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Chapter 15
Annalise woke up as a line of sun peeked into her room from behind the curtains. She squirmed, not willing to wake up yet. Then she turned, lying half across the bed. Her hair got into her face, and she blew on it to move it away, with no luck. She finally turned on her back and scrubbed her hair away from her face. That was one of the reasons she always wore a nightcap to bed.
Not last night, though. A blush crept up her neck from the memory. She opened her eyes and looked around. Blake was nowhere to be found. She didn’t expect to find him in her bed, although she hoped she would.
On the other hand, she was glad she had time to compose herself and to think through the events of the night before.
She squirmed, remembering how she behaved. She had been like an animal, licking and biting him, fighting for her release. Her cheeks heated even more, and she closed her eyes. She had been completely naked and open before him, unashamedly so. She should have been scandalized when he put his lips on her feminine folds, but she’d pushed her hips into his face instead.
Annalise took a pillow and covered her face with it. The cool material calmed her mind. What would Blake think of her now? He didn’t seem repulsed by her; on the contrary, he’d urged her on, encouraging her wanton behavior.
She stretched in bed, her muscles aching like after a day of hard work. She put the pillows against the headboard and leaned against them. She felt rested, but at the same time, she had an uncharacteristic urge to lie in bed all day. She looked around the room. Blake’s clothing was still strewn around the floor, the same as hers.
She and Blake had made quite a bit of a mess last night, she thought with a muffled chuckle. She bit on her lip. Where was he? Why wasn’t he in bed with her?
She sat up, clutching the quilt to her naked form. Her dressing gown didn’t lay on the chair, as it always did. Right, Ruth hadn’t come into her room last night to undress her. That honor belonged to her husband. Annalise took a deep breath and slid from the bed. She sauntered into the dressing room completely naked, the cool air wafting around her naked form. She felt exposed. More so than she did the night before, even though she was completely alone in the room. Even though she walked straight into the dressing room and wasn’t lying open before Blake.
Annalise shivered just thinking of last night.
Was that what marital duty was supposed to be like? If so, where had it all gone wrong before?
Why couldn’t it have been like that from the beginning? When she was still young and naïve and believed that Blake was her prince. When she could still dream of exploring the world with him, when she believed he would allow her into his soul.
Blake had been in one state of inebriation or another for most of their married life. Perhaps that was the reason their previous acts of love were lacking. Or maybe the fault lay with her. She had been too rigid, too frightened. Annalise heaved a sigh.
There was no reason to overthink this. This—last night—was the only thing working delightfully well in their marriage. Perhaps, she would be with child too. She placed a hand on her abdomen. It only took once the last time.
Annalise took a dressing gown and put it on, covering her body and storing the memories of the night before deep inside. She performed her morning ablutions, dressed, and went to look for her husband.
Annalise ventured straight into his study, since that’s where he spent most of his days. It turned out she was right. She opened the door, peeked inside, and saw him sleeping, his forehead resting on his arm. He still wore his banyan, so he wasn’t waiting for visitors. Annalise frowned. Why had he left her bed only to go to his study and fall asleep? She silently shuffled toward him.
Blake still had a quill in his hand and an open journal under his arms.
Annalise perched herself on the desk before him and ran her hand softly through his hair.
Blake sat up with a start, startling her.
“What are—” He frowned at her, then looked around and cleared his throat. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Obviously,” Annalise said with a light smile. Blake looked disturbed, out of sorts.
“This hasn’t happened in a while,” he said hoarsely.
“What hasn’t happened?”
Blake’s gaze settled on her, and he took her hand in his. He lightly played with her fingers, all the while studying her form. “You must have tired me out last night.”
Annalise felt herself blush. “Was it all right? What I did… What we did.” She looked away, unable to hold his gaze.
Blake brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one with slow deliberation. “It was… exceptional.”
Annalise fought to conceal her smile. “Why did you leave then?”
Blake heaved a sigh and tugged on her arm. Annalise stood, and Blake sat her onto his lap. He brushed the stray lock away from her face, slowly running his fingers down her cheek.
“I can’t sleep on the bed. It’s too soft.”
Annalise frowned and was about to ask more, but he placed his lips on hers.
