Chapter 14 Kat
Chapter fourteen
Henry’s week has been increasingly busy, and it’s obviously stressing him out.
The first night he was late, he called several times, apologizing for not making it to dinner.
I must have missed him coming home and was dozing off when the startling sound of his yelling and a crash woke me up.
I went to his room to check on him, but he sounded angry. So I let it be.
Before we could discuss it the following morning, he found out about an incident at one of the foreign offices and immediately jetted away to help with damage control. To make matters worse, he had to rearrange all of his meetings, meaning next week will likely be stressful as well.
When he let me know he'd be able to come home today, I think I squeaked out loud in excitement. It's only been two nights, but I miss him. Deciding to be thankful that this dilemma hasn’t derailed our entire weekend, instead of being pissy that I’ll be spending most of the first half alone, I get up and prepare for my Saturday morning walk.
Since our first walk together, I’ve enjoyed waking up a little earlier to catch the sun rising over the vibrant autumn leaves. Even if my husband isn’t here to carry a backpack filled with treats, the air is crisp, the views are stunning, and life is good.
I’ve almost made it back to the estate after a lovely hike when I hear the rustling of leaves behind me.
At this time of the day, the staff aren’t usually wandering about, especially on a weekend.
The next logical explanation would be wildlife.
I've walked almost daily and haven’t come across anything predatory, although I’m aware of the risk, having grown up on a large estate myself.
I’m trying to calm down, but the sound keeps getting closer and closer, and I can tell it’s not a small animal.
The memory of the Jenkins’s goats crosses my mind, and I have to force myself not to break into a full-out sprint back to the house.
I slowly reach behind me for the Swiss Army knife Henry keeps in the bag.
Remain calm; some animals react to weakness.
I breathe deeply, gripping the blade for dear life.
I’m almost to the clearing when I finally gain the nerve to turn around and gasp.
A man stands not ten feet away from me. Despite the age-old man versus bear debate, I’m actually relieved.
I’ve taken enough self-defense classes to know how to take someone out, and with the little weapon I’m holding, I’m confident enough in my ability to defend myself.
“Who are you, and why are you following me?” I ask, no need to beat around the bush now.
I hold the knife out when he tries taking a step toward me, causing him to raise his hands in surrender and back away. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Sinclair. I didn’t mean to startle you, ma’am. I've been stepping in for Fredrick for a while and wanted to get an early start on my chores for the day.”
I place my free hand over my chest, breathing a sigh of relief. “Oh, well. You certainly startled me, Mr….?”
“Oh my apologies, my name is Thomas, but most people call me Tommy.” He extends his hand, slowly making his way closer to me, but stops a few feet short.
I'm torn between greeting him...or running to the house, but finally decide on the former of the two. Because how would he know Fredrick’s name and specific role unless he was telling the truth? Right?
Taking a few steps of my own, I return his gesture with a smile, shaking his hand firmly. “Nice to meet you, Tommy. And welcome! Please call me Kat. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you aren’t some wild animal waiting to rip me to shreds!”
“Of course. Well, Ms. Kat, I guess I need to get back to it.”
I watch him leave, not wanting to turn my back again, but the moment he’s out of sight, I practically run back to the house. Slamming the door shut, I sink to the floor when I’m safely inside. I’m not sure what it was about the interaction, but something about it has me on edge.
Triple-checking that I’ve locked the door, I decide a bath would be a nice way to both warm up and calm my nerves.
Walking into my room, I’m so deep in thought about what oils I’m going to use in my bath that I completely miss the package on the bed as I go to the en suite bathroom to get my water started.It isn’t until I come back in to grab the bottle of lavender oil on my nightstand that I notice the small parcel on my bed.
It’s wrapped in beautiful pale blue paper and tied with a silver ribbon.
Henry has left me enough gifts lately, all wrapped in the same style, so I immediately know who it’s from.
I scurry over to the bed and pick up the card lying next to the box.
My curiosity piqued, I make quick work of untying the ribbon.
Lifting the lid, I get my first glance at the mystery object inside.
I pick it up, turning it in my hand. A black silicone rose, with a little button on the side.
I click it, only to be startled by aggressive vibrations, and I drop the toy back into the box.
Fumbling, I finally manage to click through the settings and turn it off.
I’ve only ever had one vibrator. A little pink bullet, I believe, is what it’s called.
One of the younger maids I was chatty with back home gifted it to me for my eighteenth birthday.
It broke a few days ago, not that it was ever helpful in the first place.
The memory of its death plays in my head.
I’m lying in bed, tossing and turning. Missing him.
Wishing it were my bed he would climb into when he got home late.
What kind of lover would he be after a long day?
Would he be hard and fast, just wanting a release to help his stress?
Would he take his time, wanting to lose himself and forget all the day's troubles in the throes of passion?
Would he want to take me from behind for the best leverage, or would he want to lie back and let me ride him?
Before I know it, my core is aching with what I’ve come to know is arousal. An ache I’ve yet to figure out how to ease on my own accord. Not from lack of trying. I grab my vibrator from my nightstand, turn it on, and place it between my legs, hoping that this time it will work.
My mind drifts to visions of Henry busting through my door, needing me as much as I need him.
I’m lying out for him atop the comforter in my most alluring lingerie.
He grabs my ankle and pulls me to the edge of the bed, my knees resting on his forearms as he unfastens his pants.
He gives no warning, just thrusts into me, pausing only briefly.
A growl leaves his lips as his head falls back.
Before I can adjust to him, he’s driving into me at a brutal pace. But I want more…
“Ughhh, more, pleaseee,” I beg. “Mmm, Henry, please, please, please…”
Nothing. I throw my useless toy against the wall.
No…
I’m doing the mental math, trying to line everything up, refusing to believe that there’s even a possibility that the reason I didn’t hear Henry coming home Wednesday night was because I was in the middle of a failed attempt at orgasm that resulted in the death of my vibrator.
Oh God. Was that why he was angry that night? Because he didn’t want to hear me masturbating? Actually, that makes no sense. He just bought me a new one.
Was he sexually frustrated as well? Surely, he knows by now that I’m interested in him. I thought he would pick up on my flirting, but I suppose, as intelligent as he is, he’s still a man. How do I let him know, besides flat-out saying I would like to have sexual intercourse with you?
Turning off the water, I look down at the clawfoot bathtub, and I’m reminded of Mrs. Potts’s words.
“In any case, I’m saying that perhaps when Mr. Sinclair has had a particularly bad day or rough week, you might draw him a bath…”
Smiling, I step into the scalding water and plan my seduction.
“Katarina?”
Perfect timing. I turn the water off and wait for him, sitting on the ledge of his large bathtub, fiddling with the strings of my new black bikini.
My heart rate spikes at the sound of his door opening. I’m not entirely sure what I’m expecting from tonight, but one thing is certain: our relationship will not be the same when we leave this room.
His footsteps echo from his room into his bathroom while I sit for what seems like an eternity.
If he doesn’t come in soon, the water will get cold.
I’m about to get up and let him know I’m here when the door opens and he comes walking in, completely naked.
I’ve seen him with just his swim shorts on, so I know how ripped he is, but damn.
Thankfully, he’s still looking down, unfastening the watch from his wrist, giving me time to ogle him properly.
All six foot seven inches of him. Saying he’s the archetype the gods modeled themselves after doesn’t give justice to this man’s body.
I trail my gaze from his broad shoulders to his prominent chest, the perfect amount of hair accentuating his strong pecs.
Continuing, I count eight abs before his happy trail thickens between where his Adonis belt tapers down to his…
Oh God…His flaccid dick swings heavily with each step he takes.
Already bigger than anything I could imagine. And I have imagined.
Of course, that’s the moment he chooses to notice my presence. Eyes wide, mouth in an ‘O,’ cheeks reddening. I would be embarrassed, but he looks just as shocked as I am. “Katarina? What on earth are you…?”
“Bath!” I interrupt, pointing at the tub full of hot water and essential oils.
He looks from the bath back to me, his eyes darkening as he takes me in. His thick cock is growing impossibly larger. “Kitten. What are you doing in my bathroom?”
“I wanted to give you a bath. Wash your hair…” I say, playing with the string of my bottoms, refusing to look into his eyes.
I can feel him getting closer. “And why are you wearing that scrumptious little bathing suit to do it?”
“In case I got wet…”
“Oh, Kitten, there's no doubt about that.”
He steps over where I’m still sitting on the edge of the bath and chills pebble on my skin at the soft brush of his hard length against my arm on his way. He tilts his head back, groaning as he sinks farther into the hot water.
Pulling myself together, I grab his shampoo from where I had it waiting on the floor beside me and turn, putting my feet in the water for a more comfortable position as I wash his hair. Before I know what’s happening, two large hands are wrapped completely around my waist.
“Join me,” he says, giving me no time to protest before pulling me into the bath with him.
“What are you…Eek!” I land on his lap, my legs on either side of his. “I was going to wash your hair!”
“Then wash it.” He gently takes my legs and wraps them around his waist, then draws my body flush to his.
“But don’t think you’re going to come into my bathroom wearing what could barely be described as scraps to cover that body I’ve been imagining for weeks and expect me to do any less than hold you like this. ”
I lather my hands with his shampoo and raise my shaking arms to massage it into his scalp.
He’s so close like this. One of his arms is locked around me, keeping my body pressed against his while the other explores.
His gentle traces start at my neck as his hand makes its way down at an excruciatingly slow pace, stopping to rest between my breasts.
His breath against my neck is electric. He tilts his head forward, almost resting it on my shoulder for me to wash the back side.
I’m not sure how I managed to wash his hair at all.
“All done,” I whisper. “Time to rinse.”
Taking the handheld spray, I turn the water back on and begin rinsing the shampoo from his hair.
Still holding me against him, Henry leans his head back slightly to avoid getting water in his eyes.
His erection was resting against my core, but the new angle causes it to rub against me, sending chills through my body, despite the scalding water.
It's only separated by the thin strip of fabric from my bathing suit.
All it would take is a slip, and he would be…
“Thank you,” he whispers as he raises his head, his hair dripping water onto his face, and stares into my eyes with an intensity that takes my breath away. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
The memory of the kiss we shared at our wedding crosses my mind, and I find myself drawing closer to him, dying to feel his lips on mine again. I’m a hair's breadth away from tasting him again when he turns his head at the last minute, placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.
I swear the water turns to ice around me as rejection makes my blood run cold. The tension filling the air dissipates, leaving a thin silence. “I should go.”
The water splashes around us as I hastily exit the tub, covering my body until I can get a towel, all of a sudden feeling exposed.
“Katarina!”
I don’t look back, keeping my composure long enough to get out of his room before closing his door and running as fast as I can to lock myself in mine.