I want to thank you all for your amazing feedback! It was much more than I was expecting being this is my first story and all. I'd like to make it known that I am open to whatever suggestions or pointers you may have! Thank you so much for reading, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you did the first!
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James had Katherine sit in a chair in front of a grand, mahogany desk. Her heart was thundering against her chest, begging to be free as his hands guided her by resting softly on her shoulders, his fingers barely grazing her neck. Perhaps he was trustworthy? Perhaps he would let her go? Apologize for the roughness of his crew and the destruction of her home? Richard's face popped into her mind and her heart lurched into her throat. The pain of losing him was there, but her body was in complete shock at what was happening to her. James was sitting across from her now. His eyes staring deep into her own, and she felt chills run up her spine. She nervously put her hair behind her ear, and tried to straighten her dress, which had been ripped in several areas. Something inside of her wanted to stare right back into his eyes, and hold her head high. But she couldn't think at the moment. She didn't know what to do with herself.
When her eyes found his again, she finally blurted out, "What do you want with me?"
The corners of his lips twisted up into a crooked smile. He leaned forward on his desk, and Katherine leaned back on instinct. "Do you want the political response? Or the personal response?" Katherine swallowed. But before she could answer he took charge and gave her both instead. "Politically because your father is the governor, and I bet you're worth hell of a ransom. Personally?" His crooked smile grew as he slowly stood from the chair. He reminded her of some sort of creature. A prowling, large creature stalking slowly after its prey. He walked around the desk and behind where she was sitting. His hands took her long, golden hair into his hands and pulled it to one side. His hands ran over her shoulders as he leaned down to the side of her neck. His lips caressed her skin, and his hot breath caressed where his lips had been. "Personally, I am excited to find out what a minx you are."
Katherine was frozen in her chair. She felt something warm stir deep inside her. Perhaps it was the way he spoke. His dark and gravely voice, caressing around her ear. Or maybe it was the way his strong and capable hands moved over the soft skin of her shoulders. But she wouldn't admit anything to herself, she was chalking it up to fear, and her body just didn't know how to react.