Fire - Betrayal

by Amelia Grace

  He held my hand as he led me to the bar, and ordered champagne for us.

  “To us Cate. To becoming my wife. To the only woman I will ever love.”

  We clinked our glasses and sipped the champagne, left the Grand Ballroom, heading to the park of the Botanical Gardens.

  It was exactly like a fairytale. The path lit by the fairy lights in the trees. I held the hand of the man that I was so deeply in love with, that I truly believed I would never see again. He was in tails, and I was dressed like a princess. It couldn’t be more perfect.

  We stopped at the Great Fairy tree. I looked around to see all of my family there, and Ben’s, and then, over under the great fairy tree was the minister, ready and waiting to marry us.

  Ben watched my face, full of emotion. He smiled at my joy. I loved him so deeply.

  We facing each other in front of the minister as our marriage vows were exchanged, holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes, tears in mine.

  That night, as the bells of the town hall began to chime at midnight, I became Ben’s wife, to the cheers, applause and congratulations of our families. Then Ben whisked me off to a waiting limousine, where we drove for an hour, arriving at a small beach- side house.

  A short distance away we could hear the rumble of the thunder of the storm approaching.

  Ben opened the door of the beach house, and picked me up to carry me over the threshold. I felt so safe and protected. I looked deeply into his eyes feeling an absolute and complete happiness.

  He gently placed me down on the floor, watching my face as I saw the pink rose petals that had been scattered on the floor leading to the bedroom.

  I looked up at Ben with tears in my eyes and whispered his name. Then he picked me up again, and carried me off to the bedroom.

  He gently put me down, and started to kiss me. My heart was beating erratically, and my knees were incredibly weak.

  “Ben,” I whispered. I had been waiting for this moment all of my life.

  Our kissing was deep and passionate. Then it became urgent and hungry.

  Ben pulled away from me. He was very emotional as he burned his cerulean eyes into mine.

  I began unbuttoning his shirt, running my fingers over his bare chest and stomach, and then I slipped his coat and shirt off, and began on his trousers. He started kissing my neck, slipping the straps off my shoulders, kissing my bare skin, running his lips over my shoulders. He turned me around to de-gown me, coming across 1001 buttons. So in his nakedness, he sat on the bed and one by one, undid the buttons on my dress, kissing my bare back as he went, leaving a trail of fire on my skin.

  Finally, I stepped out of the ball gown, and turned to face him, naked.

  He slowly rose off the bed, and stood, and pulled me to him, our bare skin touching, our senses on fire. He lowered his head to my shoulder and breathed in my scent, then brought his lips to mine. My head started to spin as he kissed me sensuously. I couldn’t contain the moan from deep within. Ever so gently, Ben lowered me to the bed, kissing me deeply, and whispering my name.

  I ran my fingers up his back slowly, and over his neck and through his hair, then to his face, tracing his lips and his jaw. I closed my eyes enjoying the feeling of his warm naked skin against mine, and our closeness, feeling his heart beating against mine.

  “Ben, I love you so deeply. I’m so madly in love with you,” I said with tears in my eyes.

  He kissed me and groaned. I was well and truly ready to seal my love with him.

  “Ben…” I whispered as I felt him become one with me.

  Outside, the lightning flashed, the thunder rumbled, and the rain poured down as we sealed our love for the very first time.

  Our hearts and souls connected in a way that they could not connect before, and our bodies were totally in sync. We were one.

  As Ben slept peacefully with his arms around me, I looked up at him. I loved him even more deeply, although I thought that I couldn’t love him anymore than I already did.

  Finally, our destinies were sealed, and we would be together forever – a bond that could not be broken.

  The end.

  Please enjoy the first 3 chapters of Book 3 in the Katie’s Gate Quadrilogy ~

  Water – Shattered

  By Amelia Grace

  Prologue

  The candle was shining brightly in the darkness.

  It never stopped shining. It was there for all to see.

  It was a constant in an ever unpredictable world.

  But then, a handcrafted wooden arrow whistled through the air space, piercing the candle in the wick, splitting it in two, temporarily sending embers of fire into the darkness.Then the flame diminished, and then vanished, and the darkness took over. The world was in chaos.

  The people were lost.

  But then, another flaming handcrafted wooden arrow whistled through the air space, striking the two candle wicks, lighting them both with a vengeance, and the candle burned brighter than ever.

  The darkness diminished, and was destined to be conquered.

  Chapter 1

  Troubled

  Fresh salty sea air gently flowed in through the large open window of the romantic bedroom where Cate lay asleep beside me, our soft, warm, naked flesh touching.

  The melodic crashing of waves upon the sandy shore resonated peacefulness throughout the entire beach house that I had brought Cate to, for our first night as husband and wife. Our journey to this point in time in our lives had been tumultuous to say the very least.

  But now, we were together, finally.

  I woke first, my eyes immediately focusing on her.

  My beautiful, beautiful Cate.

  Her eyes were closed and relaxed, and her face radiated happiness. Her long curly blond hair was strewn over the white pillow, and a white cotton bed sheet was loosely draped over her body. Scattered over the bed were the fresh soft light pink rose petals from the night before.

  My eyes wandered over her. Her flawless soft pale skin, her long slender arms and shapely legs that were exposed outside of the white bed sheet. I wondered if I was in a dream after being away for her for so long, and after nearly losing her to another man.

  But our love was a bond that could not be broken.

  I moved my head closer to hers, closed my eyes and deeply inhaled her scent. I was so in love with her.

  I brushed my lips over Cate’s bare shoulder and then gave her a warm and gentle kiss. I watched as she smiled and then slowly opened her eyes.

  ‘Ben,’ she whispered, and then moved her hand to touch the side of my face.

  As we gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, a tear fell from hers. I gently wiped it away with my finger, and then slowly brought my lips closer to hers, barely touching.

  She moved her hand to the back of my head and pulled my lips closer, teasingly. I moaned and kissed her deeply and urgently, desire filling my entire body. Our naked bodies molded together perfectly as we wrapped ourselves around each other and became one again, our bodies moving in perfect synchronization.

  *~*~*~*~*

  We lay peacefully in each other’s arms for sometime afterwards, gazing out the enormous window at the beautiful sea, I kissed Cate’s head before I got out of bed. I pulled on my black Masquerade trousers and set off to find some food in the kitchen.

  It was in the refrigerator that I found the colourful and delicious fruit platter that I had pre - ordered for breakfast.

  I took it to the beachside deck of the house, and prepared the table for us to share as our first meal together as husband and wife, and then stood at the edge of the deck and looked out over the ocean.

  I was well aware of her presence even though she had silently approached the doorway. I could always feel when she was near. It was one of my Terrean gifts. I turned around and faced her. She was wearing my white cotton long sleeve shirt. I smiled crookedly at her and heard her heart skip a beat. She continued to lean at the doorway, gazing at me. I smirked at her.

 
She walked over to me and kissed me lightly on the lips before wrapping her arms around me. Her body felt amazing against mine. We had only been back together for nine hours, but an amazing nine hours it was.

  ‘Cate, I love you,’ I said emotionally, ‘I love you….’

  She released her hold on me, and moved back slightly, looking into my eyes and smiled. Then she kissed me lightly on the lips again, but did not say a word. She walked around the other side of the wooden table and sat down to eat. I sat opposite her, mesmerized by her beauty.

  Occasionally, she would look out over the vast blue ocean, with a distant look in her eyes. I sat back and watched her. I wondered how she had coped while I was in Une Autre Terre – the parallel world again. I wondered how she coped with my false denial of my love for her seven months ago, something that I was forced to do to test her.

  I wondered how she had met Nic, and what he meant to her. I wondered not, if she still loved Nic, but how deeply she loved Nic, and how it would affect our relationship in the long term. I wondered if Nic would still be in contact with Cate, if at all.

  And, if he did, how close he would try to stay to her.

  For the first time since the unpredictable evening before, I felt a little unnerved, and a little insecure, even though Cate had chosen to marry me.

  Then she looked at me.

  ‘Ben, thank-you for making this, our first night together perfect, the beach, the rose petals, the storm – how did you do that? - this amazing breakfast, and you – it couldn’t have been more romantic – thank-you, ‘ Cate said quietly.

  I leaned over the table and kissed her tenderly, then sat back in my chair and looked out over the ocean. I was waiting for her to tell me that she loved me, but she hadn’t yet.

  ‘Cate, would you have married Nic if he had asked you?’ I asked, not wanting to look directly at her. She looked up at me, obviously considering my question.

  ‘Yes, I would have married him if he had asked me,’ she replied truthfully.

  I felt jealousy arising in the pit of my stomach. I wanted Cate to love me, and only me. But, I had pushed her away in Une Autre Terre, under the order of The Council Elders.

  ‘Ben, I didn’t think it was possible to love two men at the same time, but I do, and I feel really rotten for Nic. I could see how much he loved me, by the look in his eyes. He would look at me the same way that you do.’

  I hated hearing the words that Cate had just spoken, but at least she spoke the truth.

  ‘Then why did you choose me over Nic Cate?’ I asked, wanting to be sure that I knew exactly where I stood, and trying to defuse the green eyed monster inside of me.

  Cate closed her eyes.

  ‘Ben……when I look at you, my heart skips a beat, when I look into your cerulean eyes, my heart beats faster, when we touch, the electrical jolt that you give me makes me feel alive as I have never felt before, when you kiss me, my body aches for you, and when you hold me, I feel as if I will melt into your body with you, safe and protected from the world. I may also love Nic, but I will never love him as deeply as I love you. I only hope that I can make you as happy as you deserve to be.’

  I looked deeply into her eyes as she spoke, reading her emotions, reading the truth as she spoke. Though, I still couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was in competition with Nic. I knew I would have to watch my step, and wrap my powerful wings of love around her, shielding her from Nic’s desires. Of that I was sure.

  Chapter 2

  Restraint Goodwill

  Cate was dressed in her beautiful off-white ball gown from the night before, while I wore my tails from the Masquerade Ball when we returned to Cate’s house that morning. Together, we got out of the yellow taxi and stood facing Cate’s new house.

  She looked up at me, I’m sure to watch my reaction at what she had built in place of Grandy’s house that had been burnt to the ground. I knew that she was waiting for me to say something.

  ‘It’s so you Cate – amazing, uncomplicated yet complex , outstanding and elegant !’ I commented.

  ‘Do I take your words as…… a compliment?’ asked Cate, unsure about my observations of her new house, now to be mine as well.

  I looked down at her, standing bare footed in her stunning ball gown, her shoes in her hand, her hair gently blowing in the cool breeze, and smiled shyly at her.

  ‘Everything you do is incredible Cate, you are incredible,’ I said adoringly.

  ‘Well then, welcome to your new home Benjamin Adams,’ she said dramatically, smiling and bowing at me. Then she turned on her heel and skipped happily down the garden path to the front door, with me in tow, in awe of her addictive personality.

  I had been away from her for too long again. I would never leave her, not now, nothing would keep us apart – except death – and that was definitely not in the plan of our lives together. We would grow very old together, we had a lifetime to live.

  Cate placed her hand on the panel beside the front double wooden doors. It was a handprint scanner, checking her identification. Then quietly and slowly, the door opened so that it was slightly ajar. I watched on in fascination by the security measure that she had in place at her new house. I was very impressed with her choice of security.

  As she started to walk through the front door, I caught her by the hand, and pulled her back to me. In one smooth sweeping motion, I lifted her up into my arms and then walked through the front door, carrying the love of my life.

  She placed her hands around the back of my neck and looked into my eyes.

  I gently pushed the front door closed with my foot and placed her gently on the floor and slowly brought my lips to hers, kissing her with yearning. Then she pulled away from me, her breath taken away.

  ‘Welcome home Cate and Ben,’ said an unwelcoming sarcastic voice coming from the sofa in the sitting room.

  I was taken aback at the intruder in the house, and positioned my body in front of Cate’s to protect her.

  Then he stood up. It was Nic.

  He looked as if he hadn’t had any sleep, and the emotional strain showed in the dark circles under his eyes. A deep sadness oozed from his spirit and through his deep blue eyes.

  Nic looked at Cate, and then me, and then he looked to the floor, putting his hands into his pockets. He looked uncomfortable being here in Cate’s house. But I know that he couldn’t help it. He had to see Cate again. He loved her so deeply.

  Concerned, Cate let go of my hand and walked over to Nic. I was feeling nervous. I could not predict what Nic was about to say or do. And he certainly wasn’t in a sane frame of mind at the moment.

  ‘Nic,’ Cate whispered, and then took a step closer to him and hugged him. I looked on from the entrance of the house, feeling jealousy arising in the pit of my stomach. Nic wrapped his arms tightly around Cate, and buried his head in towards her neck.

  ‘Nic.’ Cate whispered his name again. I felt rage that he was holding my wife in his arms….my wife. But I stayed where I was, even though I wanted to tear him away from my wife.

  ‘Nic, please stay, but I need to go upstairs to get changed. I’ll be as quick as I can,’ I heard Cate say compassionately.

  Nic nodded, and then he looked at me, sort of.

  ‘Ah Ben….’ Nic winced as he said my name. ‘When I arrived at the house earlier today, these clothes were left on the doorstep for you. I’m guessing that your mum dropped them around.’ He picked up the clothes and walked over to give them to me.

  I watched Nic intently as he approached me with the clothes. I could see that he had taken a heavy beating with Cate’s decision to marry me last night. He was obviously gutted. I knew how that felt, and I took pity upon him. I tuned into my Terrean blood, and found compassion for him. I took a few steps to meet him to take the clothes and looked him in the eye.

  ‘Thank-you Nic,’ I said with sincerity, and watched as he dropped his eyes and his head to the floor, the sign of a broken man.

  Cate gently placed her hand on Nic’
s shoulder.

  ‘Please Nic, make yourself comfortable and wait. I”ll be back down soon, after I shower,’ she said. Nic looked deeply into Cate’s eyes and then closed his eyes. He breathed out deeply, and then nodded quickly, and turned to sit back down on the sofa, while Cate and I headed upstairs to get changed.

  Out of the view of Nic, I grabbed Cate’s hand again. How I loved her warm soft skin, and her delicate fingers in mine. She turned her head to smile at me as we entered the doorway of the master bedroom. Then she turned her whole body and walked backwards facing me as we went deeper into the room. My eyes were fixed on her.

  Then she stopped, standing very closely to me.

  ‘Ben, help me out of my ball gown’ she whispered, as she ran her hands over my abdominal muscles, and chest. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her. Then I pulled away and held her gaze. ‘I love you Cate, forever.’

  ‘And I love you Ben, forever.’ I kissed her again. I really needed her to say those words to me. But I was still worried about the relationship that she had developed with Nic when I was in Une Autre Terre.

  As Cate showered, I stood by the large window, looking out at the gardens below. My mind filled with questions - so many questions. I felt as though I wanted to wrap my arms around her and protect her from everything in life. I felt as though I wanted to have Cate all to myself, and never to share her with anyone, ever.

  But then, she would become my prisoner, and she would want to escape from me, and I did not want that.

  I had to trust her. Trust that she wouldn’t end up in the arms of another man.

  She had chosen to marry me. I had to keep reminding myself of that. She was my wife, and our love was a bond that could never be broken.