The Devil's Good Intentions by Kari Miller Read Free Book Online Page A

was situated far enough into the forest that I never considered myself in jeopardy.”
    He couldn’t help himself, He needed to touch her. He slowly started to trace patterns along her bare arm as she replied to him. He felt her stiffen once again but ignored it.
    “ Don’t you know that there are hunters and highway men that seek the shelter of the forest on a regular basis, Kat?” asking her to once again divert her attention.
    “ I suppose that’s true, but I was never approached by any.”
    “ Were you truly happy or did you ever find yourself wishing you had been born to a better lot in life?”
    He could tell that she was thinking his question over and was encouraged by the fact that she had already relaxed herself back into him, even though he was steadily tracing patterns across her arm and hand as they spoke. He lightly kissed her shoulder as he continued to caress her while silently waited for her response. As much as his body was aching to take her, he found himself looking forward to her answers and wanting to learn how she had managed to survive on her own with absolutely no penny to her name, and still be strong and healthy.
    “ I’ve never been one to dwell on misfortune. When my Mother passed away and my Father took even more to the bottle, I had no time to grieve really. Looking back I can say that I felt more at peace on my own than I ever had.”
    “ Even when your Mother was alive?”
    “ Even then. She used to speak to me of what to expect growing up and tried to mould me into the perfect lady. I loved my parents and was not resentful of my life at all, but it wasn’t until I was truly alone did I realize how much of a front I was really putting up for the sake of others.”
    “ How so?”
    “ Being left to my own devices I was able to play in the creek, climb trees, read whenever and whatever I wanted to, not be restricted by fussing over myself and trying to look proper. I was finally free to live for me.”
    He slid his fingers to her navel and started to trace patterns around her belly button. Again she stiffened and he was certain he could hear her heart beat, but again he ignored it.
    “ So you view me as taking away those freedoms?” he asked cautiously.
    “ Yes. Since you showed up, everything has been about what you want without any consideration to what I want. I don’t view you as taking away my freedom but know for a fact that you are.”
    “ Fair enough” he replied gently as he kissed her shoulder once again.
    She still hadn’t relaxed back into his hold and he felt her stomach muscles below his fingers tensing.
    “ Is not a part of you a little relieved at not having to scrounge for food, or not having to look forward to another winter in that drafty cottage, or even wondering what you would do once all of your clothes either didn’t fit or fell apart? Is there not some good that you can see to being removed from those specific inconveniences and placed into the arms of a devilishly handsome and very wealthy husband such as myself?” He teased – but not really.
    He could not imagine that every aspect of her life alone had been bliss. As she would grow older, she would be more prone to fever during the harsh winters and it would only take once to end her short lived life. He understood the attraction to living life for just her with no pressures from society, but he didn’t believe for a second that she wanted that to be permanent.
    She lightly chuckled at his humour. He felt her relax back into him as he continued to trace patterns along her stomach and around her belly button. He could feel the effect of his stroking was having on her muscles and heard the slight change in her breathing as they continued their discussion.
    “ You Sir are far too full of yourself” She continued to chuckle.
    “ You were supposed to feed my ego and eagerly agree, rather than poke fun at me” He scolded in mock pain. “I may never recover from the blow”
    “ Some how I highly