To Love A Duke

Hot Baths, Hard Rides

Song Recommendation: Wine Pon You by Doja cat

Gentlemen of the ton take several precautionary measures. They write their will once they come into their title, the use a sponge in a whorehouse to prevent bastards, they embark on hard rides before facing their lady wives with the hope of been less aroused. Most at times these measures are for naught..

He had ushered her into her chambers, and bowed graciously as he bid her goodnight. They hadn’t spoken since. Since being from the night before till this morning. he had left a note no doubt saying he was out to take care of some business, “I shall be but a few hours” it read and it only made her even more curious about his whereabouts. Last night she could feel that the air had shifted, she was sure he felt it too, but then he had acted so stiffly formal last night and the thought that he was pulling away just when she had started getting to know him, made her feel confused and angry.

She rang for Jules who came in promptly curtsied and immediately began setting up a hot bath as she sat clad in her night rail simply watching the steam from the tub. She would have her meals, explore the Latin side of the max library and then go out to the garden for a bit Jules helped her undressed and go about her morning rituals and as she sank into the water, oh dear she felt so much better perhaps this was all she needed. A hot bath. And her husband.

Orion needed this hard ride if he was going to see her and talk to her and not act like some b****y untried school boy. He still tried to sort through their conversation of yesterday and the kiss.

That kiss.

She had kissed him. More of a peck on the chin but a kiss nevertheless. How did she expect him to react to that, she didn’t want him to bed her, but she wanted him around, she wanted him to take meals with her and converse with her and give her b****y strawberry jellies. But not have her. And yet she had initiated that intimate contact. No woman had kissed him on the chin. The thought of that mouth on him caused his flesh to swell and he pushed the stallion even harder, willing it to run wild and free and take him far away from this confusing woman in his life.

As distracting the ride, it came to an end and he found himself headed home.

The sight that met him as he throttled in with his horse knocked the breathe off him.