Siren Island: Shipwrecked (An Erotic Adventure Series) Read online

  I pondered the loss of my virginity. There had been wetness and blood between my thighs. I refused to mention what had happened to Pricilla. It was something I had to keep to myself. I felt shame when I thought of my reactions and how I should have fought harder against my attacker. Jack Carlyle was a horrible man to be avoided at all cost.

  That evening, as we sat around the fire, I gazed at the man who had so brutally deflowered me. He seemed to relish being shipwrecked, the smile never leaving his face. His glossy brown hair blew in his forehead. He was handsome, to be sure, with a strong jaw and high cheekbones. His slightly crooked nose had been broken a time or two. A scar blemished his forehead; the offending mark appeared to have happened recently because the outlines were still pink. I would never admit it, but he had fascinated me from the first moment I’d set eyes on him. Samuel had warned me about his dastardly brother, reporting his faults in vague detail. After the fight with Samuel aboard The Lady Jane, he disappeared, preferring to drink and gamble with the crew rather than mingle with the passengers. I hadn’t seen him for weeks until this morning.

  You liked what he did to you. Admit it, Lucy.

  No!

  The men had buried the corpses in shallow pits yards away. Water had been stored in empty wine bottles, and someone had caught fish, which were gutted and grilled. We had eaten surprisingly well, and the wine flowed freely. My hair was loose and tangled around me. It was usually done up with pins and combs, which gave me a cracking headache. What had happened to my maid? The poor thing more than likely perished in the ocean.

  We arranged ourselves on the sleeping platform, with the women on one end and the men on the other. I was near the edge, next to Pricilla. The reverend slept already, his robust snoring filling the air.

  “Scoot on over, little lady.”

  “What?” Jack stared at me, the moon hanging over his head, like a wicked halo.

  “I’m gettin’ in.”

  “You most certainly are not, Mr. Carlyle,” objected Pricilla. “The men are on the end.”

  “Somebody’s gotta cover each side, Miss Mayfair.”

  “That’s bologna!”

  “Call it what you will.” He slid next to me; his arm went around my midsection.

  “I strongly object to this, Mr. Carlyle.”

  “Object all you want. Just do it quietly. I gotta sleep.”

  “Ouf! You rascal. Trade places with me, Lucy. Right now. I’ll sleep next to the blackguard.”

  I didn’t mind the proximity to Jack, even though he had behaved deplorably in the jungle today. “It’s all right, Pricilla. Let’s go to sleep. We’ll make our own accommodations tomorrow.”

  “You bet we will.” She grasped his hand and threw it away from my hip. “Don’t you touch her!”

  “I’m gonna deck you one, if you don’t shut up, Miss Mayfair,” warned Jack in a steely tone. “Go to sleep, woman.”

  She huffed indignantly, shifting on the wooden beams. The braided fronds only cushioned the wood slightly. Jack’s arm went around me again, his lengthy body pressing into my backside. I felt utterly comfortable being this close to him, although I shouldn’t. I’d never slept with a man before. I enjoyed the warmth of him and the sound of his breathing, which mingled with croaking toads in the foliage behind us.

  Chapter Three

  It wasn’t the noisy seagull that woke me the next morning. It was the feel of a hand, under my dress, touching my body in a way no hand should, unless it belonged to my lawfully wedded husband. While the sky became steel gray in color, the sun not quite over the horizon yet, Jack explored me in a lazy, unimpeded manner. I wore only a shift beneath the dress and nothing else. His lips were on the back of my neck, while his hand kneaded my tummy, massaging and drifting lower by the second. He encountered a thatch of pubic hair and then, he dipped into my snatch, coating himself in my wetness.

  I had washed in the ocean yesterday to remove the blood from my thighs and the traces of his seed. His explorations revealed my wetness, the creamy residue making his finger slick and easy to maneuver. I wanted to tell him to stop, but I feared waking Pricilla. She lay on her back with her fingers enfolded over her chest, softly snoring.

  Jack kissed my neck, chin, and face, coaxing me to give him my mouth. Our tongues met for a lengthy kiss that robbed me of my senses, leading me down the slippery road of sin. I thoroughly enjoyed kissing; the intimacy of exploring another person’s mouth left me yearning for more, my body heated to the core.

  “Oh…”

  His finger was thick yet abrasive and determined to please. I could hardly move being wedged between him and Pricilla. I lay on my side with Jack’s finger exploring deep within my sore pussy. It had not yet fully recovered from yesterday. Pleasure began to flare that I could not deny. He knew me well, thrusting further and rubbing something extraordinarily wicked. I had to clamp my lips together to keep from crying out.

  Over and over he drove into me, wetting his entire hand with my juices. His hardness pressed against my bottom, demanding entrance. I wanted to cry out with disappointment when he withdrew suddenly, leaving me unsatisfied. Instead, I felt the rounded tip of him pressing, sinking. Jack’s raspy breathing was in my ear, his teeth grazing my lobes, biting gently. This sent little flutters of sensation straight into my cunt. Tingles stole up and down my back, bursting from of my nerve endings like fireworks out of control.

  How no one perceived what we were doing was a mystery. My would-be brother-in-law was defiling me on a communal bed. His cock slid in and out far too easily. I should have been ashamed, truly. It had hurt in the jungle yesterday, but now…it was delightfully pleasurable. He struggled to keep from groaning, his body straining to work me, carefully, quietly, so as to not wake anyone. His movements were gentle and persistent, filling me to my womb with each plunge.

  “Oomm…” He toyed with my nub, teasing it to respond, thereby fanning the flames of arousal in me even further. With each thrust, I knew my body would shiver with release…soon. “Oohh…”

  “Sheee...” he warned.

  His hand gripped my hip as he increased the tempo, his cock slick with my satiny fluids. His groans were deeper now, more ragged around the edges. I clamped my lips together as sensation washed over me, making my stomach convulse and my pussy clench around him.

  “Oh, yes…” he whispered.

  He knew I had reached orgasm, because he grunted then and stiffened, filling me with semen. He took his time enjoying the hospitality of my orifice, reaming me gently for long minutes until his softened phallus slid free.

  I pushed him, trying to get up. “You’re no gentleman.”

  “No, I’m not.” Amusement lit his eyes.

  I had to take care of personal business. There was wetness sliding down my inner thighs. I crawled over him and got to my feet, smoothing down the wrinkled material of the dress. The humidity was considerable this morning, the moisture hanging in the air like a soggy blanket. How I wished I didn’t have to wear this heavy brocade gown. We had been preparing for dinner before the storm had tossed the ship onto the reef. Now I was trapped in a stifling dress that the dictates of etiquette would not release me from.

  As I wandered down the beach, I came upon pieces of wreckage along with crates of cargo. With any luck, they might contain useful things such as clothing and preserved meat. I was short a pair of shoes, having lost them in the bid to stay afloat in the churning ocean.

  When I was safely away from camp, I worked the tiny buttons on the front of my dress and removed it. I wore a white cotton shift, which I considered leaving on, but…there was no one here, so I lifted it over my head, exposing myself to the world. I’d never gone naked in the outdoors before, and how freeing it was! I luxuriated in the feel of the sun on my skin, the wind in my hair, and the relief from all constriction. Wading into the water, I marveled at the clearness of the ocean, being able to see my toes under the water. I bathed in solitude, scrubbing, rinsing, and floating in utter bliss.

&
nbsp; “Miss Wordsworth!” Pricilla stood on the shore with her hands on her hips. Her blonde hair was a tangled mess around her shoulders. Her brows were drawn together. “Are you naked?”

  “Why, yes, I am.” I stood chest deep in the warm water. “It’s marvelous. You should get in.”

  “Come out now, Lucy, before someone sees you.”

  “There’s no one here.”

  “I’m here! I could’ve been that horrible man, Mr. Carlyle. What would Samuel say about you traipsing around nude? If your mother, God rest her soul, saw you like this, she’d send you to a convent. Get out now!”

  The mention of Samuel dampened the pleasure of the morning. I was a horrible fiancé for not searching for him. Worse, the ocean had claimed the engagement ring he had given me, because it was a size too big. Memories of the jungle and the liberties Jack had taken tinged my cheeks red with shame. Pricilla was right. I had to remember my duties and moral obligations, even in times of shipwreck. The Lord was testing me, and I had failed.

  “I’m coming.”

  “Quick, girl! Before they see you!”

  I strode towards her proudly, my hair down my back, water pouring from me. I felt like a sea goddess emerging from Poseidon’s lair, my breasts firm and high, nipples hardened by the cooling wind. It was marvelous to be clean.

  “You should bathe, Pricilla.”

  “Heaven’s not.” She eyed my chest. “Put this on right now.” She held my shift.

  “I’m going to find Samuel today.”

  “Of course you are, my dear.”

  I rung out my hair. “I know he’s alive.”

  “That’s enough now. You can do that later. Get dressed this instant!”

  “Yes, Pricilla.”

  Back at camp, a fire had been lit, and fish grilled over a sheath of metal. The occupants had awoken, looking bedraggled and smelling pungent, the men with sweat stains under their arms and the women in a similar condition.

  Jack threw a pair of shoes at me. “Try ‘em on.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Carlyle.”

  He grinned wickedly. “It sure is.”

  I tingled in my tummy and cursed him at the same time. “Where’d you find them?”

  “You don’t wanna know.”

  He’d taken them from a dead body. I shivered at the thought, but I needed shoes badly. They were a size too big, but I was grateful for them, nonetheless.

  “Have you found Samuel?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  “I’m searching for him today.”

  He eyed me, squinting in the sun. “We can do that.”

  “I’m searching for him.”

  “Not alone you’re not.”

  “I’ll be escorting Miss Wordsworth, Mr. Carlyle,” said Pricilla primly. “We shall find Samuel, Lucy. You mustn’t fret about it.”

  “Glory be!” shouted a crewmember. “We got tobacco! It’s still dry!” He held up a package.

  “It certainly is turnin’ out to be a good day,” commented Jack.

  “There’s more crates down the beach, boys. We got us some supplies!”

  Constance handed me a halved coconut. “Thank you, Miss Pickering.”

  “You’re welcome, dear.” She sat next to me. “I’m searching for my husband today. He’s here; I know he is.” Sadness glimmered in her eyes.

  I hugged her briefly. “Of course he is. It’s a big island. We’ve only seen a tiny part of it. I’m sure there are survivors on the other side. We’ll find him. I’ll find Samuel.”

  Jack stared at me with an unreadable expression. There was something in that look that had my insides flipping over and tingling. I hated feeling attracted to a total scoundrel. He was the type of man my mother had warned me about. I’d been protected from his ilk since the day I was born, and now, here I was exposed and vulnerable. It was imperative that I find Samuel. He would protect me. He would keep me safe.

  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 su
pposed 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.”