Captive Embraces by Fern Michaels Page B

on her flesh had been soothing, delivering her into a state of mind where she felt warm and peaceful.
    From touch to caress, he had made love to her. He had awakened her sexuality with his lips, covering her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. She had moaned with exquisite joy and had welcomed him, pliant to his need and demands. They had shared love that night in the sequestering fog. Here, aboard this very ship, in her own cabin; her own bunk. Even now, she could almost hear her own voice as she had moaned against his lips, begging, imploring, “Have me! Have me now!”
    Sirena saw Caleb give an imperceptible shake of his head to someone behind her. It was distraction enough for Caleb to change direction away from the rail. He began to move to midship, fending off Sirena’s slicing weapon with the clash of steel. Still, she advanced on him, taking leaps to bridge the distance he managed to put between them. Her mouth was set in a straight line, her eyes murky with anguish and tears glistened on her flushed cheeks. Caleb understood. And with that sudden comprehension came a sharing of her pain and, at that moment, he would have given his life to rid her of it.
    Again and again she attacked, her rapier making singing noises as it dangerously passed his ear. In her madness she had opened herself to attack. She had left herself unguarded. Caleb could have easily brought her down.
    The crew waited; Frau Holtz covered her eyes. Jacobus stepped closer to the Frau and comforted her, hushing her mindless wailing.
    Back, back, she drove Caleb, back against the mizzenmast, trapped between the great solid shaft of wood and the rage of the Sea Siren.
    Wordlessly, she made her intent clear. Her rapier’s tip slashed at his shirtfront, leaving tatters of the white cloth. Caleb could hear her deep heaving, saw the tears falling like silent soldiers on her cheeks.
    Jabbing, she had him trapped; he could feel the heavy knots of the rigging hard against his back. She was so close he could feel her breath upon his cheek, but still he would not defend himself.
    Sirena raised her arm, the rapier’s point aiming directly for his neck. With a cry of the forsaken damned she lunged forward, the last shred of her sanity compelling her to deviate from her intended target. The point buried itself in the mizzenmast mere inches from Caleb’s convulsing throat.
    For a long moment they stared into one another’s eyes. The horror of her actions dawned on Sirena and she shuddered with shame. Caleb held his arms out to her in forgiveness.
    Holding her close, he whispered, “Sirena, forgive me for looking so much like my father.”
    Trying to control a torrent of tears, Sirena’s body shook. Her proud head hung low in shame and she would receive no comfort for what she had almost done. Not trusting her voice, she silently turned and walked slowly across the deck to her cabin.
    Frau Holtz and the crew watched as she stepped inside and quietly closed the door, shutting out the world, preferring to suffer in isolation.
    Sirena spent the next three days confined to the cabin, refusing to open the door even for Frau Holtz. Food left outside was left untouched; and when the Frau pressed her ear against the solid oak frame, no sounds could be heard from within. Only the lamp lighted within gave the housekeeper reason to sigh with relief.
    Several times Frau Holtz implored Caleb to break down the door. “I’d do anything for you, Frau Holtz,” he answered softly, “anything but this. I know Sirena, and she needs this time without interference.” As he murmured the words, the housekeeper saw the depths of sympathy. His thoughts were plainly visible. Caleb was of the mind that Sirena had locked herself away because she could not bear the sight of him.
    â€œI know what you’re thinking, Caleb,” Frau Holtz soothed, “and you’re wrong. Sirena loves you.”
    â€œNo, Frau Holtz,” he replied,