The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The moment she gave him permission, Damian leaned in, raining a slow shower of kisses that trailed from her jawline down the sensitive column of her neck. His hand shifted, resting over her bosom to knead the soft flesh with a tender pressure that drew a sudden gasp from her throat.

”Mmm.”

A soft, broken moan escaped her lips. She bit her lower lip instantly to stifle the sound, overwhelmed by the fierce heat melting through her core.

Her pulse raced as the reality of the moment settled over her. Were they truly to consummate their bond tonight? Though she had known the duties and expectations of the marriage bed in theory, the sudden, simmering depth of their shared desire left her breathless and acutely nervous.

Every time his heavy palms roamed further over her skin, a sharp shiver ran down her spine, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.

She gasped his name into the quiet room, ”Damian,” her eyelids fluttering open only to find his head bowed, his lips pressing firm, warm kisses against her collarbone.

”Want me to stop?” he murmured, pausing as his dark eyes lifted to meet hers in the dim moonlight coming from outside.

She shook her head against the pillow, her breath hitching. ”No. Don’t stop,” she answered honestly.

Damian’s fingers moved to the front of her nightgown, deftly unfastening the silk knots before slipping the fabric down and over her shoulders.

The sudden touch of the cool chamber air made her skin prickle. Reaching up, her hands found the back of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him down to meet her, initiating the kiss this time. Their tongues met, parting and tasting each other in a slow rhythm that matched the steady beat of her heart.

His hand slid downward, smoothing over the curve of her hip and tracing the length of her thigh, while his other hand worked at the laces of his own linen shirt. Pulling the garment over his head, he cast it aside, letting it fall carelessly onto the floor.

As he rose onto his knees above her for a brief moment, Eilika’s breath hitched in her throat. Her gaze fixed on the hard ridges of his torso, fascinated by the way his muscles flexed and shifted in the dim moonlight filtering through the windows.

Sensing her hesitation, he caught her hand in his and guided it directly to his abdomen, pressing her palm against the firm, carved planes of his stomach.

An anticipation ran through her fingers. She trailed her hand upward, propping herself up slightly onto her elbows to gain a better vantage. Her palm finally came to rest over his chest, where the steady, powerful thudding of his heartbeat vibrated against her skin.

”Your heart...” Her eyes met his in the shadows as he leaned over her.

”I know,” Damian murmured, a low, rough edge to his voice. ”It is beating too fast. That is your effect on me, Eilika.”

His hand found the nape of her neck, his fingers tangling in her hair to angle her face, claiming her lips in a deep, possessive kiss. The moment her back pressed fully against the mattress, he shifted his weight, fluidly flipping their positions until she was resting safely above him.

”Damian, what are you—”

”You look so beautiful, do you know that?” he interrupted softly, his dark eyes tracing every line of her face in the moonlight. ”Everything about you is exquisite. I mean every word.”

His hold on her waist tightened, pinning her gently against his frame, while his other hand inched lower, tracing the curve of her hip.

”Do you truly find me beautiful?” Eilika questioned, needing to hear the confirmation aloud in the quiet of the room.

”Do you still doubt it?” he asked, a faint, tender smile touching his lips. ”Tell me, how am I supposed to make you believe it?”

”You never wanted to share a bed with me,” Eilika said softly, the sudden reminder of their cold beginnings hanging quietly between them.

”Yes,” Damian admitted, his voice dropping to an honest tone. ”I was incredibly harsh in the past, and arrogant. I regret every word of it. The day you began sleeping beside me, everything changed. Or perhaps the shift happened even before then, and I was simply too stubborn to realize it.”

He lifted his hand, resting his palm against her cheek to caress the soft skin with uncharacteristic tenderness.

”I believe your words,” Eilika replied, leaning into his touch. ”Because of you, my confidence has grown as well.” A small, contented smile touched her lips, but it was quickly cut short as a sudden yawn overtook her. She moved her hand to cover her mouth, surprised by how heavily sleep was suddenly pulling at her senses.

”You are exhausted,” he noted softly.

With immense care, Damian shifted her weight and settled her gently back onto the mattress. He pulled the thick duvet up, covering them both against the night chill.

Wrapping his large hand around the back of her head, he began to offer slow, rhythmic pats, soothing her into the pillows. Unable to fight the overwhelming fatigue any longer, Eilika let her eyelids flutter shut, drifting off to sleep securely in his arms.

However, sleep evaded Damian’s eyes for a long while. He remained awake in the quiet chamber, his gaze fixed entirely upon Eilika’s peaceful countenance as she slept. The shadows of his past coldness weighed heavily upon him, and he found himself reflecting on every instance where his harsh words and arrogance had wounded his wife.

Leaning closer, he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her forehead and whispered into the darkness, ”Eilika, I shall make certain to fulfill your every wish. It may take time, but I will see it done.”

His own eyes began to shut slowly and soon, he drifted off to sleep. Unlike the previous times, his nights were no longer lonely. If anything, they were filled with warmth only.