Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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I woke up late in the morning, surrounded by my favorite scent of pine trees with a dash of the ocean.

It was more than just a scent. Duke's arms were around me and his chest pressed on my back, skin to skin contact fully, and I felt him breathing slowly against me.

Our first naked morning together.

I was giddy as images of the previous night flashed in my mind and my cheeks caught on fire.

Duke was intense and gentle and powerful. Insatiable.

I'm lucky to have a body that easily heals, or I would need some serious pain medication after last night's activities.

I didn't know that a man can have so much stamina. Don't guys need to rest between sessions of lovemaking?

But I'm not complaining. He made me feel beautiful and sexy. Desired.

I remember that when he got inside the first time, it hurt. But then he moved slowly, and the pain disappeared, leaving only pleasure behind. After the third time, I was so sensitive, unable to come down from my high as his every move made me stay up there, at the brink of climaxing… and then he would speed up the pace and push me over the edge.

Before last night, I didn't know that I can experience such ecstasy.

I wished to call Calista and Mona and tell them how wonderful it was so that I share this happiness that bubbled inside me, but I knew that I would be too embarrassed to talk about it. It's too personal.

Duke and I bared our emotions as our bodies merged into one and it was amazing.

I slowly rotated with an intention to see Duke's sleeping face and I noticed that the lower part of my body is sticky. Ugh! How did I manage to sleep like this?

I desperately needed a shower, but I didn't want to leave the bed or to be more precise, I didn't want to leave Duke's embrace.

Just as I turned toward Duke, his eyes fluttered open, and he smiled drowsily.

"Good morning, beautiful."

"Good morning, Mateo.", my voice came out as a whisper.

My breathing halted as I observed his gaze full of love and expression that conveyed happiness. He was really happy, and I was as well.

"I'm sorry that I woke you up. Feel free to sleep more."

Duke hummed and tightened his hold on me. "How can I sleep when my hot girlfriend is in the bed with me, naked?"

I didn't know how to respond to this, so I didn't. No one called me hot before.

"How are you feeling?", he asked.

"Fine.", I responded right away.

Duke's lips lifted into a smirk, and I felt his fingers making small circles along my spine.

"Just fine?"

Was he expecting praise for his performance last night? Men.

"Well…", I drawled. "I could use a shower, but other than that I feel wonderful. Thank you for the last night, it was magical."

Duke's eyes flashed with satisfaction. "I wish that we never separate, and I will make sure that your every next night is magical."

Before I could respond, in one swift move, he got out of the bed and carried me to the bathroom, like I weigh nothing at all.

"Let's shower together.", he said, not caring about the comforter I was clutching in an attempt to cover my body.

My eyes darted to the exposed bedsheets and the red stains on the bottom one. My face exploded into blush. Did Duke see that? He probably did.

"Wait!", I exclaimed. "Let me tell Maria to prepare breakfast."

He hummed in agreement and carried me to my phone.

"Why don't you let me down?", I asked through giggles.

"I will never let you down.", Duke responded without missing a beat and I realized that he was not talking only about putting me on the floor, but also about not disappointing me.

He is such a sweet talker.

Duke nuzzled my neck with his nose and took deep breaths while I struggled to keep my tone of voice even as I spoke to Maria. The last thing I wanted was to moan for her to hear.

After ending my quick talk with Maria, I checked notifications. "I have messages from Mona."

Duke grabbed my phone and flicked it to the side. "That can wait."

I wanted to protest about this phone restriction, but Duke yanked the comforter from my hands and threw it on the floor of the bedroom, leaving me completely naked and exposed.

I was flustered. I had no idea where to put my hands and the fact that he was naked and that his erection poked my bottom, didn't ease my nerves.

I didn't dislike this skin-to-skin contact. After all, we did all kinds of things last night. But it was too sudden, and I didn't know how to react while Duke walked into the shower enclosure with me in his arms, like it's a totally normal thing.

To hide my embarrassment, I buried my face in his neck. How can a man smell so good after a night of sweating?

He started the water, and it took a few seconds for cold water to turn warm as it traveled through the pipes.

"You can put me down now, right?", I asked, and Duke arched his handsome eyebrow questionably while starting the shower.

I realized that he enjoyed having me in his arms. He was clingy and I loved it, but we couldn't shower like this.

I needed to bribe him somehow if I want space.

"How am I going to wash your back if you are holding me?"

This worked and I felt my feet touch the tiles at the bottom of the shower enclosure.

"Wash me well…", Duke said with a grin and handed me a bottle of shower gel before turning his back to me.

I pouted in protest playfully and applied the gooey liquid on my palms that quickly started making bubbles.

As I ran my hands over Duke's glorious back with shower gel providing lubrication, I noticed his perfect skin. I worried that I hurt him last night while clawing at him, but I guess I didn't do as much damage as I thought at the time. There was not a single scratch.

The water washed off the shower gel too soon and I wanted to touch him more.

"Can I wash your front?", I blurted out. I really wanted to explore his pecs and abs freely here in the light.

It's not that I didn't touch him before, but it was in dim lighting, obstructed by a t-shirt or cover, and this was well lit and totally available for me to see. It was a different type of intimacy I was eager to explore.

In response, Duke turned to face me, and I did my best to ignore his smirk or his erection that waved at me.

Why does it always feel like he is teasing me? Or is it tempting me?

I was frustrated that I got flustered easily. I thought that after last night I will be braver.

'Let go of those insecurities, Serina. The man you love adores you. Just focus on that, and it will be fine.', I gave myself a pep talk.

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