Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

" I – I …" Thalia could not speak. She could hardly comprehend what Benedict was saying.

Then, professing his love once more, Benedict smiled up at her. "I love you, Thalia. No words which I have spoken have been truer. I love you with my whole heart."

Thalia blinked away the fresh tears. She could still barely believe what he was asking her, but she knew that it was the truth. What he professed was honest and genuine. He loved her.

And she loved him.

Finally, with an astonished laugh, Thalia pressed a hand over her mouth to stifle her suddenly boundless mirth. "Yes," she breathed, "yes, I will marry you."

She was in Benedict's arms in an instant. The scent of him enfolded her in the warmest of embraces, his arms strong and steady around her.

When he drew back slightly, she looked up. Love, pure love, shimmered in his eyes. Then, placing a gentle thumb on her chin, he guided her face up to his.

The duke's kiss was gentle at first as if he could hardly believe that she had accepted him. Thalia, too, felt as if all of this would vanish at any moment, revealing it all to simply have been a wonderful dream.

But as Benedict's kiss deepened, Thalia knew that this was real. That he loved her.

As Benedict's hands began to roam, Thalia's body lighting up in eager anticipation, she heard a small gasp from the doorway. Pulling back, Thalia spotted Eliza, red-faced and staring.

Then, meeting Thalia's gaze, Eliza broke into an enormous smile. "I, I beg your pardon, my lady," she stammered, turning away as she fought her grin.

It was all Thalia could do not to smile too. She reminded herself that she still had enough decency to be a little embarrassed at being caught in such a compromising position. Even if the man in question had just proposed to her.

But she knew that Eliza would keep her secret. Especially since Eliza knew exactly what it was like to steal a secret kiss from a lover.

Eliza was about to leave when Benedict spoke up. "Just a moment, if you will," he called out, bringing the maid to a halt.

Thalia looked up at him questioningly. Benedict's hand was still on her lower back, and it moved a little lower still as he leaned close. "I think, Lady Thalia," he murmured in her ear, "that you should dismiss your servants for the day."

A shiver of delight ran down Thalia's spine even as she gasped in astonishment. "I, I couldn't. It would be indecent –"

"Dismiss them," he continued, cutting her off as his hand moved even farther down her backside, "or I will take you here and now as they watch."

Thalia's cheeks burned as his words tickled her ear. She knew no one could have heard him, but she felt as scandalized as if they had. "Eliza," Thalia managed, "will you inform the others that you all are to take the rest of the day off? You may come back this evening, of course, to pack your things in preparation of your move back to Seton."

Eliza dropped into a grateful curtsey. When she straightened back up, Thalia thought she spotted tears shimmering in the young woman's eyes. "Yes, my lady. Thank you, ma'am."

Thalia nodded and watched as Eliza exited, closing the door behind her.

When she was gone, Benedict turned Thalia back to face him. "That's better," he grinned.

Thalia's heart fluttered beneath his gaze. It was far more intense than anything she had felt before. He was truly looking at her now, not only at her, but in her. He saw her for who she was. And he found her beautiful.

He wanted her.

As Benedict drew her closer, Thalia heard several of the servants speaking out in the hall. "Wait, they have not yet left."

Benedict's smile widened. "They had better hurry. Otherwise, they might hear things which will certainly give them a reason to gossip."

His eyes roamed up and down her and Thalia's body tingled in excitement. "I do not plan to wait another moment more," he informed her, a finger toying with the button of Thalia's dress at the nape of her neck. "Now that you are finally mine, I intend to take you fully and without shame. There will be nothing secret about what I do to you."

Thalia's breath caught in her throat. She could not deny how dearly she had wished for another moment like this with him. Nor could she hardly comprehend the fact that he was now hers.

She stepped closer, raising a hand to pull Benedict's shirt out from where it was tucked into his trousers. The duke chuckled. "My future wife is a quick learner."

As he pulled his shirt up and over his head in one smooth motion, Thalia savored the sight of him. He stood tall and broad-shouldered before her, the muscles of his core rippling as he discarded his shirt, tossing it onto a nearby chair.

She moved toward him again, but Benedict held up a hand to stop her. A wicked grin teased the corner of his lips. "Ah, not yet. There is something you must do for me before we begin."

An excited tingle stirred in Thalia's belly. "What is it?"

Benedict continued to smile, taking a step closer. He reached out, teasing her lips with his thumb. "Up until now, you and I have enjoyed each other in secret. But I will not hide you anymore."

He leaned close again, his next words sending tingles across the skin of her neck where his breath pooled hot and inviting. "I want you to scream for me, Thalia. Do not hide a drop of your pleasure from me."

When he pulled back, Thalia nodded shakily.

"That's an order," he reminded her, an eyebrow quirking.

"Yes. I understand."

Benedict allowed himself another teasing grin. "Good girl."

Thalia nearly melted before him. She never thought she would hear those words again. As Benedict reached out, beginning to undress her, she closed her eyes, savoring the brief and lingering sensations of his touch.

The duke took his time as he took off her clothing as he, too, seemed to savor the feel of her. Off came her blouse and, with it, was a trail of kisses along the neckline of her underdress. Then came her skirts. With each layer of crinoline Benedict's hand moved higher and higher up her legs, his kisses traveling almost nearly as high.

But he was taking his time. Teasing out the thrills of his touch from her already quivering body. Finally, when Thalia stood before him in only her shift, Benedict pulled her close again, nipping at her neck with a deliciously painful peck.

Thalia gasped, biting back the whimper that climbed her throat. Benedict chuckled. "I thought I told you to make noise for me," he reminded her, his voice both threatening and velvety.

When he bit her again, Thalia did as he commanded. She let out a high whimper that earned her an immediate grin and then an open-mouthed kiss from her duke.

Moaning, Thalia melted into the kiss, his tongue searching for more, running across her bottom teeth before his own teeth took her bottom lip hostage.

Benedict paused just a moment as he stepped back and took off his trousers. "Take that off," he commanded her, gesturing to her last remaining bit of clothing. Thalia moved to do so when Benedict clicked his tongue, grinning. "Take it off for me ," he instructed, eyes flashing.

Another ripple of pleasure ran through her as Thalia understood what he was telling her. Slowly, tantalizing, Thalia slipped one strap off of her shoulder, letting the tender, swollen side of her breast peek out from beneath the underdress. As she did the same with the other strap, Thalia held up her dress so that it revealed only the teasing shadow between her breasts as they were pushed together.

Watching Benedict all the while, she relished the hunger on his face. Hunger for her.

Gently, she allowed the dress to slip a little further, exposing her breasts fully, the material clinging briefly to her hips before falling to the floor around her feet.

"Good," Benedict praised, still eyeing her with evident craving.

Thalia's eyes wandered over him with an equal desire, her eyes eagerly settling on his manhood. This was a part of him she knew so little about. And yet she was desperate to know more.

Growing bold, Thalia drew closer, her fingers first meeting the warm skin above his hips. Then, with a grin of her own, Thalia met Benedict's gaze. "If I cannot hold back," she began, moving to take him in her hand as she spoke, "then you cannot either."

Benedict raised an eyebrow. As Thalia began to stroke him, he grinned and let out a low, rumbling groan. The sound was feral and thoroughly arousing. She continued to watch him as her attentions made him close his eyes against the overwhelming sensation that her fingers drew up in him. Similar waves of heat rushed to Thalia's core, the desire between her legs eager to share in his pleasure.

After a moment, Benedict reached down to still her hands. Then he opened his eyes, fixing her with a challenge. "If you insist on taking the lead," he mused, "then you had better be prepared to please me."

Another challenge. An order. Thalia was dizzy with anticipation. She nodded.

Taking her hand, Benedict led her to the settee. Then, sitting down, he patted his thighs. "Sit," he commanded.

Thalia's eyes went wide. She knew what he was asking, but she had never even thought that such a thing was possible.

Benedict watched her, his evident desire ready and waiting. Heat surged between Thalia's legs. Swallowing, Thalia drew closer. Carefully, she climbed up, straddling him. Benedict reached out, taking hold of her hips and gently guiding her.

Then, moving her hand to his member, he helped her shift her weight down onto him. Instantly, Thalia was filled with him, gasping as the force of sensations made her head spin.

But Benedict was not done with her just yet. "Slow and steady," he ordered, need making his voice raspy. His hands pressed harder into her hips as he showed her the movement, helping her move up and down on top of him.

Thalia shuddered, letting out another whimper as she became keenly aware of him inside her, stroking her in a way she had never before felt.

When she moved again, Benedict's head fell back against the settee, and he groaned in satisfaction.

Following an impulse, Thalia began to increase her pace, moving up and down on top of him with more urgency. The effect was instantaneous. Benedict cried out in astonishment, bucking beneath her in a mixture of astonishment and sudden pleasure.

His reaction was almost drowned out by Thalia's cry as she threw her head back, her body taking control as her need pressed her further. She moved quicker, harder, a desperate hunger pushing all but Benedict from her mind, casting away everything but him, his body, and her overwhelming desire for him.

Moaning, Thalia lurched forward, supporting herself as her hands pressed onto Benedict's chest. Her hips continued to rail against him, his body providing hers with the growing pleasure that it so craved.

Her body was on fire as every sensation grew more powerful, every movement sending stronger, shaking pleasure through her. Thalia's cries were coming freely now, growing in frequency as her body throbbed with thundering waves of pleasure. They continued to crash over her with frightening regularity until, finally, letting out an unhindered cry of ecstasy, Thalia collapsed onto Benedict.

But the duke was not finished with her.

Grasping her waist, Benedict picked her up and laid her back onto the settee beneath him. When he entered her again, it was he who was in control this time.

Taking her breast in his hand, Benedict drew his tongue over her raised nipple, making Thalia gasp with renewed desire.

"How -?" she gasped, astonished at how quickly her body was once again filled with a need for him, her previous ecstasy still making the heat between her legs pulse.

Benedict grinned as he moved to take her ear between his teeth. All of a sudden, Thalia was reminded of that day at the park, when he had first made her skin burn with his touch and tantalizing, scandalous words. She moaned, welcoming both the memory and stronger sensations as he slipped a hand between her legs. "You were not loud enough," he informed her. "I will continue to punish you like this until you do what I have ordered. Scream for me, Thalia. Show me what it is that I do to you. Show me how much you want me."

As Benedict continued to move inside her, his hand also rubbing the tenderness between her legs at the same time, Thalia was momentarily speechless. The strength of punishing hunger that coursed through her made her convulse beneath his touch.

"Louder," Benedict commanded, his voice thick with desire.

Then, with another thrust, Benedict succeeded in freeing Thalia's voice. "Benedict!" she gasped, "Oh, Benedict!"

He moaned in pleasure, hearing his name on her lips. But he did not let up. Pressing with more urgency, his body rocked against hers, hard and fast.

Thalia clung to him, helpless against his growing passions. Her bliss was even more overwhelming this time as he pushed her to the brink, her cries spilling from her as she welcomed every last inch of him.

At the same time, Benedict groaned, his body surging into her in his own peak of ecstasy.

Gasping, Thalia clutched him to her, not wanting to ever let him go, as her bliss slowly released her body back to her.

When Benedict moved to lie beside her on the settee, Thalia curled into his side as she had done that night in the garden. Only this time, Benedict had no intention of leaving her. One look into his eyes and that was as clear as day.

He caressed her cheek, love pooling like tears in his eyes. "My angel," he murmured. The kiss he placed on her forehead was tender and slow, and Thalia thought her heart might burst with joy.

They lay there for a long time in silence, simply enjoying one another's presence. Then, finally, Benedict cleared his throat. "I forgot to tell you, I may have offended your sister ever so slightly."

The suddenness and strangeness of the statement made Thalia laugh. She propped herself up on her hand to look down at him. "Whatever did you do?"

Benedict offered her a rueful smile. "I was slightly angry with her and your father for having heaped their responsibilities on you, taking advantage of you all these years. And I might have told her so."

Thalia's eyes widened. "You did?"

"And, if your sister was angry enough with me," he added, "she might have told your father what I said. The man whose permission I now have to ask to marry you."

"Not to mention that, last he heard, it was my sister you intended to marry," Thalia added.

Benedict and Thalia exchanged slightly fearful glances. Thalia lowered her head to Benedict's chest, letting the sound of his heartbeat soothe her. They had come very far together, but they were not out of the woods yet, it would seem.