Tarik the short distance to the captain’s dining room, Lorelei couldn’t help but wonder if the Christians of the fourth century felt the same way as they were led to the Colosseum, for surely she was going into the lion’s den.
He was such a clever lion, too. Golden and handsome, mesmerizing and deadly.
And determined to devour her one way or another.
Yet it wasn’t in her to hide from him. Nay, her father had always stressed confronting fears and challenges. The pirate wouldn’t force her, he’d made that clear enough. So long as he abided by that, she was in control.
Now. To make him fall in love with her. No simple feat, to be sure, but if she could get the ever-wandering Justin to propose, then she could certainly have one Jack Rhys down on his knees.
Tarik opened the door for her.
Lorelei stepped into the room and paused. Soft candlelight sparkled against the high polish of the mahogany dining table, which was set with fine porcelain dishes decorated with pale yellow flowers. Romantic dinner music filtered in from the open windows and she wondered at its source. The aroma of roasted duck and squash made her stomach rumble in anticipation.
It was a room perfect for seduction; at least she was certain that’s what the pirate thought.
Well, he would learn.
“So,” Jack said, stepping out of the shadows on her left. It took her a moment to recognize him as he was once again dressed in his elegant black suit, starched white shirt, and cream waistcoat. She’d forgotten just how stunning the elegant count was compared to the earthy and raw Black Jack Rhys.
“You wore the gown after all. I wasn’t sure if you would.”
Reminding herself of the game she played, she smiled coyly and smoothed the gold-laced stomacher with her hand. “It was such a small request, why wouldn’t I honor it?”
He quirked a brow as he approached her with one arm held behind his back, looking very much the noble gentleman. “Well, if you don’t mind honoring small requests, then might I have your hand?”
Suspicious, she hesitated. “For what purpose?”
He paused before her and she caught the crisp scent of sandalwood from him. It was a heady mixture when combined with the sea air and succulent food. “I made a small request. Surely you don’t intend to deny me now?”
She bit her lip to keep from questioning him further. “Very well.” Lorelei lifted her gloved hand.
Even through the soft kidskin, she could feel the heat of his hand as he lifted her knuckles to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on them.
He closed his eyes as if savoring something delectable. “You chose the rose perfume.”
“Does it please you?”
“Very much.”
He brushed her fingers with his thumb and an electric charge rushed through her body straight to the center of her being. She licked her suddenly dry lips and fought herself for control of the swirling emotions he provoked so easily.
She must do something to staunch her attraction for him before it was too late, or more to the point, to staunch his desire for her. As every moment passed she began to wonder if perhaps ’twas she who’d met her match this night.
The captain placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her toward the table. “No doubt you’re thinking of wearing the lavender perfume next time to spite me.”
She cocked a brow at his ability to read her so easily. “Perhaps I was thinking of asking for more rose to continue to entice you.”
He held the chair out for her and she dutifully sat down. Once she was situated, he leaned down, and when he spoke, his breath fell softly against the flesh of her neck, adding flames to the already swirling fire inside her. “You’ve already enticed me, sweet. We both know what you really want to do is repel me.”
She turned her face slightly to see the devilish look on his face. “Nay, not at all. I said I would make you fall in love with me and so I shall.”
“And I said I would seduce you
He was such a clever lion, too. Golden and handsome, mesmerizing and deadly.
And determined to devour her one way or another.
Yet it wasn’t in her to hide from him. Nay, her father had always stressed confronting fears and challenges. The pirate wouldn’t force her, he’d made that clear enough. So long as he abided by that, she was in control.
Now. To make him fall in love with her. No simple feat, to be sure, but if she could get the ever-wandering Justin to propose, then she could certainly have one Jack Rhys down on his knees.
Tarik opened the door for her.
Lorelei stepped into the room and paused. Soft candlelight sparkled against the high polish of the mahogany dining table, which was set with fine porcelain dishes decorated with pale yellow flowers. Romantic dinner music filtered in from the open windows and she wondered at its source. The aroma of roasted duck and squash made her stomach rumble in anticipation.
It was a room perfect for seduction; at least she was certain that’s what the pirate thought.
Well, he would learn.
“So,” Jack said, stepping out of the shadows on her left. It took her a moment to recognize him as he was once again dressed in his elegant black suit, starched white shirt, and cream waistcoat. She’d forgotten just how stunning the elegant count was compared to the earthy and raw Black Jack Rhys.
“You wore the gown after all. I wasn’t sure if you would.”
Reminding herself of the game she played, she smiled coyly and smoothed the gold-laced stomacher with her hand. “It was such a small request, why wouldn’t I honor it?”
He quirked a brow as he approached her with one arm held behind his back, looking very much the noble gentleman. “Well, if you don’t mind honoring small requests, then might I have your hand?”
Suspicious, she hesitated. “For what purpose?”
He paused before her and she caught the crisp scent of sandalwood from him. It was a heady mixture when combined with the sea air and succulent food. “I made a small request. Surely you don’t intend to deny me now?”
She bit her lip to keep from questioning him further. “Very well.” Lorelei lifted her gloved hand.
Even through the soft kidskin, she could feel the heat of his hand as he lifted her knuckles to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on them.
He closed his eyes as if savoring something delectable. “You chose the rose perfume.”
“Does it please you?”
“Very much.”
He brushed her fingers with his thumb and an electric charge rushed through her body straight to the center of her being. She licked her suddenly dry lips and fought herself for control of the swirling emotions he provoked so easily.
She must do something to staunch her attraction for him before it was too late, or more to the point, to staunch his desire for her. As every moment passed she began to wonder if perhaps ’twas she who’d met her match this night.
The captain placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her toward the table. “No doubt you’re thinking of wearing the lavender perfume next time to spite me.”
She cocked a brow at his ability to read her so easily. “Perhaps I was thinking of asking for more rose to continue to entice you.”
He held the chair out for her and she dutifully sat down. Once she was situated, he leaned down, and when he spoke, his breath fell softly against the flesh of her neck, adding flames to the already swirling fire inside her. “You’ve already enticed me, sweet. We both know what you really want to do is repel me.”
She turned her face slightly to see the devilish look on his face. “Nay, not at all. I said I would make you fall in love with me and so I shall.”
“And I said I would seduce you
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