“As a matter of fact, I think the plan sucks! I didn’t agree to that plan.” I picked the blanket up off of the floor and tossed it onto the counter.
“I don’t live here, Wes.”
“What about your internship program?” I challenged.
“It was only a six-week program. I’ll have missed too much to continue, I think.” Tears spilled over and rolled down her face. “And, why are you yelling at me?”
I hastily put on my robe and secured the sash.
“Because I’m angry. Because you’re leaving me. Because this isn’t casual. Because I’ve fallen in love with you. You promised, Katherine! You said you weren’t going to go back to him!”
“Could you repeat that?”
“You said you weren’t going back to him.”
“Before that.”
“I’m angry, and hurt. I’m not a goddamned machine, you know. I have feelings.”
“After that.”
I replayed what I’d said in my head, then I looked her in the eye and smiled. “I’m in love with you. I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t really want to leave! I tried not to fall in love with you, really I did.”
“It’s not your fault, I’m irresistible.”
A sob escaped her throat.
“Christ!” I opened up my arms. “What a ridiculous pair we are.”
Katherine stepped into my embrace and rested her head against my chest. After taking a deep breath she looked into my eyes, and said, “Things are moving so fast. I’m afraid.”
“Me too.” I leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
Katherine laughed. “You’re supposed to be the older and wiser guy with all the answers.”
“Really? I could have sworn the casting call was for a devilishly handsome bloke who possessed a certain rakish charm.”
Katherine moved over to the sink, and picked up her toothbrush. Our eyes connected in the mirror. “Say it again?”
I walked up behind her and encircled her waist with my arm. “Katherine,” I whispered against the shell of her ear as I held her gaze. “I love you. I don’t want you to leave. I know this is new. I know this place is foreign to you. I know I’m relatively foreign to you. But, we’ve started something special here. Something I don’t want to lose. Just say yes. Say you’ll stay. Say you’ll give us a chance.”
Katherine brought her toothbrush to her mouth and began the ritual of brushing her teeth. I walked around to face her, wondering what was going on in her head. As she rinsed her mouth I hopped up on the bathroom counter.
“You want me to stay in London?”
“Yes.” I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her closer so that she stood between my legs. “More specifically, I want you to stay here, in this very house, with me.”
“Move in. You want me to move in with you?”
I nodded and let my eyes roam lustfully over her naked body, imagining how it would be to have her anytime, all the time. Perhaps my open scrutiny was too much. She reached for the blanket.
“How’s the tummy?” I asked taking the blanket from her and draping it over her shoulders.
“Still queasy. Isn’t it too early for morning sickness?”
“Not necessarily.” I noticed for the first time the sound of dripping water and glanced over Katherine’s shoulder toward the bath. “It’s been four to five weeks since your last menstrual period. That’s about right. Looks like we’ve got a leaky faucet in the bath. I have to remember to mention it to Charles.”
“Yeah. I said something to him. The tub managed to fill almost halfway a couple of times in the past few days.”
I hopped off the counter and walked over to turn off the tap that was leaking a steady stream of water into the tub.
“You won’t be alone, Katherine.” I sat down on the tub’s edge. “I want you to know that. I’ll be here, for you and the baby.”
Katherine took a deep breath. Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “Do you think maybe you could…”
“I could what, kitten?” I prompted as I rolled up the sleeve of my robe and reached back into the water to unstop the tub.
“Do you think that maybe…”
I didn’t quite hear the rest. It was as if, suddenly, I was encased in a thick agar. I turned my head, slowly, my attention drawn downward. My field of vision narrowed as I looked down to see a tangle of long auburn hair entwined around my fingers. The rush of my own blood filled my ears, momentarily drowning out Katherine’s words. Then the vacuum I found myself in filled with deafening silence. My gaze shifted to the face of the woman lying in the tub and as my eyes slipped into focus I realized that her lips, slightly blue and trembling from the cold, were moving. She was trying to tell me something.
My mind reeled in shock, as I struggled to make sense of it all. I closed my eyes, trying to will the image away, trying to rein in my rising panic. My heartbeat and breathing wavered for a second. But that second took its toll. My chest constricted and reflexively I gasped for air.
“Christ!”
Jumping up, I quickly retracted my hand from the water, splashing the front of my robe in the process. Within the blink of an eye I had pushed Katherine across the room and tucked her behind me, shielding her with my body.
“Mouse?” Katherine peered over my shoulder, looking toward the tub.
I shook my head slowly, blinking and trying desperately to get my now-out-of-control heart rate to slow down. I took a careful step forward, then another, until I was able to see the interior of the bath and confirm that it was empty. I watched as the last bit of water circled around the drain and with a slight suction sound disappeared.
I turned around to look at Katherine, uncertain how I was going to explain my erratic behavior.
“You were saying?”
I walked out of the bathroom waving her toward me.
“You saw her.”
Katherine walked back into the bathroom and stared down into the tub.
“Who?”
“Oh, thank God! Wes, I’ve seen things, felt things, over the past couple days. Things I knew couldn’t be real.” Katherine slid down onto the floor. “I’ve been so scared. I thought I was going crazy!”
I rushed back into the bathroom, dropped onto the floor alongside her and gathered her up into my arms.
“I thought it was the accident, something not right in my head,” she continued tapping on her forehead and looking up at me. “Please, tell me you saw her. Tell me I’m not going mad.”
I reached out and wiped away her tears. “If you are, then we’re both going mad.” I stood up and helped her to her feet. “Come with me.”
Katherine followed me into the bedroom. I retrieved her robe from my closet and then helped her slip it on. “I want to show you something.”
“Okay.”
Katherine followed me down the hall into my office. As soon as we crossed the threshold she saw it, the replica that I’d painted as a boy, the replica of Beata Beatrix.
“That’s her! That’s the woman I’ve been seeing. Who is she?”
“Elisabeth Siddall.” I numbly stared up at the painting. “You’re telling me you’ve seen her?”
“In the cemetery, in your living room, in the bath, but only for a split second, the barest of a glimpse,” murmured Katherine. “You saw her, too?”
“Yes.”
I walked around my desk, turned on my computer, and waited for it to boot up. “Just now, floating in the bath, her Ophelia pose.”
“And people think California is strange,” muttered Katherine, taking a seat in the chair positioned in front of my desk.
Suddenly the hair on the back of my neck bristled and a cold chill passed through the room.
“She’s here,” said Katherine.
“Where?” I quickly scanned the room. “Christ, this is crazy.”
Katherine stood up and closed her eyes. “I don’t know. But the cold, there’s always that cold an
d… Can you hear it? The baby crying?”
I listened intently. “No.”
She shook her head. “It’s gone. It stopped.”
“This is insane.” I opened up my address book.
“You said that already. What are you doing?”
“Looking for a phone number.”
“We should do an Internet search. We can’t be the only people to have seen her.”
I picked up the phone and dialed. “The thought of a mouse sent you into complete hysteria, but an apparition comes out of nowhere, and look at you. You’re as cool as a cucumber.”
“Rodents are evil,” she declared, pulling her feet up off the floor and tucking them safely underneath her bottom. “So are insects, except for butterflies and ladybugs.”
“Hello, Will? It’s Wesley Atherton. I want to speak with Jennifer.”
“Damn! That means I lost the bet. Why do I even bother?”
“Bet?”
“She said you’d be calling today.”
“Hello?” Jennifer picked. “Wes? You can hang up now, Will.”
“Yes, Jennifer, it’s Dr. Atherton.”
“You’re not my doctor anymore. I only paid up for six. And, since you call me Jennifer, I think I’d like to call you Wes or Wesley. We’re going to be working together after all.”
I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my eyes. “Right now, I don’t care what you call me.”
“She’s made contact with you. You believe me now, don’t you?”
“I’m not sure what I believe.”
“She won’t hurt you. Don’t worry, either of you.”
“But something is trying to?” I asked, then immediately winced. “Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“No. You’re on the right track. You’re sensing it now, aren’t you? You can feel it getting closer?”
I wasn’t sure what I was feeling.
“Don’t forget about the dog, Wes. It’s already afternoon. The poor pup is starving. What time would you like us, by the way?”
“For?” I opened my desk drawer and began to search for the set of keys that I still had to Reese’s apartment.
“Dinner. I’d like to come by the house. She died in that house; her presence should be strongest there. Look in the bottom right drawer.”
I pulled the drawer open and stared down into the interior, immediately spotting the keys.
“Seven,” I said, palming them. “Come at seven.”
Chapter Fifteen
“What’s that?” asked Charles.
I closed the door then gave the puppy I was holding a scratch behind the ears.
“Charles, this is a dog.”
He stood there, his expression completely neutral, staring at the pup.
“Is it housebroken?”
He followed me down the hall.
“Don’t know. He was Reese’s. I have his stuff in the boot, but there’s not a lot of food. By the way, we’re up to six for dinner tonight.”
“I had shopped for four. People will be arriving in just a few hours.”
“Next you’ll be complaining that I never take you anywhere and don’t look at you in the same way anymore,” I teased, pushing through the kitchen door.
Katherine had changed into a pair of old, faded jeans and was wearing one of my white dress shirts, the sleeves rolled up. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and it swung back and forth, enticingly, along with her hips as she bounced and writhed to the music that was blaring from the CD player. The vision made me stop dead in my tracks. My eyes tracked the seductive swivel of her hips. “Get Spike some food. Get whatever else you need for tonight,” I said. Then I turned to Charles and added, “Do you mind? She’s a bit shy.”
“Might I suggest that you consider restricting your liaisons to the bedroom?”
“What fun would that be, Charles?”
“Like father like son,” he muttered before turning to leave.
I reached for his sleeve. “Tell you what? I’ll restrict myself to that counter.” I pointed to the far countertop that Katherine was working on. “And the floor.”
Charles rolled his eyes.
“And, possibly the breakfast table,” I added before letting him go and approaching Katherine.
“Hey, there.” I wrapped my arm around Katherine’s waist and pressed my erection into her bum. “You’re a great dancer.”
“Bet you say that to all the girls, you big flirt.” Katherine looked back over her shoulder. “Who’s this?”
“This is Spike.”
I held up the wiggling puppy.
“He belonged to Reese. We’re adopting him. What are you making?”
“Brownies, for dessert tonight.” She picked up a dishtowel and wiped off her hands. “He’s really cute. I just need to pour the batter into the pan and pop them in the oven.”
“Wait a sec.” I set Spike down on the floor and stepped closer to her.
“What?”
“You’ve got a little chocolate right…” I leaned in and with a sweep of my tongue lapped up the smudge on the corner of her mouth. “Some naughty little girl has been tasting the batter.” I placed a hand over her breast and began to gently knead it. “No bra.” I nibbled on her bottom lip. “Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
“Is my sinister plan working?”
I nodded. “Oh, yeah. It’s most definitely working.”
Reaching back, I tugged on the rubber band that had been holding her hair in place, letting it spill around her shoulders and down her back.
“You have the silkiest hair.” I kissed her softly on the lips. “Turn around.”
“What?”
I spun her around so that her back was once again to me and then I molded my body to hers.
“The sight of you, can you feel what it does to me?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want me?” I unbuttoned the top button on her jeans and slid down the zipper.
“Yes.” She pushed back against me, grinding her ass into my cock. I slipped my hand inside her knickers, seeking out her wetness, separating her folds and running my fingers up and down the length of her slit.
“Tell me.”
With my free hand I quickly unbuckled my belt, opened my jeans and freed my aching cock.
“I want you,” she gasped.
I turned her around, lifted her onto the counter and quickly removed the clothing that had fallen about her ankles. “Lean back against the cabinets then bring your feet up here on the counter.”
She did exactly as I asked.
“That’s it, baby, open yourself up for me.” I licked my lips in anticipation, then leaned down and brushed them against her inner thigh. “God, you’re going to taste so good. You’re without a doubt the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”
I latched onto her clit, pulling the hardened bundle of nerves into my mouth, making her come almost instantly.
“Wes!” she cried out, lacing her fingers though my hair. “Inside of me. Now.”
I pulled back and grinned up at her. “Demanding chit, you are.”
Katherine lowered her legs and reached out to grab hold of my T-shirt.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, mister. Come here.”
She pulled me close, reaching out with her tongue to lap boldly at my mouth and chin.
“Fuck, baby.”
“I want you so much,” Katherine moaned as she slipped her tongue into my mouth.
I lifted her up off of the counter. On instinct she wrapped her legs around my hips and her arms around my neck. Finally I broke off the kiss. “Let go.”
Katherine let her legs slide to the floor. She was trapped between me and the table. For the briefest of moments, her eyes sought out mine in question. Then she reached out and slid her hand up and down the length of my erection.
“I want to see that beautiful bum.” I turned her around and ran my hands possessively over her bottom.
“Wes, I…”
“Sh
h.” I leaned over her, my chest against her back as I slid my hand down over her bottom, my fingers again separating her folds. I slipped two inside of her. “I want to take you from behind. I want to take you hard and fast and deep. I want to make you scream my name. I want to know you’re mine.”
Katherine was leaning across the table, supported by her elbows, her bottom exposed. I began by placing hot wet kisses along the length of her spine. She wiggled in pleasure and a fresh flood of juices coated my fingers.
“Tell me you’re mine.” I demanded removing my fingers and burying my cock deep inside of her.
“Oh, Wes!”
I pulled almost all the way out before thrusting in again.
“Say it.”
“You’re so deep,” she moaned pushing back against me, meeting me thrust for thrust as we picked up speed. I felt it as her insides began to flutter around me.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me. Let me feel you squeeze my cock.”
She clamped down on my next downstroke, maximizing the friction. She was so fucking wet. So fucking tight.
“Oh, Wesley!” she cried out, another orgasm sweeping through her body.
“Say it, please,” I begged, spilling everything that I had into her. “Tell me you’re mine.”
Katherine collapsed across the table.
“I’m yours,” she said, dreamily. “Only yours. Always yours.”
I reached down and gently brushed her hair over to one side. Then I whispered into her ear. “I love you.”
Katherine sighed. “I love you, too.”
The music had stopped. The only sounds left in the room were our heaving breaths and Spike’s excited panting as he ran about our feet.
“You realize we just had sex in front of the puppy?” asked Katherine as I eased out of her. “Some Mom I’m going to make. We’ve probably traumatized him.”
I swatted her bottom playfully. “Nonsense.” I looked down at Spike and refastened my jeans. “Spike looks quite happy. Leave it to Reese to have a pervy puppy.”
I sat down on the floor and invited the dog into my lap. “Listen, mate, just so we’re straight, you see anyone else doing that, you go in for the kill!”
“Getting possessive, are we?” Katherine sank down next to me on the floor. “I don’t think my legs are working anymore.”
The Sacrifice: Forbidden, Book 1 Page 13