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Finally, he was pleased to say, this marriage was beginning to resemble one that he could be proud of. Why, it was one that he was even enjoying. As unexpected as that might have been to admit.

“Plans today?” Duncan asked Isabella as she swept into the dining room, there to break her fast with her husband as they did together every morning now.

“Good morning to you too.” She even gave him a kiss on the cheek before sitting herself down.

"Yes,” he chuckled with amusement. “How very rude of me. How did you sleep?”

“Not well,” she pretended to look upset. “But you know that already, don’t you.” Followed by a sharp smile and a wink.

“A small part of me almost wants to apologize. Alas, I will not waste the words for I know deep down that I’ll be doing the exact same thing tonight.” He sighed as if with regret. “Such is my way.”

“And tomorrow morning?” she asked hopefully.

He flashed his eyes wickedly. “If today was any indication.”

“I suppose I will just have to get used to surviving on little sleep for now on, won’t I?”

He shrugged. “Either that or you are free to sleep in a separate room. If you think you have the self-control.”

She gasped and touched her chest as if mortally offended. “Excuse you. You’re the one I would worry after. All alone. Nobody to tuck you in. I might even be inclined to feel sorry for you.”

“How kind of you.”

“Plus, knowing you, you would end up sneaking into my room anyway. So, moving to my own would serve no purpose.”

He exhaled and shook his head. “And for that, I do apologize. But only a little...” He winked and she began to fidget. “From where I am sitting, you have only yourself to blame.”

“Me?” she gasped a second time.

Duncan’s eyes flicked hungrily over his wife. She was dressed simply, half dress for it was still early in the day and they were not entertaining guests. Just a plain white chemise with a spencer jacket worn over the top, buttoned at the front, long sleeved and nothing overly scandalous. But that did not stop Duncan from salivating.

The jacket was a little too tight, struggling to contain her bosoms in a way that made it look as if the jacket might pop open at any moment. And where the jacket ended on her waist, Isabella’s thick curves could be seen beneath as if she wanted him to take notice.

He stared at her without care, mind flashing back to earlier this morning when he was on his back as she straddled him. Hands around her breasts. Her fingers digging into his chest. Her body thrusting and heaving and shuddering as she screamed so loudly that the house shook.

“Careful now,” Isabella said, noticing where his focus was. “None of that.”

“None of what...” He tore his eyes free from her body, looking vaguely at her as if he had just come out of a dream.

“To answer your question earlier, I am busy today.” She looked at him flatly. “Far too busy to become distracted this morning.”

“Distracted again, you mean?”

She rolled her eyes. “I will be home later this evening and if you are home also...” She shrugged and then, ever so casually, ran a finger down her chest as if tracing an invisible line to her cleavage. “Maybe you and I can spend some time together.”

Duncan could feel himself turning hard at the thought and all he wanted to do was jump to his feet, storm around the table, take his wife by the hand and lead her back upstairs so they could pick up where they had left off only a few hours earlier.

If this had been a few weeks ago, he just might have done that.

Why, if this had been a few weeks ago, he and Isabella would already be in the throes of a new argument, looking for any reason to avoid having to talk to one another normally, knowing exactly where that argument was heading.

There was no need for that anymore.

Yes, Duncan wanted his wife. And yes, she wanted him. But they realized now that they didn’t need to fight and berate one another to elicit their arousal. And because of that, they were nolonger fighting at every waking hour, and because of that for the first time in this marriage Duncan and Isabella were getting to know one another in a real way.

And surprisingly, although he supposed it probably shouldn’t have been, Duncan was starting to see Isabella in a whole new light. One that he was more than a little taken by.

“Tonight then.” Duncan tore his eyes free, and then to busy himself, he looked about for a servant to pour him a glass of juice. He caught one’s eye and clicked his fingers, needing the beverage as a means of distraction. “I’ll be here.”