CHAPTER SEVEN

"Your Cook seems very nice." Katherine said as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear, looking anywhere but at him. She felt on edge, not wholly herself.

"Aye, she is." Jonathan answered as he observed her from where he lay against her linens.

"She seems very fond of you, your steward as well." Her hands trembled slightly as they sat atop her lap.

"Aye, they are." His voice was quiet as he searched for what she so desperately tried to hide, what she herself did not know of.

"Why are you watching me in such a manner?" Katherine's voice cracked with the question.

"Because, Kitten. You want to cry, and I don't understand why." Jonathan said softly as he sat up, leaning slightly towards her.

"You're absurd, my lord, I do not want to cry. I have no reason to." Katherine replied with a braveness which she did not feel nor believe in. She felt a sense of hiraeth wash over her.

"Tis alright to cry, Kitten." Jonathan said gently as he took one of her hands and began to play with her fingers.

Katherine laughed bitterly. "Crying does little good, my lord. Tears change nothing."

"Perhaps that is true, but they make your heart feel lighter." Their interlocked hands rested in his lap as he continued to mindlessly inspect them.

"Nay, my lord. Tis not true. They don't make one feel lighter, they simply teach the person how to be numb."

"That person shall break."

"Some things are meant to be broken."

"Things, not humans." Jonathan wished those words were true, but he knew all too well the lie he had spoken. The human kind had no regard for each other. They cared not for the feeling of others, they were selfish creatures looking down their noses as if everyone was the rubbish beneath their shoes, everyone but themselves.

"I may not know much, my lord, but I do know that your words carry no weight." Katherine said as she willed her tears back. They betrayed her, cascading down her cheeks before she could stop them, but his finger caught one.

"Why are you crying?" The plea in his voice made her body tremble with emotions she thought she did not possess. Why was she crying?

"Why does it concern you?" Katherine tried to snatch her hand away only for him to tighten his grip.

"I do not like seeing you upset." Jonathan answered honestly, surprising even himself. But it was true. He had come to care for the chit and he did not like seeing her in such a state.

She glanced at him sharply then, her enormous green eyes filled with tears. He loved the color of her eyes, as well as the sprinkle of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

"You should leave, my lord."

"I will once I know what has you so upset."

Katherine shook her head. "Do you not see? I, myself do not know. I just... When I saw the way you, Lord Dracmore, and Lady Davidson were behaving, especially the way you were behaving with your staff... I... I didn't understand the feelings which erupted inside of me. I...I...don't know why I'm crying but..." Katherine sobbed as Jonathan pulled her onto his lap, hugging her fiercely. He rocked her back and forth for a few minutes before Katherine remembered herself and tried to move away.

"Don't." His words were sharper than he intended. He ran a hand up and down her spine.

"This world which we reside in, it's cruel. The people in it, are cruel. When our own shadow leaves us, how can we expect to trust anyone else? Whether it be our parents or anyone else. Life rarely smiles upon anyone, or so I thought. If one were to look past the bitterness, the betrayal, tis so very beautiful. Its very beauty will leave one in awe. But we must search for that beauty, regardless of what others want, regardless of our circumstances."

Curled in his lap with her face buried in the crook of his neck, she whispered. "But what if I'm afraid to break away?"

"You mustn't be."

"But it's so hard. And I thought I knew what I wanted or what was expected of me but now..." She sniffed as more tears cascaded down her cheeks. She thought of her mother's cruelty, the love and affection Lout's staff had for him, and then her father's sudden concern. His smile, as far as she could remember her mother had never smiled at her in such a manner. She didn't understand what she wanted anymore.

"There is no shame in wanting to be happy." Jonathan said softly as he lifted her face, wiping away her tears.

"Aye, but at what cost?"

Jonathan smirked. "No cost at all. From here on your lessons shall also be consisting of discovering your pleasures instead of others. Starting on the morrow." Jonathan had not the faintest of ideas of how true his words would soon prove to be.

"Why does that sound scandalous?"

"Because tis is." His gaze lowered to her lips before going back to her eyes, his body giving prophecies he could not begin to fathom. Jonathan took out parchment and a quill. He quickly wrote down the remaining alphabet and handed the parchment to Katherine. "I trust you shall be able to complete this by yourself?"

"Aye." Katherine nodded.

"Wonderful." Jonathan smiled as he cautiously exited her chambers.

***

Katherine walked along the hall, passing many rooms along the way. There was an event planned today. What was it? Oh yes, hunting. Katherine wrinkled her nose slightly, she wasn't very fond of hunting. Killing animals for amusement wasn't exactly her cup of tea. She smiled slightly, it was almost noon, the hunting games did not begin until the weather cooled, she had some time to herself. Katherine continued to walk mindlessly. She had mastered her alphabets, now she needed to know how to use them. What to do? Katherine kept walking without a direction in mind. She examined the different paintings on the wall, stopping a little while longer on a chosen few. One particular painting caught her attention. A smile formed on her lips. Her lout stood with Lord Dracmore, their back against each other. The painting was made when they had been young, but Katherine recognized them just the same.

The young lord's hair was disheveled, as if windswept, his kind brown eyes glittering mischievously. She tilted her head to the side, come to think of it, they both looked quite devious, the artist had done a marvelous work of capturing the emotion. She wondered how the lout had managed to convince his father and the artist to allow Lord Dracmore to participate. Then again, he was very persistent. Katherine wasn't aware of the silly smile adorning her face as she recalled the Lout's actions.

Katherine moved to the next painting, frowning slightly as she heard a slight shuffling and some noise. She cautioned forward, just now noticing she was in a slightly darkened hallway. She crept forward until she came across a door kept slightly ajar, the room cloaked in darkness. Katherine frowned as she heard a feminine moan and some shuffling. She moved closer, trying to make out the form, no, forms. There was a large form and a smaller form, two people. What were they doing? Katherine crept closer, squinting slightly. Definitely two people. One man and one woman? But, what were they doing? The woman groaned again. It seemed as if she was in trouble. Katherine' eyes widened. What should she do? Who should she call? What was he doing? He was blocking Katherine's view of the woman, she couldn't see anything. Perhaps the man was the victim? She was so very confused. Her gaze wandered back to the two people, the man's hand was going somewhere. What if he had a weapon? She had to find help! The woman groaned again.

Katherine slowly backed away, trying to make as little to no sound at all. She had to go find... the lout. Yes, it was his home she must alert him first. She waited until she was at least ten feet away before turning and running into... a body. Katherine's arm flared out, trying to balance herself.

"Oomph. Kitten, you really must be careful." Jonathan said as he steadied her.

"Oh, thank The Lord. You must come with me. Immediately. There is trouble and I was going looking for you and-" Katherine said quickly, her enormous eyes wide.

"Breathe." Jonathan smiled, sure her trouble must be a damaged vase or painting. "I was looking for you. The servant's mentioned they saw you walking in this direction. I thought mayhap I could see your penmanship before the hunting games commence."

"That is alright, but first I fear you must come with me. We must hurry, that man is hurting the poor woman." Jonathan's posture changed, subtly becoming colder. "Which man?"

"Come with me." Katherine grabbed his hand, pulling him behind her. She put her finger to her mouth, gesturing for him to be silent. Jonathan nodded. Katherine pulled him along until they reached the door. She closed her eyes, listening closely. After a moment she heard the groan, except... it sounded different.

"They're in there." Katherine whispered. Jonathan nodded, gently pushing her out the way. He didn't know what he expected to find, but he needed her safe.

Katherine placed a hand over his shoulder, halting him. "Be careful." Her large eyes filled with fear had something inside Jonathan shift. "Always." He smirked. When was the last time someone had cared for him? Jonathan peered into the room, his carefully calculated mind going from a deadly weapon to a barren field. He turned abruptly, pulling his little Kitten along with him. She really was a wee woman. A wee woman who was insanely naïve.

"Where are you going? You have to help that poor defenseless woman."

Jonathan dragged her along, far, far away from that wretched room. He wouldn't respond because he did not know how to respond.

"My Lord, where are you taking me? We have to help her. Why are you not listening to me?" Katherine gritted as she tried to free her wrist from his grasp. He didn't relent.

"Jonathan!" Katherine growled, her cheeks flushed with anger but not as brilliantly as her ears, they were a deep crimson. Jonathan looked over his shoulder, smirking. "You've never called me by my given name."

"Tis because you have managed to anger me. I am not very composed when acerbated."

"I like you riled." Jonathan mumbled as he had them enter an empty room.

"My lord, we must help her." Katherine persisted.

"Kitten." Jonathan growled as he locked the door, running his hand down his face. How in the devil was he supposed to tell her what they were doing?

"Kitten, she is not in trouble." Jonathan said, "Well not the type of trouble you would assume." He muttered to himself.

"Surely you saw him on top of her, shielding her from view. You heard the groans. If you shan't help, than I shall."

"Kitten." Jonathan groaned. She couldn't possibly be... He saw no other way but to tell her.

"He was tupping her."

"Tupping?" Katherine arched a brow.

Jonathan felt his face heating. Why couldn't he simply say the word? Lord help him.

"They were kissing, Kitten. He was kissing her." Jonathan looked anywhere but at her. When he didn't hear a response, he looked at her only to find him watching him skeptically.

"He could not have been 'kissing' her, my lord. She was groaning, and he had her entire body covered."

Jonathan stared at her in bewilderment. Was the chit serious or just naïvely innocent? Mayhap a different word?

"They were performing the bedding."

Katherine shook her head. "There was no bed, my lord. And the bedding is extremely painful and not at all preferable unless you are a man."

"How do you know the bedding is painful?" Jonathan asked with narrowed eyes.

Katherine rolled her eyes, "my mother prepared me for the bedding and she also told me tis quite painful." Katherine paused, thinking. "That woman did not look to be in pain, but why then was she groaning? I wasn't able to see her, we're missing vital information. "

Jonathan nearly choked. Her mother would bed anything with the right anatomy, why then, would she impart such aspersion?

"Kitten, I can say with certainty they were bedding each other." Katherine lifted her chin stubbornly. "I highly doubt it,"

"You maddening woman!" Jonathan growled as he stalked towards her. He grabbed her hand, pulling her flush against him as his mouth descended on hers.

Jonathan told himself he was only proving something to her, only teaching her, nothing more. But even as he fed himself those lies, he knew, they were just that, lies. She moaned low in her throat, bringing his rod to painful life. One hand went around her nape, holding her prisoner while the other hand spanned across her lower back, pushing her against him. He gently coaxed her lips apart, tangling his tongue with hers. He felt her stiffen against him at the intrusion, but only briefly, before she melted against him once more. Jonathan explored her mouth, groaning as her tongue shyly dueled with his before simply following his lead. He smirked into the kiss, pushing her body more tightly against his. His kiss was far from slow or gentle, it was raw, primitive, and oh so sexy as he continued to taste her.

Katherine moaned, not aware of the sounds she was making. All she knew was she did not want Jonathan to stop. Whatever he was doing to her felt wonderful. Of their own accord, her hands fisted into his hair, trying to pull him closer.

Jonathan growled, not relenting his hold. The chit was a fast learner. He kept up his brutal rhythm, pulling away only when the need for hair demanded it, even then, his lips did not leave her skin. They trailed a scorching path down her throat towards her jugular. Once there, Jonathan lavished the area with attention as his wee Kitten squirmed against him, her mouth making the most delectable of sounds. It seemed as if he had found a rather sensitive spot.

Jonathan lifted his hooded gaze, he had to see her. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her hair slightly disheveled, her cheeks stained with color, but her glorious forest green eyes were closed. After a moment they opened and Jonathan sucked in a harsh breath. They were raw with desire. He was a mere mortal, a man, there was only so much he could handle. And her desire ridden eyes called to his most carnal of needs. Damnation, he was no saint.

"Why did you stop? I was enjoying myself."

"Were you now?" Jonathan asked hoarsely, his member begging for attention.

"Aye, it was quite wondrous, may you continue?" Her desire filled gaze made room for innocence and more than anything, Jonathan wanted to be a saint. She had the power to unman him, only if she knew.

"I cannot, you would be compromised, Kitten." Jonathan explained gently as he tucked a stray curl behind her ear, his hand cupping her face once he was done.

Katherine's brows furrowed in confusion. "How would I be compromised?"

"I am very close to bedding you." Jonathan growled, his imagination running free. How he wished to see her hair wild and untamed.

"There is no bed, my lord. And what you did felt marvelous, stunning." Katherine said in awe as she recalled the feeling. "T'was not painful at all. It cannot be the bedding."

Jonathan smirked as his ego was stroked, he had only kissed her. "I have only kissed you, Kitten, there is so much more." His voice was a husky growl, his desire was running rampant, and so was his imagination.

"Your tongue in my mouth was called kissing?"

Jonathan tried not to grimace. Such a wondrous notion could be made to sound so cloying. "Aye."

"And what were you doing on my neck?" Her fingers went to said area, Jonathan wished it was his mouth instead.

"Tis another type of kissing."

She looked at him boldly, her eyes held a wealth of curiosity, curiosity which would destroy him. Curiosity, which if fallen into the wrong hands would destroy her. He'd be damned if he let anyone else touch her. "How many types of kissing are there? Can you show me?"

He needed space, he couldn't be this close to her and not ravish her. Jonathan released his hold over her, stepping back. He needed to talk to her without having his desire get in the way. "Kitten, we...I..."

"The people in the room, they were doing what we were just doing?"

Jonathan shook his head. "They were doing more."

"Interesting. But I doubt they were performing the bedding, even if a bed were not needed, the bedding is painful, and this is not. Perhaps you do not know what the bedding is about."

Jonathan raised a brow. "I know what the bedding involves, Kitten. He would have very well taken her innocence by now."

Katherine's eyes widened, "we must stop them, she shall be ruined."

"Tis a bit late for that." Jonathan said dryly.

Katherine worried her bottom lip. "Oh dear."

"Stay away from dark rooms, Kitten." Jonathan warned. He needed to go to the village before he did something rash.

"I shall, but may you finish teaching me." Katherine walked until she was an inch away from him. Jonathan's brain seemed to have abandoned him.

"Teach you what?"

"Kissing." Katherine didn't give him time to respond as she stood on the tips of her toes and placed her lips against his.

Her pleasant surprise left Jonathan speechless, allowing her entry into his mouth. She kissed him with the same need he had kissed her earlier. That's all it took for Jonathan to snake an arm around her waist while the other rested against her hip. Jonathan groaned, quickly taking control of the kiss as he deepened it. He led her backward until she reached what he assumed was a table. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her until she was seated. Then, he spread her legs, standing in between them as he nipped her bottom lip, emitting a startled gasp from her.

"You hadn't done that before." Katherine gasped as he trailed his lips to where shoulder met neck.

Jonathan chuckled. The vibration had Katherine squirming.

His hand made lazy circles under her breast, Jonathan smirked as her breathing hitched.

"What...ahhh." Her words turned into a moan as he cupped her breast, testing its weight. Jonathan growled as he fondled her flesh through the cloth, joining their mouths once more. There were too many layers of clothing between them for his liking.

Katherine pulled at his hair. His tongue, his hands, oh this was a wicked man, who was doing wicked things to her. They felt... so... so wonderful. Everything he was doing to her, she didn't want him to stop, ever. Katherine heard a noise, was that her? She cared not.

"Jonathan..." Katherine moaned as a strange feeling began in her lower stomach.

"Aye, Kitten, I know." Jonathan growled as he ground his erection against her.

Katherine's eyes widened at the sensation. "That felt..."

Jonathan hushed her with a kiss, her scent surrounded him. He placed open mouth kisses down the column of her throat, onto her collar bone, until he reached the lace of her gown. His hands rested on her hips, he squeezed briefly there as he ran his tongue along the exposed skin. Katherine arched into him, moaning slightly.

Jonathan called upon years of control. Where the devil was his control? He needed to stop before things got out of hand. It seemed fate was against him.

"Don't stop." Katherine commanded as she brought his mouth back to hers. Jonathan groaned, unable to resist her.

"You're a siren." Jonathan murmured in between kisses.

His hands went to the back of her gown, looking for her laces when there was a loud knock on the door.

"Jonathan?!" Jonathan didn't know if he should kill his friend or thank him. He looked at Katherine.

"You will be the death of me." Jonathan whispered as he placed a chaste kiss on her close lids. Her beautiful eyes opened slowly, filled with desire.

"Why did you stop?" Katherine pouted. She wanted him to continue.

&&&&&

Vote

Comment

Lemme me know what you think