Hours later, I was awakened when the colonel nipped at my ear, sliding his tongue over my earlobe.
"Sir, it's too early," I spoke, my tongue tied with sleep; but Tavington paid no heed; his hand was already under my shift, resting on my chest.
"My dear, you have a lot to learn," he said, pulling my shift away with one hand and keeping the other on my chest. "I want to feel you… right here."
Tavington leaned down and brushed his lips upon the skin just below my neck before trailing down to my breasts sucking gently on my nipples.
I cried out softly and wrapped my legs around him.
"Don't tease me with a tickle," I whimpered.
Col. Tavington responded with a hard bite and more insistent sucking.
"Stop," I gasped after another bite, "I want you in me."
The colonel paused his ministrations, smirking impetuously as he looked down at the rise and fall of my chest, quickened by pleasure.
"We don't have time; you must begin work soon and the general will be expecting you."
I pouted and reached for his breeches, stroking him until he was groaning with desire.
"Wretch," he growled, entering me swiftly.
I bucked beneath him, gripping the bedsheets until my fingernails dug into my palms.
"Harder…"
"You'll bruise."
My eyes narrowed and I kissed him hungrily, demanding more of him.
The colonel buried deeply within me and I contracted around him; he covered my mouth as I came, spilling his seed shortly after.
"Leave now," he whispered shortly after we had finished.
I returned to my quarters with time to sponge off. The water was cold but refreshing until I reached between my legs. The pain was stinging and I winced.
You'll bruise…
"Well I can walk…"
Gen. O'Hara returned in the afternoon, just after the midday meal but did not see me until after supper. I had been feeling sore so Kezia offered to take my evening chores while I retired to bed early.
I had just managed to slip into a comfortable sleep when there was a knock at my door and the general slipped in.
"Kezia informed me that you weren't feeling well," he said, settling on the foot of the bed.
"It will pass soon," I replied, turning to look at him, registering concern in his eyes. "I'm not pregnant, if that is what you were thinking."
"Are you so sure," he asked, kissing my cheek.
"As sure as I can be."
"I can leave if you need the night alone."
"Please; I would appreciate it."
O'Hara nodded, pecked me on the cheek and left the room.
(Gen. O'Hara's Point of View)
I left Mary's room feeling relieved; I had feared she was carrying when I found out she was not well. Still, something didn't feel in place and when I passed Col. Tavington in the hall, I noticed his particularly smug expression (not that his expression wasn't already smug normally), and he appeared to be making his way boldly to Mary's door.
"Colonel," I called, halting him midstep.
"General?"
"Where are you going?"
"Down the hall and out on the grounds for a walk." he replied plainly; his eyes flickered and I could not be sure if he was telling a falsehood.
"Be quick about it then; the lord general requests an audience with you shortly."
"Yes sir," Tavington replied with a tone of annoyance.
(Col. Tavington's Point of View)
"Bloody rat!" I scoffed as I continued down the hallway, my plans foiled.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I saw Kezia in the hall, scrubbing the floor, and, with an air of petulance, strode over to her, stepping on her rag with the toe of my boot.
"Sir, please-" Kezia looked up at me, smothering her irritation with silence.
"Really, you must thank Miss Webb for taking your place last evening," I leered down at her.
"What did you do to her," Kezia asked tersely.
"Oh, it doesn't matter. I do believe she enjoyed herself. The poor general; and she begged for it!"
"You ruined her," the woman glared. "Took a perfectly innocent soul and just blackened it with your lust and greed."
"She'll be fine; you managed…"
"I managed, yes I did. But that is it. I gave up a child for you; a son, an heir!"
I raised a brow, crossing my arms.
"That was your choice!"
"You would have no part in it! I had no other option!" she raised her voice. "You destroy everything you touch…"
"Enough! You will speak no more on this issue; is that understood?"
"Why? Because you cannot bear to hear it?"
"Kezia! That is enough!" I yelled, attracting the attention of Sidney, who was cleaning a nearby room.
"Colonel, Kezia, is everything all right?"
"It's fine, Sidney; go back to work," I replied.
Sidney cast a concerned glance at Kezia.
"It's all right, Sid. I'm fine; just go back to work."
Sidney nodded and retreated back into the room.
I turned back to Kezia, who had begun scrubbing the floor; feeling my rage build, I stepped forward, kicking hard at the wooden bucket of water next to her, spilling its contents before I stalked off down the hall.
