-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♛♚FiftyOne-

✧ACCEPTED APOLOGY✧

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 Rhea hadn't been asleep for long, but hearing the beautiful sound of her husband's voice had made it easier to remain in a state of relaxation. Though it confused her at one point or another, the story had sounded so familiar.

"Hmm...I hope you don't recognize me as this Gasby fellow, because I certainly hosted a party or two to see you." Rhea's light chuckle had earned her immediate attention, her husband shifting down from his position against the bed frame.

"Love?"

"What time is it?"

"Hardly ten, would you like to eat breakfast?" She nodded, and it wasn't until she opened her eyes and rubbed the sleep from them that she caught Alphard's guilty expression. "Alfie?" She questioned out, and he sighed.

"I'm sorry—Rhea, I am so sorry. I lost my handle last night, and I didn't even recognize how it would make you feel during or post. What can I do for you to forgive me?" Her silence was damning, and he could hardly breathe at the lack of response.

Yet her hand had traced the outline of his face, and he sighed at her touch. "Nobody's apologized to me before..." She whispered, and he felt the better half of him growing near tears at her admission of the truth.

"Thank you, it means a lot that you are honest with your apology." He hated it, he hated how formal she was being and how dutiful her voice had turned. "Rhea, my little goddess, tell me what I can do."

"Please don't do anything in the sort again."

"Of course not."

"And please don't beat yourself up over these types of things, how many chapters did you read to me?"

"Only a few." Nearly seven. "Is there anything I can get you? Jewelry? Rings—You wrote to me once that you adore rings."

"Alfie, I don't need any of that. If I wasn't so clueless on what happened last night then I would've mentioned it then. But we're still learning what the other likes, there must be some things you aren't fond of..." He nodded, and she remained silent for a moment as she awaited his answer.

"Talking down on a person, whether to me or I'm doing it. It's not—I've never thought of it as enjoyable." She knew partially what he was getting at, that treating women in the bedroom like a whore could potentially give men more pleasure.

But she smiled in hearing that.

"I believe that's one of mine as well...Besides aggressive touching." Aggressive touching, is that what she's calling it? Alphard sighed once more and made the move to get up.

"Could I interest you in a bath while breakfast is getting ready?"

"Only if you join me." Rhea knew that his guilt would last a lifetime if she withheld accepting his apology. And even now he looked hesitant in joining her. "Alphard, you said you're sorry and you promised you won't do it again. If you do then...Then I don't know what will happen, but that isn't a concern because I know you won't. I trust you completely, and if that is something that you liked in the bedroom with other women, I can't argue with your preferences. It's just not something I'm particularly interested in—No, that's not a good way to describe it...I don't fancy that type of behavior in the bedroom." Rhea had inhaled after speaking her mind.

"So please, join me for a bath, and then we'll eat...Betty, sweetheart? Could you start on breakfast, perhaps in the next half hour?" Rhea had gone forward to the bathroom to start the water while her husband remained frozen in place.