Or did he owe his resistance to a stubborn thread of apathy that had never completely healed? Could she reach the deepest, darkest parts of him? Yes, she thought, helping him out of his shirt and kissing him while she did it. She’d reach him and stroke him, and tame him just enough to cherish her–as she cherished him. Control? Even a hardened warrior’s control was nothing compared to an inviting smile from someone much loved. She would prove it. To herself, at least. She could make him lose control.
She bit his bottom lip and ran her palm down the back of his thigh. He pulled himself over her once again and settled halfway atop her. She reached for the clasps of his pants.
He calmed her shaking hands and brought her trembling fingers to his lips. He unclasped his pants and moved out of them.
Fable wasn’t nervous about being intimate with him. They’d made love before. But they knew each other so much more now. Ben knew all her secrets. Their bond was even more intimate now. Now, she loved him and would never love anyone but him.
He undressed her as if he were unpacking a treasured gift, his gaze basking in every inch he exposed, kissing trails to here and there and snatching her breath. He took his time, cherishing every moment.
Finally, when her pinkie brushed against his, the control he held onto so tightly, frayed and snapped. He didn’t tear her clothes, but pulled and yanked her out of them.
She smiled victoriously.
As if he knew what caused her unusual rush of pride, he laughed. His deep, low pitch filled her and seared her blood. Shelet herself fall deep into his loving gaze as he slipped his naked body over hers, and then closed her eyes reluctantly when he dipped his face to kiss her.
His tongue filled the darkest recesses of her mouth, slowly, with the skill of a master, though he swore he hadn’t kissed many. His full, succulent lips molded to hers and compelled her legs to open wider beneath him.
She knew by the urgency in his kisses, his short, deep breaths, that he wanted her. Desperately. That he would never let her go. He would lose his whole family for her.
“Ben…” she whispered as he pushed his heaviness against her.
He stared into her eyes. “I love you,” he told her then covered her mouth with his. He pushed his way inside of her, pausing once to let his passion wane. She held onto him, running her fingers through his hair, her palms down his back. She relished every muscle as it trembled at her touch.
He loved her. He was the first person in her life to ever say it and mean it. Despite the way his sister and many others felt about her, he had never hidden his affection for her, whether he was protecting her from hissing tongues, or spending all his time with her.Even when he tried to run away from what he was feeling for her, he’d returned to stand for her in front of a pack of wolves. Even Edith knew how the duke felt about her. But if Fable ever doubted it, all she had to do was look at him when he saw her.
Oh no! Were those tears burning her eyes? No! Not now! He’ll think…
He moved his face closer to hers and kissed her eyelids. It made her want to cry more. All the things she lived without–like a real mother, someone she could trust, someone who loved her the way she should have been loved, a safe home, a hot meal everyday without a single fret of where she would eat tomorrow.She’d endured it all. And then he came along and gently offered her everything she ever wanted, everything she didn’t know she needed.
“What is it, my love,” he asked. “What brings these tears to your eyes?”
“I’m unworthy,” she sobbed softly, hating herself for losing it while they made love.
“Unworthy?” He leaned up and cast her a dark look. “Did my father offend you? Wh–”
“Ben–”
“I’m the one who is unworthy ofyou, my love. You have a grateful and kind heart. You, who have been pelted with things the vile-natured had the audacity to throw at you. You have survived the fear and the loneliness of the night and learned how to flip a man and then have your way with him.”
She smiled remembering how she’d flipped him and his friend, Sudbury.
“You have an enchanting nature, but the most dangerous thing you do with all your charms is swindle a man out of his money and his senses. You have remained somehow innocent and grateful though the world flung you about. That is a special sort of strength, Wife. I seek to emulate you.”
She smiled gazing up at him, then her lips curled with a playful pout. “You’re never going to get over that I beat you at chess.”
“I was unprepared for your skill. That is swindling, my dearest.”
She pushed him away when he would have swooped down on her. “I’ve beaten you many times since then, Benjamin. Admit it!”
“You have beaten me many times,” he gave in quickly. “On the board and off it.” When her smile returned, he leaned in and kissed her.
She felt him trying to break through her wall. She spread her legs wider and lifted them over his hips. She felt every thoughtful thrust, every inch of him. When she dripped around him, he unleashed his passionate heart, probably the same passionate heart revealed on the battlefield, making him a decorated soldier.
She let him have his way with her–after a swift chase. He would never hurt her. Not even if his life depended on it. She trusted him. That’s why she giggled and acted irresistibly to him. She hadn’t known him for long, but she felt things instinctually for him. She had never been known for acting coy–but she acted that way now and laughed with him, then panted with him again when he held her from behind.
She felt like an empress when he withdrew and then turned her around to face him. With a slight movement, he lifted her against him and then set her down on his heavy erection. She coiled her legs around him and moved with him while he carried her to a cushioned chair in the corner of the room. He fell into it holding her against him. He let her go and spread himself out beneath her.
She needed no further persuasion but straddled him and stroked him with her body. She smiled with a satisfied purr and told him how good he felt so deep inside her, bringing him to a quick end.
