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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

A nna slowly opened her eyes, wincing at the sharp rays of sunlight that greeted her as she roused from what felt like the best sleep of her life.

She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face, stretching her legs out below her as she attempted to turn around and away from the light. She felt warm, almost hot, even, but she did not mind it much when she was blessed with the sight of her husband asleep behind her.

The duchess peeked at her duke from between her fingers, her heart trembling within her chest.

He looked so peaceful like this, unguarded and free from all the concerns he carried with him consistently. Anna still couldn’t believe how things had turned out for both of them, could barely trust that she had not somehow hallucinated or dreamt of his return.

But here he was, lying beside her, his hair pointing in various directions as he continued to sleep, blissfully unaware as his arm around her waist tightened slightly, pulling her towards him.

He was so warm, so handsome, and still beneath her curious fingers as she caressed the sharpness of his jaw, down to the dip of his collarbones, and even lower to the taunt muscles of his torso.

“Mine,” she whispered in awe. “My husband, my duke. My love.”

Suddenly, Julian lifted the arm that had been around her waist, taking it higher, gently wrapping it around her upper body before pulling her to his chest. His lips pressed against her forehead, then to the bridge of her nose, before placing a lingering kiss on her lips.

“Mine,” he echoed softly. “My wife, my duchess. My life.”

Anna blushed and buried her face in his chest.

“Did I wake you? I’m sorry.” She apologized bashfully.

“Do not be,” he muttered against the crown of her head. “I was eager to awaken and be with you. I am happy to see you like this – so early in the day, after spending the night with you in my arms. I feel as though I might be dreaming still.”

Hearing him share a sentiment she had also considered earlier made her heart shake. Anna raised her head and pressed a kiss to his jaw.

“You are not dreaming. This is real, I promise.”

Julian looked down at her, a smile overtaking his features and somehow making him even more handsome than anyone had the right to be so early in the day.

Anna felt herself be overtaken with want – a want for a long, happy, and good health-filled future, a want for a big and loving family, and a want for more simple mornings like these.

The idea that she could have all of that and more filled her heart with unbridled joy.

This is my life now, she thought as he buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply. All of this. Nothing but the best awaits.

“This feels as though we’re on our honeymoon. Finally,” Anna sighed, relaxing further in his embrace.

“Absolutely not. When we are on honeymoon, you will know, because I will spare no expense to ensure that you are utterly spoiled.” Julian tutted, half seriously.

Anna looked up at him and grinned.

“Are you sure you can handle the consequences of that? I might be… difficult when spoiled. What if I never want to lift a finger again?”

“Then I’ll do all the lifting. I am certain I can handle whatever ‘consequences’ might stem from my actions. Because you are mine. Mine to spoil, to ruin, and to love. Never think otherwise,” Julian told her, stroking her hair gently.

The intimacy and lightness were not lost on Anna, whose heart seemed to be swelling with appreciation each time Julian spoke.

This openness about him, along with the ease with which he was now being affectionate with her, was getting a tad overwhelming. But Anna found that she didn’t mind, but rather craved more.

She wanted to be consumed by this side of him, to never grow used to the sincerity in his eyes or the loving smile on his lips.

“I love you,” she breathed, running her hands up his bare chest to settle on his shoulders.

Julian’s hand caressed down her back, over her thigh to lift her leg and pull it over his hip, pressing her even closer to him. Then he leaned in, whispering softly right before he kissed her,

“I love you too, darling.”

“ – and then we ensure to facilitate proper communication between the suppliers and our buyers. It is very important to ensure that everyone is clear on what goods have been ordered and where they need to go. Most of what you’ll be doing involves handling the customers – gathering their opinions of our services, along with complaints, should any arise.

That way, all their concerns are met in a timely manner. ”

Seth nodded along to Julian’s words, momentarily looking in awe of his brother. Julian noted the expression immediately and frowned.

“What? Are you confused? Would you like me to repeat myself?”

The duke’s brother quickly shook his head.

“No, no. I’m actually… quite satisfied with your explanation. You are exemplarily good at this. Has the family business always been so clear-cut and direct? I was under the impression it was too daunting and complex, and after hearing your explanation, I have no idea why.” Seth admitted.

“Ah, that is likely because it used to be daunting and complex. Father had no idea what he was doing half the time, and when he showed me the ropes, I thought I was on the verge of going insane. It took me two years after I inherited it for me to clean it up into the straightforward business you see in operation currently. Before that, it was a messy affair that incurred more losses than gains, and I am still wondering how he managed to run it in such an inefficient way for so long.” Julian said, feeling slightly embarrassed to have impressed his younger brother so.

“That is truly remarkable. You are remarkable. I do not know if father is looking down on us – or likely up at us – and I honestly do not care enough to know how he feels, but he should be proud of you! You have done so well, building a good life without any to serve as a model for you. I used to envy… how put-together you seemed. Even after I learned that you had your own struggles, I still felt that you were still so lucky to have done well anyway. But now I see and I understand that you have worked very hard to obtain everything that you did. You should be very proud of yourself. As I am of you.”

Julian stared at his brother for a moment in surprise, then his expression dimmed.

“Sentimentality is not really your strong suit.”

The calmness in Seth’s gaze evaporated almost immediately.

“I will push you down a flight of stairs, bastard.”

“Ah, do with me what you will, but I draw the line at anything that would upset my wife. She is expecting me back early in time for dinner tonight,” Julian warned, only half serious.

“How is it I am the one to be wed, yet you are the one who has seemingly embarked on your honeymoon?” Seth questioned with a shake of his head.

“Not the honeymoon. Not yet. But I cannot deny that everything has been… pleasant, thus far.” Julian cleared his throat as he gathered some of the important documents he would need to return to the estate with.

Pleasant was a weak understatement.

Julian was the happiest he had ever been.

His heart was constantly full, and his arms always warm from the way his wife lovingly cuddled into his side.

He had never known such love, had never known that he really could have the kind of happiness that was usually reserved for fantastical stories within a book.

Yet, every morning for a week, he had woken up with his wife snuggled in his arms. He never knew he could feel so blessed until he leisurely attempted to count the freckles along the bridge of her nose, smitten by every single dot that reminded him of stars in the sky.

He had developed a habit of falling in love with her, again and again.

Each little action she did, every time she flashed a smile at him, he felt his heart swell with appreciation and awe.

It was slightly concerning to the point that he had begun to wonder if perhaps he was falling ill with how strange he felt.

But then he realized that in the past, he would have done all that he could to keep her at arm's length and bury each and every notion of her that occurred within him.

Suddenly, Julian was learning that it was perfectly all right to receive love and return it in the same breath.

His world did not end as he had once assumed it would when he told his wife that he loved her, but rather, it grew and became whole when she returned the sentiment.

He knew it was obvious just how deep his feelings for his wife ran, and he was proud of it.

“I am glad to hear it. I am glad that we are both leaving what we had known behind, and we are focused on our future. No matter what, we will leave those awful days behind and charge into the future together. We deserve that much.” Seth told him, his blue eyes filled with conviction.

Julian nodded, patting his brother on the back fondly.

“We do. And we will get all that we deserve and more.”

About an hour later, Julian said farewell to his brother and made his way back home, eager to see his wife.

It was strange how he could barely tolerate the idea of being away from her nowadays. He already believed that he must have been possessed to have kept her confined for two days to their chambers after he had admitted his feelings for her.

In fact, the only reason he had left his home today was because Seth had expressed an interest in getting ahead of the process of learning to fulfill his role in the family business.

With his wedding around the corner, Julian’s brother wished to have all his affairs in order, so that he might begin to work immediately after his honeymoon.

“I’ve already missed so much of his life,” Seth had sighed, when Julian arrived at the house that he had given to Seth.

“I have neglected him – although that wasn’t intentional.

And now, I must make things right and ensure that he wants for nothing.

The best way to do that right now is to prepare to provide for him. ”

Julian felt as though there could be no limit to how proud he was of his brother.

Seth had continued to mature, now that he had discovered what was more important to him than anything else, and he was choosing his love and his responsibility above all else, and Julian was prepared to help him through each path his journey would take him through.

And so, the desperation and need that threatened to consume him whenever Anna was not in his sight was a mystery he was not sure he cared to solve, but rather an occurrence he was willing to easily accept.

He knew what the cure to the momentary illness of need was, and that was all he required.

Returning home filled him with immense joy, especially when he walked into the foyer of the house and caught sight of his wife peering down at him from the top of the stairs.

He proceeded to eliminate half of the distance before he opened his arms up to greet her, smiling at how giddy she was as she made her way to him.

When her body collided with his and he inhaled the sweet scent that clung to her skin and hair, he felt his muscles relax. Because at last, he was home.

“My love,” he smiled down at her. “Have you been well?”

Anna giggled, cupping his face gently with her hands. “You ask as though you have been away for days, when it was merely a few hours.”

“Well, they were quite torturous, without you. So I might as well have spent an eternity out of your grasp,” Julian grumbled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

A red blush spread over her cheeks, and Julian marveled at the sight, caressing the red stain with his thumb.

“Oh, my poor darling,” Anna tsked, the corners of her lips quirking upward slightly. “There, there. You’ve returned, and that is all that matters.”

Although she was teasing him – very clearly, in fact – her words still comforted him and he pulled her closer, burying her face in her neck, allowing himself to relish in the fact that he had obtained a home that he cherished.

“Will you have dinner with me tonight?” Anna spoke up suddenly, her voice a tad hesitant.

Julian pulled back with a confused expression.

“We eat all our meals together, sweetness. I wouldn’t let you eat dinner alone – even if I wasn’t hungry.” He said gently.

Anna shook her head, her blush intensifying.

“N-No. That is not what I… It was rather sudden, but I thought it might be nice… for us to eat together in somewhere other than the dining hall, for once.”

Julian paused for a moment. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well – it is a surprise. All you need to do is freshen up and change, and a servant will bring you there.” Anna told him softly.

For the sake of teasing her, Julian tightened his grip on her and shook his head.

“You mean we must part ways again? But I’ve only just returned to the solace I find in your embrace.”

“It’ll only be for a little while,” Anna laughed, perching on her toes to kiss his nose. “And then you can hold me for as long as you desire.”

“That is a tempting offer,” Julian murmured, giving her a chaste kiss, only to dive in a second later for a deeper one.

“Husband,” Anna chastised with a laugh, “Go on. I will see you very soon.”

Reluctantly, Julian pulled away, narrowing his eyes at her.

“Do you swear it?”

It seemed childish for him to cling to her like this. But he couldn’t explain how much his body and soul craved her, now that he was allowed to.

Anna smiled at him, winking coyly as she began to put some distance between them, heading in the direction of her room slowly.

“You have my word, darling.” She said over her shoulder, before she walked out of sight.

Something about her expression stirred fierce heat within him, and he groaned, turning away to walk in the direction of his own chamber as he mumbled,

“That woman will be the death of me.”