Moonwitch Read Free

betrothed and bent over the captain, her blue eyes full of concern.
    She was close enough now to see that his rugged features were weathered by the sun and wind. The laugh lines around his eyes were nearly as prominent as the heavy brows and the cleft in the strong chin. Then his eyes opened, and she could see they were hazel, flecked with green and ringed with gold. Those deep-set eyes assessed her frankly, taking in her cool, quiet beauty.
    “An angel,” he murmured appreciatively. “I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
    His speech was more drawling than her own clipped tones but held a definite hint of a British accent. Knowing he was American, Selena wondered about it as she searched his face for signs of pain. “Are you hurt, Captain?” she asked gently.
    A laughing gleam filled his hazel eyes. “Mortally wounded. I’m sure to need ministering.”
    She liked the humor that glinted behind those eyes, yet it made her realize that her concern was misplaced. It would take far more than a fall to topple this Viking of a man.
    The captain shook his head as if to clear it, then, with a groan, got unsteadily to his feet. Selena took a hasty step back as she found herself confronting a sleekly muscled chest that was lightly furred and glistening with sweat.
    His nakedness disturbed her almost as much as his overwhelming physical presence. She was tall herself, but Kyle Ramsey towered over her. Next to his powerful body, she felt as slender as a cane stalk.
    He stood there swaying, whether from exertion or any spirits he had imbibed, she couldn’t tell. He staggered a little then and reached out for her, putting a large, callused hand on her shoulder to steady himself. Worried that he would fell her without even intending to, Selena lifted her gaze to Captain Ramsey’s face. He was regarding her with a mournful expression that she was sure was feigned.
    “You mean to send me back into battle unattended?” he asked in his deep-timbred voice before trying to sweep her a bow. “I beg one of your favors, fair lady. A handkerchief for luck? Or perhaps your parasol. I’ll wager that would come in handy… applied upside Tiny’s head.”
    Amused in spite of herself by his high spirits yet disliking his attempt at flirtation, Selena raised a full, arching brow at him. “It would be highly improper, I’m afraid, Captain. I also think that you should remove your hand from my shoulder before I find yet another use for my parasol.”
    The roguish glint that must surely be what had charmed half the females on the island made his hazel eyes dance with amber lights. “So you mean to be unaccommodating? Then I see I’ll have to claim my victory kiss now.”
    She should have expected his next move, especially after his warning. But she was accustomed to men who accorded proper respect to gentlewomen, if not out of chivalry or a sense of honor, then because they feared British justice on the island. The Englishmen of Antigua tended to be highly protective of their ladies and not the least hesitant to see transgressors clapped in the stocks for the slightest offense, especially Americans, whose presence was merely tolerated.
    Selena was quite unprepared, therefore, when Kyle grasped her arms and hauled her against his naked chest, his hands gentle and controlled, yet unyielding. Nor did she have time to protest before he lowered his head and found her generous mouth with his own wide, hard one.
    The kiss was brief, little more than a meeting of lips, yet before it ended, she felt him stiffen slightly, as if he had found something surprising. And when he lifted his head, she saw that he was frowning down at her, his heavy brows drawn together as if in puzzlement. Dumbfounded, Selena returned his golden gaze, shock holding her motionless.
    He didn’t release her but continued to stand there, appraising her. “I must be more foxed than I realized,” he muttered rather huskily. “I felt the ground shaking.”
    Selena stared at him