The Louisiana sun beat mercilessly on Nicole St. Claire just as fate, too, had been  merciless. The once wealthy, flirtatious belle stood on the auction block to be sold  as a servant. Her sensual figure disguised, her glorious titian hair disheveled,  she looked like a waif, but she was all woman, trembling when she recognized the  highest bidder—idol of her childhood dreams, the owner of plantation Belle Chene.
 A man of blazing passion, Alex du Villier bought the girl out of pity, but her aqua  eyes stirred his soul and her body ignited his blood. She would be the perfect mistress  to make him forget his coming marriage to a cold, haughty heiress. Now he intended  to teach this innocent beauty that although he had purchased her freedom, he could  steal her heart.
 An affair of burning desires. . . . Under a Creole moon their passion  became a wildfire neither could control, driving them to heart-wrenching choices  of silken sin . . . or freedom and love.