The Falling of Katja: an Erotic Romance (Anam Céile Chronicles) Read online

  The

  Falling

  Of

  Katja

  Rosalind Scarlett

  It is the Year 1633 in Hungary.

  Katja is the beautiful daughter of a peasant family. Since childhood she has been best friends with Štefan, the dashing son of a banker. As she develops into a young voluptuous young woman, she realises she has always been in love with him, dreamed her whole life around him. She has never imagined another life than one with him.

  Then one day, Štefan comes by with some devastating news for her which drives them into one another’s arms. In one day, as all of her dreams come crashing down, Katja is introduced to the pleasure of passion for the first time with the only man she will ever love.

  Chapter One

  I was born on Saint Valentine’s Day in the year of 1615. My family and I, we live in the countryside of Hungary, just outside the capital city of Buda. We are mere peasants, yet we do not grumble for our standing in society. As for myself, I am a contented girl, for I have a secret…

  I am in love.

  Just two years older than me, Štefan is gorgeous with his tousled sandy hair and eyes the color of the sky, with the depth of water. I never tire of gazing upon him. Since childhood we have been best friends. We have passed many days just frolicking in the meadows together, him dashing after me, the two of us collapsing in laughter.

  Whenever I am with him, there cannot possibly be any girl on earth that is happier than I in that moment. All my remaining time I spend anticipating the next time I shall behold his striking face beaming at me.

  It was not always that I comprehended I loved him. Perhaps that was because it was the only way it ever was. Even so, I did know that being with him made me happier than anything else could, he was always the one person I felt I could be my utmost self with, who I trusted implicitly.

  But then, one day while spending time with him it seemed to hit me all at once and I wondered how it was I never realised it before. After that moment, there was no turning back.

  We were running through the wood and when we came out of it and into the meadow, I collapsed into the grasses to catch my breath. Seconds later he caught up with me and tackled me. I was so out of breath I could scarcely afford a laugh. My chest heaving beneath the weight of his body pressed into me, I felt my breasts brush against him, and an everlasting spark was ignited.

  At first, I did not comprehend what it was. It traveled through me as a speed of light and took up residence low within my belly, initiating there a subtle ache. Evidently, Štefan had no idea of the sudden transformation which had just taken place in me as he was still engaged in laughing over me. Suddenly, my eyes caught his and his bantering ceased as he slowly perceived the change there within them.

  For one precious moment, our eyes locked and at once my lips quivered at his face being so preciously close to mine. I felt him lean in closer, the warmth of his breath washing over me and my eyes instinctively fell partly closed. Yet before I could realise that which I desired, he leapt off me in one swift motion.

  I was left lying there upon my back staring up at him, my head in a haze. He thrust his hand out to me. “Come, Katja! Let us chase each other some more,” he expressed keenly.

  I took his hand, reveling in the touch of it, and he pulled me up so that I was standing before him, gazing up into his eyes. “Oh Štefan, I am tired. Can we not just walk and chat some now?”

  His full lips moved into their breathtaking smile, gripping my heart as always it did. “Certainly, Katja. Whatever you wish.”

  I smiled dizzily at him and he wrapped his hand about mine as we began to amble through the meadow, though it did not mean anything. Well, at least, it was not supposed to mean anything. But it did to me. Everything. And now, I could not help but wonder if it meant anything at all to him. If it did, never did he let it show.

  Anytime we got close, our eyes beginning to linger, he would promptly alter the mood with his lighthearted bantering and laughing with me. Which was one of things that drew me to him. Even so, in those moments it was nothing if not frustrating.

  Now, with his larger hand engulfing mine, it seemed as though I could feel all the energy of him channeled to this one area, creating an array of never before felt sensations in me. All of my attention was honed onto this so that when he finally spoke, I started.

  “Are you well, Katja? You are acting quite peculiarly,” Štefan asked me lightly.

  I was embarrassed that he had noticed my behaviour. Then, on the other hand, would he not have perceived just what it was? After all, he was two years older than I and nearly considered a man. Did he not feel it, too? Oh, how I longed to know that he did. Yet, if he did, he never let on to the fact, leaving me to feel as though I was all alone in this.

  And then there were the times when I was sure I caught his eyes discernibly alter as they lingered on me. Yet the moment my eyes attempted to connect with his, he was always quick to avert them and make light of it.

  So, what do I say in answer to his question now? Do I tell him how he makes me feel, that I want to know the feel of his hands on other parts of me than my hand, that I dream of feeling his lips upon mine, that his eyes transport me to a magical world and I want nothing more than to stay there with him always? Indubitably, I cannot reveal such things to him, though I wish that I could. It would not be becoming of a lady to be so forward. Thus, even more than that, I wish he would utter all those things to me.

  But alas, he does not. I had not the slightest inkling to whether he even felt such things. Still, every night I prayed that he did.

  “Yes, Štefan, I am fine, just a bit dizzy from being out of breath,” I finally replied in answer.

  “Good!” he exclaimed, squeezing my hand. “Because I have something to show you1”

  I looked to him and his face was full of enthusiasm as he began pulling me along.

  “What is it?” I queried, intrigued.

  “You shall see!” He sent a gleaming smile my way, making me feel weak all over again. Suddenly I did not know if I could walk anymore, but he was pulling me along so that I nearly did not have to.

  Štefan commenced to pulling me to the top of a hill, one which somehow we had never been on together before then. When we were at the top, I gasped, for the scene before my eyes was absolutely breathtaking. The twilight sky was painting the backdrop for the rolling hills below us in brilliant shades of pinks, violets and oranges, the colours becoming deeper and more vibrant with each second that passed as the lingering light swiftly diminished.

  Yet still, as awe-inspiring as the scene is, what affected me more was how Štefan did not let go of my hand. Instead, his fingertips lightly caressed over it, leisurely running up each of my fingers and down again to the insides, exploring it as though it was a realm in and of itself entirely. It was amazing how that one meager gesture could make my whole body sing.

  My eyes fell closed, nearly forgetting the point of us standing there. Then I felt his arms wrap about my waist, his hands still engulfing mine against my belly, his chest pressed to my back so that his hot breath was warming my hair. I found meself thinking on how I would like to feel it elsewhere upon my body.

  “It is beautiful, is it not?” Štefan asked, his tone soft and sensual.

  I twisted my head around to look up at him. His pale eyes seemed to be reflecting the colours of the sky, making them even more beautiful, which I had thought to be impossible. Our lips were dangerously close, so close I felt his breath upon them. I willed them to meet mine.

  “Yes, it is. Thank you for bringi
ng me here.”

  He smiled down at me. But instead of kissing me as I hoped, he spun me around playfully, eliciting me to giggle.

  Then he took hold of my hand and began running through the grasses. All too soon the sun made its fast descent and I had to scurry home before I worried my mother being out into dark.

  Ever after that eve, his lips coming ever so close to mine, all I could seem to think of was being kissed by him. Each word which left his mouth playing over in my mind.

  Oh Štefan. Will I ever know what it is like to hold you close?

  Chapter Two

  It is late summer, and we were taking one of our customary walks together. Afore too long, we came upon a small lake. It was exceedingly inviting with the sun is scorching down upon us.

  “Oh, that looks refreshing,” I remarked longingly.

  Štefan looked at me, a glimmer of mischief lighting his eyes. He clutched my hand.

  “Come on!” he stated keenly.

  I peered at him strangely. “What?”

  “Let’s do it!”

  “Do what?” I probed, though I was fairly certain of that which he meant.

  “Let’s go into the water!” he clarified.

  “We cannot, Štefan,” I countered, although I wanted to more than anything.

  “And just why not?” he goaded me.

  “We would get our garments soaking wet. My mother would have a fit!”

  “Who needs garments?” he dared mischievously. I glanced at him curiously, my eyes wide. “We’ll remove them!”

  Before I had the chance to protest, he was untying his shirt and peeling it over his head. My eyes were powerless to avoid taking in the sight of his bare form, the shape of his muscles creating mountains and valleys on his chest, then leveling out to form the ripples of his abdomen like the water which lie waiting before us.

  My eyes were finally dissuaded from his chest when he briskly stepped out from his trousers and was standing before me in all his glory. I swallowed hard as my eyes grazed down his body and rested to feast upon his manhood.

  Oh my God! Does this man know how beautiful he is to me?

  When my eyes travelled back up to his face, they found Štefan smirking at my reaction to him. I instantly flushed with embarrassment.

  Before I could think of what to say, his hands were around me, unlacing the back of my gown. Him standing naked before me had caused me to lose any ability to protest, or apparently, to even speak.

  What is he doing? What am I doing? I cannot allow him to disrobe me… can I?

  While I was preoccupied with deliberating over the matter, he made fast time in removing my gown. Suddenly I realised I was standing there in only my skivvies. He lifted his eyes to mine as though to assess whether he may proceed. Evidently he gained consent there, for with his eyes still locked upon mine, his hands moved to my camisole, his finger curling delicately about the thin strap.

  I sucked in my breath as he gently moved the strap over my shoulders, causing the garment to inch down from my chest. Štefan lowers his eyes to there as with his fingers gathered around them he peels the fabric down, exposing my ample breasts. The light breeze brushing past my naked skin elicited my nipples to stiffen instantly under the gaze of his eyes. His hands rested upon my upper arms.

  I searched his eyes, certain I would perceive a change there. However, just as I did, he raised his eyes and smiled playfully, concealing the evidence of anything else.

  He dropped his hands from me, seeming to have lost his nerve to continue so I determined to finish what he had begun. My hands at my waist, I pushed down my pantalets till I was standing before him, my just recently developed womanhood bared to him.

  To my dismay, he strained to avert his eyes, refusing to drop them, to look upon me. At that moment, I did not value his honour. I wanted his eyes upon me, taking me in, devouring me greedily as a rake. Instead his eyes were respectfully glued to my face.

  Gazing upon each other, my eyes looked deep into his, beseeching him to see me as more than the childhood friend I had always been— much more. To my chagrin, he could not seem to manage to maintain that sort of eye contact with me and at one point he even burst out laughing. I did not join him in his chuckling, for I found nothing amusing. Rather, I was hoping for things to take a more significant turn.

  With a twinkle in his eye, Štefan grasped my hand. “What are we waiting for?” he exclaimed as he commenced to dragging me towards the lake.

  The feel of the cool, wet water splashing onto my naked body as we tromped into it acutely reminded me of how exposed I truly was.

  Now I wanted him to realise it, too.

  Instead, he turned about to face me and scooped his hands through it, mischievously splashing me all the more so that my hair and face were now wet, as well. I felt his eyes drift to my breasts. The sudden chill from his splashing had them quite taut, the peaks pointing at him, little bumps dotting across my flesh.

  My eyes turned up and were met with his gorgeous roguish smile, making it impossible to be cross with him. A slow smile developed upon my face and suddenly I scooped my arms through the water and heaved it back at him, drenching him in turn. I could not help but stare at his torso, his physique deliciously emphasized by the droplets of liquid clinging to his skin. My core tightened in response.

  I turned my eyes up just in time to perceive the next move playing out upon his face. Štefan commenced to chasing me. I screamed and attempted to run. However, I failed to escape— not that I really wished to— as I fast discovered that dashing through water was rather difficult, though he seemed to have an easier time of it than did I.

  When he caught me, I rejoiced at feeling his arms wrap around me, clutching me tight to his body, my back against his chest. As my laughing wound down, I realised I could feel the plump flesh of his manhood pressing against my backside.

  I felt the bursts of his hot breath upon my neck as he continued laughing. I sensed his loosening grip on me and seized the opportunity to swivel around in his arms. As I faced him, at last his chuckling ceased, yet he maintained his snug hold upon me. The feel of my cool breasts pressed against the bare warmth of his firm chest sent my mind reeling.

  In the renewed silence, I lifted my eyes up to his and gazed deeply in an attempt to capture him, to convey my feelings for him. I never did tire of staring at the colours of Štefan’s eyes. I still had yet to determine just what colour they actually were. I suppose that was because they were not just one colour. Rather, they were an amalgam of hues, just like the ocean, reflecting blue in some spots, green in others, and even yellows.

  When gazing long and deep into the ocean of his eyes did not yield me the desired results, I found myself gazing unwaveringly at his mouth, as though in attempt to communicate with his lips directly, willing them to move towards mine to claim them as his for once. And then, my eyes perceived them moving closer, the warmth of his breath blowing upon them and my heart all but stilled in my chest as I wondered if this was truly happening.

  At last his face was so near to mine that I could not hold my gaze upon it clearly any longer. My eyes floated back up to his inspiring eyes. I saw no more signs of teasing in them. Rather, they were smouldering with a certain desire.

  Can it be? He has desire for me? I can only hope.

  Before I could formulate another thought, Štefan’s mouth was upon mine, claiming mine as I had willed it to for what seemed so long. Never having been kissed before, my fantasies had certainly not given it the proper justification. It was worlds better than I had ever imagined! His lips were upon mine, softly asking permission to enter. Heat filled my face. I breathed in deeply and my head was bathed in the masculine scent of him. My head instantly soared to the clouds, so that my mind was nothing but a haze.

  I breathed out a feathery sigh, parting my lips and felt his smile against them in response. His tongue stroked across the inside of my lips, instigating them to quiver, and his hands grazed over my skin. A novel sensation travelled its
way through my whole body, leaving goose bumps in its path. When I moaned lightly as a consequence, his tongue seized the opportunity to enter further, and began sweeping my mouth, exploring every corner of it before merging with my tongue and inviting it into a seductive dance. Štefan tasted even more delectable than he smelt, something I had not believed possible!

  I could feel my nipples stiffening as the flesh of my breasts were pressed into the muscles of his chest. Then I realised that his manhood was thickening substantially between us, and I felt the heat of it pressing into my abdomen. A sensation shot through me as my mind sent me images of things of which I should have been ashamed.

  And then all too abruptly, Štefan’s mouth left mine and the warmth of his body was pulling away from me, leaving me cold and shivering. I looked at him questioningly, wondering why he would sever this wonderful moment we were sharing just when it was becoming so passionate. His face transfigured again displaying his customary jesting eyes once more.

  Then he was brushing his hands over my arms briskly. “We better get you out of this water, Katja, you are freezing. I could never live with myself if you caught your death as a consequence of my rash idea!”

  “Oh, Štefan, I am fine. I was not too cold with you close to me.” I gazed into his eyes evocatively, endeavouring to bring back the glimpse I had had of his tender and passionate side.

  But rather than the result I had hoped, he grinned playfully and dashed through the water crying out, “You had better beat me to shore before I steal your clothes, Katja!”

  Alas, I did not put it past him to do such an outlandish thing. Therefore, I had no choice but to run after him, drawn into participating in his theatrics once more.

  Thankfully, he allowed me to win and I retrieved my clothes securely.

  “You are becoming faster, Katja. I suppose you are growing up after all.”

  I seized the opportunity he had presented. “Yes, I am, Štefan,” I said sweetly, twirling about to display all of myself for him. “I have grown up quite a bit, wouldn’t you say?”