Free Rake Beyond Redemption by Anne O'Brien Page A

A man with dark shadows. He had saved her and surely would not hurt her, but had shown a coldly calculating streak as he had tried to put her at a distance. He would have succeeded if she had not been so determined to have her own way. He could be ruthless too, she thought, given the right circumstances. And there was a guarded secrecy that trapped him, some mystery that he would not talk of. Certainly he had a reputation. He had not denied being a rake or a libertine, had he?
    The mere thought of his mouth on hers took her breath away entirely. Marie-Claude closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sun.
    You don’t want to know me.
    Well, she did, despite her confusion. But what did she want from him? Friendship? Zan Ellerdine was not afriend. What he was she did not rightly know, but it was not friendship that placed him at the centre of her thoughts and her dreams. He was a difficult and dangerous man to associate with.
    Would she risk his threat to her reputation?
    ‘I am afraid that I might!’
    This time there was an answer. ‘Are you talking to yourself or the gulls? What do they say? Beware, Madame Mermaid, or they’ll gull you into believing that happiness is possible in this life!’
    Opening her eyes, Marie-Claude laughed. For there he was beside her again, lounging on the wooden seat, head thrown back to the kiss of sun. At once she knew the answer. Yes, she would risk all, whatever the future would hold, to grasp this one chance. Happiness? Who could know? But she would snatch this moment with this man, and all the rest he offered her. And if he was willing, she would have him as her lover. Breathless at the enormity of her decision, Marie-Claude’s fingers itched to touch his face, but she was suddenly shy.
    ‘And is happiness not possible?’
    ‘I’d say not. But I’m not the man to ask!’
    ‘I’m happy today.’
    ‘Then that’s enough. Well, Galatea? Does it please you, to sail the Spectre ?’ His eyes gleamed, travelled over her face. Gone was the shadow of their previous meetings, the bitter self-regard, even the cynicism of a few moments ago. Today he was filled with a wild euphoria, his spirits soaring. And it was infectious.
    ‘Yes. It pleases me. I feel full of light—as if the glittering spray has become trapped in my veins.’ She tilted her chin. ‘Galatea?’
    ‘A beautiful woman,’ he replied with utmost solemnity,‘who threw herself into the waves when her lover was murdered and so became a sea nymph.’
    ‘What a weak-willed female!’ A provocative arch of brows. ‘I’m no Galatea!’
    ‘No?’
    ‘Are you flirting with me, Zan?’
    ‘Most definitely, Marie-Claude!’
    His gaze grew intense, capturing hers. The intoxication of the glittering sea faded in comparison with the dark glow of his eyes. Marie-Claude held her breath as he leaned close.
    ‘If we were alone, I’d kiss you. As it is…’ he whispered in her ear, his breath warm on her cheek. ‘As it is, you’ll have to imagine my lips on yours until I have the chance to show you.’
    ‘How scandalous you are, Mr Ellerdine!’
    ‘How enchanting you are, Madame Mermaid.’ Suddenly his hand caught her chin. ‘I regret—but I can neither resist nor wait until we reach land.’
    Sliding his hand until it curled round the nape of her neck, he leaned to place his lips on her, a firm pressure that tasted of sun and salt, a riot of feelings. Marie-Claude closed her eyes against the brightness, to fix her senses on the kiss that lingered, enticed.
    ‘Have we shocked the gulls?’ she murmured at last, blinded by the light, swamped with pleasure, as he raised his head.
    ‘I fear we have. And George Gadie who’s pretending not to notice. Do you care?’
    Her eyes snapped to his. They were audaciously challenging.
    ‘Do you care, Marie-Claude?’ he murmured, a mere breath from her lips.
    ‘No, I don’t.’ Scandalous, indeed, Marie-Claude admitted. ‘I don’t care at all. Kiss me again, Zan.’
    They returned