Moving long enough to remove his small clothes, he lifted her nightdress over her head until all her naked glory was revealed. She was so lovely, so tantalizing, that his cock was throbbing almost painfully with the need to possess her, to claim her for his own. She might have been carrying another man’s child, but she would forever be his now.
He positioned himself at her entrance and pushed inside with a single movement of his hips. She clawed at his back with her fingernails and he reveled in the pleasurable pain of it. Her lips were parted, her face flushed, proof that she was enjoying this as much as he was.
He didn’t take his eyes off of her as he pumped his cock in and out in a carnal rhythm that soon had his body tensing, preparing for a release that he knew would be like no other.
Beneath him, Catherine’s breathing was becoming more labored and he knew she was near her peak as well. Slipping one hand between them, he paused his movements to press her delicate nub and that wasall it took to send her careening over the edge of oblivion. He watched her face as she crested the wave of ecstasy and he had to clench his jaw to keep from spilling himself right then and there as her core pulsed and quivered around his cock.
When she was sated, he pumped his hips once more, harder, faster, and it didn’t take long before he was groaning from the severity of his orgasm. Spots danced in his vision and it seemed as though he’d managed to die and come back to life in the same moment.
As Benjamin foundhis release, Catherine closed her eyes. The enormity of what they had just done would forever be burned upon her brain. She wanted to tell herself this coupling was meaningless, that it was just for mutual pleasure the likes of which she’d shared with David.
But it would have been a lie. A terrible, egregious lie.
Already, she was feeling herself starting to soften toward him. He was real with her, honest, and she appreciated his straightforward sense of communication. He wasn’t the sort of man who would spout poetry to get his way. He might use seduction, but he did it very well. She knew without a doubt that the rest of their marriage would be filled with equal amounts of mutual satisfaction, but was she willing to risk her heart on such a frightening gamble? She did not want the life her parents had. The thought of sharing her husband with any other woman made her sick to her stomach. She supposed she was selfish that way. She believed that a commitment actually meant something, that a mistress was nothing more than a slap in the face.
It was better to enact her vengeance on the Black Widow and keep a decided distance with Benjamin. She’d learned long ago that notevery love story had a happy ending. It was wrong of Mrs. Dove-Lyon to pretend as though she were the exception to that matchmaking rule.
“Catherine…”
It was the first time he’d spoken since they’d come together with such a strong need. But now that those passions had cooled, she recalled the reality that surrounded them. “At least we got that out of the way.”
He looked at her curiously, as if he didn’t know what she meant.
“There is no longer any doubt as to the legality of our marriage.”
Benjamin blinked and then rolled away from her to slide off the bed. He slipped his small clothes on with quick, jerky movements, evidence of his current mood. “If you believe this was nothing more about consummating our union, you are more naïve than I thought.”
She didn’t care for his condescending tone. Sitting up, she held the coverlet over her nakedness.
“I am quite aware that what we did validated our vows,” he said, “but that is not why I came here tonight.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Then why did you?”
“I heard a noise coming from your room. I was under the impression you were having a nightmare.”
“So you decided to come and rescue me?” She shook her head. “That is very gallant of you, my lord, but I am capable of fending off any demons that haunt me.” She lifted a brow and dared to add, “You will be glad to know that it wasn’t anything derogatory. In fact, I was engaging in a bit of self-pleasure.”
He paused, as if surprised that she might actually admit to something so personal.
“Come now,” she cajoled. “It’s not as if men don’t engage in the same activity. I see no harm in women enjoying the same pursuits.”
“I never said what you were doing was wrong,” he countered. “I am merely curious why you think I came to your bed under a pretenseother than the desire to please each other.”
She waved a hand. “I am not upset, if that is what you think. In truth, I’m relieved that is over so that we can concentrate on other pursuits, such as retaliation against the Black Widow.”
“I see. I wasn’t sure if you intended to pursue your vengeance, considering we seem to be getting on better than I had originally imagined.”
“Of course I mean to follow through with it,” she returned evenly. “You and I both know it is a matter of time before the easy contentment we share shall turn to contempt. Let us not pretend otherwise.”
He stilled for a moment and then he gave a curt nod. “Very well. We shall move forward to bring down the Lyon’s Den. I will assist you in any way I can.”
She hadn’t expected him to give in so easily. “I am relieved you are still as eager as I to bring Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s farce to an end.”
He bent down and put his face directly in front of hers. “I am eager for many things, Catherine. And you will find this will not be our only night together.” He straightened, but his dark gaze was still intent upon her, burning her with its inner fire. “You will ask to share my bed again. I am confident of that fact.”
He quit the room.
Catherine’s heart had managed to lodge itself in her throat at his parting threat. Or was it a dark promise? Either way, it was unsettling and she knew she would have to reevaluate her attraction to Benjamin. It was perilous to desire him this much. She had awoken to the fantasy of his mouth on her, his fingers caressing her skin, and when she’d realized he’d been standing in her room, lust had flown freely through her body. She wouldn’t have been able to decline her need for him had shewantedto do so. Instead, she’d opened her arms—and her legs—to him without restraint. And it had been pure bliss.
