The Duke's Masked Wife

"I believe we are even now. I saw your naked back this morning and now you have seen mine," Edgar stated as he exited the bathroom. "Are you going to continue acting shy? It's not like you saw anything explicit. "

Alessandra sat at the front of the bed, looking straight ahead because she was certain Edgar would not be decently dressed. "I am not acting shy about that. I was just surprised you were in there and Alfred was trying to set us up for something I don't want to imagine."

"Then why can't you meet the eyes of your dear husband? I'm not going to bite unless you want me to. It would come as a pleasant surprise if you were into that kind of thing. If my back has surprised you, wait until we become more comfortable with each other and you see the front of me."

"Yet again, I was only surprised to see you in there. You are not the first man I have seen naked. Do not let this moment fuel your ego," said Alessandra.

"Don't tell me it was the cook?" The question left a sour taste in Edgar's mouth.

"His name is Mario and no, it was not him. I told you I caught two people having sex. That is where I saw a man's naked body right before I ran away. There is nothing special about it."

A smile fell on Edgar's lips due to Alessandra's denial. "I am many things, Alessandra but I am not blind. I saw your face clearly in the mirror when you watched me and you should know, it is alright. There would be something wrong if you do not lust after your husband. It doesn't fuel my ego, it lets me know that I am wanted."

"I don't like walking into anyone while they are like that," Alessandra stated. Alfred made her invade Edgar's privacy.

Edgar began to walk around the bed to go to his closet for fresh clothes. "Of course, you shouldn't and Alfred would never trick you into seeing anyone else like that. Not unless he wants to be sent to work for my mother. However, I am not a shy man and something like this does not affect me. You can walk in on me as much as you like."

"Your confidence has no bounds," Alessandra said, then squeezed her eyes shut when Edgar came into her line of sight with a towel hanging dangerously low around his waist. 'No bounds at all,' she thought.

How could he be so comfortable walking around like this already? Was he used to exposing so much skin to others?

"You are ruining Alfred's hard work," she heard him chuckle to the right of her. "Though he should be aware I wouldn't have done anything with you if it was orchestrated by someone. Relax your shoulders a bit. I will not touch you tonight though it's our first night."

Alessandra's eyes flew open as she had entirely forgotten about their first night. There was so much on her mind that she forgot it was tradition for couples to engage in sexual activities on their first night to make the marriage truly official. That is what Mario told her.

Edgar stated he intended to sleep with her and have children. At some point, they would have to be intimate with each other for that to happen.

'When?' Alessandra wondered. She had no idea when Edgar wanted to have his first child.

"Did I break you?" Edgar questioned from the sidelines when he noticed her worried expression. He sighed as it appeared they had a long road ahead of them when it came to being blunt about intimate things. "We will not make love to each other so soon  Alessandra. I'd prefer we get to know each other a little bit better."

"Oh," her shoulders relaxed. "Thank you."

Alessandra was not ready to go from being the only person to see herself naked to having to also see Edgar naked and do things she had never done before. At this point, she wished she had someone to tell her more details about all of this so she could stop acting so scared in front of Edgar. However, Edgar said the tutors weren't that helpful so the only person she could speak with was her husband.

"Edgar," she called his name after a deep breath.

"Hmm," Alessandra heard him hum from where she presumed to be his closet.

"I would love it if you could teach me about the things we do in the privacy of our bedroom but please bear in mind, I am not you. The way you say things is a little hard to swallow at first. Edgar?" She called again when the closet had gone silent. There was no movement like before.

"I already intended to teach you but I am glad you asked. It won't be as hard as I imagined. Tonight, let's talk about other things. We've only been married for a day and given the circumstances behind it, I don't want you to worry or feel pressured like it is your duty to sleep with me. I survived before you came," said Edgar. He was not a manwhore like one of the rumors about him claimed.

"Mario said-"

"Alessandra," Edgar called her name loud and clear to stop her from mentioning anything the cook had to say. Each time she called his name, a particular spot on Edgar's skin itched. "I do not care what that man told you."

After a moment of silence, Alessandra asked, "Are you jealous of Mario, Edgar?" She found it to be unbelievable as their relationship was one where no feelings were involved but she still had to ask what was on her mind once again. She didn't understand his dislike when she spoke about Mario.

"Jealous?" Edgar walked out of the closet wearing pants that stopped at his knees and no shirt. "Why would a Duke be jealous of a cook? That man has nothing that I want. It simply irritates me what you two have talked about except the fact he has feelings for you."

"Mario was my only friend. Regardless of if he likes me as you say, there was no one else to answer my questions. It is making me feel bad how uncomfortable he must have been to ask him about what couples do when-"

"He wanted to do the same thing with you?" Edgar bluntly ended what he knew she wouldn't have the courage to say.

"Edgar!" Alessandra exclaimed as that was not what she was going to say. "I have only viewed him as a friend or brother and to hear that he might have thought about those kinds of things with me is extremely weird."

"I don't want to talk about your old cook slash friend slash brother slash secret lover anymore. I will call for someone to prepare your bath. What's wrong?" Edgar noticed her intense gaze directed at him. Did he upset her by dismissing the cook?

"Your hair is wet. Would you like me to dry it? I could never fully dry my hair when it was just me. There was always a damp spot I could not reach but I suppose it wouldn't be the same for you since your hair isn't as long as mine. You don't have to say yes. I'm sure-"

"Stop rambling, Alessandra. It annoys me," Edgar replied with a sigh. He moved from where he stood to sit next to Alessandra on the bed. "Why aren't you moving? Didn't you just offer to dry my hair? Am I meant to lay on your lap or will you stand?" He passed her a cloth he had in his hand that he was going to use to dry his hair himself.

"I will stand," Alessandra took the cloth from him. "I will try not to be rough."

"I do not believe that," he folded his arms and waited for her to start. "I am certain you enjoy seeing me in pain. Should I invest in whips in the future?"

"What for?" Alessandra innocently looked down at him as she towered over him. "I would never hit you with a whip. What type of person do you take me for?"

Edgar folded his lips for once in his life regretting the words he said. Of course, she wouldn't have any idea of what he was joking about. At least it confirmed the cook had never told her about the wild activities couples sometimes engaged in. "Forget I said anything," he closed his eyes, awaiting Alessandra to start drying his hair.

"I must have misunderstood what you meant about whips. If that is the case, if you ever present me with a whip in the future, I will run away from you. I have a lot to learn. Not just about being a Duchess but about the things that come out of your mouth," Alessandra smiled as she placed the cloth over Edgar's head and began to dry his hair.

"You know, if I ever wished to make a fortune, I would just need to cut a few strands of your hair to sell. You are sought after by so many women that I would surely find those who would fight to have a piece of you."

Edgar's eyes slowly opened. "Alessandra, that is not something I wish to hear while your hands are in my hair. I want every strand to stay where it is."