Cutler Beckett was in trouble to put things simply. The wind was lashing around him, freezing him to the bone but there was nothing that he could do to change his position. He was helpless and he knew that soon someone would be coming to punish him for his actions.

A large strong man appeared before Cutler and closed his hands around Cutler's throat. The man was choking Cutler, squeezing ever tighter until Cutler had trouble breathing. Cutler had to fight back, he could not die alone like this. He raised his arms, fighting the urge to give in, and his hands closed around his assailant's neck as he began to squeeze his fingers tightly around the man's throat. He squeezed his fingers as tightly as he could, knowing that he had little chance of overpowering the man who attacked him.

"Cutler!" a female voice choked out. "Cutler please let me go! I cannot breathe." The female voice shrieked beneath him.

Cutler's eyes shot open and he realised that the man he thought that he had been choking was in fact Anna. She was breathing heavily, struggling to force air into her lungs and her green eyes were wide with fear. He raised his body off of Anna and she immediately shuffled far away from him, her legs dangling over the side of his bed. Cutler reached a hand out to touch Anna, to reassure her that he meant no harm. All Anna saw was his hand moving towards her and she leapt out of bed. She clutched a sheet tightly to her body and dashed to the bathroom door, throwing it open and running inside, Anna did not stop running until she was back in her own bedroom. She quickly located a chair near to the bathroom door and propped it under the door handle, effectively locking Cutler out. Next Anna ran to her bedroom door and locked it. Her heart raced as she looked around the room for a safe place to hide from Cutler.

Cutler rose from the bed, his hands shaking. He threw on the nearest piece of clothing and dashed through the open bathroom door. His memories had gotten the best of him and he had lashed out at Anna thinking she was a ghost from his past. Everything would be shattered now, his hopes of marrying and bedding her seemed to evaporate before his very eyes. Cutler had to do something to make everything better, but he did not know how. His fingers closed around the door handle, but found that it would not budge.

"Anna please unlock your door," Cutler requested through the barricade that she had created.

"Go away!" she shouted back. "You will just try to hurt me again. I will not fall for your charms ever again Cutler Beckett!"

"Anna please, I had no intention nor desire to hurt you. Open this door and let me explain."

"No!" Anna shouted again. "Leave me be you beast!"

Anna could hear Cutler sighing deeply on the other side of the door, "if that is what you wish my sweet. I will leave you be for now," he said. "But I will not give up on having this discussion."

"Please go away," Anna whimpered, her body was shaking with absolute fear. She clutched her sheet tighter to her body, wrapping it around her body. Anna's knuckles turned white at the force which her grip had created.

"Mr. Mercer, has the matter that we discussed earlier in week been dealt with accordingly?" Cutler asked. He cast his eyes up from the paper that he was inspecting for a brief moment to catch Mercer's eye.

Mr. Mercer had dark eyes and perhaps if Cutler believed in souls, he would have described Mercer's eyes as soulless. The clerk smirked happily at the Lord to be and dropped a necklace onto Cutler's desk.

Cutler raised his eyebrow at the smiling assassin in silent question of the significance of the tacky trinket that Mercer had deposited.

"That is Mrs. Kirkpatrick's most prized possession, but she had no need for it where she is now," he stated.

"Then I take it that means that she has been taken care of accordingly?"

"Of course," he replied.

"And I suspect you wish to keep this necklace as a souvenir?"

"Unless you have other plans for it sir," Mercer said.

Cutler examined the necklace carefully and finding no reason to keep it, he handed it back to Mr. Mercer. "Do whatever you please with it Mercer, I have no use for it. Just make sure that none of the other staff recognise it and ask inconvenient questions. There are only so many staff I can afford to lose before someone begins to take notice."

"Of course sir," Mr. Mercer replied. "Is there anything else you need me to take care of?"

"No Mr. Mercer, you are free to go for now," Cutler said. "I have many pressing matters which I must attend to before we move forward with any other plans."

"Yes sir," he said. Mr. Mercer then excused himself and backed out of the room, he too had many pressing matters to attend to as well.

The day slowly dragged on with Cutler skipping lunch, deciding instead to work his way through the meal so that he could finish his work earlier. He wished for the day to speed up so that he could take his chance at regaining Anna's confidence. The maids had informed him that Anna had not ventured out of her room all morning, nor had she allowed anyone into her room to get her dressed for the morning.

Anna was no doubt cold, hungry and upset, the perfect combination to send her running back to his arms. He promised himself that once his paperwork was finished for the day he would make his way up to her room with a large plate full of her favourite dinner. He would go from villain to hero in a matter of moments, Anna's apparent infatuation with him would make her all the easier to mould.

"Are you still awake Anna?" Cutler called through the bathroom door.

"Yes," she replied. Her voice was weak and Cutler knew that she had not ventured from her room since the early morning. She had not had anything to eat or drink the entire day and he highly doubted that Anna had dressed. Many of his maids had reported to him that attempts to enter her room were quickly dismissed by Anna.

"I have brought you some food and water," he stated. "But you will have to open the door to me first. I will stay seated on the bed and I will not move towards you if you do not wish me to."

"Do I have your word that you will do as you have said?" Anna asked. She placed her hand on the door handle. She was so hungry that her stomach had not stopped making noise since one o'clock in the afternoon.

"You have my word," he promised.

Anna turned the handle and stepped over the threshold back into Cutler's bedroom. She refused to look at him for fear her resolve would evaporate as soon as his ice blue eyes met hers. Her dinner was sitting on the bed next to Cutler and he held her glass of water in his hand. Anna ventured cautiously towards Cutler holding a large candlestick holder in her hand as a weapon of deterrence. He held out the class towards her and watched carefully as she took it from him. Her soft fingers brushed against his for the briefest of moments before they disappeared. She took large gulps of water, so fast that she coughed violently afterwards. Anna had drained the glass as quickly as she had taken it into her hand and now she stood awkwardly in front of Cutler, the sheet still wrapped around her body tightly and the candlestick holder in her other hand.

"Please sit down Anna, I will not hurt you," Cutler said. "Keep the candlestick holder in your hand if you wish, but please sit down."

"I never thought that you would hurt me Cutler, but you did." Slowly she lowered herself to sit next to Cutler. She took the plate into her hands and balanced it on her knee. Anna dropped the candlestick holder to her side and picked up the utensils carefully before beginning to eat her dinner. She kept one eye on Cutler and the other on her meal, refusing to let her guard down around him no matter how sorry he appeared to be for his actions.

"I know that and I also know that there is nothing that I can do to change my actions. Let me explain and if you are not convinced at the end of my tale then you may go. I will not hold you to any promises that you do not wish the keep, though I doubt I will ever find a wife who can hold a candle to you my sweet."

Anna's eyes darted up to meet Cutler's and she bit her bottom lip between her teeth. Cutler could not stop the twinge of pleasure that ran through his body as he witnessed her innocent gesture. He could tell that she was nervous, she needed reassurance, but he could not reassure her in the same manner as before. "You trusted me enough to lay beside me completely exposed to my eyes and my hands, you knew that I would not steal your innocence. Give me that same trust now and let me explain my actions."

"I do not know how you could possibly find a sane explanation for your actions Cutler Beckett. What you did is inexcusable."

"Do you not think that I already know that Anna," Cutler said. His voice strained to hide his anger and for the time being he hid his emotions well.

"Then why do you bother?"

"I bother because you are important to me my sweet," Cutler said. "Though I know you have trouble believing me, you must know that I would not apologise to you if I did not feel that it was necessary. I laid hands on you in a way that I never should have, I understand that completely. But now it is your turn to understand, you have to let me say my piece."

"I do not have to let you do anything," Anna said, though she knew that she would give in to him. "I could leave you right now and feel no regret."

"That is a lie and you know it," Cutler replied. He watched Anna carefully, knowing that as soon as he said it, he was correct. Anna would not leave him sitting alone in the dark. She would stay and she would listen, even if he had to hold her down and force her to hear him, though that was a last resort. "I think that it is time that I tell you about the circumstances surrounding how I came to live with you and your family," Cutler said. "It will also help to explain why I lashed out at you the way that I did."

Anna looked away from Cutler, unable to stand in intense gaze for any longer. "Do as you please Cutler. This is your home and I know that I cannot stop you."

"You are correct Anna, this is my home," he said. "When I was only seventeen years of age, close to turning eighteen, I ran away from the home that had raised me. My Mother was dying a slow and painful death and my Father seemed to care less. He owned a small business by the name of Beckett Trading Company and employed both of my older brothers, however he did not foresee the same future for me. Father wished for me to become a member of the clergy," Cutler explained. Anna remained silent as she listened to him speak, her dinner now finished and her plate discarded. "We argued back and forth about what would be the best future for me until I stormed out in a rage and never turned back. I managed to find employment with the East India Trading Company and was quickly stationed aboard a ship called Lindesfarne which was headed for Gibraltar. We were just off the coast of Spain, if I remember correctly, when we were attacked by pirates."

Anna let a small gasp slip from her lips though she tried desperately to hide it. She did not want to feel sympathy for the man who had tried to kill her as she slept. Anna's hands moved to her neck where she was sure that bruises had formed a gesture which Cutler did not miss for a second. He paused and watched her face for any sign that she may be coming back to him anytime soon.

"Captain de Rapièr was the name of the pirate who captured the Lindsefarne. The pirates murdered many whom they saw no profit in ransoming. He let his men play with me, though their method of play was torture. They stripped me bare and beat me until I could take no more and passed out. The remaining passengers and I were forced to work on the ship, cleaning and performing other menial tasks while we waited for ransom money to be paid, earning whippings if t was not to their pirate standards. One by one the ransoms for the other passengers were paid off until only I remained. You see, they sent my ransom letter to my Father and he had absolutely no intention of ever paying it. The day that I ran away from home was the day that I was disowned," Cutler explained. "The next ransom letter they sent was to the East India Trading Company, which Lord Sullivan agreed to pay. When I was returned safely to the Company your Father came to greet me. I promised him that I would repay my debt to him and that is exactly what I did. He took me under his wing, becoming the Father that I always wished that I had and it was also then that I met the charming young Lady Anastasia Sullivan. You have always been an intelligent young woman Anna, you must realise that I did not hurt you out of malice, I could never hurt you in such a way."

Anna bit her lip and placed her hands on either side of Cutler's face, forcing his eyes to meet with hers. She studied his eyes, looking for any hint that he may be lying to her just so that he could get her back with him between the sheets.

"If you still have trouble believing me then I will take you with me to see my physician tomorrow. He knows of the night terrors that I have, my private struggle to banish them from my daily hours. You may even ask you Father, though I would prefer it if you did not. He took knows of the night terrors for it was he who was their first victim."

"Oh Cutler, I am so sorry for you," Anna whimpered. She launched herself into his arms, resting her head on his chest and holding tightly onto him. "I believe you, there is no need to take me to your physician. I trust your word, I am sorry that I did not listen to you before. I spent the entire day terrified of you when we could have been going about our business as usual instead." Anna's hold on Cutler was so tight that he felt as though he was being squeezed half to death, though if he was to be completely truthful with himself, he did not mind the thought of dying in such a way. Tears fell from Anna's eyes and were quickly absorbed by his crisp white shirt. She nuzzled her face into his chest, "your Father is a beast, you deserve so much better. If I ever get a chance to meet that man I will tell him so!"

"There is no need for you to do such a thing. I will be the first in the Beckett line to be made a Lord, there is no better revenge for me than to pay a house call to my Father as Lord Cutler Beckett. I would love nothing more than to lay his empire to waste and force him to beg for my mercy," Cutler said.

Anna's eyes met Cutler's ice cold eyes and she saw no hint of remorse for his words, all she saw was a burning hatred flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps it would have a greater effect if you made your house call with a wife on your arm as well?" Anna suggested. "I understand the hatred that you feel Cutler, though not quite to the same degree."

"You have such a kind and forgiving heart Anna, may I inquire as to whom has sparked this feeling within you?" Cutler was immediately intrigued by her words. He expected Anna to scorn him for his harsh words, but instead she accepted them, even better, she had admitted the same feelings dwelled within her. It was a very promising sign for him.

"Lady Victoria Gates and her sister Lady Lilly Gates," she said.

"I will help you to seek revenge against them," Cutler said. "If that is what you wish for."

"I do wish for that," Anna stated.

"Then it shall be done," he replied. "Do you trust me enough to stay with me here tonight?" Cutler asked. He knew that he sounded vulnerable and he despised himself for it. "Know that I expect nothing from you Anna, just your companionship for the night."

Anna looked at Cutler, a look of worry flickered across her face. Although it was gone as soon as it had appeared, Cutler did not miss it for a second.

He sighed deeply and removed his hands from her body, "I am sorry that I pushed you Anna. I should have known better, but what can I say other than I cannot help but want you by my side all of the time." As Cutler spoke he knew that what he was saying had truth to it, but he also knew that it was precisely what Anna wanted to hear. He cast his head down to hide his smirk as he felt Anna's hands reach out for his own.

"No Cutler, please do not be sad," she pleaded. "I do trust you, I trust you more than any other man, apart from Father of course. I would just like to spend tonight by myself. I have some things to think about. Please do not take this the wrong way."

Cutler sighed, he squeezed his fingers around Anna's in a gesture of reassurance before bringing her small hand up to his lips. He placed a soft lingering kiss on her knuckles and watched as she blushed. "Take as long as you need my sweet. I do not think I would be as forgiving as you if the table were turned," he said. Cutler cursed himself silently, he wanted to demand that she stay with him, but he needed her to think that she was still in control. If Anna thought that she was in control things would go back to the way that they had been before. It was amazing what the illusion of control could give to the fragile young woman before him, that illusion was something Cutler needed to preserve, if he ever wished to take her most precious gift from her. "Run along back to your room now and get some sleep," he said. He smiled at her, but it was not a smile of sincerity. "You look as though you could do with a decent uninterrupted sleep."

"Alright Cutler," Anna said. "As you wish," she slowly dragged herself to her feet. Anna looked down at Cutler, her hands still linked with her own.

He bit his tongue, forcing himself to be silent and not lash out at Anna. It was not what he wished, it was what she wanted. His plans had been laid to ruin and she was suggesting, though he suspected not intentionally, that he would prefer it in such a way. Cutler felt his rage growing, but he kept his face as an unreadable mask, the only thing that betrayed him was his voice. "Goodnight to you Lady Sullivan," he said, his voice dripping with a venom.

"Please Cutler, do not be like this," Anna whimpered.

"Like what?" he questioned, careful to shake the angered tone from his voice.

"Do not be angry with me just because I wish to spend the night by myself," she said. "Cutler please do not be angry," Anna pleaded. She could never stand it when someone was displeased by something that she had done. Hearing the tone of Cutler's voice so full of malice made Anna upset. Her bottom lip was beginning to bleed as she chewed on it nervously.

Cutler sighed and stood up, pulling Anna tightly to his body. His arms were trapping Anna to his body so tightly that she could not move even if she had wanted to escape from his grip. "I am not mad with you Anna my sweet. I am just frustrated, that is all," he said. He rubbed his hands up and down Anna's sides, caressing all that he could touch, savouring it for fear that it would never be offered so readily again. Anna felt her stomach turn to butterflies as Cutler continued to allow his hands to roam lower.

Anna stepped back quickly from Cutler, her body turning cold at the loss of contact. "Not tonight Cutler, maybe tomorrow I will feel better, but not tonight."

"As you wish my sweet," Cutler said. He made no attempt to hide the growing arousal. He could not help but think that Anna was just as attractive when she was frightened than when she was when she was willing to come to him.

Anna placed her hands on his chest, keeping contact with him but keeping him at bay at the same time. Anna studied Cutler's face and recognised the dark spark of lust in his eyes. She smirked up at him and raised on the tips of her toes to place a soft kiss to his lips. As soon as he felt her lips on his they were gone and he was left feeling unfulfilled.

"Goodnight my dear brave future Lord Beckett," she said. "I will see you tomorrow morning at breakfast."

"Goodnight Anna my sweet, sleep well."

Once Anna had left his room, shutting each of the doors behind her as she went, Cutler let out the breath he had been holding in.

At the rate things were going the weekend would come and go before Anna had returned to his bed. He let out a growl of frustration and slammed his fist into the soft bed so that Anna could not hear his rage. He had planned their weekend out perfectly in his mind and he had this sinking feeling that now Anna would not be sharing such a wonderful time with him. He was fully aroused, straining against the restrictions of his clothing, if his plans could not be fulfilled for the time being he could stimulate himself as an alternative means of reaching satisfaction.

Cutler pulled his clothes off from his body and slipped himself between the sheets. He lay on his back and closed his eyes tightly as his hand trailed over his stomach and down to grip onto his erection. Cutler grabbed himself tightly, flicking the tip of his thumb back and forth over the tip of his cock. He pictured Anna straddling his hips, her body just above his cock. Her hand trailed down between their bodies as she guided his erection into her entrance. Anna's body came down upon his heavily, her wet warm pussy clenching and relaxing around him as she bounced up and down on top of him. Cutler thrust his cock into his hand as he continued to picture Anna rocking back and forth on top of him. Her breasts bounced along as well affording Cutler the perfect view of her naked body slick with sweat. Quickly Cutler felt himself nearing the brink of orgasm and he removed his hand from his cock, wincing at the pain of denial. He would keep his word to Anna and not cum until Saturday, even if she changed her mind, he would still have all of the pleasure that he desired. His cock remained pointing at the ceiling, precum leaking from the tip as he attempted to calm himself down. Cutler fell into a deep sleep shortly after his body had calmed down, though he knew that he would feel the pain throughout tomorrow.

Anna bit her lip as she stood in the doorway to Cutler's bedroom. She had asked him to leave her be for the night, but soon after he had left her, Anna felt cold and lonely. Try as she might she could not fall into the peaceful sleep that she so desperately wanted.

From where Anna was standing she could see that Cutler was fast asleep from what she could tell. Cutler lay on his stomach, his face buried into his pillow. As Anna moved closer she saw that Cutler was naked, the bare flesh of his back exposed to her line of sight. She let out a gasp as she stepped closer and saw the marks which crossed his back. Long thick badly healed scars covered his back, Anna was surprised that she had not noticed the marks before. Slowly Anna moved forward to get a better look, this proved that Cutler had not been lying to her about his past. All of the abuse which he had suffered at the hands of pirates had left many deep emotional scars as well as deep physical ones. Anna felt terrible that she had ever doubted him even for the slightest of moments. But she could make it up to him, she promised herself that she would. Ever so slowly Anna pulled the covers down and away from his body and slipped between the sheets next to him. Anna tried her best not to wake Cutler as she made herself comfortable laying next to him, but to no avail. Cutler mumbled something in his sleep and rolled onto his side. His free arm flung itself over Anna's stomach and he slowly turned himself back over so that his body was laying partially on top of Anna's. He unconsciously nuzzled his face into Anna's neck and made himself comfortable. Anna smiled as she wiggled her own body closer to Cutler so that one of her legs slipped between his and her hands rested on his back.

"I will make everything better Cutler, I promise that I will make it up to you," she whispered to his sleeping form. "I belong by your side."

AN: That part of Cutler's past was revealed in "The Price Of Freedom" by A.C. Crispin and therefore does not belong to me, I am merely borrowing it for my story.
I hope you all enjoyed that part! Please leave a review - they make my day so much better (and seeing as I have to go to work tomorrow, a confidence boost would help :D )