How did I end up in this situation?

Oh, right. My evil, fail-proof plan.

It all started well, to be sincere. After dinner, I waited for Alexander to undress. When he was shirtless, I approached and suddenly hugged him. I leaned my cheek on his bare chest and decided that I couldn't let him cover it. That would have added to the work.

«Come here,» I whispered while pulling him to the bed by his right hand. «Help your wife undress...»

I let the scarf slip on the bed, unnoticed and harmless. I turned my back to Alexander and moved my braid on the shoulder.

Alexander undid some of the buttons, and I got rid of the dress. It fell on the floor, just off yet already forgotten. I pushed my husband on the bed.

«This Duchess has an idea,» I muttered while straddling him.

«I see that sleep helped my wife's brain to work again,» he answered, shameless as always. I didn't react to his statement. I was going to tell him everything after securing him.

«I can't focus on what's important, if I have to pay attention to your wound,» I pouted.

«I can't make it disappear, Duchess.»

«That's why I thought hard about a solution!»

«And?»

«And I found one that will work just right.» I pressed my breasts on his chest, making sure he could have a peek before hugging him. I moved my bottom until I could feel his hardness pressing on me, and I innocently pecked his lips.

First, my Duke needed enough motivation to listen to my requests. Only asking wouldn't have been enough. Oh, well... That's what I thought. I couldn't imagine it would turn against me like this.

After considering my words for a couple of seconds, and using that time to pull my chemise down, my Duke nodded.

«Let me hear your idea,» he conceded.

The fresh air that hit my breasts made my nipples erect, and my hands grabbed the Duke's shoulders to resist the need to cover myself.

Oh, I was so content that he wanted to hear me out. What a fool.

«If we secure your hand on the headrest, we'll be sure that it won't get hit. This Duchess will be able to do her best without worrying about hurting her husband,» I explained while caressing his chest with a hand. I even tilted my head to the side seductively and smiled innocently.

I should have figured out how it was going to end when my Duke nodded happily.

«This seems like a wonderful idea,» he exclaimed. «Are you going to use this like a rope?»

He lifted the scarf from the bed, with an expression that was the perfect imitation of my angelic smirk.

«Yes, that's correct.» It didn't sound weird that he figured it out immediately, and I didn't have time to wonder how much earlier had he read through me.

He let me take the scarf and circle his wrist once.

«Make you have a nap was one of the best ideas of my life,» he murmured. That should have warned me, but I stupidly continued on my path.

When has my Duke let me do what I want in bed? Oh, he does listen to my requests out of it, and he does his best to fulfil my desires.

In bed, though, he's never once accepted to let me... Well, anything!

His urge for control is bottomless, and he's always found a way to make me follow his lead. I didn't put on much of a resistance, and it was usually worth the hassle. However, I should have suspected there was something odd going on when my overbearing Duke said he would let me tie him.

It simply wasn't something he would like.

Yet, his face exuded happiness and excitement. As if he was waiting for this to happen. As if he was looking forward to being restrained.

«But first, my Duchess needs to take off her clothes,» he murmured and pulled my chemise.

I didn't find anything amiss with his reasoning, oddly. The sound of the cloth getting ripped made me shiver, and the tips of my fingers started tingling while I circled his wrist for the second time.

«Let's get closer to the headrest,» I said. His cooperation was making everything easier. Tens... hundreds of times easier...

«Is this the reason why you tied knots for the whole afternoon?» he asked.

I just nodded, too focused on the mission to realise it.

«Have you learned how to?»

«A bit,» I confessed. «Just tell me if you're uncomfortable, all right?»

«Mhm... I won't be uncomfortable,» he said. Just that, nothing more.

He circled my waist with his free hand and pushed me down on the mattress. He kissed me sweetly. His tongue licked my lips before claiming my mouth, and I replied to the kiss as I could.

When we split, I was out of breath. If only kissing an excited Duke put me on my last legs, how did I think to finish with my evil plan?

In fact, it took me a second or two to figure out that something was not quite right. I couldn't move my hands. None of them.

While kissing, the Duke had lifted his left arm towards the headrest. My hands were clutching the scarf, so they got dragged up without much resistance. And without me noticing his authentic goal behind.

It had been so easy for him. My wrists were so close to each other that he just encircled them with the scarf, two times to be precise, and then tied a knot with his right hand.

That is what happened.

A sigh leaves my lungs while my head turns away from the canopy. I've been staring there for a minute or two, analysing the events and looking for mistakes.

My Duke, meanwhile... Where's the Duke?

«Alexander?» I call, waking up from my daze and looking in the room. He's next to my wardrobe. What is he doing there?

«Next time you want to do something like this, use these,» he says while opening a drawer. What is in there? I haven't looked into this specific one yet.

«Hmm... Let's use yellow, today...» he murmurs while taking out a silken shawl. Silk? Here in the north? What use could I make of something so thin in the cold of this place?

Indeed, the shawl is light yellow, of a shade difficult to determine at the light of the candles. Also, it seems very soft and nice on the skin.

My Duke sits back in bed and grins devilishly.

«We're now going to have a lot of fun,» he whispers, and my stomach starts turning upside down like every time he says something odd.

I try to get up, forgetting for a moment my position. I immediately bounce back on the mattress. The shawl stretches by a millimetre, but I still can't free my wrists. I look up, curious.

The knot is simple yet safe. I won't be able to undo it by myself. Also, there's no ribbon. I guess my Duke didn't have time to make one while battling with me.

I can't move my arms, but I still can put up a fight. My legs are free, so I lock them together and pout, settled on not surrendering this immediately.

I already know I will eventually concede. However, Alexander dared to tie me! He needs to work hard, now, to have my consent.

Instead of tying me, Alexander just lets the shawl near the footrest of the bed. He sits next to me and looks at my face with pride.

«Your ideas are always the best, wife.»

«Untie me!» I order, already knowing it won't work.

I pull my arms down, trying to get free once again, but I fail. This time, though, the combination of my husband's teasing eyes and the noise of the tightening knot makes my spine shiver. My underwear becomes wet, all of a sudden, and I freeze in place.

I'm starting to believe that Queen Theodora had good reasons to let her lover do that. However, my lover isn't that sweet, good-intending man that she had by her side.

Mine is shameless and wild. He will once again prove to me that he certainly deserves to be called the epithet of cruelty.

«Untie me,» I try again, this time as a plea.

«This is better,» Alexander nods. «But it would be even better if you surrendered, my dear.»

No way.

«By the way... I don't have any hurry to finish. I've just discovered a new part of myself. I didn't know that seeing my Duchess helpless would be so interesting.»

You liar, you perfectly knew this was going to be fun! You were waiting for me to take a wrong step!

You even prepared silken shawls for this eventuality.

«It's a pity I can't use both hands, though. My Duchess will have to wait some more for the full experience. Is that a problem, my dear?»

When has my plan exactly started falling apart? I feel like I've never actually stood a chance to make it.

«You won't have the chance to do this again,» I point out. «This Duchess might be dumb, but she doesn't make the same mistake twice.»

I hope he won't catch the little lie in my long sentence. It's true that I won't let him tie me again, but I surely will make the mistake of believing I could win against him. After all, it's not the first time that something like this happens.