propriety of the gentile English women of the island, she preferred the light, flowing garments of the native Caribs. Kanoni had loaned her the wrap, but Melodie had put her own twist on the fabric, cinching it over her breasts so that it fell to midthigh. With one hard tug, she had the knot loose and the wisp of fabric drifted to the sandy shore. She stood naked in the starlight, her skin kissed by the night air. How glorious to be free of the constraints of human society, to revel in the caress of the ocean’s breeze. She lifted her voice, singing of her joy for living.
The man covered his ears with both palms, blocking out her song.
No.
If he didn’t hear her song, he’d get past her and kill Busara. Melodie pushed at his hands in an attempt to open his ears and mind to her siren’s spell.
But he held firm.
Fear licked like fire at her belly and she sang louder.
Finally, the man dropped his hands from his ears, and spun her around. A large palm clamped over her mouth, the other reached for the dagger she’d left lying on top of the rock.
With the jeweled dagger pressed against her neck, Melodie fought panic. This wasn’t supposed to be the way it happened. She was supposed to kill him.
“I didn’t come to make love to you. I came to kill the witch.”
2
The siren’s song had lured him off course; now Rafe could barely seem to recall what his path had been. What manner of witch had Busara sent to detour him from his purpose?
Her long, golden tresses lay like silk against his skin, her tender lips moving beneath his palm lit a fire in his loins. She’d said he’d come to make love to her. With her rounded bottom pressed against his cock, he could well imagine how wondrous a ride the siren might be. But would he lose his soul to her devilry?
While one hand covered her mouth to stem the flow of her enchanting song, his free hand traced the line of her ribs down to her narrow waist.
She shivered, her body trembling beneath his ministrations. Good. Let her know the overwhelming desire she’d inspired in him with just her music. Let her suffer the longing and unquenchable thirst. If he played his hand right, he could have his way with the sultry siren and still have enough time to complete his mission—killing the Obeah, Busara.
The thought of thrusting between the minx’s legs made him hot all over. But to mount her too quickly would take away from his pleasure. He wanted her to lose all control to him. A slow, deliberate seduction was more to his liking. Apparently she didn’t know of him or his curse or she’d have run screaming by now. Surely Busara sent her with enough knowledge to lure him away from Siren’s Cove, but no information about his true nature. Now, he would lure her into trusting him and turn the tables on her. For he fully intended to kill Busara to break the ungodly spell.
Even with the limited light of the starry night, he could tell the siren’s skin was darker than the fashionable pearly white of English ladies. The contrast to her spun-gold hair would surely be remarkable in the light of day and he found himself wanting to wake to the sunrise and her lying next to him. How beautiful would this woman be by daylight?
“If I remove my hand, do you promise you will not sing and bewitch me once again?” He lowered his hand enough for her to move her lips, his other hand skimming over the triangle of soft curls at the juncture of her thighs.
“I promise not to sing.” Her voice was breathy, as though she didn’t have full control over her words and thoughts.
He dropped his hand from her mouth, although she failed to promise not to bewitch. Her omission titillated his senses with the possibilities and his cock rose to nudge her rounded bottom. With both hands now free to roam, he splayed them across her belly and raised them until they rested beneath her plump breasts. “What is your name, witch?”
“Melodie.” She sucked in a sharp breath, her ribs expanding against his palms. Did she feel the pull of attraction as strongly as he? He tweaked her nipple.
Melodie gasped.
“I am Rafe, the captain of the Serpent’s Curse. Do I frighten you, Melodie?” He liked that her name fit her musical voice and the siren’s song she’d used to lure him away from his destination.
“No.” Her back stiffened and she leaned away from his chest. “I’m afraid of no man.”
“Then why did you gasp when I touched you?” He lifted his hand, cupping one voluptuous mound. His thumb traced circles around the puckered nipple.
“I didn’t gasp.” When he rolled the tip between his thumb and forefinger, she sucked in another breath.
“Sounded suspiciously like a gasp to me.”
“So I gasped.” Her head lolled back until it rested against his chest. “That doesn’t prove I’m afraid of you or any other man.”
He tipped his head forward to capture one of her shell-like earlobes between his teeth, moving so close his cock wedged into the crack of her ass. Sandwiched between the firm cheeks, he hardened into steel. His tongue toyed with her ear before he blew a warm breath across the damp lobe and her neck.
She trembled, goose bumps rising to add to the delightful pucker of her aureoles. Her hips swayed, causing her bottom to rub against his prick.
His hands dove downward. One cupped her sex, a long, rough finger delving between the folds. “Do you fear yourself?”
Avoiding his question, she asked one of her own. “Why do you wish to kill Busara?”
His lips tightened and his cock almost wilted at his reasons, but for the silky smoothness of her skin rubbing against him. “That is my business.”
“Well now it is mine as well. As you might have guessed, Busara sent me to stop you.”
Rafe nodded. “I’d assumed as much. But you will not deter me for long. I will kill the hag and break the curse she set upon me.”
“She cursed you?” Melodie stepped away from him. “You must have done something extremely dreadful for her to curse you.”
“I did nothing more than what was my right as governor of Mystique Island. I asked that she remove herself and her magic from Siren’s Cove to open it for ships to enter.” He stood straighter.
Melodie’s eyes widened and her hand covered her lips. “You would take the cove away from us—uh, her?” From wide-eyed fear to fiery anger, she changed in the blink of an eye. “You can’t, you thieving pirate!” She flew at him with the force of a fierce kitten, ready to claw his eyes out.
Rafe grabbed her wrists and held them high above her head.
Her breasts rose and fell with every raging breath she took. She stood close enough to him that he could capture one nipple between his teeth. The siren need not sing to capture his attention. Her womanly attributes had his full focus. “You’re right. I cannot. Not with the curse she’s placed on me. She’s forced me into the life of a fugitive, a pirate.”
“What’s with you humans, anyway? Do you always
