A Wounded Dove

She tiptoed into the room and sat on the edge of the couch. She watched him as he slept looking so sweet and unassuming. When she looked at him there it made her warm inside. Not like the feeling of sadness she got when she looked at her husband. Then Will started to roll around as if he was unable to sleep much like she had been. Katherine placed a hand on his forehead in an effort to calm him. She could feel her heart begin to pound in her chest as she touched his soft skin.

"Be still my sweet young man," she whispered.

She ran her hands through his hair and kissed him gently on the forehead and he opened his eyes. He looked up and noticed her there above him looking down at him with her intense eyes. He had no idea what was happening and was wondering if maybe this was all some strange dream. Will knew that Katherine was most definitely not here touching his face in an ever so loving manner it was just not possible. Katherine touched his face softly and leaned in to kiss him. Will was very surprised and not sure what to say. He just looked at her with this expression that was full of bewilderment, amazement and fear all at the same time. However, she kissed him anyway and Will could feel the desperation for love and comfort that Katherine must have been feeling at that moment. He could also see that she was trembling slightly as her lips touched his.

"Make love to me" she said. "I just need to be with someone who loves me" "To have it mean something again" she continued.

"Are you sure this is what you really want?"

Will said not believing the words that were coming out of Katherine's mouth. He was not even sure if this was what he wanted.

"Yes, just hold me and make me feel loved." She said.

Will was confused and in truth somewhat terrified. Normally this is something that he never would have done. After all Katherine was married and there were some boundaries you were not meant to cross. On the other hand he knew her husband did not give a damn about her and had actually been unfaithful himself. Katherine had never been able to get over the infidelity and Jim had never truly apologized or expressed remorse for his actions. Will also knew how much he cared about Katherine and how much he wanted for her to feel loved and appreciated. And as he looked into her eyes he saw his reasons. He saw everything that made her who she is. All the hurt that she carried her longing to be loved, and the fear that she would never feel truly alive again. Will knew these feelings very well since he harbored many of them inside of himself. Will had been with a few girls before and had brief relationships with them. Nothing had ever lasted and no one had caused him to feel that spark or that intensity he thought he should have been feeling. Although while he looked up at Katherine with a lot of apprehension and fear he also felt some of that excitement. Here was someone who intrigued him and interested him in a way he had never known. Someone will real depth and understanding of love and true emotion. At that moment the two of them came to sort of a mutual unspoken understanding of their current actions and why they had chosen them.

So as she continued to kiss him he simply let all of his fears be cast aside. He began to return her kisses with his own very soft and gentle. Her lips tasted very soft and sweet and he couldn't stop. When they kissed Katherine felt that desire that she thought had died so long ago. Will finally felt that he wasn't alone and that someone cared. He had feared that no one would ever see inside of him, but now he thought that maybe he was wrong. Katherine sat up; Will lifted the nightgown over her head. He just took a minute to look at her and she was so beautiful. He could not understand what her husband didn't see in her or why he didn't love her. Katherine's body was full and smooth and Will slowly ran his hands up her curves caressing her body. He touched her with a tenderness that sent chills through Katherine's entire body. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the sensations of his soft and gentle but strong hands.

Will had never liked Jim for the way he treated Katherine and the things he did. But now she was here with him and he was going to try and make up for all that and right all the wrongs. Of course that was in reality not possible, but at the moment he felt it was his destiny. Despite the fact that all the pain from the years of a failed marriage could not be solved in a single night he believed he had to try. Try and make her feel emotions and pleasures that she thought were long lost. Will began to kiss the rest of Katherine's body making her feel so good. He moved so slow and was ever so gentle being kind to all her needs. Will knew well that with a woman like Katherine it was best to take your time and he was ready to make it so sweet for her.

Next Katherine looked at Will showing that she was getting ready. She lifted off his shirt and his boxers exposing the vulnerable person that he hid deep inside. She lay him down and let her body fall on top of his. She was ready and they both knew that there was no turning back now. The longing in her eyes was as evident as ever at this moment. Will could hardly believe how much she really seemed to want this. It was almost like a dream for him to think that she was here while her asshole husband unknowingly slept like a rock in the other room. Katherine lowered herself over him and so they began. Will moved slow and deep at first, but he slowly moved just a little faster but never getting too quick. He was so steady kissing her the entire time making her feel like she never thought she could again. He built her up and took her to a place inside of her that she had rarely if ever been. She felt so alive as did he. Although both of them were almost silent the entire time their moans of passion desire and love where loud as ever inside of their hearts. They just knew that if anyone were to hear it would be tragic to say the least.

Will looked into Katherine's eyes and the mixture of pleasure and emotion was ever present. He kissed her again, as his rhythmic movements became deeper and quicker. He could tell that she was lost in the beauty of the moment and the indescribable way he hoped she was feeling. Katherine moved her body in tune with Will's meeting him as he pushed upward. The sensations ripped through her body and her temperature rose. On one level she felt like someone other than herself and this pleased her. But on another level she knew she was the same Katherine and that was who Will had been attracted to. That in reality there had been nothing really wrong with her at all during these last many years. That the right person could know her for who she was underneath all of the deception and untruths that she allowed the world to see. At that moment Katherine felt the true waves of passion build in her body as she experienced her release. She was just relaxing when she felt Will stiffen and as he worked toward his moment and she felt it happening for her again. She could hardly believe that experiencing such pleasure and sheer emotion was actually possible. After they had given themselves to each other they both felt so relaxed. Katherine closed her eyes and fell asleep. Will just held her and watched her sleep. He loved the look of peace on her face. He wished she could look that way forever. She was so relaxed sleeping with a smile on her face. He decided he would let her sleep for a while enjoying the moment and then he would wake her so she could return to her room. But all too soon he fell asleep.

They slept all night holding each other enjoying the warmth of love and compassion around them. Little did they know that when the morning came that peaceful moment would be shattered. When Jim woke up in the morning he noticed that Katherine was not in bed. He found this to be kind of odd because when he woke early on the weekends to play golf she was usually asleep. But he did not give it much more thought then that. Maybe she gone for a walk or to work in the garden as she sometimes did. In truth he didn't much care what she did on the weekends as long as he made his tee time. He took a quick shower and ate a small breakfast preparing to leave.

Then when he walked into the living room looking for his hat he found so much more. At the second he saw her laying there with Will he completely lost all reason. Katherine heard his footsteps as he stormed out of the room. She woke up and ran after him not sure what she was going to do. She looked into his eyes and saw them so filled with hate and rage. At that very moment she understood the gravity of what she had done. She had made a tremendous error in judgement. She had done something that was unbecoming of her. It had been thoughtless and hurtful and she now understood this but it was too late. She tried to say wait and I am sorry, but no words came out. All of these realizations and she could not even speak. Katherine also knew that nothing could make this better or erase the images from her husband's mind. For she knew he must have known what had happened. He knew the two of them had been getting closer, but he never thought his wife would have done such a thing. He thought she was too scared of him and of losing him. Katherine just stood in front of him terrified as she watched her husband raise his hand for the first time. Will awoke immediately as he felt Katherine stand up. He heard arguing and shouting in the hall.

His first reaction was to get out of bed and rush to Katherine's defense. As he threw on some clothes the shouts got louder. He could hear the desperation in Katherine's voice and the anger in Jim's. Then as he approached the doorway he heard a smack and a thud as he watched Katherine fall to he floor. As Jim walked over getting ready to hand out the next blow Will stood in front of Katherine.

"Don't touch her," he said standing his ground.

Jim noticed that there was no fear in Will's eyes. Jim could see a different emotion in Will's eyes. That look was of complete determination and conviction. It was as if Will was saying without speaking that he stood by whatever had happened the night before. And that he was willing to defend his actions and Katherine if it came to that. Jim knew that he could hit Will or beat him, but also knew that it would bring no satisfaction. Because he did not blame Will only Katherine that was just the kind of person he was. Jim stood there with his fist raised and an evil look in his eyes. His fist trembled in front of Will's face as if contemplating its next move. Will did not move away or prepare to fight back. He took a more passive approach as he stared back at Jim.

"Go ahead and hit me if you want," "Beat the hell out of me if it makes you feel better," he yelled.

By this time Katherine was already crying uncontrollably on the floor. Will looked into Jim's eyes, but saw no remorse. It was as if Jim resented Katherine for this so called mistake. He could have cared less that he had been with someone else in the past. That Katherine knew about it and had dealt with the pain for years. Somehow he justified his infidelity, but the fact that she had done it was more then he could take. His anger had gotten the best of him and he just snapped. Words had no longer been enough and he had hit her. The sad part was that he probably was not even ashamed of himself. He put his arm down and stormed out of the house without a word. Will sighed with relief as he watched him walk away and heard the front door slam.

The children didn't hear a thing or if they did they stayed in their rooms in their beds under the covers. For they had learned to simply block out the sound and not react. Screaming was common place in the household and more then likely none of them heard the slap of their father's hand against their mother's face. The boy's rooms were upstairs and that is where they would hide away pretending not to hear or care. In reality they didn't know that the way their father acted was wrong because it was all they had ever known. They were both headed down the same road anyway and no one could stop them. It was a shame really that they didn't have a more positive male role model. Because someone needed to teach them that anger was not the only way to treat a woman and that they had better more effective alternatives. As for Melissa she was almost a member of the family and although she didn't think that all of the fighting was right she also did not believe it was her place to get involved. She felt like she had found a good deal being accepted by the family and getting paid for a job she enjoyed. Melissa simply wanted to stay in good graces with the family although she did support Katherine when she sometimes talked of divorce. For Melissa her time with this family was her time to escape her own family and in the issues she dealt with at home.

Will sat down on the floor and took Katherine in his arms. He tried to hold her, but she pushed him away. All he wanted to do was comfort her and she wasn't letting him.

"Leave, please just get out" she said.

He couldn't comprehend what she was telling him. After the night they had just shared she was kicking him out. After he had stood up and protected her she wanted him gone?

"Please let me help you" Will said.

"No just go" she repeated.

Still he tried to hold her, but she struck out at him. Will attempted to wrap her up tighter and she fought him even harder. She ripped his arms apart and started kicking at him. So he left without a word. Left her there crying on the floor, but what could he do? He knew she needed someone to hold her and rock her until she calmed down. But Katherine had just refused or perhaps she was too ashamed of herself. Ashamed of what she had done and so much so that she couldn't even look at her friend and brief lover. Will knew that so much more than sex had taken place last night on that couch. He also knew Katherine very well and understood how she had reacted. Rather than embrace what had happened she had chosen to punish herself for what she considered a sin. A sin she had committed not only against her husband but her family and herself. Will sped away in his car and went back home. During that ride home he contemplated turning around several times. He would slam the brakes, but he never turned around. He did not want to be a coward, but he also did not want to return where he wasn't wanted. Upon reaching his house Will slammed the door and ran upstairs ignoring everyone in the house. He just threw himself on the bed and wept for his inability to help Katherine.

After that things would never be the same. Will would run into Katherine sometimes, but she would ignore him. He thought that after that moment maybe she would be strong enough to leave. Even if she didn't want to be with him, maybe she would have seen that there was more for her then her husband could offer. But he had been wrong. That night was nothing more then a moment of weakness for Katherine. Perhaps he was wrong when he thought that she had felt the same intense desires that he had, but now he would never know for sure. Part of Will felt like he should be angry, but he wasn't. For he knew if he had it to do all over again he would. To him that night was special and although it pained him every time he thought of the morning after he would never want to take back the night. For that was the first time in his life he had felt alive and he knew that Katherine had felt the same way. So he vowed to always keep that feeling close to his heart and never to forget.