survive despite her siren’s song.
A jeweled dagger lay beside her on the rock. Once she had him close enough, she’d stab him through the heart. A chill slithered down her spine. Melodie had never killed another living soul. But she had to accomplish her goal or risk the death of a great Obeah witch, her friend, the protector of innocents and the only person capable of freeing her from her human form.
Her own freedom wasn’t worth killing another person for, but saving the lives of countless others was. But still…to kill someone? Guilt warred inside, her troubled spirit reflected in her song.
Maybe she didn’t have to kill him. If she wounded him, perhaps he’d go away and leave the witch alone. Unskilled in the art of war, Melodie feared she wouldn’t have the heart to stab a blade into living breathing flesh. If she didn’t, Busara would surely die. One life for another.
Her song died down to a whisper, her confusion robbing her of her voice. Why couldn’t she disappear into the sea and let fate decide whether she was to be a mermaid or a human?
Because fate and her parents had predetermined her life as part human and part mermaid to spend half her time on land and half in the water. She stared out at the indigo sea bathed in sparkling diamonds of starlight.
Something moved in the corner of her vision. Far out from the shore, a figure slid along the surface, gliding through the water with the steady flowing movement of an eel or a serpent. From the direction it was headed, it wouldn’t be long before it entered the mouth of Siren’s Cove.
Melodie sat up. What was this? If the creature was the man destined to kill Busara, her time of reckoning was upon her. Not only was the great Obeah woman in danger, but many hundreds of small lives were at stake as well.
The voice that had faded out a moment before, grew strong and sure. She couldn’t only think of herself, she had the cove, Busara, and Kanoni to consider.
As her song filled the air, the figure in the water neared the shore and drifted to a halt in the shallows below her rock. Then it disappeared altogether.
Melodie stood and peered over the edge of her rock into the inky darkness of the still water, but she couldn’t see anything but ripples where the being had gone under.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she forced air past her vocal chords. Where had the creature gone? Had it ducked beneath the surface and swum off into the cove? Just as she made up her mind to climb down off her rock and check, a body materialized from the water.
He rose like Poseidon, water streaming from his shoulder-length hair, running in silvery rivulets down his torso like liquid mercury. His naked skin glowed deep blue in the light from the million stars twinkling in the heavens. Striding through the surf toward shore, more of his magnificent physique emerged with each step.
Dark, wavy hair hung in wet strands to his shoulders. His gaze fixed on her position. As he pushed through the water, he walked as if in a trance, intent on reaching the source of the music.
Melodie’s gaze scraped over bulging shoulders, broad chest, and a muscular abdomen that narrowed to trim athletic hips.
Glorious in his animal strength and magnetism, he ascended the shore like a conqueror. In his next step, his cock sprang free of the surf.
With her breath caught in her throat, Melodie’s song choked to a halt.
He was so big, so firm and erect. He stood in water up to his thighs, waves lapping at the base of his balls.
As soon as her music died away, the man shook his head, a frown pushing his brows together. He spied her perched on the rock and moved toward her. “What happened?”
For a moment, his overwhelming size and beauty froze her tongue.
“Who are you? Why are you here?” he demanded.
When he stood directly in front of her rock, she could stare down into his face. Even in the shadowy light from the constellations, she could tell his eyes were the deep blue green of the sea. Then starlight glinted off the dagger in his hand. A more beautiful and deadly man she’d never known. She could fall under his spell instead of making him fall to hers.
She slipped from the rock to land on the sand at his feet. The man towered above her by at least a foot, reminding Melodie of her vulnerability.
“I’m here to please you.” And to keep you from killing my friend. She pressed her fingers to his chest, marveling at the steely strength beneath taut skin. Easing her hands lower, she skimmed across rippling muscles and down to the triangle of hair where his cock jutted out, hard and smooth.
His lungs filled and released before he grasped her arms, holding her away. The cold blade of the dagger lay against her skin, an icy reminder of his purpose. “I don’t have time for this.”
Oh, no. She wouldn’t let him get to Busara.
Her voice lifted to the sky, in a soft, lilting melody. “You came to see me, to partake of what I have to offer,” she sang.
“No.” He shook his head, his eyes clouding with confusion. “I came to…” His gaze drifted to the dagger in his hand.
“To see me.” She reached for the weapon and slid it from his hands.
“No. I came to kill the witch.”
She tossed the knife into the jumble of rocks behind her. “No, you came to make love to me.” Her fingers rested on the knot that held together the white cotton wrap she’d chosen to wear for her assignation with the killer.
Resisting 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