Lost Island (IC)

[AimeeZero]

(( OOC Thread: https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=509248 ))

Just off the coast of a beautiful island paradise, an expensive luxury liner had lost control and ran into some jagged under sea rocks, tearing a hole in the side of the ship. Taking on water fast the crew were told of evacuate all passengers ... nothing could be done for the liner now ... It was spilling it load, in buoyancy had been compromised making the liner tilt dangerously to its side...

Onboard … Hysterics … Women and children crying … The men forcing a stiff upper lip and trying to get their loved on to safety … Crew were running passed gathering up the last of the passengers on the lists … or the few they could find at least …

A loud grinding noise could be heard from down below as the ship was further penetrated, causing it to tip suddenly to it port side, people fell over board, clinging to railings … some falling to the sea …

It was a dark day indeed for the men and women on that Liner…

------

Her eyes fluttered open, water gently lapped at the feet of the brunette haired maiden, her hair spread out around her, sandy and damp. Her beautiful silken sundress was damp enough to give those of that sort enough time to get more than a good view of the wonderous body beneath the garment.

A large wave hit shore, a remainder of the wave created y the liner as it toppled over into the sea a mile or so off shore, washing straight over her causing her to wake up with a start.

She leapt to her feet pulling her hair out of her eye. She stared in fright at the sight of the Liner sinking below the waves, and scores of people trying to comprehend what had just happen, some had not been knocked unconscious like young Miss Lani Williams, other were still struggling with the wave, some adventurous types were scouting the beach and other were trying to rescue those they could from the water along with what little they could salvage of the suitcases.

Lani fell to her knees; breaking out into the typical, spoilt, rich girl ‘I’m to good looking to be stranded on a fucking desert island’ hysterical speech. People were just ignoring her but she was practically demanding these common folk pay attention to her ... for once.

 

[kfrye]

Evangeline had been on the liner thanks to her father's wealth. It was supposed to be state of the art. Supposed to be better than any ship, an earmark in human creation. Then it sunk.

Vange had been unlucky enough to not be knocked out and had to swim as fast as she could to the island nearby. She barely made it, thankfully she was wearing spandex shorts and a sports shirt, making her more aerodynamic. She got to the shore and knew that once she caught her breath she was going right back in to help get more survivors out. She just hoped her father and coach were okay. Though so far she couldn't see any of them.

Finally catching her breath she began helping those who needed help most to get out. It was tiring work swimming for two people. She saw lifeboats in the distance heading back towards where the liner sank. Hopefully there were few casualties.

 

[The_gladiator]

Andrew Walker

Andy was a low life, acording to most of the rich basterds on the ship, but he didn't care. He was a hard worker, usually, and worked for what he had. WHen the ship went down, he managed to rescue a few of his survival tools. His tent, (a two man pup tent) his swis army knife, his lighter, his fishing poll, and of course, his boots. They were the first thing he saved, because there wasn't anything he loved more than his boots and his fishing poll. getting his stuff to shore, he stripped to the waist and hauled folks out of the water, his skin was tanned, and his hair dark. His blue eyes sought out each surviver as he pulled them in. Finally he comendeared a boat, and rowed it out to the liner's position. He found nothing but loose reckage, flotsem that would have to be washed ashore. Returning to shore, Andy took a deep breath and looked around at the carnage surrounding him. It seemed as most of the crew had parished, and no one had taken charge. There was some rich woman shouting about how she was too good to be marooned like this. He went over to her, prepared to give her a piece of his mind. "Take it easy lady." he said in a rough tone, softening his original rant when he saw how close to hysterical the young woman really was. Andy still hadn't reclaimed his shirt, so he stood before her in just his jeans that were plastered to his body and gently put his hands on her shoulders. "Take it easy, we're all trapped here, yelling at everyone won't do any good." he said surprisingly kindly. Dammit where was his cold exterior now? Why wasn't he telling this wining bitch to just shut up? Probably because it wouldn't do any good telling her where she could shove her complaints.

 

[s53mith]

James awoke suddenly from his liquor induced sleep. He had a bit too much the night before at the bar. Hearing the commotion outside he was quickly up onto the deck. As the ship sank further he was thrown overboard seconds after securing a life jacket by the powerless ship bashing into the underwater rocks.

Bobbing to the surface he saw a rubber raft not to far away and swam towards it. Filled to capacity James had to cling onto the side. Others lucky enough to be on the raft realize in the chaos they have no oars to get to shore.

Shouting out James says “Get into the water we will have to push it!” A few of the in-shape men jump into the water replacing some of the others that had also started to hang onto the sides of the raft like James. Struggling against the waves they manage to get to shore in no time. Exhausted from the exertion James staggers across the beach and collapses in the shade of the dense foliage next to the beach, barely noticing everyone else on the beach running around in confusion.

 

[AimeeZero]

Lani saw the man standing over her and quietened down enough to get a good look at him. A tear rolled down her cheek as she studied his form and let his words sink in. They were stranded her life was over, how did people expect her to have to live on a bloody desert island for the rest of her life. She wasn't cut out for this. It was so ... so, so wrong. People of her status weren't supposed to have to live like this. And here was 'muscle-bound' telling her, basically, to shut the hell up, in a nice way of course, But that didn’t excuse him.

She stood, not 100% realising how transparent her dress had gotten from the water, and pushed his hand of her shoulder. Lani brought her hand to her eyes, wiping away her tears, people couldn’t think she was weak; she had a reputation to up hold. Reputation meant everything, although probably not as much a fricking island.

“But don’t you find yelling is … oh … I don’t know … Good for the soul” She looked out to see then at the people rushing around helping others. Why not just save yourself and be done with it. She scoffed at them, and looked back out to the rafts and what was left of the Liner. “Surely ships like that have distress beacons …” She mused, she turned to Andrew and added, “I’m sure within the hour we’ll be off this horrid island, and way from all the … riff-raff that some how found their way on to the ship.” She looked him over critically, “I don’t recall seeing much of you on deck, sir”

 

[The_gladiator]

Lani saw the man standing over her and quietened down enough to get a good look at him. A tear rolled down her cheek as she studied his form and let his words sink in. They were stranded her life was over, how did people expect her to have to live on a bloody desert island for the rest of her life. She wasn't cut out for this. It was so ... so, so wrong. People of her status weren't supposed to have to live like this. And here was 'muscle-bound' telling her, basically, to shut the hell up, in a nice way of course, But that didn’t excuse him.

She stood, not 100% realising how transparent her dress had gotten from the water, and pushed his hand of her shoulder. Lani brought her hand to her eyes, wiping away her tears, people couldn’t think she was weak; she had a reputation to up hold. Reputation meant everything, although probably not as much a fricking island.

“But don’t you find yelling is … oh … I don’t know … Good for the soul” She looked out to see then at the people rushing around helping others. Why not just save yourself and be done with it. She scoffed at them, and looked back out to the rafts and what was left of the Liner. “Surely ships like that have distress beacons …” She mused, she turned to Andrew and added, “I’m sure within the hour we’ll be off this horrid island, and way from all the … riff-raff that some how found their way on to the ship.” She looked him over critically, “I don’t recall seeing much of you on deck, sir”

andy stiffened at the word Rif Raf and coughed, "Well that would be because I was one of the deck hands." he said, "I'm no yuppy." he said, "You just seemed in trouble so thought I would check on you, but if you want to keep your superior stick shoved up your ass, I'll leave you to it." he said and went over to grab his shirt tugging it on, and swiping a hand through his dark hair trying to get some of the water out of it.

 

[AimeeZero]

Lani raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow at muscle-bound here. "Hey look, mister..." She said, gesturing for his name, "I guess we got off on the wrong foot ... I mean if we're gonna be spending a couple of hours on this rock then we should at least be civil right ... Or friendly perhaps" She chuckled, she wouldn't have usually associated with his sort unless she was going to get something of them ... like a job done, or perhaps if she was in a club and feeling 'a bit worked up' ...

 

[The_gladiator]

"The name's Andy." he said, "Andrew walker. And your ladyship." he said very sarcastically, "They couldn't get a message off, we'll be here quite a bit longer than a couple of hours." he said with a smirk. "Hate to disappoint your pretty little ideas of rescue." he stepped forward to shake her hand, "Its a pleasure to meet you." he said.

 

[Ilara]

Tris woke up terribly dizzy, with a hell of a headache, a nausous feeling in her stomach- well unwittingly swallowing about a gallon on sea water wil do that to a person, her red curls covering her face from the sun.

".......Owwww...."

she muttered as she opened bleary green eyes, blinking to clear them to find herself on a island beach, looking out on a scene of destruction and chaos as people and luggage and debris appears out behind the waves- some were in trouble and shouting, others were helping, all who could were swimming to shore.

She tried to get up, she should go help the others.......and lay back down again as her world tilted alitte.

"Ow."
she goaned again, feeling the grains of sand sift through her fingers.

Tris had seen all the doctor shows on TV, and figured she must have a concussion or something cause- dizzy and ow.

Tris didn't remember much about how she'd got to the beach she was now laying on.....she had been in the kitchen, the ship had lurched fowards, pots and pans and trays had been hurleing everywhere, she'd been hit but one of them she supposed cause she'd blacked out.......and woke up here.

Someone must have got her off the ship.....maybe, when her legs would carry her again she could ask around, find out who, and thank them.

Tris's mind was still alittle cloudy, otherwise she might have been panicing alittle more about the situation she was in- as it was, she leaned back and waited for the dizzyness to stop.

 

[sierrahughes]

Sierra

Her eyes opened slowly, colour slowly returning to her vision as she blinked away the last remnants of dizziness. The sounds flooded her ears quickly, and she took stock of her surroundings.

It didn't take long for her to realise the repercussions of the disaster striking the liner. Somehow she had survived that, and now she had to quickly think of how to continue surviving.

Marcus.

Her unfathered son had always been the angel of her life. Even now that he was eighteen, she wasn't sure if she should ever let him in on what she does for a living. What she really does, anyway.

"Mom! You're all right!"

She heard that familiar voice from behind her. She had barely turned around when she felt his arms wrapped around her. It was now that she also realised that she was actually in dry clothes, with a blanket wrapped around her. Her dear angel, as always.

Feeling the warmth of his embrace almost led her on to a little reverie. He was the one and only good thing that happened to her, for all her life.

"I'm ok son, thanks," she managed a weak smile. She also noticed that they were relatively far away from the rest of the passengers, who were still mostly running around on the beach, either giving help or getting help.

Tilting her head towards them, she said, "go on, they will need your help." Marcus looked at her for a few more moments, before he nodded his head in agreement. He was always protective of her, but he also knew that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

"One more thing." I stopped him in his tracks.

"Don't let them in that we're mother and son. It might be, useful in future." I said.

 

[s53mith]

"The name's Andy." he said, "Andrew walker. And your ladyship." he said very sarcastically, "They couldn't get a message off, we'll be here quite a bit longer than a couple of hours." he said with a smirk. "Hate to disappoint your pretty little ideas of rescue." he stepped forward to shake her hand, "Its a pleasure to meet you." he said.

Tris woke up terribly dizzy, with a hell of a headache, a nausous feeling in her stomach- well unwittingly swallowing about a gallon on sea water wil do that to a person, her red curls covering her face from the sun.

".......Owwww...."

she muttered as she opened bleary green eyes, blinking to clear them to find herself on a island beach, looking out on a scene of destruction and chaos as people and luggage and debris appears out behind the waves- some were in trouble and shouting, others were helping, all who could were swimming to shore.

She tried to get up, she should go help the others.......and lay back down again as her world tilted alitte.

"Ow."
she goaned again, feeling the grains of sand sift through her fingers.

Tris had seen all the doctor shows on TV, and figured she must have a concussion or something cause- dizzy and ow.

Tris didn't remember much about how she'd got to the beach she was now laying on.....she had been in the kitchen, the ship had lurched fowards, pots and pans and trays had been hurleing everywhere, she'd been hit but one of them she supposed cause she'd blacked out.......and woke up here.

Someone must have got her off the ship.....maybe, when her legs would carry her again she could ask around, find out who, and thank them.

Tris's mind was still alittle cloudy, otherwise she might have been panicing alittle more about the situation she was in- as it was, she leaned back and waited for the dizzyness to stop.

James Smith awoke into a nightmare, passengers were still running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and he still had a throbbing headache from his hangover. “Water,” James thought, “I need some water.” Standing up he tossed his life jacket aside brushed most of the sand off of him as he could and started to ask around if anyone had some water to drink with only his sandals, shorts, and corny Hawaiian print button up shirt to clothe him.

Most of the passengers had nothing and few had a bottle or two. Searching the life rafts he found some of them still had a couple water bottles stored. The printing next to it said that the raft capacity was 20 and it should contain 1 bottle per person. “They must expect to be saved relatively quickly with that little water.” He said to himself.

Staggering back to the shade he collapsed in a plop and overheard Andy and thought nothing of it slowly nursing his hang over he could care less what was going on around him. It hit him like a squall at sea, “we don’t have any water to last more than a couple hours” he again said to himself.

Standing up James took off running towards the largest group of people, not realizing that two steps away there was someone else laying in the sand and took a head first dive into the beach. “Ow, shit!” James spat out sand from his mouth and looked back, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t…”

James was looking back into the most beautiful face of red hair and green eyes he has ever seen. Awestruck he found himself wordless and realized his mouth was hanging open. “Sorry, I was about to get some people together to scavenge for water," then realizing she didn't look to good, "are you okay?”

 

[AimeeZero]

"Lani Williams" She repied as he extended his hand to greet her, she gently took it in her hand and bow to him slighly, "Pleasure to meet you too" She glanced about the scene at hand, mourners and the reunited, people running around trying to salvage what they could, even people tripping over each other ... she thought as she looked at a man who had just tripped over a beautiful redheaded woman. This had definately shaken everything up for the people of the Liner that now rested under the waves, the bubbling and frothing of the sea around where it had gone down the only reminder of it. She wondered just how many of the crew had gotten over the boat safely... she couldn't see any at first glance ... How nobel it must have been to give your life to save many...

"While I don't quite agree with you on the being rescued thing ... I take your point there Andrew" Lani had now pretty much calmed down, at least on the surface. Inside she couldn't help but wonder what her family were doing now. Mourning for her? Lani had to find a way to tell them she was aive, tel them that their were survivers of that disaster... That was if the news had reached the mainland yet...

She knew it would. They would be saved in know time right ... right?

 

[kfrye]

Evangeline had done all she could do. After bringing an elderly woman ashore she collapsed on the beach, soaking wet and panting for air. She looked around and watched the other's reactions to this predicament. A mother just down the beach was being reunited with her son. Most others were recovering from the swim. Some were beginning to gather supplies and organize everyone. After catching her breath she approached one of the women and a man. The man was talking about organizing a party to get water.

"I'd help." She offered, still chest heaving from her fatigue.

 

[The_gladiator]

Andy nodded, "We need to get people together and find out what we have on this island what is eddable, and where there is water." he said to the rich girl.
Just then a wet bedraggled woman came up and offered her help. "Good," he said.
He turned and shouted, "Is there anyone versed in survival skills, or versed about botany? I know some, but not everything. If there is no one, I will take these two on an exploration of what's around us." he shouted gesturing to Evangelin and rich girl, he already forgot her name. "You and you, you're with me."
"What's your name?" he asked the wet young woman.

 

[sierrahughes]

Sierra Hughes

She left her spot and walked towards some others on the beach. Things were beginning to calm down now, as people were starting to come to terms with the fact that the liner had sunk...and that they were still alive. Somehow.

There were two distinct groups that caught her eye. The first odd looking couple was a rich looking girl (she had managed to, despite her dishevelled state) and a coarse looking young man. The second was this other pair that looked like they've never met before this.

Both pairs looked like survivors to her. She quickly took a glance around and found most others looking lost, or wallowing in despair. At least she haven't seen anyone who was seriously hurt for now. She wonder if there is a doctor amongst us.

"I don't know much about surviving, but I see you could use an extra pair of hands?" She asked as she stepped up towards the rich girl / rough guy pair. There was this other blonde girl in the mix. Sierra had observed how she helped several people get to the beach safely.

"I'm Sierra, by the way."

 

[SethSunshine]

Rouge woke slowly, placing a hand to his forehead to massage his temples lightly as he felt a headache pounding at his skull. Dropping his hand he spat out a little sand which he'd managed to get in his mouth after landing upon the beach. Using his hand as a support he lifted his weight up off the ground and stretched upwards, finally opening his eyes to gaze at his newfound surroundings.

Where he had lain was in the centre of a beach, the tide still lapping at his feet as he stood; and the wreck of a cruise liner was more than obvious as it lay - broken - afew hundred metres out from the beach towards the ocean.

He ran a hand through his hair to remove it from his eyeline, his mouth slightly agape as he still couldn't understand how this had manage to happen.

In order to express his disbelief he acted as he felt appropriate.

"FUCK" he yelled at the top of lungs, taking a handful of his hair and scrunching up his eyes in frustration. He decided it would be best to find any others who had made it to the beach so he calmed his anger and stumbled off towards some distant figures.

 

[sierrahughes]

Marcus

Tris didn't remember much about how she'd got to the beach she was now laying on.....she had been in the kitchen, the ship had lurched fowards, pots and pans and trays had been hurleing everywhere, she'd been hit but one of them she supposed cause she'd blacked out.......and woke up here.

Someone must have got her off the ship.....maybe, when her legs would carry her again she could ask around, find out who, and thank them.

Marcus was carrying an unconscious man back to the beach, when he noticed that the red-haired lady had came to. He was glad, as he thought she was out for good when he found her in the kitchen. The only reason why he dragged her out of there was because she was still breathing (barely). And of course, there was this appeal about her that made him wish she would make it.

His mother was up and about by now, probably offering her help in some way or another. He gazed at her for a bit - he was even more worried when they first reached the beach. She was unconscious, her body was losing heat. He was glad that he had never let go of her once the liner sank. He had also made a change of her clothes, fearing what hypothermia might have done to her. He was sure that she wouldn't mind him seeing her naked; it turned out that it was he who would mind. He can't remember the last time he had seen his mother naked (even if he had thought about it a couple of times once he reached puberty). But she was gorgeous.

He caught himself staring and shook the images out of his head. There were still a few survivors struggling not far off the shore. Just a few more.

 

[LittleGary]

Kevin Jones:

Kevin made his way down the beach towards the group of people that had gathered. He still wasn't sure how he had managed to get off the ship alive. One minute he was on the deck, and the next he was thrown clear of the ship, how he missed the rocks, he'd never know.

It seemed like there was little organization as he neared the gathering. Each little group seemed to be doing there own little thing, with no clear plan. He took a fe deep breaths, to clear his mind.

"I'm Kevin" he said as he walked up to an attractive blonde. "Who's in charge"

 

[s53mith]

Andy nodded, "We need to get people together and find out what we have on this island what is eddable, and where there is water." he said to the rich girl.
Just then a wet bedraggled woman came up and offered her help. "Good," he said.
He turned and shouted, "Is there anyone versed in survival skills, or versed about botany? I know some, but not everything. If there is no one, I will take these two on an exploration of what's around us." he shouted gesturing to Evangelin and rich girl, he already forgot her name. "You and you, you're with me."
"What's your name?" he asked the wet young woman.

"Here take these," James said handing over the empty water bottles he had collected in a back pack that he found washed ashore. "everyone else should help get as much wreckage ashore before the tides change and washes everything out to sea."

James had his own ideas about the wreckage. He didn't suffer though 4 years of intense classes of Material Science Engineering, Steel Design, and Fluid Mechanics to not know that every thing should be used to the maximum extent possible. Though all those classes didn't quite prepair him for this, his brain was thinking a mile a minute. The remaining rafts he thought were the most important. Not only could they be used for potential rescue efforts, but the rubber rafts would be an excellent fresh water storage container if only he could think of an easy way to keep them filled.

"We should gather it all up all together over there" James said pointing off at a group of rocks on the shore well above the tide line. James set off from the group first and set about securing all the rafts that came ashore thinking to himself "while they gather the wreckage I will make sure no one does something stupid with the rafts and make sure they stay hidden until we need them.


edited: Spelling - missed a letter but still was a word, spell check isn't perfect

 

[The_gladiator]

Andy turned to Sierra first, "a pleasure to meet you Ma'am." he said smiling his best southern gentleman smile which seemed genuine for the circumstances. Then a voice came from behind him, "Who's in charge around here?"
Andy turned to him, "I guess right now, that'd be me, unless you want the job?" he asked. "Either way I'm taking a crew into the woods to scout thinggs out. The rest of you save what you can."
He excepted the backpack from James, "Thanks."
So, "Sierra, You and you are with me." he said gesturing to evangelin and Lani respectively. "We're going to find water first, food will come next, but lets also figure out what we have here. For an island I mean, how big what kind of land do we have." he then looked down at their feet, "Are you able to treck through hell knows what?" he asked each of them referring to their footwear. He himself had put his boots on, and they were again molded to his feet providing optimum protection and comfort.

 

[sierrahughes]

Sierra Hughes

"I think we will do fine, won't we?" I said, smiling at the two ladies as I did so. Both of them were beauties in their own rights. Perhaps, under a different circumstance...

"Let's go then, before we miss out on the glorious sun!" I urged, as I pointed at the burning ball perched directly overhead. Mid-day - that meant we had probably six, maybe seven hours.

 

[The_gladiator]

Andy nodded, "Andrew Walker by the way." he said, "Andy if you'd prefer." He estimated that Sierra was older than he, and the other two were probably close to his age.

he couldn't help thinking what beauties they all were, what a bad time to think of such things." he thought to himself.
"Everyone ready?" he asked.

 

[Ilara]

Tris

Standing up James took off running towards the largest group of people, not realizing that two steps away there was someone else laying in the sand and took a head first dive into the beach. “Ow, shit!” James spat out sand from his mouth and looked back, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t…”

Tris yelped and curled up instinctively at she felt an impact to her side, and then something…or rather some one was falling over her, heavily, diving head first into the beach.

James was looking back into the most beautiful face of red hair and green eyes he has ever seen. Awestruck he found himself wordless and realized his mouth was hanging open. “Sorry, I was about to get some people together to scavenge for water,"

Tris found herself looking into sparkling blue eyes, in a pale face surrounded by sandy blonde hair- due to her dazed condition (well at least that was her mental excuse), found herself staring abit too long.
Her words overlapping with his;
“Oh…ummm, sorry, shouldn’t be lying in the path of people I guess.”

then realizing she didn't look to good, "are you okay?”

She raised a hand to her head, feeling the headache still there are dull now, while the dizziness still persisted.
“That’s a matter of debate.”
Tris replied ruefully, a self mocking smile at the corner of her lips.
“I ah….I think I hit my head and somehow ended up here…..and umm, the dizziness hasn’t entirely left yet- but I’ll live…..unlike some of those poor unfortunates.”
Turning her glaze to the churning waves where the ship used to be.
She slowly got to her feet, a trifle unsteadily, but staying up there- only swaying slightly, her mind and thinking processes returning.

She looked at the guy who’d trip over her.
“Soooo, you were saying something about water.”
She said, trying to get up to speed with the program.


A man from another group called out loudly, asking for volunteers with survival skills- she knew about some herbs and plants and things, but right now didn’t think to be much use to a scouting party. Tris wandered up so she could hear what they were saying, but didn’t get involved right now….she did think the idea of gathering up all that could be of use, scavenging on the beach, was just about what she could handle and so turned away on silent feet, padding along the sand, her eyes darting about her- hoping to find something useful.

 

[sierrahughes]

Sierra Hughes

I gathered up a rucksack to bring along some of the things we might need. Dressed in brown hot shots and a white tank top, along with brown trekking boots, I was all ready to go.

 

[s53mith]

James Smith

Tris wandered up so she could hear what they were saying, but didn’t get involved right now….she did think the idea of gathering up all that could be of use, scavenging on the beach, was just about what she could handle and so turned away on silent feet, padding along the sand, her eyes darting about her- hoping to find something useful.

James had just completed stashing the first raft he could get to, using the cord that was meant to lash it to another raft to try and keep survivors together on the open sea and tying it down to a tree. He then laid some palm branches over the entire raft to disguise it from being seen from the beach.

Pushing his way back through the foliage, James took a break and caught his breath. He wasn’t used to working in tropical heat, “I better watch how much work people are doing. No one should get overheated.” James had seen construction workers, the biggest ones around pass out and almost die from dehydration and heat exposure.

Looking around he saw the same stunning red head now searching the beach. Walking up to her James said, “Sorry about earlier, I really didn’t see you until it was too late. I’m James Smith by the way.” Thinking back to his last thoughts he added, “by the way, you don’t happen to know if a doctor got ashore. I recognized you from the ship and saw that you worked in the kitchen, you didn’t happen to see the ships doctor got ashore did you?”

Thinking to himself as he again caught himself staring at her face for the second time that day, “This woman’s eyes could seduce anyone.”