The face he shows the world is not the face she sees. . .

Once, ten years ago, they were young lovers, sharing sinful touches and desperate ecstasy. But he was bound by his promise to wed another. Since that fateful time, Christine Sommers has grown into a headstrong beauty, the kind of woman who thinks nothing of daring travels to the ends of the world. But for all her achievements, Christine has never found anyone who makes her heart race the way Erik Boughton once did.

Since that fateful time, Erik Boughton, the Duke of Sedgwick, has become something of a beast, at least according to the gossips of the ton. They say that he's cursed, that any woman who shares his bed will meet an untimely end. But when he comes to Christine, desperate for her help to preserve his family and his title, she does not fear the devil duke. Enthralled by his ravenous desire, she would give him anything he wished, even her body . . . and her heart.

Award-winning author Melody Thomas writes historical romance novels, an occupation she considers the best job in the world. In the past, she has written Westerns for Leisure Books as Lori Morgan and pirate adventure books for Berkley as Laura Renken. Her books have been reviewer-nominated five times by Romantic Times Bookclub for the Best Adventure, Best Historical Suspense, and Gothic categories. Melody has won the HOLT Medallion twice, a WisRWA Write Touch Reader's Award, and an Affaire de Coeur Reader's Choice Award, and her books are being published in foreign languages worldwide. My Lord Pirate, which launched her publishing career, was a 1999 Golden Heart Award Finalist. She lives in the Chicago area, and is also a former president of the Windy City Chapter RWA.