“Forcing me? You would never, ever do that. You know I’d tell my father and brothers, and you’d never survive.” Shechuckled before growing serious. “You aren’t that type of man. I feared rejection and disappointment. I feared a broken heart. But I have never, since the moment I spied you, feared you. Even when we didn’t speak more than we had to in passing, I knew I was safe with you. I know you protected me more than once when men wished to do more than converse. I always assumed it was merely because I’m a woman.”
“I’ll always do my best to protect anyone unable to so themselves. But know that it took all my restraint each time not to kill those men. There’s nothing I won’t do to keep you safe. You’re everything to me.” It was as close to a profession of love as they’d come. Neither was read to say the three words lest the other didn’t feel the same. They wanted to believe their feelings were reciprocated, but neither braved the possible rejection.
Instead, their lips fused once more. Ben was careful how much of his weight he pressed against Jemma. But she grew restless. She ran her hands down the length of his back until she reached his buttocks. When he didn’t stop her, groaning instead, she cupped it. It surprised her how different it felt from her own. Chiseled muscle met her palms and fingers. She pressed, wishing him to rub his length against her mound. She understood the logistics of coupling, but she’d never longed for it the way she did now as she welcomed her introduction to passion.
Ben was hesitant as he rocked his hips. He watched Jemma’s eyes slide shut and forced himself not to rush when she tested moving her hips beneath him. But her frustrated moan made his bollocks ache. He wanted this to only be pleasurable for her, even if he thought he might expire from his need to thrust and spend. The dustcover was large enough to keep them covered without impeding their movements. Jemma widened her legs, allowing Ben to settle more against her mons.
“Jemma, do you know what happens between a man and a woman when they come together?”
“Yes. My mother explained it years ago, but I also found a book in father’s study they must have brought back from India. It had pictures.” She appeared sheepish and couldn’t meet Ben’s gaze anymore.
“Did you enjoy looking at them?” His lurid imagination pictured her reading the book and wanting them to be the couples on each page.
“Yes. I—I—” She was too mortified by image that sprang to mind to finish.
“I’ll never insist you share your thoughts, but I wish you would. I think they’re the same as mine.”
“Then you admit yours first,” Jemma whispered.
“I want to think you pictured us.”
“I did. There were some that featured more than two people. I don’t want those, Ben.”
He stared down at her aghast. “I willnevershare you, and I willnevertouch another woman. It might be exciting to look at such pictures and even imagine what it would be like, but I would never ask it, and I will never suggest it.”
Jemma didn’t know she’d feared he’d be curious until she admitted to herself she wondered if he’d done it before at a tavern or brothel. Ben knew each thought that passed through her mind as though there were written across her face for him to see.
“Sweetling, I’m not an innocent, but neither am I a rake. I know from experience, but I always—” It was Ben’s turn to not want to finish. But the moment Jemma retreated, he knew he had to finish lest she think the worst of him. “I always wanted it to be you. I imagined it was, but I never allowed myself to believe one day it would be.”
“Darling, I understand. I didn’t assume you were still a virgin. I just don’t want to picture you with someone else, and I don’t want to know any details.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you like that.”
Jemma nodded. Ben used their kiss to assure her he wanted to be nowhere else but with her. She reached between them and unfastened her coat. Ben kneeled to shuck his while she slipped hers off. They removed their hats, gloves, and scarves since they were in the way, and they both were growing overheated. Ben sat and patted his lap.
“Straddle me.” Ben helped her gather her skirts until they were around her waist. When she settled, it brought his length against her sheath in a way that was far more intimate than even a few minutes ago. Need pushed her to rock her hips. He cupped her bottom, encouraging her to move faster. When she found a rhythm that had them both tempted for more, he worked her gowns buttons down her back. He unfastened them far enough to pull the sleeves down to her elbows. He cupped her breasts through her chemise and found her pebbled nipples. They’d been wrapped up and growing too hot only moments ago, so he didn’t think the tightened buds were that way from the cold. He leaned forward and laved one through the material.
“You shall leave it wet, and it’ll be cold and damp later.” Jemma plucked at the ribbons at her shoulders, but she caught the under gown before exposing herself. She grew timid for a moment; fearful she was too brazen.
“Jemma, let me see whatever you’re comfortable showing me. I’d gorge myself on the sight of your entire body if I could.” His hand rested on her arm, but he didn’t press. She moved it, and he pulled the chemise down to her waist. He’d never seen more magnificent breasts than the ones before him. He hungered for them, and he would not be denied.
He brought his mouth to her left mound while kneading the right. He flicked his tongue over her nipple before suckling. He cupped that breast, lifting it, so he could widen his mouth. He would enjoy every bit he could fit between his lips. He moved to the other, repeating what he’d just done. He went back and forth as Jemma ran her fingers through his hair and along his good arm and shoulder. Her head tipped back as she moaned. His hand left her breast and dipped under her skirts to trail up the length of her leg. He moved it around to her bare bottom and squeezed. He brought it over her hip and skimmed his fingertips over her lower belly. When they drifted downward, she didn’t stop him. He watched her, gratified by how much she enjoyed his ministrations. He moved slowly, worried he would frighten her once his thumb found her pearl.
“Ben.” The breathy moan tempted him to forget her innocence and claim her as only his. He circled the pad of his thumb over the source of her pleasure. “Ben, I want more, but I know we can’t. The more you touch me, the more I rub against your rod, the more I ache to know what it’ll be like to truly couple.”
“I know, sweetling. I want the same. I long to be inside you, to fill you with my seed.”
“I wish we didn’t have to wait. It’s agony.”
Ben continued to work the satiny flesh until she tensed. She gripped his shirt at his shoulders as she moved faster. The pressure against his cock threatened to make him explode. He breathed, focusing on not spilling in his breeches while still bringing Jemma to release.
“Ben!” A wave of electricity shot from her core out through her body and into her limbs as she went rigid. She practically vibrated from how tense she grew. She’d never experienced the sensation, but she already wanted more. She wanted to continuemoving, searching for another release. She was aware of what just happened; she just hadn’t know it could be so incredible.
Ben wrapped his good arm around her waist and twisted them to lower Jemma’s back to the settee again. He inched away, keeping her skirts at her waist until he could settle his shoulders between her thighs.
“I told you I wish to taste all of you.” He licked her seam before swirling his tongue over her pearl. If she’d read the explicit book, he assumed she’d seen pictures of couples engaging in what they did now. He didn’t fear it shocking her. He watched her as he pressed his tongue into her entrance. She curled to observe him, her hands fisting her skirts. But when need threatened to steal all reason, she laced the fingers of her right hand through his hair and pressed his mouth closer. Her hips undulated until that mesmerizing feeling returned.
“Ben, yes. Keep going. Good God.”
