The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Damian held Eilika’s hand tightly, helping her to land her feet on the dock. The ride was lovely as he expected. He handsomely paid Joram, who initially refused to take any amount, but when the Duke insisted, he accepted the reward.

The area was reopened for the people after they both left in the carriage.

”The fireflies must be attracted to something that they come at that spot every night,” Eilika stated, smiling. ”Thank you for planning such a ride.”

”It’s the beginning only. I’ve many more things planned for us,” Damian answered.

”Like?” Eilika’s curiosity piqued.

”You’ll know with time,” he replied. ”There’s something in your hair. A dry leaf, I think.”

She was quick to move her hand to her head, trying to remove it, but the tiny leaf couldn’t come in contact with her hand. Damian leaned toward her and removed it, his fingers brushing her long tresses as he withdrew his hand.

Eilika’s heart again fluttered unexpectedly in her chest. ”Thank you.” She looked out of the window while wondering, ’Even his small touches do something to my body.’

”Eilika,” Damian called her name.

”Yes?” She promptly turned her head to look at him.

”Don’t you want to kiss me? You didn’t ask for one.” His bold demand made her throat dry.

”A kiss? How could I?” The words trailed off her mouth as she fidgeted with her fingers in her lap.

”I thought you liked it whenever I kissed you. So, you would ask for it on our outing,” Damian stated, his tone carrying a slight teasing edge.

”What about you? Why didn’t you ask me?” Eilika questioned, her eyes remaining fixed on his.

Damian kept peering into her eyes while she gulped, wondering what was in his mind. His hand found hers, caressing her thin fingers before lifting her hand. He pressed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

Eilika flinched when he leaned close to her. ”May I?” He asked for permission first.

”Hmm.” Only a small sound came out of her throat, and she closed her eyes.

Suddenly the carriage jolted, probably a heavy pebble came under one of its wheel that left it wobbled, causing Damian to slid down to the other side.

”Hahaha!”

Eilika ended up laughing brightly, the smile reaching her eyes. Damian chuckled, not expecting the moment between them to be ruined like this.

”This is why I prefer car,” he said, turning his gaze to met hers.

She simply smiled and waited for the carriage to return to the estate. Her heart was racing with immense joy and a feeling that the love would definitely grow between them.

~~~~~

After having dinner with the family, Eilika went to Roman’s room only to find Damian was already there, telling him a bedtime story. She didn’t disturb the father-son duo and stopped at the door.

She remembered the first time Roman met her and complained about his father to her. The current change was a big one in Damian. He was not only becoming a great father, but also a great figure for Roman.

She quietly walked away and reached her bedroom. While removing the jewelery, she thought how Damian slipped away in the carriage when they were about to kiss.

Again, she smiled at the memory. Her eyes fixed on the mirror as she looked at her visible scar on the cheek and recalled Damian’s words.

Rising to her feet, she turned to close the doors from inside when Damian walked in.

”Roman is asleep. Why did you turn around when you had come to see him to bed?” Damian questioned.

”Because his father was there. And I didn’t want to disturb the moment between you two,” Eilika answered.

He hummed and turned around to lock the door from inside. ”Let’s sleep. It was a long, tiring day for us.” He walked toward a chair and began undressing. ”I didn’t get the time to change,” he asserted, losing his shirt after unbuttoning it till his chest was bare.

He retreated to the washroom while Eilika occupied herself with straightening the bed. She wondered when the invisible distance between them would finally dissolve; thus far, they had maintained a careful separation, merely sharing the same mattress.

As she stood up to smooth the sheets, the latch clicked. She turned to see Damian stepping into the chamber, his gaze fixed intently on her.

”I tried to maintain my composure, but I find I cannot,” Damian said, his voice dropping to a low, rough murmur.

He stepped close and cupped her face, the warmth of his fingers searing against her skin, and leaned in until his lips met hers.

Eilika parted her lips, meeting him with a sudden, surging fervor, her hands sliding up to grip his shoulders and then the small of his back.

She stumbled backward, taking instinctive, unsteady steps until the edge of the bed pressed against the backs of her legs.

Their movements deepened, a hurried, hungry rhythm, until she lost her footing entirely and fell back onto the soft mattress, pulling him down with her.

”Hah!”

They both gasped, drawing in sharp breaths as they broke the kiss. For a moment, Eilika studied her husband’s face, finding an intensity in his eyes that she had never encountered before.

He moved lower, pressing his lips against the sensitive skin of her throat.

”Mmm.”

Eilika let out a soft, involuntary moan, her fingers tangling in his hair as his hand began a slow caress, tracing the line of her thigh.

When Damian’s teeth grazed a particularly sensitive spot on her neck, she let out a sharp, startled yelp, her grip on his shoulders tightening.

An intense heat surged through her, a sensation beyond mere description.

Damian trailed his kisses along her jawline, lingering over the curve of her skin before returning to her lips. This time, the kiss was deeper and slower that left them both breathless.

Again, he pulled away, his thumb caressing the scar on her cheek. ”Slowly, you’ll experience everything you have been craving in this marriage. You made me see more than a family with you, Eilika.”