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“I am not going to do anything you do not want me to,” he assured her. “I only want to…”

What exactly? He had never paid so much attention to a woman after the deed was done before.

But Phoebe was different.

Even if he struggled with the pain of his arousal, he wanted to see to her comfort first.

She is my wife, after all.I will ensure that she is not treated so shabbily.

“This was your first time to feel sexual pleasure, I gather?” he asked her.

She nodded wordlessly, her cheeks flushing again.

“I only want to see to your comfort,” he murmured, reaching out to brush that wayward golden lock away from her neck. “A warm bath should ease any aches you might feel.”

This time, she allowed him to help her out of her clothes and her chemise, and she warily accepted his support as he walked her tothe edge of the tub. As she lowered herself into the warm water, she let out a soft sigh.

She smiled up at him. “You are right. It does feel heavenly. Thank you.”

He did not say anything, merely smiled at her as he picked up the washcloth and began to scrub her arms delicately.

“Ethan, I think I can?—”

A single look from him halted her protestations.

“I just think I can do this for myself,” she mumbled weakly.

“And like I told you before, wife,” he whispered hoarsely, “you do not have to do everything by yourself. You are my Duchess now. For all your other cares, you have your husband to worry about them for you.”

She said nothing more, merely ducking her head as she let him clean her up. When he reached her thighs, she stiffened slightly but soon relaxed under his gentle ministrations.

Ethan, on the other hand, was doing his damnedest to focus on his task, which was not exactly easy when his erection was already straining against his breeches and there was a very beautiful water nymph inhisbathtub, enjoyinghisattentions.

Later, when the water had begun to grow cold, he helped her out of the tub and carefully patted her damp skin dry before helping her into one of his robes.

The garment was far too large for her. The sleeves hung past her fingertips, and the hem dragged to the floor.

Still, Ethan had never seen a more beautiful sight than Phoebe inhisclothes.

Then again, he was finding that every single thing about her aroused him, and this was going to be a problem for them.

“Phoebe.”

“Hmm?” She raised her gaze lazily to his as he took a towel to dry her hair.

He took a deep breath. Released it slowly. “I cannot stay here in Sinclair Estate.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean? This is your home.”

He smiled and pressed a light kiss to her damp hair. “And it is yours as well, Duchess,” he told her. “I respect your boundaries, sweetheart, but I find my fortitude being tested with every breath that I remain under the same roof as you.”

He met her gaze in the mirror. With her hair damp, and her lips slightly parted, it was already taking all of his self-control not to drag her to his bed and have his way with her.

But if he did that, she would never forgive him, and that was something Ethan could not live with.

Instead, he patted her head affectionately. “Thus, I have made up my mind,” he continued. “You shall stay here at the estate, and I shall leave for my townhouse tonight.”

“Tonight?” she echoed.