She exploded against him, moaning his name in a loud cry that filled him with satisfaction as his own seed spilled. They hadn’t even been together, not fully, and yet this was the single best experience of his life.
Climbing up her body, he lay next to her. “Grace,” he whispered, brushing her hair back from her face. He could comb her hair like this for hours.
A sleepy, satisfied grin spread across h
er lips as she curled into his side. “Yes?”
“You really are a queen.” My queen, he thought.
She didn’t open her eyes but the smile turned down. “Is it because you think me spoiled?”
He kept brushing her hair back from her face. “Oh, you’re that. There’s no doubt. But I was referring to the fact that you could turn me into your willing slave.”
Her eyes opened then, one of her pale arms reaching about his neck. “And if I were to demand, as your queen, that you kiss me like that again?”
He trailed his hand down her back. “What my queen wishes for, she gets.”
Chapter Ten
Grace woke just as the sun rose the next morning. She wasn’t tucked against Ben but his heat still lingered, making her warm and cozy. Lifting her head, she saw him standing near the window. “Good morning,” she mumbled, burrowing deeper under the covers.
“Good morning,” he said turning back toward the bed. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Not at all,” she answered, pushing back the curtain of hair that had fallen into her face.
He crossed the room and sat on the bed next to her, combing back the strands with his fingers. “I did find a comb for you. It’s on the table.”
She nodded. “I saw it last night. I’ll put it to good use this morning.”
He grimaced, just a hint, before he concealed his expression again. “That’s likely a good idea. You’ll need to look presentable.”
“Presentable? Why? Because I’m returning home today? I was kidnapped, they’ll likely understand my disheveled appearance.” She rolled onto her stomach, her hands under her head. The idea of going home filled her with a certain dread. She liked being with Ben. More than liked it, she loved being tucked against him and she didn’t want all those people, meaning her family, between them.
He continued to comb through her hair, his fingers simultaneously stroking down her back. “Well, you are returning to London today but…” he paused. “This morning I heard a familiar voice in the hall. Woke me from a dead sleep.”
She scrunched her brows as she looked up at him. “Heard a voice? Who?”
“Daring,” he said. “He’s here. And so is Exile and Jack.”
She rolled back over, the blankets having been pushed down to her waist. Her chest was exposed to him but somehow, she’d lost any shyness with this man. His eyes devoured her as she lay there. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She didn’t want her time with Ben to end. “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming you heard them? You were asleep.”
Ben traced her collarbone then drifted lower over her breast. Her body began to tighten in response. “I’m afraid not, love. Even after I woke, I continued to hear them. They’re here and they’re looking for us.”
She sat up then and he gathered her into his arms. “Why? I’m perfectly safe with you. You’ll bring me back and—”
“I didn’t have much time to write them a note. It was rather brief. They might be worried that Abernath or Crusher is still chasing us or, perhaps, they just want to protect your reputation by returning together. If no one finds out you’ve been gone, you might not have to marry me.”
Her insides tightened and she pulled away. “But I thought we’d already agreed to marry. I’ve slept in your bed. I’ve—”
He held her cheeks in his hands. “I didn’t take your maidenhead. You can go to your wedding pure enough.”
Her breath caught and filled her chest making it ache. She looked at him, trying to speak but her voice wouldn’t work. They’d decided to marry. How could he say this now? Her stomach churned. It was because he didn’t want her. She was the spoiled, vain Chase girl and now that he’d had his way with her, he was done. Men thought her pretty, but no one actually wanted her for marriage. Why would he be any different? “You would hand me over to another man?”
His face scrunched as if he was in pain but then he straightened. “I’m only giving you choices.”
She’d heard just about enough. Yanking her face from his hands, she scooted around him and stood. Completely naked, she glared at him with her hands on her hips. “You mean you don’t want to be stuck with me.”
“That isn’t what I said at all. I don’t want you to be stuck with me.” He stood too and reached for her, but she jerked back.