The Devil's Good Intentions (26 page)

She tried to concentrate on the scenery outside, trying to hide her nervousness but failed miserably.

“
Love, if you chew off your bottom lip then it may be difficult for me to kiss you” Salvador drawled out.

She hadn’t even realized she had been chewing on her bottom lip, it was a nervous habit that she despised.

She tried to give him a reassuring smile but fell short when she saw the look of amusement on his face.

“
Do I entertain you?” She reprimanded him with her best scowl.

“
Indeed.” He grinned back at her.

“
Humph” she grunted out as she crossed her arms over her chest and scowled out the window.

“
What has you so moody? Is it the dinner?” He asked with amusement.

She wished she hid her feelings much better than she did. The last thing she wanted was to admit to him that she was desperate for his friends to like her. She would prefer to be strong and self-assured, not caring what they thought about her.

“
I’m not good at meeting new people and I don’t like being the odd man out.” She declared.

“
You already know Charles and Rachel. The rest of the gang will adore you - so stop fretting Wife.” He tried to reassure her.

“
Easy for you to say” she muttered under her breath.

She had to admit that she was comforted knowing that Rachel would be there. What was not reassuring was that Rachel would be the hostess and it would be selfish of Katherine to expect Rachel to dedicate herself to only her comfort.

Salvador reached up his hand and knocked on the roof of the carriage.

The carriage promptly shifted to the side of the road and stopped.

“
What are you doing?” She looked at him suspiciously.

“
You look as though I’m dragging you off to the gallows. What’s this really about Kat?”

Katherine caught herself from chewing her lip again and quickly turned her face away from his scrutiny.

It was more than just wanting to be accepted by his friends. She had been secluded for so long that she had forgotten how to socialize with more than just a few people in the room. Things were different and her seclusion had taken time away from social lessons.

“
Kat” his firm voice cut into her thoughts.

She sighed heavily and looked back towards him.

“
I don’t know how to socialize.” She mumbled out and then looked back out the window.

“
Of course you do, you’ve been doing so quite well.” He reminded her.

“
Never in a large crowd of people - I’ve been alone for two years and before that I was at a different level of socializing and never as an adult.”

“
Ah” he sighed out with understanding.

“
My family is nothing like the ton. We are all very laid back and most improper when it comes to societies standards. Just be yourself Kat and you’ll do fine.”

She gave out another long sigh and nodded her head as she continued to look out the window. She didn’t like showing her weaknesses to people and Salvador was such a domineering character that she felt that she needed to keep a strong front with him at all times. Unfortunately he was overly perceptive and always knew when something was wrong. Maybe she would get lucky and he would drop the subject and let it be.

She heard him shuffle from his side of the carriage and then a thump on the floor.

When she looked over to him, he was on his knees in front of her and already prying open her legs.

“
Salvador! What are you doing?”

“
Distracting you” He murmured out as he slapped her hands away and flipped up her dress.

Memories of their carriage ride to his estate flooded her mind and her cheeks flushed.

“
No, Salvador this is not an appropriate time.” She scolded him as she tried to shut her legs and slap his hands away.

“
I am your husband and I get to decide that my Love” He chuckled out as his clever fingers found their goal.

“
We’re not alone!” she gasped.

“
He’ll go for a stroll when he realizes that privacy is in order” He reassured her as he slipped his fingers beneath her under-clothes.

“
You’re mad!” She gasped out again when she heard his frustrated sigh and then the tear of her under clothes.

“
Yes yes Love, now will you be a dear and scoot your bum forward for me, hmm?”

“
You are not doing this now! We are expected at Lord Charles and oh!”

He had lifted her bum up by using her thighs and pulled her forward. When she felt his hot mouth against her core, she gave out a frustrated moan and let her head fall back in defeat.

“
That’s my girl” He chuckled against her mound and then continued his assault.

He brought her to the brink of climax several times but never pushed her over the edge.

She growled her frustration which only earned her a menacing laugh.

When he had her squirming in her seat and practically panting, he brought her skirt back down and retreated to his side of the carriage.

Katherine looked at him with disbelief. She felt her pussy pulsating with the need for relief and her breathing was erratic.

“
You’re right Love, now’s not the time.”

She opened her mouth to say something and then shut it when words escaped her mind.

He laughed and knocked on the ceiling again.

As the carriage started to move, she tried to regulate her breathing and forget about the incredible need that was lingering in her core. They looked at each other and their gazes locked. He gave an amused and snug look while she scowled back and shot fire bolts at him through her eyes. Katherine’s eyes narrowed at him as he stuffed her under-clothes into his pocket and winked at her. She decided to ignore him and work on getting some form of control back over her body. Right now her blood was racing and her body was thrumming with need. The only person who could quench that need was the person who had brought it on and to her dismay; it was more proof that her body was truly his. She hated the control he had over her and he knew it.

“
Arrogant Ass” she mumbled under her breath as she fixed her hair and straightened her dress out.

He grinned.

By the time they arrived at Charles Estate, she had managed to control her breathing and felt her body temperature cool down a few degrees. She was still pulsating from between her legs and tried to hide that fact from him. She wanted to show him that his little stunt didn’t affect her like he had planned for it to. She only hoped she could keep up the façade and the need would cease once the fresh air hit her.

“
That was not nice” She scolded him quietly as he helped her out of the carriage.

He chuckled as he took her arm and led her towards the door.

She had to admit that his “distraction” certainly worked. Now instead of being nervous about the dinner, she was focused on her frustration towards him and the need for relief. Every step that she took was agonizing as the movement become a stroke of its own, making her constantly aware of his unfinished business.

Her painted on smile turned genuine as Rachel greeted them at the door and took Katherine into her arms in a warm embrace.

~

Salvador felt smug as he handed Katherine off to Rachel and shook Charles hand in greeting. He knew that it would be a long while before she could take one step and not think about him. He grinned evilly.

“
Dear Lord Salvador, you look like the cat that just caught the mouse” Charles laughed out.

“
I would say that a cat seems a little too tame a description, wouldn’t you Katherine?” Rachel chided in.

“
Hmm, a wolf perhaps?” Katherine responded with a pointed stare.

They all laughed.

“
Come now Charles, lead me to your whiskey cabinet.” He prompted as he gave Kat a wink and turned towards the study. “Have the others arrived?” he asked as they all walked down the hall.

“
Alex and Angel arrived not too long ago and Simon has been here since morning.” Rachel responded.

“
Perfect” He responded as they were led through the study doors.

“
Salvador!” Alex bellowed out as he rushed towards him. “You devil! Where the bloody hell have you been hiding since you got back?” Scolding him in kindness, as they patted each other on the shoulders.

“
And why have you had dinner with Charles and Rachel twice since, but not yet sent word to us!” Simon added in as he joined their greetings.

“
Fellows, we have not been home long and Charles here so happened to have made the effort to greet us” he responded back with a grin.

“
And what of me? Finally there is a new female addition in this crazy family and you don’t think to send me an invite?” Angel scolded as she pushed Simon and Alex aside and stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.

“
Now Angel, I knew that you would be meeting Katherine shortly and didn’t want to overwhelm her” He tried to defend himself against her genuine hurt.

“
Overwhelm her!” She repeated back in disbelief. “You really are a Devil! I’m certain she would much prefer the company of Rachel and I to you two brutes!” She scolded as she thumbed towards himself and Charles.

He could only smile at the little spitfire before him. Angel was as tiny as Katherine yet had a temper that would put any Irish woman to shame.

He reached out and pulled her into a bear hug and then chuckled when she sighed in defeat and returned the hug.

“
I missed you too Angel” He said fondly as he gently set her down.

When he looked up, he caught Simon gaping over his shoulder with an open mouth and Alex staring wide eyed in disbelief.

He knew that it was his Kat that caught their attention and chuckled as he turned around and wrapped his arm firmly around her waist.

Kissing her forehead, he pulled her into his side and turned his attention back to the gapers.

“
Katherine, I would like to introduce you to Angel and Alex” he nodded towards the couple. “And this is Simon” he finished off while cocking an eyebrow at his still gaping friend, to remind him that his astonishment was clearly visible and was possibly making a fool of himself.

“
Pleased to meet you” Katherine replied.

He could tell that she was shy and a little taken back with the lot of them. He had to admit that it was one hell of a greeting that she witnessed and a good reassurance that proprietary was not expected in this household.

“
How in blazes…” Simon started to say before Alex buried his elbow into his side.

“
What Simon means to say is; welcome to the family” Angel recovered for him.

Katherine gave a shy blush as Rachel nodded to her in assurance.

“
Yes, well I was going to get to that.” Simon spoke up as he stepped away from Alex and shot him a warning glance. “But Salvador, how did you manage this!” he asked in mock astonishment as he waved his arm through the air at Katherine. “Did he threaten you?” He asked her in a conspiratorial tone.

Katherine giggled and turned beat red.

“
Simon, I’d hate to have to throttle you so soon into the evening.” He warned him with a glint of humour in his eyes.

“
It’s a pleasure my Lady, I am your humble and loyal servant.” Simon went on with a polite bow.

Both Rachel and Angel laughed.