“You have to admit that these books are written more with us ladies in mind than for the gentlemen. I have always believed gentlemen would find it rather uninteresting and a bit out of touch with reality,” she defended her thought.
“You are not wrong to think so, Lady Augusta. There are many men who would rather be flogged than caught with such novels in hand. Perhaps I might’ve found it unnecessary mere weeks ago, however, I find it all intriguing.”
“What about it do you find so intriguing?” she asked curiously.
Benedict smiled and stared down at her. “For one, it offers me a brief look into your mind.”
Augusta scoffed disbelievingly. “My mind? I don’t believe you can figure me out by reading a few novels, Your Grace. I read it mostly for leisure and the enjoyment of it. There is nothing to figure out from that.”
Benedict laughed at her affronted look. “I do not believe so either. What I mean to say is that these novels have certain patterns that are repeated over again in all of them and I believe those are some of the things you might enjoy.”
“Would you tell me some of them?” She asked him, her cheeks pinkening.
He grinned at the sight. She had a soft side underneath that tough exterior. “Will we be starting a book club where we discuss all of our ideas and feelings on the books we read and how it pertains to us then?”
She growled at his teasing, her hands bunching into tiny fists that only made him laugh harder. He truly did enjoy his time with her. She was like a breath of fresh air from the suffocation of the members of the ton during the season.
“I only wish to know what you think of me now that you have read these books,” she said with a slight raise of her voice.
“I’m afraid we will have to save that for another time, although I assure you, they are all wonderful things.”
He watched as her expression flickered between being annoyed and pleased. She was so interesting to figure out. At first glance, there were so many complicated layers but the more time he spent with her, the more he realized how uncomplicated she truly was.
Benedict did not want to think of what would happen when the season was over and they both went back to their lives without the other in it. The future seemed bleak without her in it.
“I do not understand why you simply cannot tell me all about it. I don’t believe it is such a hard task,” she began but was cut off when Benedict took her hand in his.
He caressed it, feeling the softness of her palm. He traced the lines, forgetting himself.
“What are you doing?” she asked with wide eyes. He expected her to pull her hand from his but she did not. Her hands remained loose around his.
“Something I’ve been wanting to do for so long,” he mumbled as he pulled her closer to himself and bent until his lips were only inches away from meetings hers. He looked from her lips to those beautiful green eyes that invaded his every waking thought.
“Now would be the best time to stop me, Augusta,” he whispered against her lips, searching her eyes for the answer he needed.
He pressed his lips against her soft ones, revelling in the feeling of it as it sent shock through his system. He hadn’t realized just how much he needed to kiss her until now.
Benedict opened his lips over hers, sucking her bottom lip she constantly worried with her teeth into his mouth. He massaged it with his tongue.
Augusta let out a soft gasp, her palms reaching up to his chest. He relaxed himself, unsure whether she wished to push him away or not.
* * *
Augusta reached up to push Benedict away as he kissed her gently. Her palms relaxed against his chest, her body betraying her as she savored his gentle kiss. It was everything the books had said it would be and more.
His large hand reached up to cup her chin as he angled his head and kissed her deeper. Her eyes wide with shock, fluttered close at the gentility of his actions. A thrill ran down her spine and back up, sending little energetic kicks all over her body.
She couldn’t imagine ever tiring of this feeling. She wished she could do this forever, savour him as he savoured her.
Her eyes shot open again.Forever?’
Forever wasn’t possible with him. She had gotten carried away in their pretence and forgotten that their courtship wasn’t real. They were only doing this because of a bet, and even if she changed her mind and chose to have a real courtship, she knew Benedict would not want that for he had no interest in marriage and she refused to want less for herself.
Augusta pulled away slowly, although her body warred against her mind. She watched as his eyes opened and he stared at her with confusion. Perhaps it was a bad idea for him to read her books. These kinds of liberties were sometimes taken. Perhaps they had soiled his mind.
She looked away, struggling to compose herself. Her thoughts were messy and she wanted nothing more than to have his lips on hers again but that was a situation she could not afford to be in.
She bit her lip, wringing her fingers behind her as she tried to maintain her self-control. Her chest heaved partly from nervousness in the newness of the feelings he evoked in her and from fear.
