Warning: smut content.

The couch is large and comfortable, so I lie down and rest my head on a giant pillow. Alexander grabs a plate from the table and reaches me.

He passes an arm under my head, and I turn to the side to look at him. He leans the plate on the couch, just far enough so that I can’t reach it.

I lift my head and glance at the content: grape.

«Alexander, can you put the plate closer?» I ask, blinking seductively.

«No,» he mutters, and he grabs my waist when I try to get up and reach it. «Down!»

I lie back on his chest and pout.

He can’t just show food to this Duchess and then pretend she acts like a trained dog and waits patiently for his permission to eat.

«Here,» he whispers and feeds me a grape.

Needless to say, I accept the offer and munch in silence.

«Are you tired?» he whispers while reaching out for another grape.

«Not that much,» I answer and open my mouth to bite the fruit.

«We should go to bed early, this time,» he continues.

«You were the one that made me promise to… to entertain you for the whole night!» I stutter. «It’s your fault if you don’t want to, I won’t postpone my promise just because you haven’t rested enough.»

And you didn’t do anything for the whole day, by the way.

«That’s not what I was referring to, Thea. I’m serious. Tomorrow will be a long day.»

«What happens tomorrow?»

«It’s Thursday, and every Thursday the gate of the castle is opened for the villagers to come and meet the Lord. I have to receive them and listen to their complaints, and it never ends before late at night.»

«Is the Lady required to attend as well?»

«Yes, she is. Also, it would be a good way to introduce you to my people. Lower-tier nobility will be present as well.»

«So, Duchess Kyre is lazy and spoiled, but the Lady of the north isn’t?»

«It’s up to you, my dear. You can choose if you want to help me or not. Whatever your choice is, though, talk to me about it first. Just so I know.»

«I was joking, Alexander. I will help you,» I chuckle and look at him from the side.

«Wonderful. Just keep in mind that I haven’t been present for months. There will be such a crowd tomorrow.»

«What kind of problems are you required to solve, my Duke?»

«We’ll see. Usually, most of the applicants have trivial issues. The Lord often acts as a judge in Kyre.»

«Seems interesting.»

«Oh, you won’t be this relaxed when the third farmer in a row complains about his neighbour’s cows.»

«We’ll see,» I smile, and I reach out for the grape. Since I have to bypass Alexander to do so, our bodies brush against each other.

My Duke stops my hand before I could eat the fruit, and he brings it to his lips. When the grape disappears behind his teeth, I crook my mouth unhappily. I have now to stretch my arm again!

Alexander moves the plate further, and I widen my eyes annoyed.

I stretch out my hand again and bow over. I’ve almost reached the plate when it disappears once again and lands on the table.

«Alexander!» I scold him, and then I realise that I’m leaning on him.

I lie back on my side, but this way I can’t reach anything from the table. If I want food, I have to pass over my husband’s body to get it. Literally!

I curl my lips downwards, and I wait for Alexander to get moved by my sad face and bring the food back.

Unfortunately, that seems not in his plans.

«You look hungry, wife,» he exclaims.

«I don’t look, I am. And you’re starving me! Do I need to make a petition to get some food now?»

«No need for a petition, but you can try with a slightly more wily technique.»

«Like what?»

«Like asking nicely,» he chuckles and moves his hand from my waist to my lower back.

«No way,» I voice. What does he think of me? That I’ll chase him just for some food?

He takes a grape between his teeth and tries to feed me directly from his mouth. His foxy expression is still in place, but he hasn’t realised a little detail.

One of his arms is around my body while mines are both free. I move my hand slowly towards the grape, and he catches it as expected.

I wait for a second or two, just the time needed for Alexander to pull my wrist away. I put some resistance, making him believe I’m surrendering this easily.

Then, I grab the grape with my free hand and throw it in my mouth. I victoriously smile while chewing.

Meanwhile, Alexander first blinks surprised. Then, he sighs, unhappy that his plan failed. Finally, he lets go of my wrist and leans his hand on my cheek.

«Want to play again?» I ask once I’ve swallowed.

«Not really,» he murmurs and leans over to kiss me.

His lips just brush against mines, light like a breeze. His mouth then moves to my neck, and he pecks my skin a hundred times. He moves down a bit every time. He unties the knot keeping the towel in place, and his hand explores my chest with a delicate touch.

He moves down with his kisses while freeing my body from the cloth one inch at a time. He soon passes my breasts and pecks my stomach. He licks around the belly button and continues down.

I close my eyes and let him explore my body once again. He’s never kissed there, not even in his drunken state. I don’t think that it’s so strange for lovers to observe and touch each other like this, is it?

And this feeling definitely isn’t ill.

He pushes my legs apart, and he makes me bend the right knee. Then, he moves my left leg on his shoulder.

I let the air pressed in my lungs out exactly when his tongue lands in the most secret of the places. He kisses and sucks, and I can’t help but moan.

I grab the sheets in pleasure, and I arch my back in ecstasy.

I can’t stop my voice from shouting naughty sounds, but I don’t really care at this moment. I inhale in search of air, but this pressing feeling is drowning me. The humid air in the room doesn’t help, and I end up panting relentlessly.

Just a moment before I can reach that coveted destination, where feelings and reality mix together in an explosion of fireworks, Alexander returns to kiss my belly and moves up slowly.

«Why?» I ask while a small tear appears in my right eye. Why did he stop here? I feel so incomplete, right now.

He doesn’t stop licking and pecking my skin just to answer, so he soon reaches my neck and, finally, my lips.

«Thea,» he whispers while guiding my legs around his hips.

It’s just so natural, for me, to second his movements, and I move my hips together with his.

I sink my fingers in his hair while our tongues and bodies dance together. Just a second later, I feel that same energy from before. This time, though, it’s pulsing from deep inside my belly. It’s fighting his way out, and I can’t stop it, nor I want to.

Alexander’s kiss has surpassed any barrier of decency long ago, and his movements are somehow savage. When I can’t hold my breath anymore and gasp in search of air, he shifts his attention to my neck.

«Theodora, I missed you so much,» he whispers.

It was just a few hours, what is he complaining about? And am I not fulfilling my promise with all I have, right now?

My thoughts wander until my body arrives at a point where every single touch is pure ecstasy and every Duke’s word a wave of electricity.

I stay in his arms for a lot more, and I scream in pleasure and visit the clouds so many times until, finally, the Duke follows me in that light, shiny world.

When he rolls down from me, I cover myself with the towel I used to wrap my body, and I cuddle at Alexander’s side. He strokes my back repeatedly, and I close my eyes and focus on calming down my breathing.

A thick layer of sweat is now covering my whole body, partially because of the humidity. My muscles complain, and my body desires some rest. I’m so ready to sleep that I almost don’t react when Alexander pecks my forehead.

However, I manage to reopen my eyes and stare at him.

«Shall we take another bath?» he inquires. As if he isn’t the least tired.

Is he made of stone or something?

No, it’s impossible. Stone is cold and aloof, while my Duke is the opposite. He’s warm, and…

No, he’s more than just warm.

He’s really hot, and his kind smile is as far from stone as anything could be.

I just nod, still unable to talk, and I get up to take another bath in that magnificent pool that was taken away from my thoughts for quite some time.