Grace took a deep breath and knocked softly on the thick, wooden panel; so softly, in fact, that nobody would likely hear her. Holding that breath for the longest time, she eventually exhaled as she pushed open the door. A loud creak swiftly rattled through the previously silent air, courtesy of the old hinges, rendering her attempts at knocking completely unnecessary.
'Come in, Grace Amelia Taylor,' invited a deep voice from across the room. Grace was grateful not to hear even the slightest smugness in his tone. Benedict just sounded welcoming and pleased that she'd changed her mind. 'Come and lay down beside me.'
Tentatively, she walked towards the huge four-poster bed that dominated the centre of his bedroom, using the faint moonlight to guide her. Aware of Benedict throwing back the bedcover as she approached, Grace took the hand which was being tenderly offered out to her, and took her place on the bed beside him, as instructed.
'You don't have to be nervous,' he explained gently, unable to ignore her trembling form. He fully appreciated that her reaction was partly from fear, but also from desire. 'Nothing happens here that you don't dictate. Would you like a cuddle?'
'Yes, please,' she murmured, immediately finding herself pulled into Benedict's warm, powerful embrace. Up close, he smelt earthy and very male, in an entirely pleasing way. Whatever his night-time task had been, it was safe to assume it involved physical exertion.
Unlike the last time she'd been pulled against his amazing body, when carried across the moorland, this time he was wearing far less. Operating on the touch points of their bodies alone, Grace decided that he must be clothed in just a pair of boxer shorts because the bare skin of their legs was pressing against each other in the most exciting way. Furthermore, when her head fell back against his chest, that too was unclothed.
Grace was astonished at how incredibly comforting it felt just to be held. Instantly, feel-good endorphins flooded her bloodstream, ensuring that it wasn't long before her pulse began to lessen. Ethan had never been much of a snuggler, whereas she loved it. It was another good reason for their relationship to have ended. Benedict, on the other hand, felt like the world's best cuddler. Grace was in heaven.
'This is so nice,' she breathed, closing her eyes in bliss, as every worry she'd ever had miraculously evaporated from her mind.
'Mmmmm, isn't it?' agreed Benedict, squeezing Grace a little more tightly within the embrace, before returning to platonically stroking her arm.
The longest time passed, during which Grace grew to feel entirely safe within Benedict's company, even though they had only met for the first time earlier that night. It was therefore quite a surprise when he pressed his lips against her exposed neck. His actions sent all kinds of incredible flutterings through her.
'Do you want to stay like this for the rest of the night?' he asked, speaking in a gentle, enquiring tone across her skin.
Grace's eyes closed slowly, savouring the intimate caress of his mouth against her body, the ghosting of his breath across her face. She wasn't entirely sure what her answer was to his question either; on the one hand, this amazing closeness they were sharing felt incredible. But on the other hand, she knew it could potentially be even better.
'I'm quite happy to remain this way all night, if that's what you want. It's just...'
'What?' she demanded, when his words ran out.
'Well...forgive me but, I can smell you. I know you're wet for me,' Benedict explained without shame.
'I...I...' gasped Grace, knowing he was correct, but certainly not wishing to own to it.
'It's no problem,' he chuckled gently, understanding both her arousal and her confusion. 'Like I said, nothing happens here that you don't dictate. But if you change your mind, you are most welcome to simply turn around in my arms and kiss me.'
With a smile daring to spread over her face at the sheer blatant nerve of the guy, Grace chewed bashfully on her bottom lip. Then, filled with a shot of courage, she did exactly as he'd suggested.
'Like this?' she asked, sending him a small smile.
'Yeah, exactly like this,' he confirmed. Grace was aware of his large hand steadily reaching towards her face, causing her fluttering eyes to naturally close. In a confident move, his hand cupped around the side of her cheek, sliding his fingers into her soft hair and pulling her very gently towards him. Offering an almost-there kiss, his lips brushed in a chaste way across Grace's own, before he retracted back a few inches. But still the sensation of his warm breaths caressing her face, while holding her so intimately, was almost too much.
'You're beautiful,' growled Benedict, his fingers never stopping stroking, as he allowed Grace to slowly process what was about to happen between them. He waited until her sparkling eyes opened once more, before repeating the kiss, this time allowing his lips to linger a little longer. Encouraged, Grace's confidence grew and she melded their mouths together, increasing the pressure and fuelling their mutual desires.
Over time, her hand dared to reach out for his broad, hairy chest, stroking playfully as their tongues started to entwine. As they both groaned low with pleasure, their kiss grew slow and passionate, sending a powerful surge of molten lust straight through Grace's core. Shocked by her own lack of restraint, her movements became more extreme, eventually clawing at Benedict's powerful body, delighting in the feel of his muscles contracting beneath her fingertips. It took an incredibly long time before they eventually pulled apart, both panting heavily with faces flushed, obviously needing a lot more from each other.
'God I feel amazing,' sighed Grace, a massive smile spreading over her features. 'Thank you. I can't ever remember enjoying the act of kissing so much.'