Page 43 of A Night of Passion with the Duke

“Auntie Ara, you said you’d teach us a new game today,” Beatrice chirped. “Mother and Grandmother said they’re too busy to play today.”

Edward noticed Arabella visibly pale, and her eyes darted to him, as if begging for help.

“I did, didn’t I?” She laughed nervously.

“Yes, and we brought out the cards too. So we have a whole day to play.”

Arabella paled even further.

Edward shot her a mischievous smile. “Auntie Ara is very good at games, isn’t she?”

The children nodded.

“Edward,” she whispered pleadingly.

“It’s too sad, though.”

“What is?” Beatrice asked, pouting.

“Auntie Ara won’t be able to play with you today.”

“Why not?”

“Because Auntie Ara and I have plans to visit the village.”

“Oooh. Can we come with you?” Noah asked excitedly. “I promise I’ll be very good.”

“No. This time it’s just the two of us,” Edward announced.

Arabella’s smile was a little too bright in the face of the children’s disappointment, but he felt ecstatic that he was able to make her happy.

“Why, Uncle Eddie?”

“Because I want to spend time with my wife.” He smiled, pulling her to his side and enjoying how she gasped.

“Are you going to kiss?” Beatrice asked, frowning.

“Don’t kiss her, Uncle Eddie,” Noah protested. “Auntie Ara is mine.”

“But she is my wife.”

“I… I want to marry her.” The five-year-old pouted.

“You can’t marry her because she’s already married,” Edward explained. “When you’re my age, you’ll find a?—”

Noah ran off, crying, before Edward could finish. His sister went after him.

“Well…”

A melodic laugh escaped Arabella’s lips, making his chest swell with pride that he’d been able to amuse her. He was even more stunned when she threw herself at him.

“I thought I would probably go to bed with a headache again,” she cried against his chest. “I love them, but I only have so much energy.”

“I know,” he answered, not knowing what else to say with her still wrapped around him like that.

The feeling of her lush breasts pressed against his chest had his heart racing as blood pumped to his nether regions. He felt himself swell with desire and prayed she didn’t feel it against her belly. He could tell her embrace had been purely innocent, but he was only a man. He was terribly attracted to her and couldn’t control himself around her.

“Ara mine…” he whispered.

---