"What's your name?" Kahlan asked as a familiar hand wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The man removed his hand, keeping silent as he stared at her. "I recognize your touch," she added quietly. She needed him to believe that she was growing to care for him, that somehow it was, he, she enjoyed the most.
"Thomas."
She smiled weakly, wishing she had more strength to continue her plan, but she had just endured a short play with their fists and hungry hands. "Strong name."
"For a strong man," he replied without pause.
Leaning into his touch, she gave a soft purr, one she was sure he noticed when he stepped closer. "I have no doubt."
"I am not to have you."
"They don't have to know." She gave a crooked smile, wishing she could use her eyes to add to the effect, desperately wanting to see the look in his. "I'll do my best to be quiet."
He groaned loudly, his mouth coming to her chin, nipping at it through the blood as his hands held her hips. His name left her lips in a quiet, heated moan and suddenly he was against her, hurrying to unchain her arms. She was weaker than she intended, forcing her to lean into him as he lowered her to the ground. Her plan had been to run when her feet touched the floor, but she couldn't feel her legs, even as she felt him rip the thin dress she wore. She held his head to her as his kissed her chest, trying to buy herself some time to figure out her next move. With a soft moan every few seconds, she kept him busy, her body slightly pushing up against him until she knew what to do.
Using all of her strength, she rolled over him and sat up, giving him a moment to stare up at her as she ran her hands over his chest. She held the illusion, smiling while discovering him, wishing she could see something. He held her thighs, but from his grip, she assumed he had his eyes closed and she pushed forward. Her chest pressed against his as she pulled at his hands, moving them up until they were above his head. He didn't fight her like she thought he would, instead, he remained still and allowed her to do what she wanted.
Reaching between them, she slipped ehr hand inside his pants, taking him in her hand and as slowly as possible, she pulled. He moaned loudly, telling her how to continue and before he could form thoughts, he was spasming beneath her. When his body went limp, she leaned back down and slowly ran her tongue over his chin.
"You're mine," he panted, grabbing her arms.
Locking her jaw, Kahlan nodded. "Yours." Sitting up again, she grabbed his hands and moved them over her, letting them linger on her breasts.
"No woman has done that before."
"What?"
"Taken care of me- My pleasure over theirs."
Using the smile she wore for another, she brought her face back to his, her hands holding his cheeks. "It wasn't terrible for me either."
"Your mate, did you do that to him?"
She was grateful he was specific on who he meant, she wasn't sure she could lie if he asked if she had done the same action with the man she took to her bed. She had with Richard, twice and she was glad that she had, it may have saved her from enduring something more horrific. "No."
"What did you do?"
"Focused on my own pleasure."
"Why?"
There was something in his voice, it was captivating in its sadness and she couldn't stop herself from wanting to make him feel better. "His hands didn't make me feel the way yours did."
"How-"
"I didn't have a choice to be with him."
"Does that matter?"
"Yes." It was a simple answer and she didn't hesitate when she spoke it. "Have you never- You've never given a woman a chance to chose you, have you?" She began to pity the man beneath her and as she regained her strength, she almost hated what she was going to do to him.
"No."
Wiggling above him, she continued to smile. "You should try it," she told him, moving his hands over her legs.
"I have you."
"Until your boss returns."
"Maybe she won't kill you," he said softly and suddenly she knew who had ordered it all.
"She will. She wants her husband back, I must die for him to return to her."
He touched her cheek, gently rubbing his thumb across it. "I'm sorry."
Her smile weakened as she nodded. "Me too."
"You don't seem surprised."
"I'm not. I understand how she feels."
"What do you mean?"
Slouching above him, she sighed, continuing to look into the darkness of her vision. "I love someone, too. There's not a lot I wouldn't do to be with him again."
"Me?" he questioned in sadness. "You did this to me to get back to him?"
"Yes."
His hands fell to the floor at her reply. "You love him?"
"More than anything."
"But you can't have him."
Shrugging her shoulders, she moved off of him, remaining at his side. "No."
"Does he love you?" She nodded, unable to speak it out loud. "How can you be sure?"
"Because he came to me after I was with another man."
"Would he be looking for you?"
"I have no doubt."
"But he hasn't found you."
"And your master hasn't arrived. He probably has her in the dungeons, working to get answers. He will find me, I just don't know when."
"How long will you wait?"
"If I didn't escape? Forever."
"Who is this man to make you sure he will come?"
"The Seeker."
He jumped forward, pulling her dress closed to hide her body from his eyes. "The Lord Rahl?"
"He doesn't like to be called that."
"Spirits!" he nearly shouted, lifting her from the ground as he, too, stood. "He will kill us all! He will kill us for this foolish woman's actions! You have to go. Run-"
"I can't see-"
Pushing her across the room, he brought her several feet before holding her still. It was quiet as he looked through the door, making sure they were alone before moving on. It wasn't long before she felt sunlight on her skin and smelt the fresh air. She was in the middle of a forest, the smell familiar, but distant. They were in a small city, the one on the other side of Hartland, the land she had crossed before reaching the boundary.
"I cannot go with you. They will suspect- You will have to move slower than before and you must be quiet." Turning her by the shoulders, he gave a gentle push. "Run, I don't know when the others will-"
"Thomas! What are you doing?! Lock her-"
"You have to go, run!"
Kahlan started running instantly, tripping twice to start. She held her arms out, using them to tell her when a tree was near, though she was moving too fast to stop if there was one before her. She could hear someone calling for her, but she couldn't be sure of the direction it came in. Her wounds were beginning to open, bleeding out with each step and then suddenly it hit her.
She stumbled to the ground with a cry of pain, a thick arrow ripping through her right shoulder. It took her an extra moment to get back to her feet, making her move even slower than before and she could swear she heard Richard's voice. She called out for him, praying he heard her, that he was somehow close by and had come to rescue her.
Another arrow flew into her, followed by another, her legs giving out and sending her face first into the mud. The cool feeling surprised her, not knowing when it had rained and realizing that she had been held longer than she thought. Before she could get back to her feet, she was surrounded and from the kick to the face, she knew it wasn't her rescue.
"You are in love with the Seeker?" It was the first thing she heard when she woke up. The man's voice was hard, painful on her ears and she feared him instantly. "I hear you expect him to come for you." It wasn't a question, but she couldn't help but think he paused for an answer. "We will be ready for him if he comes, though my scouts tell me he hasn't left your home. He's not looking for you, why would he? I'm sure he knows the possibilities of what we have done to you, you're used and unwanted." His hand was suddenly on her neck, sliding down over her breasts. "If you hadn't run, you wouldn't have had to worry about what we would do to you." He laughed, it was cruel and froze her blood, a reaction she hadn't expected. "We were not to touch you unless you misbehaved and, Mother Confessor, you are going to experience my punishment first."
He took a step back, confusing her, but she quickly thought his next action would be to hit her in some way and she looked forward to it, but what she heard changed it all. He was removing his clothes and she suddenly felt sick. "You are much better looking than the farmer's daughters we are usually holding. In fact," he added in a quieter tone. "I've wanted you from the moment I locked you in here and now... You are going to know how it feels to be taken by a man."
Gritting her teeth, Kahlan lifted her head, trying to straighten her back as she hung from the ceiling. "Are you going to bring one in here?" She received the response she hoped for. He hit her, hard and for a moment, she smiled. "I will assume that to mean yes. Your hands are much too soft to have anything to offer a woman. Go on, find someone who can show me what a man is. I will wait."
She lost consciousness a few moments later, his anger taking effect as he slammed his fists into her face and chest.
He was laying above her in a heavy pant when she awoke, his manhood slipping out of her as he roughly scrapped his fingers against her sides. "I was right," she nearly cried. "You weren't even good enough to wake me in pleasure."
"I am not nearly finished with you. You've taken one man to your bed, you do not know the things one can do that will- When I am done with you, no man will be able to look upon your face." He waited for her new taunt, he witty response, but instead, she nodded and waited in silence.
He choked her instantly, squeezing one of his hands around her throat, while the other raced between her legs. He was rough, making her cry out in pain between a cough and gasp for air. It seemed to last for hours, but he stopped suddenly and she felt herself go limp. His hand didn't relax on her throat, squeezing harder as he moved over her. She struggled beneath him, trying to keep him from coming closer, but she was no match for his strength. The cry of pain that escape her was loud and cut off by his mouth smothering hers.
She reacted quickly, biting his tongue roughly until he pulled back to hit her once more. The man didn't pause his movements, making sure to become rougher as the moments passed. He began to laugh, making her tears fall harder at the sound. Releasing her throat, he grabbed at her body, pulling, jerking and biting until she gave in and stopped fighting. She couldn't be sure on how long he continued, but the moment he finished, she threw up.
The man jumped from her as she spit out the small contents of her stomach, the tiny ounce of water they had given her. Coughing, she tried to roll over, doing her best to keep the next from landing on her chest as the one before. He held her still, forcing her to choke as she tried to find a breath, her body giving in and spasming roughly until she lost consciousness.
"I cleaned you up as best as I could. There's- We don't know how to fix the wounds. They won't stop bleeding. He... He finished an hour ago."
"How long?"
Thomas sighed, wiping the side of her mouth with a damp cloth. "A few hours. How do you feel?"
"Numb," she whispered painfully.
Pushing her hair from her face, he frowned. "He won't come back tonight and the- The others won't touch you until he gives permission. He's fond of you."
"I noticed."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you... You didn't have to-"
"I nearly did the same to you."
"But you didn't."
"No, but I-"
"It's alright," she whispered. It was difficult to speak to him as she rocked naked from the ceiling. He could see her and she saw nothing, unable to see into his eyes and find the man he was. "Not doing something shows just as much as doing it."
"I-"
"Did they hurt you?" she asked quietly. "When you let me go."
"No. They won't, they can't."
Licking her lips, she then let out a soft cry. "You're her son, aren't you? You're James' son?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not angry with you," he said softly. "Not the way my mother is."
"Why?"
"Because I understand what happened. I can see it differently." With a sigh, he began wiping her face again. "You didn't take him because you wanted to. He fought against you and I heard why you chose him. I don't think you did anything wrong. Who wouldn't want a man like him to father their children?"
"Thomas, I-"
"He would be honored. I know my mother believes you've committed murder, but he wouldn't."
"I'm sorry I took him from you."
"I know, but you're not the worst he could have."
"I'm sorry."
"You've already said that."
"It doesn't make it any less true."
"Then, I'm sorry for what Michael did to you."
"Thank you."
"You're bleeding again."
"How bad are they?"
"They're fine."
"Liar."
He smiled, even though she couldn't see him, making him want to laugh. "How do you know?"
"The sound of your voice."
He remained quiet for a few minutes, pushing a cloth against her stomach for a moment and then to another place the next. From the way he moved and the soft sighs he released, she could almost see herself and she couldn't help but wonder how much longer she would survive. She was numb when she awoke, but now she felt it all. She could feel each cut ever made on her skin, every bruise and hole as though they were just being created. Feeling the blood drip down was surprisingly a relief, a feeling that was the first one that wasn't painful.
"If he comes for you, they will kill him. They won't get paid without you."
"She won't come. He won't release her until he's found me."
"He won't release her, even if he does find you. I've heard stories about the Seeker, he's ruthless when someone harms someone he cares for."
"You can end this, Thomas."
"I can't." He took a few steps back, removing all contact with her. "He won't be awake for a few hours, you should rest. He'll come here first."
"Thomas, please-"
"There's nothing I can do."
She listened to him walk from the room, the sound seeming to break a part of her. The room was cold, telling her through the slight breeze that it had rained the night before and that any evidence of her near escape would be destroyed, keeping Richard from ever finding it. The memory of her brief escape replayed in her mind and she was sure she heard his voice calling her name. For a moment, as she fell to the ground, she thought she was saved, that he had found her. Now, she hung from the ceiling once again, naked and bloody. She was ruined and if he did find her, how could he look at her? How could he love her?
She felt her tears begin to fall down her cheeks, raining down as she thought about him finding her this way. He would know what was done to her with one look and she could imagine the expression on his face, the tone of his voice when he tried to convince her that it was alright, that he still loved her. It was who he was and he would do anything to make himself believe his own words, not wanting to hurt her, but it was inevitable. The man hadn't taken her only once, a fact she knew very well, one she knew would ruin his feelings for her.
"You're awake." Her head jerked up in horror, fearing the sound of his approaching footsteps. "I'm glad. I thought I was going to play with your lifeless body again."
"I must have fallen asleep."
"After you began to enjoy it." He smiled, his hands coming to her sides. "Your body cannot hide what it wants. The pain mixes with the pleasure and you welcome it all. Even as you laid there, you wanted more. I gave you everything you could ever desire."
"And yet, I was pushed into sleep."
"Not today." She gasped as he touched her, his fingers roughly pushing into her before escaping and coming to her breast. "You are going to please me. When I lower you to the ground, you will remain on your knees. Do you understand?"
"Yes." She nodded in understanding, hoping if she obeyed, he wouldn't be as rough.
Michael unchained her hands when she knelt before him, remaining still as he stepped closer. "Unlace my pants and open your mouth."
Kahlan laid beneath him, breathless as he held his weight on her. He collapsed minutes ago and had yet to move away, his breath coming as difficultly as hers. She gave in moments after he began, allowing him to do as he pleased while she forced herself to stop wanting to cry out for the man she loved. She could see his face as though it was he above her and it made it easier, for a breath.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't picture doing those things with him, being rough and held down. Each thing he did was so far from what she had experienced with Richard and with every action it was made clearer.
Michael lifted his head, pulling her from her thoughts. "How long were you going to let me lay here?"
"I don't believe I was given an option."
"Would you like one?"
"If I asked you to move, would you?"
"That would depend," he smiled, snuggling closer in the most gentle of ways. "Do you want me to?"
"No." She surprised herself with her quick reply, but she knew what would happen if she answered differently. These men were different than the ones she knew, they enjoyed her struggle and lost most of their interest when she was compliant.
He was moving off of her instantly, letting her breathe. She gasped unwillingly, sucking in as much air as possible. "Sit up." When she did as he told her, he pulled her to him, her chest coming to his. He held her to him, moving her around until she was comfortable in his lap. "Your heart is racing."
"I know."
"You're starting to enjoy this." With a quick nip to her bottom lip, he smiled. "Rock forward." She did so without hesitation, a low moan escaping them both. "Again, harder. Use the darkness you see, imagine him. Think of how his hands would touch you, his body wanting and the way yours... Yes, that's better-" He groaned loudly, leaning back slightly as she moved carelessly above him.
She held his shoulders to remain steady, but unlike she did with Richard, she kept her face away from his. After a few motions she could feel his arms around her and his lips on her neck, moving gently over her as though it was his love pouring into her. She was sure she should feel guilty, but she didn't, she couldn't feel anything other than pleasure and after everything else she had gone through, it was welcomed. She was gone before another breath, the Seeker's name on her lips.
Michael held her hips, firmly holding her against him as he gave into his release. "Mother Confessor, I believe you enjoyed that." She could hear the smile on his lips, the pleasure lingering. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. I told you I could give you-"
"I'm not ashamed," she interrupted quickly.
"You look-"
"I'm tired. I didn't expect to put so much effort into our time together."
He grabbed her face, keeping it still as their lips connected and he lowered her back to the ground. There was no space between them and she quickly found herself returning his kiss before her body began moving against his.
"Spirits, you have an appetite, don't you?"
Her arms fell to the floor, realizing the hold she had on him. "No, I-"
"There's no shame in it," he chuckled. "Why shouldn't you experience some pleasure? Would your Seeker blame you for finding comfort-"
"Don't bring him into this," she said softly.
Moving his hands over her, Michael beamed. "You think he'd be angry with you? For what we've done, the way I've filled you time and time again?"
"Yes."
"Because he wants you?"
"Not anymore," she told him as she fought her tears. It was all coming back to her, his face in her mind and the way he would look at her after she told him what she had done. He would hate her and she wasn't sure she could survive it. "Who wants a woman who has been taken, who's crawled onto another man and allowed herself to feel the pleasure of it?"
"No one."
Nodding, she folded her arms over her chest, blocking them from his sight as he sat up and began to redress. "The woman you go home to, does she mind what you do with your prisoners?"
"What makes you believe I have a woman to-"
"I can feel the ring on your hand."
"No, she doesn't. It's meaningless, she knows I'll return to her."
"I'm glad," Kahlan whispered, sitting up. She could hear him beside her, lacing his pants slowly, waiting for whatever she may ask next. "Why didn't you let me bleed to death in the forest? She would have her husband back, you would have been paid-"
"We were instructed to keep you alive. She is the one who will end your life."
"And if she doesn't return?"
"We will discuss what to do with you."