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harmonizingsunsets · 3 years

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It might be foolish, but you got me all soft

Read on Archive here.

Kate's nose crinkles as she watches Penelope and Colin. Their feet dance with one another underneath the table. He leans over, whispering something in her ear that makes her giggle. Their smiles are brighter than the fluorescent lights of the coffee shop. Watching them is almost blinding.

"You guys are so cute," Kate observes with puckered lips. "I hate that."

Penelope turns to Kate with a bemused expression. "No, you don't. You love us."

"Love isn't the word coming to mind. Nauseated is more like it."

"Kate, everyone finds us adorable," Colin insists, wrapping an arm around Penelope. "It's not a matter of opinion. It's just a fact."

"I'm happy for you two. Honestly, I am. But you're acting so lovey-dovey and sweet that it makes my teeth ache," Kate jokes, picking up her coffee for a sip.

"If we make your teeth ache, then you and Anthony cause cavities," Colin mutters.

Kate chokes a little on her mocha, causing a few patrons to give her odd looks.

"Excuse me?"

"Colin, we talked about this," Penelope says through gritted teeth, shooting him a disapproving look.

"No, you talked about how we weren't supposed to say anything because they're both so jumpy about it, but I disagreed," Colin protests. "Someone needs to open their eyes."

"Hello, I'm still right in front of you," Kate says, waving her hands at them. "Open my eyes to what?"

Colin and Penelope argue with their eyes for a few moments before Penelope cracks, nodding. Colin turns to Kate with a sly grin.

"That you're in love with my brother."

It was a good thing she wasn't drinking that time, or she'd have to spit her coffee all over them. Although, perhaps a spritz of hot coffee would wipe the amusement off of Colin's face.

Kate feels her cheeks heat. She opens her mouth, but only incomprehensible protesting sounds come out.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Colin says, his smile turning softer. "He loves you too."

"That is not true," Kate insists, standing up straighter in her chair. "I don't love him, and he certainly doesn't love me. Right, Penelope?"

When Kate turns to Penelope, the friend she usually can rely on for back-up is instead chewing her lower lip.

"Well...."

"Pen!"

"I'm sorry, but Kate, Colin's right," Penelope says, the words rushing out guiltily. "I write romance books for a living. I know the enemies to lovers trope very well, and you two embody it."

"That's ridiculous!" Kate exclaims, her heart beginning to hammer in her chest. "We drive each other crazy. I mean, we've become better friends over the past few months—but it's not like that."

Penelope tilts her head. "Would it be so bad if it was?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

A hundred reasons that Kate could never utter go through her mind. She wants to say, "Anthony dates pop singers and models, and I can't live up to that." Or she could confess, "When he looks at me a beat too long, I feel like I could combust from the weight of it." Most of all, Kate wants to say, "If I let myself love him, I know that I'll never be able to stop."

But she can't tell them any of that. Kate had been just fine about the prospect of being alone. She's satisfied with her career, family, and friends. But if she admits that she loves him, then she'll never be content with any life that doesn't include him in it.

No matter what Colin and Penelope think, Anthony doesn't love her. He can't. Letting herself hope that he does is too dangerous. It scares her more than any thunderstorm she's ever endured.

"I have to go," Kate murmurs, standing up numbly from the table.

"Kate, wait," Colin says, grabbing onto her arm. He looks apologetic, and it's impossible to be upset when looking into his puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's fine," Kate insists with a thin smile, tugging her arm away from his grasp. "I got to go. Have a nice evening."

As she walks out of the coffee shop, she hears a cheesy pop tune about love play on their radio.

The lyrics inspire Anthony's face to surface in her mind.

Kate groans, knowing she's in deep trouble.

That night, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in her bed but couldn't stop hearing Anthony's teasing voice in her head.

In a huff, Kate gets out of bed and quickly puts on her clothes. She debates whether to reapply makeup but decides against it. No one else will see her where she was going.

Luckily, she's friends with the security guard, who let her inside the building that turned off the lights twenty minutes prior. She thanks him and hastily goes to her office, turning on the light and booting up the computer at her desk.

If she wasn't going to sleep, she might as well get some work done.

For a while, all that she hears is the sound of her keys as she typed and the soft hum of music she'd put on to work.

She thought she'd be safe listening to music without lyrics. But Anthony creeps into every note, every chord, and every song.

Just as Kate lowers her head to beat it against the table in frustration, a knock on her door causes her body to jolt upright.

She stands from her chair slowly, walking to the door with caution. No one else would be here this late, so she fears what was on the other side of the door. But if someone was there to hurt her, why would they bother knocking on an unlocked door?

When Kate turns the knob, she sees the face of the man who's been haunting her thoughts for the past few hours (longer than that, if she was honest with herself).

"Hey, what are you doing here so late?" Anthony asks.

"Um, working."

Anthony scans her with curiosity. "On a Sunday?"

"So are you," she points out, crossing her arms.

He holds up a black leather journal. "Actually, I just came by the office for my phone book."

"You have a phone book? Anthony, there's a reason for that contact list on your phone."

"I like writing it down," he defends, looking affronted.

"But you can't add emojis, which adds personality to someone's contact." Kate pulls out her phone and holds out the contacts for him to see. "Edwina has two pink hearts, Penelope has a book, Benedict has an easel, and you have a fire emoji."

"Why do I have a fire emoji?"

"Because you make me want to set things on fire, of course."

Anthony smirks. "Well, next time we play that 'who's most likely to' game in the office, I'll be sure to put you down for becoming an arsonist."

Kate smiles at him, and they fall into one of those moments that's becoming more frequent between them—ones where his body seems to close, and his eyes gleam with something she can't name but feels a kindred sensation within her heart.

Kate takes a step back from him. "Why did you need your phone book so late, anyway?"

Anthony itches behind his ear. Kate frowns, as it's a nervous tick she's never seen from him before. Anthony, like fire, was all-consuming. His feelings were as hot as flames and easy to detect. But now, he looks more guarded, his eyebrows scrunched and his posture squirmish.

"Anthony?" she asks again.

Anthony takes a deep breath. "Well, I actually needed it to call you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. My phone hasn't been working since I went out on the boat with Simon. The bloody idiot knocked it onto the water," he grumbles. "I got a new phone and need to add my contacts back on, which is why I'm lucky I have this phone book which you mocked me for having."

Kate rolls her eyes. "What did you need to call me about?"

"Well, I know we had a rocky start to our relationship—."

"Because you hit on my sister?" she asks, arching her brow.

"I did not hit on her. I merely danced with her at the Christmas party," Anthony corrects with an exasperated sigh. "How many times are we going to argue about this?"

"Until you admit I'm right."

"It'll take a long time for that to happen."

"I've got plenty of time to spend with you."

As soon as those words are out, that heat radiating from Anthony's fire feels warmer. It's as if more time with her is exactly what he wants.

But Kate doesn't let those thoughts get far. She squashes them before they can take root in her mind.

"Continue," Kate tells him.

"Yes, well, as I was saying, we didn't start on the right foot. But, over these past few months, I feel like we've become friends." He looks at her with a hesitant kind of hope. "We have, haven't we?"

Kate smiles. "Yes, we have."

"So, I thought as my friend. You'd like to come with me to this."

Anthony draws two tickets from his pocket and holds one out to her. Kate takes it from in, and her eyes widen as she reads what's on the paper.

"The Vitamin String Quartet?"

"I know you listen to them to relax. I saw that they were touring and coming to London, so I thought that—." His words suddenly halt, tilting his head at her curiously. "What?"

Kate blinks in confusion. "What do you mean 'what?'"

Anthony points at her face. "You were looking at me all funny."

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were! You were looking at me like this."

Anthony imitates a soft-looking expression, gazing at her with an affectionate smile. Kate, in horror, realizes she had been looking at him like that.

"Shut up," Kate scoffs, nudging his arm and hoping it distracts from the blush on her face. "Like I'd ever look at you like that."

"If you're going to be mean, I won't give you the ticket."

He reaches over, but she pulls her hand back.

"Fine, I'm sorry," Kate says, looking down at the ticket in awe. "This is really nice of you."

"So, you'll go with me?"

"Of course I will," she nods, beaming in excitement.

Anthony releases a breath. "Good."

He begins to back out of her office, but she steps forward from her desk, grabbing his arm.

"Anthony?"

He turns. "Yes?"

Before she can second guess herself, she leans up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. When she pulls back, it takes a few seconds for his eyes to open, as if he thinks she's a figment of his imagination that will disappear.

"Thank you," Kate whispers.

Anthony nods, giving her a kind smile before leaving her office.

The music on her computer is still playing. Kate hears the gentle notes of a piano, cautious and optimistic-sounding.

The night had been amazing.

The quartet performed beautifully. They played orchestrational versions of pop songs, which makes Kate feel less guilty about listening to them.

She worried when Anthony said he'd never heard any of their music himself, that he wouldn't enjoy it. But when the concert started, she kept stealing glances out of the corner of her eyes. She saw him watching the players with a content expression.

However, the music didn't help her much with her newfound Anthony problem. When she closed her eyes, the violins sang his name. When his hand grazed hers on the armrest of the chair, the music swelled in tandem with her heart.

He was a song she couldn't get out of her head.

And the worst part was, it was a tune she didn't think she'd ever tire of hearing.

They bantered a bit about the weather while waiting for their Uber. Kate claimed the night was perfectly brisk, not enough to warrant a coat. Anthony, however, disagreed. He poked at the goosebumps on her arm as proof and insisted she take his jacket. She eventually relented, letting him drape his jacket over her shoulders.

When he looked away to wave at the car they'd been waiting for, Kate turned her nose to the jacket. She smelt the scent of amber, sandalwood, and something that was discernibly Anthony.

When they get into the back seat of the car, Anthony turns to her. "Can you believe that couple who sat in front of us?"

"I know! They were all over each other the whole night."

"Music is the food of love, but couldn't they have got the meal before the concert?"

"You'd think," Kate huffs, curling her fists further into his sleeves for warmth. She looks back at him, offering a smile. "I had a really nice time."

"I'm glad," Anthony nods. He swallows nervously, forcing himself to meet her eyes. When he does, Kate sees a raw vulnerability glistening in them. "I just wanted to make you happy."

She bumps her shoulder against his. "You do that by just being you."

Kate's words skim a cello string, creating a deep note that lingers in the air. Something flickers in Anthony's expression, his gaze steadying on her. Suddenly, it's harder for Kate to breathe.

"Look at us, acting like that couple," Kate jokes, trying to ease the tension. "The music must be getting to us too."

"Yeah, that's probably it," Anthony hums, moving a fraction closer to her. "Because right now, I feel this urge to put my arm around you."

Anthony gives in to the feeling, putting an arm around her back. Kate's breath hitches as his thumb rubs circles on her arm. Even through the material of Anthony's jacket, his fingertips send electric shocks to her skin.

"And I want to lean my head right here," she finds herself saying, resting her head on top of his shoulder.

"I want to tuck this strand of hair behind your ear.”

Kate feels his fingers skim against his cheek, gently moving a curl that had fallen into her face behind her ear. Her breath quickens, slowly turning her eyes up at him, and the look he's giving her is overwhelming.

"This is all so ridiculously stereotypical. You make me feel so—so..." Kate's words drift, unable to finish her sentence. Her tongue goes out to wet her lips that suddenly feel dry. "I hate it."

Anthony's index finger goes to her chin, tilting it up and off of his shoulder. "Do you hate this?"

He leans forward, kissing her so sweet and tenderly that she knows if she were standing, her foot would pop up like all of those delusionally romantic heroines in movies do when they kiss.

She gets lost in him. Her hands go up to cup his cheek as she deepens the kiss. Anthony's arm moves from her shoulders to her waist, pulling her flush against him. He swallows her gasp, and Kate hears a cacophony of melodies in her mind.

Kate doesn't know how long they stay wrapped in another's arms. It's only when the driver clears his throat that she realizes the car had come to a stop.

They jump apart, and Anthony gives the driver an uncomfortable nod. "Sorry, sir."

"It's alright," he says gruffly and mutters something about "just wait till you have kids, it won't be like this" as they get out of the car.

They stand awkwardly on the street for a few seconds. Kate looks around them. The vivid leaves of the trees stand out amongst the darkness of the night.

Kate remembers when she first met Anthony. It'd been fall, and the trees were bare with leaves littering the ground. It had felt fitting. Back then, her publishing company announced that they were joining one of their competitors. She had to work with Anthony, as they were both the top production editors of the separate companies. Like the leaves, it felt like everything was falling apart. Every smirk or retort of Anthony's felt like the leaves blowing chaotically in the wind.

But now, the trees were alive again, flooding with color. Kate's at the dawn of a new season with Anthony. It's something as inevitable as the change of weather but as everlasting as the stars above them.

No—stars eventually burn out. Kate thinks that whatever is between her and Anthony will continue to burn when all other flames dim.

"So, that happened," Kate says, breaking the silence.

Anthony takes a cautious step towards her. "Yeah, it did."

"I didn't hate it," she shrugs with a teasing tilt of her lips.

"Wow, what great appraisal. Can I list you as a reference for giving me such a raving review?"

"Excuse me, who else are you planning to apply with?"

"No one, I'm quite satisfied with my employment with you," he assures smugly, his hand going up to her cheek. "But, I'd like to have a slight promotion in my position."

Kate leans into his touch. "Oh really, what position do you want to fill?"

"Well, I think I've done everything that I can in the enemy job. I've enjoyed the friend's position. But, if the boyfriend position is available, I'd like to submit my candidacy."

Kate loops her arms around his neck. "Well, how about we check over your application one more time?"

"Where do you want me to start?" Anthony asks, pressing his lips to her temple. "My education?" he murmurs as he kisses her forehead. "My goals?" Kate sighs as his lips move to the corner of her mouth, and his hand curls around her waist. "My experience?" He kisses her again, and Kate feels his smirk against her lips. "Or, my skills?"

Kate pulls back with a smirk of her own. "How about what drew you to this position?"

His eyes gleam roguishly, looking at the lack of space between them. "This particular position?"

Kate tries her best to give him a stern look. "Anthony."

"You," he answers simply, resting his forehead against hers. "Everything about you."

Kate's unable to stop herself, chuckling softly. "Wow, that's incredibly sappy."

"But it's true."

She takes a deep breath, feeling content and peaceful in his arms. "Maybe being sappy isn't such a bad thing."

"No," Anthony agrees, the corner of his lips tilting up as he studies her intently. "I'm starting to think that it's not."

This time when Kate kisses him, she does it without a single reservation about cliches or stereotypes, or how she would roll her eyes if she saw the two of them on the street.

Kate's foot pops, and the song that's been stuck in her head gets set on an infinite loop.

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mskatesharma · 3 years

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don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious | a kate x anthony one shot

written for kate x anthony week | day seven prompt: there’s no i in team

“I cannot believe this. Utterly unacceptable. This is just further proof that clearly I am the only one in this family in possession of a functioning brain.”

“I beg to differ!”

“The current situation would strongly suggest otherwise!” Anthony’s biting rebuttal is followed by a long glare, at which Eloise looks to the ground, muttering under her breath.

“Something else to share, Eloise?” She wisely stays silent instead of objecting further.

Before his eyes turn to her, Kate refocuses her gaze on her leg and where it rests on a cushioned stool in front of her. Her laughter is barely imprisoned, and she knows that if she dares look at her husband - as he paces and fumes, smoke practically visible - she will be unable to contain it any longer. And that, she knows that will just make the whole thing worse.

The whole thing is, in a word, ridiculous.

In which the Bridgertons band together to help Kate escape her bed rest, and Anthony doesn’t have a clue. Until he does.

🐝 read here 🐝

#katexanthonyweek2021 #katexanthonyweek #kathony #anthony x kate #kate x anthony #anthony bridgerton #kate sheffield #kate sharma #bridgerton fanfic #kathony fic #most of the bridgertons make an appearance?#this sort of got away from me im sorry #and also kudos if you make it all the way through lol #my fic #the aesthetic isn't the best but i sorta gave up lol

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kathonyxbee · 3 years

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Wicked Game

Happy Day 6 of Kathony Week! 🐝🌷⛈

I know I've been a little absent the past 3 days, but I had to finish and submit my dissertation. Which I did, yesterday, so I wrote today's fic. I do have an idea for a fic for yesterday's prompt, so I'll probably post that, too when I do it, but I don't think I'll have one for each day.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this smut galore! 💕

Make me. That was how it had started, this wicked game of theirs. With two simple words and a yellow cap.

Day 6: "Make me"

Anthony hid Kate's yellow cap, so when she asks him to tell her where it is, his response is "make me" and Kate does like a challenge.

Or, when Anthony gives Kate a challenge, she decides to torture him and smut ensues.

Anthony let out a heavy sigh and took a sip of his scotch, taking comfort in the familiar sensation amber liquid burning his throat, trying to relax. Not that he really needed to. It was only his family coming to dinner, after all. He took another sip, downing his drink. At least not all of them were coming, but it was enough that Hyacinth and Gregory would be there. Dear Lord.

The door to his study burst open, and he sat up, alarmed, but relaxed upon seeing Kate enter, looking a vision in a yellow gown covered in jewels that sparkled as they caught in the light whenever she moved. And Kate always moved, always in motion. And she always sparkled. She’d clearly been getting ready, her hair pulled into a neat twist, a few curls escaping it, and she hadn’t yet put on her jewelry, save for her engagement and wedding rings which always resided on the fourth finger of her left hand.

Kate had been a ball of stress, of constant fretting and worrying for the past two weeks or so, ever since the two of them invited his family over for dinner. They’d put the event off, first because they wanted to wait until the season was over, then because of the accident and Kate’s leg needing to heal, and then she’d gotten pregnant with Edmund, and then they’d moved into Bridgerton House, and Edmund had been born and the past year had been a whirlwind. But they’d finally decided on a date, and even Kate had to admit that doing this dinner at Bridgerton House was a much better idea than at his bachelor lodgings. So, invitations had been issued, and Kate had been spending the past two weeks fully immersed in the preparations. And, Anthony hadn’t quite anticipated what hell that would be. He was surprised no servants had deserted, but then Kate wasn’t a monster, not like that horrid Araminta Gunningworth. Actually, Kate was always lovely and kind with the servants, who were quite devoted to the new Lady Bridgerton. Suffice to say, the past two weeks had been eventful at Bridgerton House. But, finally, the dinner was happening and Anthony could have his wife back.

His wife.

He smiled at her, and opened his mouth to greet her, but Kate beat him to it, coming to stand in front of his desk.

“Anthony, have you seen my yellow cap?” she burst out, huffing slightly, clearly annoyed. “You know, the one that matches this dress?” she added, giving him a pointed look, one eyebrow raised.

Ah, so that was why she was here. Well, this was certainly going to be interesting because Anthony had absolutely no intention to tell her where it was.

“Well?”

He smiled, “hello, dear.”

“Yes, hi. My cap?”

“I have absolutely no idea where it is,” he lied. “Have you tried asking the servants?”

Kate huffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, “well, of course I asked the servants!” she snapped. “I asked them, first,” she glared, rather pointedly at him, and he leaned back slightly, trying to appear relaxed, but concerned, not to give away the fact that he had the bloody hat. Or, why exactly he’d taken it. “But, then,” she drawled, rounding the desk to sit on it, closer to him, “I thought there is one person in this household I haven’t asked. And, he most certainly knows where my cap might be.” She smiled triumphantly, and he swallowed thickly. Even with the slight distance between them, he was suddenly assaulted by her scent, soap and lilies, leaving him dizzy, intoxicating with the scent of his wife.

“Humboldt?” he offered with a shrug, referring to their butler.

Kate rolled her eyes, “very funny,” she muttered acerbically. “You,” she said simply.

“Me?”

She nodded, “yes. You. You see, dear husband,” she said sweetly, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, “it just occurred to me that you have a rather peculiar dislike for my caps,” she informed him.

“I do?” It sounded like a question.

“Indeed,” she nodded.

“Well, I do find them unnecessary,” he told her, shrugging. “Especially when a woman has such beautiful hair as you,” he told her, reaching to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. Kate rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed with his answer.

“Nice try, sweetheart,” she murmured. “Where is my cap?”

“I have no idea, darling,” he told her, emphasizing the term of endearment a little too much, and she tutted in response.

“Anthony?”

“Yes?”

“We both know you know where it is,” she said, glaring at him pointedly.

“We do?”

“We do,” she nodded emphatically. His shoulders slumped, slightly, causing Kate to grin. “Tell me where it is?”

“No.”

“No?” She arched an eyebrow.

“No,” he nodded.

“Anthony?” she prompted, trailing her fingers along his arm slightly, causing him to stiffen.

“Yes?” he dragged the word out, trying not to succumb to the fact that Kate had quite the effect on him.

“Tell me where my cap is,” she said slowly, enunciating each word, leaning closer to him, so close he was enveloped in her scent, making him dizzy.

“Make me,” he muttered. And, as soon as the word fell from his lips, he regretted it because Kate eyes flashed with something. His wife, after all, did like a challenge. And, Anthony knew, without a doubt, that he was in deep trouble.

“Very well,” Kate pursed her lips slightly, and stood up to lock the door of his study. Anthony swallowed convulsively as she returned to his desk.

Slowly, Kate swung her legs over, so she was sitting more comfortably on his desk, as opposed to just leaning on it, but put some distance between them, designed only to torture him.

“Kate,” he gulped, “what are you doing?”

She grinned, rather wickedly, that gleam in her eyes making him feel rather heated, and then leaned forward, closer to him, but not close enough to touch. “Well, dear husband,” she drawled, “we are going to play a game,” she informed him.

“We are?” he uttered, unable to formulate anything more coherent.

“Oh yes,” she murmured, her voice low and husky, and all Anthony wanted was to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but that was probably not the point of this game of hers. “The rules are very simple. I will try to guess where you’ve put my cap, and every time I’ve guess it right, you can touch me,” she informed him simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Touch you?” he muttered.

“Oh, yes,” she breathed out, and then tugged on the neckline of her dress slightly, revealing a little more of her breasts. Her perfect, perky breasts. Anthony reached for her, intending to help her, but she stopped him, her fingers gripping his wrist. “No touching,” she muttered, leaning closer to him. “Not now,” she smirked.

Oh. Good God.

“Kate, I-” Anthony swallowed thickly, cutting himself off, as Kate’s hands roamed over her breasts, squeezing them slightly, tugging the material of her dress away from them, revealing more of her perfect chest, but not too much, just enough to torture him.

She bit her lip, “so, is it here? At Bridgerton House?” she asked, still working to free her breasts, and Anthony wanted to reach for her, to help her. Up close, he noticed that her dress wasn’t simply a light yellow, but mixed with a light peach and pink fabric that made Kate’s dark skin glow. It was an odd sort of thing to notice, the specific colors of her dress, but there it was.

“I could help you, you know,” he informed her, licking his lips. She hummed, still smirking.

“Oh, yes. That would be lovely. But, first you must tell me if I’m right,” she told him. “That is how it works, dearest husband. You tell me if I’m right, you can help me,” she explained, her lips twitching. Oh. Good Lord, she was good, his wife. She was bloody good. Deviously so. She would win, either way. And, he had already lost. And, he found, that he didn’t particularly mind.

“Yes,” he grunted. “Yes, it’s here. In this house.”

She grinned, her eyes gleaming with glee. “Well, go on, then. Help me, Anthony,” she muttered breathlessly, motioning for him.

He didn’t need to be told twice, and immediately moved closer to her, reaching for her, his hands going to the three small buttons at the back of her dress, slowly undoing them. He didn’t need to see them to know where they were, and he much preferred to be staring at Kate’s bosom as he undid the buttons.

“Good,” she muttered as his hands rested on her shoulders, fingers grasping onto the sleeves of her dress, intending to tug it off, but she stopped him, seizing his wrists. “My turn,” she muttered as he removed his hands from her shoulders, pushing him back into his chair.

And then, she reached for the hem of her dress, her hand going underneath it, and Anthony knew where this was going to lead, what she was about to do, and she was going to use it to torture him. He reached for her again, but she stopped him with her free hand.

She tutted, “that isn’t how the game works, Anthony. I haven’t made my guess, yet.” She smirked, “no touching, or I shall have to tie you to this chair,” she added. He only managed to grunt his assent as Kate let out a small moan.

He didn’t need to see beneath her skirts to know what she was doing. After all, not only did he have a rather vivid imagination, especially when it came to his wife’s body, but he also knew her body, better than his own, even. He knew every inch of skin, ever crevice, her tickle spots as well as her pleasure spots, he knew all of her. And he knew her hand had trailed along her legs until she’d reached her maidenhead, and he imagined her rubbing her fingers against it as she panted slightly. He felt himself getting hard, wanting to get up and sweep her into his arms, lay her on his study desk and have his way with her.

“Is it…” he breath hitched slightly in her throat, “is it in our bedroom?”

He shook his head, and stood up to move closer to her, this time reaching for her corset, his fingers deftly undoing its laces as Kate let out another moan, her movements beneath her skirt becoming quicker. “But, you already knew that, didn’t you?” he whispered into her ear, his lips brushing against her skin, and he felt her shiver slightly.

“Oh, yes,” she murmured, panting slightly. “Is it,” she paused and her free hand ghosted over her breasts once more, rubbing them slightly as he sat back down, “is it in the drawing room?”

He shook his head once more, but didn’t move.

Kate was looking increasingly flushed, her movements more rapid, “is it in the informal drawing room?”

Again, he shook his head.

“The dining room?” she asked, her breath hitching in her throat as she continued to pleasure herself.

“No,” he told her, his own voice husky as he stood up and rounded the table, and slowly began undoing her coiffure.

“Anthony!” she exclaimed, but he ignored her, removing the pins in her hair, letting her curls fall down, slowly, one by one.

“I did help you. Twice,” he whispered into her ear, and because he couldn’t help himself, he nipped slightly on it, teeth grazing it lightly. “And, it’s not in the dining room, either. Or, in Edmund’s room.” He smirked, “two can play at this game, wife. I’ve helped you four times, now.”

Kate gasped, and reached for him, her hand cupping the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair as Anthony removed the last of her pins, her dark curls now falling freely down her shoulders. She stiffened, arching her back slightly, and he could see that she was reaching her pinnacle as her fingers continued to rub against her clit.

“The spare bedrooms?” she asked.

“Wrong again,” he muttered as his hands roamed her breasts, over the material of her dress, rubbing over where her areoles were, causing Kate to let out another moan. She arched her back again, tensing slightly, as he nipped on her ear once more while his hands continued groping her breasts. “I could tell you, you know?” he whispered into her ear.

“You forfeit so easily?” she quipped as she leaned against him slightly, her hands gripping his hair harder.

“You drive a hard bargain, wife,” he remarked. “Besides, I think I should much prefer helping you than playing this game,” he added, smirking slightly.

“I see,” she murmured.

“You do see, don’t you?”

“Well,” she trailed her fingers along his jaw, “where is it?”

“If I tell you,” he muttered, “I want a condition of my own.”

“And, what would that be?” she whispered as his hands trailed down to rest on her waist, and he could practically see the smug smirk she wore.

“I get to have my way with you,” he said simply, his voice a low, husky whisper. “On this desk,” he added, his voice hoarse.

“Well, I do like the sound of that,” she murmured, smirking slightly.

He merely hummed and pushed her dress down until it pooled on the floor before undoing the rest of the laces of his wife’s corset. And then, he picked her up and gently set her onto his desk, sweeping his things off in the process, but he could care less as he took in the sight of Kate lying on his desk, her curls a halo around her head, her skin flushed, her eyes dark with lust as he removed his tailcoat and cravat.

“So, where is it?” she whispered as she sat up slightly, helping him remove his waistcoat and shirt, her hands roaming all over his torso.

“Where is what, dear wife?” he asked, furrowing his brow slightly.

“The cap!” she huffed.

“Ah,” he sighed. “I’m not going to simply tell you. Where is the fun in that?” he quipped, and Kate glared at him as he positioned himself over her, ready to pounce. “You’re going to have to make me,” he told her, smirking deviously.

“What?” she gasped as her hands wound around his neck, fingers gripping onto his hair, tugging on it.

“Make me,” he muttered against her lips, the scent of soap and lilies enveloping him once more.

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

Make me. That was how it had started, this wicked game of theirs. With two simple words and a yellow cap.

Kate had never considered herself a wicked woman, had never considered that what happened between a married couple was for any purpose other than making children. But, Anthony Bridgerton had changed all that. He’d taught her that it was as much about her pleasure as his, he’d taught her how to pleasure herself, he’d taught her how to be adventurous and, yes, wicked. After all, her husband used to be the biggest Rake of them all. Of course, he was now anything but dangerous and rakish, but the two of them did enjoy the occasional bedroom adventure. He’d made her wicked, only for him, of course, and she found that she did not mind. She rather liked it, actually. After all, she was the one who had come up with their little wicked game, pleasuring herself in front of him until he’d given in.

“Make me,” he repeated, breathlessly, against her lips. Kate smirked. Anthony’s brow furrowed.

Slowly, she tilted her head and pressed her lips against the crease that had formed between his eyebrows, a barely-there kiss, her lips merely ghosting over the spot before she cupped his cheeks, and captured his lips with her own as her legs wrapped around his waist, and she felt him move between her legs, rocking slightly.

Her lips moved slowly against his, but Anthony soon deepened the kiss as his hands roamed her body, fingers trailing along her sides before cupping her breasts, rubbing over her nipples. Kate didn’t shy from responding to his movements, her own hands roaming all over his body, fingers trailing along his back as her lips became more urging, more demanding against his.

Anthony briefly broke the kiss, and pulled back slightly, his nose rubbing against hers. “Kate…” he gasped, “I don’t think- I can’t wait, Kate, I-”

“Me neither,” she murmured against his lips. “I want you, Anthony. I want you now.”

That was all he needed to thrust into her, and he shifted them both around slightly, accommodating himself, and allowing her to be comfortable. She always was, her husband fitting perfectly inside her. The two of them fit, just right, as if they’d been made for each other, perfectly in sync. Slowly, he began thrusting into her, and she ground her hips against his, matching his movements.

“You feel so good,” he muttered. “So damn good, Kate…”

“Mm… Anthony,” she moaned as her fingers dug into his skin slightly. She needed him, needed him like she needed air. “Faster, Anthony,” she urged him, breathlessly, and he picked up pace, his thrusts becoming more rhythmic as their lips crashed once more, molding perfectly with each other, tongues tangled together. “Oh, Anthony…” she sighed against his lips as he broke the kiss.

“Kate…” he gasped before his lips brushed against her jaw, pressing a kiss there. And then, another one. And another one.

“Oh, Anthony…” she moaned, breathless and panting as he trailed kisses along her jaw before moving to her neck, his lips brushing against it, pressing kisses down the slope of her neck until he reached her collarbone and he settled on a spot, biting on it. He nipped, he sucked, she moaned, she whimpered.

His hands didn’t stop moving either, continuing their ministrations on her breasts, rubbing her nipples, squeezing her breasts slightly, earning another moan from her, her grip on his hair tightening, her hips continuing to grind against his, matching his thrusts. They were completely in sync, their bodies completely familiar to the other. It was like they knew what the other was thinking, what the other needed. I burn for you. I desire you. I want you. It’s never been so good… Only you.

He kissed, he licked, she sighed, she groaned.

Her hands were in his hair, tugging on it, fingers threading through it before drifting down, hands roaming over his back, nails digging into his skin. His hands were cupping her breasts, rubbing her nipples, making her moan and whimper, and God, his ministrations on her breasts made her weak, dizzy with pleasure.

It’s fast and urgent and filled with need, and slow and loving all at once, each touch filled with a thousand affirmations, a thousand unsaid I love you’s, a thousand whispers of need.

One of his hands removed from her breasts, and he reached for hers, his fingers tangling with hers as he pressed it against the desk, as his thrusts became faster and faster, more urgent, and she knew he was close and so was she, and she didn’t mind.

Their lips connected briefly, another passionate and demanding kiss, all teeth and tongue, and she was sure her lips were going to be swollen afterwards, but she didn’t care. In this moment, with her husband, copulating on his study desk, she didn’t care.

He broke the kiss once more, “I’m so close… Kate… are you?”

She moaned, “so close, Anthony… I-”

He cut her off with another searing kiss, and his palm pressed harder against hers, his fingers tightening through hers, and she felt herself tightening, too. Anthony pulled away from her again, breaking the kiss, though his lips remained mere inches from hers. She bumped her nose against his and arched her back as he thrust again, harder this time, and she felt herself reach pinnacle, moaning his name as she held onto him. Then, he went utterly still and let out a loud groan before collapsing onto her, and she felt herself relax, too, slumping beneath him.

He rolled off her slightly, but still wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer.

“You are so perfect,” he muttered, breathlessly, and she blushed. He pressed his lips to her temple. “You.” Kiss. “Are.” Another kiss. “So.” Another kiss. “Bloody.” Kiss. “Perfect.”

She reached for him, cupping his cheek, tugging him towards her so she could look at him, and their gazes met once more.

“So are you. We fit perfectly, dear husband,” she murmured, her lips curving into a soft smile. “I know I have been a little crazy the past few weeks with the family dinner and all,” she admitted, biting her lip slightly.

“I know,” he nodded. “But, you have nothing to worry about, Lady Bridgerton,” he told her, pressing his lips to her forehead, and she relaxed in his arms. “You are the perfect viscountess, Kate. The right viscountess. For me. And, my family knows that. You have nothing to worry about,” he added.

She smiled, “thank you. I love you, Anthony.”

“I love you, too,” he told her, his voice firm, certain. His brow creased again, slightly, and she brushed her finger against it, smoothing it.

“Is everything okay?” she asked softly because he only got that crease when something wasn’t okay, when he was worried, or concerned, or angry, or anything but content.

“Yes,” he nodded, his lips curving into a smile. “But, we should probably go and finish getting ready. We do not want to be late, do we, Lady Bridgerton?”

She grinned, “of course,” she muttered before she lifted her head slightly and brushed her lips against his forehead, right where that crease formed. “Now, quit worrying, Lord Bridgerton,” she added as he stood up and pulled up his breeches, buttoning them before grabbing his discarded shirt and waistcoat.

They helped each other get ready, Anthony lacing her corset as she tied his cravat before he helped button her dress as well.

“I should go upstairs and attempt to salvage my hair,” she sighed once they were both ready.

“You do have time,” he told her, checking his watch.

“Anthony?” she prompted, because she hadn’t forgotten why exactly she’d come to his study.

“Yes?”

“Give me my cap, please,” she gave him a pointed look.

Anthony sighed and opened one of the drawers of her desk, revealing the yellow cap.

“Don’t wear it,” he said softly as he handed it to her. “And, don’t put your hair up.”

Her brow furrowed in confusion, “why?”

He came to stand closer to her and gently played with her hair, running his fingers through her curls. “Because your hair is beautiful, and I don’t want you to hide it. Especially here,” he said, his voice husky.

Kate’s lips curved into a delighted smile. “Very well,” she murmured with a sigh.

She did, indeed, pull it into a half-up twist, choosing to use one of her flower pins to adorn it, and when she caught her husband’s gaze, he gave her an appreciative smile. And, she couldn’t help but wink at him.

#katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek2021 #kate sheffield x anthony bridgerton #kate sharma x anthony bridgerton #kathony #smut #fanfiction #Bridgerton

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starhallows · 3 years

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What To Call You

Five things Anthony Bridgeton calls Kate Sharma during their lives, and one thing that Kate calls him.

Could be a companion fic to Ring Out The Bells (just change the surname), but there's no need to read that one to understand this one.

Kate and Anthony week, DAY 2: Lovey Dovey

A Menace.

He hadn't even known her for a month and the menace that was Katharine Sharma had already caused him more grievance than any other woman he had ever met. Anthony was only partly willing to admit that might be a slight exaggeration. A small one. No. She WAS a menace. The previous night she had stepped on him more than any man would deem bearable. His poor valet was still trying to reverse the concavity she had caused where his big toe had been, and she had had the audacity to tell him he needed thicker boots.

If forced, he would admit that he hadn't made the best impression on the only person that stood in the way of his plans – why Edwina needed her sister's approval to marry anyone was still a mystery to him. And for what? For the approval of a stubborn girl that would quickly fade into the periphery of Anthony’s life once she either left London to become a spinster or married an unlucky fool. Better the latter, since the former gave her ample time to become bored of her simple life and ended up visiting them. No, better Anthony ensured that the absolute menace that was Katharine Sharma got married sooner rather than later.

Then, THEN, she had indirectly made him step into the bloody river. His boots were positively ruined and he had had to spend forever in the hot bathtub just to have a chance of beating the chills. No amount of brandy would warm his bones after the entire ordeal and he had asked his servants to bring out the winter blankets from wherever they kept them. If he felt even minimally sick come morning he would subtly trip her the next time they were close enough.

She was a terrible, horrible, utter menace to society.

So why on God’s good earth had she visited him in his dreams?

His friend.

There was a curious phenomenon that had somehow occurred in Anthony’s life without him truly realising: Katharine Sharma was his friend. Anthony couldn’t really point the exact time nor the place, but, somehow, past the lust, and the desire that he could usually keep under control, there was this gentle fondness for her.

She was smart and witty, and her eyes danced around from one person to the other before murmuring whatever barb had come to her mind. He could see her doing exactly that as she whispered something to Miss Featherington on the other side of the room. Whatever Penelope had murmured in return had made Kate’s eyes widen and she had barely recovered before her jaw had hit the floor.

Whenever she forgot about the ton or their expectations, that is when Anthony enjoyed her company the most. Those times when she would throw her head back and freed her boisterous laugh. When some rebellious, silky tresses of hair inevitably fell out of whatever style her maids pinned it to and softly tickled the skin of her delicate neck. Those moments when she closed her eyes and looked up to the sky and the shine in her smile would rival the sun. Uninhibited, unbothered and truly happy.

She was absolutely terrible at hiding her facial expressions, so, just like at that moment, the back of her hand was often softly pressed against her pursing lips. Those damned lips that had once felt tendre like velvet under his. She had the horrible habit of nibbling on them every few minutes, overworking the little vessels that provided the blood to fight against the aggression, and hence, turning them the colour of the most delectable of cherries. His thumb longed for the chance to untuck her lips from their prison every time her teeth captured them. He had seen the way she would run a glass of lemonade against them whenever her corner of the ballroom got particularly boring, and how her wicked tongue swept along the smooth skin if the smallest of droplets fell out of place.

Anthony pulled on his cravat and looked away. His friend. Kate. Kate, his friend. His friend, Kate.

Darling

The moniker had fallen out of him before he had realised. Not that it mattered, not really. They were, after all, officially engaged since the announcement had been printed in the Times. It was expected. He was even sure his mother would have encouraged he chose a sweet name for her sooner rather than later.

Kate, darling.

It flowed out of his lips like water on a stream on a fresh spring morning. It was familiar, it was caring, it was sweet. So why wasn’t it right?

It had been the one they had both agreed upon when Kate hadn’t seem to really like the idea of him calling her sweetheart, and come hell or high water he refused to call her dearest. Darling was a wonderful word for one to call one’s fiancée when out in public.

So why wasn’t it right?

Which one was the word he kept searching for but would elude his incessant hunt? Most importantly, why couldn’t Anthony just let it go?

Darling was a splendid word, a nurturing word, a dotting word, gentle and compassionate. Darling was precisely what he needed to call Kate when they were in polite company.

So why didn’t it feel like enough?

Kate

When Anthony had Kate for himself or when they were in the company of those he cared about the most he called her by her given name. None of the silly words used by the world ever feel right, so instead of settling for something that would always feel insufficient, Anthony called her Kate.

It was Kate when she walked in his arm through Hyde Park with Newton’s leash entwined around both their forearms and the round dog happily trotting between them. They stroll along the Serpentine - without incident - one sunny Tuesday afternoon after Anthony had rushed to the house in Milner street after a taxing session in Parliament. It was the highlight of Anthony’s week.

It was Kate when he whispered sweet nothings in the gardens in Bridgerton House after she tugged him away from the parlour before their guests arrived. He wasn’t truly sure what would happen if one of their mothers found them tangled like they were - again - but after the twists and turns of the road that has been paved for them, Anthony doesn’t care.

It was Kate the first time he took her to their house, to their room, and to their bed. When her fingers pulled on his hair and her teeth scraped along his jaw. When she pushed him against the mattress and his hands sparked to life as they grabbed the flesh of her thighs. When the heat became too much even if there was no cloth or fabric to cover them. When the goosebumps on their flesh had nothing to do with the chill of the night. When her eyes sparkled like a million stars in the candlelight room, and he worshipped at her altar between gasps and giggles.

When the thrill of the moment was long gone, and they chuckled into the other’s lips.

It was always Kate

Love

It didn’t even register the first time it happened, Kate just looked down at her book with a beaming smile and he frowned in confusion. He had moved a desk into their room so he could stay close while she recovered. Truly, it would be foolish to work on the other side of their home when it would take ages for her to reach him if she needed anything.

His wife, however, had never been known for her neverending patience or ability to stay still and had been fidgeting in her spot in their bed. When Anthony dropped his papers on his desk for the second time in less than ten minutes, he knew he would have to make a more convincing threat.

“Kate, love, I will tie you to the bed”.

The blinding smile she gave him in return made his heart skip a beat. He turned back to his work and let a low chuckle out as he shook his head. The sun shone on his left hand as he reached for one of the papers, and it dawned on him.

Love.

Any other word would only ever be inadequate, insufficient. He could read a thousand dictionaries from cover to cover and never find a term to call her, more fitting than the one used for the feeling itself. There was no other way to call her.

Shakespeare had wondered what was in a name and Anthony was quite sure that the bard had never found the proper one. Because he had looked high and low trying to find the perfect sweet name to call Kate, and now that he found it he was never letting it go.

“Love?”

“Yes?” she said.

He gave her a little smile as he stood from his desk and made his way to her, “Could you read aloud for me?”

Dear

There was only one word that could make Anthony Bridgerton feel complete terror, and his wife was aware of it. A grown man in his forties, he was never more afraid than when Kate called him dear.

He hated the word.

It usually meant he had done something horribly wrong and he never knew what it was.

He would usually figure it out in a day or two, find a way to right the wrong in a few hours and they would be back to normal in a week, at most. It was different this time, however, and no matter how many lists he wrote or how many people he asked Anthony was clueless.

All his usual tactics had failed him: the flowers he had woken up early to buy for her been abandoned in a vase in the parlour, without a sniff; the box with her favourite sweets had been left in the drawing-room for the boys to wolf down; and when he had tried to show her just how sorry he was for whatever he had done that morning, she had jumped away from him faster than she had in the fifteen years that he had known her.

She opened the door to his study and let made sure it slammed against the wall as she walked in, calendar in hand.

“Well, dear,” she told him with a glare, “my courses are late for the second month”.

Anthony knew that the grin that overtook his face would earn him the moniker for the next entire week, but he cared very little as he jumped around his desk and twirled her in his arms like that time she had nervously walked into his study and told him she was pregnant for the first time.

“I hope we have another girl,” he said, and she punched him in the shoulder.

#kateandanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #bridgerton netflix #kate sharma #kate sheffield #anthony bridgerton #katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek21 #kathony #anthony bridgerton x kate sheffield #anthony x kate #anthony bridgerton x kate sharma #DAY 2

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irishseeeker · 3 years

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Prompt: Day 1, Jealousy and all its cousins @katexanthonyweek

Kate Bridgerton was definitely not jealous.

(She was.)

rating: mature!

---

Kate tried really not to dislike people.

That did not mean she was always successful but she truly did try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

It became an exceedingly hard task when certain people made it incredibly difficult for Kate to like them. Especially before she knew them.

For example, the woman across the room who was standing far too close to her husband, openly flirting with him.

That was hard to like.

Kate was not a fool, she noticed how women behaved around Anthony. She could accept women would always be attracted to Anthony. He had been a notorious rake for a reason, after all. It made no difference to their marriage, Anthony was hers. Whenever he was in a room, the female gaze naturally drew to him.

She could not blame them. Her charming husband, who would kill her if he ever heard her say this, was beautiful.

He was incredibly handsome but there was so much more. There was no better feeling than being wrapped up in his broad shoulders and muscular arms. He had long, dark eyelashes every woman dreamed of. He had a strong jawline that she loved to kiss and trace with her fingertips when they lay in bed. He had a head full of dark hair that she loved to run her fingers through, unlike some men his age who were already bald.

Kate herself could barely keep her eyes off of him and she got to see him everyday, especially when no one else did. She got to see him when he first woke up in the morning, completely content with his tousled hair and half awake eyes. She had the privilege of seeing him with his shirt slightly unbuttoned, his cravat loose and best of all-with nothing on at all.

It was a challenge sometimes in public not to touch him, especially at balls and parties when he was dressed so well. She usually kept her hands occupied with a drink or an appetizer.

Anthony usually subtly touched her anyway, always improperly, to tease her or just because he wanted to.

(Even when she blushes and scolds him for it, they both know she loves it.)

However, she could not accept women who stepped a bit too far. From across the room, a woman was talking to Anthony. She was leaning towards him, taking subtle steps towards him and creating an improper distance between them. The woman was petite, blonde and her skin glowed in the dimmed lighting of the ballroom. She was beautiful.

She also had her hand on Anthony’s forearm.

Kate did not like this feeling. This bitter, bubbling anger in the pit of her chest as she watched Anthony across the room.

She was not jealous.

(She was.)

Technically, that was also Kate’s forearm. She had married that forearm just under a year ago.

They would be celebrating their one year anniversary, hosting their first ball as Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton in Aubrey Hall next week. The ball would mark the end of the season, and Anthony and Kate were staying in Aubrey Hall for the rest of the summer before returning to London.

Kate was incredibly nervous.

She still felt at odds with her role as Viscountess. Her broken leg had put a stop to her social calendar after only a month of marriage, and she had not been able to carry out many of her roles as Viscountess.

It had taken a few months for her leg to heal. Kate could finally walk again, without the need for her stick or Anthony’s arm. Anthony had objected to their vigorous social calendar since the season had started but Kate was determined to attend as many balls as they could. Anthony, of course, was always by her side.

She was trying to do exactly as Violet Bridgerton would. Her days were now filled with parties, balls and social calls. Her first ball as Viscountess would be perfect.

It had to be.

She could not bear to think of the possibility of disappointing Violet and Anthony. There was a nagging feeling deep inside her, that society had been right to question why Anthony Bridgerton had chosen Kate Sharma to be his viscountess. The whispers that she was not fit for the role.

She was determined for those whispers not to be right.

Kate knew how lucky she was to have Anthony. Her marriage was wonderful, something she never would have dreamed of for herself. They loved each other to the point it was almost nauseating, as Eloise and Colin enjoyed to remind them, but they were also friends.

Anthony was her best friend.

Oh, she truly was nauseating.

The woman currently talking to her husband was making it exceedingly hard for Kate to concentrate on anything but them. Anthony had been talking to this mystery woman for just over three dances, when Kate had left him to dance with Benedict. This woman was now laughing at something Anthony said, her blonde curls bouncing in the air as her head tilted back.

What was so funny?

Kate loved her husband to death but he was not that funny.

“You cannot keep dancing with me to avoid dancing with other eligible ladies,” Kate teased Benedict, deciding to focus on her brother in law who was waltzing with her for the third time that evening.

“Can I not enjoy the company of my sister and not have any ulterior motives?” Benedict’s grin was wide across his face as he spun Kate around, narrowly avoiding her clumsy feet. She was a challenged dancer on her best days but when she was distracted by her husband across the room, it was every dancer for themself.

She glanced across the room again and now Anthony was laughing. Why was he laughing? She hoped it was a pitiful laugh.

“I thought I was doing you a favor by asking you to dance for a second and third time,” Benedict said, “I was distracting you from glancing over at my dear brother every few seconds.”

“I was not glancing. I was simply observing the room,” Kate said, but even Kate did not believe herself. She was blatantly staring at her husband. “Besides, we both know you are dancing with me to avoid dancing with one of the eligible ladies your mother is trying to marry you off to.”

“I believe three dances is all we have, so in a few moments I will have to venture back into the wild and attempt to avoid my mother for the rest of the evening,” He said, “However, I have been waiting for you to ask me who he is conversing with since the last dance. I thought you would give in five minutes ago”

“The thought had not crossed my mind.” Anthony had told her previously what a terrible liar she was. She previously thought it was because he knew her so well that she was incapable of lying to him, but she really was quite dreadful at it.

“Your face says otherwise.” Benedict glanced down at their feet before his teasing gaze returned to Kate’s face. “You have stepped on my feet at least four times while staring over there.”

A pang of guilt hit her. She was being rather rude. It was Benedict, so she knew he was not actually offended. Kate had gotten to know him quite well since her marriage. He joined them for dinner quite often, and spent a lot of time with Anthony at Whites or at their home. “You know, this is precisely why Gregory and Colin are my favourite brothers. They would never point out my flaws.”

Benedict chuckled. “Oh, how you wound me.”

Kate could not help herself. She had to know. “Who is that woman?”

Thankfully, Benedict chose not to tease and indulged her curiosity. “Her name is Eleanor Trent, previously Falmouth. My father and her, the Earl of Falmouth, attended Oxford together. They were friends until his death.”

Kate’s face fell. “She was a family friend?”

“Yes. She has brothers around the same age as Colin, Anthony and I. I know there were discussions of a betrothal, between Anthony and Eleanor. Nothing came of it, father died and Anthony would not discuss it further. He focused on the family and Oxford.” Benedict was not shy with the details, which Kate was equally grateful and upset about.

Kate’s stomach suddenly felt nauseous. Had something happened between them when they were young? Had Anthony courted her before his father’s death? Eleanor was the perfect candidate for a Viscountess. The daughter of an Earl, a family friend, a regular part of London society. “I imagine your mother was displeased.”

Kate loved her mother in law. Violet Bridgerton had been nothing but kind to Kate from the moment they met. She had been even kinder before their wedding, despite the circumstances that caused their nuptials.

They shared a lot in common, their love for gardening for one and met for tea multiple times a week, but Kate had always feared she was not the wife she had envisioned for her son. The same fear that had made itself known to Kate before her wedding remained inside of her: she feared Violet believed Kate had trapped her son.

The woman had witnessed her son’s face in Kate’s bosom, for heaven’s sake.

Benedict did not deny it. “Mother was furious when Anthony still refused three years later after he finished his studies. Eleanor later got married that season to a Baron and that was that. It took our mother a long time to learn that Anthony only does what Anthony wants to do.”

The music ceased and the dance ended, all the participants clapping before departing the dance floor. Benedict and Kate moved to the edge of the dancefloor, weaving through the crowds towards the refreshments table. Kate had been dancing for quite some time and she was quite thirsty. She wanted to find Anthony, but when she turned to look for him he had disappeared.

So had the woman.

Her heart sank in her chest.

“Brother, I believe that is enough dancing with my wife for one evening.”

Kate turned around to see her husband standing in front of her. She had regained her ability to breathe and realized how silly she was being. He smiled at her and she felt her insides melt.

It was ridiculous really, how this man’s smile always made her giddy.

She wanted to fall against his chest and bury her face in his neck, but instead she moved to his side and wrapped her arm around his. That was as affectionate as society would allow. Anthony covered his hand with hers, squeezing it briefly. It was a promise for later.

“Thank you,” She said, smiling as she took the glass in his hand and took a long sip, the dryness of her mouth disappearing. Her husband had developed a sense of always knowing what Kate needed. He had rarely left her side during her bed ridden months with her broken leg and they had spent a lot of time together.

Kate wondered if they could leave soon. She wanted the privacy to ask Anthony about that woman earlier, she could not remember him ever mentioning an Eleanor when recounting his childhood tales.

“Jealous, brother?” Benedict teased, grinning at Anthony as he took a sip of his wine. “I was always the better dancer. Kate simply wanted a better partner.”

Kate let out a long sigh, her eyes flicking between the two brothers. “Now, boys-”

“Kate took pity on you and indulged your attempts at hiding from our mother’s matchmaking endeavours.” Anthony narrowed his eyes at his brother, his competitive edge seeping out. Her dear husband did enjoy being the best at everything and disputed anyone who thought otherwise. “My waltz trounces your waltz any day.”

At the mention of his mother, Benedict scanned the room around them before visibly relaxing, his shoulders dropping. “It is a nuisance. Mother had cornered me at every ball so far this season, introducing me to potential marriage candidates. Colin had his wits about him to travel as far as Greece to get away from her.”

“You should consider looking for a wife,” Anthony said, scanning the crowded room for their mother. “I presume mother is hassling Eloise.”

“Not you too,” Benedict replied, glaring at his brother. “I am perfectly capable of finding my own wife, thank you. She simply is not here.”

Anthony, now bored of his brother, turned to his wife with a teasing smile. “How many times did you step on his toes?”

It was Kate’s turn to glare at her husband. “None, thank you very much.”

Benedict decided to join in on his brother’s teasing, glad for the change in topic. “Lying is a sin, Kate.”

“Oh, Violet!” Kate said, looking over Benedict’s shoulder.

Benedict jumped and darted to the side, causing Anthony and Kate to burst out laughing, muffling their laughter into their sleeves once other party goers began to stare.

Benedict glared at the pair of them once he realized his mother was nowhere to be seen. “Very funny. Your ball at Aubrey Hall is only next week. Maybe I shall take a page out of your book and compromise some young lady in the garden?”

That wiped the smug smirk right off Anthony’s face.

Kate had to disguise her snort with a cough into her glove.

Before he could retort, Anthony’s eyes froze at something across the room. “Who is that man Eloise is speaking to? Alone?”

Kate and Benedict’s heads turned in the direction Anthony was glaring in. The man’s head was all they could see, Eloise hands waving in the air as she spoke passionately about something.

“I will be right back,” Anthony squeezed her hand before he charged in the direction of his young sister.

“Benedict!” The distinct voice of Violet Bridgerton came from an unknown direction, but it was enough for Benedict to say a quick apology to Kate before disappearing into the crowd.

Kate found herself alone at the refreshment’s table.

“Lady Bridgerton?”

Kate finished swallowing the biscuit she had put in her mouth, trying not to choke before she turned around to see who had addressed her. Kate held in her gasp, eyes widening as she looked at the woman in front of her.

It was her.

She bowed, and Kate did the same. “It is such a pleasure to meet you, I hoped we would be introduced sooner. I have heard so much about you.”

Kate felt herself blush. This woman was assuming she knew who she was. “Apologies, I do not believe we have met.”

“Oh! Forgive me,” She said, shaking her head and laughing to herself. “I would have thought Anthony would have mentioned me. I have known Anthony and the Bridgertons my entire life. I am Lady Eleanor Trent. It is such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Apparently, she was on a first name basis with her husband.

Kate smiled pleasantly, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “How lovely to meet you, Lady Trent.”

“I am very much looking forward to your ball in Aubrey Hall.”

Kate did not know she was invited. Violet had handled the guest list. “I am very happy to hear that.”

“I have not been there in quite some time. We used to visit Aubrey Hall a few times a year throughout my childhood. It was like a second home. I adore it. Have you been yet?”

Kate blinked slowly at her odd question. “Have I been to my home? Yes.

For some reason, Lady Trent was not phased by Kate’s blunt response whatsoever. “I have been more times than I could count. I have known the Bridgertons my entire life, as I am sure you know. That is quite funny, I have known your husband longer than you.”

Kate tried to unclench her jaw, breathing steadily through her nose. “I did not, actually.”

“Oh, how odd.” Her laugh was almost a shriek. “I was practically a Bridgerton until my marriage.”

Kate was not being dramatic, that was a peculiar thing to say. Benedict had not conveyed it that way at all.

Lady Trent continued to speak. Kate wished she wouldn't. “Was your father an Earl? A Duke? A Viscount?”

What did that have to do with anything? Kate's heart sped up at the mention of her father. “No. My father was a gentlemen. What does that have to do with anything?"

“Oh.” Lady Trent was not subtle with her disdain. “How interesting. Forgive my curiosity. One would think that must have made the transition quite difficult.”

Kate blinked. “Pardon?”

Lady Eleanor took a small sip of her wine, nodding sympathetically. “It must be difficult coming into such an important role as a Viscountess at such a young age. Especially when one is marrying a man like Anthony.”

This woman had no clue what type of man her husband was.

“I know this from experience, of course. I would be terrified if I came into the role of Viscountess with no experience,” Eleanor smiled sweetly at Kate, her voice dripping with everything but kindness. Her not so subtle dig made Kate’s blood boil.

“Oh!” She let out a cheerful laugh. “I am sure you are doing a fine job, Lady Bridgerton.”

Kate was nearly positive she had been insulted at least twice in this bizarre conversation.

If one thing was certain, it was that Kate did not like this woman at all.

She particularly did not like how she had been looking at her husband but her personality was just as unpleasant.

Kate was debating how significant the consequences would be if she launched her wine at Eleanor’s pink evening dress. She could stumble, blame it on her healed leg. It would be worth the earful she would get from Anthony, who still believed her leg had not fully healed and Kate should still be bedridden.

Kate didn’t cause scenes intentionally, she had been in the background for most of her life.

It definitely was not something a Viscountess would do, to cause such a scene, so she resisted.

Instead, she finished her glass in a few gulps. Kate replaced it with a glass from one of the server’s trays quite quickly as she composed herself.

“Thank you so much for your concern.” Kate matched the falseness of her tone, her smile stretched far too wide across her face to be genuine. “It has been a splendid year. I suppose, experience or not, some people are just born for certain roles.”

Eleanor appeared as if she was at a loss for words. She simply nodded, her smile wrinkling the skin on her forehead. “I could not agree more, Lady Bridgerton.”

“I must go find my husband. It was such a pleasure to meet you, Lady Trent. I look forward to seeing you at our ball next week.” Kate certainly was not. “Good evening, Lady Trent.”

Kate found Anthony in the crowd, he had also been searching for her. He took her arm in his, squeezing it softly. That was their signal it was time to go home. They kissed and bid their family goodnight, making their way towards the front of the house to get their carriage.

Anthony nodded at the valet and opened their carriage door, making way for Kate to step in before closing it behind them.

“I am exhausted,” She said, pulling a few pins out of her hair that had been digging into her scalp all evening. Relief flooded her head as she gently massaged her sensitive scalp. She couldn’t wait to take off her corset and go to bed.

Kate knew she would not be able to sleep until she spoke to Anthony about both of their conversations with Lady Trent. Her interaction with Lady Trent had left Kate feeling uneasy.

“Come here.” Anthony pulled her on top of him, her back resting on the carriage wall and her feet resting on the cushioned seat.

“There is a seat right beside you.” Kate laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and lightly running her fingers through his hair.

“I prefer you on top of me.” Anthony moved his hands down to lightly squeeze her buttocks.

“I thought you liked being on top?” If he wanted to tease, Kate could tease him right back.

Anthony laughed, nuzzling her neck and leaving a trail of kisses from her collarbone all the way to her lips. “Right as always, Lady Bridgerton.”

“Did you have a good evening? I did not see you much,” She murmured against his lips. She could tell, with his fingers already creeping up her thigh, that talking was the last thing on her husband’s mind.

She would have to be quick if she wished to find out anything. The carriage ride home to Bridgeton House was less than fifteen minutes and he would not waste one of them before they had to stop.

They would not get caught in a carriage.

Again.

Once they arrived home, they wouldn’t do any talking once they got to their bed chamber.

She had enough willpower to focus on the task at hand and not let her husband completely distract her.

Right?

She needed to find out about his conversation with Eleanor.

His lips brushed hers before he spoke. “It was fine. A ball is a ball. I would have much preferred to stay home with you or at least sneak off to the gardens. Why did we not do that?”

Kate let out a laugh, her fingers tightening around his strands of hair as his lips moved down across her jaw. “How many gardens do you wish to compromise me in?”

“All of them,” Anthony said, his lips tickling the skin of her jaw as his laughter vibrated against her.

“Did you speak to anyone interesting?”

“Mm?” His teeth tugged at the top of her bodice, his tongue dipping behind the satin fabric.

“Anthony.” Her voice shook slightly as she spoke, his tongue was eliciting tingles throughout her chest and between her legs. “I said, did you speak to anyone interesting? Anyone you have not seen in a while?”

She would power through. “I met someone new, actually. Lady Eleanor.”

Anthony hummed in agreement against her skin, “Oh. Yes.”

“Benedict mentioned you have known her since you were children.”

“Indeed.” His face remained expressionless. He wasn’t listening to her. He was far too interested in pulling her dress down, which he did promptly.

Kate had lost the battle, and Anthony had won the war. He palmed her breasts in his hands, squeezing them softly as he pulled her in for a deep kiss. She could feel him hard against her thigh, and she reached down to palm him through the fabric of his breeches. His groan filled her ears and made her limbs weak.

“Oh,” She whispered, her lips parting as Anthony began to kiss his way down her neck, down her chest until his tongue grazed her nipple. He teased her momentarily before taking her fully in his mouth.

The carriage came to a halt and Kate hastily pulled up her dress, smoothening her dress and hair to fix her disheveled appearance. This was not their first indecent carriage ride. Anthony helped Kate out of the carriage, not letting go of her hand as they raced up the steps and entered the foyer, wasting no time running up the stairs.

If she did not keep up with Anthony, he would carry her up the flights of stairs to their bedroom.

Anthony dismissed her maid, fully intending on undressing his wife himself.

There wasn’t any talking for the rest of the night.

Kate’s morning had started off pleasant.

The following morning, Kate and Newton had joined Eloise and Penelope for a walk in the park. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the cool breeze was refreshing. They joined Kate at Bridgerton House afterwards for some lemonade, before leaving to return home.

She had called on Daphne for the remainder of the afternoon and on her way home, her carriage had stopped at Madame Delacroix’s modiste for one last fitting before the ball.

“Lady Bridgerton!”

Kate had finished her fittings and was waiting on one of her gown’s to be packaged. The last person she had wanted to see had walked into the modiste. “Lady Trent. How lovely to see you.”

She smiled widely at Kate, it was unnerving. “How are the ball preparations going?”

“Very well, thank you.” Kate had always found small talk with strangers quite uncomfortable. Kate could not find the words to describe how she was feeling in this current situation. She had not found the opportunity to discuss the evening with Anthony last night and he had left early this morning for Parliament. She would not see him until she arrived home.

“How nice,” She replied, nodding her head slowly. It reminded Kate of one of Hyacinth’s frightening dolls. “I always found the menu planning quite tedious.”

Kate nodded. “Indeed. A pleasant task, nonetheless.”

“Have you finalized your menu?” Lady Trent asked, examining the different materials in the display case.

Kate nodded. “For the ballroom, yes. We will have traditional English pastries, desserts. I would not want anyone to go hungry.”

Lady Trent continued to nod slowly, her lips in a flat line. “It is always a good idea to keep things simple. However, I do remember Anthony having a more adventurous palate.”

Kate would hardly call pastries, sandwiches, desserts and food displays she had planned simple. Kate had known this woman for a day and she had already had enough. “Why would my husband’s palate be any concern of yours, Lady Trent?”

That shut her up.

Kate squeezed the ribbons between her fingers, trying to stop her shaking hand. This woman was a beast.

“Have you ever been outside of England, Lady Bridgerton?” She asked, circling the ribbon’s display with disinterest.

“I have not,” Kate said through gritted teeth.

“What a pity.” She tutted, her curls bouncing in the air as she shook her head. “I suppose my traveling has given me a new outlook on life. It has opened me to a whole new world of cuisine and flavour. Traveling really exemplifies how dull the English customs and cuisine we are all accustomed to are.”

“I am sure it will be lovely. I must be on my way. Good day, Lady Bridgerton.” She bowed her head before turning around, swiftly exiting the modiste.

Kate was furious.

She sat incredibly still, not uttering a word during the carriage ride home until she reached Bridgerton House. She made her way towards the drawing room, not checking to see if Anthony was home in his office.

She stood in the middle of their drawing room, pacing in the same spot before she screamed.

There’s the slamming of a door and Anthony appears, Newton barking at his feet, looking incredibly alarmed. “Kate! Kate. Are you alright?”

Anthony charges towards her, holds her shoulders, scanning her entire body to assess any damage. “

“No. Yes, but no. It...it is that….that woman,” Kate spat out her words.

“What woman?” Anthony asked, frantically looking around the room.

“That woman. That, that-what was that word you taught me the other night?” Kate’s

“Bitch?” Anthony supplied, looking incredibly concerned for his wife.

“Yes!” Kate waved her arm in victory. “That bitch.”

Kate had sobbed in front of her husband before, from their declarations of love to the agony of her broken leg, but she had never expressed such fury before.

Anthony had not the slightest clue what was going on. “Kate, what the bloody hell are you talking about?”

Kate was pacing the room again. “Lady Eleanor Trent, of course. Firstly, she was standing far too close to you. Then she touched your forearm. That is highly improper-

“At the ball?” Anthony furrowed his eyebrows as he thought about it. “Wait.”

Anthony stared at her as if she had grown another head. “Kate Bridgerton. Is this all because you are jealous?”

Her husband looked positively gleeful.

“Anthony!” Kate nearly threw a pillow at him.

“I am sorry, I am sorry,” He pleaded, biting his lower lip to restrain his smile as he walked towards her with open arms. “Tell me what else happened.”

“She introduced herself and the conversation was strange. She was incredibly rude last night and this morning. She insulted me, my father, my

Anthony’s face darkened. “She insulted you? She insulted your father? That is unacceptable. I will make sure she is not welcome in London again. I will call on her and tell her exactly what I think of her-

Kate shook her head rapidly. “The last thing I want is you going near her. She has some strange infatuation with you. She referred to herself as practically a Bridgerton until she was married. Did you court her?”

“I barely knew her, Kate,” He said, looking bewildered at Kate’s words. “I had not seen her for nine years until last night. Our parents were mainly friends. Her family usually visited when I was at Eton. I most certainly did not court her, no.”

Kate did not reply, although she was relieved to hear Lady Trent’s words had been based on delusion. Kate felt incredibly overwhelmed, as if every emotion and fear she had been bottling up was crashing into her at once.

“Kate,” He stepped towards her cautiously, wary of the readily available pillows within her grasp. He sat on the couch, extending his hand towards her. “Come here, darling.”

She broke, practically falling into her husband’s arms who wrapped himself around her, pulling her onto his lap. Their foreheads and noses were touching as he spoke to her.

His lips brushed her cheek as he spoke softly. “Can you tell me what else is wrong? Is there something else going on?”

She can’t meet his eyes, instead she stares down at her hands in her lap. “I am terrified I am letting you down.”

“Kate, you could never let me down,” He says, affection flooding his voice as he tilts her chin up softly with his index finger to look at her face.

Kate took a deep breath. “You have had so much on your shoulders for so long. Since your father died. Between your family and your duties, you have always worked so hard. I want to do whatever I can to help you. I want to do this right. I want to make your life easier however I can and I want to be a good Viscountess. I am really trying. I just feel like I am failing. What if she was right? What if my lack of experience means I am not right for this role? I-I want you to be proud of me.”

He leans down to kiss her firmly and it’s the type of kiss that makes her toes curl. “Kate,” He murmured, drawing back but staying as close as possible. “You are the perfect Viscountess because you are my Viscountess. Everyone adores you. I was merely existing before I met you. After you, I began to live. You brought this light into my life that I didn’t think was possible. Everything I do is for you and everything I am is because of you. I am so proud of you. I am in awe of you. You are everything, Kate. Everything.”

“I love you,” She says, because that is all there is to say. She loved him, and he loved her, even when she acted slightly insane in their drawing room. That was all she needed. Anthony was all she needed.

She could do anything with Anthony by her side.

“I love you,” She whispered,

“Anthony,” She whispered a few minutes later, feeling a lot calmer. “I was jealous, you know.”

Anthony tried his best to not look too pleased, but he was slightly smug. “Jealousy is a difficult emotion to deal with.”

“Not all of us can shove people out of the way, you know.” If Anthony saw a man try to speak to Kate, he simply shoved them out of his way to his wife.

Anthony shrugged. “It is quite an effective method.”

“I did not like how she behaves around you,” Kate said, nibbling on her bottom lip. “When I saw her touching you and standing so close to you-I did not like how it made me feel.”

A panic stricken look flashes across his face.“Kate, I would never encourage it-”

“Sweetheart, I know,” She murmurs, cupping his cheeks in her hands as she kissed him softly. The thought had never crossed her mind and she immediately went to comfort him. “I know. I know you would never stray.”

She felt his sigh of relief. “You would kill me.”

“No I would not,” She lightly teased, pecking his lips. “That would be merciful. I would physically and mentally destroy you.”

“That will never happen,” Anthony murmured, brushing some loose strands of hair out of her eyes. “There will be no more joking about infidelity.”

Kate took a deep breath before she spoke again. “So you have noticed Eleanor flirting with you?”

Anthony cleared his throat, frowning slightly as his uncomfortableness set in. “I have noticed. She is not exactly subtle.”

“I would never have married her. She was a young girl with a crush, which I cannot fault her for. I am incredibly handsome.” Kate rolled her eyes at her husband’s cheeky smile. “However, she was never kind. These recent events have only re-confirmed that. I remember when I was seventeen, I had come home for Christmas. Her family had come to stay for a week. She was incredibly rude to our servants. She cared more about parties and appearances than family. She was so disinterested in my younger siblings to the point of being cruel. She was not the type of person I could marry.”

“Why would your mother want you to marry her?” Kate asked, resting her forehead against his.

“My mother was grieving.” Anthony shrugged his shoulders, running one of his hands soothingly down her back. “She thought she knew what was best for me. She has always chosen to see the parts of people she wanted to see. Not all the parts that were in front of her.”

“Well, I for one am very glad you did not marry her.” Teasing was always an effective way to snap Anthony out of one of his serious thoughts, and she was successful when he snorted.

“As am I.” His thumb was making small circles on her cheek.

“She insulted my choice of food for the ball.”

Anthony raised an eyebrow at his wife and stared at her. “What?”

“She called it simple English cuisine,” Kate said, still incredibly bitter. “Who in their right mind does not like scones and cucumber and chicken sandwiches?”

“Colin will be there and he will wolf them down, so there is no fear they will not be eaten.” Her brother in law was returning to England the day before their ball, conveniently missing most of the season much to his mother’s dismay.

“As someone who lives in your household, your menu choices have always been exceptional. I have also eaten many of those food choices, including off of you, and they were delicious.”

“Anthony!” She smacked his chest, laughing against his lips as he stole a kiss. He always knew how to make her feel better.

Anthony had always made her feel safe, she had trusted him even when she did not particularly like him. That stormy night in his library had changed everything. It was his nature that made people admire him and trust him. He took care of people. He had been misjudged by society, made out to be a cold hearted rake incapable of true affection.

It angered Kate beyond belief. Anthony had suffered more than most, losing his father and becoming the head of the family at such a young age. He had become a father to his siblings and a Viscount to his tenants and society. In a way, his life had begun and ended when his father died.

He was the first person she opened up to about her fear of storms and the reason she had been brave enough to face her fear.

He had become her anchor, and her his.

“Our ball is going to be wonderful, do you know why?” Anthony asked, grinning at his wife.

“Why?” She responded, smiling right back at him.

“Because it is ours,” He said simply. “It is celebrating one incredible year of marriage and many more to go.”

“Until forever.” Kate rested her forehead against his, feeling completely content.

Anthony nodded in agreement. “Forever it is.”

A week later, the Viscount and Viscountess' ball was a complete success.

The food was devoured.

Laugher could be heard all around the ballroom.

The Viscountess was praised for her efforts throughout the evening.

Lady Trent's absence was not missed.

Anthony had surprised Kate at the end of the evening with a show of fireworks.

It was perfect.

Kate and Anthony had their own private celebration that very night.

Edmund Bridgerton was born nine months later.

#katexanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #bridgerton #anthony bridgerton #kate sharma #kate sheffield #kateandanthonyweek #fanfiction #my fic #thank you this was fun!#kate x anthony

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sophisticatedloserchick · 3 years

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Fanfic - Sharing Her Attentions - 1/1

Summary: When Anthony married Kate he didn't realize he'd be sharing her attentions with her pet corgi.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1901

A/N: The prompt Jealousy for KatexAnthony Week

Anthony never considered himself a jealous man.

After all the root of jealousy is the fear of losing something precious to you. And Anthony had intentionally led a life where beyond his family he didn't hold such connections with anyone.

In particular when it came to the women in his life. Most of his dalliances had been done in secret and never in the confines of his home. He drew firm lines over certain parts of his life that he never let anyone cross.

Then Kate entered into his life like a force of nature.

In short time Kate had broken through his carefully crafted defences. Being with Kate meant opening his heart and he surprisingly found himself more than willing to do so. For a man who convinced himself he didn't need anyone he quickly realized he couldn't live without her after a few short months of marriage. He had no doubts in his mind that they loved each other to distraction.

Luckily for them jealousy never factored heavily in their relationship. No one could ever compare to Kate in him, and he had a great deal of confidence no man lingered in Kate's heart or thoughts the way he did.

With one exception that Anthony had to deal with on a daily basis.

His wife's rather rotund and enthusiastic corgi.

With a scowl furrowing his brow Anthony lowered his newspaper to glance across the room.

His wife sitting on a settee opposite from him barely looked in his direction. Her entire attentions were focused on the porgy corgi sitting beside her. Kate had recently taught that insufferable mongrel how to do a couple of tricks that she never seemed to grow sick of. Anthony was too proud to admit out loud that his chest clenched at the sight of Kate's beaming smile or delighted laughter every time that dog raised a paw or barked on command. But not too proud to silently stew in annoyance while watching them.

His ire only growing since he forgo joining his parliament colleagues at White's to go home to his wife. On most days Anthony much preferred being with Kate then anyone else. In the early days of their marriage Anthony had foolishly avoided his wife in the hopes to suppress any feelings he could have for her. Now months after she recovered from the carriage crash and their true feelings confessed Anthony had every intention of making up for lost time.

Or he would if Kate would stop playing with that blasted mongrel.

“Anthony? Is everything well?”

Kate's voice broke his brooding and brought his attention back to her. He could see the amusement in her dark eyes. A smile pulling at her lips while she absent mindedly petted Newton between his ears. At least she was finally focusing on him again.

“Its nothing,” Anthony glanced at Newton in distaste. “Should the dog be sitting on the settee?”

Kate rolled her eyes but still coaxed Newton off the settee and back on the floor.

“Are you ever going to warm up to Newton?” Kate playfully scowled at him. “I didn't realize you disliked dogs so much.”

Anthony didn't have anything against dogs. Back in his youth when his family spent most of the year at Aubrey hall they always had several dogs. In truth he rarely came across a dog he didn't like. Even the tiny balls of fluff that older ladies of the Ton often had sitting his their laps with bows tied in their fur.

Newton however Anthony struggled to connect with.

From the first day he knew Newton would be an agent of chaos. Because of this dog Anthony had once ran across the length of a park and ended up knee deep in the serpentine. He also hadn't completely absolved Newton's role in the carriage crash that caused Kate to break her leg. The moment Kate brought the dog to their newlywed home Newton had become a terror in the house.

For such a relatively small dog Newton caused a lot of problems. From tearing down curtains, eating half of the meat pie that had been cooling on the window sill, and in general pouncing and jumping on the servants as they went about their duties. Anthony knew for fact that his butler had murderous designs on Newton.

But for Anthony the difficult part of living with Newton is them having to share Kate's attentions.

On more than one occasion Anthony couldn't cuddle close to Kate in their bed because Newton already beat him to it. Or the times Anthony came home in the afternoon hoping to spend time with Kate only to find out she had taken Newton out for a walk. Or when Anthony and Kate were engaged in conversation only to be interrupted by Newton toddling over and distracting Kate every time. All Anthony could do is sit there scowling as Kate cooed and petted the blasted beast.

Anthony would never say he was jealous of the mongrel. He had far too much dignity for that.

“No I don't hate dogs,” Anthony he argued before bringing his newspaper back up again.

“You're impossible,” Kate groused but lucky for him he could detect a note of fondness in her voice.

From behind his paper Anthony could hear Kate getting up and walking over to the tea service to make herself another cup of tea. Which would mean Anthony wouldn't be able to coax her into sitting in the chair with him if she had a cup of tea in hand.

“Kate?” Anthony peered over the paper to where Kate had just finished adding sugar to her tea. “Can you come here for a moment?”

Immediately Kate's dark eyes narrowed in suspicion but she put down the tea cup to walk towards him. Anthony took the moment to take in and appreciate his wife. She wore a simple light lavender dress that contrasted beautifully against her brown skin. Her thick, curly black hair had had been pulled up in a bun but tendrils curled gently around her face.

The minute she drew close enough Anthony reached out to grab her.

“Anthony!” Kate called out as she felt herself be tugged down.

Anthony couldn't help but grin in satisfaction when his wife landed in his lap. He took a moment to savour having her close to him. The warmth of her body seeping into his own. His senses becoming overwhelmed by the scent of soap and lilies. His hand drifting over the soft curves of her body.

A big part of him debated standing up with her gathered in his arms to take her upstairs to their room. Not the first time Anthony had found a way to steal his wife away to their quarters to have his way with her in the middle of the afternoon. He couldn't deny that his desire for his wife made it difficult for him to wait until evening to be with her. Especially when she looked this stunning in the afternoon light.

“You're ridiculous,” Kate huffed but Anthony made a note she made no move to get off his lap.

“Don't deny you love it,” Anthony smirked as his finger gripped her chin to pull her into a kiss.

Kate further melted against him. Her hands moving up to grip the lapels of his jacket to keep his close. His one hand gently brushed up her back causing a shiver through her body and a soft moan.

Anthony quickly became lost in his wife. The whole world fading away to nothing until all her could feel, and taste, and hear was Kate.

Except in the distance he could hear the familiar sound of paws scraping against hard wood floor and a high pitch excited bark. Anthony already knew what would happen next, Newton with surprising agility would jump into their lap and interrupt them. And he would not allow that to happen.

Anthony quickly pull away from Kate and with his most firmest Viscount voice called out to Newton.

“Dog no, sit down!”

Kate winced sympathetically as Newton skidded to a halt then plop his big bottom back on the ground. His big brown eyes gazed sadly up at the two of them, his fluffy ears flat against his head.

A low and sad whine emitted from him that even pulled at Anthony's heart strings.

Normally at this point Kate would have given in and let Newton do or have whatever he wanted. She couldn't deny she had a soft hand when it came to Newton.

Anthony on the other hand completely disagreed. He never hesitated to say to her how badly Newton behaved. Once they started living together Anthony had then taken it upon himself to try 'correct' Newton when possible.

One thing Anthony refused to budge on is letting Newton join in when they were cuddling.

“Anthony just this once let him come up,” For good measure Kate ran her fingers through the hair at the back of his head. She learned very quickly that Anthony melted when she did that, especially when she lightly dragged her fingernails across his scalp.

“Absolutely not,” Anthony held firm, his arms tightening around her. “He's had his time with you now its my turn.”

Kate taken aback at those words took a moment to process them. As she did Anthony watched the puzzled expression on Kate's face turn into one of self satisfied amusement.

“Why Anthony are you jealous...” Kate leaned in closer smirking a little. “Of our dog?”

“No, that's complete nonsense.” Anthony scowled at Kate who continued to smile at him far too knowingly. “Why would you think I ever be jealous of a dog?”

“Call it hunch,” Kate giggled which only caused Anthony's scowl to deepen.

Deciding to take pity of him Kate pressed her lips softly to his own. She could already feel the tense line of his shoulders relax. His hand on her waist becoming less of a grip and more of a caress.

Kate tilted her head at a perfect angle as her teeth bit down on his lower lip to deepen the kiss. A warm haze descended on Anthony at the feel of his wife's body completely pressed against his own. All thoughts of Newton melted from Anthony's mind as Kate's lovely fingers carded through his hair.

That is until his wife pulled back with a teasing grin on her lips.

“See, no need to be jealous darling,” Kate said while lightly kissing his lips.

At the mention of his name Newton's ears perked up and he let out another needy whine. Anthony shot him a reproachful look before Kate's fingers on his jawline had him turning his attention back to her.

“Good thing for both of you I can share my attentions,” Kate let out a sigh but Anthony could see the laughter in her dark eyes.

Anthony didn't know how he felt about Kate saying he needed to share her attentions with a dog. But since he currently had the upper-hand over said dog he decided to take the advantage.

“Well either way its my turn right now,” Anthony said pulling her into a kiss fully intended to hold her attention for as long as possible.

#anthony bridgerton #kate sharma #katexanthonyweek #bridgerton #kathony #kanthony

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bellascarousel · 3 years

Text

Jealous? Me? Never!

For Kate and Anthony 2021 Week, Day 1 Prompt: Jealousy and all its cousins

Colin was dancing with Kate Sheffield. Again. Logically, Anthony knew that his brother was just doing what the Bridgerton men were expected to do. He was making sure that every young lady got at least one turn on the dance floor. Granted, it wasn’t as if Kate lacked for dance partners. Men were falling all over themselves trying to curry favor with the elder Miss Sheffield as part of their pursuit of the younger.

Not that any of those men bothered Anthony, in the slightest. He was sure that Kate would call his confidence that Edwina would not turn him down when he proposed arrogance. Honestly, his mother and his sisters would probably agree with her. But, Daphne had already snatched up the only potential suitor that had been more sought after than Anthony was. Well, perhaps if another unmarried prince made an appearance, Anthony would have some serious competition. But, as it stood, he had no reason to worry about the scores of hopefuls who were trying to win Edwina’s hand through charming her sister.

Colin and Benedict were different, though. When they danced with Kate, it wasn’t out of interest in Edwina. And, when one or both of them would put themselves down for more than one dance with her in an evening, it likely wasn’t obligation, or to make their mother happy. It was likely because they genuinely wanted to dance with her. Though, why that should bother him so much, he had absolutely no idea. Nor could he explain the tightness in his chest as he watched how she laughed with genuine mirth at something his brother had said.

He closed his eyes, which turned out to be a mistake. Because without external stimuli, his fevered imagination took over. He found himself bombarded with the memory of Kate in his arms. The taste of her. The feel of her. How desperately he had wanted her. Okay, that was definitely a very dangerous turn for his thoughts to take. If he didn’t find something else to think about, and fast, it would become very obvious that he was imagining one of the young ladies here naked — and very much enjoying the mental image.

His eyes snapped open. This was seriously ridiculous. He should not be standing here, in a damn ballroom, thinking about making love to Kate Sheffield of all people.

“And just who are you staring at so intently?”

Anthony gave a sigh of relief. If anything could calm the storm Kate was creating in him, it was the sound of his mother’s voice. “Keep talking.”

“You haven’t answered my question. And what, exactly, am I supposed to be talking about? What I want to say is that you should ask whichever young lady has you looking like that to dance.” She lowered her voice then, making sure that only he could hear her. “Though, I’m willing to bet that that would only make your current predicament worse.”

“Excuse me?”

His mother had the nerve to laugh at him. “I have eight children, Anthony. Think about that for a minute. Now, consider that while I can’t quite make out who you are staring at — whoever it is, you are looking at her the way your father used to look at me. I do know that look, Anthony. A woman doesn’t conceive eight children and not come to recognize that look.”

That did it. Anthony turned to stare at his mother in horror. “Are we seriously having this conversation, right now?”

The woman actually smirked at him. “You’re welcome. Now, go splash cold water on your face or something. Don’t come back in here until you can be here without worrying about embarrassing yourself. And if that means you going home, I will make your apologies for you.”

Anthony shook his head, but did as he was told. He honestly wasn’t sure which was worse — the thoughts he was having about Kate, or his mother’s method of taking his mind off of those thoughts. Though, he didn’t go splash water on his face. Instead, he just took the out she gave him and headed home.

It didn’t really surprise him when he ended up dreaming of making love to Kate Sheffield that night. It was hardly the first time. And after their encounter in his study, those dreams had become distressingly common. But, at some point in the night, something else occurred to him. He was going to marry Edwina. And once she was off the market and he had provided Kate with a suitable dowry, some man was going to scoop her up. It was ludicrous to think that she would remain a spinster.

Kate would marry. Eventually there would be a man who would do more than dream of her. The tightness in his chest that had been there when watching her dancing and laughing with Colin came back stronger than ever at the thought of someone else being the one to share her bed, to see passion and desire in her eyes. And he was forced to admit to himself just what that tightness was.

Jealousy. God help him, he was jealous. Over Kate bloody Sheffield.

#kate x anthony #katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek21 #bridgerton #kathony #kanthony #KateandAnthonyWeek

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klarolijahs · 3 years

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The Menace

Three times Anthony didn't need to be jealous, and one time he really really does.

Kate x Anthony week 2021 - Part 1!

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I - Benedict

“Do you plan on dancing with her at any point, or is glaring your idea of flirting?”

Benedict’s amused statement cut across his observation of the Sharma sisters, in particular the elder who had her back decidedly turned to him. Frustration gnawing at her high handed behavior Anthony reluctantly turned his attention to his delighted brother.

“What?” Anthony asked simply.

“Sharma,” Benedict nodded his head in her direction, “Go ask her to dance, and stop scaring the debutantes.”

“Why in God’s name would I want to dance with…” that menace , “her?”

A goddess, an irritating voice corrected in his head. Anthony shook his head almost violently at that.

Benedict then proceeded to look at him like he was a simpleton, finally narrowing his eyes as he enunciated every syllable of his next statement, “Uhm aren’t you planning on marrying the girl?”

Then it clicked into place. Benedict was referring to the younger Sharma, Edwina. Who currently stood next to her sister chattering away politely to Lord Ashwell. Kate, on the other hand, was eyeing the man top to bottom, probably scanning him head to toe for any imperfections. She had a disconcerting scowl on her face, watching every word out of the gentleman’s mouth waiting for him to make one mistake, anything to deem him unacceptable for her sister.

Anthony snorted, not envying the poor man. Given enough time, Kate Sharma would even uncover Ashwell’s finances and family history of illness. The woman was like a hound.

A menace to society indeed.

Realizing he still hadn’t responded to his brother, Anthony quickly cleared his throat, “Yes of course. Doesn’t mean I need to dance with her every night.” Benedict’s retort - which was certain to point out that it had been days since he’d last spent even five minutes alone with Edwina were drowned out as their mother made a beeline for them.

“Ah there you are.” She exclaimed, “Have you seen where Colin’s off to, I wanted to ask him to…”

“Dance with Penelope Featherington” Both Anthony and Benedict said simultaneously, only the former managing to hide his smirk when Violet turned to glare at them.

“And what about you two?” She said sweetly, quickly forgetting all about the wayward third Bridgerton, instead choosing to harangue the ones she could find, “Why are you sulking in the corner?”

“Oh, we’re just discussing Anthony’s marriage prospects, and how he's doing such a fine job of courting Miss Sharma.” Benedict said giddily before Anthony could even open his mouth.

With a smile, Violet turned to look at the Sharma sisters. Kate, as if aware that he’d been sneakily - in his opinion - staring at her for 45 minutes, turned to look at him. And instantly Anthony was hit with two emotions he very rarely felt together, or ever- guilt and joy. Joy, at how tuned she was to him, like she could feel his eyes on her. Guilt at their last interaction, in his office where he’d behaved like a boor and quite possible lost his mind.

And your heart , that strange voice said in the back of his head, and he mentally glared at it.

Violet smiled softly looking at the sisters, “Oh I think they’re both such lovely young ladies. Edwina is so kind and sweet. You know I’m quite fond of the elder one too, so loving and caring, she’d make a wonderful wife for a very lucky gentleman.”

“I agree.”

Anthony blanched, did he really say that out loud? And then he paled even more realizing that he hadn’t said the words. They came from his left, in the smooth, silken voice of his younger brother.

Benedict bounced on the balls of his feet, a twinkle in his eye as he looked at Kate. And Anthony, who knew just how suave and smooth Benedict was with women, panicked. A dull pain throbbed in his chest as their mother turned to look at Benedict cautiously.

“Benedict, do not toy with me,” she warned, but a small smile worked onto her face as she saw the son in question straighten and beam at her.

“I’ve had 7 infuriating conversations with the debutantes you’ve hurled at me mother,” Benedict said sourly, “But the elder Miss Sharma was quite unexpected, I daresay I enjoyed talking to her.” Violet beamed in happiness at his response.

“When did you speak to her?” Anthony all but yelled, working very hard to not make his tone accusing. He didn’t actually care if someone chose to court Kate, he was protecting his idiotic brother.

Liar , the voice whispered.

“I have my ways,” Benedict quipped as he made quite a show of tousling his hair and started to walk in the direction of the Sharma sisters. As Anthony watched him walk away, that dull pain sharpened until it felt like a thousand needles were pricking him.

Women fell at Benedict's feet, he had an easy charm about him that Anthony could never conjure. He was everything Anthony wasn’t; fun, playful and open. But Katherine Sharma suffered no fools, surely Benedict would receive a similar treatment.

Not her. Not her. Please, not her . The voice prayed frantically.

When Benedict finally reached Kate, she looked up at him warmly and granted him a small, almost shy smile. Until of course her brow arched and her eyes narrowed, affirming to Anthony that she was about to rip into Benedict just as she had him. But then the world tilted on its axis when Benedict only smiled at her jab and stepped closer to her. His hand hovering over her waist, and his head bent low, far too low for his liking, Benedict whispered something into Kate’s ear.

Her eyes widened delightfully making her look so beautiful that Anthony’s heart ached. And then it shattered as she looked up at Benedict with such wonder and awe at whatever the traitorous - and soon to be dead - man had said to her. Anthony could see nothing but her, her nothing but hear laughter and feel nothing but this strange, misplaced agony. So much so, that he missed the exasperated and knowing sigh his mother threw at him before finally catching hold of an escaping Colin.

Kate danced with Benedict twice that day, and for every minute she spent twirling in his arms Anthony wondered and wondered and wondered what name to call this pang in his chest.

Jealousy , he realized with a sigh was just another new emotion the maddening woman had managed to evoke in him.

It wasn’t until many years later, on another night such as this when Anthony finally asked his brother what the man had said all those years ago to Kate - now his wife, his viscountess - to make her look at him like he’d hung the moon and stars.

His , Anthony thought proudly. No longer needing an inner voice to affirm what he already knew he felt.

Benedict smirked, teased him about being jealous until Sophie him in the side, and finally spoke.

“I told her that one day she was going to change your life. And I was right.”

#kateandanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #bridgerton #kate sharma #katexanthonyweek #anthony bridgerton #benedict bridgerton #kate x benedict #drabble #my writing #kanthony

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kateanthonyweek · 3 years

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🌷 A Kate and Anthony relationship timeline🌷

A gift for all of us by @iris_bee_ !! Go check out what she's been doing for 🐝 Kate and Anthony Week 🐝 over there!!

Today's poll is very close, so make sure to vote for your favourite Kathony make out spot!! 🥰

#bridgerton #bridgerton netflix #katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek21 #kateandanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #kate sharma #kate sheffield #anthony bridgerton #kate x anthony #kathony #kanthony #timeline

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coveredinbees · 3 years

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Kate x Anthony Week

Day 3: Best 'Anthony is a blind, love-sick clown' moment

I going to say this scene from Chapter 18 of "The Viscount Who Loved Me":

Cue the circus music.

#bridgerton #bridgerton netflix #anthony bridgerton #dailybridgerton #jonathan bailey #kate x anthony #kanthony #kate sheffield #kate sharma #tvwlm #katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek21

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harmonizingsunsets · 3 years

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I'd Rather Go Blind & Let My Body Go Numb Than To Lose You Or The Weight Of Your Love

Prompt: Jealousy and all its cousins. Fanart Credit here.

Read on Archive here.

Anthony never thought he'd be the kind of husband who needs to know where his wife is at every moment of every day.

(To be fair, he never thought about being a husband much at all until the season he'd pursued Edwina only to fall maddeningly in love with Kate).

But here he is, sitting on the couch with his feet drumming loudly against the floor, staring intensely at the door.

On the table beside the couch sits a cup of tea, cold and untouched. Anthony had someone from the kitchens prepare it for him, but his nerves made him unable to stomach anything.

Anthony looks a mess. He'd been raking his hands through his hair for the past two hours. He'd also slapped his cheeks once or twice to stay awake.

His jacket lay discarded and wrinkled on the ground near the door. He feels guilty, knowing one of the maids would have to press it. However, he can't gather the desire to move from the couch and retrieve it.

Instead, he's glued to the couch as he considers where Kate is. A hundred different scenarios run through his mind—each scenario worse than the last.

For the past month, Kate has been disappearing at night. He hears her footsteps tiptoeing past his study when he stays up to work. He feels the weight from her side of the bed lessen as she stands and departs from their bedroom when she thinks he's fallen asleep.

At first, Anthony questioned her about it. Kate would always make up an excuse about needing fresh air or going to see Edwina. But he knows her well enough to know when she's lying.

However, Anthony hadn't ever called Kate out on her deceit. He feared the truth, especially how it might crush him to hear it.

But he couldn't take the not knowing anymore. So when he heard the door close after Kate told him five minutes prior that she was retiring to bed, he made his way towards the front of the house. Anthony watched at the window as a carriage rode away. A hole had formed in his stomach, making him feel hollow. He then sat down on the couch so he could catch her when she returned.

Finally, after what felt like ages passed, he hears footsteps approaching the door. He quickly jumps up from the couch and makes his way to the foyer. When Kate steps through the door, her eyes widen.

"Anthony!" she exclaims in surprise, putting a hand to her chest to steady her breath. "You're up late."

"So are you," Anthony says, crossing his arms and blocking her way.

"I was only walking around to get some fresh air."

Anthony raises a brow. "Really, for two hours?"

Her eyes shift anxiously from his stare. "Has it really been that long?"

"Yes," he answers through gritted teeth, anger rising within him.

"Oh well, it was such a lovely night the time got away from me." Kate stands on her toes, kissing him quickly on the cheek. "Sorry for worrying you."

As she tries to retreat, Anthony's hand lurches out to grab her elbow, pulling her back to face him.

"I've had enough, Kate," he sighs tiredly. "Where were you?"

"I just told you, I was—."

"You've been going out for fresh air at odd hours of the day for the past month. You'd think you'd have your fill by now."

Kate fidgets. "Well, it hasn't just been out to get fresh air. I've been attending engagements. I have a life outside you and this household, you know."

"Oh, I know that, but your engagements don't usually take place after dark and don't require you sneaking out of the house to attend."

"Darling, everything is fine," Kate says, pulling her arm out of his reach and giving him a nervous smile. "You've probably been working too hard. Let's go to bed."

As she tries to walk away again, Anthony pulls her back. But this time, he holds onto both of her arms, forcing her to meet his eye.

"Kate, I know you—perhaps more than you know yourself, and I know when you're lying to me," he says, his voice turning softer—more fragile. It's as if he's a vase that could shatter at any moment. "What I don't know is why."

"I promise that what I have been going out and doing is not anything scandalous or dangerous." After letting out a long breath, a laugh bubbles from her throat in amusement. "Honestly, where I've been going to is nothing to fret over. You're acting as if I'm having an affair or something."

Anthony's heart sinks in his chest. No matter how ridiculous the prospect sounds, he can't help but whisper the question that's been plaguing his mind these past few weeks.

"Are you?"

Kate's mouth falls open, her face paling. "Anthony, how could you think that?"

"It's the only explanation I can think of," he says, stepping away from her and beginning to pace. "It explains why you've been coming back so late and being so evasive these past few weeks."

"Anthony—."

His legs go weak at the affection in her voice. Anthony falls to his knees in front of her and takes hold of her hands.

"Just tell me, Kate, I cannot bear it," Anthony says, hating the way his voice wavers. "I cannot bear the thought of you finding pleasure in someone else's arms. I cannot bear you leaving our bed because you'd rather be in another's. I cannot bear the idea of someone else touching you, loving you, or kissing you."

He brushes his lips against Kate's knuckles, causing her breath to hitch. Anthony pulls his lips away, but just so his fingertips can swirl circles on her palm. When his thumb skims over her pulse, he feels her heartbeat quicken.

"Most of all, I cannot bear the thought of you loving someone else." Anthony swallows thickly, feeling a lump forming in his throat. "I'd die right now if you told me all of this was true."

Anthony has always feared time. He used to compulsively reach into his pocket to grasp his father's watch. Each time a hand on the clock ticked forward, he felt as if an ounce of his soul got sucked away.

But since Kate came into his life, that fear has dissipated. Suddenly, he didn't spend each moment of his life calculating how much time he had left. Instead, Anthony began counting things other than seconds.

He counts the number of Kate's smiles. He counts the number of laughs they share next to one another at the table surrounded by his family. Anthony counts the number of kisses that were slow, stirring an aching feeling in his chest. He also counts each hungry and passionate kiss that sets every inch of his skin aflame.

Most of all, Anthony counts how many times he's lost count around her. He gets lost in the timeless and wonderful enigma that is Kate Sharma.

Anthony feels that fear of time creeping up on him again. But now, he's not afraid of time passing and leading to his demise. Instead, he's terrified that Kate's time of loving him has run out. Maybe, she's found a more deserving man to spend the minutes with than him.

When Anthony braves a glance up at Kate, he expects to see pity. But instead, he's surprised to see an entirely different emotion reflected in her eyes.

Love.

Pure, unconditional, steadfast love.

Kate gets down to her knees in front of him. But she doesn't let go of his hands, holding them tighter.

"None of that is true, Anthony," she says firmly. "I love you, have only loved you, and will only love you."

Her words release a breath of relief from him. But, he still can't help doubting this, not knowing how else to explain her odd disappearances.

Kate must sense his train of thoughts. She smiles gently, moving one of her hands up to graze his cheek.

"I love you so much that I've been waking up in the middle of the night so I can give you the perfect present."

Anthony blinks in confusion, feeling the room that had been spinning become still.

"What?"

Kate laughs, and she rests her forehead against his. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"

It hits Anthony like a whip. All the clues that he'd gathered up to form a horrible conclusion were, in fact, clues that lead to a more justifiable and pleasant one.

"Our anniversary," he answers dumbly.

"Yes," she nods, her face beaming with a giddy kind of delight. Anthony feels lucky that he gets to see it. Her expressions are free without restraint only when she's comfortable with someone. He's glad to be one of those treasured few. "We've made it a year, can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday, I was stepping on your toes at a ball, and you acted like a madman when I got stung by a bee."

Anthony frowns, his forehead creasing. "I did not act like a madman."

"You did, but it led us to where we are now," Kate says, pressing a tender kiss to his lips. "Married and happy."

"I'd like to think it would've happened with the bee or not."

"I'm not sure. You were quite thick-headed about how in love with me you were."

"Oh, I'm the thick-headed one?" he scoffs. "After the night you fell in love with me, you gave your approval for me to marry your sister. How thick-headed is that?"

"Well, I didn't think you'd ever feel that way about me," Kate defends, rolling her eyes. "But I know very well now that you do. You show me with every kind word, every touch, every…" her words drift, cheeks reddening, "Well, you know."

Anthony smirks. "No, I do not know. Please elaborate on everything I do to you that gives you pleasure in vivid detail."

"You're insufferable," she grumbles and puts her hands on her hips. "I have a good mind not to tell you the true reason for my disappearing and keep you stewing in jealousy."

"I don't think you'd like the result of my increased jealousy."

"I don't know, your scowl was fierce, and the fire in your eyes was quite the sight," Kate teases, tracing her thumb over his furrowed brows. "Very becoming, actually."

Anthony stands and pulls her up with him, leading her to the couch. "Why have you been disappearing?"

"As I said, our anniversary is tomorrow, and I was getting your gift ready," she explains. "It's almost midnight. Perhaps I can give it to you a little bit early. I had one of the servants waiting outside for my return. They came in through the back entrance and have already snuck it into your study to reveal as a surprise for tomorrow."

"How sinister of you, plotting with our staff against me."

"Nothing sinister about it. I asked, and they agreed to help me. Unlike you, they think I'm perfectly agreeable."

"Obviously, they don't know you well enough to fear the wicked inner workings of your mind as I do."

Kate stands, gracefully sticking out her tongue and making him laugh. Anthony follows her down the hall into his study. She makes him close his eyes. He feels like a fool, stumbling into the room with Kate chuckling behind him. But, he feels guilty for thinking Kate could ever be unfaithful and indulges her wishes.

He waits for a few moments, hearing her moving something across the floor, before he asks, "Can I open my eyes now?"

"Alright, you bloody impatient man, open your eyes."

As Anthony takes his hands away from his eyes, his heart stops in his chest. He gawks at the painting on a canvas stand in front of him.

"Kate," he utters breathlessly.

Kate chews on her bottom lip, hesitantly watching him observe the painting—no, "painting" doesn't seem like the right word for what it is.

It's a masterpiece, an almost perfect depiction of Kate.

The artist captured the exact fraction that Kate's lips tilt up when she smiles in amusement. Anthony often sees that expression pointed towards him when they're engaged in one of their bantering matches. The color of her brown eyes is just as deep in the painting. They're full of so much that Anthony still wants to explore even after a year of marriage.

In the portrait, Kate's shoulders are bare, the sleeves resting low on her arm. The bottom of the picture shows the scarlet bodice of her dress. But the most alluring part is how the brown curls of her hair flow freely down her neck, cascading like a waterfall.

Anthony has a strong distaste for her bonnets and how society demands she wears her hair up in public. Anthony loves running his fingers through her hair, which probably is why she posed for the painting with it down. That minx knew it would stir a feeling within him that no one else but her has been able to elicit.

"I hired Sir Granville to paint it," Kate blurts out, nervous from how long he's remained silent. "I wanted him to paint it in a private setting because it's a bit…."

"Breathtaking," Anthony answers.

"I was going to say suggestive, but breathtaking is a good adjective," Kate grins bashfully. She steps towards him, her eyes glowing through the dim light of the room. "It's a portrait for your eyes only, no one else's."

Anthony ducks his head. "I'm sorry that I thought you were...I just—."

"Foolishly got jealous of a person who doesn't exist? Yes, yes, you did."

He runs his fingers against the frame of the painting. "I have a mind to hang this in the common area, so everyone can see how lucky I am."

Kate's eyebrows snap together. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, wouldn't I?" he asks playfully.

"It might encourage some men to meet the woman behind the painting," Kate notes with a mischievous glint in her eyes, pretending to consider his proposal. "Who am I to oppose admirers?"

Anthony's smirk fades. "You wouldn't dare."

"Ah, there's that handsome scowl," Kate points at him in triumph.

He swoops forward, his arms going around her waist. "You're maddening."

Kate's smile widens as she looks up at him, looping her hands around his neck. "You love it."

"You're right. I do love you. And, I love this portrait," Anthony adds, bobbing his head towards the painting. "Perhaps I should hang it in here. It can serve as a reminder of what's waiting for me when I finish my work."

She leans up a bit on her toes, her hands traveling lower down his back. "You know, I could come down to your study to remind you."

Anthony begins moving his hands as well. As they skim up her body, brushing her breast, he relishes in the sound of her moan. Anthony leans closer, pressing kisses down her neck until he gets to just the right spot. Kate's fingers curl tighter onto his back as his lips apply pressure there, and her body gravitates further against him.

"You're far too distracting," Anthony murmurs against her skin. "Perhaps, the portrait is too dangerous to be in here. I'd get nothing done."

"Exactly." She leans her face back a margin, so Anthony can see that enchanting tilt of her lips the artist depicted. "Why do you think I commissioned the painting in the first place?"

"To torture me?"

"All is fair in love and war," Kate says, grinning at him. "And hasn't our relationship always been a bit of both?"

In response, Anthony kisses her deeply and thoroughly. The sound of his pocket watch ticking starts to fade away. It gets replaced with the sound of his heart, which beats for Kate more than himself these days.

#kateandanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #katexanthonyweek #kate x anthony #kanthony #kathony #Katexanthonyweek21 #kate sharma #anthony bridgerton #kate sheffield #bridgerton series #bridgerton books #bridgerton netflix #Anthony x kate #simone ashley #fanfiction #Bridgerton #fanfic #bridgerton fanfic

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mskatesharma · 3 years

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arms of love | a kate x anthony ficlet

for the second prompt of kate x anthony week: lovey dovey

With an abruptness that causes Kate to squeal, Anthony stands, his wife tight in his arms as marches towards the house. “Anthony, what are you doing?!” Her smile is loud as she leaves a trail of laughter behind them, Newton’s happy barks following in its wake.

read it all here

a ficlet of a moment mentioned in yours to keep

#katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek2021 #kathony #kate x anthony #anthony x kate #kate sheffield #kate sharma #anthony bridgerton #kanthony #kathony fic #bridgerton fanfiction #my fic

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kathonyxbee · 3 years

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“I’m not jealous. Truly.”

Hello, hello!

Happy Kathony Week!!! 🐝🌷⛈

Here is my entry for the prompt: “jealousy and all its cousins” (Day 1)

Set post-wedding, pre-ILY. When Kate joins Daphne at Lady Danbury's soirée, she hears a lot about Anthony's reputation as a Rake which causes certain feelings to gnaw at her. It's a good thing Anthony can read her so well and knows just the way to convince her otherwise.

Or, Kate is jealous and Anthony has no problem telling her he wants her, but can't tell her he loves her.

“Don’t cause too much trouble tonight, will you?” Anthony requested from where he sat in a chair on the other side of their room, Newton yapping at his feet. He was already dressed for the evening, though they weren’t attending together. Anthony was heading for White’s with his brothers, while Kate was off with Daphne, the Duchess of Hastings and her sister-in-law, at Lady Danbury’s Soirée. She’d been surprised when the invitation had arrived, and had been considering whether or not to refuse, trying to figure out what was appropriate now that she was Lady Bridgerton, but Daphne had dropped by the other day, and after she’d told Kate what Lady Danbury’s Soirée for the Married Ladies of the Ton involved, Kate had eagerly accepted the invitation. So, here she was, getting ready while her husband lounged around, watching her.

“Hmph,” Kate huffed as her maid applied the finishing touches to her hairstyle while she tried to pick one of the flower headpieces to pin to her hair. Her curly hair had been tamed into an intricate, braided updo, leaving a few curls framing her face, just how Anthony liked it. Which, was ridiculous in and of itself as they weren’t even attending together, but a part of her rather liked pleasing him as much as she enjoyed teasing him. Hopefully, she would be able to do both. Her gaze flickered to Anthony’s, briefly, “cause trouble?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Who? Me? Impossible,” she quipped drily.

“Nice try, Kate,” he deadpanned, rolling his eyes before glancing, briefly, at his pocket watch, his eyebrow creasing slightly.

“Besides,” she murmured, “this is a gathering for the married ladies of the ton. It shall be a most lovely and perfectly innocent evening, indeed,” she told him, though her lip twitched slightly because from the little Daphne had told her, she knew it was going to be anything but. Still, it was nice to make Anthony squirm, a little.

He scoffed, “now, why do I doubt that?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, dear husband,” she retorted sweetly, catching his gaze briefly, and a shiver ran down her spine at the way he was looking at her. She turned to her maid, “would you please excuse us?” she whispered quietly. The maid glanced between the two of them for a moment before curtsying and scurrying off, understanding that it was best for her to leave.

As soon as the door was shut, Anthony leapt to his feet and strode over to her, positioning himself right behind her, and she could feel him breathing heavily in her ear.

“Are you sure about that, dear wife?” he growled as he ran his hands down her arms, his teeth lightly grazing her skin, sending another shiver down her spine.

“Quite sure,” she quipped drily, trying to sound nonchalant, but her body reacted to the proximity between them, and she stiffened, a shiver running down her spine. Anthony merely hummed in her ear, though he didn’t seem convinced.

Slowly, he reached for one of the flower pins on her dressing table, and picked one that matched the color of her dress before gently pinning it to her hair, his finger brushing against her ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Her husband did that to her, the insufferable man.

“Thank you,” she breathed out as she peered at their reflection in her vanity mirror. They did look good together, almost but not quite the same height, her dark skin in contrast with his pale one, but oddly enough they fit. More than that, it felt right to have Anthony by her side, behind her, to be on his arm. So, perhaps it wasn’t that bad to be married to him, even if he she would have no love. He was still attentive, and gentle, and the nicest man in all of London.

Anthony pressed a quick, chaste kiss to her temple. “You look rather exquisite, dear wife,” he murmured in her ear, and she blushed, slightly, because every time he complimented her it felt like the first time. And, damn him for being so good with him because he was making it more and more difficult not to fall in love with him.

“Not so bad yourself, dear husband. Not that it matters, as you’re only going to your club,” she quipped, small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she put on her earrings.

“Is that so?” he remarked, sounding mock hurt as he helped her with her necklace, fastening it around her neck.

“Mm. Thank you.”

There was a knock on the door, interrupting them.

“Enter!” Anthony barked, and once more her ladies’ maid returned.

She bobbed a curtsy, “my lord, my lady, the Duchess of Hastings is here,” she announced.

“Thank you,” Kate murmured, flashing her a smile. “The Viscount and I shall join her in a moment,” she added, dismissing her, and the maid nodded, bobbed a curtsy once more before leaving. Kate turned to her husband. “Well, that is my cue to leave,” she told him, grabbing her gloves from the table, slipping them on. Anthony was already ready to go, and he offered her his arm.

“Shall we, wife?”

“Of course, husband,” she muttered primly as she took his arm, the two of them making their way downstairs to the drawing room where Daphne, the Duchess of Hastings was waiting.

She stood as soon as they arrived, eager to greet them.

“Brother! Kate!” she exclaimed, immediately pulling Anthony in for a hug, exchanging cheek kisses with him.

“Sister,” Anthony muttered with a smile.

Daphne then turned to Kate, pulling her in for a hug as well.

“Daphne, how lovely to see you,” she said, exchanging cheek kisses with her sister-in-law. ��Thank you for inviting me to attend,” she added.

“Nonsense! Lady Danbury is the one who sends out the invitations, and she is rather fond of you and your sister,” Daphne shrugged, brushing her off. “I’m just glad to have another familiar face there.”

“Likewise,” Kate nodded. “Thank you for agreeing to take me with you, though.”

“Of course,” her sister-in-law smiled. “That way, we’ll be able to get to know each other better, won’t we?”

“Of course.”

Anthony glanced between them, furrowing his brow slightly, that little crease between his eyebrows deepening slightly. “I must admit, I am a little worried at the thought of the two of you spending an extended amount of time together,” he remarked, his lips twitching slightly.

Daphne laughed, obviously amused while Kate cackled.

“Not to worry, brother, I shall bring your wife back in one piece,” she declared with a wink.

“Well, forgive me, sister, if I don’t trust you on it,” he retorted.

Kate snorted. “Do not fret, Anthony,” she said sweetly, patting his arm lightly. “We shall both act appropriately, as all married women do.”

Anthony scoffed, “appropriate. You. I’ll believe it when I see it, you menace,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

She grinned wickedly, “ah, but that’s why you won’t see it, husband,” she muttered sweetly.

“All right, all right, you two,” Daphne cleared her throat. “I believe that’s enough innuendos; he is my brother after all. Unfortunately.”

Kate chuckled. Anthony scowled.

“You know, I’m not sure I like your friendship with my wife, Daff,” he glared.

“Is that so?” Daphne raised an eyebrow. “I can say the same about yourself and my husband, brother,” she added, her tone too sweet to be genuine. Kate had to admit, she was enjoying this bit of sibling rivalry. Anthony just grunted. Daphne clapped her hands together. “Well, we should be going, Kate. My carriage is waiting for us,” she announced.

“Of course,” she smiled.

Anthony nodded, “I shall escort you, then head off myself.”

The three of them made their way out, Kate’s arm looped through Anthony’s while Daphne walked next to her, prattling on quietly about her new baby and what her husband, Simon, the Duke of Hastings, was doing at their Clyvedon estate, dealing with some tenant issues.

***

The carriage ride had been pleasant, Daphne and Kate both chatting the entire time, Daphne regaling her with stories of their family, about Anthony, and the others, too, about herself and her husband and their daughter, Amelia.

Soon, they arrived at Danbury house, the home of the dowager Lady Danbury, a footman announcing their arrival before a butler led them inside, and Kate could see Daphne practically brimming with excitement, the other woman practically bouncing.

She chuckled at Kate’s confused look, “don’t get me wrong, I adore my daughter and love spending every waking moment with her, but I miss my freedom a little, too. Being out in society. Lady Danbury’s soirees are absolutely delightful. Come,” she said, gesturing for Kate as the butler opened the doors.

Lady Danbury was there to greet them, a vision in burgundy, her hair flawless, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She beckoned for both of them to join her, and they did, Daphne beaming excitedly.

“Your Grace, Lady Bridgerton what a delight to have you here tonight,” she greeted them with a smile. “Welcome to my Den of Inequity,” she smirked. “Please, come,” she added, and began leading them further into the room, Daphne grabbing onto Kate, looping her arm around hers.

The room was lavish, beautifully decorated, with string music playing in the background, and tables throughout. Each table was occupied by a group of women, society ladies, drinking and laughing and playing card games. Kate’s brow furrowed briefly as she passed by them, especially when she heard her own name – the Young Lady Bridgerton – being whispered, but she ignored it, instead following along with Daphne and Lady Danbury.

Lady Danbury led them to a table occupied by three other women, whose faces immediately lit up upon seeing Daphne.

“Daphne!” they exclaimed, and exchanged quick greetings with her, hugging and exchanging pleasantries before their attention turned to Kate. Kate, who suddenly felt inadequate in front of these beautiful, extravagant women of the ton, wishing she’d worn more jewels, a fancier dress.

Lady Danbury cleared her throat, “ladies, may I introduce you to the newest member of our ranks. Kate, Viscountess Bridgerton,” she announced, gesturing at Kate, who forced a smile, exchanging a look with Daphne who flashed her a more encouraging smile in return. “Kate, these are Lady Trowbridge, Lucy Granville and Kitty Langham,” Lady Danbury added, introducing them.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Kate said with a soft smile, and the three women nodded, smiling at her.

Daphne latched onto her once more, pulling her to two empty chairs with a “come, Kate,” that Kate couldn’t refuse.

“The rules of the game are simple,” Daphne explained as Lady Danbury took a seat herself, “each turn, all you have to do is place your token on the card you believe the dealer will turn over.”

“Now, ladies,” Lady Danbury drawled, “place your bets.”

They did as told, Kate taking a moment to look over the cards before placing her token on an ace of spades.

Kitty, the General’s wife, and a good friend of Daphne’s, offered her a drink, “takes away the sting of losing,” she explained with a smile.

Daphne giggled, “I doubt that is necessary, Kitty. My sister-in-law is quite competitive and she’s good at winning.”

“The Duchess is right,” Lady Danbury piped up. “Kate was the one who bet on this year’s Royal Ascot winner,” she explained with a smirk. “And, against her now-husband, the Viscount, too,” she added, an amused glint in her eyes.

Kate grinned.

“And she’s been collecting her winnings ever since their wedding night, I’m sure,” Lucy Granville added, earning a giggle from the other ladies.

“Of course. The Viscount has much to offer,” Lady Trowbridge added, and Kate stiffened slightly.

“And, how would you know?” Lucy quipped, glancing at the blonde, who merely smirked knowingly. Kate tried not to look at either of the women, in particular Lady Trowbridge, and instead took a swig of her drink, the alcohol burning her throat, but she didn’t care.

“Well, everyone is aware of the Viscount’s reputation,” Kitty chimed in, probably trying to ease the tension. “A Rake. I’m sure your sister-in-law understands, right Daphne? The Duke was quite the rake, himself, wasn’t he?” she added, taking a sip of her drink. “And, now he is a devoted husband and father.”

Daphne chuckled, “yes, he was. Reformed rakes really do make the best of husbands, don’t they, Kate?”

Kate smiled, though it was probably more of a grimace. “Indeed, they are,” she muttered, taking a sip of her own drink.

The dealer turned the cards over, and Kate grinned when she turned out to be right. She did like to win, after all.

“Again!” she exclaimed, laughing in delight, her desire to win outshining that small, jealous voice in the back of her head.

“My, my, Lady Bridgerton,” Kitty drawled, “it seems you are the star of the evening.”

“Well, I do enjoy a bit of competition,” she quipped, lips curving into a smirk.

Daphne snorted, “she does! She fits in quite nicely with us Bridgertons, you know. She was this year’s Pall Mall victor,” she said with a wink.

“Ah, the famous Bridgerton Pall Mall,” Kitty nodded. “The ton only hears of it, but the Bridgertons are known to be quite competitive.”

Kate nodded, “that they are. But, I happen to be quite competitive myself. And, besting one’s husband is the best win of all,” she said with a smirk.

“Oh! Were you engaged then? We all heard the engagement occurred at Aubrey Hall but didn’t know of the circumstances. Was marriage part of the terms of the game?”

“No, we got engaged after I sank my husband’s ball into the lake, but now that we are husband and wife victory in Pall Mall and all other things shall be that much sweeter,” she remarked, taking another sip of her drink.

The ladies gasped, obviously delighted by this small tidbit about what happened between them, and Kate couldn’t help but feel a small thrill.

“Yes,” Daphne beamed, “my brother has certainly found his match in Kate,” she gushed, sending Kate a wink.

Kate won the next round, too, this time placing her token on an eight of hearts.

But, the whispers and innuendos didn’t stop there, and soon Kate realized that other tables, too, whispered when they thought she couldn’t hear them. They whispered about her, about how she wasn’t Edwina, about Anthony, too, and his rakish exploits from before. An opera singer, an artist, a tailor, visits to brothels, and even a widow or two. And, later when Kate had won most of the games, she felt anything but a victor.

***

She’d bid goodnight to Daphne downstairs, and hoped that her husband was either not home or fast asleep, but alas he wasn’t. He was waiting for her, in their bedroom, lounging on the bed. She dismissed the maid, not wanting to deal with more questions. She would manage on her own.

She flashed him a tired smile in greeting, “good evening, Anthony.”

“Hello, wife,” he smirked. “Did you have a good evening? Enjoyed yourself?”

She hummed, “indeed I did. Did you?” She glanced at him as she slipped off her gloves, laying them on the table, then began taking off her jewelry, her earrings clattering against her other jewels. She reached to unclasp her necklace, but Anthony came to stand beside her, gently taking it from her hands and unclasping it himself before handing it to her.

“So, what do the ladies of the ton do without their men?” he wondered, obviously curious as he wordlessly unpinned the flower from her hair.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she quipped, smirking slightly, but it felt flat, like she wasn’t quite into it.

“Oh, I would,” he grinned as he helped her undo her updo, her curls falling down her shoulders. “Well?”

She chuckled, “ah, but then where would be the fun in these gatherings? Us married ladies gather to gossip about our husbands, among other things, and our husbands must not know,” she retorted.

“Kate…” he groaned.

“A secret is a secret, dear husband,” she reminded him with a smirk. Anthony merely huffed, pouting petulantly in response. “Oh, that is very becoming of you, Lord Bridgerton,” she added, rolling her eyes.

Anthony glared, “you are an absolute menace, did you know that?”

“So you’ve mentioned a few times,” she grumbled. She sighed as she looked back into the mirror, her mind going back to the gathering, to the events of the night, and in particular the whispers and innuendos.

Anthony noticed her stiffen, saw the sad look in her eyes, and tried catching her gaze in the mirror, but she couldn’t, couldn’t bear to look at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly, coming to stand behind her once more.

“Nothing,” she muttered with a forced smile. “All is well. I’m just tired, Anthony,” she told him, but unfortunately her husband could read her, and he knew something was wrong.

“Kate,” he drawled, “what happened?”

“Nothing, it’s just-” she stopped herself, her lip caught between her teeth. He raised an eyebrow, nudging her lightly to continue. “Nothing, truly. It is just that… well, you were the topic of quite a few conversations this evening, but it’s fine,” she told him, her words coming out in a rush, and she could feel her cheeks flush.

But Anthony knew what she meant almost immediately, his forehead creasing only briefly in confusion before he frowned, muttering a quiet “oh.”

“I told you, it is nothing for you to worry about, we should just get ready for bed,” she told him in a dismissive tone, trying to brush it off. But she should have known. Anthony Bridgerton was not one to let it go.

“Kate,” he said slowly, “are you jealous?”

“Of course not!” she snapped, maybe a little too harshly. “I’m not jealous, don’t be ridiculous,” she told him.

“Kate, you were aware of my reputation before we married. Wasn’t that the reason you objected to my courting your sister?”

She rolled her eyes, “of course. That is exactly the point. As I said, I’m not jealous. Truly,” she told him, but even as she said it, she was lying through her teeth. And Anthony knew that. They both knew it.

She tried to step aside, but he stopped her, his hands gripping her arms gently, though she continued to face the mirror.

“Kate, we both know that isn’t true,” he said softly, and she could feel his breath in her ear, but still she didn’t meet his gaze.

“Anthony,” she groaned, breathlessly.

“Kate,” he whispered into her ear, his teeth lightly grazing her skin before he turned her around, but still she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Kate, what did they say? Tell me.” His tone was desperate, willing her to tell him, his fingers reaching to rest under her chin, forcing her to look up and meet his gaze. “Look at me, Kate,” he demanded, his tone pleading, and when she did, she saw his eyes burning with emotion, and she felt her resolve weaken.

“Nothing specific,” she whispered, “nothing to my face. But they kept talking. About you. Your… reputation,” she admitted, averting her gaze, and she heard him sigh heavily.

“Kate, you knew-” he started, his forehead creasing in frustration.

“They mentioned a woman you were once fond of. Sienna Rosso. An opera singer. It seems you have a type,” she muttered, reaching to cup his cheek gently.

“Had,” he mumbled.

She met his gaze once more. “Had?” she repeated.

He nodded, “had,” he said, his voice firm. He spun her around so her back was to him once more before he pressed his body against hers, his mouth next to her ear. “Now, I have a different type.” He smirked, “a beautiful, insufferable and competitive menace who drives me utterly insane with desire,” he said, breathlessly as he brushed his lips against her ear, nipping lightly on her earlobe, causing her to let out a small giggle. “I want you,” he muttered as he pressed a kiss to her jaw. And another. And another, trailing kisses along her jaw. “I desire you,” he whispered as he kissed along her neck. “All the time. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day,” he murmured against her skin as his lips brushed over her collarbone. “I- I need you,” he stuttered, and Kate’s heart skipped a beat. “I need you, Kate,” he repeated, his voice hoarse, and she shivered, as he removed his hands from her arms. “I.” Kiss. “Want.” Kiss. “You.” Another kiss. “Always.” He continued in this manner, peppering kisses all over her skin, his hands expertly unbuttoning her dress, letting it pool at her feet before he spun her around once more, so she was facing him this time.

“Anthony,” she muttered breathlessly as he cupped her cheeks, his fingers firm but gentle on her skin.

“Kate,” he breathed out. “Listen to me,” he urged, “and listen closely. Sienna is my past. Just like all those other women the ton whispers about. My past. But they do not matter. She does not matter. You matter, Kate. You are my present and my future. You are my always. I will always want you, Kate. You are the bane of my existence and the object of my desires,” he said, his voice hoarse, his dark brown eyes blazing, urging her to believe him. “All at once.”

Kate felt her breath knocked out of her, and she gasped quietly before reaching for him, her own arms winding around his neck, pulling him to her.

“Anthony,” she muttered against his lips, her nose bumping against his, their foreheads touching, “I need you.”

He picked her up effortlessly, his deft fingers already undoing the laces of her corset, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, felt him press against her thigh, hard. He needed her just as much. It was clear in his tone, in his eyes, in the way he kissed her, hungry and desperate, like a man drowning.

“I need you, too, Kate,” he whispered before capturing her lips with his own. “You have no idea how much.”

And Kate had to admit that a little jealousy had come in handy. Very handy. Especially as her husband gasped her name in pleasure.

#katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek2021 #kate sheffield x anthony bridgerton #Kate Sharma x Anthony Bridgerton #kathony #kanthony #bridgerton

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starhallows · 3 years

Note

If you're still taking prompts, #3 or #9 ( I can't choose!!) for Anthony/Kate 💜

Yeah, remember these? Anyway, not me killing two birds with one stone and using KateandAnthonyWeek to clear the ask box.

DAY 3: Something Stupid Like I Love You

Friday Nights

“You can’t do that!” he screeched. Kate suspected it had everything to do with her being only a correct answer away from winning.

“Seriously, Bridgerton?”

“Very serious”.

Kate huffed and sat back down. “Whatever,” she said, “there’s no possible way for you to win”.

Kate didn’t know how she had ended up spending a Friday afternoon with the Bridgertons in their house in Mayfair. That was a lie. Edwina had dragged her out of her flat that afternoon and begged her to go with her, and, as her sister knew, Kate could never tell her “no”.

It wasn’t like Kate’s sour mood had nothing to do with her sweet sister. No. The reason for her annoyance sat right across from her on an overstuffed chair that she was sure was the only one suitable for his overpompous ass. At least, Kate thought, he looked like he was more and more uncomfortable by the minute.

Her relationship with Anthony Bridgerton had had plenty of highs and lows. Her instincts had told her to stay away the first time she had met him and he had flirted with her sister just to spite her. She should have listened to them, she never truly figured out why she hadn’t. That wasn’t entirely true either. He had that same je ne sais quoi that every Bridgerton seemed to possess and that worked like a magnet for the unfortunate souls around them. Kate hadn’t been any different.

She had bumped into him twice in the first week after meeting him and constantly kept seeing him in places she had never seen him in before. He would usually nod her way, and she would return the gesture because, in Mary’s words, “I haven’t raised you to be a brat, little miss”. She had been at a bookshop picking up something for Edwina when she saw him sitting in what looked like a terribly dull book presentation with his brother Colin.

“Are you following me?” she asked him when he got up from his seat and walked towards her.

“Save me, Kate,” he had said, “my brother is trying to bore me to death!”

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” she snarked.

“That man has been talking about the different ways to filter rainwater for the past forty-five minutes. If you save me I will buy you coffee for the rest of the year”.

“That desperate?”

“Yes,” he had nodded eagerly.

“I know a place,” she had answered.

They had met every morning for coffee for an entire month in a small coffee shop that was convenient for both of them. Kate had sworn to anyone that dared tease her about it, that she wasn’t dating Anthony Bridgerton, he just happened to buy her breakfast every morning. It didn’t matter that she had to wake up half an hour earlier every day just to get to work on time, even if Kate had never been an early riser.

They hadn’t made a big deal out of it when he had cancelled their coffee appointment and took her out to lunch instead. It didn’t really matter when she couldn’t make it one morning and her meetings ran through her lunch break a few days later, so, she decided to treat him to dinner instead.

Again, it’s not like they were dating. They were just two single people, enjoying each other’s company practically daily. And yes, he always woke up to a text message she had sent way too late at night, and she might have their WhatsApp conversation pinned, but that didn’t mean anything. They were friends, at best.

She somehow ended up pushing him against a wall in a poorly lit corner in White’s while the loud music on the dance floor guided her arms up his body and she pulled his head down so her lips could claim his. He pulled her closer by the waist while she ran her nails through the back of his head. His breath mixed with hers, both too preoccupied to worry about oxygen, their minds clouded by the passion of every touch.

He had taken her home that Friday night.

They had had breakfast in the morning.

She had kissed him goodbye as she left on Saturday.

They had messaged the entire day on Sunday.

He missed their date on Monday.

And Tuesday.

And Wednesday.

Kate had breakfast at home on Thursday, glaring at her phone every time she happened to see his name on it. The double blue tics o at least ten messages mocked her from the stupid chat. She debated texting him one last time “I really hope you are dead” or something equally hurtful and petty. She sighed instead, her finger hovering over the pin for just a second before clicking on it and watching their conversation plummet down the bottomless pit of the chat. She had texted Sophie instead and made plans for the afternoon - Ben and Jerry’s and Greys Anatomy, the perfect combination.

See, no one could fault Kate for not wanting to be in the Bridgerton game night the next day. No one could argue against her if she decided she’d rather be at a bar, gin and tonic in hand giggling over hot men with her friends. The Bridgertons were like jump scares in cheap horror films, however, expected at every turn and still unavoidable.

Her phone pinged next to her and Kate unblocked it.

“Hot date, Kate?” Benedict teased beside her.

“You bet,” she said, winking at him as she smiled and answered Sophie’s text. The sooner she was done, the sooner she could leave for the club Sophie had somehow gotten tickets for through her nice step sister.

“Where are you going after?”

“This new place. It used to be an old clothing warehouse. My friend said there are mannequins all over the dancefloor”.

“Ooh, freaky,” Benedict said turning towards her, “sounds fun.”

“It’s your turn again, Kate,” Anthony grumbled from the other side of the Trivial board.

“Entertainment,” she answered.

“Who was the first person to ever play Elphaba in Wicked?” he asked.

“Idina Menzel”.

“Wrong,” he said putting the card to the side.

“How is that wrong? She originated the role on Broadway, she won the bloody Tony!”

“Stephanie J Block played Elphaba in the workshops”.

“Yes, and I am sure that the good people writing the questions for Trivial Pursuit have decided to go with the more obscure answer. Give me the card”.

“The card is wrong,” he said stubbornly.

Benedict murmured something that sounded like “For God’s sake, Anthony”.

“Fine, whatever, have your stupid answer”. She stood up and took walked to Edwina to take her bag. “I’m meeting Sophie for drinks like I told you,” she told her sister, “I’ll see you tomorrow”.

“You can’t leave now Kate, we aren’t done!” Anthony said, jumping from his seat.

“Oh we are done,” Kate snapped back, and the room went silent.

“You can’t just get up and leave, Kate,” he insisted, “you can’t just leave in the middle of something!”

“Oh, you would know all about leaving in the middle of something, wouldn’t you?”

“Now, I don’t think we need to talk about that here”.

“Talk about what?” Kate raised her voice. “I didn’t know there was something his Lordship wished to talk about, every interaction we’ve had the last few days guided me in the opposite direction!”

“Well not this way, I didn’t!”He said, his tone matching hers.

“You are such a jerk! Was it that hard to answer one of the messages I sent you?” She suddenly remembered where she was. “Great, now I sound pathetic! Thank you!”

“Will you wait for…”

“For what?”

“Well, if you just let me talk!”

“Maybe I’m done waiting for you to talk!”

“Seriously Kate!”

“Enough, both of you!” Francesca yelled. “Shouting at each other across the room doesn’t count as having a proper conversation about your feelings. Wouldn’t you rather all this be private, anyway?”

“Yes”.

“Not really”.

“Come on, Kate,” he pleaded.

“Fine,” she said, leaving the living room and walking out into the hallway. He jogged after her and took her to the kitchen, far enough from their siblings without walking into one of the bedrooms.

“Well?” she asked after a moment.

“I don’t know where to begin”.

“Great,” Kate said, taking her phone and pulling the strap of her bag closer to her neck. “Wonderful. Why did I even-” she huffed.

“No, Kate, wait!”

“What am I waiting for Anthony? You’ve been ghosting me for a week, I get it”.

“No, you don’t”

“Oh, please…”

“I got scared! I- I’m horrible at the relationship thing, Kate. Like, certifiably bad”. Seeing that she hadn’t left the kitchen yet, he kept talking. “ We’ve been doing this for over a month and I kept telling myself that you and I were friends, that we would never be more than friends. Because I was sure that was the only thing you would like to be after the way I treated you the first time we met”. He walked towards her and stopped only centimetres away. “Then breakfasts became lunches and after that, you took me to dinner. I was half-convinced I was imagining things when you…”

“When I kissed you at White’s”.

“I know you’ll think I’m saying this because I’m in the doghouse but that was the best night of my life”. Kate rolled her eyes and smiled. “I’m serious,” he insisted, creasing his forehead. “The more I thought about it, the more I knew I would say something stupid sooner or later and I didn’t want to scare you away”.

“Anthony,” she said, taking his forearm in her hand, “it’s not like what you’ve been doing is keeping me close”.

He rubbed his temple with his free hand. “I didn’t want to say something stupid…”

“Stupid like what?” Anthony shrugged but his cheeks turned slightly pink. “So instead you did something stupid?”

“Apparently”.

Her phone pinged in her hand once again. She should run away now, she realised, now that the damage would be minimal. There was something about him, however, that compelled her to stay. Kate pulled on his forearm and took a step towards him. His eyes widened as her lips touched his cheek.

“I’ll see you Monday,” she told him as she left, “and Anthony?”

“Yes?”

“The next time you are scared of saying something stupid, write it down until you find a smart way of doing it”.

#kateandanthonyweek #kateandanthonyweek21 #katexanthonyweek #katexanthonyweek21 #bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #kate sharma #kate sheffield #anthony bridgerton #kate x anthony #kathony #kanthony

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