WARNING: smut content (kind of)

«Thea!» the Duke warns me, while his clench tightens, and his pupils contract. It's a small change. If I was a millimetre farther, this little difference would have passed unnoticed, in his black iris.

«What?» I ask, wondering if he's raging or the opposite.

«You can't say things like that. Do you know how it sounds?»

It's like he's teaching a small child how to behave. It's frustrating, and also so anticlimactic. I thought he would be happy to hear the words pronounced despite the embarrassment caused by them. If he continues to stare like this, I'll completely forget about my purposes.

«You don't have to do it, if you don't want to,» I mutter and try to get up. Needless to say, it's impossible.

«I never said that,» he points out.

Oh, so that's how it is. I turn back to my Duke and press my lips on his. Since he doesn't stop me, I dare to deepen my kiss.

When he lowers his guard, I move my mouth on his neck and kiss his skin. I act a bit more delicately than my Duke usually does, without his accustomed haste, nor his passionate roughness. However, Alexander seems to enjoy it even this way.

My finger slips on the first button on his shirt and tries to unfasten it with a single hand. After failing a couple of times, I just pull until the button detaches.

Alexander sighs. It's just a short, transient moment, but I sense how he bends his head to the side by a few degrees. Air leaves his lips almost unnoticed, and his arms relax their clench.

I blink, surprised by the effect his reaction has on me. I'd like to know what exactly triggered it. To do that again.

I nibble his shoulder and caress his chest with a hand. I move it lower, focusing on the muscles. I can feel his training even through clothes. A soldier's body really is something.

When something starts poking on my thigh, I sit astride and smile at my Duke. My hand slips in his trousers, and he winces surprised.

«Thea, you...» he mutters, but I stop him with a kiss. I force my tongue in his mouth and explore. He did the same to me, so he doesn't have any right to complain.

Meanwhile, I start moving my hand up and down, first slowly. I wrap his erection in my fingers and focus on his body's reactions.

At first, his breath is the only sign that tells me how I'm doing. However, since Alexander stopped complaining, I guess I can continue like this.

When I increase the pace of my hand's movement, though, a couple of moans reach my ears. Every time my Duke's lips try to flee from me, I stick my tongue even deeper and stubbornly continue to kiss him. Our teeth chatter against each other, a couple of times.

After a few minutes of hard work, I can finally hear my Duke's panting.

One of his arms is firmly laced around my waist, but his right hand wanders on my body. When he cups my breast, I let out a gasp. However, I can't let him distract me like this. I have a mission, here!

I can't have what I desire due to my body's condition. Still, there's no reason to deprive my Duke of the pleasure a wife is supposed to bring.

A small part of me is envying him at this moment. Yet, I'm happy that he likes it. And also, that I am the cause of his pleasure.

Even if my hand is starting to tire, I set my mind on enduring it. And also on finding a way to end it faster.

I split from the Duke's lips and look at him.

«Is this all right?» I inquire. Then, I move my lips closer to his ear and whisper: «Xander?»

His muscles stiffen for a moment, and his arm drags me closer, forcing me to almost lie on him.

«Just perfect,» he answers, stuttering.

I nibble his earlobe and pay some attention to this part of his neck. I even consider biting him, but I don't think he would react the same way I do.

I recall how he frowned when I once left a sign, so I avoid sticking my teeth too deep. I just play with his earlobe and lick his neck, always cautious with following his response.

It takes longer than I wanted, but, in the end, I succeed. When my Duke leans his head back on the sofa, with his eyes closed and his breath short, I realise I was panting as well. This is such an energy-consuming activity, for goodness!

Also, my underwear is drenched, I ought to change it immediately.

I peck Alexander's cheek and get up from the couch. I take a look at the place where I was sat, just to check if there's blood anywhere. It seems I haven't made a mess.

«This Duchess will be right back,» I whisper, and I walk out.

Even though I've just done something as indecent as this, I can't stand the embarrassment of changing clothes in front of my husband. I'll just grab a pair of undergarments from my dayroom.

Ah, I can't wait for my monthlies to be over. This is unbearable. Not to mention my hormones that have never been so out of control.

I can't believe I've just jumped on my husband like that. And not only once, but at least thrice. In the middle of a serious conversation. I cover my eyes with a hand while searching for a different topic for my thoughts. I better stop revising the scene of a minute ago.

When I walk back to the bedroom, I'm almost back to normal.

Alexander is drinking my glass of wine while looking at the fire. He turns to me and smiles tenderly, maybe wondering about the reason why I ran out like that.

«I will sleep, now,» I whisper while lying down.

He just nods, lost in his thoughts.

I turn on the side and close my eyes, searching for a comfortable position. Just when I think I've found the perfect one, my Duke's voice reaches me.

«You should rest now,» he murmurs. «You worked hard today.»

Before I have time to think clearly, I sit and disrupt the blessed equilibrium. I glare at Alexander and open my mouth to protest when I realise he might be talking about the party's organisation.

I close my mouth and stare for a minute more.

Then, I lie back without a single word spoken. My husband's chuckle hits my nerves, but I ignore it. I cuddle under the cover and close my eyes, this time even more convinced.

I fall asleep soon, and the night passes a bit too fast.

A weird dream torments me, one of those in Polis.

I see Kate helping me dress, and this person stares at us from the sofa. I can't tell the reason, but he's annoyed by something. I've long since found that this is a man, but I can't still understand who was allowed to stay so close to me. Maybe, a lover?

It's the only explanation I can think of. I'm dreaming of this because I'm starting to regret it!

I've avoided keeping a lover by my side, I stayed alone. I didn't know what I was missing, back then. Is this the regret that drives me to these dreams?

Also, I'm kind of sure that not just any man is like my Duke.

However, I can't continue to look for the hidden reasons my perverted brain fosters. I do have someone I can consider a lover, right now. There's no need to envision and dream of another one.

I mean, my husband is already tough to take care of alone. I wouldn't survive to two.

When I wake up in the morning, I crawl out of bed and return to my job.

Days pass almost unnoticed, and the night of the ball comes.

Lady Lyana took care of the invites and helped me with the tables. She also confirmed that I chose the right type of flowers for the event.

Kate, meanwhile, worked on the dress. She chose one from the closet and adapted it for a special occasion.

My Duke kindly requested some dishes for dinner, obviously all made of meat. In the end, I accepted his plead after he promised he wouldn't drink the way he did at the wedding banquet. He tried to redeem himself with cheap excuses, but, in the end, he didn't really have a choice.

«It was my wedding, Duchess! You can't ask a man not to drink at his own marriage banquet!» he exclaimed.

Then, he glanced at my stern expression and dropped his shoulders.

«I'll do as my wife wishes,» he conceded.

It's not even sunset when the first guests start arriving, and I look hurriedly at Alexander that has just started changing clothes.