Children of Poseidon: Rann by Annalisa Carr Read Free Book Online

relaxed.
    He wasn’t.
    Change was coming. Things outside his control threatened his peace of mind. Jewel and Tamsin had been with him for a while now, longer than any of his other guests. They’d outlasted friends and lovers, and even his daughter only occasionally visited the island nowadays. The seawitch worried him as well; his mother rarely showed an interest in anything outside her undersea home. He hoped she wasn’t going to change as well, demand a shopping trip to New York or something. He smiled at the unlikelihood of that happening and wandered back through the house and down to the beach.
    Maya and Jewel strolled towards him—tall, voluptuous Maya with her fiery hair muted by the moonlight and small, slender Jewel, her head barely reaching her friend’s shoulder. The two women were deep in conversation. Rann leaned against the trunk of a coconut palm and waited for them.
    They were worth watching. Maya’s short gold dress skimmed her curves and revealed her long legs and slender arms. Rann appreciated the view for a second before moving his eyes to Jewel. An ankle-length dress in some dark colour draped her body. Her arms were bare, and her hair swung down round her shoulders, pale against the fabric. She wasn’t as eye-catchingly dramatic as her friend, but Jewel held Rann’s gaze. She moved as gracefully as a cat, the silk of her dress skimming the lines of her body, clinging to her legs as she walked.
    He didn’t want her to go.
    She looked up as she sensed his regard and stared at him, unsmiling, blue eyes gleaming in the darkness. Rann examined her as though she were a stranger, narrowing his eyes in concentration. Arousal stabbed him, unexpected and surprising. Something in his expression obviously unnerved her, because she dropped her gaze and missed a step.
    He’d always regarded her as a child under his protection, vulnerable and needing care, but she’d grown up since he’d last looked. Those eyes didn’t belong to a child.

Chapter 5
    Jewel shifted nervously under Rann’s inspection. His eyes held an interest she’d never seen in them before. She ducked her head and walked towards him.
    Maya bent and picked up her discarded shoes. “Hi Rann.” She straightened, shoes clutched in one hand. “Sorry to drag Jewel off like that, but—”
    Jewel nudged her. “I’m going to pack.” She edged round Rann.
    “Pack?” He placed a warm hand on her shoulder, holding her in place.
    “I’m leaving with Maya.” She squirmed in his grasp. “Tomorrow morning. I know it’s a bit abrupt, but . . .” She paused. “Maya will explain. Won’t you?”
    “What do you want me to say?” Maya gave her an impatient look.
    “Everything you told me.” Jewel risked a glance at Rann but couldn’t read his expression. “I’d better make a start.” She shrugged his hand off and hurried to her room where she collapsed onto the bed, letting her head sink into her hands.
    She didn’t know what to think about first. The news about her mother fought with her confusion over Rann for space in her mind, but Rann finally won. His face, his voice, and the warmth of his hand dominated her thoughts as she searched out suitable clothes for London.
    She might never see him again. It’s just as well I leave. I don’t have a crush. I have an obsession.
    Her wardrobe contained nothing that would suit England in April. Whatever the state of her bank account, she would have to go shopping as soon as she arrived in London. Rann had paid her what he referred to as a small amount when she started running his household, but she hadn’t checked it recently. Lila, Maya’s older sister, had also helped by persuading Jewel’s mother to pay her a monthly allowance. How on earth she had done that, Jewel couldn’t begin to imagine. She rarely had the opportunity to spend money, so her financial position was probably fairly good. She’d check once she arrived in London.
    Finally, she picked up a small bag, which could