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After a short while, as if some mysterious force had warned him of her presence, he opened his eyes.

“Good morning,” she whispered, taking his hand in hers. “How do you feel this morning?”

“Mm. Much better, thank you.” He raised himself up one elbow and smiled at her. It never took him long to wake up in the morning, unlike her, who often spent long moments shaking off sleep, nestled in his warmth. “And I think I know why you came to find me before I could leave the bed.”

“Oh, do you think I have a reason other than the pleasure of seeing you?”

His smile became wicked. “Yes, I do, because you could have seen me later in the great hall. But you wanted to do more than see me, didn’t you, wife? You wanted what I should have given you last night but was too exhausted to give you.” His hand, warm and assured, landed on her breast. “Forgive me, my love, I should never have neglected you thus. Come here. Let me make amends.”

He lifted her onto his lap effortlessly, placing her over his straining member, which was already hard, then seemed to think the better of this first idea. Taking her by the waist again, he brought her higher up and shuffled down to the foot of the bed until she was hovering over his face, her skirt pooling around his head.

“What are you doing?” Johanna asked, gathering up her hem to free him. Did he really want to suffocate?

“What does it look like?” came the slightly muffled answer. “My face is between your legs. Don’t you remember what I do every time this happens?”

Her cheeks went flaming hot. “Yes, but⁠—”

“No but. You need this. And so do I.”

The idea that he would lick her in such a scandalous position, while she was fully dressed and he naked was so shocking, so erotic, that Johanna knew she would erupt in no time. But that had not been the plan. Say what he might, being pleasured was not why she had come to find him in bed.

“Wait,” she said, breathless in spite of herself. “I came because there was something I wanted to tell you.”

“Then tell me,” Cadell rasped, grabbing her bottom to lower her to his waiting mouth. “I might not be able to talk but I’m all ears.”

The last words were not very clear, as he’d brought his lips in contact with her folds. Dear God, her husband was scandalous, always coming up with new ideas to delight her, and this one promised to be explosive. And after a week without him, she was desperate.

Still holding her skirt up with one hand, she grabbed a fistful of his hair with the other, not sure if she should let him bring her the release she could already feel bubbling in her veins or tell him what she had meant to tell him.

“I think I…” she started, almost panicked. Was Cadell really doing this to her? After proposing to her while she had her mouth full of him, was he really making her say what she had to say while his mouth was full of her? After all, it seemed fitting, as if they had gone full circle. So she closed her eyes. “I think⁠—”

Johanna never finished the sentence as, at that moment, Cadell plunged his tongue, slick and hard, into her sheath. Telling him anything would have to wait. She needed to enjoy this gift to the full. Because it was indeed a rare gift. The sensations were different than usual, the pleasure sharper. She already knew that her satisfaction would be complete.

Soon, she had to let go of her skirt and brace herself against the wall. She needed the support; her legs had gone so weak that she feared she would go limp and crush Cadell under her. But he never complained, never slowed down, holding her in position with iron muscles, carrying on with the relentless assault until she forgot everything that was not the bliss he was stirring inside her.

“Yes! Oh, yes!”

She collapsed with a keening cry, sliding to her side in a satisfied heap. Cadell’s daring caresses and the knowledge of what she had to tell him had brought her to the peak in shockingly little time.

A chuckle reached her ear. Cadell had come to lie next to her.

“For someone who wanted to talk, you seem strangely speechless, you know.”

He sounded—and no doubt looked—more than a little satisfied with himself. Had she had the strength to snort, Johanna would have snorted. How could he jest so? Did he have no idea how good his caresses had felt?

“So, what was this thing you wanted to tell me?” he asked after a while.

Johanna opened her eyes. She would not miss his reaction for the world when she finally told him her secret.

“I think I’m with child.”

As the words she had never thought to pronounce again passed her lips, tears started to well into her eyes. Cadell stilled, his hand on her stomach.

“You…”

When words failed him, he simply stared.

“Yes,” she confirmed nonetheless. “I really think I am. It’s a miracle.”