Siren Island: Shipwrecked (An Erotic Adventure Series) (3 page)

Chapter Four

I tucked a knife into the inner pocket of my skirt. After Pricilla disappeared into the jungle to relieve herself, I took that moment to dash into the foliage. I was determined to find Samuel, and I wanted to search for him on my own. I had visions of him crawling on the ground wounded and bleeding.

A hand wrapped around my forearm, halting me. It was Jack. “Let me go!”

“Where the hell are you going?”

“To find Samuel.” I struggled against him.

“You goddamned fool! By yourself?” He looked angry.

“Yes, by myself. Let go!”

“I’m goin’ with you.”

“You most certainly are not!”

“Oh, yes I am. You’re gonna get yourself lost, you stupid woman.”

I stood my ground. “I’m not stupid. You’re the worst ever, Mr. Carlyle. You…you libertine!”

He smirked. “That’s the best ya got?”

We faced one another, attraction pinging like an invisible force field. “I hate you.”

“I doubt it.”

“You’re arrogant and…horrible.”

He smiled crookedly. “Come on. You can chew me out while we walk. You can walk and talk now, can’t you? How are those shoes?”

I gritted my teeth. “Fine.”

“Good.”

A lush forest of palm trees, dangling vines, and low-growing grasses surrounded us. We walked further inland, leaving the ocean behind. “Where’s the water source?”

“Are you thirsty?”

“Yes.”

“This way.”

“Do you have any idea where Samuel might be?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe he’s unconscious on a reef? Or he’s on the other side of the island.”

“More than likely.”

“I should’ve followed the beach then.”

“We can do that later.” He snatched an amber looking fruit from a tree, splitting it open with his knife. “Here.”

“What is it?”

“Papaya.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.

It smelled horrible. I bit into it and grimaced. “That’s disgusting.”

He laughed, “It’ll keep you alive.”

I ate the fruit, although the taste was not to my liking. “What do you do, Mr. Carlyle? Samuel said you gamble for a living.”

“I guess that’s accurate.”

“He said you were heavily in debt. You left America to avoid paying it, didn’t you?”

He shrugged. “I might’ve.”

“That’s cowardly, isn’t it?”

“I was cheated, but if you’d rather believe the worst, then have at it. I might not be what you consider a gentleman, Miss Wordsworth, but I’ve never swindled anybody. I could’ve fought it in the courts, but it was easier to just walk away.”

“You were acquainted with Miss Upton, weren’t you?” Pricilla said she was a madam who ran a brothel in Atlanta.

A brow lifted. “What would a prim and proper miss know about that?”

“Things are whispered about, Mr. Carlyle, even in drawing rooms.”

He sighed, “I might’ve known her.”

This lowered him even further in my estimation. “I wish I hadn’t asked.”

“You seem awfully interested in me, Miss Wordsworth.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m only being polite, although I shouldn’t. You’ve done…horrible things to my person.”

He laughed, “And yet you’re still talking to me. Look where you are?” He waved his hands in the air. “You’re alone with me out in the middle of nowhere.” A naughty glint shone in his eye. “If I hadn’t already had you this mornin’, you might not be safe now.”

My mouth fell open. “Ouf!” A brown rat raced across my foot. “Oh! That’s…that was a rat!”

“Yeah. They got ‘em here.”

“Samuel was right about you.”

“Your fiancé ain’t so perfect. He just knows how to dress it up better.”

“What’s
that
supposed to mean?”

He shrugged. “Nothin’. Nothing for you to concern your pretty head over.”

I mulled that last statement. Samuel had never given any indication that he was anything less than a complete gentleman, and until I heard otherwise, he would remain so. The sound of water had my attention. “Is that the spring?”

“More like a waterfall.”

“Oh.”

Enormous ferns, blooming purple orchids, and bamboo surrounded us, the lush vegetation bright green in color. Streams of sunlight shone down through the canopy, littering the ground with patches of illumination. I’d never seen a place more beautiful. A waterfall cascaded into an enclosed pool.

Jack unbuttoned his waistcoat. “What are you doing?” Alarm raced through me.

“Gettin’ in.”

“You can’t do that!”

“Yeah, I can.”

“It’s indecent.”

He gave me a look. “Quit your caterwauling and join me.”

“I shall do no such thing.”

“Suit yourself.” He’d unbuttoned his shirt, casting it aside. His trousers followed, landing on a rock. “It sure is nice.” He waded in.

I’d never seen a man naked before. This one was a fine-looking specimen, muscled and lean. A partially erect cock was nestled between his thighs, surrounded by dark hair. His backside was rounded and firm, perfect for touching.

Now, stop thinking like that, Lucy! For shame
.

He swam to the waterfall, standing under it, water gushing on top of his head. I wanted to take my heavy dress off. It made me perspire horribly, leaving me feeling sticky and uncomfortable, but propriety would not let me.

“Will you come in?”

“No.”

“It’s refreshing.”

I bent touching the water, feeling its coolness. A layer of salt coated my face and hair from the bath in the ocean. Rinsing off in the secluded pool would wash it all away. I bit my lip, utterly torn. “We’re supposed to be finding Samuel.”

“We will when we’re done. I’ll turn around.” He showed me his back. “There. Now get in, woman.”

“Fine.” I unbuttoned and lifted the dress over my head, which was followed by my shift. Then I waded into the deliciously cool water.

“There’s something over here.” He stared into the jungle.

“What?” I submerged, wetting my hair. Then I swam to him.

“Under the vines there. It’s like a waterway. We can swim under. Maybe there’s something on the other side.”

“More water probably.”

His smile was huge. “Glad you made it.”

I harrumphed. “You’re not to tell anyone about this, Mr. Carlyle.”

“What about what we did this morning or yesterday?” He was teasing.

“Not that either. I’m quite angry about it all.”

“Looks like it.” He grinned cheekily.

I flung water at him. “You’re the absolute worst!”

“Nah. There’s worse, honey. You just ain’t been around yet. Let’s swim under. Ready?”

“After you.”

The channel led through the jungle, vines hanging overhead peppered with pretty flowers. Strange birdcalls resounded along with the sound of splashing water. The bottom felt rocky and smooth, my feet barely touching. We waded for a while, our heads above the surface, vines closing in on us.

“I see the end,” he said.

“What is it?”

“Another pool. Even more private.”

The enclave was surrounded by dense foliage, with fragrant flowers of purples, yellows, and orange. Several butterflies fluttered, dancing in the streams of sunlight, as they filtered down through the palm fronds. There was a short swath of sand leading out from the pool. Jack stood upon it, naked, his cock partially erect. I loitered in the water, enjoying the sensation of it, and marveling at the beauty around me.

He sat on the sand with his arms resting over his knees. “Are you in love with him?”

“What?”

“With Samuel.”

“That’s none of your business.”

He nodded. “How long have you known him?”

“A year.”

“Why’d you want to move to Australia? I know why I’m goin’, but what are you doing?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Just makin’ conversation, Miss Wordsworth. If you’d rather fuck than talk, I’m fine with that.” The edges of his lips twitched with amusement.

“Oh!”

“Everybody’s got a story. I wanna know yours.”

He could be charming when he wanted to be. “My parents died of Typhoid, Mr. Carlyle. Leaving seemed like a good idea.” We had lost everything in the war, and then the sickness came, with devastating consequences.

He stared at me earnestly. “I’m sorry for your loss, Lucy.”

“Thank you.” My hands floated out before me, my chest submerged. I waded closer. “Mr. Carlyle?”

“Yes, Miss Wordsworth?”

“What happened to your scar?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The one on your forehead. It’s gone.”

Chapter Five

He touched himself. “I’ll be damned.”

I held up my arm looking for an old burn mark. “I’m missing a scar as well.”

He grinned, examining his chest. “I used to have a knife wound right here. Don’t see it anymore.”

“Do you think it’s the spring?”

“Could be, if you believe in such things.”

“I have a scar on my knee.” I waded out of the water heedless of my nakedness and examined my leg. The blemish was gone. “I can’t believe it. This is crazy!”

He stared at me, his dark look smoldering. I realized my error. “Oh, drat!” My clothing was on the other side of the water feature. I held my arms over my chest.

“Come here.” He reached out his hand to me.

“No.”

“I won’t hurt you, Lucy.”

“You did yesterday. What you did to me…was awful.”

He laughed, “I took liberties I shouldn’t have, but you lie when you say it was awful.”

“Will you attack all the women that way?” I eyed him dubiously, the thought bothering me immensely.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I only want you.”

That statement set off little tingles in my tummy, which was alarming. “What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you. I remember it like yesterday.” He glanced at my privates, which were hidden by a silky profusion of hair. I tried to cover myself there as well. Hunger flared in his look. “Did Samuel not tell you why we quarreled?”

“No.”

“Not one word?”

“No.”

“I told him you were too much woman for him.”

“You don’t even know me. How do you know that?”

“Intuition.”

“Then he punched you?”

“Somethin’ like that.”

I padded over to him, my feet enjoying the silky quality of the sand. Sitting, I used my hair to cover my breasts. “Do you think we’ll find him?”

“We haven’t even started to look, but yes.”

“Did you see him in the water?”

“No.”

“The last I saw, a wave knocked him overboard.” I shuddered at the memory. “It was awful.”

“Yes, it was.”

“I thought I was going to die.”

“By rights we should’ve.”

“So many did.” Women, men, babies, and children had all perished. These atrocities were only a day old.

“You have fortitude. I sensed that about you from the start.”

“How do you mean?” His eyelashes were incredibly long. Should I be jealous?

“You didn’t drown.”

“My chaperone didn’t either. We were lucky. It has nothing to do with fortitude, Mr. Carlyle. I just happened to grab onto something that kept me alive.”

“I still say it was fortitude.”

“How did you survive?”

“I swam at first, and then the reverend and I held onto a part of the mast. It carried us to shore.”

“Oh.” He touched my shoulder, moving the hair away. “You mustn’t do that.” He grasped my head, holding it firmly between his hands. “Ouf! No!”

“Must you protest every time? Can’t you just give in to me?”

“I…shouldn’t.”

“Kiss me.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“W-will you apologize for taking my virginity, Mr. Carlyle?”

“No, I won’t, and it’s Jack. Call me Jack.”

“You’re a horrible man, Jack.”

“You’ve said that several times now.”

His lips descended to mine, silencing whatever I was about to say. I disappointed myself greatly in those few short seconds, because as my hand went to push him away, it snaked around his neck instead, and I pressed myself to him, flattening my breasts on the fuzzy expanse of his wonderful chest. He kissed my neck.

“You really shouldn’t. We…might be seen.”

“By whom? A bird?”

“I don’t know.” He nibbled on my neck, biting gently and sucking. “Oh…no…” I found myself pressed to the sandy shore, and all thought of hiding my nakedness evaporated. He kissed his way to my chest, grasping my breasts, pressing the globes together and suckling both nipples simultaneously. “Oh, my goodness.”

“Jesus Christ you drive me wild.”

The wetness between my thighs was shocking, but what made it more so was that he seemed to be heading in that direction. “Oh, Jack! You’re not going to? Oh, no!”

“Oh, yes.”

His face was buried in that part of me that my mother had told me was for my husband and no one else. “Oh, truly. This is obscene.”

“Hardly. Let me educate you, Lucy.”

He separated my satiny nether lips and proceeded to press a firm tongue against my clitoris, which had me bucking my hips into his face. I hadn’t meant to react that way…I couldn’t seem to help myself. His intimate attentions drifted to my opening, and he licked and thrust in deeply, making me even wetter. A finger entered and drove in and out, while his tongue laved my bud.

“Oh-oh-oh-Mr—Jack!”

“You certainly are a delight, Miss Wordsworth,” he chuckled.

“Oh, stop that now.” I reached for him. I was dying of curiosity. I had to get a better look at his…his…thing. “Give that to me.” I wrapped my hand around him, feeling the heat of his flesh. “It’s leaking.”

“Yeah.”

“Does that happen all the time?”

“Only when I’m horny as hell for a sexy brunette.”

“What do I do with it?”

“Suck it. Lick it. Just don’t bite. Not too hard anyway.”

I met his gaze, feeling an unholy amount of attraction. It seemed to hang in the air around us, charged with electricity. I was in deep trouble. There wasn’t a cell in my body that wasn’t cognizant of the fact that he was so abominably wrong for me, yet truly right. This went far beyond anything I had ever felt for my fiancé.

He touched my face. “I hope Samuel drifted to the other island.”

“There’s another island?”

“Yeah on the north side. I washed up near there.”

“Oh.” My hand explored the tiny protrusions of veins on his shaft. “Do you want me to lick it?”

He smiled slightly. “That’d be nice.”

I advanced on the item that had piqued my curiosity and given me such pleasure earlier this morning. Closing my lips around the tip, I was rewarded by a manly groan.

“Oh, Lucy…”

He lifted his hips, the object sliding to the back of my throat, choking me. I hadn’t expected that. I licked the sides and suckled the tip, while his hands tangled in my wet hair. Whatever I was doing to him seemed to please him, so I continued until he pushed me away.

“Get on me, honey.” He reclined on the sand, his smile nothing short of wicked. “Ride my cock.”

“Isn’t that crude?”

“There’s nothin’ crude about what we’re doin’.”

“Pricilla would be upset.”

“Not if someone fucked her. That woman needs a solid fucking.”

I gasped, “Mr. Carlyle!”

“It’s Jack.” He grabbed his cock, which glistened from my saliva. “Now, get on this, and fuck me.”

Did married people behave in this way behind closed doors? Had my father entreated my mother in such a manner? Is this how it was done? If it was, I was going to thoroughly enjoy being married. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Will you marry me?”

He coughed, producing a choking sound. “Come again?”

“Will you marry me?”

“Darlin’, I think the man’s supposed to ask that question.”

“Yes, I know, but if the reverend married us, then we could do this all the time. I wouldn’t have the moral dilemma.”

He fought a smile. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“You get on this cock, sweetheart, and fuck me. When we’re finished, we’ll see about the reverend. All right?”

Elation sent me reeling. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Truly?”

“Goddammit yes, now fuck me, Lucy!”

I threw a leg over and straddled him. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I’ll help you.”

He held himself, so I cold lower on his shaft. “Oohh…ouch.”

“You sore?”

“A little.”

“I’m sorry. It’ll get better.”

That was astounding, because I was thoroughly enjoying all the things we were doing, although my conscience was being annoying. “It will?”

“Yes, ma’am.”