Dead Man's Kiss by Jennifer Bray-Weber

Author:Jennifer Bray-Weber
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: seduction, betrayal, redemption, action adventure, pirates, temptation, beach read, pirates of the caribbean, adventure 1700s, pirates romance
Publisher: Jennifer Bray-Weber

CHAPTER 13

Splashing reached Catalina’s ears and she smiled. She needn’t turn around to know Valeryn had taken her bait. Now that he was on the hook, what would she do with him? She had many delicious ideas, most requiring skin-on-skin touch. But she was not in the water for a dalliance. Not this time. She had much work to do.

Though the water was delightfully warm, it was refreshing and cooled the heat building in her skin from the sun’s rays. Her eyes burned from the salt, but she refrained from rubbing them. Squinting, the sting lessened and her vision cleared enough to see the underwater come to life. ’Twas a trick she learned as a child from hours of swimming near her home in the Mediterranean.

She twisted around in the water to catch a glimpse of Valeryn. He’d stripped down to only his breeches. In truth, she was a tad disappointed he had left them on. But then, she still wore her chemise. Fair enough.

He was a powerful swimmer, his sinewy arms easily slicing through the brine. Sunlight dappled over his sleek body and his long tawny hair rippled in his wake. He seemed to be at one with the sea below the surface as he was riding atop. Her heart stuttered and she suddenly needed to go above to catch her breath.

Catalina was amazed by the wonderment of the reef. The turquoise and purple coral textures—mixtures of hard and soft, rounded, coiled, straight, and bumpy—were as abundant as the colorful fish. Blooms of rocks jutted out every which way and velvety pink straws swayed in the currents like wheat in fields. Blue and yellow fish flitted around in and out of unusual orange plants, creatures, maybe, with many tiny arms, much like a tiny squid. Large green fan-like leaves slowly waved in the drifts.

’Twas difficult to pry away from the beauty, but Catalina’s lungs singed with the need of air. She’d come up long enough to breathe in fresh air, then back down again she’d dive.

Away from the reefs the seabed was just as fascinating. Stretches of pristine sand would give way to leafy grasses. Here and there, she spotted black urchins, orange sea stars, or a majestic ray gliding past. Breathtaking. All of it.

She felt a tap on her shoulder. Valeryn was pointing off her right into the depths. Even with the water clear, any amount of distance became blurry. She searched the depths for what he wanted her to see. He pointed again. There. She saw it. Up to the surface she kicked. Gulping much needed air, she cried, “A turtle!”

Valeryn smiled, nodding. Her heart soared. Was it because of the turtle, or his smile?

Swiftly, she swam closer, but not too close as to startle the animal away. Glory be! It was magnificent. The turtle had not been alarmed and she was able to get near enough to make out its distinctions—mossy brown and green coloring, black scale-like spots on its head and flippers. ’Twas nearly as big as she.

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