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The soap suds cling to his hair, and bubbles form around the edge of the tub, threatening to spill over onto the pristine marble flooring. But Anthony Bridgerton can't bring himself to care. His very beautiful, very naked wife has draped herself over him and is currently letting him massage the precious lily soap all over her body.
Taking baths together had been Kate's idea. After he was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder, she had come up with the nightly bath routine for them. Baths were supposed to rejuvenate and relax you. It didn't hurt either that his stunning wife would drop into the tub as well and coo over his well-being.
"I bought something from the market today," Kate turns around, grinning. Her hair is up in curls, and when they frame her face, she looks like an angel God had sent to save him.
She extends her arms over to the side of the tub to grab a net bag, and Anthony gets a glimpse of her perfect upper body. The lithe limbs, graceful curves, and firm breasts are gone all too soon from his view as Kate sinks back into the water.
"Rubber duckies, see! Just like the ones you had as a baby." It seemed that Kate was still thinking about the picture Violet had shown of baby Anthony in a tub with a gummy smile, surrounded by rubber ducks. The ducks had been thrown away when Violet found out that the plastic in those harmed teething babies. Anthony had been allegedly inconsolable. Not that he remembered or believed that story.
"I can't believe you actually got them."
"Well, you did seem upset that your ducks were thrown out," Kate replied, sweetly shrugging one shoulder.
"I was not upset! I was rightfully appalled and indignant that my possessions were thrown out without my permission," Anthony replied indignantly.
"Of course you were, honey." Kate kissed his nose, and he momentarily forgot what he had been mad about.
"Look, there's a mommy duck, a daddy duck, and a sweet little baby duck."
"Why would we need a baby duck?"
Kate drew a sharp breath and put a hand over her belly before replying, "Well–that's for the little baby who will be joining us in these baths soon."