“Rossetti. She married him.”
“They fell in love soon after she completed her most infamous pose. It was for a painting called Ophelia.”
“I’m certain I’ve seen it.”
“She and Rossetti lived together for a number of years. Eventually they married.”
“They lived together? That must have caused quite a scandal!”
“They were, in many ways, quite unconventional. Sadly, it wasn’t a happy marriage. Rossetti was unfaithful and often flaunted it. Lizzie was almost constantly ill and became profoundly depressed.”
“It’s no wonder.”
“She fell pregnant, but the child came prematurely and was stillborn. After that, her depression became worse. She took laudanum, which was common in the day. She began to have episodes of psychosis. There were times she believed the child was actually alive, crying for her.”
“How tragic!”
I stood up, went to Katherine and wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
“One day, Rossetti returned home to find her dying. She had overdosed on the laudanum. Some say she committed suicide. Others say it was an accidental overdose. Mostly, I think she just wanted the pain, the overwhelming sense of despair, to stop.”
“Such a sad story.” Katherine leaned in closer to me and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Come on, my parents are across the way in another section.”
We walked in silence until their graves came into view.
“I miss them both,” I said, laying the roses on top of the headstone. “She was hands down his favorite subject, you know. Seems he never tired of painting her.”
I stepped back and smiled.
“What were you thinking just then?” asked Katherine.
“Reliving an old memory. I’d walked in on them once when they were working.”
My mother laid in repose on the red velvet chaise, her pale blonde hair almost white in the glare of the late-afternoon sun.
“Don’t move!” my father told her. “It’s just the human body, son. You’ve seen me paint nudes before.”
“Yes, but you’re usually wearing clothes and that’s Mum!”
“I’m not going to sell it. It’s merely for my own pleasure. I paint her nude all the time like this. We find it very erotic.”
“A son does not need to know these things. Why can’t you be uptight, rigid and sexually repressed like most parents?”
“I tried it once.” My father continued to work on the canvas. “I didn’t like it.”
“Sullivan!” Mum scolded.
“Hush, Margo! Don’t move a muscle. Your position is perfect.” My father sighed, then put down his brush and turned to face me.
“We love you, Wes. I know that we’re not perfect. We’ve made some mistakes and we’ll probably make more. I understand that in some ways I’m an embarrassment to you and I’m sorry about that, but this is who we are, son.”
“You’re sorry but you won’t do anything about it?”
“Would therapy help?”
“Yes, that would be brilliant. You and Mum can talk to someone, a professional.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of you, actually.” My father stepped back and studied the canvas from a different angle. “Your mother and I seem quite happy. It appears you’re the one that’s a little distressed. Dammit! I’m losing my light! Was there something else?”
Katherine laughed. “No! That didn’t really happen!”
I held up my right hand. “Swear to God!”
“How long have they been gone?”
“Dad’s been dead just a bit over a year. Mum passed away two years before. He was never the same after that. She took a part of him with her. He stopped painting the day she died.”
“She was his muse.”
“I haven’t been back to the house since he passed. It’s just sitting there, all of the memories tucked safely inside.”
“You own the house you grew up in, now?” asked Katherine, casually leaning against a neighboring headstone.
“Only child, I inherited everything. The house, the land, the money, the art and Charles, mustn’t forget Charles.”
“What do you mean?”
“Charles’s father, Malcolm, had been our butler for years. Charles and I essentially grew up together. I became a doctor. Charles became a valet. When his father retired he took over as butler for my parents. My father didn’t want Charles to be without work and he didn’t want the house or I to be without Charles. I know he meant well.”
“It’s awkward though?”
“We were friends. I don’t like having him serve me. In fact, I hate it.”
“You aren’t friends anymore?”
“We had a falling out. We hadn’t spoken in months.”
“What changed things?”
“You. What happened. Time is too short for pettiness, don’t you think? I want to make amends.”
A cold gust of air suddenly whipped through the graveyard. Katherine looked up toward the sky and I followed her gaze. Big, dark rain clouds had moved in from nowhere, blotting out the sun.
“Looks like we’ll have to call off our picnic.”
“We were going to have a picnic?”
The sky above us opened up. Rain began to pour down, hard and heavy.
“Come on!” I shouted, removing my coat so that I could hold it out over the both of us.
Katherine didn’t seem to care. She stood there, head tilted toward the sky, eyes closed, arms outstretched. It was as if she were welcoming the rain, calling to it, begging it to bless her. Her eyes flew open at the low ominous roll of distant thunder and instantly sought out mine.
“Let’s go! We should make a run for it! You’re already soaked through, you crazy bint!”
“Crazy, am I? Is that your professional opinion, Doctor?”
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky followed by a loud crack and a deep rumble. Katherine lifted her hands up and stood there, catching the water in her open palms.
“Oh, it’s glorious! Did you see that, Wes? It’s incredible. We never get rain like this in California!”
I watched as she turned in a circle, taking in the atmosphere from every direction. Her clothing was drenched, every speck of exposed flesh dripping wet. As she turned toward me she caught me staring and smiled. I stepped closer to her. Some tiny beads of water hung from her long dark lashes and as she blinked they fell gracefully onto her face, joining the rivulets of water that ran down her cheeks. She was glowing, glistening.
“You’re radiant.”
It’s what attracted me to her in the first place, that inner light. Even in the midst of the darkest of storms, Katherine shined.
She began to walk backward toward the direction of the car.
“Are you coming?”
Was she kidding? I would have followed her anywhere at that moment.
We quickly made our way out of Highgate and down to the car. I unlocked the passenger door so Katherine could slide in first, then I made my way around to the driver’s side.
Another clap of thunder sounded as I slammed the door shut. Katherine’s eyes were fixed on the rear-view mirror, a look of shock on her face. I turned to look behind us and saw nothing.
“What is it? You’re suddenly as pale as a ghost.”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I thought I saw someone, a woman. One second she was there, the next she was gone.”
“She was probably making a dash for her car. Christ, you’re shaking like a leaf. Let me get the heat on.” I started the car and turned on the heater. “We’ll get you home and out of those wet clothes.”
The drive back took a bit longer due to the rain.
“You’ve been quiet. Lost in thought?” I asked as we pulled up in front of my house.
“A bit.”
“Race you to the door?”
“You’re on, pal!” Katherine released her seatbelt and sprang from the car.
“Not fair! That’s cheating!” I
quickly jumped out of the car, grabbed the picnic basket from the backseat, then ran to catch up to her.
“I am victorious! Go me!”
“What’s that?” I opened the door then lifted my hand to my ear. “The judges have ruled? Sorry, love, you’ve been disqualified for the false start back there.”
“No way, mister!” Katherine looked down at the puddle rapidly forming in my entryway. “I’m drenched.”
“Don’t move.”
I locked the front door, pulled off my boots and socks, then shed my coat, letting it all fall to the floor. There was another roar of distant thunder. Katherine’s back was to the door. I stepped closer to her, then leaned down, lightly brushing my lips across hers.
“I swear, the rain tastes like wine on your lips,” I whispered, resisting the urge to deepen the kiss.
I crouched down on one knee to remove her boots. Then as I climbed back to my feet, I pulled the T-shirt I’d been wearing up over my head. Before I had time to toss it onto the growing pile of clothes, Katherine boldly reached out for me, slipping a finger inside the waistband of my jeans and pulling me toward her.
She unfastened the buckle of my belt then paused, her hand at my zipper. I lifted my hand to cup the side of her face and searched out her eyes.
“Lift up your arms,” I told her, gathering up the edge of her sweater and raising it. We lost eye contact for the briefest of moments as I pulled it over her head. Her cap came off as well. I carelessly tossed them aside.
“Wes.”
I placed my hand around Katherine’s neck and, ever so slowly, slid it down, gliding it over her damp flesh, heating it, warming her.
A sigh escaped her lips as I brushed my fingertips across the tops of the full mounds of her breasts.
“White lace.” I reached down to palm one. “It looks so innocent, pure, virginal. I’m having horrible, nasty thoughts.”
“Are you now?” she asked in a breathy voice as I lowered my hands to her zipper.
“Oh, yeah.” I pulled her wet pants past her hips and watched them fall to the floor, then I quickly shed my own jeans. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”
I crushed my lips to hers in the heat of passion. The lace of her bra scratched against my chest as I pressed my body flush against hers. She parted her lips, and I slipped my tongue inside, boldly exploring the warm, wet cavern, holding nothing back.
Katherine released an intoxicating moan into my mouth that made me want her even more.
I slid my arm around her waist and then snaked my hand inside her matching lace knickers to caress her bottom. My kisses followed the path to her neck and I nibbled gently at her pulse point. She was trembling with need and in truth, so was I.
“Tell me you’re cold.”
“I wasn’t shivering from the cold.” She was flushed with arousal.
“I’m going to go get your robe. I’ve got to get some distance.” Before I could step back, she reached down between us, the back of her hand brushing across the front of my boxers.
“Or what?”
I moved in close, pressing my rock-hard cock into the softness of her belly, my face just a hairsbreadth away from hers.
“I spontaneously combust from all this pent-up sexual tension.”
Katherine’s breath hitched.
“Or I throw you onto the cold marble floor and have my wicked way with you.”
“I vote for—”
I placed my fingers over her mouth to silence her.
“I’ll be right back with a robe. Then I’ll start a fire and get the chill out of the air.”
It took me only a few moments to dash up the stairs, put on a dry pair of jeans and grab the robe I’d promised.
I returned to find Katherine in the living room. She was bending over to turn on a lamp, her back to me.
“Here you go, love.” I held the robe out, behind her. Its hem brushed up against the calves of her legs.
When it did, Katherine let out a terrified scream. She spun around and her scream rippled, echoing throughout the room.
“Christ!”
“Sorry, you startled me,” she gasped placing her hand over her heart, trying to catch her breath.
“Didn’t mean to. Here, slip this on.” I held out the robe. She wasn’t moving. “Katherine?”
She was looking past me, over my shoulder. I turned. She was staring at the large mirror that hung on the wall in the entryway.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. It’s…”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
We were stretched out on the floor of the living room in front of the fireplace on a blanket, the remains of our picnic still spread out before us.
“Biggest childhood fear?” I asked her.
“That my parents would divorce. They fought a lot. It happened by the way. They were divorced before my father died. You?”
“That I would grow up and that my parents would remain children. It happened too, by the way.” I rolled onto my back.
“Liberal or conservative?” she asked.
“Liberal.”
“Me too! But, wait, you can’t be liberal, you have too much money.”
“Right. So I can afford to be liberal.”
“How many women have you slept with?”
“How many what? How would I know?” I laughed.
Katherine didn’t look amused.
I quickly sobered. “Oh, come on. It’s not like I’ve kept a list, love. Do you remember every bloke you’ve ever shagged?”
“There’s just been Damien.”
From the moment I’d first met her, I knew she was younger than me. And I knew that she and Damien had been high-school sweethearts. It stood to reason that he’d have been her only lover, yet the simple fact caught me off guard.
She turned away and shook her head. “I must seem so immature to you, so naïve. I’m just finishing my masters program. You have a house, an established career. You’re a doctor. That means lots of years of school.”
“So?”
“So, you’ve probably had hundreds of lovers. A world of experience.”
I smiled. “I’m pretty sure it hasn’t been hundreds.” I reached for her chin and gently guided her head back until she faced me once again. “How old are you?”
She swallowed. “Twenty-four.”
“I’m thirty-five. Does it matter?”
She shook her head. “It’s not the age difference.”
“It’s all the women you imagine I’ve been with.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you like I…”
“Like you what?”
“This wasn’t the first time Damien cheated on me, Wes.” The confession was spoken so quietly, it was barely audible.
“Maybe not. But it was the last. You’re not going to disappoint me.”
“How do you know?”
I leaned forward and kissed her with all the passion that she made me feel. Katherine’s lips parted and my tongue slipped inside the warmth of her mouth to tangle with hers. I eased her down onto the blanket, rolling on top of her. Spontaneously her legs separated and my hips dropped between them. I was hard and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she could feel it. Slowly, I pulled back from the kiss.
“Any more questions?”
“Favorite color?” she asked, almost breathless.
“Green. The color of your eyes.”
A bell chimed once, then I heard the sound of the front door opening and closing.
“Be right back.” I climbed to my feet just as Charles came around the corner.
“Sorry I didn’t have a chance to bring this ’round sooner. The car needed a bit of work.” He had a long garment bag draped over one arm.
“I completely forgot,” I confessed, suddenly remembering the party we’d discussed the night before. “Perhaps we should skip it. I haven’t even mentioned it to Katherine.”
“Well, mention it,” said Charles.
&nbs
p; “Tonight’s the annual Black and White Ball. It’s a big charity bash,” I started to explain.
“You should go. Really. Don’t stay home on my account.”
“I responded for you as well, Miss Lawson,” interjected Charles.
Katherine shook her head vehemently. “I don’t have anything to wear that’s even remotely appropriate.”
Charles held up the garment bag. “Yes, you do. I’ll ready your bath and lay out your dress.”
“You bought me a dress?”
“Technically, Dr. Atherton purchased the dress. I hope you are pleased.”
“We don’t have to go if you aren’t feeling up to it.”
Charles held up the bag. “It’s Chase Couture.”
“Get out!” gasped Katherine. She climbed to her feet, excitement evident on her face. “Really?”
Charles nodded. “Really. I’ll lay your things out in the guestroom, sir. That way Miss Lawson can get ready in private and make a grand entrance.”
The decision was made.
Chapter Twelve
“Stop fussing. Your tie is perfect,” scolded Charles.
“It may look perfect, but it’s choking me.” I studied my reflection in the grand entryway mirror. “Yes, it seems the poor man suffocated to death. But the knot was tied rather well, don’t you think?” I mocked.
“Oh! Very well, come here.” Charles waved me over.
I turned toward him and froze. “Never mind.”
“What? Now you can breathe just fine?”
“No, actually, I believe Miss Lawson has completely taken my breath away.”
“I’ll start the car and wait for you, sir. Take your time. There’s champagne in the living room.”
“What?” asked Katherine. She’d stopped halfway down the staircase. Her blonde hair had been combed back into a sleek French twist. The long sleeveless gown was of a thick black matte jersey that hugged her every curve. She wore opera-length black gloves and no jewelry. The neckline in the front was modest, conservative.
“Oh, you’ve got a little…” I pointed toward my own front teeth.
“Oh my God! Where? That is so me! I should have known I’d never pull this off!” Katherine picked up the skirt of her black gown and rushed down the remaining stairs so she could check her teeth in the mirror.
The Sacrifice: Forbidden, Book 1 Page 9
