And he wasn't sure he would be able to stop with his boots.
Hilarious that the Devil Duke would need to keep his boots on in order to keep his lust in check.
"Sleep." He kissed her forehead, but she reached up and pulled his head closer to hers, opening her mouth to him.
He should have run.
He should have escaped when he had the chance.
He should have said no.
Hang honor, hang it all.
His lips crushed hers, Benedict's hands grasped her wrists pinning her to the bed as he nipped her lower lip, tugging it between his teeth.
She moaned.
He cursed then straddled her, because at the time it seemed the only option, not that it was intelligent by any stretch of the imagination.
Her body fit perfectly underneath him. Of course it would. He tugged at her bodice, pulling it down to her waist.
And then froze.
Time stood still.
He hated he was using such clichés in his mind, yet time did seem to stand still as he glimpsed her.
Bewildered that he was able to think beyond pleasuring her, he slowly pulled her bodice back up and kissed her gently across her lips.
"I'm going to give you more."
"What?" Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks. "You don't want to…?"
"I want to give you the moon." He kissed her cheek. "I want to give, not take."
She nodded.
"Kate, you are far too special, and I fear it would be over before it began, for I find I'm having trouble controlling myself at this moment."
She smiled and touched his face with her hand.
"Goodnight, my sweet."
"Goodnight," she mumbled then turned to her side and closed her eyes.
To say that Benedict had a good night's sleep would have been a grotesque lie straight from the pit of Hades.
He did not, in fact, have a good night, nor did he sleep.
Oh, he was prone to exaggeration, this much was true, but when his valet came into the room to help him dress, he was already sitting in front of the fire, twiddling his thumbs, or if he was being completely honest with himself, thinking of Katherine.
"Your grace?" His valet's eyes were so incredibly wide it was amusing, except for the fact that Benedict was grumpy and tired, and truth be told, slightly aroused, even still. God save him.
"Well, let's get on with it," Benedict snapped. When he looked in the mirror he nearly burst out laughing, apparently insanity was a close friend whilst running on little to no sleep. But he couldn't help himself.
"You're drunk then?" It was a statement from his otherwise stiff-necked valet. No doubt he was used to seeing Benedict at his worst.
But that was what kept making him laugh. He had stayed up all night, thinking about one woman. He hadn't been out with his mistresses, nor had he been at the gambling hells. He had simply sat in a chair, and he looked as though he had just spent the night in the worst parts of London.
"No," he answered. "I'm not drunk, but I will admit to being slightly unstable, in the emotional sort of way, so if you'll be quick about your duties, I have a woman to attend to."
"Always do."
"What was that?" Benedict snapped.
"Good for you." His valet smiled cheekily and patted his back smoothing out the lines of the coat. "It is the best I can do in your drunken state, your grace."
"Again, I'm not drunk."
"If you say so."
Benedict pointed to the door. His valet lifted up his hands in mock fear and walked out. That was the problem having the best valet money could buy — the man could afford to have an attitude.
Benedict clapped his hands together and nearly ran out the door, tumbling right into a woman.
"Apologies, I…"
Katherine looked up with bright eyes and a shy smile. "Benedict." Her chest heaved though he knew it couldn't possibly be exertion.
"How did you sleep?" she asked.
"Like a baby," he lied and offered his arm. "So, what shall we do today?"
"Well," Katherine blushed just slightly, the color bringing a rosy hue to her delicate cheekbones. "I thought perhaps we could have a snowball fight."
"In public?" He placed a hand over his chest and pretended to be offended. "My dear, dukes do not run around in public throwing snowballs. I don't know what anyone has told you about me, but…"
She threw back her head and laughed. "But, good sir, I was under the impression that dukes can do anything!"
"If only." Lust pounded in his veins, and he clenched his fists as he watched her eyes dilate and lips part. "Perhaps we'd best join the others."
"Perhaps." The minx winked and reached for his arm.