Chapter 24
Kitlyn
As I continued my laps across the pool, I watched Atlas with Yara. They were sitting at the tiki bar chatting. Although I tried my darndest to listen in on their conversation, I couldn't hear a damn word they were saying. I caught Yara stealing glances at me from time to time.
One didn't need a college degree to determine if I was part of their discussion. Maybe she was trying to talk him out of taking me with them to his island.
Ooh la la. Excuse me. You own an island. Whoopy.
A tiny laugh escaped my lips. I'm not in awe of this guy's financial status. I am more concerned about my asses' health…not his wealth.
I snickered at my pun.
My, my Kitty, you sure are witty! I laughed again, keeping my amusement concealed from prying ears. I didn't need him to inquire about my mirth. What would I say?
I am out of my mind considering the shitshow I’m in, so I am making fun of your sorry asses.
I'm sure that would go over well with those two narcissists. I had to keep myself occupied so I wouldn't lose my mind. I kept quiet, enjoying the exercise, hoping Yara would leave so I could get out of the water.
My legs felt heavy, but from the looks of it, she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. I watched her from a distance. She was flirting with him. Could she be any more pathetic? She was almost throwing herself at my crazy kidnapper, and he didn't seem to notice.
Wow, for a man who supposedly has so much experience with women, he looked oblivious to her games. It was plain as day that she liked him. I shook my head, laughing.
What a banana head!
Then a thought struck me. Maybe he was playing his own game, knowing very well that she had the hots for his crazy ass, and was acting oblivious to her signals. Who knew with him? He always masked his emotions and encased his feelings behind a steel trapdoor.
I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts.
I had better things to waste my time on, like planning how to get out of this place.
I continued kicking my legs, swimming the length of the pool.
It wasn’t Olympic-sized, but it was impressive.
Lounge chairs, some with small tables, lined the cement patio around the pool.
A solid wood and straw tiki bar, giving it a Hawaiian look, stood near the deep end of the pool.
The entire area was exceptional. My legs ached a little, so I turned on my back to float, trying to reserve my energy and steady my breathing.
My tank was almost empty. I didn't want to get out of the water in front of that woman.
I didn't like the way she gawked at me. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep going, not to mention I was beginning to look like a wrinkled prune.
I tried to relax when an excruciating cramp gripped my calf, sending a shooting pain down my leg, making my toes lock up.
Jesus Christ!!
A fucking Charlie horse! My leg seized up.
I couldn't move it. I tried flexing my calf muscles to work the kink out, but the pain only worsened.
I began to sink. I could barely keep my head above the water.
My arms started flailing everywhere as I struggled to keep my head afloat.
My mouth started filling with pool water.
All I could taste was chlorine, which made me cough harder. I shrieked as my head went under again. I was panicking. My heart was racing, and my ears started ringing.
Great, I was going to die in about five feet of water because of a leg cramp.
That would look fantastic on my headstone. As I struggled, a colossal splash rippled through the water. I noticed two muscular legs standing in front of me. I felt two strong hands pull my head up, allowing me to catch my breath.
I coughed and gasped, struggling to gulp air into my oxygen-deprived lungs. My nose and throat burned where the chlorine had settled. Atlas lifted me out of the pool and brought me to one of the lounge chairs. He laid me in a half-sitting position, giving my body time to calm down.
I continued to hack the water from my lungs, spitting the nasty-tasting liquid onto the cement. My calf felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. I cried out as I tried to rub the knot out of my tight muscle.
He had a concerned look on his face.
"What the fuck, Kitten. You scared the shit out of me!"
He scolded, his voice deep and gruff. Like it was my fault my calf cramped up. I was bawling my eyes out from the gripping pain in the back of my lower leg.
" I have a charlie horse." I sobbed.
"My leg locked up, and I can't move it."
His eyes bore into mine. What was it I saw? Relief? Fear? I couldn't tell. I was too busy trying to ease the cramp in my leg. He pulled up another chair, sitting beside me.
He picked me up and flipped me onto my stomach as if I were a rag doll. I yelled, surprised by the unexpected movement. He never warns me when he throws me around. He gently grabbed my leg and began rubbing the kink out. I whimpered loudly.
"Ow, ow.... Go easy, please. It hurts!"
He snickered while still massaging the sore muscle.
"Come on, Kitten. If you can take my strap across your ass like a champ, you can certainly handle this. It's just a little muscle cramp."
My face blushed at his words. Yara was watching us. I’m positive she heard every word he said. I felt so humiliated, giving him a dirty look. I wanted to protest and tell him he was an asshole. My tears were falling freely onto the cushion of the lounge chair. I didn't even try to hold them back.
" I know it's only a muscle cramp, but it hurts like hell. If you didn't notice, I almost drowned."
His skilled fingers continued kneading out the knot. It began to feel better. His voice was less gruff.
"I know; that’s why I jumped in and pulled you out. If I weren't here, you might have died. I would have lost my mind if that happened. Are you feeling better now?"
I nodded, not wanting him to see me so weak and vulnerable. I already felt embarrassed with Yara watching. She wasn't my favorite person, and she certainly wasn't fond of me. I know she wants him, and after seeing him rescue his little damsel in distress, she hated me now.
He smiled, whispering for my ears only.
" You know, if we didn't have company, I would have been able to take your mind off the knot in your calf. I could have rubbed that sweet spot between your legs, and you would have been able to tolerate the pain without all this drama.”
I turned my head to the side, throwing him a murderous look. “I was panicking to keep myself above the water. Stop making fun of me. I don’t appreciate it.”
I sputtered, feeling pissed off.
He lowered his brow, taking on a serious look and tone.
"Come now. There is no need to get so upset. I am just teasing. Honestly, you scared the shit out of me when I saw you struggling. Moving forward, I think wearing a life jacket or arm floaties is a good idea when you're in the pool."
I widened my eyes….totally shocked.
"You can't be serious? You want me to wear a life jacket or floaties on my arms in six feet of water? What am I, five years old?" His frown told me he wasn't joking.
I shook my head.
“I’ve heard it all now.”
He folded his arms across his chest.
“It is just a precaution, that’s all. I insist you wear them when you are in the pool.
Don't get lippy. I don’t want to hear another thing about it.
” I shot daggers at him. What made it even worse was the smirk on Yara's face. Her ears were suddenly quite perky. Aside from my mounting anger, I felt the need to save face. I didn’t want her to think I was some little weakling who couldn’t stand up for herself.
“Well, asshole. I hate to tell you, but I am a grown woman, not a toddler. I will not wear floating devices while swimming, and that’s that!”
He was treating me like a helpless child in front of his company, which infuriated me. I could barely hold my tongue.
He glanced at Yara, then turned his steely gaze on me.
“Getting a little testy, aren’t we? I have done nothing but cater to you these past weeks, yet you still insist on annoying me with your bratty attitude. You will not argue with me, or I will take you over my knee right now. It doesn’t matter that we have a visitor.”
I could feel my face burning with embarrassment. He threatened to spank me in front of her. I glanced at Yara, wondering if she could hear what was happening. She was watching us intently, with a smug look on her face.
Yup, she was listening to our argument.
I wanted to tell her to fuck off and leave before he humiliated me in front of her, but of course, it never happened.
You would think she’d take a hint and go, but she didn’t.
It looked like she was enjoying the drama between the two of us.
I certainly didn’t like it, but who the hell was I?
What was I going to do against this dickhead?
The only weapon I had was my mouth. I have been trying to maintain control and stay silent these past few weeks, but it was becoming more difficult. I want my goddamn life back, and I hated being a prisoner with no power.
Yes, he catered to my every need since he screwed me, I won’t deny that.
He was very gentle and coddled me whenever he came to my room.
He made sure I had the foods I liked, and he fussed over me like I was a prized mare, but it still didn’t make up for my lack of choice and the fact that I was forced to put up with his bullshit or be punished.
I want my independence. This situation was no better than being in jail, and I was smothering under his rule. I have held my tongue long enough, and I have had it with his shit!
I gave him a dirty look, spitting out my displeasure between clenched teeth. “Leave me alone. I despise you, and you bet your ass that if I have the chance to get away from you, I will take it! I don’t care what the outcome is.”