by C. E. Hansen
She lived at the mansion, the family’s vacation home, her father very wealthy. Karl was hired to work as a servant for her “coming out” party. She would never want him. He was poor and couldn’t offer her anything. He was eighteen and his only means of income was this, a server for a catering service.
“Karl, would you help Ginny in the kitchen? The guests are starting to arrive and we need to have the buffet set up before they walk into the garden,” Cook said, snapping Karl out of his fantasy.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you, Karl.”
Karl strode toward the kitchen and helped Ginny and the other servants put the final touches on the “Spring Soiree” buffet. The guests filed into the backyard of the estate as though the Worthingtons were giving gold away for free.
Karl stood on the fringes of the party, attending to the needs of the guests and the kitchen help. He made sure the dishes were washed and the champagne fountain filled to capacity. The glasses collected and washed, as fast as they were discarded.
The party was for Miss Katherine Worthington, who was about to come out as one of New York City’s newest debutants. This was her introduction to society. She was sought after by each single young man in attendance, including some not so single.
Karl watched her dance. He watched the fumbled groping of the boys as they tried to touch her while dancing with her. She would gently guide their straying hands back to their proper place and always held her head up. She had such pride. She was so innocent and beautiful. Normal girls, the girls he knew who were sixteen, were knowledgeable, surely not as innocent. Karl was sure Katherine had been sheltered to the point of absurdity. She was bright and shining and new and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Karl, you’d better stop, man. These people are a different breed. They catch you looking at her like that and they will make you disappear.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I was just watching the people.”
“Man, get ahold of yourself. That,” Gerry said, pointing to Katherine, “is out of our league. No way. Go find yourself an easy girl, get yourself straight and forget about her. ‘Cause, man, that is just not happening.”
“Fuck you.”
“Suit yourself.”
Karl forced himself to look away. He picked up the tray with the dirty used glasses and dishes and made his way to the kitchen.
Later that night, when the party was over and the guests had left, Karl found himself wandering aimlessly around the yard, trying to look busy, all the time hoping to get one more look at her.
He finally saw her. She seemed somewhat sad, melancholy.
She walked to the railing and stood on the raised patio scanning the now empty yard. The only activity was the staff cleaning and restoring the property to its pre-party beauty, along with a few stragglers making their ways to their waiting chauffeur-driven cars.
He stared openly at her, causing her to blush. She lowered her eyes and her thick lashes fanned across her creamy high cheekbones. She was stunning.
He found himself walking toward where she stood. He didn’t have a clue what he would say to her, he just had to hear her voice. Her eyes widened and she quickly backed up, retreating inside the estate.
He stopped when he saw her rush into the house, angry she didn’t wait. He looked up to the sky in exasperation. Shaking his head, he slowly turned around. He walked toward the bustle of the kitchen area feeling defeated, hurt and dejected. When the last glass was washed, dried, and put back in its place, Karl walked into the kitchen and grabbed his jacket from the peg where he had hung it. He received an envelope with the night’s wages and slowly made his way down the long driveway toward the main street where he planned to hitch a ride into town. He could walk if he had to, but man he was tired.
He was on the county road leading into East Quogue when a Mercedes sedan slowed to a stop on the side of the road directly ahead of him. He looked up, smiled at his luck and jogged quickly up to the car.
He rocked back on his heels, shocked to find that his driver was none other than the belle of the ball, Katherine Worthington.
“I can give you a ride if you’d like.” Her voice was soft and sweet, just as he imagined.
He stood and looked at her, not believing his luck.
“Get in. Now.” She barely whispered. “We need to hurry, they will be looking for me.”
His brain kicked in and he jumped into the passenger seat.
“Thank you,” was all he could manage.
He studied her profile as she looked straight ahead as she drove, the silence stretched; he didn’t know what to say. They were both quiet for the next few miles.
“I’m Katherine Worthington,” she said by way of introduction.
“I know.”
“I, um, thought you may, um, I... You needed a ride home, right?”
“Yes.” Running both hands through his hair. “Thanks for stopping. I didn’t realize how tired I was till I started walking.”
She was silent again.
“My name is Karl.”
“Karl, it is nice to meet you.” She briefly looked at him, then returned her attention to the road, “I saw you watching me.”
“Katherine, not a guy there wasn’t. You’re a beautiful girl. Those boys, everyone, was watchin’ you. They all know who you are.” He paused for effect then continued, “Only I know what you want.”
“Really?”
“Yup.”
“Well, you seem to think you do.”
“That is because I do.”
They drove in silence. Even in the darkness he could see the color creep up her neck and spread across her ivory skin, painting her cheekbones.
He was very forward; it both excited and scared her.
“You’ll have to tell me where to turn.” She looked at him. He felt himself stir at the site of her beauty.
“I’d be happy to drive all night with you.”
She must be attracted to him, coming out this late to find him, to offer him a ride. She was quiet for the next mile.
He sensed her mood change and took his cue.
“I live about three miles from here.”
“Okay, just tell me where to turn.”
“You passed it.”
“Oh, no. Why didn’t you tell me...I’ll turn around.” She pulled the large car over and was turning around when Karl grabbed her arm.
“No. Please,” he begged.
She turned to him, a deer in the headlights look on her face. Her blue eyes widened.
“Just pull up a little bit. There is a park over there. I’ll get out there. It’ll be easier for you to turn around there too.” He didn’t want her to see where he lived. His home was modest and clean, but he didn’t want to her see it. Not her.
“Oh, I feel awful leaving you here.”
“Katherine, just pull up a little bit, over there,”–He pointed–“and shut the motor off.” His tone commanded.
Fear crawled up her skin. Also exhilaration.
“Okay,” she answered him quietly.
She pulled the car to the right and parked in the spot he directed her to. The edge of the park was dark.
She sat immobilized, her hands grasping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white with her exertion. He reached over and gently caressed her hand, her arm. He gently pulled her hand into his. He held it, caressing it until she calmed. The stress slowly left her body.
She turned her head to face him and at once his mouth came down, devoured hers, his lips hard and demanding, searching. His tongue pushed her lips apart and dipped inside her mouth, finding her tongue, touching and flicking with hers. She froze, never having been kissed like this. She didn’t know what to do but she liked the way it felt. A slow numb-like feeling coursed throughout her body, paralyzing her. Other boys kissed her, but it felt like they just slobbered all over her. Karl was different, his kiss more demanding, knowing. The tingling spread throughout her body. Her heartbeat pound
ed in her ears, her breathing became labored.
He gently pulled her other hand off the wheel and pulled it up to his mouth, kissing it, sending shivers up and down her spine. She felt like jelly as she physically slid toward him. He deftly climbed into the back seat and reached for her. Lightly gripping her around the waist, he dragged her into the backseat of the car with him. She groaned with the effort and stiffened when she found herself sitting on his lap.
“I think I had better go now…”
He pressed his lips to hers again. She grew increasingly nervous and skittish as she felt the hardness under her, bumping against her backside. His mouth still covered hers. He moved quickly, before she could protest, and had his hand up her top under her bra caressing her breast. She tried, unsuccessfully, to push his hands away. She tried to get her bearings; she was frightened, but the feeling of what he was doing was extremely pleasurable. Unwillingly, she moaned. He must have taken her moan as a sign and quickly maneuvered their bodies so she lay underneath him.
He pushed her top up and planted his mouth on her nipple. She protested weakly, her breasts heaving as she panted. She pushed against him, but was unable to move him. She opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but he covered her mouth with his. Karl pulled her skirt up. He reached into her panties and rubbed her; finding her wet, he pushed two fingers into her. He was breathing heavily. He had a far off look in his eyes. She could see his excitement was building. He opened his fly and removed something; it rubbed against her leg. Katherine looked down and saw he had his erection in his hand. Fear froze her. Then he quickly thrust it to her. Her innocence tore away way with the force of his thrust.
Katherine stiffened as the searing pain radiated throughout her private area, and she screamed into his mouth. Her scream went unheard, her tears slipping down her cheeks.
Karl was pushing in and out of her. She moved her hips up in an attempt to eject him from her body but this only encouraged him and he moved faster.
“You are so beautiful.” He grunted, his lips still covering hers. He lifted his head to look into her eyes; she quickly shut them squeezing tightly. She was moving frantically under him, but her movements propelled him into a frenzy. He started gyrating his hips; she was unable to stop him. Her breasts heaved, her breathing labored.
Stop, stop please stop, you are hurting me.
Her mind was screaming, her voice unheard. The tears continued to steadily stream down her face. Her feeble attempt to push him off only spurred him on. Her chest burned with her need for air. She bit his lip, the metallic taste of his blood in her mouth. His hips gyrating against hers, she was unable to stop him. Katherine prayed he would finish quickly. Her embarrassment knew no bounds.
She pushed weakly at his chest and gasped under his mouth.
It confused Katherine when she felt a strange sensation build inside her belly. The heat spread down to her thighs. She was embarrassed and felt betrayed by her own body as her hips began to move in tempo with his. A need in her, like a desperate hunger, grew. He reached under her top and using his fingers rubbed her nipples until they hardened. Moaning, she quickened her movements, and the first wave washed over her, sending her reeling. She was ashamed to admit to herself she didn’t want him to stop. She moved her arms from his chest to his back, pulling him closer.
“Oh God, Oh God, Oh God.” She heard the words leave her mouth. “Oh my God.” It was a scream of pleasure.
Katherine sensed that feeling again, that wonderful feeling, and was pumping her hips faster and faster, desperate for the wave to ripple through her again. It was there, building slowly. She wanted him to keep moving inside her until she felt the sensation flow over her again. Her sex tightened around him, now stretched to accommodate the size of him. The pulse built and then it was there, the tingling feeling, taking her higher, higher...
”Oh. My. God...Please.” She was pleading for that feeling to continue. Pleading for Karl to keep moving inside her. She wasn’t able to stop it nor did she want to. She raised her hips high, matching him thrust for thrust. Her head pushed back into the leather seat, rolling from side to side, and she cried out.
He pushed into her. She felt her insides tighten around him, clenching him. Then she heard his moan, like he was in pain. He whole body jerked and Katherine felt hot liquid fill her.
“I love you, Katherine.” He whispered hoarsely, a far off look in his eyes. His last spasm caused his body to shudder.
Katherine was immediately and intensely embarrassed, ashamed of the bold and brazen way she acted. She wanted nothing more than to get out of the car and run.
Instead she lay there unmoving, her eyes shut tightly.
He kissed her gently. She realized she was kissing him back, her tongue licking his lip, sucking at the blood still there. She felt him harden inside her again.
Remembering where she was and the time, Katherine panicked. Her parents could be looking for her. Fear froze her. They could not find her here like this.
“Karl,” she said, her voice raspy, “I have to go, they will be looking for me. Please.” Her eyes pleaded with him, her tears beginning to flow again. “Please.” She pushed at him. “Please, I have to leave.”
Karl slowly pulled himself out of her. Fastening his pants, he sat up and helped her to sit up.
“When will I be able to see you again?”
“I don’t know, I don’t know. I have to go NOW, please.” She heard the hurt in his voice, the distressed tone in his voice.
“You okay?”
She nodded quickly.
He started to help her with her clothing. He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped her gently, trying to clean her. She was horrified to notice that feeling start again when he touched her there. She sat up quickly and pulled away. She pushed his hands away, quickly adjusted her clothing, and scrambled into the front seat. He opened the back door and got out, adjusting his clothing, and leaned into the open driver’s window.
“Baby, you are amazing.”
Her heart quickened. “I’ve got to get back...Um.. my, um, father will be looking for me.”
“Okay, yeah...yeah…” he stammered. “You and me. That was perfect. I knew we would be. I know I can’t give you what those other guys can, but I can give you what we had tonight and I will love you.”
“Karl, I’ve never...” Katherine blushed. “That was…um.”
“I know...I was your first.” His breathing labored, he reached over and brushed her tears away with his hands.
“You’d better go, baby, before I never let you leave.” He looked directly into her eyes. “I’ll see you soon, real soon.”
“How...when?”
“I’ll find a way.” Karl looked down. “I’ll find a way,” he repeated. “Now go.”
He leaned in and gently kissed her swollen lips. She put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, holding him tightly. He backed away from the car and slowly moved to let her pass. She turned the car and sped off.
It took the whole ride home for it to sink in, for Katherine to realize what she had done. She was ashamed at the way she behaved and surprised she wanted him to do that to her again.
But for now she had to get into her room without being seen, then she’d be able to climb into the bathtub and scrub her body clean. She needed to get rid of her bloodied clothes.
The painful realization her father would never let her see Karl hit her like a brick; she was Katherine Worthington, daughter of Charles Worthington II, after all.
Her family would be leaving to go back to Manhattan in just two days. Her debutante ball was in less than a week; it had been arranged for her to be escorted by William Thorson. It would be impossible for them to see each other before then. This would never work. She wiped away tears, feeling all she lost tonight.
She’s had to withstand seven agonizing months before the first pain swept through and across her lower abdomen. She was large, the bulbous shape of her belly unrecognizable to herself. It
disgusted her. She could see the baby move; she wanted it out of her. She wanted it out now. Tears ran down her face as she pushed on the top of her belly, grimacing as she tried to push the misbegotten brat out of her. She felt another pain—this one caused her legs to buckle underneath her. The pain was so devastating she screamed out as she fell to the floor. Watery fluid mixed with blood formed a circle around her as she lost consciousness.
When she awoke, she was in a bed, a hospital bed. A line of fluid flowed from a hanging bag through a needle into the vein of her arm. Her mother sat in the chair next to the window, staring outside. When Elizabeth heard Katherine move in the bed, she turned her head toward her daughter and rushed to her side. Grabbing her hand, she held it tightly in her own.
“It’s all over, Katherine. You’re going to be all right now. The doctors have told us we can take you home tomorrow. When you’re stronger.” She paused, wiping the tears from her face. She bent down to her daughter and placed a soft, loving and in Katherine’s memory, forgiving kiss.
“I’m very sorry, Mother,” Katherine whispered.
“I know, darling. Just rest. Soon you will be back home.”
Katherine faded into sleep, dreaming for the first time in nine months about the future.
She shook her head, feeling sorry for herself. She had her whole life ahead of her then, and spent her life helping others, raising money for children. She didn’t deserve this…
But right now she needed to know her Grace was safe. Please, please, please...
Her phone rang she looked at the caller ID. Grace. Thank you, God.
Chapter 23
“Grace?”
My mother was hysterical.
“Yes, of course, Mother.”
“Where are you? Is everything all right?”
“Yes...Why do you sound so strange? Has something happened? Are you okay?”
“Where are you, Grace?”
“I’m...I’m sorry, Mother, for leaving the gala like that; I’m calling to apologize.”