Free The Wild Seed by Iris Gower

been happy with you in the smallest cottage. I mean it, you don’t have to buy me fancy things to prove how much you love me, mind.’
    ‘I know.’ He kissed the top of her head. Catherine twisted around so that she was looking up at him.
    ‘I only wish Mam and Dad would come and see me but I don’t think my father will ever forgive me for spoiling his plans.’
    ‘Don’t worry, cochen , I’m here to look after you now.’
    She smiled up at him. ‘Boyo, my love, my sweetheart, my darling, please don’t call me that.’
    ‘ Cochen ? Why?’
    ‘I don’t know, it sounds impersonal, somehow. Call me Cathie, anything, but use my name.’
    He kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Right then, I shall call you Cat because you are like a little kitten.’ He paused and leaned away from her, laughter in his eyes. ‘A little kitten with red fur!’
    She pretended to slap him but he caught her hand and then he was kissing her passionately. She responded to him with joy and abandon and when he lifted her and carried her to the master bedroom with its floral drapes and silken sheets, she sighed softly.
    ‘I love you so much, Boyo Hopkins, I was only half alive until you came back into my life.’
    He slowly undressed her, kissing her eyes, her throat, her breasts, her belly. She shuddered in anticipation, she wanted him inside her, possessing her, setting his seal upon her. But he made her wait, he made her quiver with expectation and excitement. She heard small moans come from her throat and wondered why, so quickly, she’d changed from an untried girl into a passionate woman.
    ‘Please, Boyo, love me, love me now.’
    He came to her then, smoothly, gently taking possession of her. She cried out, clutching at his shoulders, wanting the sensations to go on and on.
    His hands were beneath her, lifting her towards him so that he could possess her more fully. And then a fury began within her, a flame of ecstasy that was almost pain. It shuddered from her toes through her thighs and belly, encompassed her breasts and stole her voice from her. It was a rainbow fragmenting within her, washing her with brightness and colour and joy. She began to cry, tears of release, tears of wonder that such sensation could be hers. He held her close, still within her and they clung together for a long time, their breaths mingling, their limbs entwined.
    At last she stirred and touched his cheek. ‘Boyo, I didn’t know such feelings existed.’ Her voice was little more than a croak. ‘I could never have imagined such … such …’ she stopped, lost for words. He kissed her mouth gently.
    ‘I love you, Cat, never doubt that, never.’
    She closed her eyes, a feeling of drowsiness creeping over her. ‘Boyo, what a wonderful beginning to our new life together,’ she whispered.
    Later, they ate dinner in the small dining-room. It was a meal prepared by Catherine, a simple meal of cold meat and pickles and fresh bread spread with thick salt butter.
    ‘I’m sorry it’s not very much, I’ll have to learn to cook.’ Catherine was apologetic. ‘If it wasn’t for your thoughtfulness there would be no food in the pantry at all.’
    ‘No need for you to learn to cook, Cat, I have advertised for some staff for you, I’ll be interviewing candidates at the beginning of next week.’
    ‘You are so good at taking charge, it’s wonderful to be cared for this way.’
    ‘It’s only what you deserve. In any case, I’m sure that Fon did everything she could for you, spoiled you rotten.’
    ‘Aye, that’s true but I had to work in the fields, mind, help my father whenever I could.’ A shadow fell across her happiness, now Jamie would be working alone. If only her parents had responded differently. Their blessing she did not expect but she was entitled to their understanding, wasn’t she?
    It was growing dark by the time the meal was finished. Boyo rose and lit the lamps, going around the house closing windows, locking doors. With a sinking feeling