He touched her breast, and she arched closer, responding in spite of herself. She shivered and brought her hand up, running it across the muscles of his arm, then down his back, stroking him softly. Raising her eyes to his, she saw he was mostly asleep, and she recalled the many nights they'd made love this way, almost automatically, both of them half asleep, but craving each other nonetheless.
Esteban nuzzled his face close to her and his tongue touched her neck, followed by his soft bite, and she made a small whimper. The fingers of his other hand traced a path along her cheek, caressing her softly.
She took a steadying breath, entirely awake now, confusion and desire warring within her. She knew she shouldn't allow him to do this, but she wanted him so badly she couldn't seem to make herself tell him to stop. Every fiber of her brain screamed No! Tell him no! You are not his toy! But her traitorous body arched into his once more. “Yesss...” She sighed.
Esteban came more fully awake at her sigh, and realized what he'd done—the one thing that had always come so easily between them. He'd been dreaming of her, and had simply begun to make love to her.
More than half aroused, he wasn't willing to stop. She felt so good against him, warm and desirable, and he longed for the comfort making love to her brought him.
He lowered his mouth to her nipple, then licked around it until it was a hard little bead under his tongue. When he suckled her, drawing hard and scoring her slightly with his teeth, he heard her sharp intake of breath, but she didn't move away from him and he kept on, changing from one breast to the other. At last he sat back away from her and removed his own shirt, exposing his broad chest and the bruises, which still had not faded entirely from his battle with the men at the tavern in Salgren.
She saw them and shame washed over her. She'd left him to fend for himself, but oh God she had been so scared when she saw him.
He knew she saw, but said nothing. He bent his head to her and kissed her deeply, dueling with her tongue. He could feel the tension pouring forth from her, but that tension was part of what had once made their lovemaking so very good. He loved to keep her constantly unsettled.
Kate didn't understand why he was doing this when he didn't care for her.
"I can't do this,” she said quietly.
He didn't reply, but moved over her and pressed his knee between hers until she parted her thighs. Slowly he lowered himself onto his forearms above her and looked down into her beautiful eyes.
A far off slash of lightning illuminated him for a moment, casting him in sharp relief to the rest of the room and thunder rolled closer now. A storm was moving quickly toward them. He stroked her gently, drawing his hand down her body, then up once more, reveling in the simple sensation of touching her.
He'd thought to ease his pain with her body. No one else would ever soothe him as she did, he didn't want to feel any emotions, but knew that was impossible.
She was so soft and fragrant that he was nearly dizzy with the pleasure of finally having her again. As much as he did not want to feel anything for her, he was helpless. She infected him like a pleasant sickness, a wondrous obsession that ran through his veins, there was no cure and he didn't want one. Katherine was unlike any woman he had ever met. She was intelligent and talented and of course beautiful; she was fun-loving and brash but she was also demure and unskilled when it came to passion, which was something he liked. He didn't want a courtesan. His skill was enough.
His fingers traced down her chest to her belly, leaving a trail of gooseflesh behind them, finally dipping to her cleft, and she inhaled as they slipped within; he began stroking her gently, drawing her clitoris from its hood to stand rigid and throbbing, and a soft moan escaped her.
He kissed down her breast to her flat stomach and then lower.
Esteban could do any number of things to her, but this ... this he did the best, and she knew she was lost.
He drew his tongue slowly along the length of her, licking and nibbling gently. A powerful shudder rocked through her. “My God..."
Tears of pleasure and sorrow sprang to her eyes and she shut them tightly as he brought her to a powerful peak. She tried to resist, tried to think of anything besides the pleasure he was giving her, but she couldn't. When she felt his sharp teeth teasing her pulsing sex, then his hot tongue swirling gently to draw her into his mouth and suck, she moaned and her world exploded in the fiery galaxy of her climax.
He rose up above her as she breathed raggedly, kissing her tenderly, exploring her as though for the first time, and she wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders, kissing him back, matching his passion.
He positioned himself to enter her then paused. He stroked her soaking slit with the ruby head of his cock, making her squirm.
"Please don't torment me,” she breathed.
He bent his head to her forehead once more; face to face, scant inches apart he breathed. “Torment? No, Katherine, it is my soul in torment. You drive me to peaks I have never known, you weaken me and make me burn like no other ever has."
He moved and she cried out as he thrust deep, rocking slowly against her.
Kate raised her hips to meet his, arching into him, and he groaned helplessly at the sensation. He always had the uncanny ability to slow down their lovemaking. To resist both of their urges to hurtle toward completion, to hold her hostage while he plundered her at his leisure, leaving her breathless and stunned at his complete mastery of her. She was ashamed at how easily she gave in to him. Letting him lead her wherever he liked; sometimes rough, other times tender, but always masterful.
An involuntary gasp and cry escaped her lips.
"Am I hurting you?” he asked, and in that moment everything that had happened was gone, replaced by the love she had for him, the love that despite everything, she'd never lost.
"No,” she whispered.
Lightning flashed powerfully, blinding him and the thunder crashed overhead, heralding a torrential rainfall, which deluged the ship, pounding the windows above him.
He looked at her face and saw her eyes had closed and she was trembling. He was too far gone to stop now and moved harder upon her, driving both of them over the edge to a mind-numbing orgasm which left him shaking and crying as well.
They lay together for a moment, breathing heavily. Slowly Esteban brought his hand down, touching the tear that had escaped from her eyes. He lowered his head to hers once more resting his forehead upon hers and she looked up at him.
"We can't do this anymore. I can't let you take me when you don't love me.” Her voice was low in the quiet room.
"This isn't about love.” Esteban's voice caught on the last word. It was a lie, and he knew it, but God, how he ached! He wanted to be hard, he wanted her to feel the pain he'd felt. He thought hurting her would somehow make him feel better, but instead it left him desolate and ashamed. He was far too much in love to continue wounding her.
She squeezed her eyes closed again, he couldn't have hurt her any more if he'd beaten her; those words were so final.
He moved off her and did not attempt to gather her in as he usually did, although it was all he wanted to do. He rolled to his back and laid his forearm over his eyes with a sigh.
She lay upon her back, staring at the ceiling. The space between them was mere inches, but to Katherine, it felt like a canyon. She craved his touch, and the warmth they had shared. Once again tears sprang to her eyes and she sat up slowly, swinging her legs over the side of his bed.
"What do you want, Katherine?” he asked. His voice was low, husky from passion and fatigue. The storm had moved away, and they could hear thunder in the distance, occasional flashes illuminated the dim room now and then.
"What do you mean?” she asked softly.
"If you want to return to Minalos, and then home, I will take you there."
"You will?” she sat back down.
"Yes, if you do not wish to stay with me, I will send you back. So tell me, what do you want?"
"I-I want...” She s
topped. Until now, she thought she was so sure what she wanted. Now, given the choice she was unsure and frightened. She looked back at him; his icy eyes were soft as he waited for her answer.
"I want you to love me again, Esteban,” she whispered.
"What?” he asked, unsure if he had heard her correctly.
"I'm sorry ... God, I'm so sorry for whatever it was that I did to make you hate me enough to give me to Davich. I don't want to go back to Earth or to Davich. I just want you to love me again,” she sobbed and pulled the quilt up to muffle the sound.
All of her words had come out in a dizzying rush and he lay there stunned, working out what she had said.
"Give you to Davich? Katherine...” He half laughed, baffled. “What do you mean?"
He looked at her back and noticed marks there, marks he had thought were only shadows earlier. He touched them gently and she cringed away from his touch. Something she hadn't done since the first day he'd met her.
"Katherine, you left me,” he said slowly. “I've always loved you."
"But you gave me to Davich to save yourself ... when he captured you ... Didn't you?"
"No, I have never been captured by Davich Romanov."
"Oh...” she whispered. Her voice sounded very far away to her ears and her vision seemed to slide slowly sideways as the horrible truth sank in.
He sat up quickly and caught her before she hit the floor, dragging her back onto the bed with him, and cradling her in his arms.
"Katherine ... Katherine, cariña ... please,” he said desperately, trying to get her to awaken.
Her eyelids fluttered and she looked up into his glorious eyes, which were filled with tears. “Esteban, dear God, what happened to us?"
"We have been betrayed, but we will have our revenge.” He held her to his chest and kissed her forehead. “I am so sorry for the way I have treated you,” he whispered. “I thought you had left me. I love you ... Can you forgive me?"
She couldn't speak but nodded furiously. Tears coursed down her cheeks.
"Tell me what he did to you."
* * * *
The next day when he emerged abovedeck, Esteban's face was grave and angry. He gave orders to his mate.
"Pull down that pennant and find the Eleana Aru."
"Captain?"
"Davich Romanov's flagship. Eleana Aru, I want it, and I want that bastard brought to me in chains."
"But, Captain, he is the commodore of the Andalosian Navy."
"I don't care if he is Holy God Himself. He took my woman, and he is going to pay.” Manuel watched Esteban's hands clench upon the rail, all knuckles white from the force he was exerting upon it. A loud crack came forth from beneath those hands and Esteban looked down as though surprised at his own strength.
"Yes, sir,” Manuel said. He crossed himself at the blasphemy and the extreme fury of his captain, then moved to give the orders that would take them to the coast of Andalos.
"Manuel, wait,” Esteban said barely a moment later.
"Sir?"
"You said Davich wanted her..."
"Yes, he offered to pay for her,” Manuel replied, not understanding what his captain meant.
"Send word to him."
"Captain?"
"I've accepted his offer."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 13
Kate arose from Esteban's bed extremely tired. They had made love twice more after they talked, both finally finding the comfort and love they'd missed for so long.
She'd told him most of what had happened, but not everything. She simply couldn't bring herself to tell him all the twisted things Davich had done to her. Esteban was murderously angry at Davich for hurting her and vowed to kill him. Telling him would not accomplish anything.
They knew someone on this ship had arranged for her to be abducted. He couldn't have taken her without help. She strongly suspected Rachel, who'd always been so jealous of her, but had no proof.
She rang the bell for one of the slaves to come to his bedchamber and ordered a bath. A real bath.
It took more than an hour to prepare her tub, but she didn't care, she dozed upon the bed while she waited and with her eyes closed, she could feel the ship moving, turning. They were changing course.
A little slave girl awakened her. “Miss Kate? Lady Quima is looking everywhere for you. Says she's going to whip the skin off your back if you don't get to work."
"I'd like to see her try,” Kate muttered and sat up. Her bath steamed invitingly from the center of the room. “Oh, that looks good."
"Miss Kate, you can't do that! You're a slave!"
"No, I am not a slave. I am Captain Esteban's wife,” Kate said, “...and that is my bath.” She climbed out of bed and into the hot water, sighing with pleasure.
While she bathed, she asked the little slave girl what her name was.
"It is Tika,” the girl said, then smiled a dazzling white smile from her dark brown face.
"Well, Tika, this is your lucky day.” She told the girl she was now her personal maid, and freed her. “We will work out your wages later."
All Tika could do was nod mutely, she was dumbfounded over what Katherine had just told her. “But you're a slave, too. You cannot free me."
"Maybe I can't, but Esteban can,” Kate replied, and as though she had conjured him, Esteban entered his bedchamber and grinned widely at the site of Kate lounging in her oaken tub. He had forgotten how much he loved to see her in her bath. The other women on this ship rarely bathed beyond washing in the basin.
She smiled a slow wicked smile, full of lustful promise. “You forgot something,” she said to him.
"I did?"
"Yes, you did.” She raised her leg and stuck it over the side. The silver cuff gleamed wetly upon her ankle.
He looked at her and at her long leg and licked his now dry lips. “Perhaps I should leave it? You look very appealing with it upon your leg, and I do so love you being my captive."
"I'll wear it as a bracelet, but I want it off my leg."
He reached into his shirt and pulled a gold chain over his head.
A tiny key was upon the chain and he slid it into a slot at the bottom of the cuff, releasing it with a click.
She held her leg up while he pulled it off. “Thank you, Esteban,” she said sincerely.
"I love you, Katherine.” He slid the cuff into his pocket. Maybe they could play with it later.
A soft noise behind him made him turn.
"Esteban, this is Tika, she'll be my maid. You were always after me to get a girl, so here she is,” Kate said and Esteban smiled at the girl. “I want her freed though."
"Done,” he said without hesitation. He'd have gladly done anything she asked of him, he was so thrilled to have her back.
Tika helped Kate from the bath and helped her to dress in her favorite doeskin breeches and silk shirt, then left them to have the men come for her tub. Kate added a scarlet waistcoat with gold trim and buttons and high black boots.
Esteban had moved to his wardroom and was rummaging through a pile of charts upon his desk.
While there was no one about, she picked up a knife from Esteban's things and fastened it to her belt under her waistcoat. She vowed she would never be unarmed again.
Kate moved to stand near where Esteban was, not wanting to have so much as a room between them.
"We've changed course,” she said.
"Yes,” he answered shortly, still searching. He caught a pile as it started to slide over and righted it, and then moved on to another, which sat upon the floor.
"Where are we going, Esteban?"
He stood up straight, holding a chart in his hand. “We are heading north toward Andalos, so I may find Davich Romanov and keelhaul him.” He spoke without the least amount of hesitation. “You look beautiful,” he added, attempting to change the subject.
Not about to be so easily diverted, she took a step closer. “Do you have any idea what is on the bottom of this ship
?” she asked.
"Enough barnacles to tear his flesh to the bone.” He stopped. “What do you think would be a fitting revenge, cariña?” He looked at her for a moment, then reached out to caress her cheek and spoke gently. “Do you not wish to have revenge on the man who hurt you? Because even if you do not, I must."
Kate's eyes filled with tears. “I hate him. I want him dead,” she whispered, finally saying it aloud. She was shocked at herself. Not because she had actually wished death on another human being, but because she had not one ounce of regret over doing so.
Esteban caught a tear which spilled down with his thumb, and nodded. He returned to his desk and rolled open the chart he had found. It was a coastal map of the waters of Andalos and Lyros. He lifted his inkwell and set it on the corner of the chart, then placed his shaker on the other corner to hold it open and picked up his pen.
He bent to examine the chart more closely and heard Kate make a small sound.
"Kate?” He looked up at her.
"Where...” She cleared her throat. “Where did you get those?"
"Get what?” He looked around, then at his hand.
"The silver desk set,” she said numbly. Her memory slammed home with the force of a sledgehammer and she leaned into the doorframe to hold herself up.
"Rachel gave them to me. She said she got them in Guzel. Why?"
Without another word, Kate turned and walked to the door. She pulled it open and walked out into the hallway.
"Katherine? Kate!” He stood and followed her.
By the time she got to the end of the corridor to the door of the women's quarters, she was nearly running. She shoved the door hard and it flew open striking the wall with a bang.
Quima looked up at her. “There you are. It's about time you showed your face. Where have you been?” she demanded.
"Shut up,” Kate snarled. “Where is Rachel?"
"Katherine!” Esteban entered the room and tried to take her elbow.
She shook him off and turned to look around the room. The other women looked at each other and finally one girl said, “She's with Manuel, above."
Katherine turned with murder on her mind, brushing past Esteban and out the door, slamming it behind her.
Calthraca: Secrets And The Sea [A Calthraca Novel] Page 15
