The Siren's Song Read Online Free Page A

her ankle.
    She cursed. Or was that the blackguard who cursed? She glanced at him and in a bolt of lightning could have sworn amusement flickered across his face.
    He snatched at her bodice and yanked her to him. The force knocked the air from her lungs. She stared up into his eyes. Yes. Amusement definitely sparked in them. He enjoyed their predicament far too much.
    “Hold on,” he said. “They’re coming.”
    The longboat plowed through the swells. Four men manned the oars, but the boat’s speed and control came from the colossal black man at the rear. So large a man, it was a wonder his bulk didn’t sink the boat. He, alone, maneuvered the craft adjacent to the tilting ship.
    A sailor in the boat extended a hand to her.
    “Get in.” Her savior shoved her arm toward the waiting man.
    Gilly reached out for him. Her wrist seemed so pale, so contrasted against the black sea. Oh, God. My bag! Where’s my bag? Her chest constricted. She couldn’t breathe. The drawing string must have slipped off her wrist when the wave knocked her down.
    Panic-stricken, she whipped her head around and searched the madness of the stormy sea overtaking the perishing ship. The gale wailed louder in her ears, but she could no longer feel the rain or the splash of the waves.
    Where is it? I must get it back.
    Planking, debris, water, all blended together, devoid of any color. The rapid rise and fall of the surf separated them into identifiable objects. Only when the sky bestowed flares of light could she see beyond a man’s single pace.
    A glimpse of purple caught her eye. There!
    Her pouch drifted along the water’s edge, bumping against the Rowena.
    “Snap to, woman!”
    She ignored her dark rescuer, focusing on the drawing string snagged on a splintered board floating away in the swirling current. No! She couldn’t lose it. Just couldn’t. What had kept her alive, what was left of her life was inside that bag.
    Farther out of reach her bag drifted. She batted at his grip on her, slapped at his knuckles until he released her. Her toes curled in her shoes, an attempt to grab on to the rail through her soles as she shuffled down the rail on the balls of her feet. Almost there. The water pushed the board against the ship’s bow. She squatted down, holding on to a pulley used to secure the anchor and reached for her handbag. The drawing string worked itself loose from the plank. Sloshing water pushed it away. Must stretch farther. Her grip loosened and her hand slid on the smooth wood of the winch. A little more. She hooked the string with two fingers and pulled the bag close enough to fist it, pressing it close to her chest.
    Thank God. Thank God I didn’t lose it.
    What were those blasted men shouting about?
    The unforgiving sea swiped her from the ship’s frame. Into the water she fell. Below the surface, the ocean roared loud, tunneled and muffled, bearing down on her from all sides. The current forced her down. For a moment, she couldn’t move under the weight of the cool water. Panic sluiced through her. Undercurrents whisked her about, pulling her this way and that. A flux rammed her and smashed her shoulder into the ship’s hull. The hard thud quashed her fear. She kicked wildly, thrashing to reach the surface.
    Where was the surface?
    The water, so black, can’t see.
    Flashes of light followed by the darkness confused her.
    Breathe. Got to breathe. Oh merciful God, I can’t hold my breath much longer.

Chapter Three
    “Damnation!”
    The lass must be out of her bloody mind. What in the hell was she doing?
    “Sam!”
    The massive seadog stood, already with a coil of rope in hand. The other men labored to keep the boat from flipping. Sam threw one end of the rope. Drake caught the rope, thick and scratchy in his wet hands, and he tied the rope around his waist.
    Risking her life like that. And for what? A damned purse! Women and their frivolous things. He would never understand.
    A quick tug to secure the knot and he dove