Page 45 of A Bride for the Duke of Sin

But there would be another time for that.

Right now, she looked so dazed that he doubted she would ever be able to stand.

At least not right now.

“Ah… that was…” she stammered, consciously tugging her bodice over her breasts. “What I meant to say was… Thank you, husband.”

Ethan wondered how he ever managed to smile back at her.

“Now, I believe I must return to my rooms…”

She stood up and wobbled dangerously on her feet.

The little fool, he cursed inwardly as he instinctively rushed to catch her.

Did she really think she should stand up right after her first orgasm?

Not on my watch.

She gave him a tremulous smile. “And thank you for that as well.”

“You are in no condition to stand up and walk about,” he chastised her gently.

“I am fine.” She waved him off. “I can—Ethan!”

She let out a slight shriek as he simply placed an arm beneath the back of her knees, another one around her shoulders, and hoisted her clear off the floor. Her arms immediately wound around his neck, and he grinned.

Now, this was even better.

“Ethan, what are you doing?” she demanded. “Put me down at once!”

“I love it when you say my name like that, Duchess,” he teased her. “Especially when you screamed it earlier.”

Her cheeks reddened at his words. “Rogue. That will never happen again.”

“We will see about that.”

There was nothing he liked more than a challenge, but right now, she was still reeling from the aftermath of her first climax. There will be enough time in the future for what he had in mind.

If she would allow it.

He carried her up the stairs to his bedroom and called for the servants to draw a hot bath.

“Put me down, Ethan,” he heard the goddess in his arms huff. “The servants?—”

“Are paid well enough to keep their mouths shut, especially in matters pertaining to their masters.”

“But—” she protested. “But these are your rooms!”

He regarded her with a raised eyebrow. “And?”

“What I mean to say is that… well… these are your rooms.” She fumbled for the right words in the most adorable way possible. “And you know, I have my own?—”

He chuckled as he set her down on a chair, tilting her chin up. Her eyes darted to the side, refusing to meet his.

“You are the Duchess of Sinclair now,” he reminded her gently. “And these are your rooms, too.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the servants quickly draw the bath and exit without a sound.

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