Under the Lash by Carolyn Faulkner Read Free Book Online Page A

disengaging himself from ceaselessly worrying that delicious nub of flesh – the one that called out to him to surround it with his warm, wet mouth. But she’d done nothing to deserve such fine treatment, and so he left her there, throbbing painfully on both sides of her lower body but for very different reasons, legs sprawled as if invitation to anyone who might wander in.
    Cassie felt only a bit safer to hear the turn of the key when he left, even if he was locking her in, although the Captain left her there, knowing that she had no idea that he possessed the only key, and without having reassured her that he wasn’t on par with his men – quite willing to pimp her out for the right price.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Although he hadn’t literally blindfolded her, he might as well have. Her skirts prevented her from seeing much beyond her own chest. At least if he had seen fit to allow her a little modesty, Cassie might have been able to glean something from the layout or contents of the room that might have helped her escape.
    But then she considered his words, and acknowledged the truth of them to herself with a gut wrenching sob. She was well and truly trapped. Damned if she did and damned if she didn’t, and in the worst way for someone of her ilk. She was ruined, and it might as well have been by her own impulsive hand. It seemed that all she’d done since she’d met him was either squeal at the top of her lungs or bawl as if she’d just lost her best friend, but she couldn’t seem to stop doing either.
    And to top it all off, all of that almost screaming had dried her throat out to the point that it was nearly as sore as the bottom she was being forced to lie on, and right now she’d give just about anything to have a big mug of even that swill that he had brought her. Anything to give her parched mouth and throat a little relief.
    She hadn’t gotten a whit of sleep, but when she heard the ship’s bell ring three times, calling the men to dinner, her body went starkly stiff, knowing that that meant she was due yet another session over his lap.
    She wasn’t sure whether or not she should be relieved when she heard the key turn in the lock. After all, she couldn’t really tell who it was that had entered the room, and she damned well knew she couldn’t possibly allow herself to be happy at his return, anyway, considering how abominably he had treated her and was going to be treating her in the near future, but there also might be the possibility of food and water, which she was finding she craved quite desperately.
    Eventually, after what seemed like an eon of hearing him – hopefully him, she allowed in the back of her mind – puttering around the room, her skirts were finally removed from in front of her face and she discovered that it was him, and that he had laid out somewhat of a dinner service – primitive as it was – on the small table that was lodged against one wall, although she noticed with alarm that there was only one plate on that table. Surely he intended to feed her something !
    But before he allowed her to get up to eat, he sat down facing her on the bed. “I thought you might be hungry, so I brought us both some dinner. I’m going to let you up, but not before I give you the rules that govern your behavior, at least for now.”
    Rules had never been Cassie’s strong point, but she managed – barely – not to roll her eyes at him as he continued to speak.
    “The door is locked from the inside, so even if you did manage to get past me to the door, you can’t go anywhere.” He seemed to have a change of heart, and then left her long enough to unlock it. “On second thought, if you can get by me, you’re welcomed to have at the crew. I’ve already told you my version of what I think they’ll do to you, but if you think that you could persuade them to treat you any better, then you’re welcome to try.”
    She met his eyes, her own full of tears as usual around him, it seemed, and