed her tongue back up his body. Jack watched her every movement, awed by the brazen innocence of her.

And to think he had believed he could teach her lessons!

Cupping her head in his hand, he brought her lips up to his. “I need you,” he breathed. “Now.”

She straddled his waist and leaned over him. Her rich auburn hair formed a canopy over them as he lifted her hips and then set her down on top of him.

They moaned simultaneously. She tried to move her hips, but it only succeeded in driving him out of her. Jack ground his teeth in frustration before he sat up and leaned her back. This time when he entered her, it was slow and easy.

Lorelei bit her lips against the exquisite feel of him filling her. She lifted her hips to draw him deeper inside.

How she longed to scream out her love to him as he pleasured her. Pressing her lips together, she promised herself she wouldn’t do it. Not now. Not during this victory. She didn’t want to do anything that would drive him away from her.

He moved faster against her hips, his strokes more furious. Then she felt him leave her as his body shuddered and shook.

Covered in sweat, he rolled to his side and pulled her against him. “I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you.”

She smiled up at him. “Don’t be. I wanted to pleasure you.”

Disbelief glowed in his eyes as he leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose.

She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart settle down to a regular beat.

“Why do you pull out of me?” she asked.

His body grew rigid a moment before he relaxed. A little, anyway. “I don’t want to make you pregnant.”

She turned her head over so that she could look at his face. “Do you always do that?”

“Always.”

“Well then—”

“Lorelei,” he said quietly. “This really isn’t something I wish to discuss with you.” He brushed his hand through her hair, spreading it out over his chest. “Is there nothing that embarrasses you?”

She traced idle circles around his chest. “There are many things that embarrass me. I was just curious, and my grandmother always told me I should never fear questions.”

“She was right. ’Tis the answers that are most often frightening.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

Jack gave a contented sigh and closed his eyes.

“Are you going to sleep?” she asked.

“’Twas my plan.”

“Do you wish me to leave?”

When he opened his eyes, his look burned her. “I wish you to stay right where you are.”

Settling down, she closed her own eyes, then moved to trace small circles in the hairs below his belly button. The tiny hairs curled around her fingers, teasing her with the memory of their union.

“Lorelei,” Jack whispered hoarsely. “If you continue to do that, neither of us will have any sleep tonight and you shall be terribly sore come morning.”

Balling her hand into a fist, she shifted. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was quite pleasant. I just don’t want to hurt you.”

She tucked her arm up under her side and watched him as he drifted off into sleep.

Lorelei had learned much this night. Much about Jack and even more about herself.

You’re wanton
.

It should have shamed her, but it didn’t. For some unfathomable reason it seemed right that she should be here with Jack.

I’m going to make you love me
, she vowed silently.
Somehow, Jack Rhys, I’m going to make you mine
.

J
ack came awake to the smell of sandalwood and roses. For a moment he thought he was dreaming as he felt the soft body molded to his.

Only it wasn’t a dream.

The morning was real as had been the night before. He looked down at the auburn curls spread across his chest. Lorelei still slept on top of him, her breasts pressed against his side. She was truly beautiful in his arms. He’d never before awakened with a woman in his bed, let alone one sprawled atop him.

Yet he liked it. He liked the way her breath tickled his chest, the way her hair slid against his flesh.

Raising his left hand, he ran his finger over the soft lashes nestled on her pale cheeks. Even now he could remember the way it felt to kiss her there. The way it felt to penetrate her body.

You’re a madman. Women bring nothing but sorrow
.

As if that would be a change for him, he thought bitterly.

Through the open windows he could hear his crew going about their daily activities. By the sound of them, it was probably just after noon and he really should be out on deck listening to the morning report, taking calculations. But he had no real desire to leave Lorelei’s embrace.

In fact, all he really wanted to do was replay last night’s tryst.

A knock sounded on his door.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

Sighing, he carefully slid himself out from Lorelei’s arms and made his way to the door. Jack cracked it open to see Tarik on the other side.

“There’s a storm brewing, Captain. I thought you might want to come take a look at it.”

“Give me a few minutes.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Jack closed the door.

“Is something wrong?” Lorelei asked as he neared the bed.

Jack paused to stare at her. She lay in the bed with his spread pulled up high over her breasts and her auburn hair tousled about her. He’d never seen anything more appealing. Anyone more inviting.

And she had asked him something. But the devil take it if he could remember what.

“I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for his pants. “I didn’t hear what you asked.”

“I asked if everything was all right.”

Jack laced his breeches. “It’s fine. There’s a storm moving in. Probably just a squall.”

He sat on the bed to pull on his boots. Lorelei came up behind him and encircled his waist with her arms. Her bare breasts were pressed tight against his back, burning him through and through as his body instantly ached for hers.

“I’m not sorry about last night, Jack, and I don’t want you to be either.”

He reached back over his head and cupped her head with his hand. Closing his eyes, he savored her scent, her feel. “I pray you don’t suffer for it.”

“If I do, it will have been worth it.”

He let go of her and moved away. “This isn’t a game, Lorelei. Women have been beaten, jailed, and killed for being unchaste.”

“I know,” she said with a hint of laughter in her voice. “My grandmother tutored me well on what can happen to women who give their passion free reign. She even warned me about handsome pirates named Jack.”

Lorelei sobered as she caught his menacing glare. “Never fear for me. I have people who will watch over me. I
will
be fine.”

Jack traced the line of her jaw with the backs of his fingers. How he prayed she was right.

Worst of all, though, he couldn’t find it in him to resist her. She was like some enchanted spell that had captured his battered soul.

He was truly selfish. He admitted that.

“Kiss me, Jack.”

He obliged. Sweet Jesu, she tasted so wonderful. Her scent filled his head.

“Captain!” someone bellowed from the deck.

Reluctantly, he pulled back from her. “I’ll be back.”

T
he afternoon dragged on slowly while Jack stayed busy with preparations. The sky grew increasingly dark until Jack ordered her below. Now in the galley, Lorelei was helping Sarah and the others prepare enough food to last several days should the storm not abate, and she was currently wrapping the potatoes Sarah’s husband had prepared.

“A fire’s the worst thing that can happen to a ship,” Mavis told her.

Alice nodded. “Aye, we’ll have no lights tonight, that’s for sure.”

Kit inched into the galley with a bundle of clothes and set them on the table next to Lorelei. She looked at him with a questioning brow.

“The captain said you’ll be needing something other than your skirts while we’ve got a storm,” Kit explained.

Puzzled, she looked to Mavis, who concurred. “Forgot to tell you about that. We all wear trousers in case the ship goes down.”

Lorelei dropped the potato in her hand as horror filled her. “What?”

Alice caught the potato as it rolled across the table and handed it back to Lorelei. “You never know in this kind of weather. I personally have never been aboard a sinking ship, knock on wood.” She rapped the table three times. “But ’tis better safe than sorry.”

Kit narrowed his gaze on Lorelei’s hooped skirt. “Those skirts of yours make a nice anchor. Not what I’d want wrapped around my legs if I had to swim for it.”

He turned to leave, but Mavis caught him by the arm. “Where are you taking refuge tonight, Mr. Kit?”

Kit puffed out his chest like a proud peacock. “I’m bunking with the sailors. I don’t need no woman coddling me. I’m a man, Mavis, or haven’t you noticed.”

She laughed. “You’re a whelp, that’s what you are.”

He stuck his tongue out, then ran for the door.

Mavis sighed at his departure. “There are times when I swear that boy is as mature as an old man, and other times when he hasn’t got the sense of a three-year-old babe.”

Alice froze, her face a mask of shock. “Good Lord, Mavis. He is a grown man after all!”

They all burst into laughter.

And so the afternoon went until the storm started and the women went to change into trousers and shirts. Lorelei even left off her corset, since Mavis had advised her not to use one. In the event she had to swim, she would need all the breath she could get.

Lorelei didn’t like that thought one tiny bit. However, an afternoon without her tight laces was beginning to appeal to her.

By evening, the ship was being buffeted unmercifully. All Lorelei wanted was to see Jack and have him alleviate the fear gnawing at her, but he and Tarik stayed topside, hoping to guide the ship through the storm while she and Kesi sat in Kesi’s cabin trying to keep their minds off of their men.

There was no real light except when lightning would flash and illuminate the room. They both sat on the bunk, holding onto grab rails cut into the side of the wall.

“How long do you think it’ll last?” she asked Kesi.

“Not long, I hope. I hate these things.”

“So do I.” Lorelei searched her mind for a game or song that could possibly take her concentration off of morbid thoughts. She had to do something or she was going to go mad from it!

“How long have you known Jack?” she asked, hoping for a long story from Kesi.

Kesi fell silent as if debating the answer. “For quite a while now. Eight, nine years it seems like.”

Just her luck Kesi wasn’t in a chatty mood.

Lorelei tried again. “And has he ever told you anything of his parents?”

Kesi shrugged. “Only what his mother did. To my knowledge, he knows nothing of his father.”

Could the woman answer anything with more than a sentence or two? Lorelei bit her lip and tried to think of something else that might yield a longer answer.

“And what of Morgan?” she asked as she thought about the ship that was still trailing them. “What is he to the captain?”

More lightning flashed and a loud clap of thunder shook the room.

Kesi waited for it to die down before she spoke. “Ya want the truth, or do ya want to hear what the two of them tell people?”

“Both,” Lorelei squeaked, needing Kesi’s conversation now more than ever.

Kesi shifted slightly. “Well, child, if ya were to ask one of them, they would tell ya Jack captured Morgan’s ship and was about to kill the boy when Morgan refused to flinch as Jack positioned his sword for the kill. Then they’d tell ya Jack so admired Morgan that he spared his life and let him sail with his crew.”

“And the truth?” she asked to prevent Kesi from pausing in her telling of the story.

“Morgan had jumped ship to escape the British Navy. One of the officers recognized Morgan, and he and several others were in pursuit of him. Morgan dodged into an alley at the same time Jack was leaving a tavern. They collided and Jack pulled his sword on him, until he saw the English. Deciding they were a better target for his anger, Jack went for them. They fought the officers off, and afterwards Jack asked Morgan if he’d like to sail with us.”

Now that was the last thing she’d expected to hear. “Morgan wanted to be a pirate?”

“Not really,” Kesi admitted. “He wasn’t happy with Jack once he found out who Jack was, but Jack has a way of getting what he wants out of people.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Kesi laughed. “Well, child, ya can’t fault a flower for attracting bees. Jack is just charming and charismatic by nature.”

He certainly was that.

“Kesi, I want the truth from you. Is Jack as bloodthirsty as his legend says?”

Kesi gave a pregnant pause before she spoke. “Aye, Jack has been bloodthirsty, I won’t lie and say otherwise, but then a cornered fox can seldom escape the hounds without bloodshed. When given a choice, he shows mercy. When cornered, he draws blood.”