Atlas ran his hands over his face as he threw his head back.

Control, maintain control.

One thing to be said about the new Marchioness of Shirewest was that she was indeed a fast and eager learner.

"Oh god....."He groaned, his hand dropping to tangle into her hair. He gripped the mass of tight curls between his fingers as he pushed her head down a little more. The breathless gasp and panting caused his balls to tighten. 4 days, all it took was 4 days for her to slobber on his dick with perfection. All he'd said was no teeth, make it wet and do whatever you want.

"Fuck..." He moaned and opened his eyes as he looked back down at her. Her head moving up and down. That infamous tongue of hers twirling and licking. Her lips kissing it's way down his erection before swallowing him again. He jerked into her mouth, feeling his restrain waning. "Look at me...." He whispered.

She lifted her eyes up to him. She sucked on his tip and moaned.

There was no way in hell, he could have controlled the spasm that went through his body as he growled and shoot his seed down her throat.

"Lavender....fuck....oh...god....."

She kept sucking him as if trying to drain his soul from his dick. Atlas shook and seemingly melted in his chair.

Lavender swallowed and carefully released him, knowing that if she sucked more like she'd done yesterday it would be too much for him to the point of pain. She swallowed his slightly salty load and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Was that good?" she asked teasingly, already knowing the answer. She carefully tucked his now retreating dick back in his pants and buttoned him. When not erect, his dick was not as intimidating. It was like a cute limp mini courgette. She grinned to herself as she finished buttoning him up. "My lord aren't you on your way to handle some affairs this morning?" she rested her hands on his knees.

Atlas moaned. He reluctantly opened his eyes and straightened up in his chair. His grey eyes focused on her with so much care, her heart jumped. Wow. She smiled.

"Come on my Lord." Lavender stood up from between his legs. "You mustn't be late." she reached for his hands and tried to pull him up.

Atlas lazily stood and chuckled as he pressed his body against his wife. "I should just take you back upstairs." he whispered as he wrapped his arms from behind her and squeezed her chest.

Lavender giggled. "Yesterday you got no work done because of me. I won't let that happen again. You must go and tonight----"

Atlas arched an eyebrow. "Tonight?"

She grinned mischievously and turned and kissed the tip of his nose. "Tonight I want to taste you again."

He inhaled sharply.

"For breakfast and dinner."

Atlas closed his eyes and moaned as he pressed his head against hers. "I don't deserve you."

Lavender beamed up at him. "Of course you do Atlas."

His eyes softened as he looked at her. He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering. His hand rested on her belly, rubbing it softly.

Lavender's eyes widened. He'd never done that before. Her heart raced.

Atlas kissed her hair and dropped his hand. "Okay, you're right. I gotta go." He grabbed some documents off the table. "I don't know how long the deal is going to take, so I might be back after dinner." he reached out and gently tapped her chin. "Go ahead and eat without me if it's too late bumbleebee."

"I'll wait." Lavender insisted.

He chuckled and kissed her cheek again. "Don't wait too long." He sighed. "I don't have a good feeling about Lord George so...." he shook his head. "Wish me luck."

Lavender nodded. "Good luck."

He grinned and turned around, reaching over on the sofa, he patted Moppy's head and headed out of his office.

"Atlas!"

He turned around. "Yes."

"Be----be careful." she whispered.

He blinked in surprise and then grinned. He gave her a bow in acknowledgment and left.

Lavender watched him walk down the hallway. Feeling a strange sense of apprehension. Whether it was for him or for somebody else. She had no idea.

**

Dearest Azzie,

You wouldn't tell me, but I figured out why you were crying behind the oak tree after school yesterday. Robert told me. Lucas is a rightful monster for lifting up your skirts. If it's any consolation, he won't be able to use his hand for a while after I broke his finger. You can use the swing set with your friends tomorrow all you want.

Love Matt

Azalea slowly folded the letter from 5 years ago and tucked it back once more between the mattress. She sighed and dropped to the floor. Blinking away tears of frustration, she rolled her shoulders back. Determination raging through her body. Her eyes shifting to the small locked box underneath the vanity. Her heart racing.

**

Matthew brought the bourbon to his lips as he twirled the pink hair ribbon. He scrunched it tightly in his hand. His jaw locked. He was the biggest fool, and everybody had tried to warn him. He gulped down his drink and slammed his empty glass down in frustration.

"It's just everybody either expects you to be a perfect replica of your older sibling." Azalea panted as she jumped to the next rock, balancing herself perfectly as Matt jumped right behind her. Making sure the younger girl didn't fall. "Or as sweet and docile as the baby sibling." she giggled as she almost fell in the water but Matt grabbed her hand. "That was close, Matt watch-----"

"Miss. Azalea! Mis. Azalea!"

She looked back panicking. "Oh, no, I gotta go." she hopped the other way and grinned back at Matt. "See you in school Matt....oh my ribbon!" she exclaimed as it unraveled from her hair.

The 13-year-old boy ignored the stepping stones they were on and jumped into the water to catch it before it flew too far.

"Miss. Azalea!"

Azalea turned to Matthew. "It's okay, let it go." She ran back home before she was spanked for running away from the tutor again.

**

"You have 5 minutes." Robert hissed. "Not a minute more."

Lizzie nodded gratefully. She held on tightly to her brother's arm as they slowed their steps in front of the box.

They smiled and nodded at the other attendees. Her heart racing. This was her last chance. She knew it was. She hadn't seen the duke at all last week and now rumor was he was leaving for Italy on the ''morrow.

Had there ever been a more aggravating man!

Robert opened the door and walked in with his sister. "Pablo, old friend."

The Duke didn't turn around as he stared ahead at the stage. "Technically I'm Atlas' friend."

Robert released Lizzie to stand in the shadows so as not to be observed by anybody should they choose to look in the Duke's box. He went up and sat next to him.

The Duke of Jensen arched an eyebrow.

"Look..." Robert whispered. "Between you and me, I know nothing will ever come to pass between my baby sister and you."

Pablo sighed. "Don't tell me she's here." he whispered back.

"You leave tomorrow." Robert whispered. "Indulge her one last time. A kind word and send her on her way."

Pablo rubbed his temple.

"As absurd as it seems, I do think she genuinely believes in her infatuation with you. Your name is all over her dairy."

Pablo groaned. "Spare me the details."

"5 minutes." Robert whispered. "Please..." he nodded towards the back. "She's a headache, but she's still my sister. I like to make her happy, even if it's temporary."

The Duke of Jensen ran his hand over his cane and exhaled slowly. His hazel eyes turned to the Worthington man in front of him. "5 minutes and you take her out." he whispered sternly.

Robert nodded.

Pablo grabbed his cane and stood, making his way to the back of his box, away from prying eyes. He barely looked at the young lady before he sat next to her and faced forward.

Lizzie swallowed hard, smoothing her dress down nervously. "I uh----I'm sorry." she whispered. "You must be terribly cross with me----"

"4 minutes." Pablo spoke without looking in her direction.

"Well Robert said, if I act like a child, I will be treated as such and last week was completely childish of me. I don't know what came over me." Lizzie hurried. She took several deep breaths. "I do not care to take the late duchess's place---"

"You didn't know her." Pablo cut her off as he finally turned his head to her. "So do not speak of her." he finished harshly.

Lizzie swallowed hard, her pink lips pressing against each other tightly. "Why---why are you so pleasant to everybody else but me!"

"Because you're nothing but a child!" He hissed back.

She swallowed back tears, she refused to spill in front of him. "A child!" she hissed back. "You're barely 10 years my senior!"

"3 minutes." He whispered to her calmly.

Lizzie gasped and faced forward in anger, her arms crossed tightly around her chest, rage boiling through her veins.

"If we're done here----"

"You looked at me first." she accused turning back to him. "In this very booth."

"I did no such thing---"

"With desire." she continued.

"You're sorely mistaken Miss. Worthington." Pablo whispered. "It was mild curiosity, that has been permanently quenched."

Lizzie blinked back in surprise. Her fingers gripping her skirt to contain her anger. She lifted her chin. "Is that so Duke?" she whispered strangely calm.

Pablo moved his head slightly trying to what angle she was going to work with, but nothing came to mind. He narrowed his eyes but nodded briefly. "That is so."

The young auburn hair lady stood and gave him a curtsy. "Then I do apologize for wasting your time." she gave him a polite smile. "Please do maintain safe travels back to Italy. I believe my five minutes are up." she walked past him, moving her skirt, so not a single part of her touched him.

The Duke of Jensen watched her walk away and exit his booth without so much of a backwards glance. He faced forward, his brows wringed in confusion and his eyes betraying the slight tinge of disappointment as her acceptance of his words. He looked back towards the closed door for a couple seconds and then faced front again. "No...no no...this is for the best." he whispered to himself.

**

"Atlas?"

Atlas whirled around in surprise. "Lavender." he quickly tried to pull his coat back on. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"Why are you covered in blood?" she whispered advancing into his office.

It was the eye twitch and slight hesitation that made her halt, even though he broke out into a comforting smile.

"Oh this?" he chuckled. "Oh it's nothing...it's uh...uhm..." he looked at his blood covered shirt. "It's not mine." he assured her. "A....uhm.....unfortunately we lost a horse along the way."

She blinked in confusion.

"But don't worry." He said as he made his way to her. "Why don't you go on up to bed, I'll hop in the shower and I'll join you in a short while huh?" He took her hands softly. "Let me just wrap up some work for tonight."

Lavender looked down at his bloody knuckles.

As if realizing last minute, there was blood on his hands, he released her dainty fingers and kissed her cheek. "Head on up, okay. I'll be right behind you." he whispered.

Lavender moved her hand out of his hold and instead reached out and slowly widened his coat, seeing the vivid red stains. Her eyes slowly drifted up to meet his steel grey ones.

"It's nothing." Atlas whispered.

"Did you just lie to me?" Lavender whispered in shock.

Atlas paused for a split second and then shook his head. "Of course not, bumblebee."

"Then what was the cause of death to this horse to warrant so much blood?" she questioned.

Atlas stared at his wife for a couple seconds. "It was wild, a gun shot wound----"

"And your bloody knuckles?"

"Lavender, it's late." Atlas nodded towards the door. "Go back upstairs. There's nothing to worry about it. It doesn't concern you."

"It doesn't concern me?" she repeated her eyes wide. She stepped back from her husband. "You arrive home at 2 in the morning, covered in blood, that is obviously not from a horse and it doesn't concern me?" she whispered intensely.

"It does not." Atlas insisted firmly. "I told you it's not mine and that's----"

"Good night, my Lord." Lavender cut him off and whirled around angrily. Head held high she marched out of his office with her lantern in hand and back into the dark hallway.

Atlas sighed in frustration and yanked his coat off, throwing it angrily on the floor.

After having washed up and realizing Lavender was not in his chambers for the night, he slipped into her bedroom and quietly pulled back the covers as he joined her in her bed.

Her back was to him, so he placed several kisses from her ear down to her neck.

She moved her shoulder back, as if to push him away.

"Bumblebee...." He whispered into her ear.

She didn't answer.

He slipped his hand under the sheets and over her warm body.

"Sorry, I came so late." he whispered against her neck as his hand slid her nightgown up, fingers caressing her smooth skin. "Want me to make it up to you?"

He waited and still no answer.

"Lavender....."

She yanked away from him and sat up angrily. Fumbling in the dark she reached over and grabbed the match to light the candle. She turned to see him. "Whose blood were you covered in?" she demanded.

Atlas sighed and closed his eyes. "My affairs are mine. Like I said." he opened his eyes again, grey eyes focusing on her. "It has nothing to do with you. My job is to protect you and your job is simply to love me and take care of the house----"

"Get out of my bed." Lavender cut him off.

Atlas sat up in shock. "What?"

Lavender lifted her chin as she held his gaze without saying another word.

He chuckled in disbelief. "Why?"

"Because I wish for you not to touch me." she responded.

His mouth dropped open.

"Or because I'm merely your wife and therefore your property, you should have your way with me regardless?" she questioned, and eyebrow arched. "That is also my job, is it not?"

Atlas flung her covers back in anger. "That is a low blow." he whispered climbing out of her bed.

"You lied to me." She hissed at him.

He whirled around. "Because it's none of your business!"

"You're my husband!" she yelled.

"So what?" He demanded seriously. "And you're my wife, and what more?"

"Oh my God." Lavender whispered in horror. "You honestly...you honestly believe nothing outside of this house concerns me."

Atlas put his arms down as he stood naked before her. "It does not." he answered seriously.

She blinked in confusion as she lowered her gaze. "Oh my god..." she whispered slowly laying back in her bed, her back to him.

Atlas ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Look, my duty is simply to protect you from-----"

"If you say one more word, I swear Atlas, I'm on the first carriage back to the Candlewood estate." Lavender whispered.

Atlas slowly closed his mouth. He sighed and opened his mouth again. "I don't understand what is upsetting you." He whispered

Lavender threw her covers back and climbed out of her bed. "Fiona! Fiona!" she called out. "Fiona!" she rushed to the door and yanked it open

"Lavender!" Atlas reached for her.

"Fiona! Please gather my things! We must leave at once!"

"What are you doing?" Atlas turned her around to him.

"I'm going home." Lavender stated. She pulled her arm away. "It would be so much easier if you hadn't fooled me into believing you were completely different from every other guy----"

"Yes mi'lady! Yes-----ooohhh!" Fiona quickly slapped her hand over her eyes to block away Atlas' nakedness. She turned around slowly and walked out the door. "My Lord, my apologies...I did not see anything, I swear."

"You can't just leave!" Atlas yelled at her.

"And why is that?" Lavender asked.

"Because you're my wife!"

She took a step back. "And what does that mean......my Lord?" she asked slowly.

Atlas opened his mouth and then closed it. He shook his head in disbelief. "You---you---you know what that means Lavender...can we..." he went to the door and closed it with Fiona on the other side. "Look we both just got a little upset." he put his hands out. "Let's just....let's go to bed and figure this out in the morning." he reached for her but she twisted away.

"I want you to say it Atlas." Lavender whispered seriously.

Atlas paused.

"I want you to say that it's none of my business because I'm merely your wife. A wife should not be preoccupied with the affairs of her husband. A wife should be seen and not heard. A wife should fulfill her wifely duties when desired. A wife....my dear Lord." Lavender bowed. "Belongs to her husband and her matters are the house and the children." she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

She watched as he swallowed, his Adams's apple moving up and down.

Lavender nodded slowly and bowed to him. She smiled. "You're right my Lord....I must have....I must have forgotten, everything I learned, everything I prepared for. For a minute...." her voice cracked. "For a minute I'd mistaken my role in your....your life."

Atlas watched as she calmly opened her bedroom door and smiled at Fiona. "I apologize Fiona, do get some sleep dear. It was just a slight misunderstanding. In fact, tell Vera you're granted a very late rise."

Fiona looked at her mistress in concern and snuck a look to the master of the house in confusion. But Atlas' eyes remained focused on the ground. "Are you alright?"

Lavender smiled. "Perfectly splendid." she whispered, closing her door slowly.

The young woman made her way to her bed in silence and crawled inside.

"Lavender...."

She sat up and looked at him innocently. "I'm sorry my Lord, did you need something?" she whispered. "Would you like me to please you?"

Atlas sighed and opened her bedroom door and walked out. Fiona quickly scurried away, not needing to take another look at the Marquess of Shirewest's appendage.

**

"Morning my lady."

"Good morning my lord." Lavender quietly cut into her ham, her eyes glued to the plate before her. She felt his shadow loom over her as he placed a soft hand on her shoulder.

"Bumblebee..." He whispered, his hand sliding down her arm as he lowered himself to his knees to look up at her.

Surprised she whirled her head to him.

Atlas gently touched her knee. His grey eyes pleading. "Lavender, please, I did not mean to upset you."

Jasper and Ludwe shot each other a look of shock and confusion.

Lavender slowly placed her utensils down and dropped her hands to her lap as she straightened up.

"I just did not want to worry you or bother you with my affairs." He continued.

She nodded and lowered her gaze. "I understand my Lord."

He sighed and slid his hands to waist. "You're still upset." He whispered softly.

She bit down on her bottom lip. Sighing, her shoulders slumped. "You lied to me."

"To protect you."