Free Love's Fiery Jewel by Elaine Barbieri

past. But
he was determined to avoid the allure of inviting arms
which promised much while demanding far more in
return. A life at sea was not conducive to long, binding
relationships and he did not intend to be tied down.
    Slowly freeing himself from the soft, clinging embrace,
Damien pulled his head back to look down into Merrell's
sultry glance, unable to deny the persistent tugging in his
groin her expression evoked. Concealing the self-derisive
smile rising to his lips, he whispered firmly, "I must be
leaving, Merrell. The tide will be high within an hour and
I have many last-minute details to accomplish."
    "Damien, darling," Merrell cooed, her caressing, darkeyed glance moving provocatively across his mouth,
"you don't really want to leave me, do you?"

    "I have to admit," Damien countered evasively,"you
make it damn hard for a man to think of business, but,"
his hand moving purposefully to the handle of the coach
door, he continued, "we can continue where we left off
when I return to port in a few months. In the meantime,
try to behave yourself while I'm gone ...if that's
possible."
    "Can you give me a good reason why I should behave
myself, darling?" Merrell's voice was petulant as her
expression took on a faintly victorious glow. "Will you
be behaving yourself for me?"
    Damien's direct response was delivered in a soft, even
tone. "Merrell, dear, you wouldn't want me to lie to you,
would you?"
    Her eyes snapping wide in surprise, Merrell Bristol
stared silently into his face for a few brief seconds, her
lips tightening ever so slightly in concealed anger. The
spoiled daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, she
was not accustomed to being thwarted once she had set
her mind on any goal, and she had definitely set her mind
on becoming Mrs. Damien Straith. However, far too wise
to press a situation where she was obviously beginning to
lose ground, she replied slowly, "Of course not, darling.
And neither will I lie to you. But when you return, we'll
make up for lost time, won't we..."
    Leaning forward to press her ample bosom against his
chest, Merrell slid her arms around his neck, offering her
mouth again as she moved sensuously against him in a
tantalizing promise that could not be ignored.
    "Damn if she isn't an efficient little seductress,"
Damien thought silently, regretfully tearing his mouth
from hers as he firmly disentangled himself from her
clinging arms. Flashing her a brief smile, he slipped out of
the carriage door without a reply.
    Striding briskly toward the Sally, he turned to extend a
brief salute in the direction of the elegant black carriage and the lovely woman staring unsmilingly out the
window at his retreating figure. Turning back to mount
the gangplank, the smile swiftly dropped from his face as
his thoughts moved quickly to the imminent voyage.
Within a few brief seconds, all thoughts of Merrell
Bristol were completely dismissed from his mind.

    A steaming tropical sun beat mercilessly on his head as
Damien stared sullenly at the placid, gleaming waters of
the Caribbean Sea. The voyage was not going well.
Directing another glance upward, he snorted disgustedly
at the sight of limp sails against the masts, lifeless ghosts
of the full billowing beauties that should be carrying
them smoothly toward Kingston. With a small shake of
his head, Damien's lips curled in an ironic smile.
Smuggling was still extremely profitable in Jamaica. The
necessities of life continued to be in short supply on the
island and the cessation of the war the previous year had
not discouraged the islanders from welcoming smuggled
merchandise. He was well on his way to becoming
wealthy while still maintaining the devotion of the
islanders for his steady provisions of needed supplies,
smuggled or not. But he had decided he would enter port
legally this time. Rather than risk a problem with his
American registry, he would use the set of false ship's
papers he