Page 5 of Duchess Material

Oh, we’re doing this now? Natalie was surprised by his insistence. As he pushed her head into the pillow and gripped onto her hips, she faded into the fun of it.

“You can’t order me around, damn it!” Natalie protested.

“I can’t? I just did.” Ed smacked her arse playfully.

Natalie was into this. All day long she oversaw everything and everyone. Now, though she still held all the cards, Natalie could give into the fantasy of being ordered around.

“You’re too much,” she moaned.

“You protest a lot but seem to be enjoying yourself.”

Ed smacked her arse harder. “Get on top.”

Natalie was happy to. She wanted to get off again. She kissed him and straddled his body. Natalie went slow at first, speeding up as she got closer. Ed knew she was at the point of no return, holding onto her hips and thrusting until she came hard. She fell towards him, catching herself and kissing him again.

“I hate when you steal my thunder,” Natalie pouted.

“Oh, really?” He was unconvinced. “Go on.”

He smacked her on the arse a third time. Natalie found this altogether kinky and irresistible. Ed watched her like she was the embodiment of sex itself. She revelled in it. Natalie watched his face start to make a tell-tale stupid little smile. He grabbed her hips again, as if bracing. Natalie smile, pleased with herself. She kissed him as she bent back down.

“You are so hot,” she said before rolling off to the side.

Ed looked over at her. “Me?”

“Yes, don’t look surprised.”

“You were beyond help.”

“Sorry, I’ve been celibate for more than a month. You are so good. I commend you on changing it up,” Natalie said.

“How so?”

“You were rough with me. I loved it.”

“It wasn’t that notable, I didn’t think? Was I too much?” Ed blushed.

“No one has ever been so rough with me. Don’t stop. Don’t get self-conscious, Ed.”

He smiled over at her.

“What?”

“You’re so fun when I give you directions. You are telling me than no other man you’ve been with has read you so well?”

“No. I don’t think most men would dare to tell me what to do. After all, I’m a precious little jewel, aren’t I?”

Ed burst out laughing before leaning over to kiss her. “Even diamonds are sharp enough to cut glass. I don’t think you’re precious. You are a sexy human who turns to putty when I push the right buttons.”

“Never stop seeing me that way, and we’ll be golden,” Natalie said.

* * *

Lucy arrived at Winston’s, greeted by not three but four dogs. There was a scruffy black dog in the mix. The dog wagged its little nub tail adorably. Frida looked primed to jump into Lucy’s arms. The weary traveller bent down to hug the excited puppy. Winston could not have been happier to see her. She looked knackered, but still as sweet and wonderful as he remembered. A month without her had been lonely. He’d been in love with her for years, but the past month apart illustrated he loved her more than he had previously believed.

Winston had let Lucy move in after her legendary crash-and-burn relationship breakdown with George, Natalie’s brother and his second cousin. When George had left her, she’d settled in here reluctantly at first. Winston had room and Lucy needed a safe place to flee. It was Winston’s brother’s idea, but turning Lucy away was not in Winston’s purview. Now, almost half a year later, she was a dog mum to Winston’s three dogs. They were living in what some had described as “domestic bliss”. It wasn’t Winston’s intention to trap her. She did not know he was in love with her at the time. He never meant to tell her.

The night before she left, Winston told Lucy his true feelings for her after too much wine. And, to his surprise, she’d been interested in exploring it. She’d left the next morning with no resolution. They were not dating. They were not housemates. They were in a bizarre grey area. Winston was unsure what they were, but he was sure he loved her. He worried she would break his heart, but he could not deny his feelings.

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