Chris

Time seemed to pass slowly, but still it passed. My love and desire for the man I had once bought at market simply burned brighter within, the embers ever stoked with our secret rendezvous. Close to my heart, the dark haired man remained, and barely a moment could slip by that my thoughts did not somehow turn to him. Never had I felt so consumed with one thing, or one person, and sometimes to the point that it seemed as if my wits had left my head altogether, as if his earthy eyes held some spell. I tried to decipher his responses, mixed and varied as they were. I chose to hold close and cherish the moments when he seemed to forget the wrongs of our past, and let down his guard to trust me. There were times when I was sure I saw reflected in his eyes and mannerisms a cautious return of what consumed my soul.

So many nights when we were not in each others arms I found myself standing in the tall window of my chamber, the curtains pulled, looking down onto the servant quarters below. I wondered if he might be dreaming of me, as my dreams were always of him. Behind me the blankets of my bed would lay disheveled and cold, in the next room my wife, and the sounds of her affair with my footman so boldly touched my ears. I think at last she knew that I knew, and I did not care. Still, both of them seemed to get some perverse joy from rubbing it into my face.

Perhaps some time before it would have dealt me some sadness, as I wondered why I could not please a woman or have desires for such as other men did—but those thoughts were mostly gone from my mind, usurped by the love I held for Matthew. My previous doubts in myself seemed to dwindle away as I simply fell deeper and deeper, harder and faster, for this man who was supposed to be in my hand, yet somehow our positions had reversed. There was nothing I wouldn't do for him, whether he ever truly returned my affections or not. The ring upon my finger and the promises made before God to my cold, cruel, wife might as well have been made to him in front of God, Satan, and the lapping fire that surely awaited for a man of my so-called wicked desires.

Such a night has passed and as the pale fingers of dawn crept into my solar like thieves I felt rather than heard the footsteps on the floor and as I turned. I was made witness to an intimate kiss between my wife and Copeland. In the back of my throat bile rose and I had to turn from the sight. I knew in that moment that I had to quit this frozen place for at least a few hours, even if it were only to ride over the hills of my land, since I had finally made up with one of my horses. Like always that thought brought up the memories of the ride with Matthew over the lush hills, the feel of the soft cool grass on my knees and back and the hot skin of Matthew pressed against my lips and fingers.

If my soft sigh was heard by the tongue tied lovers they ignored it, in fact their efforts doubled and the moans and guttural groans drove me from the room in naught but my dressing gown. I was down the marbled stairwell to the barely warm kitchen where I crashed onto a stool, my face red from my wicked thoughts about the dark eyed demon currently housed in my servant quarters.

I propped my chin into my hand and watched as the pink rays of morning sun slipped through the kitchen windows, as likewise they had done upstairs. The color reminded me of the pink that warmed Matthews' cheeks when my lips touched his, or when my hands roamed slowly over his taut, tanned body. The more lustful desires were not the only things that pulled me to him, no there were things deeper and simpler too. It was such as the sound of his voice, or the spring of his curls when he moved, or the lively twinkle in his eyes. I sighed, turning my gaze to the door and wishing him to stride through it and toss me onto dining table. A slow smile crept across my face at the thought of the sturdy, carved legs baring the weight and motions of our endeavors.

Moments passed me as I sat there gazing as a silly love-struck girl. I knew the scene unfolding to my mind would not take place, however when the door creaked open my heart still sped and nearly hopped out of chest. The figure moving into the kitchen however was not Matthew, but Jezebel. Her face was tired and she yawned, her cap cocked on her head as one hand rested on her middle.

It was a posture I was fairly familiar with. I swallowed down my disappointment and cleared my throat, feeling slightly ashamed when she jumped and knocked into the large stone hearth.

"Ms. Piper, are you feeling well this morn? You seem to be quiet pale." It was another thing I picked up from watching, you could never make a woman talk if they didn't want to. If only my doting wife never wanted to talk! The thought was amusing, but the still silent lips of my kitchen maid worried me so I pushed it aside and got up, moving over to place a friendly hand on her shoulder. "Ms. Piper? Jezebel? Has the night left you ill my dear?" That question brought a sniffle from her and she turned from me, the errant cap that always found its way to the floor slipping almost completely off.

"It ain't the night that's done left me ill, Sire. It's the greetin' of every mornin' these days." She caught her cap before it tumbled away, and rung it in her hands. "I...Master Irvine Sir, if the Lady Katherine be to find out me situation I'm 'fraid for my place in the household--though I know soon I shan't be able to hide it no more. I'm tryin' so hard Sir to keep up on me chores an' duties or that wit--pardon me Sir, that wife a'yours will be havin' me tossed in the street. I can't have that Sir, not with a child readyin' itself to be born to me. Please Sir, take mercy on me."

Her words dissolved into tears that rolled slowly down her cheeks. The ire reserved specifically and provoked only by my wife arose hot within me, as I had taken her aside and told her many times to leave the running of my house to me. She of course never listened. I had ceased to have any say about my own affairs the day we were wed.

"There dear, don't cry. Jezebel, you've always been a good and faithful servant to my household. No one shall turn you out of my house. Come, don't cry."

I pulled her towards me, and she melted into my arms, her tears wetting the shoulder of my dressing gown. Behind me, a sharp cough sounded, and Jezebel hastily pulled away from me, her words frantically tripping over themselves. I turned to see my wife, her arms crossed over her chest, her hair a mess. I wondered and wanted to ask of her what had become of the panted kisses outside my chamber, but I bit my tongue once more.

"Christohper?" Her accusing voice fell upon me, as if I had done something wrong by comforting one of the objects of her torment. "Jezebel..." Katie hissed her name shortly after mine, narrowing her eyes. "Get you to your chores, before I see fit to reprimand you for your idleness."

With a nod she disappeared from the kitchen and I made the mental note to find Darla at some point and send her in Jezebel's direction. With a scowl I turned my full attention to my darling wife, my arms crossed over my chest as I held her gaze unblinkingly. She stomped the rest of the way to my side and glared at me, her lips curved in a threatening grimace. I wanted to back off, but I knew that if I did then I would open myself to more abuse to be heaped on my shoulders.

"That mealy-mouthed, alley-cat, whore!" Lady Katherine growled into my ear. Her hands roughly gripped the linen of my dressing gown and twisted it. "And you, over a year we've been wed and you can show no shred of affection to your own suffering wife, yet you welcome her into your arms so readily? What should I make of that, husband dear? Don't think I haven't noticed your late night forays. I'll be damned if my place is taken by that of a--of a--flea bitten rat! That girl is not but a louse upon society, the lowest of low. I should think a man of your standing would know better than to lay with the dogs!"

"Laying with dogs?" I couldn't help but scoff, her words amusing me greatly. "My dear, gentle wife, if anyone be laying with dogs it be you. At least the kindly Ms. Piper smells a great deal better than Copeland." It was a horrible insult and by no means substantiated, but the look of indignant rage that shadowed her face made me smile.

"You-you-"

Her screeched tirade was cut short when the sound of a deep throat clearing sounded from the door and Big Paul was standing there with a light blush to his face.

"Sire, I don't mean to be interrupting, but there's been a situation out in the stables. I think ye need to come take a look."

He trailed off and I couldn't help but feel sick to my stomach, immediately afraid that something had happened to Matthew.

"I'll be right along Paul.

He nodded his bald head and disappeared, his large back hurrying back towards the stables. With a growl I extracted myself from Katie's grip and all but flew behind the tall lumbering man. Relief washed through me however when I see Matthew standing outside the stables, a scowl twisting his plump lips as he kicked at the dirt. Upon drawing abreast I released the breath I didn't remember holding and cleared my closed throat. "What is it Matthew?"

"One of the horses has kicked through the stall wall, and his mounting the females." Matthew explained.

"Men, they're all of the same mind."

Katie huffed, having followed me out without my realizing it. I turned a glare on her, but she had already spun on her heel and flounced back towards the house. My fingers went to pinch at the bridge of my nose. The day had only shortly risen, yet already was giving me a throbbing ache in my head.

"Just...just take care of it. Paul, you are to repair the damage to the stable. Matthew, can you take care of the stallion?"

Matthew nodded, and both he and Paul went to tackling their tasks. As Matthew hurried away, I could not help but watch his body move, and wished we had but some time to spend quietly together. My thoughts were interrupted by giggles from Darla and a young woman called Sara who had newly been acquired to my house. It was then I remembered how inappropriately I was dressed to be out and about, and quickly made way back to the house.

Matt

I watched Duke Irvine disappear into the manor and let out a sigh. Whether or not it was a sad one or a relieved one I wasn't going to examine closely to find out. The sound of Paul rummaging behind me pulled me back from my mental grumblings and with a slight growl I put my mind and back into the hard task of trying to separate the stallion from the mares. My own favorite mare was being mounted and the wild eyed stallion was nipping at me as I tried to get them apart.

A series of soft giggles caught my attention and with a waved hand in the direction of the animals I turned to see Darla and another small female standing at the fences, their faces flushed as they whispered back and forth. Darla must have felt my gaze because she looked up and batted her eyelashes at me, curling her finger in a 'come-hither' gesture.

With a head shake I ambled over and leaned against the rough hewed wood planks.

"My fair maidens, I believe that isn't the place for you." I couldn't help but laugh though as Darla's face scrunched up with a yelp.

"An why would that be, Matthew?"

"Any place ye be is a good place to me." Sara cooed, openly eyeing me none too innocently.

"The rutting of animals is not for the soft, delicate sensibilities of ladies."

"Ladies? Where be there ladies?" Darla glanced around, as the other woman smirked.

I could only laugh, and return the naughty looking wink she had given to me. I went about my task of separating the horses as the two women stood and watched, as if they were interested in the horses rather than myself. I was finally able to get them apart, and walked the aggravated boy around a bit, as he snorted angrily at my interruption of his pleasures. I wouldn't have been so happy either if some twit had pulled me away from a romp with Jezebel or Darla, or maybe that pretty new one, Sara--or Master Irvine.

I grumbled, twisting the leather strap of the horses harness in my hand as he came to my mind in such a way. I could feel his soft, warm hands on me, feel his hot breath against my skin, his ticklish blond raining over my face, the entrancing depths of his emotional blue eyes and his lips pressed against mine as I nudge his apart to taste--I shook my head, though part of me did not wish the images to disappear. In fact, there was a part of me that seemed to grow stronger each day that would rather those daydreams be very real. But, maybe he would come and pay me visit later that night. You shouldn't think of such things, Matthew. I told myself, and as if in agreement the mare stamped at the grass.

My naughty watchers soon grew tired of their voyeurism and truth be spoken a part of me was relieved to see them go. With a head shake I called out my declination to attend that nights poker game and blew a half hearted kiss to Darla and Sara as they both pouted prettily. Darla's red locks blew around her face as she leaned over to whispers something to Sara. With blushing faces they finally departed and I patted the stallion's strong neck, feeling more connected to him than before.

"Verily old man, if I were a horse you and I would be in the same pasture, too many mares for us to care for." He snorted and I wiped the warm mist from my face. He rolled an eloquent eye at me and I laughed once more before leading him back into the stable to see if Paul had been able to repair the demolished wall.

It had yet to be completely fixed. It was more wrecked than I thought it had been upon first glance. I led the stallion to a smaller stall and left him there to brood over his ruined fun. The biggest part of the day left was spent helping Big Paul with the repairs. I knew Duke Irvine was very picky and fussy about how things were done so I made sure it was done properly. Once the last of it was finished, the Duke showed up to look over it. He dismissed Big Paul with a 'well done' and then the two of us were left there, inside the still empty stall.

"Thank you Matthew, I am always pleased with your work. Your hands are very skilled." A light pink washed over his cheeks, and he was looking at me in a way that seemed lovestruck. It sent my heart pounding with both anxiety and excitement.

"Thank you, Sir."

My own words all but tumbled from my lips and I closed my eyes in embarrassment, the flush creeping up the back of my neck until it engulfed my entire face. The images from the earlier wanderings of my mind washed over me again and my eyes opened, startled when I felt the cool contact of skin against skin.

"What ails you, Matthew?" The Duke's voice was soft, the tone gentle as he moved hair away from my face, his fingers caressing the silken strands almost reverently before hooking them behind my ear.

"N-nothing m'lord."

His eyes, those jewel like orbs that seem to possess knowledge of me that I myself am not aware of, bore into mine. I wet my lips thinking that perhaps this was nothing more than the passing fancy of my mind, that I am the only one standing in the stall now. Another light touch to my cheek makes me jump and I swallow, my heart pounding a rapidly against my breastbone as I watch him grow nearer.

"Then it must surely be the day's trials that have put that faint red upon your face...."

"Verily m'lord if rose cheeks are an ailment then I must ask Sire, what is it that ails you?"

His lips quirked up into a faint smile.

"Matthew, I think you know. My heart ails me, and even so my mind at times too seems caught in some strange plague, wrapped up in a fever-dream. Do you know what I speak of?"

"I know not sire."

His lips turned to a frown and his voice became a whisper.

"I figured as much, Matthew."

He complimented me again on the work and turned to leave, his back that was once squared proudly slumped, and his step shuffled instead of the swagger that showed off his hips to perfection. Without think I grabbed his arm and spun him back to face me.

"M'lord, how can I know when you won't share with me what you speak of?"

His eyes grew wide at the way I handled him--completely out of line for my lowly standing to his--but he did not chastise me. He swallowed hard, and spoke again, very softly.

"Matthew, I...I fear you have captured not only my despicable desires, but my very heart and soul. I care for you in a way that I should not, but I can not hinder it. I love you as I should love the woman I am wed to. I have for some time now, truth be told. T'is been more than a years passing since we've been carrying on in secret, and nearly as long have I been captured under your sweet spell." He laid his hand upon the dirt-smudged linen of my tunic, upon the center of my chest. "I hope I have not been too forward, but you asked for my words, and I have given them to you."

Dumbfounded I could do nothing but stare, my mouth working slowly. I hadn't been expecting a secret declaration of love to come spilling across his lips. I open my mouth to say something, anything, but still there is silence. Once more he turns to leave. Apparently my silence is not what he wished to hear, or rather he doesn't want to interpret what my silence means to him and his confession. I know not what my feelings are towards him, he is an enigma in my mind, I hate him yet at the same time I crave his touch and his kind words.

"Sire!" The word is a yelped croak and it makes him turn back to me, his eyes shimmering. "Yes Matthew?"

Words once more fail me, so I do what first came to mind. I strode over and pulled him to my chest, ignoring the way he fit perfectly under my chin and as a voice inside screamed to stop. I bent down and kissed him softly at first, and then with more vigor when I felt him pressed against me.

Endless moments passed as I caressed the silken petals of his lips, my good sense running for cover as my hands worked of their own accord and gripped his hips. My fingers dug in slightly, the movement making him whimper and giving my tongue access to the sweet darkness of his mouth. Every touch between our bodies was as if lightening was striking us over and over. Before I could reign in my impulses, I pushed him against the wall and covered him, pressing our chests together so that we were one from shoulders to hips. His soft, pretty, hands were pawing at my shoulders and his small sounds were swallowed down, making my incomprehensible hunger for him grow. Finally my mind seemed to take control again and I pulled away, my breathing as heavy as that of a horse put through its paces hard then put away wet. My lips tingle as I wet them, my throat dry and making my voice a gravelly rumble.

"Sir, I'm sorry. I-I don't know what came over me. Please forgive my impertinence..."

"Why would I forgive it?" He panted, as his fingers gripped at the splintery wood of the barn he was leaned up against. "I was rather enjoying it...if you have not taken notice Matthew."

The color of his cheeks which was a warm shade of pink darkened redder with his words. His reaction to my intimate and sudden display was indeed bared in the light sheen of sweat over his face, and the simmering blue of his eyes, and more so where the soft fabric of his trousers stretched tight. With a shaky hand, he pushed some stray strands of long golden hair away from his face, but they simply tumbled back, and stuck to his pretty blushed cheeks.

What may or may not have been a purr sounded in my throat and I reached between us, palming the hardened flesh; my eyes watching each facial tick of his, and for some unknown reason committing them to memory.

"Then I know you'll enjoy this..."

T'is strange what came over me next, but I dropped to my knees and whisked the distended fabric down his legs. The bobbing, throbbing flesh beckoned me until I licked at the glistening head. Part of me was disgusted by what I was doing, and of my own accord at that, but another part, the part that was slowly becoming louder and louder each day loved it. That piece of me loved the way he fit into my mouth, loved the way he tasted and wanted more than anything to be doing what I was doing. I realized that I cared not if we were seen by the others, but it occurred to me that my Master might. I pulled away and stood, smirking as I started towards my room, knowing that he would be following me even without turning to confirm it.

Katie Lea

"Where could he be?"

I leaned up against the tall window, and scowled out into the forming shadows of late evening. All evening my husband had been absent from the house, not as though I missed his prissy walk or his preening mannerisms. I was only bothered because I knew he had not gone into town, his footman was sprawled out behind me on my bed, proof that my wayward husband was lurking somewhere on the property. Perhaps he had only went for an evening stroll through the orchard but I knew that was not so. I knew he was sneaking around like a thief, desperately trying to outsmart me in his games. His attempt can only end in a failure, as I will find out what foolish thing he's been up to. When I do, I shall lay my wrath upon him in much more than words, and he won't want to show his body to any woman after I've humiliated him with my fists.

"Just come to bed, m'lady." Adam purred from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and smirked at him. His position was simply sinful, and simply wonderful. My still warm body from our romp earlier began to heat again just seeing him eased back onto the pillows with his legs so boldly spread. He is such a fine, bold, man and everything he does excites me in ways my pathetic husband could never even hope to.

"In a moment." I said to him, and turned back to the window. I leaned onto it a bit, knowing he was eyeing my bare and perfect form. My eyes kept watch over the dim land for a few more moments, before I sauntered towards the settee and slipped my gown over my head. Adam quirked a brow at me as I moved towards the door. "I'm going to go and run him out. I'm certain he's seeing one if not more of those flee-bitten uncouth women in his employ." I shuddered, just thinking of the poor options presented in those dirty, common, alley cats.

I left Adam reclined on the bed and moved through the house, intent on catching my deceiving husband in the arms of that whore Darla or her constant companion, that simpering Jezebel. Her very name was quite fitting of her, as I am sure she is just as bad as the other. How—how could my idiot of a husband be more at home against the skin of a rat than next to my noble and beautiful body? My anger only rose higher and higher as I stormed from the house and across the lawn. I was intent on knocking down each woman's door until Christopher was found, and then he was going to wish his spineless being had never been birthed into this world.

Suddenly, a flash of white caught my eye, and I stopped. Rounding the corner of the barn was a small form I knew too well, and loathed just as equally. I moved upon her fast and seized her, dragging her into the barn as she wailed. I shoved her into one of the stalls and her eyes grew wide when they fell upon me.

"M'lady I--"

The palm of my hand rang loud against her cheek as her head knocked back against the heavy wood of the barn wall. For a moment her eyes rolled, and then steadied again.

"You little vermin, you dare not speak to me unless I bid you to!" Again my palm struck her, this time lighting the other cheek to a burning red, as tears spilled glistening from her eyes. "Now, tell me Jezebel, what are you doing out of your quarters at this time?"

She shivered and for the slightest moment chewed her lip.

"Answer me!"

With a whimper she moved herself into a corner as her tears fell harder.

"Yes'm. Y'see m'lady I wasn't feelin' well and I thought I might have a wee stroll un'er the moonlight to calm me. I've got a lot on me mind as of late and I didn't mean no harm, honest ma'am I was just walkin'."

"I saw you come out of this barn, don't you lie to me!" I grabbed her shoulders and shook her as her tears turned to sobs.

"M'lady please!" She wailed. "Please have mercy and be gentle, I beg of ye!"

"I have no grace for liars and dogs like you." I spun her around and pinned her to the wall, my knee held firmly into her back. "Now you tell me exactly what you were doing, and who with."

"I wasn't with no one!" She cried out, her fingers scrabbling against the splintery walls.

"Then you tell me, where is my husband? He's gone from his bed, dallying, and here are you fleeing the barn as though you've just witnessed a crime." I snarled into her ear.

She was quiet but for her whining and whimpering. I gave her ample time to answer, and still no words came from her quivering, pathetic lips. I fisted her ebony hair into my hand and jerked her head back, pressing my knee harder into her back until she fairly screamed.

"Please m'lady, please take pity! The child—please, please!" Her words trailed off into racking sobs. I turned her to face me, tilting my head at her streaked face and swollen eyes.

"Child?" I glanced down to her middle and there I could notice it with the way her dress was hanging on her then, a subtle lump that confirmed her confession. "Then dear, you must tell me. Whose child is this?" My hand moved to her stomach, gently touching. I could see the fear dancing in her eyes.

"The…the father…he…" She stuttered meaninglessly, giving no name, though I already knew it.

"Answer me! Answer me you wretched girl, answer me you whore!" I shook her once more and tossed her onto the hard ground. She rolled into a tight ball, weeping. "I have all night, and I will get my answer one way or the other."

"Matthew!" She cried out. "Matthew has sired the child, t'is Matthew!"

"You lie!" I dragged her to her feet and shook her again. "Liar! You've been to bed with my husband, my husband! That child is his child, and you've been with him tonight!"

"No! No, no! Not the good Master Irvine, I wouldn't never! Never!"

"You were with him tonight!"

"No!" Her scream cut through the musky air in the barn, and I set her to her feet. She wobbled and nearly fell over, able only to clutch at the wall.

"Then tell me, what were you hurrying away from? What did you see? Did you spy my husband with Darla? With Sara? Come, and tell me what you saw."

She sank down to the dirty, straw littered floor. I was sure the name I heard muffled through her palms and her tears could not be. She simply cried that name over and over, until a cold knowing crept down my spine, that she was telling me a truth that made my stomach turn. Shakily I turned, and left the barn. Her sobs carried on behind me as I seemed to move numbly back towards the house.

"My good Master!" She wailed. "Oh Lord, forgive me please!"

I moved back into the house and up the stairs, stopping only to notice Christohpers' door ajar. I could see his form curled in bed, he must have sneaked back while I confronted Jezebel, too lost in his own despicable sin haze to even notice her crying. A pleased smile was stretched upon his sleeping face, and I knew now who had etched it there.