Page 82 of Duke of Chaos

“It is beautiful, is it not?” he asked Tabitha, brushing his fingers gently across the neckpiece. “And it suits her so well.”

“It truly does,” Tabitha answered, smiling at him warmly. “I only hope that my Edmund will treat Juliet as well as you treat her older sister.”

Lydia struggled to hide her scoff in a cough as she felt Ezra’s silent laughter travel from his hand to her body, and they both shared a knowing glance. If only Tabitha knew how close her now daughter-in-law had been to being in Lydia’s place.

“I am sure he will,” Ezra said politely, quickly regaining his composure. “My dear sister-in-law has done nothing but sing his praises since their engagement, and from what I have seen today, the feeling is entirely mutual.”

Tabitha let out a happy sigh as they all turned to look at the bride and groom; both of them looking joyous and in love as they greeted their guests to their reception.

“He is absolutely smitten,” Tabitha went on, “I am lucky, you know, to have a son that has found love. It is so rare.”

She turned back to Ezra and Lydia, studying them for a moment before smiling again.

“You two have found it,” she declared, her hazy blue eyes shining with warmth, “That much is obvious.”

Lydia smiled warmly at her as she felt Ezra’s hand slip around her waist, pulling her closer. Yes, it really was obvious now, wasn’t it?

“I see your collar got another compliment,” Ezra mused quietly after Tabitha made her way back to her husband.

“That does not mean it is appropriate,” Lydia murmured back, though she did so as she was smiling.

While Lydia had received every form of punishment she had predicted that Ezra had waiting for her, she had also received a gift: Her collar. It truly was a beautiful piece; several thin strands of sterling silver wound whimsically around one another like vines and nestled in the center was a vividly blue aquamarine gem; identical to the color of Ezra’s eyes.

A delicate sterling silver chain leash was also gifted along with it; one that Ezra kept in his pocket every day and hooked to her collar any moment they were alone. While she had loved the collar, she had balked at the leash at first. Until that was, he showed her how he planned on using it. Now, knowing the leash was in his pocket, ready to be put on at his pleasure, made her weak with anticipation. Still, she loved to tease him about it.

“You do not like it?” he asked, feigning a hurt tone. Then he smirked.

“Well, if someone had not snuck away, we would not need it, would we?” Ezra taunted.

He began to swirl lazy circles with his fingers on her back, making her tingle. He then trailed them up her spine, to the back of her collar, and gave it a small tug. The soft whimper let loose from her lips before she could help it, and she blushed asshe caught herself. Looking around the reception hall wildly, she searched for anyone who might have heard her. To her relief, everyone seemed too involved with their own conversations to notice.

“We are at Juliet’s wedding!” she hissed but took another step backward toward his chest.

She felt Ezra tug her collar again as he let out a cocky chuckle and felt her lower belly clench with arousal as her back become flush with Ezra’s chest. His other arm circled her waist, pinning her to him as he whispered into her ear “And?”

“All right, you two, show some decorum, would you,” Barbara murmured just as Ezra placed a warm kiss on Lydia’s temple, and moved a small step away.

Lydia looked to the left and laughed as she saw Barbara’s cheeky grin.

“Indeed,” Ambrose muttered, giving Ezra a bemused look. “You two are as bad as Alice and Duncan with their little cuff thing.”

“Oh, come now, Ambrose, you should be careful where you cast your stones,” Lydia replied sweetly, reaching back to pat Ezra’s cheek, “Barbara told us all about what happened atyourwedding reception.”

Laughter and amusement bubbled out of Lydia as she and Ezra both watched Ambrose’s eyes grow wide and his complexion pale.

“You did not,” he stated, casting a suspicious glance at Barbara.

“Oh, come, darling, don’t be such a bore,” Barbara pouted, reaching up to grip his chin and kiss him.

Lydia watched in amusement as Ambrose’s rigid nature suddenly softened, and when Barbara pulled away from the kiss she had to bite back a laugh when he sighed and asked, “How can I be a bore with you as my wife?”

“Oh, God,” Morgan gagged, rolling his eyes as he approached. “What is it with this wedding? It seems to have everyone acting inappropriately.”

“Inappropriately,” Ezra laughed. “Since when do you believe in the concept?”

Morgan grunted, looking quite miserable as he swirled the whiskey in his glass.

“Since now, apparently,” he grunted, then swallowed the rest of his drink.

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