An Honorable Rogue (19 page)

His eyes gleamed in the candlelight before those luxuriant dark lashes came down, shuttering his expression. 'Wherever you want me,
ma belle.
' He sent her an easy grin. 'Floor, bed--I have slept on far worse floors than this."

She smiled. There, she should have known there would be no problem with Ben. Unlike Per, Ben considered her feelings.

He dragged off his tunic and shirt in one and she let herself watch the way the muscles of his shoulders moved. He is so well formed and he carries not an ounce of spare flesh, she thought, taking in the broad chest, sprinkled with dark hairs, hairs that arrowed clown to the waist of his trousers. Ben wore fine clothes to impress his audience, but truly, he was impressive without them. With a lurch, it came to her that perhaps even the act of love itself might not be bad. with Ben. His person was attractive and she had enjoyed that kiss.

Would she enjoy Sir Richard's kiss? Would she enjoy the act of love with Sir Richard? Would it be love? Ben had asked her if she loved Sir Richard; in her heart. Rose knew she did not. But perhaps she might learn...

Scowling, she thumped her pillow into shape and lay back while Ben finished undressing. He tossed his boots to one side, but when his gaze fell on his little heap of belongings, a sudden stillness in his body warned her that something was amiss. He padded over to her, a question in his eyes.

'Ben?'

He jerked his head in the direction of his pack. 'Rose, have you been through my belongings?' His voice was cold and hard.

'Only to tidy it, you left everything every which way.'

'I did?'

'Yes.'

His gaze became thoughtful. 'So you tidied it for me?'

'Yes. Ben, what's wrong?"

'Rose, if you please, I'd prefer it if you didn't root through my things.'

For a moment she could only stare, wounded that he should feel the need to say such a thing, and in such a tone, when all of their lives they had happily shared everything. She shrugged. 'My apologies.' Leaning over the side of the bed, she grabbed his torn shirt and tossed it at him. 'No doubt you will not wish me to mend this for you either.'

Catching the shirt, he spared it no more than a glance, but his expression gentled. 'You don't need to sew for me."

Crossly, she dragged the sheet over her shoulders. 'Mend it yourself, then. Wanted to thank you for bringing me here, that's all.' To her horror her voice was thick with tears, and she knew, she just knew, that Ben's sharp ears would pick up on the intonation.

His gaze burned into her back. She heard him sigh and a sound that could only be a pallet being dragged out from under the bed.

'There's plenty of room in here,' she said gruffly, reaching behind her to pat the mattress. 'You may as well share with me, if you can bear the thought of it, that is.'

Another sigh. The pallet scraped as it was pushed back under the bed. The mattress shifted and dipped as he dropped down next to her. 'Thanks,
cherie.'
He stifled a yawn. 'I would appreciate a good night's sleep. We will be roughing it before we reach Adam's holding in Wessex.'

And then he must have pinched out the candle for the room went dark. It was a dark that was soft and warm and filled with murmurs and bumps and mutterings from people in the common sleeping chamber; with the stray burst of laughter from below; with the homely smell of woodsmoke.

'Irene let me come up early,' he said, easily, and she knew then that he would talk a while. Ben would not want to fall asleep with anger between them. In that they were alike.

'I wondered. I thought you had to sing for her guests until midnight, but it doesn't feel like midnight.'

'No. Irene is generous to let us have this room for the price of one epic'

'She likes you.'

'Aye.'

At her back, Ben sighed and stirred. She caught the faint fragrance of sandalwood, which he must have used in the bathhouse when he had shaved.

'Rose?' He touched her shoulder.

Half-heartedly, she tried to shrug him off, but her heart leapt at his touch and his hand remained where it was, gentle, soothing. 'Mmm?'

'Don't sulk. Remember those dimples.'

'Idiot.' She rolled on to her back. 'It's black as pitch in here. You can't see my dimples."

'But I know, Rose. I don't have to see you to know when they've gone into hiding. And I like it best when they're visible. Even in the dark.'

'Fool.' She rolled fully towards him. briefly touching her fingers to his.

'Am I forgiven?' he murmured.

Aye.'

'That's good, because it's time for me to claim my reward...'

Her heartbeat speeded up. 'Reward?'

His thumb was caressing her shoulder through the thin fabric of her nightgown. It slid up to her ear and back down her neck, and left a trail of sensation in its wake.

'Mmm? Had you forgotten?'

'Y-yes.'

'Liar. Now. what was it we agreed? You would thank me for finding Jet in a manner of my own choosing. Was that not so?'

'Y-ye-yes.'

'Come here then, Rose.' The gentle pressure on her shoulder increased, drawing her towards the warmth of his body, 'I don't want you sewing for me, but I claim a kiss. As a good woman who always pays her debts,
you
must give
me
a kiss.'

Rose held back. 'Just a kiss?'

'Why, Rose, you think that the finding of Jet is worth more than that? No, I couldn't possibly accept more, that really would be dangerous.'

Her stomach gave a lurch. Didn't Ben want her? Not that she was offering herself to him, of course she was not, but he seemed to want every other woman on God's earth. Why not her? 'Dangerous?'

'Oh, yes.' His fingers were in her hair now, loosening it, spreading it out down her back, following its length, stroking, stroking. He was so close his breath fanned her cheeks and she could smell the spices in the wine that he had been drinking. 'Far too dangerous. We shall stop at kissing.'

'We will?' Her heart ached. Ben was drawn to every woman on earth with a pulse, yet when it came to her...

'Certainly. Come here, little flower, give me my kiss.'

She moved her head. It was a small movement, an almost imperceptible movement, but it was enough to bring her lips into contact with his. She felt a distinct tingle. His hand continued its gentle stroking of her hair, but he made no attempt to draw her closer.

She put her lips more firmly against his, and waited. She felt him smile.

'
You
must kiss
me,
Rose.'

She gave him a small kiss, a chaste kiss, a kiss that was more of a peck than a kiss.

'Mmm,' he said. 'But not enough. Again. Properly."

Face hot, and with a tightness in her stomach, Rose was thankful for the dark that shielded her from his eyes. She pressed closer and gave him another tiny peck of a kiss, another. And still Ben had not pulled her to him. there was just his hand on her hair, gently stroking, stroking, and his familiar scent filling her nostrils.

'Ben, please...' Giving an exasperated sigh, she reached for his head, pressing her lips firmly against his, boldly outlining his mouth with her tongue, painfully aware that he was not responding.

With a groan, he gathered her to his naked chest, holding her as tightly as she could wish. Her breasts were squashed against him and his mouth was moving softly in response to hers and he was kissing her, kissing her with lips
and
tongue. His hands were whispering over her body--up and down her back, her sides, her buttocks, and she was kissing him equally enthusiastically, and his breath was coming fast, as fast as hers, faster...

Her limbs were turning to water and. oh. the delight. The kiss on the marshes paled into insignificance. This was...this was... One could die of joy...and this was Ben...
Ben!

Nothing like this had
ever
happened with Per.

Shaken, Rose pulled back, but now that Ben had joined in with the kissing, he didn't seem able to stop. He was nuzzling her neck, and she did not seem to be able to take her hands out of his hair either. It was soft, soft as silk and she could touch it for ever. And when she stroked the back of his neck where it was shortest, he moaned and gave a little shiver and she felt the shock of that slight shiver in her core.

Kissing Ben was a pleasure that was almost too painful to bear. And it was not over yet, for he was impatiently pushing her cross aside, pressing rows of kisses along her collar-bones, rolling over her, half-covering her with his body.

Rose tensed, waiting for the inevitable feeling of dread that must accompany the moment when she put herself so completely at the mercy of a man as to lie beneath him, but it simply was not there. On the contrary, Ben's weight was a burden she could happily bear. Her insides were melting as though he had entranced her and she had to steel herself not to caress and stroke his back and buttocks as he had been caressing hers. The feel of him, pressed hard and hot into her belly, did not repel her either. Rather, she had to grit her teeth to stop herself reaching for the ties of his trousers and...

'Ben!'

'More,' he murmured, nibbling at her earlobe. 'Don't stop."

'Ben!'
She tugged at his hair.

He lifted his head, pressing a last kiss to the opening at the neck of her nightgown. 'Mmm?'

'Dangerous, I think you said.'

His weight shifted to one side, but his leg still lay between hers and his hand was on her hip. caressing her. He drew in a shuddering breath. 'Did I say that?' His voice was husky.

'Yes.'

A sigh. 'Momentary burst of insanity." He leaned his forehead against hers. 'Beautiful, more like.'

'Flatterer. But, Ben, we should sleep.' she said firmly, before he destroyed what was left of her will. 'We have a long ride tomorrow."

'Sensible Rose.' He shifted away.

Her breathing was slowing, approaching normal, when he groaned and reached for her. 'Rose, at the least, I would hold you this night."

At the least, I would hold you this night.
She swallowed and it was hard to get the words out. 'Dangerous, but I trust you not to pounce.'

He gave a shaky laugh, but settled her head against his naked shoulder amenably enough. 'Pounce?"

'Per would pounce on me unexpectedly."

'You did not like him pouncing?' he asked, toying with her hair, as she slid her hand around his waist.

'No.'

'I promise not to pounce."

They fell quiet, but there were sounds in the bedchamber: the quietening of their breathing, the drone of a mosquito, the rustle of clothing and bedlinens in the public room. The public room--Rose almost gasped aloud when she realised that while she and Ben had been kissing she had been so enthralled that she had completely forgotten about listening ears on the other side of that curtain. Her behaviour was shameful.

Ben cleared his throat. 'It is hard though, Rose, because I want to pounce.'

'But you will not.'

'No.'

And it was odd, because although Rose knew that Ben was yet aroused, and although he had that notorious reputation, she believed him.

After that, though, sleep was elusive. Being in Ben's company must be affecting her, Rose decided, for she could not stop thinking about the act of love.