The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”Father!” Roman cried out, rushing through the door the moment he spotted Damian at his desk.

Damian rose immediately, crossing the room to meet him. He knelt so he could catch Roman in a warm embrace before lifting the boy and settling him onto the edge of the mahogany desk.

”Uncle Maurice gave me such a surprise. I am so happy,” Roman exclaimed, his eyes wide as he took in the expanse of the office. He looked from the floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with heavy volumes to the desk cluttered with official documents.

Damian turned to his bodyguard with a nod of gratitude. ”Thank you, Maurice,” he said. ”Take a seat and rest yourself for a while; you have earned it.”

Maurice smiled and offered a respectful nod.

Damian poured a glass of water and handed it to Roman.

”Father, I have so much to tell you,” Roman began, his eyes bright. ”My new friends want to visit the estate. I already told them they could. Did I do right? They are very kind to me, and as Mama said, the academy is quite fun.”

Roman took slow sips of water while Damian listened. ”Of course,” Damian replied. ”You are welcome to bring your friends to our home. I am pleased to see you adjusting so well. When we arrive, you may discuss the details with your mother.”

Damian took the empty glass and set it aside.

”I will,” Roman said, then paused, his expression shifting to one of genuine concern. ”I am not disturbing your work, am I?”

”Not at all,” Damian said. ”My tasks for the day are finished. We are ready to head home.”

”Yayy!” Roman cheered. ”Father, may I get down?”

”Of course,” Damian said, gripping him gently and lowering him until his feet touched the floor. ”I need to see the last file, then we will go home. Until then, you can sit on the sofa there with with your Uncle Maurice,” he pointed.

Roman nodded and ran to Maurice, who helped him sitting on the sofa.

~~~~~

Eilika adjusted the scarf around her neck for the tenth time that day. It had become a nervous reflex; even her mother-in-law had commented on her fidgeting, remarking that it was unlike her usual composure.

She checked her reflection in the mirror again, sighing when she saw the mark had not faded in the slightest. ”I am going to confront him for this,” she muttered, her annoyance simmering. ”What could he possibly have been thinking?”

”Mama! I’m back!” Roman’s voice chirped through the room before he bounded inside.

Eilika spun around, momentarily flustered, and dropped to her knees to meet him. ”How much did you run? Your cheeks are bright red,” she chuckled, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.

”I told Father I would reach you before him. See? I won,” Roman declared proudly. He immediately launched into a stream of stories, animatedly recounting his lessons and the games he had played at the academy.

Mid-sentence, Roman’s expression softened. His tiny finger reached out, gently brushing the exact spot on her neck. ”Mama, did you get hurt?”

Eilika startled, her breath hitching. ”Huh?” She pulled back slightly, forcing a reassuring smile. ”No, darling, I didn’t.”

”Does it hurt? Let us put some ointment on it,” Roman suggested, his small brow furrowed with concern.

”No, it doesn’t hurt at all,” Eilika answered quickly. She looked up just as Damian entered the room, her eyes narrowing as she shot him a sharp, pointed glare.

Hearing the footsteps, Roman turned his head. ”Father, Mama got a bite. You should apply ointment to it,” he said, pointing at the spot.

”Where?” Damian asked, feigning confusion as he stepped closer.

”On her neck,” Roman replied earnestly. ”It is definitely an insect bite. I am sure of it; I had one exactly like it three months ago.”

Damian’s lips twitched with a faint, knowing smile before he composed his features into a mask of indifference. ”Roman, you should go to your room now. Go along.”

”Why?” Roman asked, pouting slightly.

”Do you not want to freshen up and have your lunch? It is past the hour,” Damian asserted firmly. He signaled for Joanna, who was waiting near the doorway, and instructed her to take the boy away.

”Mama, I’ll be back soon,” Roman called out, skipping away and leaving the pair alone.

Damian turned and locked the door from the inside. ”Why did you do that?” Eilika demanded, her face heating up. ”Do you have any idea that I’ve had to cover my neck all day long?”

”Why do you feel the need to hide it?” he mused, his voice low as he stepped toward her. ”Isn’t this mark enough to quash a dozen rumors at once? It seems you are rather embarrassed to carry such a sign of my affection.”

He halted directly in front of her, his presence overwhelming the small space. He reached out, his fingers grazing the skin of her neck, right over the mark. Eilika gulped, the vivid memories of the previous night rushing back, her heart hammering against her ribs.

”You should freshen up too,” she stammered, desperately trying to steady her voice. ”I need to check on the lunch preparations.”

She turned to slip past him, hoping to escape the sudden fluttering in her chest, but Damian moved with practiced ease. He caught her wrist firmly, drawing her back until she was flush against him.

”It seems you are running from me,” he whispered, ”instead of embracing what we share.”

”I wasn’t running. What makes you think that?” Eilika managed a light chuckle, though her breath hitched as she looked up at him. She had intended to confront him, yet the moment she found herself locked in his arms, her resolve began to fray.

Damian’s gaze dropped, lingering on the mark. ”It shouldn’t fade soon, don’t you think?”

”Huh?” Her confusion was cut short.

Without another word, Damian ducked his head, pressing a searing kiss directly over the spot.

”Damian, no!” She protested, her fist striking his chest in a light motion, but he caught her wrist effortlessly.

She let out a sharp, involuntary ”Ahh!” of surprise, but she did not pull away. As she felt the hot slide of his tongue against her skin, she bit her bottom lip, silencing the sound that threatened to escape her throat.