Page 79 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke

Aurelia found the comment surprising and not at all what was expected of Gerald on this day. Indeed, for the last two weeks, he had been nothing but the perfect groom, as involved and alert as one could hope for, helping to plan this wedding with a sense of enthusiasm that suggested it might be the best day of his life.Which it has been, I am sure. The first of many, if I have anything to say about it.

All had gone according to plan. The ceremony was gorgeous and romantic and damn perfect to Aurelia’s eyes. She was dressed in light green, a tight-fitting gown that exemplified her curves while still managing to make her look slim – the weight she lost previously had stayed off her hips, but she was not lithe or willowy, which she knew Gerald relished about her. Gerald too, looked elegant in his dark suit, a true gentleman as delicious as he was dapper. All of her family were there to watch her walk the aisle, and every single one of them were beyond thrilled for her special day.

Once the ceremony had ended, they had returned to her new home for the traditional breakfast. It was hosted in the ball room, there were two score of guests seated across the room’s breadth, most of whom were currently eating and drinking and laughing and enjoying themselves because this was a day to be celebrated.

So, again, Aurelia frowned at Gerald’s sudden turn toward waning enthusiasm, a brief moment of panic.Surely, he is not already growing tired of me?

“I…” She studied her husband closely, unable to see a hint that his feelings for her hand changed. “I expect they will remain for some time. It is still early.”

He clicked his tongue. “Yes, that is expected, but if I was to…” He shrugged. “Feign an upset tummy. Perhaps announce that we are both tired and would appreciate that everyone leaves. Surely, they could not begrudge us then?”

“Gerald…” She hesitated, not wanting to cause a scene. “What is the matter with you? Do not tell me you are already growing bored. I mean…” She laughed awkwardly. “We have been married an hour, and from what I have heard of marriages, they often stretch across several years.”

“Am I…” He frowned as if she was the one speaking nonsense, only for the realization to dawn on him. “Ah, I see.” He laughed and gave her hand a squeeze. “You misunderstand me.”

“I better be.”

“I do not want the day to end…” He kissed the back of her hand. “In fact, the opposite. In my mind, it has not even begun yet. Alas, so long as our guests are here, we will not be able to partake in what, to be perfectly honest, is one particular part of married life that I have been looking forward to now for two weeks.”

She stared at him blankly. “I am afraid you have lost me.”

“Aurelia…” Beneath the table where they sat, his hand found her thigh and he gave it a suggestive squeeze. Her eyes widened and continued to do so as that hand moved further up her thigh. “For two weeks now I have not been able to sleep. And if you think I am going to sit here for hours, knowing what awaits me when our guests leave, then…” His hand slipped between her thighs and her legs began to quiver. “You do not know me nearly as well as I thought you did.”

“Oh…” She felt her chest grow flushed. She felt her body grow warm. She felt her mind adle and all thoughts of this day melt away because now that Gerald had said it, she could think of nothing else. “I see.”

Just as Gerald had been thinking of nothing else these past two weeks, she had been much the same. Seeing as they were engaged, they agreed that it would not be right to cross that boundary until they became married. For that was proper and right and would make the event all the more special.It had sounded good at the time, but dammit if it hasn’t been a long two weeks.

“You see what I mean now, I hope?” he said.

“I…” She slipped her hand beneath the table, wrapping it around his hand and shifting it further between her thighs. “I see.”

“So…” He growled in her ear. “What say you? Should we make an excuse and –”

“There they are!” From nowhere, Aurelia’s mother appeared. “The happy couple.”

“Oh…’ Aurelia’s eyes turned wide and she snatched her hand away. She also expected Gerald to do the same, but he did no such thing. She widened her eyes at him but he simply grinned at her, his hand still very much wedged between her thighs. “M – mother. What… what are… is that cake?”

“This?” Her mother held a plate with a slice of cake on it. “Yes, well, I thought I would bring you a slice.” She placed the plate down before Aurelia. “Have you eaten anything today, dear?”

“I…” She suppressed a moan as Gerald’s finger stroked outside her lips. “I have… have not.”

“I did not think so,” her mother sighed. “Honestly, you are skin and bone, dear. You really must eat. And I know how much you love cake.”

The gesture was a kind one, and spoke to how much her mother had changed these last few weeks. She was going out of her way to repair the rift that had grown between the two, determined it seemed to remind Aurelia that she loved her and any nagging she had done in the past was borne from this love.

The cake was a peace offering, in that way, a most welcome one at that. If not badly timed…

“Th – thank you,” Aurelia managed, pleasure now rippling up her body. “That is most… most kind.”

“Aurelia… is something the matter?” Her mother frowned at her, just now noticing the way she was behaving.

“I am afraid that she has a small tummy ache,” Gerald answered at one, one hand still beneath the table as he looked upon Aurelia with concern. “It has just come upon her.”

“Oh no.”

“I am sure she will be fine…” His fingers slipped inside of her and Aurelia gasped. “But best that we keep an eye on it.”

“If there is anything I can do…”

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