The Devil's Good Intentions (39 page)

His gaze was as intense as his thrusts.

Katherine closed her eyes for fear he would see right into her and peak into her very soul.

“
Open your eyes” He growled at her in a menacing command.

She gasped at his tone and opened her eyes to find his intense gaze daring her to close them again.

Despite Katherine’s wonder and fear for what brought this on, she found her body reacting to his thrusts and felt the muscles of her core tensing around his punishing shaft.

“
Yes” he fiercely approved.

Katherine’s body exploded into a thousand tiny pieces. She wanted to close her eyes at the intensity of the orgasm but he held her with his gaze, which was just as intense.

When he found his own release, he had claimed her mouth in a possessive and unforgiving kiss.

When he finally released her lips and lifted his head, he looked her in the face with such intensity that she struggled beneath him and tried to move her head away from him, despite his grip in her hair. She finally ceased struggling when she realized it was a fruitless effort.

“
Mine” He growled out, right before he rolled off of her and exited the bed.

Katherine was stunned. She couldn’t move if she wanted to. She felt as though he had branded her soul with that one word declaration.

She could hear him in the bathing chamber cleaning himself up and then the ruffle of his clothes. She still hadn’t moved, nor could she close her eyes. She stared at the ceiling as though she was a porcelain doll.

His face came into view and then his lips claimed hers once more, only this time they were gentle and loving.

“
You should get ready my Love, they will be back shortly.” He reminded her, as though nothing had happened.

He grinned a male grin that spoke of masculine pride and triumph as he left the room.

It was only then that Katherine snapped out of her trance and began to move.

~

Salvador sat in his study staring into the unlit hearth. When he found Katherine bathing, he had become overwhelmed with an incredible desire. An un-welcomed vision of Peter helping his wife bathe had crept into his thoughts and even though he knew Peter was more than trust-worthy, he still could not beat down the possessive need to re-brand his wife as his. As much as he wanted to trust Katherine, he feared that she would end up like his mother. The thought of her accepting another male into her welcoming arms made his blood stir. He feared that when Katherine laid in that same bath with Peter, she wondered what his touch would feel like.

He closed his eyes and thought back to just moments ago as he punished his wife with his brutal thrusts for just the possibility of thinking about another man’s touch. He wanted to pound the thoughts of any other man out of her, and that he did. He knew it wasn’t fair to her and would never admit to why he had taken her so brutally, but God’s blood he was tortured by the fear of her straying from him. He would not apologize to her for she had found her release and if anything, she was used to his unforgiving ways in bed. He wondered if his dark desires stemmed from his mother’s weakness. Was he so brutal between the sheets because he was unconsciously punishing the promiscuous behaviour of a woman’s cheating heart? Was it stemmed from his distrust in women and his need to punish them for what his mother did to his father - to her family! All he knew was that the dark desire was a part of him and no amount of gentle love making could sate his spirit.

~

Katherine and Rachel arrived at the Saint Mary Orphanage that afternoon and spent a good deal of time reading to the children and picnicking with them near the pond. Both Rachel and Katherine had brought supplies for the orphanage, such as rolls of cloth and much needed kitchen supplies.

Katherine finished reading a story to a little girl and then smiled as she watched the girl dance away to join her friends.

“
You have a natural talent with children” She heard an unfamiliar voice comment from behind her.

Katherine stood up and turned to the voice. She was stunned to see a man standing there who was not that much older than herself, and who was devilishly handsome.

Katherine blushed at the thought of finding any man other than her husband handsome and silently chided herself for her folly.

He was looking at her now with amused speculation and then bowed slightly before her.

“
Lord Straton - at your service.” he introduced himself. “You my lady may call me Jeffery. I am the coordinator for the Saint Mary Orphanage.”

“
Lady Katherine Rochester Cresta” Katherine returned with a genuine smile.

Katherine always had a soft spot for men who doted on children.

“
Are you here with Lady Cunningham?” He asked as he nodded towards Rachel.

“
Yes My Lord. Rachel has been kind enough to invite me with her this afternoon.”

“
I shall have to be reminded to thank her.” He murmured. “Cresta, You wouldn’t be related to Lord Salvador would you?”

“
I am his wife.” She responded, adding a little smile as the look of disbelief crossed his handsome features.

“
I was not aware that Lord Salvador had taken a wife” he stammered out.

“
It was quite sudden and a surprise to most.” Even to myself…she internally tacked on.

“
The brotherhood takes on yet another dashing bride, leaving us bachelors once again quite envious!” he chuckled.

Katherine chuckled along with him.

“
Will you be joining Lady Cunningham on further visits to the orphanage?”

“
Indeed I hope to. The children are lovely and I have quite enjoyed myself today.”

“
Then I shall look forward to our next meeting.” He said as he took her hand and bowed over it, before swiftly turning on his heal and retreating back towards the orphanage.

“
I see you have met Lord Straton.” Rachel mused from behind her.

“
I Suppose I did.” Katherine mused back.

She wondered what caused his sudden departure and if she had offended him in any way.

“
Be wary of him Katherine, he is a vicious flirt.” Rachel warned her.

Katherine thought back to their meeting and couldn’t see anything flirtatious about his manner. She thought he was simply being friendly with a donator.

“
He was nothing but a gentlemen Rachel, you have nothing to worry about.” She assured her.

Rachel looked doubtful for a brief second and then gave her a friendly smile.

“
Come Kat, our carriage waits.”

Rachel dropped Katherine and her escort off at the estate and then left for hers. Salvador still had not returned so Katherine decided to take a small snack in the library and read for the afternoon.

It was just before supper when Salvador had finally arrived home. He had briefly checked in with Katherine and then quickly excused himself to get washed up before their meal. Peter was not with them.

The following two weeks passed by in a blur. They had another dinner night with the brotherhood, but other than that the days were quiet. Rachel and Angel visited often while Salvador tended to his business. Their nights were filled with passions that often left Katherine exhausted and unable to rise to join her husband for breakfast. Katherine and Rachel continued to visit the orphanage and to Katherine’s delight, she had found another friend in Lord Straton. Rachel had been wary in the beginning but then opened up to their friendship and left them alone.

Salvador had told her they were invited to a ball and that the entire brotherhood and their wives would be there. Katherine was nervous but at the same time excited. This would be her first ball that she would attend as a proper guest since she had come of age and was grateful that she would not be attending for the purpose of having to smuggle food into her purse or hide in the shadows. Salvador on the other hand seemed agitated and restless. Katherine had tried to breach his thoughts, but he had assured her that he was only thinking about work and that he was otherwise fine.

The day of the ball came and Katherine eagerly dressed for the evening. Salvador wore a black suite that made him look dangerously handsome, whereas Katherine wore a dusty pink gown that made her look like an innocent rose.

Salvador sat silent in their carriage as they rode into Oxford. Katherine wondered why he scowled into the night and wished that there was something she could do to ease his tension.

“
Salvador, is something troubling you?”

Salvador’s gaze flickered from the carriage window to her and then his expression relaxed.

“
No Love, nothing to concern yourself with.” He assured her.

“
But if something is troubling you then I assure you I will be concerned.” She replied gently. “Won’t you talk about it?” she prompted.

Salvador considered her for a moment and then wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

“
A man’s worries are his own and nothing he should trouble his wife with.” He responded and then kissed the top of her head. “I’m fine, really. Just a little fatigued is all.” He further tried to reassure her.

Katherine wasn’t convinced but knew that he clearly did not want to talk about it, so she didn’t press the point.

~

When they arrived, it took close to thirty minutes before their carriage had reached the door. Salvador gracefully exited the carriage and then took his wife’s hand and helped her out. Rather than releasing her hand, he tucked her arm into his and led her to the door. Salvador would have preferred to hold onto her the entire evening but knew that would not be possible. He had been dreading introducing his wife to Lord Pennington and would have kept Katherine home if not for the reassurance from his brothers that they would all keep her and their wives within sight the entire evening.

He heard Katherine gasp as they entered the ballroom and turned to see her expression.

It was as though she had never stepped foot into a ballroom before. She looked as innocent as an angel and he couldn’t help but smile. He was reminded that Katherine had lived in seclusion for two years and was not privy to such a grand lifestyle. Sure she attended balls when she was younger, but it wasn’t the same. The last time he saw her at a ball she was there for survival, not pleasure.

When they were announced, Salvador swiftly swept her through the door and right onto the dance floor.

She gasped at his boldness and then laughed as he spun her around the floor.

He loved to hear her laugh and loved it even more when it was he who had prompted it.

Salvador knew that there were many observing eyes upon them, most of them on his wife - but he could not tear his eyes away from her face. She was absolutely radiant and the feel of her in his arms was a piece of heaven. When the music eventually moved onto another ballad, Salvador guided Katherine to where he had spotted the brotherhood.

They all greeted each other and then began their speculations on the attendees.

“
Isn’t this the most charming ball you have attended?” He heard Angel exclaim innocently.

“
Indeed, this ball is so different than the ones I attended back home!” Katherine replied excitedly.

None of the women knew about Lord Pennington’s hand in pirating or any of his other darker investments. The men had agreed that they would allow their wives to enjoy themselves since they rarely attended social events like this, but they would remain alert at all times.

“
Come ladies; let’s see what they have at the refreshment table.” Rachel prompted them.

Without a word, Ed and Peter followed the ladies into the crowd.

“
The ladies are looking their best tonight” Alex mused.

“
And that surprises you?” Simon responded with a chuckle.