The Devil's Good Intentions (38 page)

“
She kept calling me a child and she said…she…” Katherine couldn’t continue.

“
Now I want to kill her” Peter mumbled.

“
What was she doing on my estate? And how did she know where to find you?” Salvador wondered out loud.

“
Maybe she was following her? It wouldn’t be the first time she trespassed on the estate.”

Katherine’s eyes grew wide and Salvador threw Peter a warning glance to cease his speculation.

Just then, the door was flung open and an army of servants brought in their late meal.

“
Where is everyone?” Peter asked between bites.

“
Alex and Angel rode home instead of staying; they had some business to attend to. Charles woke up and left shortly before you guys awoke.” Rachel informed them.

“
Thank you for staying behind.” Katherine replied politely.

“
I wouldn’t leave unless I knew you were well.” Rachel smiled fondly at her and then turned to Salvador. “And you!” she pointed her fork towards him.

He looked at her with pleaded innocence. “You go flying off with the threat to kill this other woman leaving your wife distraught and worried! Explain your behaviour!” Rachel demanded.

“
Allison is no woman and she threatened my marriage - I acted before I bothered thinking. I’m sorry Kat…” He replied guiltily.

Katherine only nodded her head and kept her eyes on her plate.

Salvador again pondered over his wife’s reaction to his x-mistress. He felt a tug at his heart and a wave of relief as he thought about how he wasn’t the only possessive party in this marriage. He knew that for women it was usually easier to accept a husband’s prowling ways than it was for a husband to accept his woman in the arms of another, but not his Katherine. He remembered back to how defeated and hurt she had been, even his touch seemed to scorn her. He knew that she was envisioning his hands touching Allison because he would have been envisioning the same thing. The only difference was that if the tables were turned, he would have struck her lover down within a second of confirming the affair and then the wrath that he would have unleashed on Katherine would have been dangerous. Still, if she was capable of being so hurt at the thought of him with another woman, then that meant that he was closer to owning her heart than he originally thought. This pleased him immensely.

He decided that he would not bring up her reaction to her for fear that she muster up her pride and retreat from him in embarrassment, but knew that he would have to bring up the topic with her if not to purely assure that her bed was the only one he cared to seek – ever.

Peter and Katherine sat across from him and were discussing possibilities as to how Allison came to meet her. Salvador studied them casually and wondered at how quickly Peter had taken Kat under his wing. It was obvious that they were very fond of each other but not in a manner that would send Salvador’s blood to raging. Peter looked at Katherine as an older brother would look at his favoured sister. Even now he scolded Kat for leaving without her escort and Kat made a defiant face as though she thought him absurd. Salvador would have laughed aloud if he did not agree whole heartedly with Peter. Even Rachel had become almost motherly to Kat, even though they were close in age. Katherine wore a halo of innocence about her that brought out the protectiveness in those around her. He worried that those less noble than he and his brotherhood would prey on her innocence as Allison had. Just that last thought got his blood boiling.

“
Don’t you think Salvador?” He heard Rachel cut into his thoughts.

“
I’m sorry, can you repeat?” Salvador replied guiltily.

Rachel smiled and shook her head.

“
I said…It’s maybe time to bring Katherine out of her shell. Maybe she can visit the orphanage with me this afternoon. What do you think?” Rachel repeated herself.

Salvador’s gaze moved to Katherine and he was surprised to see that she was hopeful that he would respond in favour. He wondered if that was because she was eager to get out of the house or if she had a soft spot for children as Rachel does.

“
Indeed I think that is a splendid idea. I need to take care of some business in town today, perhaps Peter can escort you?”

Peter looked at him curiously and then smirked.

“
Actually Salvador, I too have business in town that I need to take care of, perhaps we could ride in together?”

Salvador cocked his eyebrow at his grinning friend. Peter knew damn well what his business was and Salvador suspected he would much rather safeguard him than the ladies.

“
I fear though, that that would leave the ladies without an escort.” Salvador bit out.

“
Oh, but I already have my escorts in place. If you feel we need more than I’m sure you can scrounge one up on short notice.” Rachel pitched in happily.

Salvador thought about Rachel’s escorts and wondered if they would be enough. Maybe he would send Katherine’s riding escort with them as well. He knew that Peter would not be budged and if he had to admit the truth, he knew that Peter would discourage any temptations to search all of Oxford again for Allison.

“
Very well, but Katherine you are to return to the estate right after.” He allowed.

Katherine’s eyes went wide with pleasure but then quickly scowled before she could hide it. He knew she scowled at his dictation over her actions but she wouldn’t press the point, knowing she would lose. He sympathized with her but at the same time would never think twice about exercising his authority - safety first, period.

When they left the table, Rachel and Peter headed back to Charles Estate to change into fresh clothing and Katherine excused herself to bathe and ready herself for the day.

~

Katherine’s head was a turmoil of confused thoughts and feelings. Now that Allison had proved to be a lying wench, Katherine berated herself for her behaviour. She had tried to act as though she didn’t “know” that Salvador had a mistress but failed miserably. She had finally admitted to herself that she loved Salvador dearly but was not ready to admit it to him. Surely by her behaviour he must suspect! And then Katherine thought back to Allison and felt a pang of jealousy and self-doubt. Allison was so comely compared to her. She was accused of being a child and she had no doubt that next to Allison; that was exactly as she appeared. Even if Salvador wasn’t finding comfort in Allison’s bed, how long would it take for him to seek the touch of another woman? Had he already? Katherine knew she was pretty, but not in the seductive way that men so eagerly sought. She remembered when the men would seek her out at the balls when she was younger, but at that time she had a dowry to offer and their choices were limited. If she really tried, she admitted to herself that she could be prettier than the average woman. Kat didn’t want to be just pretty in her husband’s eyes, she wanted to be beautiful and tempting.

Katherine dropped her robe and slipped into the steaming water. Right away she felt her muscles melt and begin to relax.

Her thoughts were so plentiful that she did not hear the entrance of her husband.

Katherine gave up on wishing she was someone whom she wasn’t and gave a tired sigh before dunking her head under water and coming back up for air. Proceeding to slowly bathe herself, instead of bending forward to clean her legs, she lifted them one at a time out of the water and brought them to her. She soaped up her breasts with her hands because she found that the cloth was too rough for her sensitive nipples and then wrung out the cloth over her chest to chase away the soap suds. The water had only been filled up high enough to cover half her stomach and when she laid down, she left her top half exposed, but she was fine with that. Katherine lathered up her hair and let the shampoo soak into her strands while lying back on the rim of the tub, letting her arms fall behind her neck. When the shampoo had begun to trail from her hair, down her face and neck and onto her chest, she only then rinsed her hair under the water.

When she was finished, she blindly groped for a towel and brought it to her face to wipe off any lingering water and soap near her eyes as she stood up. When she brought down the towel from her face, she caught a movement from the corner of her eye and froze.

“
Are you perhaps waiting for me to assist you?” She heard her husband’s velvety voice from across the room.

She slanted her head over and saw him comfortably seated on the bench across from the tub. She had not once noticed his presence and now thought about him watching her as she cleaned herself and blushed furiously.

“
How long have you been sitting there?” She gritted out in prudish embarrassment.

“
Long enough to feel the restless stirring in my groin.” He responded in a low seductive voice.

Katherine’s entire body blushed this time and she quickly stepped out of the tub to wrap a towel around herself.

He was just as quick.

His powerful hands clamped around her arms and pulled her into a heavy wall of muscles, sending her heart racing.

Katherine gasped at his eagerness and instinctively tried to step back, but he was stronger than her and was determined to have his way. She felt the hard length of his shaft through his trousers and pressed firmly into her belly. When she looked up at him, his mouth claimed hers in a possessive and brutal assault that left no room for question. His tongue forced its way past her lips and into the recess of her mouth. She felt dizzy and a warmth started within her belly, tracing a feverish path to her core.

She moaned into his mouth.

Without tearing his lips from hers, he swept her up into his arms and carried her into their bed chamber.

Unceremoniously dumping her onto their bed, he slowly began to strip while holding her gaze imprisoned with his.

She could almost hear him daring her to move an inch. Her heartbeat sped up and her blood boiled within her. There was so much lust and passion within his eyes that she felt intimidated by it.

Once he had stripped himself of his clothing, he slowly prowled over her and caged her beneath him.

He finally released her from his trance and she could feel his gaze upon her naked flesh, like red hot fingers crawling over her. His gaze caressed the naked peak of her breast and to her horrified amazement, her nipples became taught under his regard. Instead of showing a shred of triumph, he continued his visual caress of her with a dark look that told her not to interrupt.

He spread her thighs wide and braced himself over her. The crown of his cock probed at her core and she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning out her anticipation.

Finally his gaze returned to hers. Her cheeks heated in a furious blush and she averted her eyes in complete submission.

“
Never doubt me again Katherine. Since that night when I spotted you at the Danvil Ball, I have not slept with nor desired any other woman. You are my wife and the only woman I crave. Just so there is no misunderstandings, I do not have a mistress nor do I plan to lay with anyone other than you.”

The moment his verbal declaration had ended, he thrust himself into her right up to the hilt with a sensual declaration.

Katherine cried out and clung to his forearms for support as he punished her for doubting him with unforgiving thrusts that would no doubt leave her sore for the remainder of the day.

Leaning over her, he wrapped his arms under her and gripped her shoulders. If it was even possible, his thrusts became deeper and more intense.

Crying out at each mind blowing thrust, she felt him swell within her. Loosing all control, she cried out his name as her body convulsed beneath his. She was faintly aware of his hot seed pouring into her or the grunt of masculine triumph from above her, all she was really aware of was the flames licking along her skin and the pulsating shaft that was still buried within her and filling her to great proportions.

When her eyes fluttered open, she gasped at the intense gaze upon her. Her husband didn’t appear sated or even satisfied; he looked as though he was brooding.

Without taking his eyes from hers, he slowly pulled himself out of her and then slammed his shaft back into her in a brutal thrust that was more punishing than sensual.

He placed his elbows on either side of her face and fisted her hair so tightly that she could not even slightly move her head.