14. Get a Hold of Yourself Kate

Egil's trap had been set.

Katelyn was in a state if confusion as she made her way to the scullery. Once there she attempted to use the mountains of laundry and dishes to ward off the chaos her mind was in. What was she doing? How could she possible be attracted to a man who had literally stolen her from her home. Not only had he stolen her, he had assaulted her twice.

Well, he had rescued her once as well. She reasoned.

But one rescue didn't make up for his past misdeeds. Did it?

The water was sloshing around in the bucket as she scrubbed furiously at the clothes dragging them across the washboard until they were threadbare. Water had been splashing up and out of the basin in the meantime, drenching her clothes while she absentmindedly cleaned.

"Get a hold of yourself Kate" she scolded herself. She had no business at all thinking of anything, except escape. The only issue now was, how? Even if she could swim she had seen the maps. They were miles from land. She would be eaten or drown before encountering another ship. Maybe even both.

Maybe at their next birth, she thought. Perhaps she could find somewhere there would believe her. If they didn't try to sell her off first. She knew, or rather she had been told, the world was not a safe place for women. She couldn't help by sigh softly.

Glancing out the porthole she could judge by the dimming light it was around time for dinner. With a groan she rose from her feet to prepare the meal. It was one of her few jobs. She was to help cook. She was to tend the laundry and serve the men. It was the serving that made her shudder.

She patted her knife at her leg.

If they even tried to touch her tonight, no matter how hard it was, she would make them pay. She wasn't a toy. Katelyn raked her nails through her hair securing it high on her head. The days labor having left a sheen of sweat of her skin so that the bottom tendrils which escaped to cling to her nape. The blouse, now damp with sweat, clung to her back and stomach revealing her soft skin beneath.

She shrugged it off. Last time she had been late, even though it was intentionally, Egil had not been gentle. She wouldn't be late again.

Sometime later, she made her way to the galley. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself for the leering hungry gazes that awaited her. Pushing a rough wooden cart along with her, she schooled her features and served the men ahead of her swallowing her distaste at their obvious glances.

Egil watched as she moved around the room, pride reflecting in his eyes as she dodged each and every man present. She kept a calm expression on her face, refusing to show any emotion, but there was no doubt in his mind she was anything near as calm as she was letting on. She couldn't possibly be calm after what had happened to her earlier this morning.

His kitten was learning.

"Pet, come here." He beckoned, a sly grin curling his lips as he patted his lap. Katelyn's eye following the direction of his hand went wide. He really didn't mean for her to sit there did he? She couldn't possibly sit on his knee! She bit her lip hard, weighing her options. She could listen and be utterly humiliated or she could disobey..and risk earning his wrath again.

She was biting her lip so hard now she could taste blood.

Taking a deep breath, she did as he commanded. Moving to his side she sat gingerly on his lap. She was rigid, determined to keep her space from him. Why was she always such a mess of contradiction when it came to this man? Her reason almost never won out. It was hardly fair.

Egil reached an arm around her, covering her hand with his. "Be still." He whispered into her ear. "It's only a show. They need to think you are mine. It's the only way I can protect you" The soft warmth of his breath sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed hard trying to relax in his embrace. She couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glance before taking a nervous breath as she attempted to lean back against him. She wanted to at least give the crew the illusion they were close. This action alone had her skin flushing. She wanted to hide.

"Feed me pet" he whispered against her ear again. This time she turned staring his straight in the eye. She could already hear the ignorant chuckles of the men around them, some of them already whispering lewd comments about their apparent relationship.

The more they laughed the brighter red she turned. In the meantime, Egil was staring her down. Reminding her with his eyes how he had control of her life and death here on this ship. He was all but daring her to reject him and ruin the illusion for his men. Reaching over, she lifted the spoon to feed him. It was all a ruse, she told herself. Its just make believe.

Meanwhile in the midst of her chaos and fear, her heart was racing. She was becoming increasingly aware of his proximity. She could feel the heat radiating off his body. Her eyes glanced absently to his hand which lay covering hers. It was larger, and calloused but warm. Why was this hand that had scared her so many times suddenly becoming a sense of safety she pondered. It didn't make sense.

After the meal had finished the Egil had excused the men to their chores. Katelyn, who was trying hard to ignore the sideways glances coming their way as they left , wanted to leave as well. She began shifting anxiously on Egil's lap. The sudden movement drew his attention back to her.

Egil was enjoying having her close. From where she sat on his knee he had a full view of all that her charms had to offer. He could feel her curves beneath his hands. Looking over her shoulder he could see the rounded mounds of her breasts through the blouse which had molded itself to skin. God help him, when she started moving about anxiously on his lap he felt all his earlier desires begin to surface.

"Why not take advantage of it?" he thought to himself with a sideways smile. His hand came up to her chin, tipping her face so she could meet his eyes. Gazing into their depths he carefully raised his hand, as though she was a scared rabbit, to brush his fingers along her cheek. His hand caught the tie in her hair causing it to fall in a cascade of gold around her shoulders.

"You did well tonight" he whispered, his eyes holding her gaze as he watched her intently. His fingers trailed the curve of her neck. Inadvertently, Katelyn closed her eyes. Her heart was racing so badly now she couldn't even think properly. Her throat had gone dry from the moment he looked into her eyes. The naked desire there both scaring her holding her fascinated.

In his glance she had seen herself, there on his lap, her hair falling forward. Face flushed. Eyes glistening. The soft carasse of his fingertips on her neck made her tremble. As she closed her eyes she could feel his breath drawing nearer. As it came in soft waves against her skin she had thought for a moment he was going to kiss her. She braced herself for it even.

Katelyn had been sitting in state of anticipation mixed with anxiety. Warring with herself. She both wanted and did not want this kiss. Egil was watching her reactions with an amused look. He could feel the desire building in the tension of her body. Through his fingertips which held her hand, he could feel pulse race along the delicate curve of her wrist.

The kiss she had been expecting did not come. After all, what kind of man was he if he could not keep his word? His land slid up behind her head, fingers curling in her hair as he drew her forward and kissed her forehead.

Katelyn's eyes went wide.

"You can go now, Pet."

The words barely registered in Katelyn's mind. She felt like someone had just emptied a bucket of cold water over her head. Gazing into his eyes, Katelyn could see her own glistening with tears of confusion. There was that bitter contradiction again. She could only nod her head and rise. As she left she shut her eyes tight. She wouldn't let him see her cry. Inhaling deeply she pulled herself together and fled.

Egil watched her leave the room. A wry smile on his features. He could still feel her weight on his knee and the warmth of her body in his hands. Licking his lips he could taste the salt of her skin. Leaning his chair back he placed his feet up on the table, It had been along time since he had been this entertained.

In the meantime, back in the his room Katelyn numbly stripped herself of the pants and shirt she had been wearing. Suddenly, she felt dirty. Whether it was from her own disappointment or the continuous comments and leers of the other men on board she couldn't say. Looking around the Egil's room she found one of his spare shirts to put on and immediately crawled into bed.

The moment she lay down it was as if all the turmoil for the day came slamming down on her. One by one her angry, frustrated tears began to fall. She pulled her knees into chest and immediately forced herself to stop thinking. Sleep. She needed to sleep. Thankfully, it wasn't long before it found her.