Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) (16 page)

"Should we not be getting back to the ship?" she asked in an uneasy voice.

He chuckled as he stood to his full height. "No. I promised you could sleep on the beach tonight. Whenever possible, I try to keep my word."

"I hope you don't think I was suggesting that I should sleep here with . . . you!" she said in a horrified voice.

"That is a tempting offer, my lady. You know of course that you have put me out of my cabin. I have been forced to sleep in Briggs's cabin."

"It was not my fault, Captain. If you have been inconvenienced you should place the blame on yourself," she retorted, tossing her golden mane.

Season could almost feel his infectious good humor when he laughed. "Never has the world known anyone like you, my lady. You are not only lovely enough to cause a man to lose his heart, but you are intelligent and witty as well."

Season could think of no reply to his compliment. She felt her heart thumping in her breast and knew she was pleased by his observation. Never before had a man admired her for her intelligence.

"I will send James to you, my lady. He will see to all the necessary comforts."

Season watched The Raven disappear into the darkened shadows, wishing she hadn't been so hasty in her appeal to be allowed to sleep on the beach. He had said he was sending James to her, but it was such a dark night. Would it be safe to sleep on the beach with only a boy as her protector? Already Season could hear strange sounds coming from some unknown birds deep within the island.

She had enjoyed herself today. Even the dark master of the
Andromeda
had been pleasant, and she hadn't felt like his captive. But now that it was dark, wouldn't it be better to return to the ship?

"Ma'am, it's me, James," the young cabin boy called out. He was carrying a torch to light his way, and Season could see that he was also bringing what appeared to be mesh hammocks.

Season began to lose some of her apprehension as she watched James string the beds between palm trees. She had never slept in a hammock before. Laughingly, she sat down in one, then swung her feet up, lay back, and closed her eyes.

"This is wonderful. Do you sleep this way on board ship, James?" She loved the way the hammock swung back and forth with the breeze.

"Yes, ma'am, most of the crew does."

"It is a very pleasant feeling, but do you not become ill from the swaying motion of the ship?"

"You get used to it. Briggs says it's like being rocked to sleep every night.

Season rested her arms behind her head and smiled. The stars seemed so near she felt that she could reach up and pluck them from the sky. She glanced over at James, but couldn't make out his face in the moonless night.

"I believe I could spend my life, here, James. Just think about being able to sleep beneath the stars every night."

"Not very practical, my lady," said the deep raspy voice of The Raven. Season had not heard his approach, and she now strained her eyes, trying to make out his form; but he was no more than a shadow.

"One would soon tire of a diet of fish and coconut milk," he told her, placing his hands on either side of her hammock to stop its swaying motion.

"James, are you there," she called out, feeling fear in the very depths of her being.

"James has returned to the ship, my lady."

"Why ... are you here?" she whispered.

"You did not think I would allow a boy to protect my most valuable cargo, did you? If you will remember, I said I would be your watchdog tonight."

"I…thought James would be occupying the other hammock."

"You thought wrong."

"I don't want you to come near me," she said, her voice laced with fear.

"You are assuming I would want to come near you, my lady. It was not my wish to sleep on the beach," he reminded her in an amused voice.

"I didn't mean to imply ... I was merely—"

"Never mind," he said, moving to the other hammock and lying in it.

Season lay there for a long time, too confused to move. She listened to the lonesome sound of the night birds and was overcome by a feeling of loneliness.

"I have been meaning to speak to you about the other night, my lady," The Raven interrupted her thoughts.

"Do you mean the night of the storm?"

"No. You know very well the night to which I refer. I owe you an apology. It has never been my habit to force my attentions on an unwilling woman. You have the distinction of being the only one who wasn't willing to come to me. You have my word it will not happen again. So you see there is nothing for you to fear tonight."

She turned her face in his direction. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"I had hoped it would."    ,

"If you are feeling guilty, it is no more than you deserve," Season said, grateful that it was too dark for him to see her face. "I have never harmed you, and I will never know why you felt it necessary to harm me."

The Raven was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke his voice was no more than a raspy whisper. "I think, my lady, I was also harmed by you."

"I don't understand," she said in a confused voice. "I have done nothing to you."

Season felt rather than heard him stand and move to her side. She was startled when he reached out of the darkness to take her hand, and she pulled away from him.

"The night is much too nice to be spent in serious conversation, my lady. Do you know how to swim?"

"Of course, but I would never swim in the presence of a man."

She drew in her breath when he lifted her out of the hammock and carried her toward the waves that lapped at the shore.

"It is a dark night, my lady. I can see you no more than you can see me."

Season bravely reached up her hand and felt his face. The Raven wore no mask to hide his identity!

He knew she was confused, and he laughed.

"The dark night will be my only disguise tonight. It will also protect your modesty. I would suggest you remove your gown if you don't want it ruined."

"I will most certainly do no such a thing," she retorted. Even though she very much wanted to swim in the ocean, she had no desire to be unladylike.

Before Season could protest, he set her on her feet and began unlacing her gown.

"No, stop!" she cried, pushing his hand away.

The Raven only laughed as he pulled the gown over her head. "No one will see you but the fish, my lady. You know you want to swim; why not just admit it?"

Season could now feel the cool waves washing against her feet, and she wanted to submerge her overheated body in the water. "I will not remove my petticoats," she stated modestly.

"Then allow me," he said, deftly pulling yards and yards of frilly white lace over her head. Season felt a thrill go through her body as his hand brushed against her throat.

"I will not allow you to remove any more of my garments," she said in a soft voice.

"I suppose the remaining articles of clothing will not hamper your swimming overmuch." He laughed.

"You had this planned all along, didn't you, Captain? Must I remind you that I am not one of your barmaids?"

"Actually I didn't plan this. The notion just came to me. As to comparing you to a barmaid, that would be much like comparing a stone to a diamond."

Season became aware that The Raven was removing his own garments, so she quickly waded farther into the water. The waves lapped at her body with a gentle motion, and she was caught up in the excitement of swimming in the sea.

"I am a good swimmer," she called out. "In the summers I swam almost every day at Chatsworth."

"Is it to be a race, then?" he asked, coming up beside her.

By now Season was waist-deep in the water. "As you wish," she called out, diving into a rippling wave. With strong, powerful strokes, she headed out to sea. Season had never swam in the ocean before, and she found the salt water burned her eyes. Ignoring the irritant, she dove beneath the surface, feeling exhilarated. When she surfaced, she was aware that the captain had swum right along with her.

"You are indeed a strong swimmer for a woman," he said turning over on his back and floating beside her.

"For a woman! What do you mean for a woman?" Never in her life had Season wanted anything as badly as she wanted to beat this man. With renewed effort, she lunged forward, taking strong even strokes, assured that she was leaving him behind. She swam until she was exhausted and her arms and legs felt like heavy weights. That was when she realized how foolish she had been. She was too weary to swim another stroke, and she didn't even know in which direction the shore was. It was dark, and she began to panic. What if she were to drown? A new fear came to her: what if there were sharks in the water with her!

In her panic, she began to sink and had to struggle to keep her head above water. When the dark sea closed over her, Season felt as if her lungs would burst from want of air. Just when she thought she was indeed drowning, she felt a strong hand go about her waist and pull her upward.

When Season reached the surface, she coughed and drew a big gulp of air into her lungs.

"My foolish little mermaid," The Raven murmured against her ear. "I concede the race. You won in spirit and courage, and after all that is what really counts."

Season laid her head on his shoulder and allowed him to take them both toward the shore. She didn't know at what point she became aware of him as a man and not merely as her savior. Perhaps it was when her body brushed against his, or perhaps, it was when he turned and his warm breath fanned her cheek. Her arms were about his neck, and she could feel his powerful muscles beneath her fingertips.

"Sweet lady, you will make me forget the promise 1 made if you don't stop tempting me so," he said, drawing her around in front of him.

Season raised her head and felt his lips against her face. She wanted him to forget the promise he had made. She could think of nothing but the warmth spreading through her body because he was holding her so intimately.

What has come over me? she wondered, as she brazenly turned her face and touched her lips to his. The moment Season's mouth touched The Raven's, he clasped her tightly against him and the water swirled over both their heads. Season felt as if she were floating in a warm world full of feeling.

When The Raven pulled them to the surface, he broke off the kiss. "You do sorely tempt me, my lady. Pray I do not take you up on your invitation."

Season rested her face against his and heard him groan. When she touched his lips with hers the second time, his promise was all but forgotten.

As soon as they reached shallow water, he lifted her into his arms and carried her ashore, laying her down on the sand while he knelt over her.

"You only have to say no, and I will leave you untouched," he whispered.

For her answer, Season twined her hands about his neck and pulled his face down to her parted lips.

"Remember when the morning comes that you asked for this, my lady," he said just before his lips took command of hers in a mind-destroying kiss.

Season didn't want to think about tomorrow. She could only think about his caressing hands running over her body and shaking her to the depths of her soul. Surely she had been created for this moment in time. She was unaware of the rough sand beneath her back as his lips settled on hers.

Incapable of thinking or reasoning, she told herself, this was meant to be, The Raven has become my destiny!

12

Season trembled as The Raven's hand brushed against the swell of her breast and then moved down to the soft curve of her hips. She gasped as his fingers brushed the length of her inner thigh. Somewhere in the back of her mind a small voice told her this was wrong, but that voice was overpowered by the urgent need The Raven awakened in her. She should be struggling, trying to gain her release, but instead she was twisting and purring, in ecstasy. The growing need in her begged to be eased, the hunger to be assuaged.

The Raven's strong muscled body seemed to absorb Season's soft curves. She pulled his head downward and opened her lips to receive his hot kiss. He didn't hesitate, but settled his body against hers as her fingers explored the broad expanse of his back tentatively.

The Raven pushed Season's chemise off her shoulders and down over her hips. "Tis wrong," she cried in a moment of sanity. "My soul will be damned to hell for eternity."

"If this be hell, my lady, give me an eternity to spend there with you," his deep, husky voice resounded against her ear.

The sand began to cut into Season's tender skin, and she was surprised when The Raven raised her up and placed her on his shirt. As he lowered his body down on top of her she turned her face to his.

Wild, hot, searing flesh entered Season's body, and she whimpered softly while trying to draw him tighter against her. Their bodies were wet from swimming in the sea, and that seemed to heighten their pleasure. When Season ran her fingers through The Raven's hair, separating the damp strands, he began moving, pulsating deep inside her. His hungry kisses seemed to burn her satiny throat.

Season seemed to have trouble breathing, but she gasped when a new and unexpected feeling shook her body. As The Raven's mouth plundered Season's lips, he mastered her body. She lost count of the times her body shuddered with tremors of passionate fury. Again and again her body answered his masterful manipulation, until at last his body shuddered with an answering fire. Season heard him groan as he relaxed, and she felt his full weight upon her.

Words of love tumbled to Season's lips, wanting to be spoken, but she refused to utter them. This was madness, surely not love. Hadn't Molly once pointed out to her the difference between love and lust. How could a woman love a faceless man? If this be lust, then it is a far more frightening emotion than love, she thought.

"I will say again, my lady, you are damned good. Aside from the fact that you are untested, you are the best I have ever had," he murmured softly in her ear.

The Raven heard her gasp at his cruel words, but he was trying to save himself from surrendering to his feelings for her. He was fighting to keep his freedom. He knew his cruel words had hurt her, but in the long run it was far kinder to do so. The two of them were never meant to be together; they were born enemies. He didn't want to love any woman, especially not this one; and he knew the Lady Season Chatsworth could never love him—not after everything that had passed between them. If she ever discovered his true identity, she would only hate him all the more.

Season cringed at his harsh words. She felt as if he had thrown a dash of cold water into her face, while ripping her heart to shreds. Had he meant to compliment her? she wondered. If that had been his intention, he hadn't succeeded. He had made her feel unclean and tarnished by comparing her to other women with whom he had made love. She lay motionless for a moment. How could she have thought she had any tender feelings for this man? She felt a hurt so deep that she wanted to cry out in pain.

"I hate you. You are a loathsome creature," she whispered through trembling lips. She wished to find words to wound him as he had her.

"I would rather have your hate than most women's love, my lady. I will willingly take any small crumbs you throw my way."

"Crumbs are all you will ever get from me, Raven."

"That will be almost enough," he said, moving off her, "although I feel as if I've had a feast rather than crumbs from you tonight, my lady."

Season felt her throat burn. "What are you going to do with me now?" she asked, as he knelt down beside her. She wished he would just leave her here on this deserted island. She had no wish to ever face him again.

His hand brushed against her breast. "Is that an offer, my lady?"

Season wanted to strike him for what he had implied, but instead she moaned when his finger circled the tip of her breast. His touch seemed to have all the intensity of the raging hurricane that had tossed the Andromeda about in its wake.

"Please let me go now," she said in a soft voice. "I can be of no further use to you."

"Suppose I want to keep you as my own?"

She pushed his hand away and sat up. "I am serious, Raven."

"Perhaps I am too."

Season tried to turn away as his hand laced through her tumbled curls. She could feel him lowering her back onto the sand, and she wondered how easily he could make her forget her anger. She wished she had the will to fight him, but when his lips blazed a trail across her face to seek her own, Season groaned in surrender. When he spread her legs apart, she eagerly awaited him.

"I have never known a woman who could set me on fire as you do, my lady. I will have you again if you are willing," he groaned. "I cannot seem to stop myself."

Season didn't answer, and his lips plundered her mouth. When he entered her with a strong forward thrust, she was almost wild with wanton desire.

She gazed up at the star-filled sky, knowing that whatever the future brought she would always remember that night. It would be burned into her mind for all time.

"My lady, for this moment you belong to me alone," he whispered against her lips. "Other men may possess you in the days to come, but you will always remember I was the first."

"Will other women possess you?" she asked breathlessly.

He turned his cheek and rested it against hers as he started moving slowly inside her. "I have never been possessed . . . until now," he said in a deep voice. "You have entered my blood, and nothing I can do will wipe your memory away."

Season felt her heart soar at his admission. Surely he was as deeply moved by her as she was by him. She wanted to give him something that he would never forget. She wanted to make him think of her every time he took another woman in his arms. Arching her hips upward, she met his forward thrust and set her body motion to match his. Her lips moved over his face to taste the salty seawater that still clung to his skin.

"My lady, my lady, what are you doing to me?" he groaned, as her silken legs twined about his waist.

Season could feel their tempo building faster and faster, and her mind and heart seemed to reach out to The Raven. I will burn a memory into his very soul, she thought as she moved sensuously against his body.

"If I didn't know better I would think you were well trained, my lady," he breathed hotly in her ear. "You set me on fire, Season."

Season moaned as her body reached a passionate fulfillment. Then she felt The Raven shudder, and he lay limp atop her. When he sprinkled kisses over her face, she twined her fingers through his hair and curled up with her head against his shoulder, feeling almost at peace with the world. It wasn't lust alone she felt for this man. It was also love, she realized. She loved The Raven even though he had no face, and no name!

Her hand strayed to his face, and she traced his profile, trying to imagine what the man she loved looked like. How was it possible that she had found love in the most unlikely source?

"What color are your eyes?" she asked while running her finger softly across his eyelashes.

"What color are the eyes of a raven?" he countered.

Her hand drifted up to his hair. "What color is your hair? Surely you can tell me that much."

He caught her hand and kissed her fingers. "What color are a raven's wings?"

"You have a strong chin, but then I would expect nothing less," she said, tracing the outline of his jaw.

"Your eyes are the most unsettling color of green," he murmured against her ear. "Your hair reminds me of golden corn silk until the sun hits it; then it comes alive as if it were on fire." His hand moved over her face. "Your face is so lovely, that the first time I saw you I couldn't believe my eyes. I have not changed my opinion since then." His hand drifted down to rest against her stomach. "Your body will haunt me until my dying day. You have utterly bewitched me,
my
lady."

She turned her head and tried to see his face. Did he really think her beautiful, or did he say these things to every woman with whom he was intimate?

"I would like to know all about you, but I know you will tell me nothing, Raven."

"Just like a woman," he said, smiling against her face. "You bed one and she wants to know if you put your right boot or your left boot on first."

He could feel her smile. "You know much about me; it's only fair that I know something about you."

"I don't know all that much about you. Would you answer some questions that have been nagging at me?"

Season moved her head against his chest, and the soft curly hair tickled her cheek. "Just like a man, you allow him to make love to you and he thinks that gives him the right to your life story."

She heard laughter rumble within his chest as he hugged her tightly. "I got more than I bargained for in you, my lady. I would wager that nowhere in the world is there a woman to rival you."

"Oh, I don't know. I once saw a picture of Leonardo da Vinci's,
Virgin on the Rocks
, and she might come close," she said flippantly.

"That brings me to what I wanted to ask you," he said, delighted with her wit. "Why is it that gossip says you have been promiscuous with your favors? I found the opposite to be true."

"Oh, that," she smiled. "It is a long story and I wouldn't want to bore you with it."

"I have the time, bore me."

"Well…it would be quite amusing if it hadn't made my father so angry with me. If you heard that I was less than pure, you must also have heard that I was betrothed to marry the Earl of Ransford. He was an awful man who was older than my father and a loathsome creature. I begged my father not to make me marry him, but my father wouldn't listen. He kept insisting I marry Lord Ransford. I decided one day that I would take matters into my own hands. My scheme worked better than I had dared hope, although at the time I didn't foresee the far-reaching consequences. I didn't know I would be banished from England to marry a man I had never met."

"What did you do to free yourself that incurred your father's anger?"

"One day Lord Ransford came to visit Chatsworth castle."

"Oh, so the lady lived in a real castle, did she?" he interrupted in an amused voice.

"Of course, what else? Do you want to hear my story or not?"

"Go on, you have my ear."

"Well, as I said, one day Lord Ransford came calling and he brought along two of his friends." Season smiled. "He was a braggart, and I heard him telling his friends he wanted to show off his pure and innocent young bride-to-be."

"Poor fool that he was," The Raven said, smiling.

"You might well say he was a fool. I was in the stable after having ridden Cinibar—"

"Am I to gather that Cinibar is a horse and not a man?" The Raven interrupted again.

"Are you going to interrupt, or do you want to hear the rest?"

"Pray go on."

"Knowing Lord Ransford was a prideful man, I decided that if I shamed him before his peers he would have to release me from our marriage contract. I waited in the stables until I saw Lord Ransford and his friends coming my way. When they entered the stables, I threw myself against poor Tom, the stable boy, and sent us both tumbling into the hay. You can well imagine the compromising picture Tom and I represented. As you may know Lord Ransford was furious and quickly announced that he would never have me for his wife. What I hadn't bargained for, were the rumors he spread about me in London. I had to deal with a tattered reputation and my father's wrath. The king was so angry with me he demanded that my father have me married off immediately. The rest you know."

The Raven laughed heartily. "Good Lord, you are a minx. You are one of the few women I know who could save themselves in such a circumstance." In that moment The Raven knew he had met the one woman in the world for him. She had a wild spirit to match his own. If only they hadn't been born into two different worlds. They had no common meeting ground. He admired her bravery, and he was sorry that he had added to the lady's troubles.

"So, will you settle for Edward Kensworthy as your husband?" He waited tensely for her answer.

"At the moment I don't seem able to make that decision. I am somewhere on a tropical island and Edmund is somewhere in New York, I suppose."

"When I take you back, it might be a good idea if you were to marry your cousin immediately."

She turned her face away and stared into the night sky. "Why do you say that?"

"Dammit, don't you realize what I have done to you?" he cried out, grabbing her and burying his face in her golden hair. "Are you not aware of the consequences?"