## Kaian's Office
"The budget remains untouched from last year," the butler, Baron Colon, reported as he refilled Kaian's tea. "The Duchess has had little opportunity to spend it—bed rest for several months, then the capital visit."
Kaian nodded, looking over the year's financial records. "She'll need to prepare a new household budget. It's expected of a Duchess."
"A newly married wife without guidance from Madame Elise will find it difficult," the butler observed carefully. "Perhaps you might be generous if her initial budget needs adjustment."
Kaian almost laughed at the butler's transparent attempt to protect Claudel. The old man actually liked her.
"I remember thinking I should be generous with her budget," Kaian said, more to himself than the butler. "I set aside money thinking—when I eventually dismiss her, I'll need to give adequate alimony." He paused. "Then I decided that was insulting. I doubled the amount. Then doubled it again."
Baron Colon hid his smile. "The Duchess will appreciate your confidence in her."
After the butler left, Kaian found his attention drifting from the ledgers. He kept thinking about last night.
*The brightness of the bathroom.*
*Her body in the light for the first time—not hidden, not shy, not reserved.*
Her pregnancy had transformed her. The woman who'd arrived at Rowen so thin the doctor had criticized her lack of fat was now... ripened. Her breasts had become fuller, her small buttocks soft and fleshy in his hands. Her skin glowed with health.
She looked like a ripe peach—sweet-smelling, delicious, tempting him beyond reason.
For months he'd been restraining himself out of respect for her boundaries, her discomfort with intimacy, her modesty about her Vermont body. But last night, with the water bright around them and her finally present in the moment with him rather than hiding—
*It's driving me crazy.*
He'd barely touched her, knowing they still had weeks to wait before the doctor would clear them. But tasting her, feeling her respond, seeing her without shame or fear—it had been torture of the best kind.
Now, sitting in his office trying to focus on castle business, he was useless.
"My Lord, the mare gave birth successfully," the butler announced, entering with news.
"Good. Give the stable keeper a gold coin." Kaian paused. "And give the doctor a gold coin as well. Ask if he'd consider a lifetime contract."
"But surely—"
"He's skilled enough to deserve it. The medical knowledge required for Claudel's situation is rare."
*And he gave me excellent advice about communication.*
Kaian's mouth almost twitched at the memory of the doctor suggesting dialogue—and how that conversation had naturally progressed into so much more than words.
---
## Claudel's Preparations
I paced my room, the budget calculations spread across my writing desk.
"Is this right?" I murmured, reviewing my work one more time.
The Duchess of Vermont had shown me basic household management before my marriage. I'd studied Rowen Castle's traditions with the governess. The budget I'd created should be adequate, but there was no way to know if Kaian would approve.
More troubling was my own mental state.
*Why can I only think of one thing?*
The bathroom scene from last night kept replaying in my mind. The brightness of the light. The way Kaian had looked at me without turning away. The way I'd stopped being ashamed and simply... felt.
I shouldn't think about it like this. I was carrying his heir. A Duchess had responsibilities. Professional composure mattered.
But all I could remember was how he'd looked at me when the light caught his water-darkened hair, his muscled chest, his red eyes filled with such intensity—
My door burst open without warning.
Kaian stood in the threshold, and before I could even greet him, he crossed the distance between us and pulled me close.
"Kai—" I started, but his lips captured mine.
The kiss was urgent, demanding, full of the restraint he'd been maintaining for so long finally breaking free. His hands tangled in my hair as he drew me deeper into the kiss.
When he finally released me, both of us were breathing heavily.
"The budget," I gasped. "Hannah was supposed to bring it to your office—"
"I don't care about the budget," he said roughly, kissing me again. "I couldn't focus. All I could think about was you."
His hands traced down my sides—now fuller with pregnancy, softer, changed. He seemed to appreciate every alteration.
"You're beautiful," he whispered against my mouth. "You've always been beautiful, but now—" He pulled back to look at me, his gaze traveling slowly across my face, my body. "Now I'm going crazy."
I felt heat rise to my cheeks, but I didn't look away. For the first time, I let him see my desire reflected back in my own eyes.
"The doctor said we have to wait," I reminded him, though my hands were already pulling him closer.
"I know," he said, his voice rough with frustration and affection in equal measure. "But I'm going to make sure every second of that wait is worth it."
And when he kissed me again, it felt like a promise—one he would absolutely keep.
---