I woke up with a jerk as I heard groaning from next to me. The Captain was curled over and though I couldn't see, I could hear his pain. I turned towards him and scooted up, in a panic. He seemed to be in such pain and part of me felt horrible for the man. Though he's known to be cold, he has been nothing but kind to me. I reached over to him placing my hand on his back making him jerk slightly.

"Sir...what's wrong?" I asked.

"It's nothing." He grunted. "Just my back."

He cracked his neck back and forth and stretched pushing his chest out trying to stretch his back muscles. I felt them contract under my touch and an idea came to mind.

"Um...sir?"

"Hmm." He grunted.

"Do you have any oils?"

"Yeah why?"

"If you get some for me I can work your back muscles...it may help..."

"You don't need to do that." He responded breathing heavily.

"I'm strong enough...and I'd like to help you if I can." I said softly rubbing his back.

I felt him get up from the bed and at first I felt a bit defeated. I wasn't as useless as I seemed. But then I heard a match strike and a dim glow illuminated his face, and he moved to light a few candles. The room was lit softly and he handed me a small round bottle. I took it from him and I could already smell it's aroma. It was a lavender small mixed with honey.

That made my thighs clench a little. I looked up to him and he was simply staring at me with a concerned look on his face. "Where do you want me?" He asked.

I moved the covers off my legs and scooted so I was in the middle of the bed. I spread my legs and patted the bed in front of me. "Sit here and look out."

He nodded and climbed onto the bed settling between my legs. He got comfortable and once he was still I uncorked the bottle and poured a small amount of oil on him. I could see bumps speckle his skin and I closed it back up rubbing my hands to make them warm before touching him. When I did, I applied a small amount of pressure to the very tight back of the man in front of me. This is stress...this is anxiety. The tightness of his back was a sever indication of carrying something on his shoulders that he wouldn't share with anyone. I applied more pressure working his muscles back and fourth. Circling my fingers, I felt a tight knot just below his shoulder blade and he grunted slightly.

I froze my movements not wanting to hurt him. "I'm sorry...am I hurting you?"

"No..it's a good hurt...it feels good. Please keep going."

I continued to massage him through his grunts and groans and his head rolled slightly. The noises he was making made me tingle a bit between my legs...the same feeling Jimin explained coiling in my stomach. I ignored it and clenched my thighs a bit, but it didn't go unnoticed by the Captain.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Umm yeah...why do you ask?"

He pulled his arms down and gently took hold of my thighs. "You're clenching your legs a bit."

"I'm sorry." I whispered as I tried to relax my thighs.

I continued to move my fingers up and down his back as he held on to my legs on each side of him. Occasionally he would grip hard if I hit a spot a little sorer than the rest, but for the most part his soft hands were gentle against my skin. After a while, I knew I would have to end the massage so it wouldn't be worse in the morning. So I look a leap of faith and ran my hands down his biceps. I leaned forward and kissed him gently on his right shoulder.

"All done." I whispered.

He moved slightly only allowing his head to fall backwards. He then leaned into me moving his hands from my thighs and taking hold of mine. He laced his fingers with mine from the back of my hands and wrapped my arms around him. He lowered his body slightly so that his head could rest on my shoulder.

"Thank you." He whispered. "I actually feel so much better."

"You're welcome."

He took a deep breath and let out a long sigh and relaxed into my body. "I'm not hurting you am I?"

"Not at all."

After a few moments he spoke again. "You know you don't have to do this."

"Do what?"

"Let me lean on you...well anything really. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

I leaned my head on top of his. "I want to do this." I whispered.

Nothing more was said after that, as we slowly drifted into a comfortable warm sleep.

Another week passed and Jimin said I was at full health. He seemed a little agitated one day, and I was worried about his well-being.

"Jimin, are you okay?" I asked as he started to tie my corset.

"I am fine, Bunny. I just need to talk to you about something."

"I'm listening."

He continued to tie the corset as he spoke. "By law, it is illegal for a woman to live on a ship. They are to stay on land and wait for the ships to make dock in order to see their men. However there is one acceptation to that rule." He took a deep breath. "The captain can have a live in wench if he chooses."

"What's a wench?"

"A wench is...his personal...slave and sex toy." He swallowed. "He um...he has to claim her in front of the entire crew. He can do it one of many ways."

I didn't say much. The thought of being claimed by Captain Min wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be. I didn't say much, but I did have one question.

"Does the Captain want me?"

"It's not so much whether he wants you or doesn't...it's more to do with your safety. He wants you to stay with us...he wants you safe."

"Okay."

"He wont do it unless you consent to it, Bunny. We can find another way if you want."

"No...I...I'm okay with it." I looked up to him once he was done with my corset. "Is that why I have to wear this dress today?"

He held up a very elegant but simple red dress and threw it over my head. It fit perfectly over the corset and Jimin turned me so he could tie the back. "Yes."

"Is this going to happen today?"

"Yes."

He finished the tying and moved to fluff my hair. His smile was warming, and though I wasn't really nervous...it calmed me just the same. Then the door opened, and Captain Min walked in.

"Did you discuss everything with her?" he asked Jimin even though his eyes swept over my new look.

"I did." He nodded. "But I believe that it is in your best interest to talk between the two of you as to how you'd like to do it. I will go and let Tae know to round up the crew."

He nodded and Jimin took his leave. Once the door was shut the Captain walked over towards me and moved to sit on the bed. He looked up at me and patted his leg indicating for me to sit on his lap. I walked over and before I could sit he pulled my hips so that each one of my legs rested on each side of his. I was straddling him and my dress bunched between us. He moved his hands over my shoulders as he looked me deep in my eyes. He locked his fingers together and rested them on the back of my neck.

"Have you thought about what Jimin told you?" I nodded. "And what did you decide?"

"I want to do it."

"You want me to claim you as the Wench of The Ivory Key?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He looked at me with a furrowed eye brow. "Well then we need to discuss two things then. One. We need you to have a name...a real name. And two, we need to decide how we want to do the claiming...it...it can be intense."

I thought for a moment. "You can name me." I said with a smile. "I will be yours after all."

He smiled in return. "This is just a formality you know...no one will address you by the name you choose."

"Why not?"

"Well, despite your beauty." He said as he ran his fingers through my hair. "You are older than almost everyone on this ship. So everyone will refer to you as Noona."

"Jimin calls me Bunny." I said wrinkling my nose.

He let out a breathy laugh as he lightly pinched my nose. "He can call you Bunny...that's fine."

"What will you call me?"

"Jagi." He said as if it was obvious. "It's short for jagiya."

"What does it mean?"

"It's just a term of endearment." He smiled.

"Okay....so then what's my name?"

"What about Rose?" He asked me.

"Okay." I nodded.

"Okay? Just like that?"

I nodded. "So how are you going to claim me?"

"Well first I will introduce you as Rose. Then I will explain to them they will refer to you as Noona...then there is a few ways we can do the claiming...we can cut our hands and press them together making our blood enter each other...I can drink your blood off a cut on your forearm but I'm not a fan of that...Or I could..."

He hesitated and a sad look came across his eyes. "You can tell me." I said softly cupping his face.

He leaned into my hand and kissed my wrist before he took hold of my hand. "We would have sex in front of the entire ship...where everyone is watching."

I swallowed thickly. "W-what do you want to do?"

"Well I veto the middle one...that's for sure."

"Agreed." I said nodding.

"And though, you are beautiful, and I know exacly what is under this attire you are wearing..." I blushed at his smirk. "I don't want everyone to see it."

"Oh...okay. So the blood thing then?"

"Yes...I think that would be best."

I nodded. "Okay."

He didn't move, but held me by my lower back. "I want you to know...that I was being honest when I said I don't want everyone to see you...that's the only reason I don't want to go  route number three...trust me when I say I want you." His grip on my waist tightened and he pulled me closer to him. "Understand?" He asked raising one eye brow.

My breath became a little shallow but I mustered up the energy to answer him. "Yes."

"Good." He lightly patted my butt and lifted me to my feet. He leaned down and kissed me softly on my lips. "Are you ready then?"

"I am."

"While we are on deck, you, out of respect, will refer to me as "My Captain," okay?"

"Okay." I smiled.