The Postilion (The Masqueraders #2) - S.M. LaViolette Page 0,30

eyes widened. “No, how is that possible? Why, I would have guessed fifteen—sixteen at the outside.”

Benna forced down the misery she felt at his admission; he could hardly think her much of a woman if he believed she had the body of an adolescent boy.

“Tsk, tsk, don’t be hurt, kitten,” he said, reading her expression far too easily for her comfort. “I’m delighted to learn of your advanced age.”

“You are?”

“Oh, yes. You see, I’ve been restraining myself for some time, now—not an activity at which I excel, mind.” His gaze dropped to her chest. “And now I learn, to my intense joy, that I no longer need to exercise such tiresome self-control.”

Benna lifted her hands to hide herself from his piercing stare, but his soft, warm fingers brushed hers aside and he cupped the mortifyingly small mounds.

She sucked in a harsh breath at the feel of another person’s skin—Geoff’s skin—on a part of her body that only she had ever touched.

Mercifully, he kept his eyes on her breasts rather than her flaming face, his expression oddly pensive.

“I believe it might be time for us to move on soon. Lady Taunton has become quite, er, shrill about the night of cards we recently enjoyed at Mrs. Bergeron’s house. It seems she doesn’t like the thought of sharing me with another.”

Either did Benna.

He smiled faintly, as if she’d spoken the words aloud. “The vixen stayed just long enough tonight to work me into a lather.” He demonstrated what he meant by pressing his hot, hard length against Benna’s belly.

She made an embarrassing gulping sound.

“Did you know that it is dangerously unhealthy for a man’s body to get excited and have no release?”

“N-No.”

“It is true. I could suffer permanent damage. You wouldn’t want that, would you?” He brushed a thumb over her nipple.

Benna whimpered.

“Ah, such pretty little things—and so sensitive, I see.”

Both thumbs moved now, sending spirals of pleasure throughout her body.

“I feared that I’d be reduced to spending in my fist tonight,” he continued in a conversational tone. “But then I thought about my faithful servant who probably had her ear pressed to the wall.”

Benna opened her mouth to demur.

“I recalled the yearning, burning gaze I feel on my body every single time my valet dresses or undresses me.”

Benna had long suspected that she was a failure when it came to hiding her infatuation.

Geoff gently tugged on the pebbled, sensitive nubs.

She groaned; surely she’d go mad from the pleasure?

“You are shaking, Ben.” He raised his eyes to hers. “Perhaps I will see if I can make you come by touching only your nipples, hmmm?”

Benna was breathing like a winded coach horse, her entire body trembling. There was too much sensation, she’d fly apart; she needed—

“I’ve seen the way you look at me when I bring home my lovers.” Geoffrey pinched a nipple hard enough to hurt and she flinched. “Shhh,” he soothed, caressing the aching peak. “Tell me, do you imagine me in my room, giving them pleasure? Do you slide your fingers between your thighs and pretend that it is you with me, instead?” His eyes glinted with smug amusement at whatever he saw on her face.

Benna hated him in that moment.

“Can you hear my lovers when they cry out my name and beg me for more?”

More than once Benna had dressed and gone out into the night rather than listen to their screaming and moaning.

“I can see by your scowl that you don’t care to think about that. Do you want what I give them? Just tell me, and you shall have it.” His magical stroking ceased. “Well?” he prodded.

“I want it,” she whispered without hesitation, more embarrassed than she’d ever been in her life.

“It?” he teased.

“You,” she retorted in a raspy voice.

He laughed. “I know you do, darling.” He slid a hand down over her belly, his fingers delving into her private curls, sliding between her lower lips—

She bucked, a mortifying groan bursting out of her mouth before she could catch it.

“Mmmm, so wet and hot.” He stroked from just below her core to her entrance, willfully avoiding that most sensitive part of her. “Such a good, eager girl to open yourself up for me.”

Benna hadn’t realized that she’d moved her feet apart to encourage his exploration and was pushing her hips at him, grinding against his fingers.

She knew the memory of her wanton behavior would haunt her for a long time after.

But she couldn’t make herself stop.

“Why look at that beautiful blush. Don’t be ashamed of your sensual