How to Drive Your Husband Mad In 3 Easy Steps

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Edmund, named for her husband's cherished father, was growing so much every day. Kate loved watching her baby every moment of the day. It helped ease how much she missed her husband. Today, however, Anthony came home. It was a moment that Kate had been planning for since the day he left. After Edmund was born, they had to let her body heal. Knowing how rousing Anthony was, it wasn't a easy wait for him but he was distracted by how much he too loved his son. At least in the day time. Then came horrible storms, and he had to go to his estate--and it would be a few weeks to help build it.

She knew he hadn't wanted to leave, but he would never let his estate fall to ruin. Knowing that the time apart would be hard for them, Kate had a man a plan. The first part involved a letter written to her husband then hidden within the clothes be packed. The letter described the things she missed most from their time in bed. It had taken a lot of her to put the words to paper, but she described how it felt when he made love to her--in detail. Knowing that it would drive him to distraction while away from her.

Anthony sent word when he was coming back, so Kate knew when to expect him. Which led to her other part of her plan. She had her underdress sewn on, rather then laced. There would be no way he could simply remove it. Perhaps she had been around he Bridgerton's too much, and the tease could be blamed on their joking manner--but Kate was thrilled that when her husband got home she could put him off.

So to add fuel to the fire, she invited his family for the afternoon to welcome him back. Plus, playing the the baby would assure Edmund slept longer and thus gave her more time with her husband later.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

While Anthony had a taste and a bit of experience with fatherhood, where it came to raising his siblings . . . nothing compared to the joy of actually being a father. Of having created a life with the woman you love, and bring it into this world. Their baby, Edmund, was perfect. The love Anthony had for him was beyond anything he was capable of describing. The day he had been born, had been one of tears in the Viscount's eyes for he had never felt such emotions before.

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And supposed, he never would have had he not had a child. He did not even think it possible for his love for Kate to grow even more, but it had. For she had given him the most precious gift: love. And with that love, came a baby. Their baby. And so in all the joy he felt, it was agonizing to have to leave Edmund and Kate so early in his birth. Had it not been an emergency, Anthony would not have left but if he did not return . . . the estate would be collapsed and it was his responsibility to maintain it. To maintain what had once belonged to the very person their child shared name with. And so, he had gone, feeling as if a piece of his heart had been ripped from his chest the moment he stepped into his carriage and lost sight of his wife holding their new born baby.

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The days he was gone had been busy, and nights were always the most challenging. He had grown quite used to Kate being next to him and so he missed that. Missed holding her. Missed holding Edmund. And, missing each moment of their son's life. His mind raced with what he was doing. What was Kate doing. He felt he would go mad. And Kate's letter did little to calm him. It was a reminder of how long it had been since they were able to be physical with one another, and her letter held promise of what he would be returning to. And so, there was an expectation.

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Two weeks went by both quickly and painfully slowly but eventually, the day came where Anthony could return home. So, he expected a few things. He expected that he could hold his son and apologize for missing the early days of his birth, promising to make it up to him. He could expect that his son would soon fall asleep and that he could lay him down. And he expected . . . that Kate was his for the rest of the day.

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He eagerly entered his home, the driver taking out his bad and greeted by the butler. He told Anthony that they were in the drawing room and by they, Anthony assumed he was talking about Kate and Edmund. How wrong Anthony was. His steps were hurried as he walked through the door and froze when his eyes laid upon the sight before him. It was his family. His . . . entire family. Now, Anthony loved his family, he adored them and there was nothing he would not do for them . . . but this, this was not what he expected. His eyes darted to Kate and in his look, there was an underlying glare of sorts. A silent accusation.

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For he did not doubt for a moment, that she did this on purpose. His intention of letting her know when he would return clearly taken advantage of for instead of her planning for it just to be the three of them, and to eventually let him do all that the letter -- her letter -- suggested, she instead decided to invite his entire family. They were all comfortably seated which indicated they were not going anytime soon, and Anthony knew he would have to make the best of this. He walked over to where his son was being passed around, taking him in his arms and cradling him.

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If there was anything that could ease his annoyance, it was most certainly Edmund. Anthony kissed his son's forehead, just gazing at him for a few long moments before moving towards Kate. She was seated on the sofa and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek in greeting, though in the process, with his lips close to her ear, quickly whispered to her so that no one else would hear. "You best make this up to me or I will not forgive you." Before drawing back and sitting on the arm rest of the sofa, looking at his family as they greeted him and asked about the state of the estate. Of course his words were teasing, but never the less, they held warning for this . . . wasn't what he had expected, and she damn well knew that.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Kate was enjoying this. She knew what she had done, and was loving watching him make nice with his family all the while wanting them gone. Poor Anthony. He had not expected this sort of welcome, and that was why Kate was glad he got it. "Why, what ever might you mean?" She asked, pretending an innocence that she didn't have.

Watching Anthony hold his son, Kate smiled and just took in her family. "He missed you too," she told him softly, before turning to listen to something one of his sisters were saying. The afternoon passed quickly, but slowly at the same time. Odd how time moved when you wanted something to happen.

When the baby finally begin to sleep, Kate took pity on her husband. "Why don't you go put him to bed?" She knew once he said goodnight the others would leave. Some because they would assume he was tired, and others might assumed he . . . was 'tired'.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Her play at innocence made Anthony inwardly glare at her . . inwardly, only because he knew he could not draw too much attention to the situation that caused for it. Plus, when holding his son in his arms, it was impossible to find any other expression other than the pure joy he felt upon being reunited with him. The fear of whether Edmund had forgotten the sound of his father's voice. Or what he even looked like -- even though Anthony was told that babies could not see too clearly for the first little while.

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But still. All these fears that set in the Viscount, wondering if his son would somehow remember this; that his father had left him for two weeks in the early days of his birth. The rest of the day progressed pleasantly enough with his family, even though it was not what he had expected the day to be. Though it seemed that Edmund also rather enjoyed the excitement for he eventually fell into a rather easy slumber . . . at which point, Kate encouraged him to take him to bed. Anthony carefully rose to his feet, bidding his family adieu before making his way to the nursery.

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He was reluctant to put him down, not yet wanting to part with the feeling of holding his son after being deprived of him for so long. But his son's comfort came first and foremost and so Anthony slowly and gently put him in his crib, watching him sleep so soundly. Not even noticing when Kate had come to stand at the nursery store, and whatever prompted him to eventually turn his head to notice her presence, had indeed been belated. He glanced at her before looking back at a soundly sleeping Edmund.

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"They do not always sleep like this," he said with a father's pride that his son slept well, and a relief that Edmund slept comfortably. He recalled Hyacinth and Gregory when they were babies and there was indeed, a great deal of crying. Gazing at Edmund, the earlier worry resurfaced in his mind, not even fully realizing he now brought it to voice. "Do you think he will remember . . . that his father left him for two weeks when he was so new to this world?" His finger delicately stroked Edmund's soft cheek. The weight of guilt heavy in Anthony's heart. Two weeks that he would never get back for if there was one thing that Anthony had learned in quite a hard way, it was that life was far too short.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Goodness. Just when she thought that she had found all the ways that Anthony Bridgerton could make her fall in love him, he would give her another. Kate had bid his family good bye for them both, and went to join him. There she found the father watching the son sleeping. Enjoying the silent moment between the two most loved men in her life (well, man and boy), Kate stood at the door and leaned on the frame to watch.

Anthony looked at her, before speaking on sleeping babies. Kate had been young when Edwina was born, and did not recall a lot of how to care for the baby. Anthony however, had been brother--and in a way father--to his younger siblings.

"What a dark thought for a happy day." She mused softly, moving to come stand next to the father of her baby, while they both looked down at the sleeping infant. "I think he will only know that he was loved from the moment he was born." Looking up at Anthony, Kate continued. "Besides, I have the feeling that you will demand to hold him enough in the coming days that it will be I who hold that fear." A tease meant to help ease his worry.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony heard and felt her approach more than saw, his eyes still upon their son, as she commented on the dark thought for a happy day. He did not wish to darken the reunion, but also knew -- had learned -- that he could talk to Kate about anything. And that opening up was becoming easier and easier. Sharing the burden of his irrational mind and thoughts, was not something he need deal with alone. Not anymore. She assured him that he would only know that he was loved, teasing that he would demand to hold him that the situation may be reversed.

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Anthony smiled, turning his head to look at her, but quickly withdrew the expression as he turned back to Edmund, his face now more serious. Though, almost in an exaggerated way. Feigned seriousness which ironically, may only add to the teasing mood. "On the subject of demands . . ." He began to say. "It is quite good indeed that our son sleeps so soundly, for your husband may very well demand your attention for the night. Particularly after this ploy you concocted during the day." Sending him a letter while he was away, only to invite his family over when he returned. He knew full well she had done it intentionally. Very intentionally. He turned his toward her, giving her a knowing look and aware . . . that she must be rather pleased with herself.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Kate could watch her son sleep forever, as there was a peace in his expression that gave her the same feeling--however it was not peace that she had in mind tonight. Nor did her husband it seemed, for he looked away from their son and to his wife. His words made her grin grow slow but bright, as she knew her teasing was not over as of yet.

For her husband would find more more gift to his notorious impatience. A dress that she had been sewn into, rather then laced into. "Why dear husband, whatever do you mean?" Deciding that his conversation needed to move out of the nursery, Kate turned and began walking to the door, while looking expectantly at her husband to follow.

Pulling the door shut behind them softly, she teased him once more. "You must be tired from your journey. Should you need to rest?" Though if he said yes, she would be disappointed. It wasn't just her husband who missed their shared time in bed. Between missing him from his journey and missing him holding her . . . Kate felt impatience as well.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Anthony did follow Kate out of the room with a final glance at their deeply slumbering son. When in the hallway and she had shut the door behind them, she spoke of how tired he must be from the journey . . . that he may prefer to rest. It had been a month since they were able to be intimate as a husband and wife, and between that, and the lonely nights with distance between them -- and her letter -- rest was surely the last thing on his mind. Whether she was just saying it as a further tease or because she meant it, Anthony did not question. Instead, he did what he had wanted to do since stepping foot in their home and seeing her.

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He leaned forward, his lips capturing hers in a heated kiss, giving a more nonverbal response to her inquiry. His hand went to her cheek, deepening the kiss and letting it speak in a stronger answer than perhaps words could. Easing out of the kiss his breath was heavy, knowing it was best they make it to the bedroom first but the urgency to kiss her after so long had truly taken over. "Does it seem like I need rest?" He asked her in a low voice, kissing her cheek and creating a path of kisses along it until he reached her ear. "I hope you are well rested too," he breathed against her ear, nipping at her earlobe before guiding her back as he pressed forward, towards the direction of their bedroom. Because tonight, neither of them were going to get a great deal of sleep. 

[Kathani Bridgerton]

Anthony did not answer her with words, but instead kissed her, and Kate suddenly wondered if her teasing had been at her own expense as well. She could have been in his arms hours ago had she not. Yet the idea of seeing his face when he realized she was sewn into her under dress was too much to give up.

"I've rested for a month." Missed him for a month. "It is not rest that I require." It was his touch, the way his kiss left trails of fire on her skin. The shivers of pleasures and that why he made her whole body hum with the best exhaustion that she had ever felt.

She was back stepping toward their shared room, as Anthony was guiding them toward it. Once there was a time when she would not have imagined trusting him even with this--but now she could not imagine not trusting with with everything in side her. Her body, her heart, her mind. Her pleasure.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

One month. It was 29 days too many to be without his wife. The first couple of weeks were easier to bare than the latter. For it had been required for her to heal, and she had given them a child. While it did not lessen the ache he had for it, it certainly was a more than understandable circumstance. But, these past two weeks . . . inclusive of the letter and added time of this afternoon yet unable to be with each other, well, it had all been enough to push Anthony over the edge. "Good," he answered in the same low tone of voice. "For you may not find it tonight." Rest, that is.

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Determined to take advantage of every moment he now had with his wife. Once they were in the room, he pushed shut the door and his lips immediately returned to hers, unbridled passion in the kiss. He hands made quick work of the buttons on his vest, quickly undoing them and letting it fall to the ground to give him more mobility. Though, he was far more concerned with getting her undressed than himself. His hands frantically went to the laces of her dress, hastily pulling out each one as he felt it loosen. Moaning in the kiss, anticipation as he heaved with desire. Thank goodness she did not have overcomplicated attire. Nothing with too many layers or laces; that, he would credit her with.

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His lips went to her neck, kissing along it as he teased the skin with his teeth and soothed it with his tongue. Once the laces were undone, and the dress loose enough, he pulled it down allowing it to pool at her feet before lifting her in his arms and crossing the distance of the room towards the bed, promptly setting her down on it upon her back. He positioned himself on top of her, his lips returning to hers as he proceeded to kick off his boots. Now, he just needed to get her chemise off.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

It took little time for Anthony to move them toward their room. His fingers moved to his buttons, and Kate's own fingers tangled into his as she tried to help him, the need to feel his skin under her fingers rising with each moment. Anthony carried her to bed, and Kate knew that soon her would look to unlace the dress.

While he worked on his boots, her fingers pulled his shirt open one button at a time. Her fingers running over his newly exposed skin. Without pulling his shirt off, her hands slipped between his shirt and his back, needing to feel every inch him. His skin smooth and hard at the same time, and the contrast was so Anthony. Maybe other men had the same but for Kate there was only Anthony.

Her fingers trailed down his back, and over his britches to feel his backside. Something she had only recently come to be bold enough to touch freely in bed. One had moved to his side, to hold on at his ribs, while the other trailed up to seek out his hair.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

Her hands on his skin and over his body only further fueled his actions. His keep growing deeper and more need driven, his body aching with desire. His hands ran over the chemise that covered her which was a very form fitting one. He had grown rather used to her night dresses -- having learned how to skillfully and hastily remove each one -- and this, was certainly a new one. He quite liked it if it mean he could feel the perfect curves of her body . . . though he would like it even more when it was removed.

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His hands moved over her small frame, enjoying the feel of her but also needing to sate his desire. Without needing to look -- or so he thought -- his fingers moved over the front of the chemise, though did not find any laces or any fastenings. So in a continued and smooth movement, his hands slid under her, to find the laces on the back . . . but to no avail. Pulling out of the kiss, irritated that he had to break the contact of their lips, he raised his head a little and titled it down to look at her chemise. It was raised just above her chest, and where he had once enjoyed the fit of it . . . he now found it to be nuisance for he could not lower it. And the bottom . . . slightly flared past the knees so he could not even adequately raise it.

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His mind was quickly processing but he yet refused to acknowledge it. Still above her, he turned her a little so that he could properly look at the back of her dress . . . the fabric entirely smooth. Not a single lace or button in sight. Setting her back on her back, his eyes narrowed at her, clearly unamused. "What in the hell is this bloody chemise you are wearing?" He questioned, not even trying to hide the annoyance in his voice. He knew Kate well enough to know . . . that this, was exactly what she intended to do. And, she had successfully drawn the desired reaction from Anthony, indeed.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

His hands moved to her front, and Kate knew it was time! His hand moved swiftly to her back, and she found herself smiling though the kiss. Yet it wasn't until he broke the kiss that she found her lips able to fully smile the bright and amused grin of a cat who finally got the cream.

He shifted her--he actually moved her around to look at the back before looked at her with that notorious Anthony Bridgerton disapproval and it only made her begin laughing. Oh how she loved to get under his skin! "Do you not like it? I wore it for you." To tease him, but she knew it wouldn't stop him.

Lifting her arms she stretched them over her head so it arched her back slightly, lifting her chest just a little toward him. Kate had a grin on her lips that would linger for days, for the memory of his out bust would be worth it. "It's all the rage I am told. Should I begin wearing one every night?"

^{Anthony Bridgerton}

[Anthony Bridgerton]

Tag: Kathani Bridgerton
Note: Better layout coming soon!

i will

ALWAYS PROTECT YOU

She was laughing. She was damn well laughing! It only made Anthony's glare intensify as he stared at her without an ounce of amusement. Her laughter made it worse. Because, she had won this round. She knew it. He knew it. She knew that he knew it. And he hated it. Almost as much as he hated her dress. And the perfect opportunity to vocalize such arose as she asked if him if he liked it. "No," he bluntly answered. As humor filled as she was, was as humorless his tone was.

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"I hate it," he added on, his eyes still inspecting it as if to miraculously find a tie somewhere that would loosen the whole thing. His fingers went to where the straps joined fabric of the front as he tried to pull it apart. "You are no longer permitted to purchase any chemise without my approval." Of course his words were not true, but due to the seriousness of his current state, he said them regardless.

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"So that I may inspect them and deem them suitable." Unlike this one. Why the hell was it not getting undone. Another sound of irritation escaped him as he gave up with his fingers, and lowered his mouth to try and pull the strap apart from the dress, his hands moving over her sides to find any part of the stitching that he could loosen while he attempted to bite apart the cloth, uncaring if the skin that got in the way. He was getting desperate.

[Kathani Bridgerton]

His tone, his words, his face! They only made the humor rise up in her, and her face glowed with happiness, and amusement. He used his hands to pull at the top, and told her that he needed to inspect what she purchased for now on. "That will start the gossip mill. Imagine Lady Whistledown gleefully sharpening her quill over Anthony Bridgerton and his war on his wife's clothes."

When he moved to use his teeth, Kate's head feel back with an open mouth laugh. Her fingers came up to his cheeks as she held him and tried to keep her skin from his bite. It didn't take her best of thinkers to know that this fabric would only be good for scrubbing after Anthony was through with her.

She really aught to take pity on him and tell him how to open the dress, but where was the fun in that? Anthony could use a bit of a challenge, and she knew that once he found a way to get the dress open that the arrogant husband would make an appearance--and she like arrogant Anthony too.

^{Anthony Bridgerton}