Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"If I could manage it, I would hurl you overboard." She jumped to her feet, slapped down her billowing skirts once more, and turned away. She heard his mocking, quite satisfied laughter follow her.

It rained several hours later, just as Rafael had predicted. Diana scratched her scalp impatiently, hoping there would be enough rainwater for a good scrubbing. She ate her dinner alone in the cabin, then asked Neddie to fetch her a tub.

When the warm water steamed upward from the wooden tub, she raised a smiling face to Neddie. "Are the captain and my husband still at dinner?"

"I believe they are playing cards, my lady. I brought them a bottle or brandy."

Diana just smiled. Neddie stoutly refused to call her Diana.

"Thank you," she said.

Once alone, she unbraided her hair in record time, removed her clothing, and stepped into the tub. As she sank down, she gave a heartfelt sigh of sheer pleasure. She washed her hair with lavender-scented soap, her favorite, then washed it again. "I am human again," she said to herself.

"Indeed, a most delightful female human, I should say."

Water splashed over the sides of the tub as she jerked upright, her eyes flying to his face.

"How dare you! Get out, Lyon!"

"Your hair is quite long and thick. I cannot see a bit of you, more's the pity."

He was standing over her, his hands on his hips. There was a gleam in his blue eyes that made her feel the oddest sensations. She gulped, unconsciously covering her breasts with her hands, even though they were hidden through a thick veil of wet hair. "Please," she said, her voice shaking, "please, just leave."

"No."

He sat down in the chair at the desk and put his feet on the desktop. He looked completely at his ease. "I have been waiting for some rain."

"I suspect you need to bathe as well!"

"I did. A group of us stripped on deck and cavorted about. We used soap, but it wasn't as sweet-smelling as yours. A manly soap, I suppose you would call it. It was a most exhilarating experience. Since you were avoiding me, I had no worry that you would wander up and surprise us."

Diana eyed the thick towels on the floor, three feet beyond her reach. "You are supposed to be playing cards with Rafael."

"Not a chance."

"Neddie said he took you a bottle of brandy."

"I left it with Rafael."

"You are not a gentleman, Lyon."

"No, perhaps not, but I am a determined man, Diana. You know, my dear, if I look closely enough, I can see the white swell of your breasts."

She howled, and he laughed.

"Are you not flaunting yourself for me?"

"Lyon, get out!"

"You are growing repetitive, Diana. Should you like me to join you? I could manage it, I think.

Picture yourself wrapped around me."

She could picture it, and that made her furious with him and with herself. "Lyon, I will surely do something awful to you if you do not leave, now."

"Visions of goatweed?"

"You've been waiting for this, haven't you?"