The Devil's Good Intentions (33 page)

She nodded her head into the pillow and flinched again as his fingers traced over another welt.

“
Good. We will not speak of this again and will continue as is come the morning. But Katherine, I am your husband and you will not run from me. You belong in my bed and I will drag you here by your hair if need be if you seek refuge elsewhere.”

With that final warning, he removed himself from the bed and went to the bathing chamber to draw himself a bath.

When he was ready to retire, he noted that she had probably cried herself to sleep and felt a knot tug from within him. He still did not regret his actions but loathed the fact that he was the cause of her tears. Katherine was still young and naïve about many things. If anything were to happen to her, he would be lost. He was her husband and it was his job to assure her comfort and safety.

With that last thought, he blew out the lanterns and fell into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning when he rose, he noted that she had barely moved and was still fast asleep beside him. Her welts had almost vanished but he could see the imprint of his hands on each butt cheek in the form of a bruise. Still he did not regret his actions.

His loins throbbed as he possessively raked his eyes across her bare flesh and cursed that he couldn’t do anything about it without hurting her. God he wanted her. He was still amazed that she could arouse him to this state just by being near to him. Her arms were tucked under her pillow and the curves of her breasts peaked out enticingly from beneath her. He ran his finger along the curve closest to him, causing her to shiver and roll to her side.

She was still fast asleep and he grinned at the temptation that she was. He too turned to face her on his side and carefully drew her leg up slightly to rest over his leg. She flinched and moaned in her sleep and her hand flew to her hip, scratching it before it fell limp again behind her back.

The tip of her breast beckoned him and his shaft throbbed in agony. His breathing sped up as his eyes caressed every inch of her body.

His hips thrust forward involuntarily as his eyes rested on the black patch of the silky triangle between her thighs. He groaned as he envisioned himself plunging into her sweetness. Unable to stand the incredible need within his groin, he wrapped his fist around his shaft and thrust his hips into it as his eyes feasted on her. Leaning forward, he licked at her nipple and started pumping his fist harder as her nipple hardened beneath his tongue.

He fought with reason and did everything in his power not to roll her over and plunge himself into her. He sucked on her nipple which brought out a seductive moan from her lips. Leaning in closer, he rubbed the crown of his cock on her nub while continuing to pleasure himself.

“
Salvador?” She called out sleepily.

He couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. He scooted down and lifted her thigh in one hand while he continued to pleasure himself in the other. When he flicked her nub with his tongue she moaned out softly. He buried his lips and tongue within her honey warmth and savagely drank in her cream.

She was awake now and breathless as she tried to discern what was happening. When he felt himself drawing nearer to his completion he nipped at her nub and then swirled his tongue around it causing her to try and shut her legs as her orgasm made its way through her body.

When she stopped twitching, it took less than five strokes before his own body trembled in ecstasy.

When he came down from his high, he pulled her to him and kissed her shoulder.

“
Good Morning Love” He purred into her ear seductively and then nipped it.

“
Good Morning” She responded breathlessly as she tried to gather her wits.

~

The next few days went by slowly for Katherine. Her bottom was still bruised and sore because of her punishment so therefore kept mainly to the library or her bed where she could lie on her side or her stomach to read. Salvador was unrepentant even when he would see her flinch as she sat herself down on her chair at the dining table. They never spoke of what happened and truthfully Katherine knew that he was within his right to punish her as he did. Sarah had confirmed that there were indeed wolves in the forest and that a servant had been mulled by one three years prior. Katherine would prefer Salvador’s hand to a wolf’s claw any day.

On the third day, Katherine decided to venture out and attempt to ride. Her bottom was feeling much better and the bruises had mostly healed because of the herbal concoction she had put together.

After her horse was saddled, she informed the stable boy that she would be riding on the northern end of the estate and to notify one of her chaperones that he could catch up with her. The stable boy tried to convince her to wait but it was such a lovely day and she was so anxious to be off that she waved off his pleas and trotted away.

When she reached the border of the estate, she pulled her horses reins in and slowly walked him into the forest. Her senses were immediately alerted to wild mint and she smiled with delight as she hopped down from her horse and tied his reins to a nearby branch. As she was collecting the mint she was softly humming to herself and enjoying the warm rays of sun that broke through the blanket of the trees. Her mind drifted to when she lived in her cottage and felt a sudden longing for the freedom she once had. She would never leave Salvador, but what she wouldn’t give for her freedom as well.

She was so caught up in her musings that she failed to notice she was no longer alone. When she straightened up to stretch, she froze as she registered the figure standing before her.

The woman was in her early-twenties with black raven hair and grey piercing eyes. Her body was curvy and voluptuous while her breasts were large and straining against her gown. Katherine’s first thought was that she was a Witch, but then quickly dismissed that idea. The woman was looking at her curiously with her intense grey eyes that sent shivers of foreboding down her spine.

“
Are you lost?” Katherine asked the woman as she looked around for her escorts.

The woman’s plump red lips curved into a friendly smile as she took a step forward.

“
No. I was just taking a walk” She replied in a sing song voice that sounded more of a seduction than anything.

Katherine knew that it was Charles property that backed onto this piece of their land and wondered if this woman was a guest of theirs. Before she could ask, the woman took another step towards her and roved her eyes over Katherine’s person with distaste.

“
What is your name child?” The woman asked while still inspecting her.

Katherine felt alarmed at this woman’s sudden hostility and wondered who she was.

“
I am Katherine Rochester Cresta, Mistress of the Cresta Estate and wife to Lord Salvador Cresta.” She replied proudly as she lifted her chin in aristocrat arrogance. “And who are you?” Katherine boldly asked as she returned the woman’s hostile gaze.

The woman’s eyes narrowed as she took another step forward, bringing her about two feet away from Katherine. Katherine held her ground even though she felt uneasy about this woman and her manner. She was starting to reconsider the possibility of her being a Witch.

“
I am Allison Dufont, your husband’s Mistress” She declared with just as much arrogance as Katherine had displayed.

The woman grinned at Katherine’s shocked gasp.

“
You lie.” Katherine whispered as she took a step back.

“
I do not and quite frankly I’m surprised that a child of your stature is able to keep up with my wild stallion in bed, without being bruised and broken - you’re such a tiny little thing.” Allison stated with a mock glance upon Katherine’s person.

Katherine knew the woman was speaking true. How else would she know her husband’s bedroom habits? Tears welled up in her eyes as the stab of betrayal pierced her heart.

“
He has forbidden me from coming near you, but I had to meet with you and see what I am rivalling. If I were you, I would keep this meeting to yourself. Salvador will never give me up and you mentioning me will only cause strain in your marriage.”

Katherine knew it to be true. Salvador would do whatever he wanted to. Most husbands took on mistresses and it was the wives duty to turn the other cheek. But Salvador had lain with her nearly every night, sometimes all night. When would he have the time or even the endurance to bed this woman? She needed more proof. The more she thought about it the more unreal the woman’s claim seemed to be. Perhaps she was an old lover, but Katherine doubted that Salvador continued his relationship with her when he brought her home as his wife.

Allison could see the scepticism on Katherine’s face and grinned.

“
He has set me up in a townhouse in Oxford. I always look forward to his visits when he comes into town…” Allison maliciously purred out to Katherine, no doubt to hurt her.

“
Why are you telling me this?” Katherine chocked out as she felt her world spinning out of control.

“
I know that if I were married to Salvador, I would want to know who he spends his spare time with. I promise not to interfere with your marriage and will please him well enough so that he won’t feel the need to wander to any other woman other than us. We need to stick together. Salvador was happy enough with just me but knew he had a duty to wed you. Don’t think ill of him, Salvador and I go back a long way and a relationship like ours cannot be severed as easily as you would probably hope for. But know this; you are the true winner because you are blessed with his name and his title. For that I envy you.”

Katherine opened her mouth to speak but only a chocked sob fell forth from her lips. She felt as though her heart was bleeding and her throat was closing in on her. Although Salvador never promised her fidelity, she had assumed that he was faithful to only her and that she was enough to keep him happy. She shouldn’t feel betrayed over her assumption, but she was. Her heart had finally found happiness and now as short lived as it was, it was breaking.

“
You will keep this little meeting of ours to yourself, won’t you Katherine?” Allison questioned, confident she knew the answer.

Katherine could only nod. She couldn’t even look at her. Her vision blurred with the sudden onslaught of tears spilling out and before she knew what was happening, her knees gave out and she barely caught herself as she crumbled to the ground in defeat.

A ray of sunshine caressed her cheek. Wilting away from it, she covered her head with her arms and bent over as she cried into her knees. She wasn’t aware of anything anymore, just the hurt and pain that cluttered her heart. A sudden vision of Salvador making love to this woman passed through her agonizing thoughts and she felt herself gasping for air that would not come.

She felt a firm grip on her shoulder and jumped at the contact. Raising her swollen tear filled eyes; she shrank back as Peter knelt down in front of her, gripping both of her shoulders to steady her in his powerful hands.

She drooped her head down in defeat and closed her eyes, wishing for him to have not seen her like this and for him to just be a figment of her imagination.

Suddenly she was being lifted and cradled against his chest. Without looking up, she nuzzled her face into his chest, trying to hide her face as he walked towards her horse.

He somehow managed to lift himself onto her horse while still cradling her into his chest and then heard him whisper into her hair to hold on as his grip on her tightened and he kicked the horse into a gallop.

She had managed to stop sobbing, but felt dead inside. She didn’t want to talk or to think. She just wanted to lie down in bed and sleep – possibly forever. The thought of her husband taking that woman into his embrace was nothing but a stab of pain. The same hands that caressed her at night caressed his mistress during the day. Feeling nauseated at the thought and wanting to retch, she found that even that was too much trouble. For now she felt safe within Peter’s arms and was thankful that he didn’t push her to speak.

“
You there!” Peter called out with a controlled temper.

Katherine’s heart stopped. What if he found Allison? She could not let them know that she knew of her. When had she left? Did Peter see Allison before he found her?

“
Are you Lady Katherine’s escort?” Peter demanded as he pulled up his reins.