Thanks for the reviews! This is still the calm before the storm... haha. Hope you like it! BTW who read maid sama chap 81 in the manga? i swear i was going to die from the moe. HAHA there was a ring! ahhhhhh

Chapter 26: Temptations

"Let me help you" Usui insisted. He grabbed Misaki's arm and helped her sit up in bed. Misaki's bulging stomach made moving a difficult task.

Misaki had one hand under her stomach and the other of the small of her back as she carefully stood up.

"Slowly..." Usui coaxed. "Sakura! Shizuko!" he called.

Misaki's friends who were already waiting by the door came in.

"Duke Usui, Misaki" they greeted.

Misaki had to lean against the bedpost. Her stomach was larger than normal. The doctor had told her that she was expecting twins. She was having two children at once! The thought made Misaki dizzy.

"Careful" Shizuko cautioned as she pulled a dress over Misaki's head. All the dresses Misaki wore now were light and loose empire waist gowns. Today Misaki was dressed in a shimmery gold gown with black velvet accents.

Misaki gingerly lowered herself into a chair so Sakura could brush her hair. Afterwards Shizuko and Usui would help Misaki stand.

Misaki turned and began buttoning Usui's jacket.

Usui took Misaki's hands. "No need" he said. "Are you sure you don't want to stay in bed?" he asked.

Usui asked her this every morning. At first Misaki agreed but after one day she was out. Misaki couldn't stand the boredom of sitting around all day.

"I need some air" Misaki told Usui. Usui raised an eyebrow.

"You my lady are not going outside"

"But-"

"No buts" Usui said. "You are in no shape to be walking anyways"

"I'm only seven months," Misaki argued.

"Seven months with two children" Usui countered. Misaki pouted as she wrapped her arms around Usui's neck. Usui gracefully swept Misaki up and carried her down the stairs. At the bottom he would gently set her down.

"Am I too heavy yet?" Misaki asked. Usui smirked.

"Light as a feather"

Misaki smacked his arm. "Very funny..." she muttered.

"What would you like to eat?" Usui asked sweetly.

Misaki tapped her chin. "Maybe some fruit and tarts" Misaki suggested. "Oh and pie" she added.

"Anything," Usui promised her. Misaki picked at her food as she watched Usui personally open the balcony windows and door to let in fresh air.

"Better?" he asked.

Misaki nodded. "Tis like being outside" she agreed, breathing in the cool morning air. Spring was finally here.

Misaki continued to nibble on a blueberry tart. Usui had eggs, bread and tea in the mornings.

"Do you want something else?" Usui asked. "You don't seem to want that anymore"

The tart was slowly being crushed into crumbs. Misaki smiled sheepishly. "Actually I think I want stew..." she said.

"Your wish is my command" Usui said, calling a maid over.

Misaki drank her glass milk and started eating a slice of apple pie. The cinnamon mixed with the tartness of the apple was heavenly. The fluffy crust melted in Misaki's mouth.

"Your stew, Duchess" the maid said setting down a steaming bowl.

"Thank you" Misaki said, picking up a spoon. "Mmm..." she said smelling the blend of potatoes and wild game.

"You want some?" she asked Usui.

"No thank you, darling" Usui replied. "I prefer breakfast foods for breakfast"

"That's no fun" Misaki muttered, tasting some soup. The soup was well flavored and slightly spicy much to Misaki's liking.

After breakfast, Misaki sat in a comfy chair by the window. A thick book of astronomy laid on her lap. Her lap was becoming smaller and smaller thanks to her overly big stomach. Misaki glanced down at the book tried to remember which constellations she had seen last night.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Misaki called.

Erika quietly opened the door and slowly closed it behind her. "Misaki" she whispered.

Misaki closed the book and set it on the window sill. "What is it?" Misaki asked.

Erika walked over. "I want to discuss something with you" she said kneeling next to Misaki. Misaki patted Erika's hand.

"Of course" Misaki said.

Erika bit her lower lip. "I know you're still sensitive about Kira" she whispered.

Misaki frowned. "Tis fine" she told Erika. Misaki wasn't one to hold grudges anyways. Kira had been awful to her but Misaki found it tiresome to hate someone.

"I am worried about the Duke" Erika continued.

"Why?"

"He's a man and men always have needs"

Misaki's brow creased. "I wouldn't worry about Takumi" she said. "He wouldn't betray me like that"

Erika looked sad. "You don't understand men like I do" Erika said softly. "When I worked in the brothel, hundreds of 'faithful' husbands came in secret. They couldn't find their satisfaction at home and so they go out and search"

"Takumi is always home at night" Misaki said.

"A brothel is open at every hour of the day" Erika reminded Misaki.

"You think Takumi would do that?" Misaki asked. She was much too big to have nightly intimacy. Misaki counted how long it had been. It had been a long time but surely it couldn't be that bad...

"My lady?"

"Yes?" Misaki asked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"If you are alright with it, please use me" Erika said softly.

Misaki paused. "Use you?" she asked.

Erika nodded. "I am willing to serve the Duke in your stead" Erika told Misaki. "Then he will not feel the need to go elsewhere"

Misaki covered her mouth. "Erika..." she breathed. "I could never let you do that. One day you shall find someone you love-"

"No my lady" Erika interrupted. "That day you saved me... I had decided to be with you until I die. I will never be a wife so please use me! My virginity is not valued"

Misaki gestured for Erika to stand. "You are truly my friend" Misaki told her. "But I have to trust Takumi. I would rather take the consequences then lose my trust in him"

"But how will you know?"

"I won't" Misaki admitted. "But I have to believe anyways"

"Tis naive" Erika said. "I shall not have another bastard scandal in this household!"

Misaki smiled and took Erika's hand. "I cannot ask you to sacrifice yourself for me. You may have grown up in a brothel but you do not understand relations between man and woman like I do" Misaki told her. "If you are rash, you shall regret it deeply. I married Takumi in an arranged marriage. If I had not realized that I loved him, it would feel meaningless to me. Union without love is the saddest thing for a woman"

Erika wiped her eyes. "Even if you don't agree now. My promise will always stand"

Misaki nodded. "I understand...thank you Erika"

Misaki leaned back in her chair after Erika left and thought about her words. She understood Erika's worry but Erika didn't know Usui like she did. He was the only man Misaki had ever fallen in love with. She didn't know if Usui loved anyone before her or been with anyone but it wan't her concern. Perhaps Usui was supressing himself for her sake...

Usui didn't get home until late in the evening. He sat on the edge of the bed. He draped his jacket over a chair and kicked his shoes off. He ran his hand through his hair and undid his vest and threw that on the chair too.

"Takumi?" Misaki asked softly as she came into the room.

"Misaki" Usui greeted with a smile. He leaned over by the nightstand to light another candle.

Misaki walked over to him. Usui automatically took her hand.

"Tired?" he asked. Misaki shook her head. "Sit down" he said patting a spot next to him on the edge of the bed. Misaki carefully lowered herself down.

"Can I ask you something?" Misaki said. She felt really embarrassed to talk to Usui about this but Erika told her it was best to get everything out into the open. Misaki trusted Usui but knew it was better to discuss it.

Usui smiled. "Of course," he said.

Misaki smoothed down her nightgown. "I have something to ask you" Misaki said again.

Usui raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" he asked. "You can just tell me" he told her.

Misaki blushed. "Do you have needs?" she squeaked out.

Usui tilted his head slightly. "Doesn't everyone?"

"Not like food and water" Misaki amended. "But other things"

"Sure?" Usui asked not sure where this is going.

Misaki tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So you do have these needs...like right now?"

"I don't understand..." Usui said. "Can you just tell me what you're trying to say?"

"Are you deprived of anything right now?" Misaki blurted out.

"Not especially" Usui said. "Are you? If you need anything I'll get it for you"

"No I am fine. Are you sure you don't need anything?" Misaki pressed. Maybe Erika was wrong...Usui didn't seem starved for intercourse.

Usui laughed. "Should I?"

"Well I think so" Misaki said, feeling more awkward by the second.

"And what is it that I need?"

"That thing...I always give you but I can't anymore"

"All your attention?"

"No!" Misaki exclaimed. "Like at night...in bed...?"

Usui's lips twitched. "Is that what you're worried about?" he asked.

Misaki blushed.

"I've been doing fine" Usui said, stroking her hair. "You don't have to worry about me"

"But I don't want you to suppress yourself" Misaki said. "I also don't want you to be tempted"

"Tempted by whom...?" Usui asked. "Misaki sweetheart, I'm not an animal...I can go without for a while"

"I give you permission to sleep with Erika" Misaki blurted out. She froze. What did she just say?

"Wait no I don't!" Misaki exclaimed. "Don't go anywhere near her. She's a wonderful girl and you shall not ruin her."

Usui pinched the bridge of his nose. "Darling...I really don't need to bed anyone." he explained. "You are very thoughtful but no thank you"

Misaki felt her cheeks flame. "Takumi..." she said softly. "You promise?"

Usui smiled. "I promise that other than you...I am interested in no one."

Misaki smiled shyly.

"Can we sleep now?" Usui asked. Misaki choose the strangest things to fret about. Chasing after strangers in the woods with a sword was completely normal but wondering if his so call 'needs' were satisfied got her worrying.

"Okay" Misaki said. Usui's words were honest enough for her. This talk with him only made Misaki more confident in the man she married.

Usui pulled back the covers. Misaki laid down. Sleeping wasn't very comfortable for her. She could only sleep sideways and could not move. Getting a good night sleep was never more difficult.

"I can't wait to have this baby" Misaki muttered.

"Don't worry" Usui whispered to her. "Once you have this baby, I will treat you well every single night"

Misaki blushed. "Don't say such strange things" she hissed. "Go to sleep"

"Yes my lady"