Page 31 of Duke of Chaos

“Bloody hell. Who are you, mate? And what have you done with Ezra?” Morgan murmured to him as the others quickly pulled Watergate into talk of hunting.

Ezra smirked as his eyes focused on Lydia. She was, as usual, making her new guest feel welcome and accepted.

“Whatever do you mean, Morgan?” Ezra drawled lazily.

A few hours later, Ezra found himself grateful for his mask. Lydia had gone beyond the call of duty with the Watergates, but she had also achieved something else, something far more important, and she deserved something to acknowledge her success.

With one eye on her and the other on his friends, Ezra watched as the mood of their little party shifted from one of concern to joy. Lydia’s responses had been curated to soothe and calm every worry they expressed. She appeared simultaneously cautious and at ease, just as he did. She never became ruffled or annoyed, even when Duncan and Ambrose made remarks about his demonic nature and created a welcoming space for the Watergates to fully become a part of their conversations.

“Might I steal my wife for one moment?” Ezra mused, stepping between Ambrose and Helena in the circle.

The two of them, as well as most of the others, gave him a careful look. Now, though, there was no vitriol in their eyes. Lydia’s eyes, though, were the only ones he was truly focusing on; and when those gold and bronze flecks glittered back at him, he felt that usual tug and heat in his groin.

“You will bring her back,” Alice said almost worriedly as Lydia stepped toward his offered hand.

“Of course, he will,” Lydia answered before Ezra could retort. “Honestly, sister, you act as though my husband is intimidating.”

Ezra nearly laughed aloud as she slipped her hand into his, giving it a tight squeeze. At her touch, Ezra felt heat shoot from his palm up his forearm, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return as he guided her toward the hallway.

CHAPTER NINE

“Where are we going?” Lydia whispered, smiling as she and Ezra strolled arm-in-arm down yet another corridor.

“To find some privacy,” Ezra remarked in his usual tone.

His eyes were searching the hallway and its many doors as they walked, looking for something she could not fathom.

“Privacy for what?” she asked warily.

The only reason she could think of why he needed a private moment with her was for a reprimand, but she could not recall doing anything wrong. They had not expected the Watergates to be there, but she thought she had expertly managed their unexpected addition to their group and had even seemed to soothe their friends’ strangely hostile tempers.

“For your reward,” he replied matter-of-factly, finally stopping at a door and opening it.

Curiosity burned in her as she removed her mask, revealed a side smile, and raised one eyebrow. Ezra also removed his mask, revealing a playful if not wicked smirk. He looked almost pleased to see caution flitting across her face.

“Go on,” he urged gently, pointing his chin toward the darkened room.

Lydia walked past Ezra’s bowing figure and into the room. Reward? That word certainly had not been used by him before. The room was dark and unoccupied, far away from the party and its guests. Ezra said nothing as she lit a candle and slowly walked around the room, but after she’d finished her inspection, she turned back and saw that he was staring intently at her in his usual relaxed position, one leg slightly out from the other, hands in his pockets.

Lydia felt the now-familiar stir of desire as she took in her unmasked husband and offered him a wry smile. He was teasing her, surely. Perhaps even playing a little trick on their friends just to get back at them, by taking her out of their sight so they were left with their most worrying thoughts. It was not above Ezra to play such a move.

“Is this room my reward, husband?” she asked, waving an arm around the empty space. “For if it is, I am grateful, but I need no respite from our unexpected work. Indeed, I am enjoying the evening quite immensely.”

Ezra chuckled darkly at her response, making her cheeks grow warm.

“Quite the contrary, my darling,” he purred, taking a step toward her, “You see, I think you do.”

Ezra’s deep, coaxing voice slid around her ears and made her shiver as he continued to approach, and she realized he was not jesting. As she’d demanded, they had neither kissed nor truly embraced since their wedding night. But now, as he walked up to her with pure satisfaction in his eyes, she let her arms slide around his neck and her body settle against the front of his.

She trembled with pleasure as she felt his warmth press up against her and his arms wrap around her waist.

“You have asked me to stay away from…certain marital practices,” he mused, his fingers trailing seductively up her spine, “But I believe that it may be time to make an exception.”

Alarm slithered through her, but Lydia let out a raspy chuckle as she felt Ezra’s hand slide to the back of her neck and massage her muscles there. Despite the release of tension and the dizzying sensations, she managed to get out a sarcastic, “Ah, so this is a reward foryou, not me.”

A small, slightly condescending chuckle left Ezra’s throat as he shook his head. He began to step forward then, and though she nearly stumbled at first, Ezra gripped her securely to him and started walking her backward.

“Not all such practices are designed for pleasing men, you know,” his deep voice teased as he brushed the tip of his nose against her own. “Though I willthoroughlyenjoy this.”

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