It was late in the evening at Bridgerton's house. The entire family was gathered for dinner and had joyful discussions about today's races. Violet noticed that Anthony was sitting quietly lost in his thoughts, not even eating his food. "Anthony dear. I am so happy that you are courting Countess." At her mother's voice, he finally looked up and blinked twice. It was clear he missed out on what she said. "I beg your Pardon?" Watching their elder brother's reaction both Benedict and Colin start laughing. "It seems our brother's thoughts are still lost in Countess's strategies. " Benedict said teasingly. "I agree! Only great affection for Countess can make our brother forgo his embarrassment of losing in a bet," Colin said, earning a glare from his elder brother. "At least I can admit I am smitten with Countess, unlike you drooling all over on our dear Ms. Featherington, while still referring to her as a dear friend!" "I did not!" Colin stuttered while everyone laughed at his expense except Eloise who was glaring at him. "Yes Colin, tell mother how fetching Penelope looked like a plant while you kept staring at her bosoms." "What? Colin Bridgerton!" Violet's eyes widened while Colin shakes his head in denial. "I was not staring at her, you know what..." But it was a lie as his siblings, started protesting, outing him about the many times he was getting caught staring at Penelope in an ungentlemanly way. "It was meant to be a compliment mother!" Colin explains this only to his mother as he ignored his siblings completely. "Mixed with the lame attempt of flirting," Benedict adds making Colin's face red. Violet laughed lightly in amusement while her eyes twinkled with this terrific turn of events. "Who would have thought that both my sons would have found lovely ladies to court this year!" Her sons groaned knowing extremely well their mother, will now start meddling to make sure these matches happen at any cost. Checking his father's old pocket watch, Anthony stood up. Alright, everyone, I am leaving but I want everyone to be ready for tomorrow's picnic." With that, he kissed his mother's cheeks and said goodnight to his family. He sent his carriage back to his lodgings and opted to take his horse thinking fresh air would help him with his nerves. It's not that he never had affairs with widows before. Both he and Simon lose their virginity to the mature widow of their acquaintance and she has thought them a great deal but the problem was aftermath awkwardness. As Simon was never social and soon left for his great tour he didn't have to deal with seeing them in balls, flirting in front of his mother. The mortification ended that affair making him stick to Actress and Opera singer. He never thought he would start an affair with a widow again, especially one he was courting. A woman unlike any other he ever met in his life. She is smart and soft. She is bold and beautiful, confident in her skin. She certainly knows the art of seduction. She can easily bring him down to his knees with just one look but there were moments when she would blush for him or gaze at him with emotion-filled eyes. He was so lost with his musings that he didn't notice he reached Beaumont House. Getting down from his horse he handed it over to the guard, he then noticed her butler was waiting for him. "Good evening, my Lord. If you please follow me I am instructed to take you straight to your destination." Nodding their heads, they walked quietly as he entered this big lavish house. "How long have you known Countess?" He inquires about this rough-looking man who looked quite different from polished butlers even by French standards. "Long enough my lord, I had to swear to protect her with my life. Not that she needs any protection in the first place." He muttered the last words to himself. "What? " He was about to ask was interrupted by Butler. " We are here my Lord." He knocked once and a voice called. "Enter." Opening the white double doors he called out. "Lord Bridgerton is here." With that, he bowed as Anthony stepped inside and felt doors being closed behind him. It was quite a spacious room decorated lavishly. A huge bed in the middle with an open balcony from where the gardens can be viewed. There were enough candles lit to give this room-warming glow but nothing prepared him for warmth at the sight of Countess. She was standing at her balcony doors dressed in a sheer lace nightgown of light purple color. Her hair was unbound and he saw long black curly hair falling like a waterfall down her back. "Countess." He finally found his voice as he slowly approached where she was standing, like a starving man reaching his mirage. "My Lord, you have kept me waiting." She scrunches her nose while touching the buttons of his coat. " I thought you would arrive far earlier than this. " Apologies My Lady, I was just gathering my nerves." She tilts her head curiously. "Why would you be nervous? It's not like this is your first time. After all your reputation precedes you." She was about to undo his buttons when he stopped her hand and she was taken aback by the intensity in his eyes. "I understand you know about my reputation and If that's the reason you are insisting on this affair then I think it's better for both our feelings that we stop this right now." She furrowed her brow not understanding his refusal. "Why? You had your share of affairs and mistresses in the past. So why not include me in that list?" She stepped away feeling unsure of this man she once knew long ago. A troubling thought came to her mind as she asked. "I thought you desired me? Are you insisting on this courtship because of my wealth and title? Don't you find me as attractive as your past mistress?" He stared at her incredulously while lifting her face so she could see his eyes. "I can't believe you are even asking me this question!" "Don't you know how maddeningly I yearn for you! The moment I saw you for the first time has given my life its true meaning!" Grabbing her arms, he pulled her closer to him as he inhales her scent. "Night and day, I dream of you, of this scent that is slowly consuming my very being!" She moaned and a feral growl erupted from his mouth. "I want to be lost in you and I want to be found by you. To claim by you and to claim you in every way a man can claim a woman so that the world can see they belong to each other and no one." He felt her whimpering as he held her harder in his arms. "My Lord. " She gasped as he nipped her earlobe. "Call me Anthony." "What?" She breathed dazedly. Kissing her forehead he smiled as he requested. "Can you call me Anthony? It would please me greatly if you say my given name." She smiled dazzlingly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and then she finally says. "Anthony." He groaned in pleasure as he joined their forehead together. "Never hearing my given name sounds so stimulating. " He then leaned away a bit so he could ask her. "Can I call you by your given name?" "No!" She replied while averting her eyes as she looked down. "I don't want you to call me Katherine." He must look confused, which makes her sigh as she answers him. "What I mean is that my name is part of my title and here in this room I don't want my title to come between us. Its okay if you call me Kate in front of family and friends but I would rather you call me something else when we are alone, something that only you will call me." 'That is a reasonable request.' Anthony mused before kissing her frown away. "How about sweetheart? Or darling?" She laughed before smirking at him. "Those are common endearments. My darling Anthony, don't tell me you can't do better than that?" He grinned at her challenge. "How about Honey, Princess, My Queen." " Our Queen will have both our heads if you refer to me as your Queen in open." They both laughed in each other's arms and Anthony couldn't remember being this playful in the bedroom with a woman before. "Hmm, that's one big dilemma indeed." He then proceeds to think hard but nothing suits that woman until finally, he remembers an endearment from his past. "How about Priyaey?" "What!?" Her eyes widened in shock. "How do you know this word?!" He smiled sadly. "I assume you know the meaning of this endearment because of your Indian heritage." "Yes, my mother was born into an Indian Merchant family. She used to call me and my father that." He smiled for a moment as he began explaining. "Long ago a friend of mine thought me meaning of this word. She was from India too and after her father remarried he used to call his wife Priyaey. When I asked what it means she told me it is a term of endearment which means darling, sweetheart..." "Beloved." She finished in a whisper and he kissed her forehead as he said. "Beloved." He watched her eyes getting watered as if she was overcome with feelings. "Oh Anthony!" With that she grabbed his face and started kissing him passionately. It took him one second and then he was kissing her back feverishly. It was one messy, animalistic kiss as their tongues battled while they clawed over each other's clothing. He untied her robe leaving her in see through lace shift that has buttons in the middle. She had managed to take his coat off and then got distracted by his kisses leaving him to deal with his waist coat and boots. Once he got rid of them he picked his Priyaey up in his arms making him smile as she caress his face while resuming kissing him. It was a miracle he managed to carried her to bed. They both laid down on it while their lips were still busy devouring each other. "Mm." He moaned after taking a breather from another delicious kiss while she sighed against his mouth her eyes were sparkling with joy as she leaned to steal another kiss. After a while he finally manages to detach their lips as he kissed her neck as he relishes in her scent. She was moaning as his lips were leaving wet marks as they goes. He managed to open the first few buttons and her breast came into view. They were most gorgeous breasts. A shade dark then rest of her sun kissed skin and as he cupped them they were perfect size for his hands. "I love these so much." He moaned while suckling on her nipples. "They remind me of my favorite chocolates." He said as he proceeded to suckle on another. While he was busy giving special attention to her breasts, his Priyaey was moaning and withering beneath him. He smiled against her skin when he slipped his hands inside her shift and found Countess gushing in her wetness. He gently entered two of his fingers and the sounds she made almost made him spill inside his pants. He watched in arousal as she thrust her hips taking his fingers deeper inside. "So close Anthony!" He slowed down because he wanted to feel her clenched around him so he stopped and to his amusement she growls angrily in frustration. "Anthony!" "My' My. Its seems someone is making a mess." "Seriously! Do you really want to talk about my mess!?" She complained angrily as he laughed devilishly." "You look like an angry kitten. Maybe that's what I should call you." "Anthony Darling." She glared at him while using his Countess voice. "If you don't stop with teasing then I swear..." But her threats turned into screams as he yanked her towards him, lifted her long legs over his shoulders and started devouring Sweetness between her legs. "Hmmm" He moaned as he licked her sweet, tangy nectar. "Anthony please!" She begged as he felt her walls quivering. Doubling his efforts he started licking her earnestly while his fingers played with her pearl. Soon enough, he felt her legs tightened around him. Her screams of pleasure echoing around them as she gushes on his mouth giving him her sweet release with his name falling on her lips. "Anthony!" "You taste better then wine." He moans as her breathing slows down. He then kissed her thighs as he gently took off her white stockings. He then get rid off his shirt for good measures and it seems his Priyaey is pleased with the way her eyes darkened at his shirtless body. She then leaned forward to kiss his naked chest before suckling him like he suckled her breasts. "Hmm." He groaned when she gently bit his skin as her hands travelled downwards. Noticing what she wanted he helped her get rid last of his clothing and stood with pride as she shamelessly ogles at his naked body. "Since when Lords start becoming so buffed?" He scoffed but felt pleased as she kept touching his arms and chest. "You should thank my brothers, Hasting and Mondrich. It's with them I boxed and fenced sometimes." She hummed while pulling him for kiss. "In that case, they deserve special bottles of their favorite drinks. After all these activities are benefiting me most." He stared at her in amusement before tackling over her as they both laughed between kisses. For a while nothing was said as their lips once again moved with passion. He bit her lip when she grabbed his member and started stroking him with her soft hands. He knew something had gone wrong when he tried to lift her shift to get her naked and she freezes in his arms. "No!" Please don't take it off!" The way she sounded so broken makes everything stopped as he pulled away to stare at her but found her head down as if she was unable to meet his eyes. "What is the matter?" He asked softly as he gently cupped her face. "Do you want to stop? Please know that I will stop whenever you say the words." After a while, she shook her head with tearfully as she bring him closer. "Please! I don't want you to stop but don't take my shift off!" Her pleads were breaking his heart even more. "Priyaey stop crying. We do this your way. If you say shift stays then it will stay, no questions asked." She looked so grateful that he didn't stopped when she jumped into his arms as she straddle him, making him lay down on her soft bed. "Is this okay?" She asked hesitantly and in answer he kissed her palm. "This is perfect." It was perfect as her confident smile returned as she grabbed his member and slipped it inside her. It was perfect when they first got connected so intimately as lovers as they moved in harmony, making them one body and soul. It was a perfect sight as his goddess ride him with the same smirking smile that stole his heart that beautiful morning. Finally it was the most perfect moment when they found they reached their release. Even if he had to lift her off so he could finish himself on her body but nevertheless watching her moan as his seed coated her legs was the perfect way to mark this moment between them. And as both lovers collapsed in each other's arms all he could say was. "Perfect."