Page 8 of Benjamin and the Thief

“A bed with you in it sounds pretty good…”

Where the boldness came from that she felt when talking to him, she didn’t know. Didn’t really care either. She simply enjoyed feeling free to do what she wanted—without any rules, restrictions, or conventions.

“I’m sure I can do better than pretty good,” he hedged with an amused undertone in his voice. “But I’ll let you be the judge of that.”

Benjamin lifted her off her feet and carried her across the living room. She slung her arms around his neck and brushed her lips over his. He responded to her kiss and stopped walking for a few seconds before he opened a door and entered a bedroom.

Benjamin flicked a light switch, and she let her gaze roam in the comfortable room. Heavy red floor-to-ceiling curtains darkened the room. A thick, lush carpet covered the floor, drowning out his footsteps. He set her down next to the king-size bed. Crisp, white sheets covered it, and the room had a decidedly grown-up flair. This wasn’t the bedroom of a twenty-something guy.

“Everything okay?” he asked. “You changed your mind?”

She turned back to him and smiled, shaking her head. “You’re not getting out of this so easily.”

“Good.”

As if it was the most natural thing to do, he pulled his shirt over his head, freeing himself from it. Immediately, she ran her eyes over his toned torso. He was no stranger to the gym, that was evident in an instant. But he also didn’t look like a bodybuilder, and she was glad for it. She reached out one hand to glide it over the smooth skin of his chest. A breath rushed over his lips, and she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. There was a golden sheen around his irises, a play of the light in the room, and it made them look as if a fire was burning inside them, ready to spread to her if she wasn’t careful.

He gripped her hand and pressed it against his chest, then guided it lower. At the waistband of his pants, he stopped for a moment as if to confirm that she would allow him to continue. She held her breath, and he guided her hand lower, making her slide it over the zipper so she could feel the bulge that had formed there. Beneath her palm, she felt heat emanate from his flesh.

“That’s what you’re doing to me, with just one kiss,” he claimed before he let go of her hand.

She didn’t remove it immediately, but let her hand linger, caressing him through the fabric.

“It’s getting warm in here,” she said softly. “Maybe I should take off my top.”

One side of his mouth lifted. “I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.”

He pulled up the hem of her long-sleeve top, and she raised her arms so he could take it off her completely. Cool air blew against her skin.

Her black bra was thin and almost see-through. She’d bought it on a whim a long time ago, for a date that had been cancelled in the end.

“It looks like you might be a little too cold now,” Benjamin said.

She knew why he said that: she could feel her nipples harden.

“Then maybe you should warm me.”

“That’s a good idea.”

He pulled her into his arms, then lifted her off her feet and slowly lowered her onto the bed. He reached for her feet and took off her shoes, then kicked off his own and joined her on the bed. Braced on one elbow, he lay on his side, his right hand free to caress her. He didn’t rush when he slid his hand over her chest, rubbing his fingers alongside the seams of her bra before he stroked over her breasts. Her nipples turned into hard little pebbles, responding to his tender touch.

A low moan escaped from her mouth, and she yearned for more.

“Please…”

He understood, so he slid his fingers underneath the thin fabric to touch her skin without a barrier between them.

A sigh of relief rolled over her lips.

“I love how responsive you are,” he murmured and shifted slightly, so his mouth now hovered over hers.

“I love your touch.”

His lips were on hers a second later, and the kiss turned from tender to scorching in an instant. At the same time, he pushed one bra strap from her shoulder to free one breast. He cupped it in his warm palm and squeezed it in the same rhythm he kissed her, while his lower body rocked against her hip.

She could feel him rub his erection against her, and was surprised that he hadn’t already stripped them both naked so he could sleep with her. It appeared that Benjamin had more self-control than she’d expected—or more self-control than she had.