Author's Note: The pamphlet that is mentioned here does exist, and can be found by googling 'Sex for Brides Circa 1894'. It was written by Ruth Smythers, the wife of a Methodist minister, as a guide for young ladies. This chapter also has a mature scene, with Nick and Catherine, at the end. As I have done before, the version here is the explicit one.
The Tea Party – Part Two
The front door was thrown open as Nick came striding into the front hall, his spurs jangling as he took his hat off, saying loudly "Ka..ta..rina!" Victoria had noticed that Nick happy was even louder than Nick unhappy. That thought was broken by how Susannah almost jumped in fright, as her full tea cup fell to the ground. The tea spilled all over her skirt and on the rug, as Dorothea gave her daughter a hateful glare.
"Mother, Audra, good to see you! Where is" Nick stopped when he saw Katarina sitting in the chair off to the side, beaming at him with pleasure. Oblivious to anyone else he strode over to her, and bending down put his arms around her as he started kissing her deeply. He had been out on the range all day, and hadn't seen her since early that morning.
Katarina was thrilled to see him, and enjoyed for a bit the way he was kissing her, before she remembered that they had company. Regretfully she broke off the kiss, and saw his puzzled look before he became aware of the other people in the room. Nick kept one of his arms around her though, liking to have her close to him.
Victoria had happened to be watching Dorothea as Nick was kissing Catherine and had been put off by the look of disgust and distaste the woman had on her face. The matriarch of the Barkley family knew Nick's display of affection for his wife was very blatant, but her son was passionate about everything he did. There was also the fact that this was Nick's house, and he had the right to do what he wanted in it. In Victoria's mind if it didn't bother Catherine than it wasn't a concern.
It took everything Victoria had to put a bland face on, and not let Dorothea know what she thought of her. Instead, she made the introductions and watched as Nick put his best charming smile on for the guests. Victoria saw that it cut no ice with Dorothea, while Susannah was looking at Nick like he was some frightful apparition.
Susannah had almost jumped out of her skin when the tall, dark cowboy had come into the room, talking loudly. It had caused her to drop her tea cup, which she knew had angered her mother, but she didn't care. The man was like a wild black stallion on a rampage, as he took over the room. She guessed this must be Heath's brother, but found it hard to reconcile that the two men were related.
She also found it incongruous that the tall cowboy in his ranch clothes was married to the elaborately dressed woman. Susannah though, looking at the couple from under her eyelashes for the second time decided she could see them together. The man was larger than life, and used to commanding any situation he encountered. Catherine was self-possessed, a princess, and the kind of woman a man like the tall cowboy would respect and want.
Heath had told her all about his brother, but somehow the reality was not meshing with the picture in her mind. Susannah could not even look the man in the eye as he said hello to her, preferring to keep her eyes downcast. There was something almost frightening about him, both his size and his loudness that set her nerves on edge.
"It is my pleasure to meet you both! A belated welcome to Stockton; I hope you like it!" Nick boomed, as one of his big grins flashed on his face. The grin turned to a tender smile when he looked down on his wife as he asked "Katarina, I hate to interrupt you, but could you help me with some paperwork, in the study?"
Katarina smiled at Nick gratefully, glad for the chance to get away from the Alderson's. She rose up, her ruffled silk bustle making a slight swishing sound as she did so. "Dorothea, Susannah, I'm sorry I can't stay; it has been illuminating to have tea with you." Katarina wanted to laugh, thinking how she sounded like her grandmother giving a back handed compliment. The women smiled as she excused herself, to follow Nick into the study.
Victoria and Audra both watched Catherine's retreating back with envious stares, before they turned their attention back to their guests. They saw the disapproval very apparent on Dorothea's face, but noticed that Susannah seemed to be less nervous than she'd been when Nick had been in the room.
Audra sent her mother a look of apology, as Dorothea, having exhausted the subject of religion moved on to her next soap box. She was not pleased with the number of saloons in town, and how easy it was to get a drink. The woman was vexed because she had already tried talking to the mayor and to Reverent Thompson about shutting them down.
Trying to look interested, Victoria privately wanted to laugh at Dorothea's naiveté in talking to the mayor. She obviously did not know that he had a controlling interested in several of the saloons, including the most popular one down by the riverfront. Victoria had never had any patience for religious zealots, or teetotalers, and this woman was both.
It was another ten minutes before Dorothea rose to leaving, saying that she and Susannah had to get home. They all said their good byes, and the Barkley women watched as the mother and daughter walked out the front door. Audra thought Silas took extra pleasure in shutting it behind them, which made her stifle a giggle.
"Audra, now I'm breaking out the sherry! Honestly, why I agreed to that is beyond me!" Victoria announced, as she walked over to the drinks tray. She looked at her daughter, to see if she wanted a glass; Audra nodded her head rapidly.
"Mother, I had no idea Mrs. Alderson was like that! Poor Susannah, no wonder she never says anything; her mother won't let her." Audra declared, as she took the glass her mother offered her.
"Quite frankly I have no interest in furthering a relationship between Heath and Susannah. I don't think I'd want Heath in the middle of that family mess!" Victoria informed her daughter, glad that the relationship had not gone that far. She wasn't concerned about saying anything to Heath though, being pretty sure that Dorothea would nip it in the bud quickly.
As the carriage carrying the Alderson's pulled away, Dorothea was finally able to let loose with her wrath. "What a vulgar display that foreign woman put on! I can't believe Victoria Barkley would tolerate that behavior in her own house!" Her voice quivered with rage as she thought of her and Susannah having to witness anything like that.
"I'm tempted to send her a copy of Mrs. Smythers' letter that was presented at the last minister's conference. Obviously that girl has been badly brought up, and doesn't understand the pitfalls of encouraging a husband." Dorothea stated vehemently, as she turned to look at her daughter.
"I hope you remember what it says; on the off chance some man is desperate enough to marry you. You need to use what you saw today as a reminder of what is not allowed!" Her mother lectured her, while Susannah tuned her out. Heath's brother had seemed like a wild animal to her, but she had noticed how tender he was when talking to his wife. She wondered what Heath thought of that kind of behavior, and if it was what he wanted from his wife.
The mention of Heath's name, by her mother, broke the train of thought "I have heard that Heath was supposed to be the one to marry her." Dorothea spewed in an almost delighted voice. Susannah looked at her mother, who saw her puzzlement and shock.
"Yes, your admirer almost married that foreign harlot, from what I've heard. He was supposed to go to Alaska, but hurt his leg at the last minute, so his brother went instead. It was an arranged marriage, for the Barkley's to get even more land than they already own." The older woman replied to her daughter's unasked question.
Dorothea took pleasure in going on "I have seen Heath around you, and while your father is fine with it, I am not! The next time he is trying to get your attention I suggest you remember that he almost married that woman. Knowing how men are, he is probably sorry it didn't happen and is willing to settle for you."
Susannah was surprised at what her mother had just told her, about Heath and Catherine. She thought back to how he'd talked both about his brother and the man's wife. It was apparent that he loved his brother and that they were close to each other. Susannah's heart fell as she remembered how Heath had spoken of his sister-in-law, with warmth and admiration. She also thought of her mother's last statement, that Heath was just settling for her, because he'd missed out on the woman his brother was married too.
"Yes, Mama I will remember that." Susannah responded in a flat tone, feeling very sad as she did so. It was like her dream of Heath had been burst like a bubble. The rest of the drive home was silent, as Susannah held back her tears.
If Dorothea had known what was going on in the study of the Barkley's house she would have collapsed with apoplexy. While Victoria and Audra had been dealing with the Alderson's in the front parlor, Nick had led Katarina into the study. He took pleasure in closing the door, and turning the elaborate brass lock above the handle.
She turned to face him, as he fastened the lock on the door, while he gave her a bold devouring glance. His eyes saw how the dress fit over her bosom, before descending to her tiny waist and lush hips. The ruffled bustle drew attention to her attributes, and Nick enjoyed what he was seeing. He liked how the black and white ensemble looked so cool and proper, while Katarina was anything but that.
"Nicholas, what paperwork do you need my help with?" Katarina asked in her lilting accent, as she watched her husband. His back was to her, as she heard the click of the lock, before he turned to look at her as his eyes blazed passion.
Before she even put it all together in her mind, he had her pressed against the mahogany paneling of the study. His body was hard against hers, while his scent spicy, masculine, and smelling of horses and sunshine enveloped her. Katarina felt every inch of him, and moved closer to him without even thinking about it.
"Sugar, there is no paperwork I need help with. You, on the other hand needed to be rescued from that female prison guard and the pitiful mouse." Nick's face was barely inches away from hers, as he made his pronouncement in very soft tones. "Just because my mother and sister feel the need to extend hospitability to anyone doesn't mean you need to."
Katarina was experiencing that shut down that Nicholas caused in her body and brain, and part of her wanted nothing more than to let him do exactly what he had already planned out. One very tiny part of her though felt the need to protest at least a little bit.
"Your mother invited them, and her husband is headmaster at the boy's academy." Katarina remembered hearing about the women, and then remembered something else to, but before she could articulate the next sentence her husband started moving his hands up from her waist.
"Darling, you have a corset on, don't you?" Nick had moved his lips to her ear, asking his redundant question before he started laying kisses on the tender spot of her neck just in back of her ear. He grinned as he felt her sigh and melt against him.
"Honestly Nicholas, of course I have a corset on! I am not going to step out of our room without one!" Katarina moved her neck slightly, enjoying what he was doing with his lips and tongue. Ever since they'd been back they had made love at all hours, but always in their room. It came to her that he had her in the study, behind a locked door.
"That presents a problem, because I want to make love to you, right now, right here." Nick was trying to move lower on her neck, but the pearl necklace was preventing him. The two lower loops hung low, but the first loop rested just above the collar of her dress. He reached his hands up and found the clasp, a snowflake design studded with diamonds, which he undid with hardly a pause. It fell to the ground, as he slowly and leisurely licked and nipped at her neck.
She became aware that his hands had moved down her body, from her neck, to her waist, and then to her thighs. At the same time he buried his head in her chest, feeling the swell of her bosom trying to rise above the corset that was holding it captive. Nick was not very experienced for nothing, and moved his hand to where he was sure the corset ended. His skilled fingers found the edge of the offending garment, as they worked their way under the soft silk fabric.
"Sugar, on the count of three take a deep breath for me, please?" Nick had raised his head to look at her, as the green flecks in his hazel eyes blazed with passion and intensity. He looked at her, and saw how unfocused her dark blue eyes were, and smiled as he realized how aroused she already was.
"I'll count, ok? One..two..three!" Nick's voice was rough but she managed to follow his instructions and on the count of three she took a deep breath. Katarina was startled to find that her breasts had been released from the tight fitting boned garment. He moved his head, and suddenly he was sucking on her hardened nipples through the silk. She moaned loudly, arching her body against his, suddenly not caring about anything else but him.
Nick's hands were moving over her thighs, as he lifted up her skirt and petticoat, before he moved one of his hands to the opening her bloomers allowed. He slowly stroked the tender skin, each time moving just a little closer to her femaleness. Katarina spread her legs even more, as the heat and wetness dripped down her.
"God, you are a hot little minx!" Nick gasped, as he removed his mouth from one of her puckered nipples that strained against the silk. He loved how she always welcomed him, and his attentions, as she enjoyed his maleness.
"You are the cause of it, you know!" Katarina told him in a satisfied tone, as she moved against his throbbing shaft. Nick's mouth found hers, as his tongue plunged deeply into her mouth, tasting the tang of lemon from the tea she'd been drinking. His fingers reached up to her crevices, and then stroked and pushed into her.
At that point Katarina let loose an exclamation of extreme pleasure, while her hands reached down to Nick's crotch. They then moved up to loosen his belt buckle, before the moved to the buttons of his fly. Her fingers brushed against his shaft, straining against the fastening of his pants.
"Sugar, are you as eager for me, as I am for you?" Nick questioned as she undid the last button and slid her warm fingers around his throbbing erection. They circled it, and then slowly moved up and down as they tightened and released in a rhythmic motion. It came to him that he'd gone from being the seducer to the seduced.
"Nicholas I am." Katarina purred as Nick lifted her skirt enough for him to have access to the warm core that was splayed waiting for his entrance. Her words, and the way she used them aroused him, and when she switched to French, to tell him what she wanted him to do, pushed him even further.
He thrust into her with determined force, and then moved her hips to a slightly different angle as he pushed her further into the hard wood paneling. Nick was suddenly all animal intensity, as he growled while nipping at her soft exposed neck. He felt her clenching around his shaft, and bit the soft piece of her neck he had in his mouth, before he sucked hard, trying to stifle his aroused growl.
Katarina knew that he wanted hard fast sex, and she knew how to give it to him. She moved her hands down to his buttocks, and then pushed them tighter against her, while telling him in Russian to move faster and deeper. Nick had always had a flare for languages, and he had learned Russian quickly, because that is what Katarina spoke when she was deeply aroused.
She buried her head against his chest, biting her lip to stifle the loud cry she wanted to make as the wave of pleasure crested in her body. Nick was right behind her, as his body shuddered against hers, before they fell to the ground, clutching each other tightly.
Their clothes were disheveled, and both were breathing very hard, as well as being flushed. Nick looked at her, thinking how dazzling she always looked after they'd made love. "God, I love you so much!" His voice said the words with reverence, as he pulled her tighter against him. Her skirt billowed around them, the silk slightly rustling as they snuggled.
"Nicholas, I love you too!" Katarina replied, as she caught her breath while he held her. "I also liked how you rescued me from that ghastly tea party." She told him with a giggle, thinking how much nicer it was to be with Nicholas than with the Alderson's.
Nick nodded his head as he said "Was it my mother or my sister who invited that ghastly pair?" He asked, as Katarina sat up, still giggling. She regarded Nick, with his pants undone and hair all messy with a fond smile. However, as she thought about his question, she remembered what she'd wanted to tell him earlier.
"Actually, it was your sister, and she wanted to help Heath!" Katarina declared, and then explained the whole thing to him.
"Good lord, you mean Heath is interested in that scared filly? Sugar, I know he likes to rescue people, but I think he should walk away from that one. Did you see how she was looking at me? And that mother? He'd never get any peace with that woman." Nick was flabbergasted at what he'd just learned, and it showed on his face.
"I would suggest saying something to him, but it probably wouldn't do any good. It is a good bet though that Dorothea won't let anything happen. She only approves of Methodists!" Katarina thought about the woman's one subject of conversation.
"Well then for once I say thank goodness for Methodists, because Heath is definitely not one!" Nick looked at Katarina, who was trying to adjust the top part of her dress, and then he noticed her neck. On the left side was a rather large red spot, and it didn't take him long to recollect when it had happened.
"Darling, you are going to need to wear something around your neck tonight. I'm afraid I got rather carried away." Nick confessed, giving her a remorseful look as he did so. Katarina had been looking for her necklace, which she found under his outstretched legs. She picked it up, and went to put it back on, as he reached over to do the diamond clasp.
"Nicholas, that is one of the many things I love about you, is your exuberance for everything that you do! Why don't we go upstairs and you can help me pick out what I should wear?" Katarina could have cared less about her neck, having enjoyed being with him too much. They were both physically passionate people, and she'd dealt with his love bites before.
He threw his head back and laughed loudly, thinking how wonderful it was that she was his wife. They straightened each other's clothes before they opened the door, trying to act calm and normal. Luckily there was no one around as they made their way upstairs, because she'd not been able to get her corset back to where it had been. Katarina wasn't concerned though because she knew that Nick would have all of her clothes off once they were in their bedroom.