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After centuries of slavery to Poseidon, demi-god Rourk has finally won his freedom—and the hand of Poseidon’s daughter, Lily. She’s a temptress he’s long desired to claim, but she’s unaware that Rourk is her intended husband. When Lily escapes to Earth to indulge in carnal delights before what she assumes will be a passionless marriage, Rourk is hot on her trail. He may be able to convinces her to return home—but in exchange, he must grant her a night of pleasure….

Claiming the Temptress

Renee Field

www.spice-books.co.uk

ISBN: 9781472001160

Claiming the Temptress

© Renee Field 2012

First Published in Great Britain in 2012

Harlequin (UK) Limited

1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, including without limitation xerography, photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the prior consent of the publisher, in any form or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

All characters in this work have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk Version: 2020-08-24

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Contents

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter One

The whip sliced through the water and Rourk held his breath. In the past ten minutes he had discovered anticipation was not something he welcomed. His body tensed. His back muscles, already bleeding from Poseidon’s hand, braced for impact.

“This is your fault!” the sea god shouted.

The only fault lay with Poseidon, but Rourk had no intention of beseeching death anytime soon with that truth. Poseidon’s whip peeled the flesh off his back, and Rourk bit back a curse. Only his Titan strength kept him upright and not flat on his face under the god of the sea’s assault.

Poseidon cursed. The waves rolled in revolt. Oceans darkened and the ominous sound of thunder boomed from the human realm to Poseidon’s domain.

“Go after her!” The god did not shout. He roared. Those near his throne shivered. The smart ones hightailed it out of the palatial throne room faster than sardines, keenly aware of the sea god’s temperamental nature.

With pain from his beating stealing through his cells, Rourk ground his teeth. He wasn’t about to let any weakness master him or attempt to settle like an old barnacle within him. His time serving Poseidon was almost up. Failing was not an option.

He looked Poseidon in the eye and nodded. “With pleasure.” He made sure his voice was steady.

Poseidon’s focus turned elsewhere. Rourk used the precious seconds to regain control of his body. He felt the exact moment his servitude ended. Power coursed through his demigod veins, healing his wounds with a mix of pain and pleasure. His relief was instantaneous and exhilarating. Rourk was once again in control of his destiny. And that destiny had a name—Lily, a temptress he looked forward to claiming.

Poseidon willed his white-gold triton, bejeweled with red rubies and emeralds, to life. Moving it in a circle, he opened a portal in the barrier that kept the mortals of Earth from the sea god’s domain. Suspended in water, the portal shimmered. Its liquid turquoise hue suggested serenity for those who dared to venture forth. Too bad peace was the last thing it offered. Going through the opening was the equivalent of agreeing to a day of torture by the most depraved slave master.

Green blood dripped steadily down Rourk’s back, thanks to the lashings. At least he no longer felt the ripples of sharp pain that had almost felled him. His freedom did not sit well with Poseidon, he knew, because the god of the sea was losing something he cared about—his daughter. For Rourk, freedom tasted like pristine, clean water and smelled of Lily’s lavender scent.

Poseidon’s neon-green eyes stared at him. “Well, what are you waiting for? Get a move on, Rourk, before I decide to send another.”

Rourk glared back. Those serving the god swam farther out of reach, afraid of any repercussions. Not Rourk. With strength of will he moved closer to the god.

“I fulfilled my end of the bargain.”

A dark, sinister mask settled on Poseidon’s face. It almost made Rourk swim farther out of reach. Instead he marshaled his thoughts and remained standing.

“Yes, you did. That doesn’t mean I like you. My daughter means the seas to me. She will not like this. I want her back here, in this domain, where she belongs. I curse you, Zeus.” Poseidon made a fist and shook it toward the heavens where his brother ruled.

Those under his rule knew exactly what he referred to. Zeus controlled the mortal realm of Earth, and currently his brother, Poseidon, was not permitted to visit humans, because he had participated in the Olympian War. The sea god believed it was only a matter of time before his sibling granted him his wish to visit Earth, but until then he was almighty only in his own domain—a fact intensely pleasing to Rourk.

Sending Rourk after his willful daughter would ensure she would be brought back safe. If not, Rourk knew he’d be dead. That idea no longer terrified him, but he kept that fact hidden from Poseidon.

“Rourk, not one lock of her hair had best be out of place. Now go!”

Oh, Rourk did not plan to touch a single fiery-hued strand of hair on Poseidon’s daughter’s head, but he planned to claim everything else about the temptress, who had tortured him for years with her existence. She didn’t know that yet, but after two hundred years being her father’s slave, thanks to a bad game of poker, Rourk had mostly mastered patience. Now that he had fulfilled the terms of his wager, he was free, and better yet, thanks to a more recent and deadly hand of poker, Poseidon’s daughter was his. It was a bet he couldn’t wait to collect.

“You will abide by the wager?” he asked, knowing it might anger the god further. But he wasn’t risking his life for nothing.

Poseidon twirled his triton, making him appear bored but deadly at the same time. “Rourk, that question makes it sound like you are questioning my honor. Luckily for you, I know you would never truly doubt my word. Now go. You are wasting precious time, when my daughter walks among men unchaperoned. I will kill any man who touches her.”

Rourk flexed his shoulders to force his back muscles to bend. “Of that we have agreement. I will bring her back whether she likes it or not.”

“That is why you are still standing, Rourk. You have two tides to bring her back. Go!”

Rourk followed the god’s command. Not breaking stride, he dived headfirst through the shimmering portal. Pain assailed him and no amount of demigod blood helped. He did not scream or flinch as his body morphed and contorted from his Titan shape to that of a mere human, though lesser beings had been known to howl as their skin practically peeled off. The reshaping of flesh from his natural mertail to legs hurt like Hades. Stepping through the only exit from Poseidon’s realm to that of man was not for the faint of heart.

Tumbling into a landing position, Rourk immediately braced his body for attack. With an angry swipe of his hand, he pushed his wet hair off his forehead, and instantly used his powers to brand clothes onto his body. Then he assessed the scene.

Dozens of zooming, loud mechanical beasts that humans called vehicles and used to transport themselves blared angrily at him. Some of the vehicles dared to dive toward him, faster than a cyclone. Rourk was glad he’d spent the past six months learning about human culture. He was equally happy his poker-playing opponent couldn’t tell a winning hand if his own fingers were on fire. Cashing in with knowledge and not payment suited Rourk. As a Titan, he needed to understand the role humans played in the modern world, because Earth was Lily’s favorite place to visit. While he would never view himself as modern, Rourk certainly didn’t want to appear like a caveman to Poseidon’s daughter. However, he hoped, like her father, to put an end to her fixation with humans.

Rourk darted around most of the vehicles with an agility few humans ever witnessed. Swiftly, he vaulted over the last line of them, landing warrior-ready, feet braced apart on the hard, unforgiving ground.

Whether Lily liked it or not, today Rourk planned to collect his bride. Her feelings did not matter; she was his. Her father had made it so, thanks to a serious error in judgment. Sometimes it really was best to fold your cards when you were holding nothing of value.

What, by Tartarus, had she been thinking? Knowing Lily had gone through the same portal he had painfully materialized from, to flee from him and hide on Earth, made Rourk crazy with worry.

Pathetic. As if there is a realm I won’t venture into to claim what I won and rightly deserve. There would be no hiding from him.

Rourk had spent enough years wearing Poseidon’s chains, being taunted by his daughter’s mere presence, that the smell and taste of freedom equaled Lily. He’d spent thousands of torturous hours lying awake hot and hard, his cock full and swelling with the tantalizing promise of her. Night after night he’d had to take his pleasure by hand, pumping his shaft shamelessly because Lily had simply walked by him that day. Well, no more. He had fulfilled the terms of his contract, and was certain Zeus was happy with the outcome. It might have taken two centuries, but the plan was finally set in motion.

A union between two royal houses, finally. The fact that Poseidon was oblivious to it, perfect.

Wicked, erotic thoughts of the many ways he planned to pleasure his Siren bride slammed through him. Once he found her, Rourk intended to ensure Lily never took him for granted again.

He strode down the crowded pathway, where all the people made way for him. He noticed he was a good head taller than most humans. Women ogled him as he passed. The men wisely took a step to the side.

Rourk ignored them all, his thoughts centered on claiming Lily. Thinking of what he was going to do to her the minute he found her pumped blood to his cock. Rourk was irritated beyond measure that he was constantly hard around her, and further annoyed that she barely tolerated his presence. Too bad. You are now mine. I plan on pleasuring you, and you will bloody well not walk by me again as if I’m beneath you, Princess.

* * *

Lily continued to eat her double fudge chocolate decadent ice cream while bubble-gum-colored polish was being applied to her toenails.

“Your father is going to be totally pissed at you.” Airael tried to sound annoyed and failed. Lily nodded, savoring the taste of her icy dessert as her aunt worked her magic on her toes.

“What was I to do, Auntie? I told you. He’s going to force me to marry one of those demigods. Please. Just who does he think I am?”

“His daughter,” replied Airael, moving to Lily’s other foot.

She huffed in annoyance. “I am not about to marry some whining literary god-poet whose life revolves around books, talking politics and discussing the glorious weather on Mount Olympus. Boring. That’s who I’ve been surrounded by my entire life. The thought of being glued to some bookworm for eternity makes me want to puke.”

“Stop being so dramatic, Lil.”

Lily knew Airael, a goddess belonging to the House of Love, understood her plight. Of all her aunties, Airael, currently married to Max, a god of the House of War, knew opposites attract.

When Lily had overheard her beloved father plotting her upcoming marriage to a god of the House of Justice, she knew drastic measures would be needed. The House of Justice was made up of the most boring gods ever created. Lawyers. Judges. And even a few accountants. Not in my lifetime will I be linked to a man who sits behind a desk all day.

“They’re not all bad.” Airael blew on Lily’s polished nails to help speed up the drying process.

Lily wiggled her toes. She loved being in human form, especially knowing daddy dearest detested it.

Savoring the last two bites of her ice cream, she said, “Oh, yes, they are. Do you know of any gods from the House of Justice that don’t fit the description I just gave you?” She narrowed her eyes at Airael, who looked to be about twenty, by human standards. Currently, her auntie, who was actually two thousand and twenty-three years old, had hair the exact shade of the nail polish drying on Lily’s toes. She also wore a silver nose ring, which Lily knew Max loved.

Airael pursed her lips.

“That would be a big fat no!” Lily scooted off the leather settee to stand. It took a lot of effort not to jump around. But her nail polish wasn’t quite dry and she didn’t want to ruin her aunt’s hard work. “Seriously, I can’t do it, Airael. I can’t love a god I don’t admire. I want someone who makes my heart stutter with nervous energy. I want someone who cherishes me and isn’t just interested in pleasing my father. By Tartarus, I want someone to make me wet with desire.”

Airael laughed. “Oh, you’ll get wet, all right, the minute your father yanks you back to his realm. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes. Seriously, have you given this some thought? No. I didn’t think so. Pissing off your father is never a good thing. All the gods know that.”

Lily laughed this time. “You make him sound like an ogre or something. He’s just Daddy.”

“Well, my dear, rumor on the god channel has it that your daddy sent his warrior out to bring you home.”

Lily backed up, accidentally knocking over a black stool in the process. “He wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, he dared, all right. My bet is that by high tide that warrior of his will have tracked you down, and by tomorrow all this will be just a lingering dream.” Airael sat down to tackle her own toes.

Her aunt’s eyes had been dead serious. Lily gulped. She knew her father had a hot temper, but surely he wouldn’t erase his own daughter’s memories of Earth.

Oh, by the gods, he will. That warrior of his will find me and force me back, and then I won’t remember any of this.

Flinging herself through the portal that connected to Earth must have looked like a draconian, almost suicidal measure to her father. Too bad he didn’t know she used the portal constantly, since Auntie Bess, her mother’s sister, had ensured she would never feel any painful effects. Lily needed time to think. She had to find a way to get what she wanted, and make her father understand her needs and desires. Being tied to a god who only made her yawn was not on Lily’s agenda anytime soon.

“I can’t stand another minute of this. Let’s do something.” Restless energy tingled down Lily’s spine and long legs. She couldn’t resist running a hand down the silky smooth feel of her hairless skin. She savored the sun-kissed look of her legs, which was due to her natural Siren heritage.

“Sure, what did you have in mind?” asked Airael.

“Dancing. Let’s go dancing. I need loud, heart-banging music in a place filled with humans.” Tons of hunky men ripe for the picking will most certainly improve my mood. Wisely, she refrained from sharing that thought with her auntie.

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