Page 19

“Thank you… thank you for watching Nicholas. And for letting me rest.”

He paused, his lips mere inches away from hers and he mumbled,

“You are welcome, wife.” Then he moved to her ear, whispering softly, “Although it would be more meaningful if you showed me just how grateful you are.”

And then he went into the study, leaving the door open behind him. A clear invitation he wondered if she would be brave enough to heed.

He did not need to wait long because shortly after he walked in, she entered the study after him, her cheeks still visibly aflame as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, staring ahead at him.

“Well? Are you not a tad too far away to show me how thankful you are?”

Anna inhaled sharply and slowly made her way over to where he had settled on a settee, trying not to retreat when he spread his legs apart and held a hand out to her.

Why was he doing this? What did he hope to gain by embarrassing her so greatly, making her act as though she wanted all he was offering?

But truthfully… she did want it. She had been unable to keep herself from thinking of his hands on her skin, harshly then soothing, the pleasure he had shown her that had shown her a whole world. Anna had never yearned for anything as much as she yearned for his embrace again.

Slowly, she settled on his lap, letting out a shuddering exhale as he pulled her flush to himself immediately, his lips finding hers hungrily.

Her fingers got lost in his hair as she kissed him back with all the need she had managed to stifle for days.

His kiss ate away at her uncertainty and shy reluctance, and soon, she found herself wordlessly asking for more, one of her hands exploring the strong planes of his chest and shoulders.

One of his hands ran up her bare thigh and he broke the kiss suddenly, his dark gaze flittering up and down her body.

Her dressing gown was already askew, and her night dress had ridden up slightly during their kiss.

Keeping his gaze on hers, he moved his hand higher, barely batting an eye when he gripped onto her buttocks and squeezed, almost like he was giving her a reminder of what had transpired the last time she let him overwhelm her.

“You are wearing it again. This bloody night gown,” he growled, leaning in to claim her lips once more.

Shortly after, he began trailing wet kisses along her jaw, down the column of her neck to her chest, pushing the dressing gown and the strap of her night dress to reveal her breast. Anna arched against him with moan, shivering as his hands continued to explore her body.

She was overwhelmed, unable to follow the ministrations of his hands and mouth, already so lost in the pleasure he was offering so freely.

A whine left her lips when he set her on the settee and hovered over her.

“You were so good for me last time. Do you believe you can behave again tonight?” he asked coyly.

Anna had already known that she was at his mercy the moment she walked into the study after him. Everything else that was to follow her decision of putting herself into the hands of this man was a mere courteous formality.

Still, she nodded wordlessly, inhaling sharply when he held onto her chin and forced her to keep her gaze on him.

“Words, duchess. I need to hear you say that you will be on your best behavior. Just for me.”

Swallowing the lump of humiliation in her throat, Anna said quietly.

“I will… I will be good for you.”

Julian smirked, letting her go and reaching for the cravat knotted around his neck. He pulled it off in one fluid movement and after a few seconds of folding it diagonally, he brought it against her eyes and tied it behind her head, taking away her sight.

“Just trust me and be good.” He whispered in her ear, before pressing a kiss to the juncture of her jaw, then on her lips and then her chin.

Gradually, the kisses went lower and lower and it was all Anna could do not to squirm when he settled away from her and pushed her legs apart with his hands braced on her knees.

The humiliation from how exposed she was nearly overwhelmed her, but fell short of the way her stomach grew tighter with pleasure when something lapped at her wet folds.

“No – wait –” Anna whined, her hands immediately going to Julian’s head to push him off. “Don’t –”

Julian tsked and swatted her hand away. “Behave, princess. Do not make me punish you.”

His voice and the threat made her even more aroused and she nearly wanted to disobey him just to see what would happen. But she had told him that she would be good. The least she could do is try to keep her word.

Slowly, her hands retreated, clinging to the furniture instead and her cheeks burned when he hummed in approval and continued to lap at her center.

Each hungry stroke of his tongue brought her closer and closer to the edge of her climax, stealing the breath right from her lungs and leaving her to gasp shallowly.

Not being able to see anything at all made her feelings all the more intense – his touches burning hotter and his tongue seemingly heavier with each stroke.

“It must be a sin,” she heard her husband say, her back arching as his tongue plunged in deep and he sucked, “To taste this sweet.”

Her hands found his hair again as he inserted a finger into her, this time not to push him away but to hold onto him as she fell off the edge into the abyss. The pleasure rolled off her in waves and her thighs clamped around his head.

Julian didn’t protest or scold her, but simply continued to pet her and mouth at her until she whined and tried to wriggle away.

“Good,” he praised when her thighs released their hold on him, reaching up to take off her blindfold. “You have done well. I am very proud of you.”

His kisses were slow then, almost lazy and lingering, feeling like a reward and she relished in each and every one of them. Julian held her close afterwards, unwilling to have her slip away like she did the last time they had been… intimate.

But as she fell asleep in his arms, he couldn’t help but realize that he had been acting strangely around his wife. And he had no clue as to why.