Page 72 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
“What were you thinking, wearing this dress and expecting me to sit through a meal rather than rip it off your body?” he asked as his hands came to rest on her hips again.
“I was hoping you’d settle down with me for a meal first and then we could do whatever pleases you afterwards,” Anna replied, sounding a little winded.
“You think too highly of me. I might not be able to concentrate on much, other than you in this dress. My goodness, you look stunning.” He exhaled, looking torn between stepping back to get a better look at her or keeping her beneath his touch for a little longer.
Anna’s face filled with heat at the way his eyes continued to rake up and down her form. The dress was certainly a choice, thanks to its low neckline that showed off her ample bosom, the red fabric shimmering beneath the soft glow of candlelight. It was pulled in at the waist, in a way that looked almost too tightly, showing off her curves, and then it smoothly dropped to the floor, swaying each time she moved.
She had wanted to give her husband a feast for the eyes and mouth. She had requested that the cook prepare all his favorite dishes, and she dolled herself up because she was now all too aware of how much he liked looking at her.
“Thank you, dear husband.” She smiled innocently, not surprised that he remained attached to her, holding onto her hands as though he feared that if he let go, she would vanish.“We must sit down and eat, darling. Otherwise, the food will get cold.”
Julian squinted at her, tilting his head a little to the side.
“Is there a special occasion I’ve forgotten about?”
Anna shook her head, gently tugging him in the direction of their set table. “No, dearest. I merely wished for a chance alone together, in a romantic setting. Do you not like it?”
She had arranged for a table to be set nicely, with candles and flowers, hoping to set the mood as intimate and endearing. They had gotten really close over the last few days, but Anna felt as though they did not know enough about each other still. She wanted to learn everything there was to know about her husband – his dreams, his fears, his likes and dislikes.
It worried her sometimes that she might only be aware of him at a surface level.
“Oh, my love,” Julian sighed, reaching out to caress her cheek gently. “I love anything and everything you do. And to think you organized all this just for us… I do like it. A lot. I just… I haven’t been in this room in a while. It used to be my mother’s favorite room in the house.”
Anna’s heart sank, taking her smile with it as she began to worry that perhaps she had upset him by putting up this elaborate scene in a place that likely held some not-so-nice memories. Butjust as her lips parted with an apology on her tongue, Julian steered them in the direction of the table, pulling out a chair for her to sit in.
“I look forward to a lovely evening in your presence, my dear.” He told her softly, placing a tender kiss at the top of her head before he took his seat next to her.
“You don’t mind it? That I chose this room?” she queried, uncertainly.
The room was a large conservatory, with half of its ceiling and roof made of clear glass that allowed for a magnificent viewing of the stars in the sky. Anna had fallen in love with the space the moment she set foot in it, and had swiftly worked to restore it to a level of glory she felt would honor what it might have looked like previously.
There had been potted plants that had long since given up any hope of living, that were swiftly done away with and replaced by species that would thrive better indoors, and she decluttered the area, sparingly leaving behind a bookshelf of classic romance stories and poetry, and some furniture.
She wished to craft a calm space that could be used for anything, with the hope that she could spend some time with her husband someday. To think that such a day had arrived after all left her feeling somewhat winded, giddy with anticipation, even with the worry that underlined it all in her heart.
“I don’t. It looks different – your handiwork, I assume – and because of that, I don’t feel as uneasy as I might’ve been if things were the same. She… mother spent all her time in here, reading. She would wait for Father in here, while he was out and about like the lout he was. I’m sorry – that is not what I should discuss on such a lovely night as this. You prepared such a wonderful evening for us, and I shouldn’t ruin it with talks of the past.” Julian smiled apologetically.
Anna quickly shook her head and reached for his hand.
“I prepared this night in a bid for us to spend some time getting to know each other. I know that you love me, but sometimes I wish I understood you more. I want to be able to take care of you, wholly, and to do that, I need to be aware of the sort of feelings that might cause you discomfort, so I can provide you with ease.” She told him softly.
Julian smiled at her, raising her hand to his lips to kiss the back of it.
“I’m not sure what I have done to deserve you, but I am blessed to have you.”
“What a silly thing to say, husband,” Anna chastised without heat. “Is it not obvious that we belong together? You are certainly as deserving of me as I am of you. We were created with the other in mind. I would not rather not be with anyone else, other than you.”
Julian chuckled, shaking his head a little.
“You really are the jewel of my life. Forgive me, my dear, but I am going to continue to think that you are an angel who was sent to save me. It is going to take some time for me to feel otherwise.”
“Take all the time that you need,” she assured him.
Finally, they dug into their meal, consisting of hearty foods that were somehow still warm, despite their distractions. Julian had a soft expression on his face while he ate, as though he was being buried in utter comfort. Anna had never seen him look so relaxed, her confidence rising with every bite.
When they moved to dessert – a decadent cake that had been soaked in rum and covered in fruit syrup – Julian suddenly said,
“My mother would have loved you.”
