Enchantress

by Constance O'Banyon

  She could have told him she was only frightened of him at the moment. “No, I am not frightened of a little thunder. Why should I be?”

  “You would never allow anything as insignificant as a little thunder to frighten you, would you?”

  Something in the way he looked at her made her want to flee. His eyes were burning into hers, searching, probing, yet she stayed. Suddenly she felt warm inside, and she clutched at her cape, pulling it about her neck.

  “I hope you do not mind that I came on deck, Captain?”

  “Why should I mind? If you fall overboard, it will rid me of a nuisance, wouldn’t it?”

  She drew in her breath at the pain his words caused. Turning to look at the stormy sky overhead, she wished he would just go away and leave her in peace. Her eyes burned, and she could feel tears gathering on her lashes.

  “What the hell?” he said, turning her to face him and staring into her face.

  Brittany put her hand to her face, fearing the stain had come off her face in the rain. “What is wrong?” she asked, backing away from him.

  “I always say the wrong thing with you. Of course, I don’t want you to fall overboard. I am not the monster you believe me to be.”

  “I am aware that I have been trouble for you, Captain. You have certainly called my attention to it often enough.” She pulled her cape about her to ward off the rain. “But I fear you are stuck with me until we reach Charleston.”

  “So it would seem.” He saw her shiver and wrongly concluded that she was cold. “You had best go below deck now. The last thing I want is another ill passenger on my hands. You and your eunuch have complicated my life enough as it is.”

  She could do no more than stare at him. Was this man always angry? she wondered. Did he never laugh and feel lighthearted?

  Brittany could not know how appealing she looked with her dark hair blowing with the wind and her beautiful face illuminated by streaks of lightning.

  “Go below,” Thorn ordered in a stern voice.

  Suddenly, she had enough of his highhanded manner, and she decided to fight back. “No, I will not go below. I came out to see the storm, and I intend to stay as long as I like.”

  With a growl of impatience, and a sudden movement, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her across the deck and down the narrow passageway.

  “What are you going to do to me?” she asked through trembling lips, wondering if she had pushed him too far.

  “What I should have done when I first had the urge,” he ground out in an angry voice.

  He held her suspended while he opened the door to his cabin and carried her inside and set her on her feet.

  “But I have not—”

  Drawing Brittany to him, Thorn lowered his dark head and covered her lips with his, cutting off any protest she might have made.

  Thorn had meant only to take his anger out on her with a quick kiss, but when her soft lips trembled beneath his and he heard the sigh escape her throat, all he could think about was possessing her.

  All the conversations Brittany had overheard in the harem now came to her mind. How many times had she heard the women discussing the ways to please their lord. She knew where to touch a man to make him mindless with passion. Should she use that knowledge with this man? Brittany had been told that a woman’s body had been created to receive a man’s. Should she offer her body to this man?

  Moving back, her cape fell away, and she realized too late that her nightgown would appear transparent with the lantern behind her. She felt a hot wave of pleasure wash over her when his blue eyes darkened with desire.

  Yes, she reminded herself, she had been taught by experts in pleasing a lover. She would now use all she knew to entrap Thorn Stoddard. Too many times he had humiliated her and made her hurt because of his bitter words. Now she would humiliate him.

  Her eyes gleamed as she planned how she would humble him. She would take him to the brink of madness and then deny him what he wanted most from her.

  Thorn stood tight-lipped, his eyes drawn to the delicate beauty. When he found his voice, it came out in a tortured whisper. “It would be in your best interest to leave now. Stay, and you will suffer the consequences. I am not a man who can withstand temptation.”

  The air was charged with electricity, and Brittany felt daring. “What if I do not want to leave? I see in your eyes that you do not really want me to leave.”

  “Perhaps,” he agreed with a shrug. “But if you stay, you know what will happen. I doubt that you are willing to take that chance.” He advanced a step closer to her. “I would advise you not to.”

  “What is your pleasure?” She moved closer to him, stood on tiptoes, and purred in his ear, “Tell me, and I will give it to you.”

  She struggled to retain her cool manner, when in truth she wanted to flee to safety. This man was making her feel emotions she did not know how to handle, no matter how much she had learned in the harem.

  “I warn you,” he whispered in a meaningful voice, “do not push me too far.”

  Foolishly, Brittany gave him an alluring smile. She had not been taught that it was unwise for a woman to tease a man like Thorn. She only wanted to toy with him, to make him feel some of the frustrations she had experienced because of him. It was important that she bring this arrogant man to his knees. Only then would she feel appeased.

  His breath came out in a hiss, and he gathered her trembling body tightly against his.

  “I will be damned for eternity, little concubine, but I will have all of you. No matter that you belong to another man, I will take what the sultan desires, and what Lord Simijin treasures.”

  “I have been trained to please, Captain Stoddard,” she purred. “I know how to make your body find pleasures in a thousand delightful ways. But first you must give me time to prepare.”

  Thorn stared into green eyes that promised him paradise. “What is to prepare?” he asked hoarsely.

  She slipped out of his arms, stooped to retrieve her burnoose, and slipped it over her head. “Give me a few moments, and then come to my cabin. I will give you a night you will never forget.”

  He stared after her as she moved to the door. “What if I do not want what you offer, Brittany? I have had many such offers.” He thought of Wilhelmina. “Some I have accepted, others I have not.”

  She smiled her most captivating smile. “You will come, I think.”

  After she had gone, Thorn stood as though in a trance. He would not fall into the trap that was being so cleverly laid for him.

  He was beginning to believe she had deliberately come on deck tonight with the express purpose of driving him out of his mind. One other time in his life he had allowed a woman to reach the innermost part of his heart—he had vowed never to do it again.

  He closed his eyes as thoughts of how satiny Brittany’s skin had felt, and the memory of her beautiful body were burned into his mind.

  No, he would not go to her. Instead, he would go on deck and stand in the rain to cool his passion.

  He moved to the door, but stood undecided. He would just go to her cabin and tell her that he was not a fool.

  He made his way to Brittany’s cabin like a man with a mission. This woman would never catch him in her silken web!

  Thorn was a man who was not inexperienced in lovemaking, and she was no novice herself. It would amuse him to flaunt her offer in her face.

  His eyes narrowed in contempt. Why had he allowed her to entice him? Had he not already learned this lesson from Wilhelmina?

  Chapter Fifteen

  Brittany slipped into her dancing costume, glad that one of the women in the harem had placed it in her satchel. She was pleased that the costume was transparent so she could do the dance that Milo, the Egyptian woman, had taught her, for it was the most beguiling of all the dances she had learned.

  She dipped her fingers into hyacinth oil, rubbing it through her flowing black hair. Next she applied kohl to her eyes, hoping she would look the part of the seduct
ress.

  She ran her hand nervously over her bare midriff, trying to remember all she had been told about the Egyptian dance. Milo had said that the eyes played an important part in this dance, that she should often lower her lashes and look directly into her victim’s eyes.

  Brittany was now ready for Thorn, although she was nervous. She had never danced for a man before, so she was plagued by doubts. What if he did not come? What if he did not like her dance?

  With a suddenness that took her by surprise, Thorn opened the door and stood staring at her. The black transparent costume revealed her soft curves rather than covered them. The short tunic of matching material was trimmed in silver. There were silver bells that jingled whenever she moved. A matching veil covered the lower part of her face. Her dark hair shimmered like an ebony waterfall down her back to her waist.

  Thorn had not expected her to look like this. He could not tear his eyes away from the beautiful, dark-skinned girl who stood before him. She indicated that he was to sit on the pillow she had placed on the floor for him. Like a man moving through a dream, he sat down, his eyes never wavering from her gaze.

  Brittany slowly began moving her hips, slightly at first, then in a wider circle, seductively, alluringly. The silver bells laced through her fingers made a musical sound when she clicked them together.

  Thorn was mesmerized as her bare feet moved gracefully across the room, her transparent gown whirling about her. He could smell the intoxicating scent of hyacinth, and he felt his head reel and his heart pound.

  Brittany was becoming bolder in her movements, for she could see she had captivated him. This was her first experience in being a woman, and she was enjoying it. How quiet he was as he watched her every move. How penetrating his eyes were as he stared into hers. Each movement was meant to entice, to intrigue, and to punish. Confident now, she became even more daring, and removed the veil from her shoulder and floated it before Thorn’s face, where it touched him like a silken caress.

  His eyes were pools of passion as she whirled about him, teasing, tantalizing, and tormenting. She approached him, moving her hips ever so slightly, knowing she had him where she wanted him.

  Soon the dance would end, and she would dismiss him. She had no doubt that he would be angered by the trick she was playing on him, but she could handle his wrath—in fact she welcomed it.

  As she unfastened the veil that covered her face, her eyes were shining, and her lips were pursed and moist.

  Brittany moved closer to Thorn, holding her arms out to him as if inviting him to embrace her. Yes, he was watching her—she would soon have him where she wanted him, groveling at her feet. He was a proud man, but she would conquer him, if only for this one night.

  When she made a turn, she felt his hands span her waist, and with gentle pressure he pulled her into his lap.

  She laughed up at him tauntingly. “But, Captain,” she breathed, “I have not finished the dance.”

  “You win, Brittany,” he said in a voice of agony. “You have accomplished your purpose.” He moved his hand up to tangle in her dark hair, and there was no softness in his eyes. “Your body promises—how did you put it—a thousand delights? I am ready to take my pleasure with you.”

  Her eyes widened with innocence, and she had a ready answer for him. “But you have mistaken me, Captain. I wanted merely to dance for you. Did you not find the dance to your liking?”

  His blue eyes seemed to burn into her. “You know I did. You deliberately tormented me. I want you and you know it.” His hand moved to cup her face. “Let us be done with games of pretense. I only want what you have given Lord Simijin—and I intend to have you.”

  Her victory was a short one. He was not supposed to react in this way. She was losing control of the situation and she began to panic. “You are mistaken, Captain. It was a per formance, nothing more.”

  She tried to move away from him, but he held her tight. “You must go now, Captain. My dance was a gift to you. I have nothing more to offer you.”

  His hands slid up to caress one breast, and she felt a warmth of pleasure spread throughout her whole body. “We both know this is what you want, Brittany. We have known it for a long time.” His voice deepened. “I can no longer deny there is desire between us—why should you?”

  “No, Captain, you misunderstand me. I only wanted to…to—”

  He placed his finger over her lips to silence her. “You have given me your gift, now it is time for me to give you mine, little dancer.”

  He lowered his head, and she knew he was going to kiss her. She did nothing to stop him. She ached for the touch of that mouth on hers. His hot breath fanned her cheek, and he pulled her to him so she was lying across his lap.

  “You have asked for this, Brittany, and by God you are going to get it. You have become an obsession with me, and tonight you added fuel to an already hot flame.”

  There was a tightening in her throat and a throbbing void that cried out to be filled. “This is wrong,” she said, though only halfheartedly. “This was not supposed to happen.”

  “I will steal only a little happiness from Lord Simijin. You don’t even have to tell him if you don’t want to.” His eyes raked her face. “If I know women—and I do—you will not tell him that I made love to you tonight.”

  She touched his face. “Please do not do this. I truly did not expect you would go this far.”

  He arched his dark brow skeptically. “Did you not, little concubine? Did you think you could torment a man to the edge of madness and then come away untouched?”

  She looked into blue eyes that sparkled with life and deepened with feverish desire. She answered him as honestly as she could. “I am not sure, Captain. Perhaps this is what I wanted all along.”

  He brushed his mouth across her throat, and her sigh brought a smile to his lips. “That is first truth you have told since I have known you.”

  Her eyes were seeking. “To my knowledge, I have never told a lie. Why must you always think the worst of me?”

  “Right now, Brittany, I am thinking only the best of you.”

  His fingers played boldly with the material at her neck, while she held her breath. Slowly, he parted the material while his eyes went to her satiny breasts beneath the black material.

  Her lashes fluttered while her lips parted in silent invitation.

  He lowered his head, and his mouth brushed against the taut nipple. When he heard her gasp, he smiled, knowing he was now in command. His moist tongue rolled around the dusky-colored tip until it swelled against his lips. Then he moved to the other, to deliver the same painful pleasure.

  “What are you doing to me?” she whispered through passion-soft lips. “Please stop…I do not…Ohhh…”

  He raised his head and stared into swirling green eyes. “I am a man of some experience myself, little dancer. Tell me what you like, and I will do it.”

  She squirmed, as a flood of untapped feelings rippled through her innocent body. “No, do not do this. I do…not know what I want.”

  His lips moved up her neck, and he whispered against her mouth. “But only a moment ago, you were so sure of what you wanted.”

  As Thorn’s lips closed over Brittany’s, she felt the room tilt, and she clung to him, pulling him closer and opening her lips to the probing of his tongue. His hands moved to her waist, and he tugged at the thin costume until he could move it over her hips. All the while he was kissing her until she was mindless.

  “Say you want me,” he whispered against her ear. “You know you do—admit it.”

  Brittany knew that if she gave in to his searing demand, she would be lost. She looked at him pleadingly. “Do not force me to do this, Captain.”

  His laughter was soft, and his magical hands had moved to her thigh. “I have never used force with a woman, Brittany. Why should I with you, when you are so ripe and ready to receive me?” To prove his point, he moved his finger ever so slightly to massage her velvet softness. “Do you deny that you want me?
”

  Pleasure such as she had never known coursed through her young body. “I want you,” she admitted in a strangled voice. “Yes, I want you.”

  Her hand was resting on his arm, and she felt his muscles bulge when he picked her up and carried her to the bunk. While she watched, he stripped off his white shirt and tossed it aside. When his hand went to his belt, she shyly turned her face to the wall, not knowing what to expect.

  His amused laughter filled the room. “Play the coy miss with me, if it pleases you, but we both know better. Before I am finished with you, you will beg for more, and you will know that I am not your Simijin.”

  When he dropped down on the bed beside her, she could not bring herself to look below his broad shoulders. Suddenly, everything she had been told by the women in the harem went out of her mind. All she could think about was having this man’s hands on her body, bringing delight and awakening her to new and deeper sensations.

  Thorn lay down beside her and rolled her over so she was facing him. Slowly and deliberately, he pulled her quivering body toward his.

  Brittany gasped for breath when their naked bodies touched. She felt his throbbing shaft harden against her, and she went limp with untapped desire. She seemed to have no control over her own body.

  Her hand moved over the mat of dark hair on his chest, and she looked into his burning blue eyes, and had the sensation that she was drowning.

  “I fear I will displease you,” she said in a voice of uncertainty.

  His mouth parted as he glanced at her lips. “If I never have more of you than this, you have already pleased me beyond belief.”

  A whimper escaped her lips, and she buried her face against his chest. Could it be love that she felt for this American? Certainly it was beyond friendship—beyond desire—beyond anything she had ever experienced before.

  When he rolled her over on her back and was poised above her, she waited for the moment he would plunge inside her body. Then she would belong to him. The act was accomplished so quickly that she gasped at the stinging pain when he parted her legs and slipped inside her.