Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

" I don't know what you mean," Thalia breathed, hearing how thin and uncertain her voice sounded.

Benedict took another step closer. His eyes raked over her, her skin seeming to burn everywhere he looked. "I think you know exactly what I mean."

Thalia's breath caught in her throat. There was something in his eyes that she knew was far more dangerous than anything she had experienced thus far in her life. And yet, no logic in the world could deny her response to such a look.

The desire in his eyes – the suggestion of what he might do to her – made her legs quiver. Heat surged up and down her body, her head spinning.

Another step closer, and she could no longer breathe. Reaching out, the duke trailed a knuckle down her cheek, his eyes following the untouched path from her collarbone to the pale breasts which were now illuminated by moonlight. His hunger was unmistakable.

Then, with a suddenness that made her gasp, Benedict pulled Thalia into the maze, pressing her up against the wall around the first corner. Leaves and delicate vines pressed into her back as Benedict pressed against her front.

Out of view, lit only by the thin rays of moonlight that crept over the top of the maze, Benedict drew in a deep breath. Then, taking her lips in his, he kissed her.

Instantly, Thalia knew this kiss was unlike their last. The duke's need was far greater than before, urgent and unrelenting. The low rumble of a growl in his chest made Thalia gasp.

After a moment, she pulled away, placing a hand on his chest to keep the man at bay. "We…I…this isn't…" Thalia did not know what to say. It was difficult to think over the pounding in her chest; hard to make sense of the yearning growing between her thighs.

Benedict waited a moment, eyeing her with nothing less than the hunger of a tiger, stalking its prey through the dense jungle. Then, slowly, he leaned close again, lips at her ear. "I will stop," he breathed, the touch of his breath making her shiver. "But only if you want me to. And I do not think you do."

"I think," he continued, "that you want me as much as I want you. I think that you want to experience for yourself the pleasure I can offer a woman. You only need someone to give you permission to enjoy it."

Benedict leaned back a little, his body still pressed against hers. "You have it." He watched her closely, the cool night air offering little relief from the fire that raged within her. "I give you permission to enjoy what I am about to do to you."

Thalia gasped again, finding it entirely impossible to breathe.

Reaching out, Benedict stroked her lips with his thumb. "So, Lady Thalia, the question is, do you want to let go of control? Do you want to yield to someone else, for once in your life, and simply obey like the good girl you are?"

She could not have spoken if she wanted to. Shocking herself, Thalia nodded, her eagerness making Benedict grin wickedly. "Good," he murmured, drawing close again. His lips brushed hers teasingly. "Very good."

Benedict kissed Thalia again, his need for her growing to a fervent pitch. The blood in his body raced downward, demanding release for the desire that grew there.

He pressed his need up against her and felt her gasp against his lips. She had never felt anything like this before – of that, he was certain.

Gentle was not how he would describe the kiss that he gave her, snarling as he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck to tilt her head back, offering up more of her for him to consume.

And Thalia did not resist. Her body melted against his, her lips meeting his with a growing heat. She was tentative but eager and her growing passion lit the flame of his own.

After a moment, he drew back, trying to tame his desires. He wanted to take her, here and now, but he knew that such a jump would overwhelm the woman.

No, he would not have her. Not yet. But he could give her a taste of pleasure, such a heady, body-shaking peak that, before long, she would come running back to him, begging for more.

As Thalia watched him with confusion, Benedict dropped to his knees before her. "Be as quiet as you can," he grinned. Then, he slipped a hand up under her dress.

Thalia pressed her eyes closed against the sensations that nearly overwhelmed her. She had no idea what was to come next, but she had already begun to do as the duke had commanded.

She'd been given permission to relinquish control. And it was tantalizing to the extreme.

When Benedict got to his knees before her, Thalia watched him with confusion. What was he doing? Then, as his fingers grazed her ankle, she decided that she did not care.

She recalled their conversation that night in the theater when Benedict had conjured up a picture of his hands, sliding their way up her thighs. Thalia felt a fresh wave of heat wash over her now, the sensations enough to push all other thoughts from her mind.

With heady anticipation, Benedict slowly began to touch her, seeming to savor every inch of exposed skin. However, there wasn't much. Not to begin with.

He looked up, watching her face for reactions as he slowly ran his hands up under her skirt, to her waist.

"You won't be needing these," he murmured.

Easily, he relieved her of her undergarments, slipping them down her legs and off her feet.

"You are not to put these back on tonight," he ordered her, his tone steady and commanding as he slipped the garments under the leaves of the maze wall and out of sight.

"But –"

"I want to be the only one to know that you aren't wearing anything underneath those skirts tonight when you go back into the party. I want to be the only one picturing those wet thighs brushing up against one another. Am I understood?" he commanded again, his eyes flashing with a wicked sort of delight.

Thalia had never conceived of such a thing – going back into the party without wearing her undergarments? Moving about bare beneath her skirts?

She shivered as Benedict stroked her calf. She could say no. Should say no. But she realized, meeting his gaze, that she was just as tantalized by the idea as he. Besides, the idea of telling him no, of halting what had already begun between them here and now, seemed impossible.

The hunger he was slowly and surely waking within her cried out to be sated.

Thalia nodded.

"I need to hear that you understand," Benedict responded.

"Yes," she breathed.

"Yes, what?"

More delightful sensations crept down her spine as she understood what Benedict was asking for. "I will go back into the party without my undergarments," she promised him. Then, seeing his satisfaction, she added, "For you."

Benedict groaned, closing his eyes against what Thalia could only guess was a wave of pleasure. When he opened them again, he was grinning up at her. "Good girl." As the satisfaction of his words ran like hot liquid down her spine, he slipped his head under her skirts.

Before she could wonder what power those two little words held over her, she felt Benedict's lips on her ankle bone. She sighed, all her attention on the sensation, all other thoughts flying from her mind.

It was strange that such a small gesture should make her react this way. But no man had ever touched her there before. No man had ever touched her like that .

She blinked against a sudden burst of heat in her core – almost painful – as Benedict's lips slowly traveled upwards.

"Wha- what are you doing?" she gasped.

Reemerging once more, Benedict kept a hand underneath her skirts, gently massaging her upper thigh as he talked. This made it incredibly difficult for Thalia to focus on what he was saying.

"Are you not enjoying this?"

"No, I – it's not that –"

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No!" she whimpered as his hand moved a little higher. Her voice, though little more than a whispered plea, was still surprisingly adamant.

Benedict chuckled. Reaching out, he caught her right hand with his free one. Slowly, he kissed it. Then again. This time, his lips and tongue met the skin on the back of her hand in a dance between a kiss and lick. "This is all that I am doing," he told her gently. "But it is where I do it that makes all the difference."

Thalia didn't ask him how he knew. She didn't care. All she wanted was to experience more of this indescribable pleasure.

When she nodded, still having trouble breathing, Benedict grinned and resumed his place once more. She could feel his breath on her leg as he went back to work.

Tauntingly, he kissed up her right leg, first the front of her calf, then her knee, then a cheeky nip at the back of her leg. Thalia bit her lip. Then, adding his tongue, he kissed and licked the rest of the way up her thigh.

Thalia was nearly beside herself. As he trailed his hand up the opposite leg, she whimpered in fits of brief, throbbing pleasure at his touch.

A gentle stroke of his fingers brushed the desire between her legs.

Thalia cried out, her head slamming back against the hedge wall.

Withdrawing himself from beneath her skirts, Benedict eyed her with delicious authority. "Quiet," he instructed, and Thalia nodded. She was now beginning to understand the order. And how difficult it would be to obey.

Desperate for him to continue, she grasped onto the leaves and vines behind her, clutching them for support.

Seeing such a reaction, Benedict smiled. Then, running the tip of his tongue over the corner of his lips, he once more submerged himself beneath her skirts.

As his hands once more sought out the tenderness between her legs, Thalia pressed her lips together, trying to muffle an unexpected moan of delight.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that this part of her could feel this way. Her desire almost hurt as blood raced down, throbbing in needy expectation, eager to be teased and rubbed.

But this time instead of backing off as Thalia let out another muffled cry, Benedict doubled down. His fingers moved more insistently, stroking and cajoling with a command that Thalia could not help but obey.

Her mouth fell open, head raised to the heavens as she breathlessly pleaded. "Your Grace," she gasped. "More…more…"

She did not know what more she could ask for. But soon, Benedict gave it to her.

Before she knew what was happening, his mouth took over.

He kissed and sucked, his tongue running over her tenderness with expert attention. This time, her moan could not be contained. Her legs shook as his lips and tongue stirred up a desire within her that consumed her inside and out.

"Do you still want more?"

Though muffled, the query still held Benedict's evident amusement. It was a challenge. But Thalia did not know what more he had to give, nor how much more she could take.

"Yes," she finally begged, her need for him outweighing any logic.

"Yes, what?"

"Please." Her fingers stung with the strength with which she clung to the hedge. "Please."

This time, she felt his chuckle up between her legs. "Very well. You asked for it."

Then, as he continued his ministrations, Benedict slid two fingers up and inside her.

Thalia let out a pure cry of anguished pleasure before she managed to clamp a hand over her mouth. But Benedict did not stop. He had warned her and now she would be given just what she had asked for.

Her head reeled, her body threatening to give out completely as every known and pleasurable sensation washed over and through her. She clenched her jaw, desperate to keep from crying out even as his movement grew more rapid. He was building up to something.

Something else was building within her too. It was frightening, this growing surge, this building cry that commanded every limb to buckle under its pressure. But she could not have asked him to stop. She did not want him to stop. She needed more.

Surprising herself, she reached down and found his head with her hand. Pressing against it, she angled her hips forward, yielding every last bit of herself to the duke, begging him to go further, deeper.

And Benedict obeyed.

Then, finally, Thalia understood what it had all been for. Pleasure like she'd never known reached a peak, the throbbing waves of desire having melded into one, lasting crescendo. As Thalia climaxed, she had to put her fist in her mouth, the waves of rapture washing over her bringing forth a high, strangled cry.

Her body spasmed at the height of ecstasy and she felt Benedict's strong hands on her hips, holding her steady. When the waves of release had begun to slow, he stood and grinned, soaking up the expression on her face as if he found it equally arousing.

Standing, he allowed her to hold onto him as her knees went weak. She was exhausted and suddenly more alive than ever, all at once.

He was content to stand there with her until Thalia had recovered. It took some time but, finally, she could breathe steadily once more.

With her head clear, she glanced up at the man before her. Benedict grinned down and gestured to the opening of the maze. "We should return. They will be expecting me."

Back inside, Benedict left Thalia. He was needed where the victorious group were now excitedly chattering about their found treasure.

"Well done," he congratulated them as they pulled the baked sweets from the basket which had been hidden in one of the upper rooms. The cook had baked them specifically for this purpose.

As they told him how they had come upon the treasure and complimented his cook on such well-made treats, Benedict's gaze sought out Thalia.

She was standing on the far side of the room, close to her sister and father. But she looked as if her mind was miles away.

Benedict grinned to himself. Then, when another guest seemed to compliment Thalia's dress, motioning to her skirts, Benedict watched as Thalia's cheeks went bright red.

He had to fight off a laugh at that. Just then, Thalia's eyes met his across the room. She continued to blush but, for the briefest of moments, they knew what the other was remembering: Thalia was without her undergarments.

When Benedict's smile widened, Thalia turned away. She would go back to her cool, aloof fa?ade now, he supposed. But he had glimpsed Thalia with her mask down, if only for a second. And what he had seen had been utterly entrancing.

She would be back, he knew. He had given her a glimpse into the world of pleasure and freedom, the world that a man like him could offer a woman. And she had loved it. There was no disguising that.

"If this is what you have planned for our first night here," said one of his guests, forcing Benedict to turn back to them, "then I can only imagine what you have planned for the rest of our time here."

"Yes, you are a most generous host," added another.

Benedict bowed his head, shooting a wink at Lady Harwood who stood nearby. "With guests such as these, I hardly need to concern myself with hosting. I feel as comfortable and at ease as if I were home amongst family."

While everyone agreed that the duke was indeed a generous and humble host, Benedict turned again to seek out Thalia. But she was gone. So too were her father and sister.

He could only guess that they had retired for the night. It was late, after all. Soon everyone would be retiring to their rooms.

His guests were eager to know what plans Benedict had for the rest of their time in his home. He did indeed have plans for them. But the greatest of his plans, the people that occupied his thoughts the most, had already gone from the room. And the Fletcher sisters had no idea what surprises waited for them over the next few days. Indeed, he hoped that they, too, had surprises of their own to share.

"I shall ensure that all my guests enjoy themselves to the fullest," Benedict promised the group, his eyes trained on the space across the room that Thalia and her sister had left empty.