DK and I thank you for reading and reviewing! There are multiple points of view in this chapter. They'll be labeled so you know. :D

Chapter 2

Katie Lea

The coach bounced over the deep ruts leading out the Duke Christopher Irvine's country estate. Why that man could not keep a London town home was beyond me, it would have been so much easier for him to call on me and for me to continue to receive callers. Instead I now sat in a rather musty relic of a carriage next to uncle William as we watched the flat landscape blur by. The whale-bone corset that cinched in my waist had me taking shallow breathes and I entertained the idea of passing out the moment I saw this man, if he didn't measure up to my standards, which he most likely would not. After all, being the only daughter of a deceased Earl had its advantages.

"Must we really come calling on a day of rest uncle?" I whined as I looked over at him. He smiled and looked over at me, his curls flopping boyishly into his eyes.

"Of course love. This marriage has been set long before you even graced our lives."

"Ugh. Arranged marriages are simply not done anymore." I protested; even though I knew nothing I was going to say was going to get me out of this.

"I know poppet, but it was made between two dear friends that wanted nothing more than to align their households." I pushed my bottom lip out into a pout, I knew from experience that my uncle could do little to resist that look.

He smiled at me again and turned his head to the covered window. He pulled aside the light fabric and peered out at the landscape. The swaying of the carriage lulled me to sleep and before I realized it I was being jolted awake by my uncle gently shaking my arm.

"We're here love." He said as he moved to exit the carriage.

With a huff I smoothed out my traveling dress and scooted to the door, taking as much time as I could so that I did not have to see the potentially hideous beast that was waiting for me. The bright sunlight assaulted my eyes and I raised one gloved hand to shield them, my lips quirked in disgust. I heard my uncles' laughter and I scanned around until I spied him talking to a blond man at the top of the stairs. His back blocked my view and I sniffed as the footman; a blond with a close cropped style of hair and blue eyes with the smell of horse clinging to him offered his hand to me. I stepped down and immediately drew my hand from his with a disgusted huff, and started up the stairs, holding my flounced and pleated skirt up just enough so I did not make a fool of myself tripping on the damned thing.

At the top I positioned myself behind my uncle and cleared my throat lowly to let him know that I was there. He turned to me and with a gentle hand brought me around so that I stood beside him.

"Duke Irvine, may I introduce my niece, Lady Katherine Lea of the house of Burchill." I could not do anything more than stand there, rather rudely, and gape at the man in front of me as I tried to babble out some reply.

"Please, I--I prefer Katie."

I could say no more, but only looked him over as discretely as my eyes would allow of me. His eyes were as blue as the sky in the morning and his hair more golden than just blond. His lips were full and his chest wide. With a blush I remembered my manners and curtsied deeply and hoped that I hadn't offended him with my tardiness. As much as I had not been looking forward to this meeting, at least I had been relieved in some sense to see he was handsome. His face alone might make up for other qualities should they be lacking, as most men to me had seemed to be boring and about as personable as a stone.

When I rose I saw him flicking his eyes from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, much like one would do when looking over a prime piece of livestock. He bowed to me, seemingly unimpressed, and then turned his attention back to my uncle. What an offensive man! But he is a very beautiful, offensive man. I was trying not to glare at him, it wouldn't have been "proper" of me, when he spoke again.

"We'll be congregating in the blue parlor. I'll have my footman show you in. I'll be along in a moment. I have an incident with one of my servants that I must attend to first. I apologize for that." He clapped his hands and the blonde footman who helped me from the carriage came scurrying up. "Christian, show them to the blue parlor." He bowed and motioned for us to follow him, a slight swagger in his step.

Any anger that I might have had at the man melted away under his voice and I followed behind my uncle, remembering to seem meek as a lady should, and I thought to myself that perhaps this would not be as atrocious as I had imagined.

Chris

I left Katherine—Katie Lea—Burchill and her uncle Sir William Regal with Christian and jaunted around to the barn where my newest slave--his name was Matthew--was working. I found him kneeling in the shadows, pulling the nails from the hoof of one of my horses. I sniffed, the smell of animal and dung disgusting, in the back of my mind I prayed it would not cling to my clothing when I went back to entertain the Lady and her uncle, something I was not especially looking forward to. At the moment, my mind was focused on something completely opposite: Matthew.

He pulled away the last nail and pried the dirty shoe away, laying it on straw, and he looked up, noting that eyes were watching him.

"What do you want of me...Master?" The last words came forth in a snarl of sarcasm. I set my face into a scowl at his flippancy. I could not allow such disrespect.

"Matthew, don't be cheeky." I said sternly, advancing on him. He stood and straightened, my breath caught in my throat. In the week which he had passed on my estate I had noticed that he had a habit of flouncing about shirtless, which was enough to scatter my wits. He was a beautiful creature, hot from his work, dark hair falling around his round face. I wanted to feel his rippling muscles beneath my touch again. Momentarily, I had forgotten about my guests waiting in the parlor, I suppose I was not being much of a gracious host, but I had never really been one to be noted for being very cordial to others.

"Come here." He responded with a growl. "Now come, don't be unreasonable."

He backed into the corner and clutched the Ferrier's tools to his chest. His eyes blazed at me; flashing anger and hatred. Even in such the disarray that he was in I wanted him; my breeches tightened as I watched him and I found myself wanting to be rid of them. In fact one of my hands reached down and fumbled the buttons at the side. He saw what I up to and he growled; the sound intoxicating to my ears.

"For one who wants his dalliances kept silent you seem to want to get caught!" He snapped, his teeth bared at me. I came to a jerky halt. He was precise, if I were to take him here in the stable any number of my other servants could stumble upon us. My carefully guarded secret would be whispered from mouth to mouth; tongues would wag and drag my family's esteemed name through the muck and mud. I composed myself and slipped the buttons back through their holes, ashamed that my lust could force me to forget my breeding in the need to have my cravings sated.

"I want you to report to my quarters after you're done with the horses. And for Gods sake man, bathe!" I put as much contempt into my voice as I could so that if anyone had been eavesdropping they were none the wiser.

"And if I do not?' He questioned, his eyes telling me full well that he had no intention of listening.

"Then I will drag you there myself and lock you in the room until I can retire from my company."

"I'd rather spend my time with the hogs!" He spat. The spray landed on my cheek.

I pulled out my silk handkerchief and with a grimace wiped my face. I noted hanging from a peg in the barn the shackles I had purchased him in, I crossed the barn, my anger rising. How dare he, how dare that insolent whelp! He clearly needed to be taught a hard lesson. I snatched up the shackles and lunged at Matthew, wrestling him as his limbs flailed wildly as he fought. Once his balled fist lashed out and struck me, the warmth of blood trickled down my chin as pain shot through my lip, where his blow had met flesh. Both of us were panting, growling, fighting, one of us rather aroused, I snapped the iron restraints onto his wrists and then went for his ankles.

He reared back and his heel connected squarely to my stomach, forcing the air from my lungs, knocking me backwards and almost to the floor if I hadn't been able to regain my balance. Glaring at him and spitting curses, much the same way he was doing to me, I swiped the back of my hand over my crimson lips and approached him again, dangling the second set of chains from my hand. I lunged at him and again we tussled, still unable to lock up his feet which seemed to channel the powerful thrusts of an ass which was unwilling to be shoed. He stumbled to his feet and awkwardly careened backwards, staggering into the beast he was tending to moments ago, it snorted indignantly. With an irritated shout, he rattled the chains linking his wrists.

The space was quiet but for our combined labored breathing and the soft sounds of the horses. A metallic taste painted my mouth and I spat, sweat rolled into my eye and stung.

"Why must you be so mulish!"

"Why should I be forced to partake in your blaspheme!" He shouted back, his lips drawn in a snarl, his dark, damp, hair clinging to his sticky face, his eyes defiant and judgmental as they fell upon me.

"You must because I say it! I am he who holds your fate in my hands, your life, whether it is to be lived well or cruelly, is a choice I have given you but I can assuredly take it away. I give you more than I have been given." My voice ends in a frustrated sigh, not only with him but with all of it, all of it. His eyes seem to soften—just barely.

"What do you mean, comparing yourself to I?" He rattled the chains between his wrists, angrily. "I am the one who is a slave, who was born a slave, who will die a slave! You're a free man!"

"Am I?" I laughed bitterly. "Matthew…" I moved towards him, smearing the blood from my lips. I raised the pair of shackles still in my hands and turned them, watching the links of iron as they moved gently clattering. "Not all shackles are made of iron, not all prisons are made of steel. There are other shackles in this life that bind a man, to which no key will free him." My eyes locked with his and though I tried I could not keep them from glazing with tears, though I refused to let them fall. He was shocked to see them there. With no other words, I unlocked his restraints, and smoothed out my rumpled garments. With a final nod, I turned to go back to the house and I let him be. After all, I had guests waiting.

The brief walk to the house seemed to render time shorter than usual as I tried to fix my appearance. I smoothed out the sleeves on my coat only to notice the smears of blood from where I had dragged my arm across my mouth during my encounter with Matthew. Just thinking about it again set my blood flowing and I had to stop for a few moments outside the door to calm the raging thoughts and gain my composure. With a sigh I pushed the door open and stepped in, schooling my face into a smile as both Lady Katherine and her Uncle William stand. The Lady's hand flew to her mouth and her eyes were fastened on my face; opened wide as if she had seen a ghost. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and I bowed to them.

"I apologize, I have recently acquired a new servant and he has of yet to learn his place." William nodded to me, his eyes glinted strangely in the light of the room. "Please be seated. Such....loveliness shouldn't be made to stand." I motioned to the settee just behind her. She started to simper then and I had to fight away the urge to growl in disgust which welled in my throat. Instead I smiled at her, the motion felt odd on my face; before I turned and engaged her uncle in conversation; my mind ever going back to the dark haired wild cat in my stable.

Katie Lea

It was simply boring as I sat and listened to them drone on and on about finances and whatever else they spoke of. Is it so hard to find a man who has both a handsome face and at least some shred of personality? I had since tuned them out and just watched the Dukes' lips and wondered what they'd feel like pressed to mine, even sporting a rather nasty split in them, they were lovely. He talked with his hands, and I found myself watching as they moved effortlessly with his words. They looked strong, their long fingers capped by perfectly kept nails. In fact his nails looked to be better cared for than my own. I looked at my nails quickly before pressing them into my palm to hide the ragged edges from where I had chewed them during the earlier ride.

I kept watching him, and noticed that every now and then his eyes flicked over to me. I smiled, batting my dark lashes as innocently as possible. He obviously could not stop thinking about me, and I should not be surprised, my dark beauty is a tantalizing attribute. I dragged my teeth over my lip; turning it a nice shade of red. He quirked an eyebrow at me and I lowered my eyes demurely; he mustn't think that I am wonton. Formalities, they are such annoyances. I heard my uncle clearing his throat and I looked up at him.

"Yes sir?"

"You were asked if you would like something to drink, my dear."

"Yes please."

The Duke called out and the man called Christian came. He leaned down and Duke Irvine whispered in his ear before sending him away with a flick of his wrist. Time had not even seemed to pass before Christian was back; a tray balanced on his hand. Two glasses contained snifters of Brandy and the third was a dainty teacup. I graciously took the offered refreshment, and remembering my manners I forced myself not to grimace as I lift the drink to my lips. I hate tea with a passion.

Duke Irvine seemed to have noticed my dislike and he called Christian back, and whispered something else to him. The blond man was gone and back again quickly; this time a small glass of merlot craddled in his work worn hands. With a genuinely grateful smile I took the glass and sipped at the liquid, relishing the light flavor against my tongue. He and my uncle went back to talking and I just sat and watched, taking in his every breath and word with a racing heart and hitched breath.

Chris

I could barely wait for their carriage to pull away. The Lady had all the marking of a shrew. As I watched the carriage pull out of sight I noted the sound a neigh on the wind and my eyes turned towards the stables. Matthew was out in the corral, leading the horse he had shoed earlier as he watched to make sure of the fit. My breeches again became uncomfortably tight. I watched as he wrapped his hands in the mares' mane and vaulted up onto her bare back. My cheeks were hotly tinged as I headed back to the house and called Christian to me. I stood facing the window when he came into the drawing room; making sure that he could not see any evidence of my arousal.

"Christian." I called out when I heard the doors to the room open.

"Yes m'lord?"

"I'm going to retire to my quarters, send Matthew to me. I need to discuss with him his earlier behaviour."

"Yes m'lord." His footsteps faded against marble and I waited until I saw him out on the lawn. I shook my head and hurried towards my room; knowing full well that Matthew was not going to come peacefully. I might have been in my room for all of ten or twenty minutes when my doors slammed open. I turned and Matthew stood just inside. His eyes smoldered as Christian stood beside him with his head down.

"Christian, leave us." He dipped his head in my direction and bowed out of the room, shutting the doors behind him. For a few minutes there was nothing but silence and my eyes swept over Matthew's frame.

He had put on a shirt, a simple linen shift that was laced at the throat with wide cuffs. His tan trousers were loose on his legs and his unruly mane had been contained to its que once more.

He shifted under my scrutiny and I smiled, licking my lips as I advanced on him.

"You spat on me earlier." I said lowly as I got closer.

"Aye, and I'll do it again." He bit out, his white teeth flashed dazzlingly against the dark tan on his olive skin. Soon we stood chest to chest and I took a deep breath, not caring that the scent of stable lingered on his skin; it merely added to the intoxicating fragrance which belonged to him naturally.

He did not back away, nor did he drop his eyes and for that I was glad. I do not enjoy weak lovers, I prefer them to have a mind and will of their own. Perhaps it is partly why I do not deal with the 'fairer sex', they are mindless; sub-servant sheep that do whatever they are told to do. I leaned in, unable to help myself, and tried to capture his lips, but he shoved me. With a growl I moved back and held him against the wall, my arm laid across his throat as I glared.

"We've been through this Matthew, you are here for one purpose and only one purpose."

"I cannot, and will not subject myself to this damnation!"

"I'm afraid it is too late to atone for your actions or to deny them. You were damned that first night when you gave yourself to me." I hissed. I captured his lips and forced my tongue into his mouth the taste of him lighting my blood as fire to dry straw. He fought me and pressed hard against my body in an attempt to get away and I could not contain the moan that worked its way past my lips and into his mouth.

His shorn short nails raked at my shoulders, catching on the silken cloth and damaging it; leaving four identical ragged runnels. I all but ripped the leather thonging from his hair, the action sent the ebony mass cascading around us; kissing both our faces as our tongues battled: mine for dominance and his for escape. I felt him give in if only a little; leaning in to my touches and I relaxed my hold on him.

That move was only a testament to my stupidity. He shoved me back and bolted for the door. It was all I could do to grab his ankle and I pulled him down, slamming his handsome face into the floor. Quickly I scrambled over and pinned him down, pressing my groin, alive with aching fire, into his backside. I groaned out loud as he bucked to unseat me, trembling, wanting him more than ever. I could not keep my hands off of him. I ripped at his trousers and my breath came harshly in his ear as continued to fight. I couldn't help but feel as though we were no more than two wild animals scrapping for dominance.

"I promise there is more pleasure in submitting than there is in fighting."

"Then if it denies you your sick perversion then I shall fight to my dying breath!" He growled and managed to flip me over and pin me to the floor.

"Oh, Matthew!" I cried as my chest rose and fell in heavy, labored, breathing. It was all I could do to regain my composure and control, as much as I liked to be the submissive partner, it was not yet the right time for such things. He was still too unruly and he needed to know his place before I could trust him to take me in such a way, though I would have dearly enjoyed it. The look on his face as my eyes rolled pathetically in pleasure was complete loathing. He was obviously abhorred by me, and his unguarded disdain strengthened my resolve. He was not the first man to ever look upon me in such a way, as though I was a low, dirty, creature because of my desires.

We tussled, I connected punches to his face, shouting, reigning him in. I pulled my belt free and secured his flailing hands behind his back as he roared, lion-like in his unchecked rage. He fell back into a corner, knocking an expensive oil lamp from its stand, it shattered over the floor leaving a pool of glistening oil and prickling shards of glass.

"Look what you've done, fool!" I back handed him, hard across the mouth, splitting his lip nearly identical to mine. He lunged for me and slipped on the oil, landing hard. He cried out as glass pierced his skin, cutting his face. I drew him up to his knees and dragged him as he still struggled, to my bed. I bent him over it and yanked his trousers down, taking in the sight of his bare, rounded, ass. He tried to kick and fight me away. I twined my fingers into his hair and jerked his head back, causing him to groan in pain.

"Be still. I will make it quick and as painless as possible, though with the mess you've made, I should be less merciful."

"Fuck you!" He hollered. I mashed his face into the bed linens.

"No, you seem to be mistaken." I laughed. "I shall be doing the fucking on this night."