Page 88 of A Night of Passion with the Duke

“Then you can go and get it.”

“I want to drink with you there watching me,” Harriet pressed.

“What? Why?” Charles asked, still not the hint.

Harriet slapped him softly on the back of the head. After murmuring about how he’s being treated unfairly, Charles finally followed after her.

Emily trailed behind the two, laughing and waving to the couple.

Arabella and Edward shared a laugh over their family’s weirdness. Edward wrapped his arms around her again, and she rested her head on his chest.

“I’m scared,” she confessed, anxiety filling her mind and heart.

“Scared? Of what exactly?” Edward asked, concerned.

“Of being a mother, building a home. You know?” She bit her lip, placing her hand on his chest. “It was hard for me to accept the fact that I needed to marry, but being with you made it easy. But this is birthing a child. I don’t want to be a bad mother and then hurt our son or daughter.”

Edward chuckled. “Ara mine, you worry too much.” He smiled at her. “There’s no way you won’t be a good mother, with a heart as big as yours. Besides, all of us will be by your side, so you have nothing to worry about. Our child would be beyond blessed to have you as their mother.”

Tears pooled in her eyes.

“Thank you, husband,” Arabella said with a sniffle.

“You are welcome, wife,” he replied, wiping her eyes and placing a kiss on her forehead.

She laughed, pushing him away when his hands started to trail down her back. “Oh, no, you don’t.”

“What?” he asked innocently.

“Don’t what me.” She laughed. “I know what you’re up to, and I won’t have it.”

“But I’m not doing anything.” He smiled, rolling her on her back.

Arabella looked up at him with a faint smile on her face. He moved closer to her, cupping her chin in his hands.

“I love you,” he murmured, his deep voice thick with emotion.

His warm breath fanned her lips, making her stomach flutter.

“Boring,” she teased, making him arch his eyebrows.

“What part? The part that I love you or the part that I mean every word?”

Silence fell over them.

“Can we skip to the part where you kiss me already?” Arabella whined.

He chuckled as she bit her lower lip. “Are you seriously seducing me right now?” he asked, leaning closer, his eyes lingering on her lips.

Their lips were half an inch apart. Edward was so aroused that he was ready to take her. He about to kiss her when the door swung open.

“Errm… sorry.”

It was Charles. He left after they shot him an awkward look.

Edward and Arabella stared at each other before bursting into loud laughter. His arms were still wrapped around her waist.

“I love you,” he was about to say when she cut him off.

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