Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 21

The neighboring morning, Damon left with the brief explanation that he was helping the militia at the camp. I wasnt sure I believed his excuse, but the house was resolutely more peaceful in his absence. Katherine came all everywhere each night to play cribbage with Father. Occasionally Id join her as a two-against- ane team. While playing, Katherine would secern Father stories from her past about her fathers shipping business about her Italian mother about Wheat, the frugal terrier shed had as a girl. I wondered if any of them were true, or if it was Katherines plan to act as a modern- day Scheherazade, spinning stories that would eventually persuade Father to spare her.Katherine would al focussings make a show of qualifying back to the carriage house, and it was agony abideing for the moment when Father went to bed so that I could watch her. She never talked about her pastor her planswith me. She didnt tell me how she got her nourishment, and I didnt ask. I didnt want to s leep with. It was far easier to venture she was nevertheless a normal girl.One afternoon, when Father was in town with Robert, discussing business with the Cartwrights, Katherine and I decided to spend an entire day together, instead of a few stolen, dark hours. It was nearing October, but no one would know it from the high temperatures and the daily late- afternoon thunderstorms. I hadnt gone swimming all summer, and I couldnt wait to feel the water of the pond on my flakeand Katherine in my arms in the daylight. I nude down and jumped in immediately.Dont splash yelled Katherine. She lifted her simple blue skirt up to her ankles and guardedly stepped toward the edge of the pond. Shed already left her muslin flats beneath the willow tree, and I couldnt stop staring at the keen white of her ankles.Come in The waters fine I yelled, even though my teeth were chattering.Katherine continued to tippytoe toward the edge of the pond until she was standing on the muddy strip between t he grass and the water. Its dirty. She wrinkled her nose, screen her eyes from the sun.Thats why you have to get in. To wash off all the mud, I verbalize, using my fingers to twinkle water toward Katherine. A few droplets landed on the bodice of her dress, and I felt desire seam by dint of me. I dunked under the water to cool my head.Youre not afraid of a little splashing, I said as I emerged, my hair dripping on my shoulders. Or, shall I say, youre not afraid of splashing Stefan? I felt a little bit ridiculous saying it, because such comments didnt sound nearly as clever on my lips. Still, she did me the favor of laughing. I carefully sidestepped the rocks on the bottom of the pond to walk closer toward her, then flicked more water in her direction.No Katherine shrieked, but she make no move to put across away as I walked out of the pond, grabbed her around the waist, and carried her into the water.Stefan Stop she screamed as she clung to my neck. At least let me take off my dressAt that, I immediately let her go. She lifted her hands over her head, allowing me to easily pull off her dress. There she stood in her little white type. I gaped in amazement. Of course Id discovern her body before, but it had always been in shadows and half-light. Now I saw the sun on her shoulders, and the way her stomach curved inward and I knew, for the millionth time, that I was in love.Katherine dove underwater, reemerging right next to me. And now, revenge She leaned down and splashed cool water on me with all her office.If you werent so beautiful, I might fight back, I said, pulling her toward me. I snoged her.The neighbors will talk, murmured Katherine against my lips.Let them talk, I whispered. I want everyone to know how much I love you. Katherine kissed me harder, with more passion than Id ever felt. I sucked my breath in, feeling so much desire that I stepped away. I loved Katherine so much that it almost hurt it made it harder to breathe, harder to talk, har der to think. It was as if my desire was a force larger than myself, and I was simultaneously frightened and overjoyed to retrace wherever it led me.I took a shaky breath and looked up at the sky. Large thunderclouds had turn over in, obscuring the sky, which had been a pure cerulean just moments before. We should go, I said, heading toward shore.Sure enough, as soon as we stepped onto dry land, a clap of thunder rolled off in the distance.The storm came in fast, Katherine observed as she wrung out her curls. She didnt seem at all self-conscious even though her soaking-wet white slip left nothing to the imagination. Somehow, it seemed almost more illicit and erotic to see her scantily dressed than to see her naked. One could think that it was almost a sign that our relationship is not meant to be. Her voice was teasing, but I felt a shiver of dread go up my spine.No, I said loudly, to reassure myself.Im just teasing you Katherine kissed my cheek before leaning down to pick up her dress. As she stole tail assembly the weeping willow tree, I yanked up my breeches and put on my shirt.Katherine emerged from behind the tree a moment later, her cotton dress clinging to her curves, the damp tendrils of her hair sticking to her curves, the damp tendrils of her hair sticking to her back. Her skin had a bluish quality to it.I put my arms around her and rubbed her arms vigorously, trying to untoughened her up, though I knew that was impossible.I have something to tell you, Katherine said as she tilted her face up to the open sky.What? I asked.I would be honored to attend the Founders Ball with you, she said, and then, before I could kiss her again, she broke from my embrace and ran back to the carriage house.