Hidden Places, Book 1 of Autumn Club Series

Katrina sent off the missives to her family letting them know about the baby. She assumed her mother would be there before she knew it. A busybody must stay busy.

Katrina also began to make plans for the nursery and everything that entailed. She consulted mothers in the village and servants around the estate about their own births and babies. It was a daunting task for someone that never thought she would be a mother to a future duke. All advice was welcome.

Gabriel smiled a bit more, but still remained a serious sort. He was strict about Katrina's activities. He didn't want her to tire herself out or otherwise compromise the baby. Like clockwork he asked how she felt.

With the hormones of pregnancy, Katrina finally had enough and snapped at the duke after he asked for the third time that day, "I am not a child, Gabriel! I know when to take it easy and would let you know if I was unwell. Stop asking me all day long!" She stomped her foot in outrage.

She knew she was breaking some rules. She knew that he would be furious, but she emotionally couldn't handle the constant inquiries about her health. She was worried enough on her own without the constant reminder!

"That's enough, Katrina. You say you aren't a child, but that is exactly how you are acting. I've been too lenient with you, pet," his eyes made her a promise. "Upstairs. Now."

Refusing the duke would be an exercise in futility. She would eventually be subject to his will, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Katrina huffed, pouted and stomped to their bedroom. She contemplated going to her bedroom, but she didn't want to remind him that her sleeping elsewhere was an option.

"Bare yourself and bend over the arm of the settee," he commanded as he went to one of his drawers. He pulled out what looked like a birch branch or some other stick or cane. He slashed it through the air a few times, and it reminded her of the whoosh of the crop. Gabriel had never used it on her before.

"You want to disrespect me without any consequences, hm? You think that I won't punish you while you are pregnant?" He circled her like a vulture and leaned down to her face. "You don't know me too well if that is the case, pet."

Katrina began to tremble. She clearly misjudged the duke. She dare not speak a word.

"Twenty strokes. No need to count," he coolly said as his hand rested on her bottom. The first strike was to her upper thighs. It stung like nothing she had felt before. She tried to scoot her body away from him, but he tsked and pulled her back.

The branch continued to make contact with her thighs and bottom until she was in tears. He smoothed his hands over the welts, "Do not try to take advantage of me during this time, wife. I am pleased that you are bred and aim to keep you that way, but I will not be disrespected! Now go get a bath and plan to spend the evening in your rooms."

She couldn't believe it! They hadn't spent a night in separate beds since they wed. It seemed like a worse punishment than she deserved, but she kept that to herself. Lesson learned.

That night Katrina tossed and turned. Sleeping alone was awful. She softly walked to Gabriel's door and slowly opened it. He was sitting in a robe by the fire reading a book and drinking whiskey. He seemed perfectly content while she was miserable.

She snorted back an unladylike sob and turned around. "Katrina!"

She looked back in shock that he had heard her. "I'm sorry. I was just so lonely and sad....I'm so sorry for earlier. I'll do anything...," she sobbed, an emotional mess.

"Come here," he ordered. Her emotional display did not seem to phase him.

Katrina walked in front of him. She knew she looked a mess in her shift with puffy eyes from tears and lack of sleep. She kept her head low, not wanting to make eye contact.

"Look at me," he said and she complied. "Show me."

"What?"

"You said you would do anything to sleep here. Show me," he clarified.

Oh my. What could she do? What would he want? She was so used to him telling her.

Katrina slipped her shift down to her feet. She didn't have anything underneath so she was immediately naked. She bent over and untied his robe. She was surprised he was naked underneath, but it was a welcome surprise indeed.

Katrina grabbed his hardening shaft in her small hand a began to rub it. She sank to her knees like she had many times before, but she planned a little more this time.

After sucking him, making him quite wet she maneuvered him so he was laying back a bit more. She went up his body and placed his wet cock between her swollen breasts. The wetness from her mouth allowed for his cock to slide between her breasts. She met the head with her mouth and tongue.

They kept this up for a while until he needed more. He pulled her up and pushed her pussy down on his cock. He grabbed her tits and began to suck on them in earnest. "Mm, I'm going to do this every day until they lactate," he mumbled into her chest. "Ride me."

Katrina began to slide up and down on his cock. Circling her hips as he sucked at her. She pushed down to rub her clit against his pelvic bone, grinding down on him. With that stimulation and his cock hitting her in the fleshy spot inside her, she came hard around him as he continued to suck her.

It wasn't much longer before he came inside her with a grunt, letting go of her chest. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him close.

He picked her up and deposited her on the bed, "It's bedtime, kitten. Goodnight."

With that he kissed her on the head, extinguished the light, and joined her in bed. She immediately wrapped around him again, falling asleep almost instantly.