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Life as Miss Reyne Tico knew shifted in its axis one early summer afternoon, right after lunchtime. The sudden change came in an envelope addressed to Miss Rosemary Tico, her younger sister, in the most gorgeous handwriting Lady Reyne had ever seen, one that also brought a shy smile to her sister’s pink lips. There was no denying a letter from overseas was the biggest excitement they had experienced during that rainy and uneventful season so far. After all, there was only so much two women in their early youth could enjoy without company in a huge house while their parents - adoptive ones for Lady Reyne but not less loved - were on a business trip along the South America’s coast; and their older sister, Paige, was experiencing her first steps in motherhood thousands of miles away from them. In those few weeks of them being away, Reyne had already gone through the small library on the second floor alongside her father’s studies; and Rose had sewn, fixed and embroidered countless gowns for when the weather allowed them to receive guests for tea and occasional dinner parties. The navy blue envelope, sealed with a golden seal and a very intricate letter A, was opened without ceremony, slim pale digits making a quick way of pulling out the fancy paper adorned with gold edges and a family seal at the bottom. Being taller than her sister and able to see over her shoulders, she followed the tangled handwriting that read:
“Dear Miss Rosemary Tico,
I hope this letter finds you well.
First of all I would like to congratulate you and your family for the welcoming of your sister Paige’s first child! We were very unfortunate with my father’s sickness and were not able to be present at her wedding or visit them yet, but we hope to be able to soon!
I very recently sent a letter to your parents regarding a stay in your wonderful state just to hear back that they are adventuring South America and its beauties as I write this! They were kind enough to allow my writing directly to you, to which I am thankful.
I am not sure if you remember me, but I met your family - and you as I can recall, an adorable child in pigtails and too much energy for such short stature - a few years ago when we visited your lands in what I recollect to have been a very warm and terrific summer. I still dream about the gorgeous lake behind your house, is it still there?
I write on behalf of my family to request a few weeks' stay for myself alone in order to get acquainted with you once more. I am sure we still have very much in common - probably more than favorite games and children’s books by now - even after all these years, and I look forward to your response in this matter.
Respectfully,
Mister Benedict Solo of Alderaan.”
“What kind of gentleman is bored enough to brave himself overseas?” The short young woman giggled in amusement, impacting Reyne’s own smile to appear. “Apparently a Lord Solo from Alderaan Lands.” She answered in a mocked tone, fetching the envelope from Rose’s hand to check the extravagant seal and the sender’s address. “A family friend from America, is that right?” Rey had only heard briefly about the once royal family her mother and father had met years ago when they were newlyweds, in one of their many trips abroad. The gentleman in question, Benedict Solo, was their only son, unmarried and - as far as the letter tone indicated - interested in bethroding one of her sisters. “They are exuberantly wealthy, Rey!” Rose said excitedly, folding the letter carefully and placing it back in the envelope. “His parents visited us once when Paige and I were only children, around four or five I think I was. Mother and father were still trying for another baby, it was long before the opportunity of adopting you came along. Oh, he must be such a grown man now!” Rey tried to picture the man her sister described next. Tall for his age, short black hair that left his ears poking out - something that, according to Rose, bothered him deeply. In her words, he was kind, funny and had a beautiful shy smile, and Rey was looking forward to meeting the mysterious man that was apparently an old match for her younger sister. “Do you think he is interested in marrying you?” Rey blurted out, curious as to why a single man would be riveted in spending that pleasurable season of storms and late warm nights away from his family and with two young women who were of marrying age. “Oh, I couldn't possibly know!” She giggled, slightly embarrassed with the idea of finding a prospect, but the blush on her cheeks told Rey the idea intrigued her more than she was allowing her sister to see. “Mother and father had mentioned about his search for a wife a while ago, and he was even once inclined in marrying Paige, but she had already been promised. I had never thought he would explore such far lands to find one, nevertheless.” “Maybe he is desperate.” Rey shrugged, leaving the foyer in the direction to the kitchen, where the cook, Mrs. Mazelina Kanata, had started preparing supper. Rey smelled the potato soup she loved so much, and the fresh bread right out of the oven. Her mouth watered and she let herself steal a piece of the fluffy dough, speaking with a mouthful next. “Maybe he is old.” “He shouldn’t be much older than us now.” Rose placed the forefinger on her lips and tapped it a few times, the way she always did when she was thinking deeply into a matter. But it didn’t take long for her to shake her head and accept the other half of the bun Rey offered. “I have no idea, it’s been a long time.” They munched on the bread as they left the room and walked upstairs to change for dinner, chatting about what to expect of a gentleman in their home so out of the blue. Rey bathed that night before bed deep in thoughts regarding ways of protecting her sister from dwelling too much into the idea of marrying a man she barely knew. ✉️ A reply to the letter was sent in the following day, inviting Mister Solo to spend the Summer in their company, assuring him of their parents’ arrival by the end of it. Rey accompanied her sister to the post office in town, letting her wander around the small shops in search of new ribbons for the dresses she would sew for that season. Reyne was reluctant in spending money on new items they most definitely did not need. That long lasting need for scrapping when she was young, the lack of options besides second hand clothes she had learned to treasure from a very young age, all of that was not necessary anymore, but she still felt uneasy. They were not extremely wealthy, but they lived comfortably, and every season the girls were spared a short amount of money to spend however and on whatever they liked. With her sister’s handiness in sewing, they often saw themselves searching for fabric in the modiste’s store alongside the main road, always a style in mind to be made during the week. Rosemary had offered to make her a new nightgown out of a light beige cotton fabric adorned with some lace, more sheer than she was used to wearing, but nothing that in the privacy of her own bedroom would be a problem; and also a new day dress in her favorite color: an olive green floral she found in the sale basket on their way out. They spent the next two weeks making sure everything was perfect for the man’s arrival. The living room was cleared of the books Rey had scattered during those lonely days; kitchen stuffed with fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and milk daily brought by the milkman; the guest bedroom - once their oldest sister’s room - freshly painted with a coat of white paint and recently washed linen sheets. The wardrobe had also been emptied from Paige’s old dresses, all passed along to Rey’s small closet that were now full of new clothes for the summer. It almost felt like Rose was trying to give her reasons to impress the upcoming visitor. The arrival of a young man into those lands often meant the arrival of trouble, and Lady Reyne was weary of it. Two winters prior she had suffered the worst of heartbreaks when a young man from northern lands proposed to her during family dinner, after only a couple of weeks being a guest in their home. She - young and foolish as Reyne liked to remind herself of being - accepted without thinking twice, delighted with the prospect of being a married woman so soon. Her older sister Paige had just travelled away after a marvellous wedding in their garden, and the excitement was still broiling inside of them all. Being the older unmarried sister now, even if for just a few months, it was only natural the proposal had been directed to her. But when a couple of days later the lad had been seen in town completely drunk and being accused of mistreating a few brothel ladies, she had ended the engagement and vowed to remain single until she had no other option besides settling with someone - if she could not first convince her father of how important was for a lady to have her independence and remain true to herself, married or not. When the carriage stopped in front of their gate on a dry, heated morning, both Rose and Rey went outside to welcome the man, excited to see who would be their companion for the following months. He didn’t wait for the coachman to open the door for him, stepping out into the pebbles with a solid land, straightening his clothes before directing himself to the two story house. “He most definitely does not look like the man who wrote that adorable letter to you.” Rey whispered conspicuously to her sister, watching with curiosity as the tall broad man in tailored pieces, dark shoulder-length hair and a face that had the smallest hint of a smile on the corner of his lips walked to them. He paced funny, legs apart and heavy feet on the ground, but guided steps even in his tall stature. “Miss Tico.” He greeted Rose, widening his smile to a grin. “As lovely as I recall.” He bowed to both women one at a time before accepting Rose’s extended hand to plant a quick kiss to the top of it, avoiding eye contact. Rey, contrary to her sister, raised her hand for a firm handshake, which did nothing to change his expression. If much, his brows furrowed a little bit more. A large hand engulfed hers, so tiny in comparison, but warm. Rose ignored her weird conduct and happily guided the man inside, heatedly chatting to the promise of early lunch and letting the carriage driver take his luggage upstairs to the guest’s room. Being a couple of months older than Rose and with their parents away for the season, it was Rey’s responsibility to chaperone for them and be assured that nothing would go out of plan. She kept an eye on the man during lunch that afternoon, the way he did not try his hard to impress her sister, but how gentle he was telling her stories and making her laugh. It felt natural to see them together, they blended in the environment, but there was something in his behavior that bothered her deeply. He kept his eyes off of her, almost like he wished she was not there disturbing their peace, but Rey remained quietly in place, sitting in the corner of the living room later that day to read a book while Mister Benedict delivered a few gifts to her sister. “Oh, Rey, look!” Rose called and she looked up, seeing her hold a beautiful hardcover book up in the air, smiling widely. Reading was not her sister’s treasured activity, but it was hers. She attempted to check the title on the cover, and in gold foil there was the name of one of her most-liked books: A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare. She eyed the visitor before smiling at her sister, nodding in excitement as the book was placed aside among the other gifts she had already opened: a French silk scarf, a box of ginger cookies, another one of expensive Belgian chocolate and a few more books. She swallowed a laugh when Rose scrunched her nose to the pile beside her, which went unnoticed by the man, who now was focused on reading the morning newspaper on her father’s armchair. Lingering her gaze into his features, Rey’s first impression at the man’s odd appearance started to change. His large nose did not seem strange anymore, it in fact suited him; his thick wavy hair was silky and covered his ears, framing his beardless face naturally. Large hands holding the paper were appropriate to his size, thick fingers flipping the pages with ease. Looking down at her own hands, slim digits and protuberant bones, for the first time Rey felt small, but not in a depreciating way. She felt small like one feels when they are terrified and needing comfort; like one looks up at their protector in search of assuring eyes and words that will make them feel at ease. When she looked up again, his eyes were staring at her thoughtful and profound expression, and he did not drift away when she blushed and cleared her throat, getting up with the excuse of taking an early bath before supper. ✉️ “Miss Tico.” A deep voice called her from the corridor the moment she stepped out of her room, dressed in the green summer dress her sister had sewn a couple of days before, refreshed and hungry. She looked to her left, and the tall man - still in his early travelling clothes - walked towards her, carrying something in his right hand as the left one gestured towards her. “I would like for you to have this.” He handed her the hardcover book Rose had happily shown her that afternoon, and Rey held it between her palms, the heavy expensive material too delicate for her to do anything else. Her thumb traced the gold letters as he continued, both hands behind his back. “I noticed you seem to gravitate towards reading.” “Very much, Sir.” She looked down, opening the cover and flipping the pages, illustrations decorating their edges with motifs, the gold shine repeating on every chapter count. She looked up, closing it with a thud and handing it back to him. “I cannot accept it, though.” “Why is that?” He seemed honestly confused by her refusal. “It was a gift to my sister.” She cocked her head, reminding him. “I am sure she will lend me at some point, there is nothing to worry about. We share many things.” He hummed, but did not accept the book back. “Miss Rose was the one to ask me to deliver it to you, Miss.” Benedict insisted, gesturing both hands toward her. “She said you would appreciate such delicate work better.” Reyne smiled looking down at the book again, mostly happy regarding her sister’s generosity than to the man standing in front of her. “I apologize if she seemed ungrateful.” She said after a few seconds, looking up at him again. His eyes had never left her. “Not at all.” He dismissed, brushing away her apologies with his large hands. Once again her eyes focused on the perceptible difference from her own. “I should be the one apologizing for not bringing gifts to you.” “There is no need to worry about me, Sir.” Her head shook vehemently, understanding being left aside more than she cared to admit. Reyne had always felt left behind. Never by her parents or sisters, but often by people on the outside. Not having the same nationality and appearance as her family, people often referred to her as a maid, mistreating her presence sometimes. Invitations that only arrived for the four of them, companies that seemed to not bother with her presence. She was used to not expecting anything from anyone. Yet, she was lucky to have a lovable family that never made her feel like she was alone. The man kept talking as if her head was not swirling with her own personal thoughts. “I was unaware of your presence here, in fact.” He explained, looking to his feet and closing his hands in fists before running them through his shiny hair. “When Miss Rosemary mentioned her sister, somehow I was taken to believe it was Miss Paige she referred to. I even brought baby gifts, if you can imagine!” He let out a sound that resembled a cough and a laugh, covering his mouth right after, as if ashamed of his reaction. “Well, I am adopted. Often forgettable.” She shrugged her reveal, not hoping for him to direct her any sympathy. In fact, not wanting any kind of pity for her situation. “Yes, I know that.” He said, running a hand through his hair again as if he was embarrassed by his expectations. “That you were adopted, I mean. I was told the Ticos had a third daughter, I simply did not expect her to be so…” “Educated?” She joked, depreciating herself in the way she had always done, the rescued girl that did not have better opportunities. She did not know why everyone expected her to be dumb and stupid when she had had the same education as her two sisters, and her love for reading was an important factor in her early development. “Beautiful.” He cocked his head, the word slipping out of his mouth in an accident. The unexpected disguised compliment shocked her, but Rey did not let it get to her head. Instead, she accused him of things his words had not voiced. “Are you saying my sisters are not pretty enough for your eyes, Sir?” She smiled internally with the way he flinched at her honesty. Yet, he didn’t stammer, remaining silent. “Still you wish to marry one of them.” He attempted to contort the awkward situation she had put him in, but he only made it worse. “I would never marry for beauty solely.” Reyne was not sure if it was a direct comment about herself, but it stung nonetheless. “Oh.” She scoffed, somehow not surprised, holding the book near her middle with a hand while the other wiped on her skirt the sweat from her palm. “You sure do know your way around women, Mr. Solo.” Having that said, she walked away to the opposite side and down the stairs, leaving an astonished man behind still looking for the right thing to say.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
As days went by, Reyne started noticing details about Mister Solo she hadn’t before, both righteous and disagreeable. Besides being a gentleman towards her sister Rose and her, he also made sure to make them comfortable at all times, which was something that grew in the scale of respect she was unconsciously building for him. Being the only man in the house, it could be concerning if he was not such a calm and constrict man. Mister Solo was always careful to look away and pretend not to hear if the ladies in the house were seen whispering some kind of gossip; always made sure to compliment Miss Kanata’s food and Miss Connix's tightening around the house. Their smiles always grew when he was around, and Rey could not avoid smiling too. However, she also started noticing things that made her apprehensive. The way he kept a polite distance from everyone, but not in a way that showed her he respected them, but rather in a form that made her think he did not actually want to be around anyone. Nothing had ever been said to prove her theory, but her eyes saw more than words could ever explain. Another thing that called her attention was how his eyes seemed to drift more towards her when she was silent, almost like he was hoping for her to say something, to be vocal about any of the subjects being discussed. She kept her composure, kept her words to herself and only watched with despair his curiosity towards the wrong sister grow. His relationship with Rose had gone from the standard awkwardness from the first few encounters to a friendly connection that allowed them longer conversations and a comfortable proximity, while Rey watched everything from afar. Still being responsible for chaperoning their time together, she often enjoyed staying behind and just contemplating their connection bloom, pretending to ignore the way he was constantly looking back to check on her, or the way he avoided touching her sister, fisting his hands on his sides every time she showed excitement towards something she wanted to express or tell him about. Rosemary, though, did not seem to notice those tiny details her sister was unsettled about, which made Reyne keep her mouth shut about such matters. “He is such a gentleman.” Rose commented one night, cross legged on her sister’s bed, already dressed in a nightgown and robe, sipping from a late evening brewed tea Reyne had brought them in her curiosity to hear about what her younger sibling had to say. “He shows a fair interest in my hobbies and household affairs, something so odd for a man to care about!” Rey rewinded her mind to that same afternoon in the family room downstairs, where her sister was blissfully discussing about her recent dress mending and a winter course she had taken at the local church while Mister Solo appeared to be extremely bored with the one-sided conversation, replying angrily to handful of letters he had received from abroad a few days prior, completely ignoring them but still pretending to care as he politely but mechanically replied to every comment Rose directed to him. “He sure is different, sister.” Rey replied, taking long sips from her hot beverage, hoping her sister would not notice her sarcasm. “I am glad you are getting along.” “Although I do suppose you two would make good acquaintances!” Rose mentioned, and Rey cocked her head, placing the empty cup of tea down at the edge of the bedside table and resting her arms over her lap. Rose continued, somehow even more excited seeing her confusion. “He is an avid reader, just like you, Reyne! And it is something I cannot express interest in, which I believe upsets him a little.” “Oh, I doubt that!” She guaranteed Rose, knowing too well that it would be a foolish reason for him to be upset about, but not knowing what else to say. She placed a hand over her sister’s knee and squeezed it in reassurance. “Couples can manage different interests in life and still continue being desperately in love and connected throughout the years! See mother and father, for example. She loathes hunting, but she is always cheering him on!” “Yes, you are fairly right, but I still think he would make a better match with you rather than myself.” “Oh, nonsense!” Rey laughed it off, getting up from the bed and looking outside the window to where she could see the moonlight shining over the lake that met the edges of the forest surrounding their state. Her next words came above a whisper as she pondered about her previous life decisions. “You know I am not interested in finding a husband after what happened that Winter.” A moment of silence harshly fell between them, but when Rey turned to face her sister again, she was up on her feet, raising both hands to hold hers in between, a pitiful look on her eyes. “I’m sorry.” “Do not dare to worry about me, Rose!” Rey squeezed her hands back, head shaking and a true smile appearing on her lips. “It makes me the happiest to see you happy.” Both sisters smiled at each other, holding hands until Rey dropped hers, walking back to the bed and sitting on its edge. Rose took the hint and walked to the door, carrying both empty cups and saucers and looking back one more time to say goodnight. “Do you think mother and father will approve of him?” She asked Reyne before closing the door behind her. “I think by inviting him to spend Summer with us already means they did.” Rey guaranteed, tucking herself in and letting her sister retire for the night in peace, hoping to change her mind towards that man in their lives in the near future. ✉️ A week later, on a Saturday afternoon promenade to town, with Reyne following behind a very chatty Rose and an extremely silent Benedict Solo, she admired the livelihood of everyone enjoying the weekend outside. The weather was beautiful, clear skies and a warm temperature that allowed them to wear the freshest summer dresses Rose had sewn weeks prior, their exposed collarbones getting that soft tan that highlighted Rey’s freckles, and bonnets to protect their faces from the sun. Mister Solo, in lighter trousers than usual this time, a matching cotton shirt, a dark blue vest and a top hat, had Rose’s arm tangled with his, his posture so stiff it was clear how uncomfortable he was. Reyne’s younger sister gestured around the town's main square, elucidating to him the most popular places and the ones she loved most; where the best bread and milk could be found, and their favourite store: the modist. He let her guide him inside, looking back to check if Rey was following, and the three of them entered the textile scented store. She stayed behind checking the ribbons as Rose walked deeper among the fabric covered walls to talk to the owner, introducing Mister Solo and showing her the dress she was wearing that had been made with the fabric they bought the last time they were there. Reyne was so focused on feeling the softness of the silk materials hanging from the ceiling’s support that she barely heard the tall man pacing behind her, his deep voice so close she could almost feel his breath. “Choose a few.” He offered, and her hand dropped to her sides as she turned, head shaking and spine shivering with his sudden proximity. “There is no need, Mister Solo.” She smiled without teeth, walking past him to look at the fabric rolls in the clearance section. “We have plenty.” “You are not wearing any today.” He pointed out, and her hand came to rest on her upper stomach, where the edge of her corset met the skirts of her dress blandly. “I did not imagine this casual breather required me to wear one, Sir.” He furrowed his brows at what she said, a smirk on the corner of his lips the moment he perceived the sarcasm in her words. She swallowed a smile, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of amusement, and he recovered himself in seconds as Rose approached. “Miss Tico, please.” He turned to her sister, removing his hat and holding it against his middle, a look on his face that had nothing apologetic about it. “Encourage your sister to indulge herself in some gifts.” Rose giggled, grabbing Rey’s arms and dragging her without ceremony to the room in the back, where the modist and her assistant already waited for them, measuring tape in hand. “Mister Solo insisted we have a few new dresses made, Reyne.” She said, smiling widely, extremely excited with the offer. Rey rolled her eyes, but promptly mirrored her sister’s happy expression as she followed her behind the partition. Before the curtains closed behind them, Rey looked back to thank Mister Solo with a nod, noticing his dark gaze following her every move with pride. Their walk back to the house happened to be later than expected that early evening, right before dinner, giving Reyne no time to second guess the heavy packages filled with brand-new fabric and ribbon rolls Mister Solo carried to their rooms; the few dresses he ordered for them awaited their return in the following week. Rose could not contain her eagerness with the potentiality of spending her free time sewing new garments and accessories for them. Reyne, on the other hand, contained herself into displaying too much enthusiasm, simply thanking the man on her way to the bedroom after he left the room empty handed, locking the door the moment she was left alone and taking a deep breath she felt like she was holding the entire time around him. ✉️ Later that night, hiding in the cocoon of her father’s library, Reyne was so focused on the book she was reading that she did not notice the light footsteps echoing in the empty corridor before a deep voice spoke at the door. “Miss Reyne, a little late for you to be up, is it not?” That voice that had been around them the past few weeks, a constant presence in her daydreams, startled Reyne and she let out a loud gasp, covering her mouth with a hand and immediately closing the secret book she was previously deep into - a treasure from her own mother’s library -, and stashed it between her bum and the abundance of pillows supporting her back on the window’s corner bench. She then collected from the side table the hardcover volume he had gifted her that first day, opening it in a random page and trying to calm her heart down, feeling how it pounded inside her chest. Seeing her frightened expression, he quickly explained himself. “I saw the candles on as I was about to go for a late night stroll outside, it got me concerned.” She swallowed the wish to ask what his business was with a late night walk in the darkness of their land, and looked up at him, discerning his features in the soft candlelit room. He was wearing the same clothes he had been the entire day, clearly not prepared to sleep. “I find myself unable to sleep sometimes, Sir.” She answered with her most natural voice impersonation, shifting on her seat. “Uneasiness and distress that lodge inside my mind during my attempts to sleep every once in a new moon.” She shared her discontentment with a side smile. “My endeavors to ignore them are often unsuccessful.” He hummed, crossing his hands behind his back and shifting on his heels a couple of times, clearly uncomfortable with the situation they he had put himself in. “Perhaps tea is in order?” He offered after a few minutes of awkward silence, gesturing to the door, and she hid a smile, looking down to her lap before staring at him again. “British customs are getting to you already, dear Sir?” She commented as a kind joke, which he took lightly. “Perhaps.” He attempted a smile that widened when he saw her display the same gesture. “There’s no trouble.” She gently dismissed him. “I have already emptied a portion I made myself earlier.” She gesticulated her head towards the empty cup of tea on the window’s ledge. “I see.” “I can brew some for you, if you wish.” She motioned to get up, but his denying gestures were insistent, both hands waving in front of him, freezing her in place. “No, no, no!” She sat back, biting her lower lip as he looked away, clearing his throat. “I hope not to offend you, Miss Reyne, but I personally am not inclined to drink tea, and it’s rather too late for a cup of hot coffee.” “Certainly.” She agreed, closing the book with a thud and holding it against her chest. “What were you reading?” He asked, naturally curious. “Just this.” She squeaked the words and showed him a cover he knew too well, and he hummed again, clearly not believing the lie but playing his part. “Rose said it’s one of your favorites.” He commented, and she wondered what moment alone they had been spending together without her chaperoning that she missed that conversation about her inclinations. “One of many, yes.” “Did you -“ He assessed her reaction, looking behind the dark empty corridor then whispering to her conspiratorially. “Did you know the story is about an orgy?” She gulped, pressing the book harder on her chest and sitting straight, legs down and ready to leave. However, he was towering above her, blocking her path. “Is that why you gave it to my younger sister?” She accused him in an angered whisper, pointing a finger in a very non ladylike way. “Then gave it to me ?!” He cocked his head, confused and offended. “So we can satisfy your dirty fantasies ?!” “Is that the conclusion you came to?” He replied calmly, taking a few steps behind and crossing his arms over his muscular chest, giving her the chance to leave. But his looming presence confined her into a shell. “Do you have a problem with me, Miss Reyne?” Recovering from that exchange and reminding herself to whom she was talking to, Rey straightened up her spine and puffed up her chest, noticing how his eyes dropped to her cleavage. She then crossed her arms over her breasts, barely making any difference in blocking his view of her barely covered chest in the sheer nightgown. “Not at all, Sir.” She cleared her throat after her voice came hoarse, then added an apology. “I should go.” He unblocked the way with a step to the side and she walked past him, book and saucer in hand, hurrying to her room the moment he was out of sight. Tucked into the safety of her bed, Rey’s hands - at their own accord - drifted down her belly, one pulling the nightgown up while the other breached that secret spot it had been aching all evening - as it usually happened while she read her mother’s secret book stash. She had never felt the courage to act upon that tingle in her lower stomach, the uncomfortable stickiness between her tights, until now. Until him. With her heart palpitating on the surface of her throat, a finger slowly parted her labia, finding the lubricated spot that made her gasp and fold her legs up, allowing herself more space. She should feel disgusted by her actions, embarrassed by the noises that echoed inside her small room, shocked with how good it felt to touch herself like that, but Rey only wanted it to be over . Adding a second finger to that first one, she gathered the arousal that dripped out of her virgin hole to a swollen nub right above, one she read once that it was the chalice for all of her pleasure. A single touch was enough for her hips to jolt up, a sharp gasp leaving her parted mouth in surprise, the hand that had been resting over her tigh now grasping the hem of her sleep dress, but then quickly coming up to cover her lips as she flicked the button again and swallowed a scream. Reyne had never felt such a thing. A powerful burst of relief followed by an extreme exhaustion that dragged her to sleep almost immediately, a quick wipe of her fingers on the sheets and her mind none the wiser of the man who had her precious confidential book on his nightstand a few doors away.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The ensuing morning came with heavy clouds and not even a glimpse of sunrise. Reyne, still confused in regards to the night before, and to some degree a little ashamed about her conduct, found solace in the dark moody weather. Dressed in a terracotta long-sleeve cotton dress and making sure to take her apron along and tie the brown leather boots tightly in case she went outside, she closed the door behind her expecting to have a productive day ahead. The hope to avoid Mister Solo that day was nonviable the second she made her way down the stairs for an early breakfast. He seemed to be patiently waiting for someone, hands behind his back as he leaned casually against the stone wall, and she looked around to check if Rose was anywhere to be seen. Apparently, to her astonishment, she was the one he was holding off for when his eyebrows unfurrowed and his shoulders relaxed to the sight of her descent. With a racing heart that had nothing to do with seeing his morning hair not meticulously styled and the faintly sleepy expression on his face, she nervously smiled and fixed her posture. Reyne politely greeted him in the hallway that connected the stairs and the main floor rooms of the house. With both hands still behind his back he made a courtesy, one palm reaching for hers to assist on the final creaky steps. As she looked down to where her feet met the hardwood floor, he straightened up his spine and passed a bulky object to her empty hand. Rey looked down to the paperback book he had just handed her, mortified, feeling the crimson cover the paleness of her face, not being able to look up to him as her heart hammered inside her chest, the awareness freezing her in the spot she stood. “Heavy subject for a lady’s night reading, if you allow me to say, Miss.” He whispered politely and with a hint of secretive humor as she passed by him, then walked ahead of her with his heavy footsteps as Reyne held the book tightly against her chest, almost feeling that her heartbeat echoed in the empty corridor. “If only I was such a lady, Mister Solo.” She whispered and blushed harder behind him, hoping he had not heard it but attracting a quick glance and smirk from his part that left Rey even more embarrassed. They made their way together to the breakfast nook, walking in silence to their seats, greeting Maz and Kaydel as he pulled Reyne’s chair before sitting comfortably on his assigned one, then praising the delicious smell of recently baked bread, biscuits, pie, cooked eggs and freshly brewed coffee with such tenderness that made the two women flushed. Rey, keeping the book tucked between her legs and smiling down to her lap where she carefully folded and unfolded the napkin, looked around to find her sister chatting vividly with one of the chickens that had the audacity to walk inside the house, and called her name as she was served tea. Rose said her goodbye, shooing the animal away before closing the door and finding her chair on the other side of their guest. Mister Solo leaned to Reyne’s side as Rose found her seat beside him, whispering as he pretended to reach for a piece of biscuit that was in a basket to the left of the large distressed wood table. “I gave myself the freedom to read a few pages.” He confessed, fetching what he wanted then sitting back down, leaving a stunned Rey glued back to her seat as he took a bite from the soft dough. “Oh.” She looked around to distinguish if anyone had noticed their sudden proximity, and gulped down dryly before stuffing her mouth with a tiny piece of bread that she had left between her fingertips. It did not give her the time to think she wished it had, so she drank her warm tea slowly, hoping he would drift away from the subject. When he did not seem to be satisfied with her answer, she felt forced to ask. “And what - what is your… opinion regarding the matter?” “Enlightening.” Their eyes met, the smallest of smiles on his lips that gave her a weird feeling in the stomach, and Rey was almost sure he winked at her before drifting his attention to the cook Mrs. Maz, who sat across from them and was explaining the process of baking those delicious biscuits they had been served. ✉️ After that delightful and somewhat strange morning, Rey silently stepped away from the tasks inside the house to care for matters in the barn on the far right side of the property. She made an excuse for needing to check the safety of the chickens’ cage after that morning’s surprise but the truth was that she desperately needed to be alone. It was a bewildered feeling the one she was having since Mister Solo’s arrival. There, floating on the surface of her being, was an admiration for the man her sister was starting a relationship with, a gratitude on seeing her happiness above all else; while deep down her core another much stronger feeling kept her wide awake at night, one that not only troubled her sleep but made her doubt herself and the loyalty she shared with her best friend. Being a powerful and blooming sensation, one she had no control whatsoever, it angered her deeply, transforming the feeling into a hatred towards the man for allowing such affection - or whatever else that was - to the one he was not interested in marrying. A few days prior she had had the urge to write a few letters to her mother and sister, asking for advice to one and asylum to the other. However, it was her only responsibility to be at home during that Summer, with her younger sibling, watching over her future match for as long as it was necessary. The still wet pages saw the flames from the fireplace before she could envelope and address them. In the barn, it did not take long for her to find the nuisance that was causing the chickens to escape: a small hole on the bottom right side of the wire she was almost sure was caused by the goats in their attempts to steal the recently laid eggs. Sighing to the silence around her, Rey set herself to work, tying her apron over the cotton dress and kneeling on the floor, tools in hand and determination on her features. An hour went by and her work reached an end, a wooden panel tied firmly around what was left of the poles that held the wired cage together. It was not her best work, but it would have to be enough until she could send someone to town to retrieve a new fencing piece along with a long term solution. She cleaned her palms on the apron and was about to get up when the sound of the barn door slamming shut with a strong rush of wind alarmed her and made her lose balance, a hand on her heart with the fright as her back slammed on a wooden pole of the barn foundation. She winced in pain, a nail digging her shoulder blade that she instantly flinched away from, letting her buttocks fall to the floor and the shock of the fright run down her body. It took a few minutes but, the moment her breathing came back to normal, the discomfort had also dissipated and Rey let out a loud sigh, resting her head back to only then trace a finger where she could still feel the phantom nail stabbing her back. She recoiled again, a warm liquid staining her dress red. A thunder outside alerted her of the upcoming rain, but before she could get up and run back home to take care of the injury, a shadow approached the mid open barn door, and Mister Solo peeked inside, calling her name. He saw her before she could reply faintly, and something in her face made him rush to her side, his knees meeting the floor with a thud and both his hands on her face, checking on her. “What happened?” She scoffed a laugh with his worry, somewhat annoyed, and placed a hand on the floor to be able to raise back on her feet, but a sting on her scapula made her sit back down. “Are you hurt?” “It’s nothing.” She brushed her hand in dismissal, but did not motion to get up again. He scanned her face, then guided his sight to where her hand went up her shoulder, pressing the region and scrunching her face with the sting. “It does not seem like nothing, Miss.” He gently pushed her hand away to place his instead, guiding her down to a fold so he could check the damage. The back of her dress was dirty, a few wood chips stuck in the material that he quickly wiped away, but what concerned him was the fresh red stain. He voiced his next steps for Rey to consent, and her dress sleeves were pulled down her shoulders so he could see better the injury. “How bad is it?” She asked, pressing firmly the corset of the dress around her middle to protect her modesty, aware of the view he had of her body, shoulders completely out and freckled collar exposed to his gaze. He withdrew a handkerchief from his coat pocket then firmly pressed on her naked left shoulder blade, sending a shiver down her spine that went straight to her core, pooling down her belly with that weird sensation she had been feeling around him more often than she admitted to herself. “Just a small cut.” Mister Solo assessed, carefully pulling her sleeves back up then stepping away. Rey quickly fixed herself, furrowing her brows with the effort that brought another sharp pain to her bone, but making sure to seem brave as her hand rested again on her back. “Keep pressing it down so it stops the bleeding.” A lightning struck the sky, illuminating the dark day, and heavy droplets of rain started falling on the roof above their heads, the noise so loud that Rey curled herself down and pulled up her knees, holding them tight against her chest. Noticing her discomfort, Benedict looked to the barn door then at her before rushing himself to close it back shut, silencing the loudest noises outside. He sat down beside her, legs extended in front of him, not making any comments or asking questions that could potentially make her uncomfortable. He was curious, but did not want to pry, and she kept quiet, focusing on her breathing. “How did you know I was here?” Reyne asked after a few minutes, attempting to start a conversation that would serve as a distraction to her fears. “A guess.” He said too quickly, but changed his mind immediately, shaking his head with a pitiful glare to the floor. “That is a lie. Rose wanted to check on you because of the upcoming storm, but I came instead.” Rey’s eyes widened for a frame of second and he seemed worried that his presence was undesired. “Is this a problem?” She thought for a second before replying with a shake of her head. “Unusual, that’s all.” She shrugged. “My sister knows you’re here?” “Yes.” “Ok.” She sighed in relief, relaxing the grip on her knees and crossing the legs underneath her, glad to know that her sister was aware of his presence and their unchaperoned encounter. They heard the thunder and the rain starting to increase their pace and strength rapidly, deciding to wait it out inside. It was a few minutes walk back to the house, but a dangerous one in the muddy land and among the trees. They stayed in a comfortable silence, Benedict tapping his fingers on his knees as his eyes went back and forth from the door to her, while Rey looked down to her lap. “Did you just come all this way to court my sister?” The questions left her mouth before she could think any better of it, but thankfully it did not affect him. “I came to visit a family I care deeply about.” Benedict answered methodically, then thought for a moment before adding. “But I would be a hypocrite if I said that idea didn’t swirl around my mind before writing a letter.” Rey hummed, not surprised. “Are there no women in America?” She dared to question, glancing in his direction. There was an audacity to her words that she hoped would disbalance his calm posture, but it had not the desired effect. “None that caught my attention, no.” He waited a moment then drifted his view to her. “Why, Miss Reyne, are you opposed to me marrying your sister?” “I never said that.” Rey said defensively, crossing her arms over her chest in a manner that told him she was not in the mood to be challenged. It was his turn to hum, in an annoyed way. “Would it be so bad to see her married? To me?” Reyne thought to herself for a moment, recapitulating every moment they shared in the past few weeks, every interaction between him and her sister, every glance in her direction that made her question his intentions, every exchange of words that left both on edge… “I don’t want you to break her heart, that’s all.” Another moment of silence fell among them, an understanding that went far beyond words. “What makes you think I would do that?” His question came not long after, and Rey could not avoid but look in his direction. He held her gaze before she dropped hers to her lap again, fidgeting with her nails in a manner she often did when she was nervous or uncomfortable. Both, at that present moment. She kept her gaze down as words left her mouth. “Rose is a sunrise. She spreads joy everywhere she goes. I don’t see you matching her energy sometimes.” As if cueing her feisty words, a thunder struck in the sky above them, echoing inside those wooden walls, a few leaks dropping to the floor in between them - one specifically on his back that she did not warn him about. “She fears you might loathe her inclinations and interests, which makes me wonder if you are the best match in her path.” “I want nothing but to be good for her, Miss Reyne. I need you to know that.” He confessed without the ghost of a smile on his lips, ignoring the way she flinched with the loud noise outside. Rey did not make any gesture, resolute with his intent. “Rose is too good for this world. She needs someone who will never let her down.” “Are you saying I am not good enough for her?” Not even taking a breath, Rey replied. “Your wealth is not everything, Sir.” She spit the words out, looking to the opposite side before staring at him again. Her hands now were in fists between her legs. “I believe a marriage should not be built purely by a sense of friendship and affection. I believe a strong foundation encompasses respect, affection and desire. And you cannot buy that.” That one forbidden word rang in their minds insistently, his eyes dropping to watch her mouth gape open once, twice, until she had nothing else to say. Then, something shifted around them. A heavier energy that darkened his eyes and approached his body from hers. She was compelled to it, drawn to the way he looked at her, a little mischievously, and deeply curious. “Tell me the truth.” He gently but firmly requested, folding his knees down before standing up, towering menacing above her. “Why don't you want me to marry your sister, Miss Reyne?” Benedict gave her a few seconds to answer, but she remained silent, so he continued. “Is it because you wish to be the one on my bed?” Her eyes widened at the insinuation, the apples of her cheeks burning with a deep tone of crimson. However, he did not seem to be bothered by her uneasiness. Instead, he seemed to rejoice in her embarrassment. “You wish to be the one I pleasure? You wish to be the focus of all my affection, love, desire and devotion?” She stammered, without being able to form an adequate sentence or to spit some more venom at him, standing up and fighting the urge to point a finger at him. “Tell me, lady Reyne…” He said carefully, eyes on the way she reacted to his next words. “Do you think about me when you touch your intimacy late at night? When no one is around you and you can let go of your little whimpers and sounds of pleasure?” “I don’t - I don’t - how dare you!” She took a few steps back, stupefied by the insolence of his words. “You don't touch yourself?” A smirk that belonged to the devil approached her in slow steps. “A lady doesn’t give in to the pleasures of the flesh, Sir .” “I thought you said you were no lady.” He repeated the same words she had earlier spoken and, if it was even possible, her eyes widened even more. The scarlet that stamped her cheeks and collarbone attracted his attention and allowed him the most unnerving smile. She stuttered incomprehensible words before stomping away. Regardless, before she could make her way out of the barn, he pulled her by the arm, encompassing a hand around her waist and bringing her body closer to his. She gasped and stumbled on her feet but he caught her in his arms, supporting her balance with both palms firmly on Rey’s lower back and waist. His hands were so large they almost covered her entire circumference. Having to look up to meet his eyes, she noticed how dangerously close they actually were from each other. His dark gaze scanned her features and focused on her lips that were left slightly open with the surprise. Before she could reprieve him from doing anything, his mouth landed on hers, firm yet soft. Her arms hung on her sides as he still held her close and supported. Years from that moment she would revive that memory and swear she did not want to be kissed by that man. But the way her lips responded to his and kissed him back proved otherwise. He did not open his mouth the way she expected him to do - the way her books told her characters liked to kiss. Instead, he kept that pressure on her for a few more seconds before stepping back and leaving a stunned woman behind. Rey should have stayed inside the protection of those four walls. But when another thunder pulsated above the ceiling, something along the fear awakened inside of her. She hurried outside, clumsily gathering her skirts as she stepped out of safety. “How dare you!” She yelled at Ben, the mud splashing under her boots as the heavy rain fell around and over her. He stopped on his tracks, running a hand through his wet hair and sighing. Rey repeated herself, angrier. “What do you want from me, Miss?” He asked, annoyed, and she scoffed. “That you keep your hands to yourself!” She yelled above a thunder noise, swallowing a few drops of rain in her desperate attempt to show her discontentment. “Be respectful towards my sister!” “That’s what I did.” He clarified, adjusting his heels to face towards her. “You kissed me!” She gestured at him with both hands, not knowing what to do to remain calm. “You kissed me back.” He shrugged, words leaving his lips in a serenity that it seemed like he was talking about the weather. “Yet you’re not seeing me complain.” “I am not - this is not -“ “You’re not complaining?” He tried, smirking at her, and she huffed at him. “That’s not what I mean!” With a few steps he advanced towards her, towering above her short stature. “What do you mean, then, Reyne?” The use of her first name with the lack of a title brought shivers to her spine. Later that day she would blame the cold and the way her clothes were starting to stick to her skin, but she knew it was more than that. “You can’t do that.” “What?” His left hand went up her waist, not in fact touching, but just letting its warmth do the job in a shivering young woman who was experiencing her first sexual awakening. “Kiss you?” “Obviously!” She gasped, chest heavy, constricted inside her corset, making it hard to breathe. The rain was loud around them, hair sticking to foreheads, his ears poking out, her nipples hardening inside the layers of clothing. No one around to see them arguing. “Why not?” He asked in a deep tone, a guttural voice that did nothing to contain her feelings. “First of all, you are engaged to my sister!” She reminded him, having to yell above the noise of another thunder. His composure remained the same, unaffected by her accusations. “I haven't asked for her hand yet, Miss, and you know it.” “That does not make it right!” “You have a point. Please, accept my apologies.” The honesty in his words caught her off guard, but he quickly continued, looking deep into her eyes. “What’s the second matter?” It took Rey a moment to pull herself together and speak again, straightening the ruined skirt of her dress over and over again, finding a way to keep her hands busy. “You didn’t ask for my permission!” “Permission?” Nodding and pressing her lips together, she tried buying time to think about the best thing to say, something that would not make clear how much she enjoyed his previous debauched action. She did not know what was worse, the idea of him repeating what had just happened or him walking away. “You cannot simply kiss a lady and expect her to be ok with it!” “Very well.” He agreed, looking down, and she cocked her head. “May I?” “What?” She asked, ingenuously confused. “Kiss you.” Benedict explained, and her mouth opened in a soundless gasp. “No!” She managed to say, blinking countless times and not letting her eyes focus on anything specific, desperate to just get out of there, to be at a place where she could put her thoughts in order again. “Are you sure, Reyne?” He got closer, keeping his hands to himself but showing her how much he wished to be close, leaning down. “You keep looking at my mouth like you desire something.” There it was that word again, the one that brought butterflies to her stomach with the way he voiced it. “You’re taller than me, it means nothing.” She lied. Somehow, he believed it. Or, at least, he pretended he did. “Alas.” His lips ghosted over hers, Rey almost on her tiptoes, unconsciously trying to reach him, his neck bent down and his breath on her nose, intoxicating. His hands closed in fists by his side as he fought to not lose control. As their eyes met and their noses touched, reality crashed over him and he shifted away on his heels and went back to the house. Reyne, left alone in that storm, attempted to disregard how loud her heart was beating, how her chest was constricted and how much release she needed. She ran back home, splashing mud all over her skirt, making her way upstairs as quick as she could in hopes no one saw her. She stumbled on Rose the moment she climbed the last step. “Where were you?!” Her sister asked, placing both hands on her shoulders, shocked to see Reyne drenched in rain, dress covered in mud. Rey bit her lower lip to not voice her pain with the touch that would reveal her wound. “Why are you all wet?” “I got caught up in the storm!” She forced her way ahead and complained over her shoulder to an appalled young woman. “Chasing a goddamn chicken!” Reyne lied, passing her sister quickly so she could hide the bloody dress and the truth stamped on her face, the pink stain on her cheeks giving away what she would never voice. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll draw myself a warm bath now.” “I’ll do it for you, Miss!” Miss Kaydel, the maid, left Rose’s room and came to her encounter, but she quickly walked past her too. “It’s alright, no need to bother.” Before anyone could ask or say anything else, Rey had closed the door behind her, resting her back against it and taking a deep breath. She could feel the quiver of her heart inside her ribcage, a hand upon it trying to calm it down. Stripping down from her dirty garments, she tossed them aside then walked naked to the small bathtub on the right corner of the room, strategically placed near the fireplace. A bucket of water had been heated already, and she threw its contents and stepped inside the warm mix, sinking in the calm and quietude of that lonely time. Unsticking the handkerchief from her back, she washed it clean and let the wound soak, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. The cut did not hurt that much anymore, leaving her body with a faint sting and probably a small scar that would heal in a few weeks or so. Reyne washed herself in silence, the thunderstorm and the cracking of the fire her only companions in that dark afternoon. In that quietness that allowed her thoughts to be loud, she felt an urge that was not estranged to her anymore. Roaming her hands down her body, Rey felt the softness of her breasts, attempting a light pinch on the hardened nipples that made her moan in pleasure, legs folding open. With a hand on her breasts, the other was free to venture downwards, passing over her tummy, then down her curly mound into the lips that protected her intimacy. She parted them with two fingers, that lubrication dense against the water, stick and noticeable. Those two same digits gathered the arousal and rubbed it over her little death button, gentle at first, then more precise. The memory of his hands on her waist, palming her entire circumference, his lips on her, his breath on her skin; it all brought even more butterflies to her stomach. She felt those bubbles down her core, building up to an explosive triumph. Her fingers moved faster, both around her nipple and pleasure nub, a scream trapped inside her throat as she got closer and closer to that roaring feeling. The middle finger accidentally slipped inside that sinful pathway, and Rey gasped with the fulfilment sensation. She swallowed a scream as the pleasure finished building up and exploded inside of her, toes curling and eyelids shaking, a common regret soon following. By the time she felt energized enough to leave the bedroom, it was already dinner time. With a bit of an ointment and a piece of clean fabric covering her wound, she chose a navy blue long-sleeved dress, tied her hair up in a bun made out of three braids, and walked down the stairs by herself. Ben and Rose were gathered in the family room, the storm outside quieted to a consistent rain, the fireplace lit and the smell of soup and bread filling the air. She felt her stomach respond to that, announcing her presence to everyone. Ben was the first to look up from his book, nodding once to be polite but looking down right after. Rose opened a wide smile and asked if she was ok, to which she just nodded. Rey cleared her throat and tried not to blush with the memories from that afternoon, urging them to join her in the dining room for dinner. Conversation flowed normally, not a single disapproving look was thrown in her direction, which indicated that no one knew about what had happened in the barn, to her relief. Mister Solo did not seem affected by that afternoon’s events, nor Rose seemed to be curious as to why they stayed so long out there, alone. They ate and chatted until stomachs were full and bodies tired, and when Rose yawned after a game of chess with Rey back in the family room, the fireplace almost dimmed of light, they all knew it was time to retire for the night. Saying their goodnights to Mrs. Kanata and Miss Connix, the three of them made their way upstairs, Rey walking faster than the rest of them, skirts up in hands to not trip in her need to be safe in the solitude of her own bedroom again. “Miss Tico?” Mister Solo called from behind them, hand on the doorknob of his guest bedroom. Both of them shifted on their heels to face the man. Although his eyes were on her sister with just a short glimpse at her direction, Rey knew the words were addressed only to her. “I apologize for my behavior this afternoon.” His head lowered slightly in respect, but right after he glanced at Rey again for a brief second, enough for her to notice but not too obvious for Rose to register, and she bit back a smile with their shared secret. Reyne had no idea what his excuse was to explain the extended time spent unescorted in the barn with her that afternoon, but regardless of what had it been, Rosemary was unworried about it.“Oh, nonsense!” Rosemary brushed him away, none of the wiser of the sudden tension in the hallway. “We have plenty of other chickens, what is a runaway!”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The rain kept strong and steady the forthcoming days, glooming the sky above the property and the mood of those inside, forcing everyone to find tasks to keep them busy for most part of the week. The only one who seemed not so troubled with the dark clouds and heavy thunders was Reyne, safe inside those wooden walls in her cotton long sleeve dresses and a thin blanket around her shoulders, she remained in places where there was usually no one, a book always in hand. Pacing around the corridors as a ghost, she was barely noticed, a nod here and there to acknowledge her passing to whoever spared a glance at her direction, but they were all too busy to keep the house warm and the habitants fed. Rose could be found in the family room practically all day, sewing or working on a new embroidery piece, chatting with Benedict Solo who was always as her companion, newspaper or a book in hand, focused deep in words her sister was often not so interested about. Inside their home, Reyne found no need to chaperone her sister and her match any longer, which granted them the time to know each other better without a curious ear around and Rey the opportunity to take some much desired alone time as the droplets of rain hit the windows and the candles warmed the cozy book-filled walls of her father’s library. Comfort was so immediate in those moments when she was quiet and undisturbed, that more often than not daylight turned into nighttime and Rey could still be found sitting under the window, a pile of books by her side and a blanket over her legs. No one seemed to notice her sudden absence after meals, the quick runs back to the library, or the silence that fell on the room the moment she disappeared abruptly. Or she thought no one did. “What are you reading, milady?” The deep voice of the man that had been haunting her peace echoed in the empty corridor right outside the library door, the living room clock loudly striking midnight and distracting her for a moment from the tall shadow in sight. The rainstorm had given them a brief break that day, just enough so they could tend to matters in town. By the time Rey found herself back at home, rain poured outside as powerful as the days before and dinner was immediately served, granting them the comfort of a hot meal followed by the possibility to gather around the coffee table in the family room for a quick game before calling the night earlier. Reyne, however, sneaked out of her chambers after a warm bath, checking the hallway twice before stepping barefoot outside, a simple sheer yellow robe over the white nightgown. It had been a while since the last time she had ventured alone after the usual bedtime, but it still felt like she could get caught at any moment with her forbidden books and fast paced heartbeat in the quietude of the night. The danger only fueled the adrenaline in herself. The door closed softly with a click behind Mister Solo’s back, the creeping of the fireplace masquerading the rush of blood in her cheeks as she drifted out of her own thoughts. Reyne covered her chest better with the robe, tightened the knot around her waist and pulled the blanket over her lap to have more modesty, the choice of not wearing any undergarments that like proving to be a mistake. Regardless of her prompt response to his presence, she did not have time to hide the book like the other night - one so far in time it seemed -; the illustrated cover stamped with the sin of words that had just made her close her legs with an ache in her core, prohibited words still reverberating inside her brain. Mister Solo hummed in agreement at the sight of the material she held in hands, not needing much effort to read the big bold gold title on it. “I see you have found another interesting reading, Lady Reyne.” She blushed from head to toe, shivering from a feeling that was not due to the colder temperature the night had instituted. “Tell me,” He continued, not bestowing her enough time to feel embarrassed. “Is this one as worth reading as the last?” She was reminded of that night again, where he had found the forgotten book and read excerpts from it. Reyne was still curious to know how much he had learned from it. How much he cared about what kind of content she was consuming. “Maybe you should share your opinion with me once you’ve read it yourself, Milord.” She suggested, bold words leaving her shy lips in the privacy of their bubble. The offer stood between them as Benedict gave a step forward, then another, to finally stay a few inches from her, knees barely touching. She had to look up the next time he spoke. “Are you willing to lend me this preciosity?” The politeness and refinement of his words made her bite back a smile and scrunch her nose. “Before you can snatch it in secret, I assure you.” He snorted a laugh and she hid a smile, a faint blush coloring his apple bones. As silence fell in the room and the man stepped back and paced around the small library, curious with the vastidy of books encountered on the dusty walls. Lady Reyne tried to resume her reading, giving him time to explore, but her attention kept drifting towards him, a need to hear his voice and also share her thoughts that were too extensive to be controlled. “Are you…” She started, not completely knowing how to proceed with such an intimate question. Part of her, the most reasonable and mature one, was justifying the curiosity in benevolence of her sister. She needed to know what type of man was about to be betrothed to her best friend. However, another part - the most true and selfish one of herself, the one that longed to have a man interested in her - was the one that actually insisted on asking. “Are you familiar with such… events, Sir?”She wondered if he would understand the questioning even with her poor choice of words, blushing with the thought of having to explain herself further. However, Benedict seemed to be able to read her mind as he smirked and answered. “You mean if I carry the knowledge of women’s pleasure?” She shivered at his preference of words, at the way he seemed to see the real reason why she was being so curious. As her blushing scattered across her face and chest, and the silence answered for her, he looked away for a second prior to steadily holding her gaze. “I have what I consider a moderate knowledge due to a few dozens of reading materials, but nothing more… substantial.” She cocked her head, holding the robe closer with a hand on her chest. “You’ve never been intimate with a lady?” Benedict did not even blink before answering her, eyes briskly going from her face to where she gripped the fabric - and where her nipples furiously hardened and digged the textiles. “I have not.” He looked back at her, irises darker than before, unidentified and unspoken desire flowing between them. She hummed, partially content with the path the conversation had taken. “You seem surprised.” “Cannot say I am not, milord.” Rey shrugged, crossing the legs underneath herself, letting go of the grip on the robe to place her hands on her calves. She could see now the way her nipples showed through the fabric of her clothes, hoping he would not be diverted to the way she was being affected. A hunch of her shoulders hid them away from view. “It is rare to find a respectable man such as yourself at your… age.” “Calling me old now, lady Reyne?” A flinch of mockery in his words that made her blush. “Not at all!” She was prompt to respond, awkwardly biting her lip and looking down at her lap, a gesture he had learned to like. A gesture that showed him how nervous and self-conscious she was. “Just somewhat satisfied to know you have not been influenced by the desires of the flesh, Sir.” Her eyes went up to meet his gaze, assessing his posture. “It means my sister is in good hands. I hope.” He grinned and looked down the same way she had done minutes before, entangling the fingers together behind his back, an apprehensive gesture. His pale cheeks turned scarlet when the next words left his mouth in a confidential whisper. “It does not mean I have not had any desires, my Lady.” Heavy silence fell between them. It almost felt like, in the candle lit room, the secrecy of midnights, the loneliness of two souls in a secluded room; a powerful spell bound them to share their deepest secrets without fearing the consequences. He avoided looking up at her until she spoke again. “So you’ve already…” The rest of the question was implied by the raise of her eyebrow. “As I am sure you have as well.” His gaze lifted up, eyes scanning hers. Rey doubted if she had ever stopped blushing since the moment he stepped inside her sanctuary; but with the heating in her cheeks reflected by the way he looked at her, she knew the freckled skin was at least a very deep crimson red. “You keep insisting I have some kind of depravity inside of me, milord.” She challenged him, his mouth moving for an upcoming apology, which she did not allow him to do. “I can assure you my virtue is intact.” “Allowing yourself pleasure by your own hands - or devices - is not a breach to your virtue, my Lady.” His eyebrow lifted, this time assessing how Reyne received the information. Her expression was as bland as a piece of paper, but inside she was shivering, that unusual burning in her core bubbling up to her chest and reflecting into goosebumps on her arms. He continued without suspecting how deep she burned. “In fact, I believe it is a healthy way to discover what satisfies oneself.” She gulped. He continued as if her reaction only fuelled him. “For example, it is said that the female peak of pleasure is easily reachable when there is a steady pressure on that secret bundle of nerves located between a lady’s legs. Much more than through penetration only.” Her mouth opened like a fish out of the water, words not finding their way out of her lips. She barely knew what could be said at that moment, she just knew that convo was affecting her more than she wanted to admit. Benedict seemed to notice she was in conflict within herself. “You look like someone who knows the true answer to that.” She went even paler. “I am not giving you the pleasure of this knowledge, my Lord.” Her mouth closed and she swallowed her own saliva, so dry she had a hard time speaking again. “I might not be a lady but I certainly am protecting myself from… from…” The words escaped her for a second, and when she found exactly what she wanted to say, her tone was deeply exasperated. “From deceiving men.” He seemed to be caught off guard with her choice of vocabulary. “Deceiving?” Nonetheless, she stood for her choice. “You shall marry my sister.” Reyne said as a matter of fact, angry that something like that had to be remembered. “There are certain topics a lady should not discuss with a man, let alone the one to become the husband of someone so dearly.” Benedict hummed displeased, untangling the hands from his back and crossing his arms over his chest to then lean back against the closed door. He stood so casual, so free of worries that his expression even softened. Reyne noticed a beautiful man standing in front of her, one that attracted her genuinely. She looked away briefly. “Have you never been curious?” His question came as if he had not been paying attention to a word of what she had just said, as if she had not been blindly staring at him a minute before. It sounded like it was a question he had been wanting to ask for a while now. “About?!” She flinched when she realized she had bitten his bait. “To know if another person can bring you the same pleasure as you do yourself? Or better?” She gasped and ignored his insinuation, wondering if she would ever stop blushing, but he did not press her any further. Reyne snorted and returned to her reading, not exactly paying attention to the words on the pages in front of her, but still pretending so she could avoid looking at him again. A few minutes later he interrupted her. “Do you mind reading a few pages for me, miss?” He walked back to an armchair on the corner opposite to where she sat, waiting on his feet for her answer as she repeated the words in her head. The question echoed in her mind, and she pondered if she had heard them right. “Pardon me, Sir?” “Just a few paragraphs.” Benedict explained, sitting down and crossing an ankle over the knee and hands over his lap, comfortable. “Strictly out of curiosity, of course.” Her eyes gawked at him, waiting for the admission of a joke, which did not come. He had been serious about his request, and she could not believe it. “I - I am not sure I can, Sir.” Reyne responded, unsettled with the prospect of reading aloud such filthy words that she had been keeping restricted to herself. “Too forbidden?” She nodded, resting a hand flat on the middle of the page of the still opened book on her lap. Closing the soft covers over her digits, she almost smashed her palm in between the exceedingly flipped pages due to the anxiety of it. “I can assure you I don’t mind the raw vocabulary it might involve, my Lady Reyne.” Thinking for a moment, and deciding that no damage would come from a simple light reading, she cleared her throat and sat back comfortably to reopen the book. Reyne flipped a few pages, trying to find something that was not entirely out of her comfort zone. However, that specific book had fewer pages that were suited for reading out loud. With his deep stare in her timid being, she felt even more on edge, then randomly opened on a page at the end of the book, reading the first paragraph that she fixed her eyes on. “ ‘Let's make a bet,’ ” She started reciting, looking up at him for good measure. His eyes were attentively focused on her. Reyne continued before she could change her mind, another clear to her throat and a press to her legs, pretending to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat with his gaze upon her. “ ‘which you will win without doubt. I bet my library and my paintings, against your virgi -’ “ She stopped, blushing furiously, stammering the first few syllables of the word a couple more times before he came to her rescue. “Virginity?” She nodded, skipping the word entirely and pretending like nothing had happened. Another clear to her throat before she continued. “ ‘...that you will not observe the continence for fifteen days, as you promise.’ ” Another pause, to where Reyne watched as he slowly got up from his seat and walked towards her. Never letting her gaze drop to the floor, he kneeled down by her feet, both hands on his thighs. She watched, and observed, and took mental notes of every movement his chest made with the way he breathed deeply. “Keep reading.” He instructed in a low growl, slowly lifting his hands to place on her knees. She shivered, taking longer than desired to continue her read. With her pause, he gently pinched the protuberant bones of her legs, then drifted his palms up, closing them around her thighs. Her chest rose and fell unrhythmically, all notion and proper behavior leaving her being as the warmth of his hands travelled through her body. The lack of underwear only made her further aware of the intimacy they unconsciously - or too consciously - shared. Mister Solo waited for her consent, briefly lifting his palm from her skin, to which her body responded by automatically jolting towards that missed warmth. He smiled, doing as she pleased, fingers digging the smooth skin of her legs over the few layers of fabric that separated them from where she unknowingly wanted him most. Her legs spread open, just a small amount of space that allowed his body to move forward and stand between both her knees. With that, he dropped his touch to her ankles, touching her bare skin for the first time on clear purpose. “Do go on, my Lady.” With a deep dark voice that would one day make her do anything he wanted, she did as he asked. “On the fifth day, after an hour of reading, I fell into a kind of ecstasy.” His hands went up a few inches under the skirt. She knew allowing him such affinity was illicit, knew that her subconscient - although very keen to his ministrations - wanted her to speak louder and put an end to it; but at that moment she could not force herself to do it. Nor did she want to. There was so much more she ought to explore and to know. So much he could teach her. Learn with her. As his hands travelled even higher and her legs spread even wider, she knew there was no going back. Her voice squeaked when she returned reading and he gripped tighter around her calves.
“Lying on my bed, curtains open on all sides, two paintings, the Feasts of Priapus, the Arnours of Mars and Venus served as my perspective. Imagination warmed by the attitudes that were represented there, I got rid of sheets and blankets, and, without thinking if the door to my room was good closed, I set out to imitate all these positions that I saw.”
She stopped again, motioning to close the book, but at her gesture his hands immediately stopped going farther, seizing every electric shock that had been sent to her core. “If you stop, I stop. Is that what you want?” He did not have to say it twice. Shaking her head negatively, her heart hammered inside her chest as her voice found the way out again.
“Mechanically, my right hand went where that of the man was placed, and I was at the moment of getting into thrust my finger forward, when the reflection held me back.”
Reyne looked into his eyes, seeing the reflection of herself in his irises, the rise and fall of her chest, the lack of constriction of her breasts inside the sheer material of her nightgown. It would be so easy if he wanted to pull down the neckline of her sleep dress and robe to expose even more of her intimacy to his eyes. She wished he would do that. His eyes followed hers when they dropped down to her cleavage. Nearly comprehending exactly what she desired, he leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss to her collarbone, his hands never leaving her legs. The large calloused palms now reached the sides of her thighs, so close to the line of her hips that a breath hitched up her throat. He gave her a warning look.
“I experienced the illusion, and the memory of the conditions of our challenge forced me to let go.”
As those words left her mouth, his motions followed their meaning. He raised up from his knees, suddenly, and her legs closed at their own accord, ashamed. But his plans were not to stop his care altogether. In fact, he had changed them. Sitting on the cushion beside her, pushing the pile of books to the side in not such a very gentle manner, he brought her by the waist to sit on his lap and straddle one of his thighs, facing the opposite way, her back against his chest, one of his large palms on her belly, securing her hips in place; the other on her thigh, patiently waiting for her to settle comfortably so he could guide her motions back and forth on the firm muscle of his upper thigh. She returned to the book immediately when he merely acted as if to stop. “That I was very far from believing you to be a spectator of my weaknesses, if this gentle inclination of nature is one, and how crazy I was, great gods!” Her own words levitated from the book, a jolt of his thighs surprisingly reaching the tiny pleasure button between her labia. The lack of undergarments allowed her the strangest but most pleasant sensation from the thick material of his pants and the firmness of the thigh muscle. As she tried to continue reading, stammering every few words, he continued assisting her in the pursuit of that new sensation. It was arduous to return the same attention to the book as those movements shook her body entirely, though. Noticing her discomfort, Benedict grabbed the book with the hand that was previously on her thigh, then unceremoniously tossed it aside, the other hand still placed firmly on her belly. Settling both hands on her waist, he shifted her position so she could face him. Reyne hid her blushing cheeks in the crook of his neck, the new angle allowing a better adjustment of herself on him, another wave of even more powerful pleasure reaching her core. Something hard poked her knee as she moved back and forth; something long, thick, something she had no clue of what could be, but that made him roll his eyes and her clench her intimacy around nothing as he was capable to find the briefest of relief on her kneecap. He pressed it further again as she humped his leg, faster and harder, absolutely not being able to control her desire any longer, a need to be vocal that felt foreign but righteous. A faint moan escaped Rey’s lips, and it took her a moment to notice she had been the one to let that go, blushing in embarrassment at how she could have made such a sensual sound. She widened her eyes and leaned back, but Ben smiled as he gently shushed her, a finger on her lips before she hid her face in the curve of where his neck met his shoulder again. He smelled like sandalwood, sweat and cinnamon, a scent she had never smelled before, a scent that felt erotic and sexual at that moment. Although Reyne knew she had to be silent, small whimpers kept escaping her mouth. Except that the crackling of the fire and the loud thunderstorm out of the window behind them was probably too roaring for anyone to notice a third type of sound coming from the closed room. Alongside with her moans - which seemed to have awoken something in Mister Solo -, Ben praised her with words she had never heard before, words that would find a way to be engraved in her brain for years to come; words she would repeat inside her head every moment she found herself alone, every time she wanted that same relief he was giving her in secret that night. Reyne grunted as she felt her core fluttering with that impending pleasure climax. She closed her lips on the exposed skin of his neck, and Ben called her name like a prayer, sinful words that begged for her to come, to let go of the ecstasy he knew she was holding, to give it to him. Her legs clamped around his muscle and she cried silently, forehead meeting his as that wave of pleasure ran through her body, culminating right between her curly mound, dampening the only material that stood between her intimacy and his leg. She could feel the liquid that dripped out of her pooling on the expensive material of his trousers, sticking in between her thighs, staining the black fabric and marking that unspeakable act that left them both breathless. It took a moment for her to recompose, for her legs to stop shaking and her heart to return to its normal rhythm, but when she did, he picked her up with both hands on her waist and placed her feet on the floor, where she stumbled for a second before regaining balance. The outline of his member - the thing that had been poking her knee before - was clear under his layers, and he looked away, not sparing a glance towards the wet spot she had left. “I should go.” Mister Solo said, avoiding her stare. Rey, knowing that whatever had just happened between them was definitely over, just stood there, arousal running down her legs and self preservation completely gone. He walked to the door without looking back. “Don’t.” She cried, reaching for his sleeve, gripping the edge of the lace with her fingertips, almost begging him to stay with the way she clinged to him. How could she let him go after what he had done to her? How could she let him go when he appeared to be in pain? “What can I do?” Their eyes met, a sad smile on the corner of his lips. “I’ll take care of it, don’t you worry my Lady.” “No, I want to.” She pulled his sleeve, forcing him to turn to her. “Tell me what I should do.” “You should rest, miss.” She let go of his arm, defeated. Benedict placed his thumb and forefinger on her chin, now forcing her to look up at him. His eyes were darker but still soft, well aware of that secret that no one could ever know. That moment belonged to them, no matter what happened in the future. He kept focused on her well-being. “Rest without an ounce of regret about what happened tonight. Promise me.” She shook her head, frustrated. “I will regret not delivering you the same pleasure you proposed to me, my Lord.” The hand that had already found solace on her face curled around the back of her neck and pulled her closer, firm but still gentle, their eyes drowning into one another. His next words were carried with lust and devotion he had never felt before, the bare memories of her ecstasy filling his mind entirely. “Seeing you falling apart was more than I could have ever wished for. I shall have as much pleasure remembering it.” “It’s not fair.“ She had to control the urge not to pout and seem like the silly little girl she was no more. “What is not fair?” “You get to see me fall apart and I cannot watch you do the same.” The sad expression returned to his face, one that now mirrored hers, one that was filled with sorrow and regret for what they could - should - never have. But for what he still wished for. “The only time I want you to see me fall apart, Rey…” The breath hitched on her throat as he called her for the short name, and another one as he completed his sentence. “…is the time I am inside of you.” Almost like wanting to give her a dramatic departure with that revelation that left her stunned, he shifted on his heels and reached for the door, opening it and leaving a shocked Rey alone behind. She, however, quickly recovered from the shock of his words, following him through the quiet and dark corridor. “You have no right to do that.” She resentfully whispered, stomping behind him. He stopped in front of his closed bedroom door, exasperated with her accusation. “What exactly am I doing now, my Lady?” “Leaving like that!” She stomped, closing her hands in fists by her sides. He did not try to reach for the door knob, waiting for her explosion to end extremely patiently. “Always leaving like you regret what you have just done! You unravel me, make a mess of my head, drive me insanely confused, then leave . What have I done for you to despise me so much? To use me like that?!” “My lady…” “That was my first kiss, you know.” She unveiled, miserable. Both minds went straight back to that afternoon in the barn, the stolen kiss, the burst of feelings they both experienced but kept to themselves. The revelation was enough to leave Benedict uneasy. He lacked the words she wanted to listen, momentarily lacked the sympathy for stealing that singular moment from her without the proper consent. Only when a tear trailed down the side of her nose did he react, one of his large palms closing around her face. “No, my Lady.” He said, expecting to hear something different from her, and he never thought it would hurt that much to know he had disappointed such a thoughtful and beautiful woman. She shook her head and wiped away another droplet of tear that escaped her eye. “No, I’m sorry.” His other hand wrapped around her fist by her side, pulling it to his heart. For the first time he seemed to actually notice the robe falling down her shoulder, the silk knot almost undone around her middle, the sheer of the only fabric covering her upper frame not sufficient to keep his eyes from the intimacy of her nipples, still hard, still requiring attention. Before it became too agonizing to stare at her body, he squeezed her hand and let it drop, joining the other one on the opposite side of her face. “ This is going to be your first kiss.” His lips closed around hers, indistinguishable to the way it had done that first time. Soft, gentle, firm. It stayed there for a few more seconds, making her think that would be all he would give her; but this time the tip of his tongue coaxed her lips open, a surprising touch that had her mouth opening slowly yet determined. He kissed her like a starved man, swallowing the little sounds she carelessly made, pressing his body against hers. He was so much taller, and now she could really feel it, the firm muscles of his chest on her shoulders, his thumbs caressing her cheeks, the manhood between his legs pressing against her belly, still so hard it was becoming painful to him. “Mister Solo.” She breathed against his mouth as they parted for air, his lips closing on her lower one then pulling the velvet skin gently, conveying to her he did not want to let her go. “Call me Ben.” He breathed against her lips, nudging his nose against her own then placing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Ben.” She whispered it, testing the sound of the nickname on her tongue. It felt too intimate, too private, but ridiculously right . He smiled, trailing more kisses on her cheek, nose, eyelids and temper. Rey repeated his name in whispers, over and over, while he did the same, never stopping kissing her. They stayed in the moonlit corridor for longer than either of them had planned, and when Ben noticed they were still in the open, where Rose could at any second leave her bedroom and see them, he made a prompt decision, pulling Lady Reyne inside his room and locking the door.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
At the moment the door closed behind her, the whole world went silent. Reyne could no longer hear the crackling sound of Mister Solo’s fireplace, tucked away in the far left corner, right beside where his perfectly made bed was; nor the rain still pouring outside, mercilessly hitting the window. It was almost like the entire planet was empty and there were just the two of them in it. Benedict reached behind her to lock the door, his arm brushing hers and sending an electric thrill through her entire body, his breath right behind her neck, hot and dense. Afterwards, his right hand proceeded to rest on her hip bone and press her against the wood, a knee compelling gentle pressure between her legs, keeping her steady as his lips closed over her earlobe, the shivering sensation intensifying. She had no idea it was that easy to lose control. Goosebumps pricked her skin, entire physique on alert as the provocation against her middle ushered the pleasure back, hitting a spot that made her head fall back, finding support on the door. His palm cradled the back of her neck, bringing it closer to his lips as they closed around the sensitive and delicate skin. Benedict kissed her there, nibbling with the edges of his teeth just enough for her mouth to open in a voiceless scream, hands anchoring on his waist. “It’s alright, my Lady.” The man announced softly, right against her ear. “You can be loud for me here.” At those words she moaned. The indecent sound led a smile to his lips and he closed them on the corner of her mouth ahead of kissing her deeply. Their tongues met without resistance, effortlessly finding a flow that urged Reyne’s head to instinctively tilt to the side, granting him more space to kiss her better. It was a marvellous fact how quickly she acquired the knowledge of what to do with his guidance, and how easy it was to make him feel good with just a flick of her tongue. His other hand clasped around her waist, fingers digging the fabric and certainly bruising her skin, but she was not concerned. It all felt too good to even think about ceasing it. Unwittingly, her hips started moving back and forth, just like she had done on his thigh in her father’s study, searching that climax mountain to climb. The only issue this time was that she did not have a good arrangement to find that peak again. Seemingly reading her mind, Ben guided his hand downward to her hip then her thigh, the touch burning her. When it closed around the firm muscle, he drew it around his waist, enabling the perfect angle for Rey to grind her little death button on his exceptionally long and hard member. Biting his lower lip, he moaned and encouraged her movements with a thrust of his hips, not for a moment stopping the kiss. He swallowed her whimpers and kissed away her embarrassment, the impetuous pace of her hips indicating to him that she was pursuing something, anything that would grant her bliss. His knee went up higher and Reyne squeaked, suddenly parting their mouths and reaching for air, gasping on his neck as he kissed her temple. He smirked as she clenched around nothing, her inner muscles spasming with relief. Even though she was sure to be leaving another damp patch on his pants, she relaxed and her body went limp. Benedict caught her by the waist and slowly lowered his leg down to the floor, placing Rey on steady terrain again. She was grateful he still had her firmly pressed against the door, otherwise she would have not been able to hold her weight upraised. “Did you…?” He studied her eyes, holding her gaze and noticing the blush covering her entire feature, highlighted freckles dusting her nose beautifully. It overwhelmed him that she had reached the peak twice without no need for penetration. It was all her and her only. Reyne, slightly embarrassed, not knowing if such a recurrence was commonly attainable in such a brief interval, not knowing how was it possible that her body was responding to him so effortlessly; nodded slowly, hoping to catch sight of a disgusted or reprieved Ben peering back at her, but he was nothing but bewildered. Unexpectedly, he trailed his hands down her body as he knelt to the ground, collecting the fabrics of her nightwear up her legs. She did not even have time to blush further as Ben proceeded to guide one of her legs up his shoulder, leaving her intimacy accessible to him. For the first time that night - maybe ever - she felt exposed, but also attractive and sexy. A look for confirmation from his eye - to what, she was not so sure yet - before he caught her off guard with tongue flattening in between her legs, spreading her lower lips and licking a long strip from hole to clitoris. Rey gasped loudly, choking in her own saliva and clasping a hand between the locks of his hair as the other found purchase on the doorknob behind her, his own palms supporting her weight around her calf and down her thigh, digits so long that with just the tips of them he had the reach to spread her asscheeks and feel how wet she already was. He groaned - a deep guttural sound coming from the far back of his throat, primitive and hoarse - at the feel and taste of her arousal. A taste so raw, so sweet, so tangy, so her. Reyne could not believe her most intimate party was being licked, sucked, thoroughly savored. Enjoyed, even, if the smile on the corner of Benedict’s lips - smile she swore she could feel - was any indication. She panted when he flicked his tongue firmly on the button of nerves, pulling his hair for dear life, almost to the point of causing him discomfort. However, Ben did not seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to enjoy seeing her so naturally voracious. She grinded against his mouth, opening herself to him, letting him swallow the pleasure that dripped out of her. Reyne had never been so soaked, had never felt such an explosion of pleasure that circulated along her entire body, reaching the tip of her toes and making them curl. Benedict gripped her calf more steadily and the hand that was beneath her thigh - now practically under her bottom - spread her even more open. The stroke of his middle finger right there near her most secret opening brought a sense of impediment to her. When his tongue flicked again on her pleasure switch then licked further down, applying just enough pressure in her hole, almost penetrating her with it, Rey’s eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell down the precipice again, gushing and vocalizing a whine that would suggest she was in pain if they did not know any better. In a flimsy frenzy, Benedict’s right hand climbed from her calf up her body and anchored on the neckline of her nightwear, holding it down securely nearly to the point of ripping the material. He messily progressed to undo the first three buttons of her dress and uncover her torso, small breasts quivering at the chill exposure of the night air, nipples stiffening at that and something else, something entirely out of her control. His hand travelled up her sternum and his eyes met hers as his tongue and lips cleaned her from the mess she had just made. He tentatively covered an entire breast with his palm, then softly pinched a nipple between finger and thumb, testing her reactions. Holding her gaze, Benedict sadly parted from her intimacy and moved back up, letting go of her leg and allowing the dress to pool back down on the floor, making sure she was supported and safe in his arms. She already missed the contact of his mouth on her, even though he still had one palm on her upper body, thumb nuzzling on the hardening pink button, the other hand surrounding her lower back and waist, applying gentle caresses on her overstimulated body. They did not speak. They wouldn’t dare, afraid to break the magic of that secret encounter. But when Ben hid his neck on the curve of her neck, breath thick and his own body shivering with a pleasure he was only then liberating, Rey could not hold herself back. “Ben.” She spoke lovingly, like one does with a frightened animal, not wanting to scare him away. He let the touch on her nipple go, dropping his hand to her waist, waiting for her request, whatever that could be, but mostly expecting her to push him away. It astounded him to hear what she truly wished. “Kiss me again.” “But I’ve just -“ He was insecure of what to say, hesitant at how to react to that plea, the slight thought of what he had just done to her causing a wave of embarrassment to flag his cheeks crimson, the proof of his actions still staining his chin. “It doesn’t bother me.” She cut him off, unsure of where that torment was coming from. That depravity, that necessity. “I want to taste it. I need to taste it.” Her eyes inspected his face, noticing his moles for the first time, the stupor in his features instituting the alarm in hers. “Unless it's repulsive and you don’t-“ There was no time for her to ponder any longer, to apologize, because his lips were crushed against hers, insistent. She whimpered with the sloppy brutality of it, his fingers poking her waist like he wanted to press her body open. “It is fucking delicious.” He murmured against her mouth, nibbling the lower soft skin of her lips. It was all too much, suddenly and violently. The way he spoke, dark and deep; the use of that profanity, the praising of her intimacy’s taste, for Christ’s sake. Not wanting to delay the feeling she already knew too well, the one that left her legs unstable and wobbly, the one that made moisture pool down her middle, she opened her mouth to welcome his tongue, wet from her, tasting like her, a taste she had never savoured before. It was not quite sweet, but somewhat bitter with a hint of tanginess and sweat that did not avert her in the slightest. On the contrary, it aroused her. Reyne moaned, a sound that came muffled by their joined mouths, tongues intertwined. Ben echoed her sound, digits pressing even sharper on her waist. She had the urge to raise her leg alongside his hip, to feel the swelling in his pants. Ben could not believe he was getting hard again after having just come inside his pants. With her pressing her naked middle on his ever growing erection, he moaned one more time, a long and loud sound, pushing his waist harder against her, wanting to feel more and more and more. He held her knee up as the other hand ascended to her neck, pulling her mouth even nearer. Her bare breasts, now pressed against his chest, brushed the perfect way for her nipples to find some relief from the overwhelming excitement. She wanted to drown, to burn, and she would die happily if it was with him. If it was only him. “Oh, Rey… ” He bit the words on her skin, marking her. His next words carried lust. “The things I want to do with you, God…” A grunt that went straight to her core. “You have no idea.” “Tell me.” She begged in a weak low voice, gripping his shirt and resting their foreheads together. Then she added. “Show me.” The overstimulated man said nothing. He did not deliver any promises, he did not say what she wanted to hear, he did not voice his desires any longer, and she could feel the affection sliding away. As his bodies drifted apart and the stains on his pants, his messy hair, her dishevelled clothes, brought them back to the present, she gulped. Because that did not belong to them. That moment did not exist outside those walls. The crackling sound of the fire was back, the rain hitting the windows frightening her once again. She was back to the painful reality. Back to the truth that they did not belong together. And the fact that he was her sister’s future husband. Reyne swiftly recovered herself, swallowing dry while closing the buttons he had previously opened, pulling the robe and tightening it firmly around her middle, looking everywhere but him. “You should go.” She nodded before his sentence was finished, but the way he looked at her - still, with those dark wide eyes - showed Reyne that reality had not hit him yet. It revealed to her he was still deeply attached to that enchanting experience they had just shared moments ago. His worry about her well-being caught her off guard. “You need to rest.” “I’m tired” She said as a matter of fact, and he nodded, softening his grip on her body, letting her leg fall back to the floor. She smoothed her skirts, wanting to do something with her hand instead of gripping his shirt like she had been doing all night. He closed his lips on her pulse point, waiting for her to say or do anything else. With his cock softening again, the ghost of her lips on him and the remaining of her arousal on the corner of his lips, he wondered if that would be all they would achieve. Without him noticing, still so deep in thoughts of her, Reyne unlocked the door behind her and gently pushed him away, keeping a safe distance between them. Before her mind could betray her and make her stay the night, which she so desperately wanted, she tiptoed and gave him one last kiss, a second long that felt like forever and not long at all at the same time. The door was closed once again before Ben could say anything else. She paused to rest her back against the wood, missing his touch, missing his presence, missing what had just happened. It felt like a long period had slipped away, her body cold without his hands on her, the empty hallway dark and sinister as the moonlight brightened the long carpet on the floor. Looking down, she noticed the buttons on her nightdress had been cased wrong, leaving her left nipple almost out in view. Fixing the poorly done job with shaky fingers, she took a deep breath to steady herself. With a last look to his bedroom door, she walked away to her safe haven. ✉️ It was easy to pretend nothing happened. Too easy, in fact. With her sister around most of the time and endless chores to be done, Reyne kept herself busy, fortifying her mind to think less and less about Mister Solo and whatever had happened between them that night. She found things to be done here and there, places to clean, rooms to tidy, animals to care for, meals to prepare… Helping Maz and Kaydel with their work was also a solution to easily avoid him. Although he had attempted talking to her a few times, trying to corner her at night before she went to bed, waiting for her before breakfast; she dismissed him quite easily, creating excuses in a way he could not insist. And he did not, honoring her wishes or merely believing her lies. She had also stayed away from her father’s study since that night, choosing to remain in her room or among the others. Not because she was afraid to be found by him and having to discuss what had happened between them, but because she was terrified they could find themselves alone and make the same mistakes twice. And that was how she began to convince herself she was feeling, like it had all been a huge inexcusable mistake. But pretending nothing happened was far different than forgetting. Reyne could not stop reflecting about that night. The manner their bodies connected, the shared touches and kisses, the way he made her feel . It became worse whenever Ben was around. His straightforward presence was enough to trigger those memories in her, to spark that feeling inside, to awaken that burning turmoil that she wished went away for good. Her soon-to-be brother-in-law was being exceptionally respectful towards her. He was visibly upset that she was avoiding him, but kept to himself. She could often catch his gaze on her, though. A gaze that ached, one that she could feel on the back of her neck all the time. “Right, Rey?” She was taken out of her reverie, and forced to offer a shake of her head and a glance into her sister’s direction. The question, directed to her, possibly preluded with another one, was lost. “Earth to Rey?” Rose giggled, looking at the man beside her a little embarrassed with her sister’s odd behavior. Benedict, however, looked tactfully at her. Her sister, completely unaware of the elephant in the room, continued. “You were gone there for a second. Is everything alright?” Reyne’s eyes passed from Ben to Rose in a second. “Yes! Yes, yes.” She chuckled with embarrassment, running both hands on her sides, smoothing a dress that had no wrinkles - clearly a nervous gesture -, and picking up the book she had been holding throughout that episode. She glimpsed down at the page it had been opened, not even remembering reading the letters printed there. “Sorry, I was simply ... thinking.” Inappropriate, improver, indecorous thinking that had arousal pooling down her core to be more precise. She gave a side glance at Ben, aware that he did not drift his attention from her. It was an uncomfortable stare, one that made her feel like he could see her soul. Sitting slightly behind Rose, she was the only one that could see him. The only one that could notice how recollections of that night were silently shared in the space between them. Her eyes dropped to the floor as a rush of blood enveloped her face, her sister blissfully none the wiser of the awkward surrounding. “Did something happen, sister?” Rose asked with deep worry, threatening to get up and sit by her side. “What? No! Of course not.” Rey quickly answered, clearing her throat and opening the book again, ready to deepen herself into more distraction. Maybe she should retire for the day. Maybe she should find solace in the forest, care for the animals in the barn... Maybe she should just… leave. Memories overflowed her mind again, unstoppable, inevitable, and Rey fought against them, in regards to her sister’s presence. She felt ashamed. Ben’s lips parted just as she peeked at him again, and she had to close her eyes for a frame of second in order to not fade into her thoughts again. “I’m just… distracted.” She simply stated in the end, hoping it would suffice. “Clearly.” Rose teased, reaching forward and squeezing her sister’s leg in solidarity, then turning to her betrothed. “Isn’t she, Mister Solo?” Benedict, caught off guard, cleared his throat and stammered an apology followed by a confused affirmation that made Rose laugh unceremoniously. She gave another squeeze to Rey’s knee and got up from her seat, grabbing her by the hand and guiding her away. “Let’s go for a walk.” She offered, extending Reyne’s hat once they stopped by the door. She looked back, hoping to see Mister Solo strolling behind them, but the corridor was empty. The noise coming from the kitchen announced that lunch was about to be ready, but the weather was inviting and she could definitely benefit from some fresh air. With a tense physique, they made their way outside, the morning wind not ample to chill their bones, but enough to keep them comfortable in their short sleeved dresses. Rosemary tangled her arm in Reyne’s and they walked along a path long ago made by those who dared to cross those lands. “Is everything alright, sister?” Rose asked again after some time, and now that they were alone it was nearly like a weight had been lifted from Rey’s shoulders. She hated hiding things from her sister, but there already were prepared lies on the tip of her tongue and she claimed they were all and only for Rose’s best interest. What she did not know could not hurt her right? Rey felt sick to her stomach at that reasoning. “Just a lot in my mind right now, Rosie.” She gave her best friend an effortless smile, hoping to comfort the short woman that looked up to her. “But nothing for you to worry about.” Although Rose hummed, she knew there were things her sister still wanted to say. And it did not take long before she did, slowing their pace. “Is this about Mister Solo, Rey?” She questioned, relatively afraid to be stepping into thin ice. “Do not lie to me.” Reyne froze in her tracks. They had stopped near the lake, the ducks taking their morning bath as the beautiful green trees’ leaves framed the scene. It was a beautiful day to be outside. But even though the breeze was swiping her hair away from her face, even though the warm sun was warming her freckles just right, even though everything else seemed righteous, her heart stopped, her hands started to sweat and she tried to hide how they were shaking by holding them together, pressing the fingers into her knuckles, suddenly terrified. “What about Mister Solo?” She circled around the question, hoping to find out what exactly her sister knew before revealing anything. Rose looked at her like she could also see Rey’s entire soul. Like she knew exactly what was troubling her most beloved sister’s mind and causing all that overthinking. Which was not normal. “Oh, Rey…” Rose let go of her arm and faced her, pity covering her features. She held Rey’s hands in her small ones, squeezing them in reassurance. “Please tell me you are not upset with me.” The conclusion her sister came to flabbergasted Rey. “My dear sister, why would I be?” Rey honestly responded, gripping her sister’s hand back and optimistically trying to conceive her true feelings regarding that one man in their lives. “Because mother and father arranged us to marry.” Rose rushed her words, suddenly coming up with a few dozen reasons why her sister could be mad at her, which were all absurd. She continued as if Rey’s eyes had not widened. “Because your heart has been broken by that hideous man in the past and I am the one with a proposal in sight!” Rey pulled her sister closer, firmly holding their hands together, bringing them up to stay right between their chests, just above her heart. “I am over that, Rose.” She said genuinely. “And I could not be happier that you and Mister Solo are promised to each other.” Reyne kissed her knuckles, smiling behind them. With her head shaking in disbelief and a smile growing in her pink lips, Rose grabbed her hand again and they continued their stroll, now making their way back to the house. The sun was already elevated in the sky, announcing that lunch time was about to begin, but they still took their time promenading between the flowers and the grass, birds chirping on the branches, singing a symphony that reminded her of uncomplicated times. Rey let her sister guide her for a moment, closing her eyes to feel the air on her eyelashes, the freedom in herself, the way her dress danced around her legs. When they were about to pass behind a big oak tree that would take them to the service door of the house, Rose spoke. “I still think he would be a much better match for yourself.” She made sure to state, making Rey’s face blush in the deepest scarlet tonality as she let her eyes fall back open. The unspoken name of the person she referred to just hanging in the air. Still, Rey managed to dismiss Rose without sharing her true feelings. “Nonsense!” Her sister halted at a safe distance from the open back door, wishing to avoid curious ears to what she was about to say. “You seem so lonely, Rey.” Rose observed, to which Rey briskly said she was undoubtedly incorrect. There was no need to concern her sister with depressive sentiments. “You will never admit you wish to have someone caring for you, will you?” His name rang loudly in her ears. “I am alright, sister.” Rose cocked an eyebrow up, suspicious of how truthful her words were. Rey put on her best smile, walking inside the house and bringing her along. “Truly.” Lunch happened uneventfully - in spite of the constant judgmental stares her sister occasionally threw at her, which she ignored - and the afternoon passed quickly. She diverted those peripheral stares during tea time, chatting with the maids as they enjoyed the break time. Surprisingly, Rey did not try to escape to her room after that, staying with Rose and Mister Solo for a couple more hours before the pair decided to go outside to enjoy the sunset by the lake. She relished in the leisure time to return to the kitchen and help Maz and Kaydel to prepare dinner, soothing herself in the slow process of bread making. Time went fast, as she had anticipated, and soon she was making haste for a bath before the last meal of the day. On the way up the stairs she caught a glimpse of her sister and Mister Solo entering the house, blissfully chatting, and Rey quickened her pace upstairs, expecting to avoid everyone else for an hour or so. Entering her bedroom with a carefree comfort, she let the door slightly open with the assumption Kaydel would meet her shortly to check on her. Looking outside to the beautiful evening, she untangled her braid, letting the brown curly hair fall loose over her shoulders then fixing it back into a simple low bun, a few strands of hair framing her face. The clean clothes were carefully folded over the made bed, and as she heard footsteps on the corridor outside her door, she started unbuttoning her dress and letting it fall down her body, removing the undergarments and folding everything on the bench by the bed. Then, she reached for the robe hanging on the edge of the mirror and tied it loosely around her waist at the same time the door cracked open. “I promise I’ll be quick!” She stated without looking at the door and separated a clean attire for later, knowing the woman would possibly hurry her and highlight the wee time she had at her disposal before dinner was on the table. As she swivelled on her feet, hands on the knot ready to untie the robe, her heart stopped. “Mister Solo!” She whispered harshly, speedily pulling both sides of the wrapper closer to her body and surrounding herself with both arms. He seemed not at all distressed with the state she found herself in, closing the door behind his broad frame with a subtle click and letting his hands down by his sides. “You’re avoiding me.” He declared, sounding clearly hurt, a vein on his forehead popping out, his hands in fists, hair falling over his face like he ran upstairs to meet her, and that possibility affected Rey in a way she could not have foreseen. “You should not be here, Sir. If anyone sees -“ She looked behind his back, terrified someone could barge in and see that very compromising scene. “No one saw me coming. I swear.” It took a few seconds for her heart to stop hammering, somewhat being reassured with his vow. “What are you doing here?” She inquired, making sure the loop around her waist was firm once again and avoiding looking straight at him, terrified of what she would find in those bottomless brown eyes. “I assume we have to talk about what happened that night. Right?” She dismissed him. “There’s no need…” “So we pretend nothing happened?” Rey had to fight the urge to shrug. “It’s better this way.” Benedict scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “For whom, my Lady?” She looked up at him, hating to utter the next few words, detesting to be the one to cease it. “All of us. Especially my sister.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, slightly exasperated, the other hand on his waist as he closed his eyes. The first few buttons of his white shirt were undone, she noticed, the suspenders loose. It was so informal, so domestic with her standing there in just a cotton wrap that for a moment Reyne wondered how it would be if that was their life. If they belonged together. There was a deep want in her being to burst into hysterical crying, to throw away whatever was near her reach on the floor and all caution out of the window, to punch him on the chest or slap him in the face, to stop worrying about everyone else first, to choose her happiness over anything else… If it only was that simple. Mister Solo invaded her thoughts. “How long are you going to keep denying what you feel?” She shivered under the evening breeze advancing from the opened window. “I cannot feel it.” She revealed painfully. He took a step forward. “I feel it too, Rey.” His declaration should have not surfaced as a surprise to her. Not after what had happened between them. She reinforced the embrace around herself, keeping her features expressionless, not letting those emotions ascend to the surface. “We cannot feel anything.” She spoke in an almost inaudible voice. “Why not?” He carefully asked, clearly not seeing the same reasoning that settled her mind. “Because you are promised to my sister, my Lord!” A moment of silence. The truth, the reality, hitting him like a lightning bolt, making him even stumble back a few inches. His voice was scratched afterwards. “I wish you stopped reminding me of that.” “I can’t, Sir.” Rey wiped away a stubborn tear that trailed down her cheek. “That's all I can think about. “ She gripped the fabric on her waist with her fingers, still embracing herself protectively. “I wish there was another way, but there is not.” “There is, if you only let me -“ His reach for her was interrupted by her command and the way she stepped back, leaving a safe space between them as he walked forward. “Don’t. Please.” She elevated a hand in front of her, ready to stop him from coming any closer. Her fingers were shaking as she held them up. “We shall leave it at that.” Benedict reached for her palm, guiding it to his heart as he held it in place and stepped further to meet her. He held it there with both hands, letting her feel his heartbeat. She noticed hers was pulsing in the same rhythm. Like one . Reyne did not try to get away from him again, because his next words were a confession that oscillated her entire axis. “I cannot stop thinking about it. About you.” Shaking her head and jerking her hand off his range, she declared. “You should not, Mister Solo. That’s highly inappropriate.” He took one step closer, again. “I know you feel it too, Rey.” In a breath, he was standing right in front of her, the tips of his shoes inches from touching her toes, his hands on her face, waiting for her to meet him halfway. And she did. Leaning ahead on her tiptoes, Rey kissed him, his palms firmly holding her, one hand dropping lower to her upper neck, circling the spam of her jaw. It was a possessive touch, one that would have been brutal if it was not the way he brushed his thumb on her jugular, holding no pressure against her, and she softened against him. Ben escorted her closer as the hand on her face went down her hips, pressing their bodies together, allowing her to feel how hard he was getting. She gripped his broad shoulders, digging her fingers on the tweed material of his vest, wanting to breach it until it was skin on skin. She was so focused on the way his tongue moved inside her mouth, in the syntony they shared, that she was unaware of the way both his hands now pressed around her waist, ready to keep going. Only when he broke the kiss and shifted her around that she understood what he had in mind. Standing right in front of the full oval mirror in the corner of the room, Rey was dishevelled. The knot on her robe was loose, not enough to drop it down her body, but sufficient to let Ben’s right hand slip under the slit and rest it over her thigh, forcing it open. Her hair was practically undone, her chest heavy, the fabric of the only piece of clothing covering her nudity brushing her hardened nipples. She wanted to beg him for mercy. With a hand secured on her thigh and the other in front of her chest, helping to keep her upright, Ben had complete control over her. He kissed her neck, fingers digging her skin in both places as he secretly pushed the robe to the side, exposing one of her breasts. She gasped when two of his fingers pinched her nipple, not too strong to hurt, but enough for her to feel it down her core. It made her clasp her thighs over his hands, trapping them in between the strong muscles, but Ben only smiled, wasting no time in spreading them open again, determined to feel her. Continuing the ministration to her nipple, squeezing and pinching, shifting between soft and strong pressures, Ben guided the other fingers down her middle, spreading her labia open and feeling her drenched. He groaned and she stared at herself in the mirror. “Look how pretty you are.” He pointed out, meeting her eyes in the reflection, never stopping his caresses in her body as he continued talking. “How well you respond to me.” She saw the way her nipple was pebbled with his touch, and the way it was getting carmine red the more he flicked them. Her arousal, collected on the two digits he had nestled between her legs, was thick and sticky, embarrassingly wet, and Ben smeared it all over that little pleasure button, facilitating his task in bringing her down from the precipice. His following words, spoken directly by her ear in a seductive low tone, only helped increase her awakening. “Do you think this is wrong, Rey?” A flick from both pairs of fingers, a gasp from her lips and a gentle bite to her earlobe. She was enjoying that too much. His words kept flowing. “How can this be wrong? It feels so right to touch you here.” Ben guided his middle finger to her virgin hole, allowing the slightest of pressure just so he could emphasize his words. She leaned back against him, a moan escaping her lips. “Look how wet you get with me, Rey. Tell me… how can this be wrong?” “Ben…” She breathed, bottom pressed back against his crotch. She could not control herself any longer, closing her eyes and coming down from the height with a gasp. “Look at you.” He instructed, and the depravity in the action of seeing herself being touched, being exposed, was too much. The tip of his finger breached inside, and she clenched around the thick digit, melting in his arms. With a jolt from his hips and a grunt, Ben spilled himself inside his pants, stiffening then relaxing behind her as he still held her in his arms. Withdrawing his digit from her, it was an arduous mission to think straight. The blood that was once in his erection slowly travelled back to the rest of his body. Ben let go of her nipple and closed his palm over her breast, soothing the region he had just abused with his thumb. The other hand appeared from between her legs and travelled up until the middle finger touched her lower lip. Impetuously, Rey opened her mouth to suck on his digit, swirling her tongue around her own arousal, holding his gaze as she licked it clean. Crimson stamped both their cheeks, but Ben could not ignore the way his softened cock stirred inside his slacks with that sight. She could also feel arousal dripping down her thighs, which only accentuated her shyness. He let his thumb rest on her tongue as their eyes still made contact, but soon the haze that had been above them turned into a mist and went away, leaving two guilty souls behind. They spoke at the same time, neither looking at the other. “I should go.” “I think you should go.” One last look in the mirror, a final kiss on her cheek before he stepped away and left Rey on her own again. Requesting dinner in her bedroom that evening, she remained hidden from the world, weighing her choices and regretting her decisions while barely tasting the bread she had made that afternoon. ✉️ She found trouble sleeping that night. With the recent events and the way she was overthinking, the early night solace turned into darkness outside, her window being hit by branches of a nearby tree as strong winds announced another storm on the way. The fireplace finished crackling and she found herself frightened in the absence of light. Looking up at the ceiling from her bed, she pondered her next steps. She could stay there searching for the lost sleep - possibly regretting that in the morning - or do something that would bring her serenity. Without making any noise, she tiptoed outside her room, a very precious possession secured right against her chest. His door was at the end of the corridor, and as she passed her sister’s room, a silent apology hung in the air. There would be no going back from what she was about to do. A knock on the door and she waited, blood rushing to her ears, muffling any exterior noise. It did not take long for footsteps to approach the door, and she dropped her hand to the side. “Miss Reyne?” He greeted her tenderly, looking at her through a crack in the door. Then, opening it wider, he looked around the dark corridor. “What are you doing here?” “It’s late, I know.” She tightened her grip around the fabric she held behind her back, the lack of robe over her nightgown proving to be a mistake since she felt cold and bare. “Is everything alright?” He asked and she shivered, then he extended a hand to bring her inside. She stood on the threshold. “You seem… troubled.” A nod from her direction quickly followed by a shake of her head, indicating the opposite. “I wanted … I had to return this.” She extended him the handkerchief that had been in her belongings since that day he found her hurt in the barn. A lie that had guided her to his room so late at night. The soft material was crumpled and it did not have his smell anymore. It was very likely that it had her scent now, having kept it in her clothes drawer all that time. He looked at her like he did not understand. “No. It’s yours to keep.” Benedict dismissed the offering. “Is that all the reason you came here? So late at night?” Rey nodded again, too fiercely, shifting on her heels, ready to walk away, ashamed of her precipitated decision. She threatened to leave, but he lightly grasped her elbow, forcing her to stay. “Rey. Talk to me.” His door was still open and she was still standing right between him and the outside world. There was too much at stake but there would be no way she would ever sleep peacefully if she did not have that closure. The warmth coming from his hand holding her arm, the other palm reaching to grip her waist, those were all things she insisted on taking as signals in her favor. “You said…” She swallowed, stammering the following sentence. “The other night, you said you thought about more things.” He looked puzzled at her, and the fact that she had to explain herself made a deep pink tint cover her cheekbones. The final words were whispered under her breath. “More things you… wanted to do to me.” He corrected her, wasting no time. “With you, yes.” Rey took a deep breath, gathering all of her courage. “Show me.” Ben blushed, lightening the grip on her arm and dropping both his hands to the side. She could see in her outer vision the way his hands ached to touch her, however, he kept them still by his frame. “Rey…” It sounded like a warning, and her brows furrowed in anguish. “Please.” She implored, holding the handkerchief even tighter between her fingers. “I want to see you falling apart with me.” It took a few moments for him to register her words. When he did, he cradled her skull with one of his hands, scanning her face for veracity. “Are you certain?” Her left hand rested above his, and his thumb stroked her cheek. “I need to know.” “Miss Reyne...” “Please, Sir.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down his throat as he swallowed dry, affected by the way she dared call him during such an intimate request. She wanted to smile after what appeared to be a small victory. However, she did not anticipate his self doubt. “Do you want this because it is me or only because you are curious?” Reyne did not answer. There was no way she could, not without revealing too much about her infatuation towards him. She had to make him believe that it was all a lustful request, nothing else. He accepted her silence, interpreting it the way he ought to. “How much do you want to know?” “Just… enough.” She examined how he received the response, but as soon as she said the next few words his hands dropped to her side once more. “She cannot know.” There was no need to explain whom she referred to. He knew too well. “Promise me this won’t change anything.” “Rey…” Another warning, one that made her fear he might eventually put an end to the affair. She did not grant him the chance, though. “Promise me.” She pleaded. “Promise me that no matter what happens tonight, you are still proposing to her.” There was a desolate need in him to refuse her demands, to be truthful and pour his heart out, but she did not allow him such an opportunity. Her hands found his and she held them together near her heart, the piece of fabric over her chest acting as a barrier between his palm and her warmth, keeping him from actually feeling her. She continued in the beat of a heart. “As soon as possible, in fact. Promise me.” A dizziness took over him with the idea of engaging with her requests, and he got sick to his stomach just thinking about ignoring what his heart craved so genuinely. Nonetheless, he could not avoid asking. “Are you so opposed to me diverting my attention to you, Miss Reyne?” Her mouth opened to retort him, but he cut her. “What if I want to propose to you instead?” Even though shock was the right word to apply to that situation, it was not like she had not thought about that possibility. Which was utterly and completely impossible. “You cannot.” She said through gritted teeth. “You may not. She is the one you’re supposed to marry. Her happiness is more important to me than my own. I am nothing. This” Rey gestured between them. “is nothing. This is just… a distraction. A relief.” She took a deep breath, not avoiding his gaze. “Promise me.” Would it be worth it to swallow his pride and accept her demands just to have her for one night? “Say my name.” She refused to hear him, unyieldingly clinging to the hold in his hands, gripping them so hard his knuckles were turning white. “Mister Solo, please, you have to promise me.” He remained inflexible. If she had her illogical entreaties, so did he. “Not until you say my name, Rey.” She finally surrendered, looking up at him. “Ben…” She held his gaze, stubborn deep hazel eyes meeting those forthright dark terrain ones, supplicating. “Please.” He stammered that painful word she so desperately had the need to hear, even though it sliced his chest open. “I promise.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Once again the world went quiet. There was no one else but them. And it was both terrifying and perfect. When Rey fully stepped inside Mister Solo’s bedroom she did not dare to breathe, afraid to break the spell they were in. Even when the rain started pouring outside, the thunderous noise distracting her momentarily, she held her breath in for as long as she could, listening to him locking the door behind her with a firm click, then his footsteps as he walked and stopped in front of her nervous body, waiting. He remained still until she seemed comfortable enough to take a deep breath, which did not take long. But when it happened, his hands were on her waist a brief second later, firmly gripping her with tremulous fingers. It astonished her to see him so tense. Reyne had him for the brave and intimidating man that first approached their estate, a man who seemed somewhat angry most of the time, quiet and shy when you knew him better; one that had too much control over his emotions, one that barely expressed them. Notwithstanding, right in front of her was a man who revealed signs of devotion, so deep into that lust and attraction that made him soft, honest and real. It made him see her in ways she did not see herself, and it made Reyne see a person she would comfortably - and happily - share life with. The conception caught her by surprise, and she shook those thoughts away, not letting them control what was about to happen. What she chose to happen. That night was about letting go of control. It was about learning things no other man would ever willingly teach her. It was about surrender, about letting herself feel comfortable and safe in someone’s arms. It was not about love or the future, or even the possibilities she so wished to pursue. It was about the present moment, about two lonely souls that needed to taste the feeling of real and deep intimacy. It was about knowledge, relief and favorable circumstances. There would not be another like it, and if she wanted to know the depths of consensual carnal acts between man and woman, that was probably her only chance. The only chance of acquiring what she wanted for once without fearing the consequences and, perhaps what was even worse, the only chance before a strange man could claim her virtue without permission, before she could no longer have the option to choose and decide for herself who she would give it to. The warmth of the fireplace, the crackling of the fire, the dim light coming from a candle on his bedside table, his unmade bed - clearly showing her he was already laying down to sleep when she knocked; a book opened on one of the pillows -, it all made it become tangible. She got goosebumps on her skin trying to reason with what they were about to do, how his body was within reach to feel really close to hers, the dark night storm the only witness to that. He soothed her shivers with his thumbs without losing the pressure on her hip bones and the gesture, although enough to make her feel aroused thus far, was also astonishingly comforting. Just like a few encounters prior she lacked undergarments to separate her nudity from his touch, nipples prickling the fabric of her nightgown. And there was no way she could hide them now. The pink buttons called his attention, begging for the proximity they had already tasted, the feeling she was already addicted to: of him on her, in any and every way. Benedict guided his hands up her body, leisurely, arising to her waist then stopping on the underside of her breasts. His long thumbs were capable of outreaching her nipples, and he took that chance to fondle them over the cotton material, hardening them even more. Shivers went down her spine and under her ribcage and Ben smiled, moving his mouth closer to hers, planting a soft kiss on her dry lips before relocating them to her jaw and down her neck and chest. He kissed her collarbone then stopped. It was then that Rey registered he had already opened the first few buttons of her dress, exposing the freckled delicate skin to the night breeze. An instantaneous inclination to hide took charge of her, shoulders hunching forward and head lowering down, ashamed of her chest size, small breasts that could fit fully in the palms of his hands. “Don’t do that.” He articulated tenderly, lifting her chin with two fingers, the other hand running up and down her sternum. “Don’t hide from me, Rey.” Kneeling on the floor the moment she nodded him confirmation, he continued unbuttoning her garments until it fell to the ground, leaving her in simple white stockings that went above her knees and a very responsive body. His eyes stopped at her curly mound, hands on her hips and going lower her thighs, eager to spread them open. Inkling her apprehensive, he stated. “You are beautiful, my Lady.” A kiss right beneath her belly button that made her unthinkingly spread her legs open moderately, then another peck lower, over the dark curls that framed her lady parts. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Without warning his lips gravitated lower, right around her death button, two fingers spreading her labia for easier access. Ben had such an effortless and precise approach to the most vulnerable part of her body that she could not control but lean her head back and moan his name, the hands that were around her waist - once shyly placed - clasping over his skull, threading her digits in his dark hair, pressing his closer to where she could feel the fulfilment intensifying quickly. Almost tiptoeing with that ongoing sentiment, head thrown back and lips parted, Rey was reaching the peak abruptly as Ben held her firmly by the waist, applying precise pressure with the tip of his tongue on the bundle of nerves until she was sobbing, crying his name, a mess between her thighs. He eyed his handkerchief laying on the floor by her feet, forgotten in her urge to cling herself to him for support, and reached for it without stopping or slowing his ministrations, securely placing it in the back pocket of his sleep pants as he licked her clean from the arousal that dripped down her inner legs. Standing up, Ben cleaned his chin with the back of his hand, making Rey blush and nibble on her lower lip, to which he groaned in contentment. It was not an alluring reaction but to his lustful eyes it was the most provocative gesture that she had ever performed in front of him. Stepping back, he took his time admiring her nude form, the pink nipples matching the color of her joints, the dishevelled hair loosely wrapped in a braid, tied in a simple satin bow that hung over her shoulder; the goosebumps on her skin that were as clear as the freckles that covered her and, amazingly, a few bruises that took him back to what they had been doing in secret. Marks in her body where he had held her a little too rigidly, his fingertips stamped; areas he had gently bitten her now purple circles of pleasure. He had marked her in the most unnoticeable regions, in delicious encounters, in what he considered the most magical moments of his life, and she looked even prettier like that. Noticing how Ben lingered in certain parts of her body, Rey once again felt the need to cover herself from his gaze, but he immediately shook his head, getting closer to her once again. He traced his fingertips ever so slightly on the bruises and marks scattered across her body, feeling her shiver under his touch and seeing her bite away a smile, shy at how his attention was powerfully drawn to her. “You are mine.” He whispered in the corner of her mouth, planting a kiss there before taking it lower, nibbling her neck and licking a stripe up to her earlobe. Rey could not feel the warmth of the fire anymore, only his body heat, so close to her. He guided his kisses down, going over every inch of her body that had been somehow marked by him. She relished in his possessive words, holding on to them. It felt delightful to belong to somebody that wanted her deeply. Once Ben was certain that every inch of her skin had been covered, both of his hands cradled her face, and he pulled her in for a kiss that had her head spinning and legs pressing together for some relief. He pinned his clothed body against her undressed one and Rey could feel his hardened manhood poking her belly. She groaned in his mouth, deepening the kiss and tangling their tongues, that well known dance that belonged to them only. They only broke apart when there was need for air. With heavy breathing, their mouths inches apart, he still held her close, keeping their foreheads pressed together. “Rey.” He murmured, giving her another kiss, then another, then a third one that finally made her smile widely. “Ben.” She spoke softly, not opening her eyes to allow her body to memorize his touch. She felt his warmth drifting away as he stepped back, then opened her eyes to see him fumbling with his white shirt’s buttons, clumsily trying to undo them. Enticed with the view of him desperately wanting to remove his sleeping clothes, she approached him and started doing the job with her own shaky fingers. She uncased the first two buttons then he took over, working on the last few then removing it from his body altogether. Rey had always imagined he probably had a muscular chest, but the view of his well worked abs and the small patch of hair trailing to the waistband of his pants was more than she could have ever been prepared for. He was handsome. Built like a Greek statue, collarbones framing a well-defined chest, arms so strong she wondered how easily it would be for him to pick her up and carry her. As she admired his form, Ben was immersed with undoing the lace of his trousers, gracefully working them loose as her eyesight went lower. Rey’s heart hammered inside her chest when his pants fell to the floor, revealing his intimacy to her virgin eyes. She could have gasped at the sight, his large cock hanging between his toned legs, heavy and girthy, easily eight inches long if her mind could do the calculations correctly. He was huge, head well-defined and red with the need for relief, tip leaking a ghostly white liquid. It twitched when she licked her lips and looked up to his eyes, who was breathing heavily and closing his hands in fists over and over in an attempt to regain control. Suddenly, she was being hoisted up, a surprise pitched scream as he firmly placed his hands on her bottom and she crossed her ankles behind his back. The whole act took seconds, but the way her pussy brushed on his sensitive girth and drenched him in her juices was almost enough for him to lose control and cum right there. He pinched her ass, like it was her fault he was on the edge, and Rey giggled like a kid when he placed her on the mattress, taking her time to untangle her legs and giving him one more press of hips before he stepped back. His cock was shining with her arousal, which made her lick her lips, wishing to lick his length instead, and that view added to her depraved thoughts made her clench her inner walls around nothing, pressing her legs together once again. Supporting herself on the elbows and folding her knees up, Rey gave him a tiny smile and chewed on her lip one more time as she watched him pump his member a few times before kneeling at the edge of the bed, being rewarded with the most fantastic view of her drenched holes. He called the gods above them in a prayer as she slowly opened her legs, his hands on her calves guiding her to a place she was both comfortable and content. A view like the one he had was enough for him to believe there would never be one like her. No other worth his devotion, attention and adoration. Much less her sister, he miserably realized. There would be no other to bring a smile on his face for the most mundane of gestures, or to attract him in a way there was no control whatsoever to if or most likely when he would get an erection with her nearby. With the utmost respect, he wanted her. Needed her. Like a person needs air to breathe. She was perfection incarnated in a gorgeous young woman. With her perky tits that fitted in the palm of his hand, pink nipples poking the cold air that tasted like sin and responded to him like a prayer; the constellation of freckles that dotted her face, sternum and down her belly; her unshaved intimacy that glistened with her pleasure; her red lips voicing her secret desires. Reyne Tico would always be the one for him. She called his name after a minute, bringing him back from his reveries. His eyes gradually met hers, both lips forming mirrored smiles that guided reality back into the room. Her nudity exposed, his member painfully aching for the need of her, her arms reaching for him as he crawled above her body, resting his knees between her thighs. He gazed intensely at her soul, scanned her face for signs of regrets and second-thoughts, but Reyne only smiled, assuring him of what she wanted without the need to enunciate it. Ben placed both hands beside her shoulders as she leaned down on the bed, one of her hands behind his neck to bring him with her. They kissed without urgency or concerns, no need for them to be anywhere but here, no one to interrupt that moment that was only theirs. He sat on his heels after carefully - and painfully - pulling away from her, and Rey held back as he pumped his cock a few times, brows furrowed in concentration. Besides that, he was more focused on her experience than his, letting her know of the discomfort she might feel at first - pain she had already listened about. But nothing could overcome the pleasure, she imagined. Not if it was anything similar to what he had been giving her so far. Guiding his member to her opening, his eyes were back and forth on her as he pressed inside, guiding her hips closer with a hand while the other slowly pushed his cock in. She clenched when the pressure started, his girth too big for her little hole, body rigid with the invasion. Leaning ahead, he kissed her again, stroking her ribs with his fingers as the other hand continued pushing it forward, inch by inch. She was really tight, but as her body relaxed it was easier for him to press further in, filling her body little by little. Her inner walls gripped him solidly, but she was so soaked that Ben barely had to move after the tip was inside. She was automatically pulling him in, bringing him closer to where she needed him to be. With eyes closed and paced breath, Rey let her body go limp on the duvet, hands gripping the edge of his bedsheets for support as he pressed forward. It felt like there would be no space for him inside, and she feared the disappointment that could cause more than the sting that was starting to hurt. She groaned with another push of his hips, another inch breached, and Ben stopped for a moment, calling her name with fret. “Does it hurt too much, my precious girl?” She shook her head, lifting her hips slightly to fix her position on the bed. That movement alone made him close his eyes in deep concentration but it was enough for her to unconsciously swallow the rest of him in. His pelvis hit hers and he inhaled a couple of deep breaths before finally looking up. Rey’s chest was moving rapidly with her own pace of inhalations, flushed when her eyes froze at where they were joined. Ben was fully inside of her, deep nested like a glove, penetrating her wholly. She noticed how he was observant to her well-being, asking if she was fine, wanting to know if he could proceed. It was becoming a lot too rapidly for them both. Rey needed him to move and she felt she could die if he did not do it. Pulling himself almost all the way out was enough for them to moan loudly in the silent night. It was effortless to push back inside this time, now that he was completely coated in her essence. His hips moved with ease, in and out, Rey’s legs even further apart to allow him more space. She reached for him, hands around his shoulders bringing him back down for a kiss that was everything at that moment. It was a seal, a promise to whatever it is that was happening between them to be kept between them. A secret. He kissed her deeper, increasing the pace of his movements then her hips also started motioning to meet him halfway. Her nails dig his biceps as she clung to him for dear life, knees bending up while her cunt clenched hard around him, trapping him halfway inside. Rey came with a grunt, panting for air, and Ben praised her all the way down the height. “So beautiful.” He observed, kissing her forehead, cheeks, chin and the corner of her mouth, controlling his own release so she could reach the peak at least one more time. “So good, Rey. So perfect.” He shifted their positions, then, bringing her to his lap. The angle was unexpected, yet it allowed him to go deeper as she bounced up and down his cock with his guidance. It was not a position she had ever read about. She was blushing furiously at that power she had over him, the placement unknown to her but magnificent nonetheless. It did not take long for her to exclaim his name in a half-cried scream, his hand on her mouth right on time to keep the sound from echoing. She chuckled, and he circled her throat while the other hand guided her hips in those movements that were making him succumb. His name was being called in desperate pleas, her climax building up again, their actions erratic. It was becoming too much, and when Rey decided to suck his thumb in her mouth and swirl her tongue around the digit, unaware of how depraved that action was - how could it be when it felt so right? -, Ben lost control. He gripped her waist firmly in a way that would definitely leave another mark, and that single thought drove him over the edge and he spilled inside of her, biting the sensitive skin on the curve of her shoulder. Letting go of his thumb for a catch of air, she gasped and clasped her legs behind his back, allowing them even more closeness. She felt his spend coating her inner walls, warm and thick. They stayed like that for a moment, peacefully recovering, chests pressed together and hearts beating as one. Ben took his time to pull her up, wanting to delay as best as he could to leave the warmth of her body. He laid down on the bed with her on top, her head on his chest and her legs circling his waist. He was aware he had to clean her up, take care of her before she went back to her room for the night, but for a moment it felt right to just lay there, with her on his arms and their hands tangled together, breathings finally getting back to normal, hoping she would decide to stay a while longer. After a minute or so he gathered the courage to get up and fetch the handkerchief in his back pocket that was in a forgotten pile of clothing on the floor; and the bowl of water from the top of the vanity in the corner of his room. Rey waited patiently, chest up and eyes curiously watching his every movement as he sat by her feet and submerged the small piece of delicate fabric with his embroidered initials to the room temperature water and squeezed the excess out. Then, gently, he pressed the damp material to her thigh then ran up to the middle of her legs, wiping away the liquid that now poured out of her intimacy, a mixture of both their releases and the slight hint of red that indicated her purity. Rey shivered at the touch, but soon eased back on the bed and permitted him to wipe away the proof of their crime. It didn’t take long for him to be satisfied with his work of cleaning her up, a kiss on each side of her inner thighs and he was done. Then he got up again to wash the tissue on the bowl and keep it safe near his belongings to dry, seeing the white fabric - already stained right in the middle with Reyne’s dried blood from that injury on the barn -, starting to gather the evidence of that night in yellowish marks around the edges. He grinned, getting a weird feeling of pride knowing there would be ways to remember her and what happened between them if - or better saying, when - they went their separate ways. Rey was almost falling asleep back in his arms when his fingers started tracing the area she got hurt a few weeks before. The touch was so soft and gentle that she was barely able to stay awake, humming joyfully as his lips planted light kisses on her forehead. It felt like that afternoon had happened ages ago, but also recently, and the development of their so-called relationship was possibly the cause of that fog in their brains, making them think they knew each other for years instead of only weeks. Ben brushed his fingertips on her shoulders, kissing the region and enjoying her presence for as long as he could. She leaned closer to him, resting a leg over his hips and letting that proximity soothe her soul briefly, knowing that sooner or later she should get back to her own bedroom for the night, forgetting everything that happened between them. She had no choice but to forget. And she had to pray he could also let that slip to the back of his mind in order to marry her sister before the year was over. That thought stung her heart like a wasp once stung her forearm the first time she walked around the property she now called home. It was a brief but deep agonizing ache that turned her eyes blurry with tears and she had to swallow a sob before it came up as a loud cry from her lips. She hid her face on the curve of his neck, smelling him and just memorizing him like she would never see him again. Ben hugged her closer, their still naked bodies molding to one another, like they belonged together. He sniffed her hair, still tied with a bow and curling just under her breast, the smell of flowers reaching his nostrils and lingering there. It helped him remember something he had been pondering about for the last week now, something he had been wishing to give to her. Letting go of her top arm, Ben reached for his bedside table, where a small wooden box contained some of his most precious possessions: the pearl wedding ring that belonged to his grandmother and that he was instructed to give to his bride to be; one more of those handkerchiefs with his embroidered initials; a set of calligraphy pens and a small notebook; and a round object that it was given to him by his father - an object his progenitor had previously gifted his mother when they first met all those years before. It resembled a ring, allowing one to use it as such, made of pure gold and passed by generations since before society had been fully formed. An object that consisted of a spherical intricate framework of multiple rings, representing lines of celestial longitude and latitude amongst other astronomical features centered on the Earth and Sun. It was once used for a variety of purposes, from calculating the yearly calendar to mapping the motion of the earth and sky. Years later it was considered a symbol of knowledge and great wisdom by the wealthy society, but it became obsolete once it was no longer needed. Now, for what his father had informed him and passed on to his mother, it symbolized love. A ring, that as a whole, meant the other person was their entire world, sun and stars. His father told him it was a way of promising his mother he would always come back home, no matter how far and for how long he travelled to, and an assurance that they were always under the same sky, loving each other as one. Ben looked at the ring in between his fingers before turning back to face the woman that changed everything to him. Rey had a strange look on her face, almost sad if he could put a pin to it, and that was enough for him to make the decision of leaving something so important for him with her. No matter what would happen in their futures, they had that moment. They would always have that moment. And he wanted to remember that forever. But most of all, he wanted her to remember him until the last day of her life. He held the band between forefinger and thumb and showed it to her. “I want to give you this.” Reyne’s eyes widened in panic as she stared first at the piece of jewellery then at him. “I cannot possibly accept that.” “It is not a wedding ring.” He quickly said and she cocked an eyebrow, alarmed with his choice of words. “I give you my word . It’s just… a promise ring.” In his naiveness he thought it would ease her concern, but it only left her more on edge than before. “What kind of promise?” A smile ghosted the corner of his lips as he looked down at the delicate piece between his fingers, knowing there was no one else he would choose to give it to. “That I shall not forget you. Ever.” “Ben, don’t…” Her hand stopped on his chest to push him away, but the arm behind her held her firmly next to him. “No, Rey.” He twisted the ring on his finger, admiring its form and secret, hurt by the way she responded. When he looked up at her again, he had never been more serious and more broken. “You want me to marry your sister? Fine. I will. But you cannot ask me to forget you because I will not, my Lady. I cannot . Especially not after tonight.” Then a thought, a memory of something he had mentioned before, something that had been on the back of her mind for a while now led her to say it out loud. “I was your first…” He nodded, slowly, and she sighed in despair. “It was a mistake.” She whispered to herself, but in the quiet of those four walls he managed to hear it. “Don’t say that.” The ring fell in between them as he held her hand against his heart. “I never wanted for this to happen.” Reyne shook her head, leaving his grasp and getting up from the bed. Her nudity, as she sadly noticed, guided his eyes away from her face, but it gave her time to look around for her clothes. “I shouldn’t have come here.” He got up on the other side, pacing towards her, both hands on her face in order to calm her down, perhaps forbid her to leave. But she held the dress tightly in the grip of her hands, knuckles going white with the involuntary effort. When she looked up at him, Ben had tears in his eyes. “If you just let me -” “No! I cannot!” Even though it felt like the wrong thing to do, Reyne stepped away from his reach, crossing her arms over her chest, the camisole still secured between her fingers. “You promised, Sir.” His fingertips reached further, finding the end strand of her braid, a last attempt to touch her. However, at the same time, she looked away, the pale pink ribbon untying in his digits, undoing the braid and the locks of hair escaped through his fingers as he let her go. “I ought to go, before the maids wake up. Goodnight, Mister Solo.” She managed to step inside the nightgown, not wasting time buttoning it all the way up in a frenzy to leave the room that now contained so many painful memories. The door barely closed behind her as she ran to disappear in the dark hallway. Ben stumbled back in a stupor, hitting the bed with the back of his calves, causing him to fall down to his seat. As his right hand found support on the mattress, he felt something dig his palm. Looking down, he saw the ring he had attempted to give Reyne, forgotten in a small smear of her blood, the fresh memories hitting him like a shot to his heart. ✉️ Reyne barely slept that night. Her mind raced back and forth to what had happened between her and Mister Solo, trying to pinpoint how it all went wrong. When the soreness between her legs didn’t fade away after a warm bath early the following morning, she sighed loudly in the empty room. “Everything alright, Miss Reyne?” Kaydel asked, startling Rey, who quickly wiped the tears away, unaware she still had company. “Bad dreams.” She lied, looking ahead to the fireplace in order to avoid the young woman’s judgmental stare. “Nothing to worry about, Kaydel.” “It might be because of your curse, Miss.” She gestured to the pile of laundry in her arms, stains of blood in the bedsheets and the nightgown she wore the night before. “I’m going to prepare you a warm cup of tea.” She decided, reopening the door and leaving Rey alone. As soon as the heartbroken woman heard the footsteps fading away, she let herself cry. ✉️ Miss Reyne found herself hiding in the library at any given time after that night. Visibly avoiding the man that had turned her world upside down. Her sister Rose made a few attempts to reach her, asking what was wrong more than once, but Reyne was good about putting on a brave and happy face and - this time, as a convenience - blaming her mood on the false early curse. Reading book after book, she got deep into fantasy worlds that helped her forget her own, wrapped inside a thin blanket and a warm cup of tea or milk warming her thoughts. She had put aside the smut books, hiding them back behind her mother’s gardening and cooking encyclopedias, staying away from anything that could remind her of him . Except that it was like a magnet to think of him. Every moment of the day she dared to, he showed up in her peripheral vision. Arm in arm with Rose, holding a book in search of a quiet place to read, being offered something to drink or eat in the middle of the day. All of those moments she had been able to escape him, turning back on the nearest corner or pressing her body back against the wall in hopes he did not see her. She even managed to run to town for some errands a couple of times, or back to the barn for peace and quiet, but the library was the place she often found herself back to, despite the memories trapped in there. There was something that brought her so much comfort in that room, the walls covered in books, the larger fireplace and the soft seating areas that allowed her to be herself and actually be alone in her own world. It should not have taken her by surprise that Ben went looking for her there one late afternoon. Her heart immediately increased its pace as she got up at the sight of him, the blanket falling down on the hardwood floor and the book loudly closing between her hands before she held it firmly against her chest, protectively. Reyne was not afraid of him, of course. On the contrary, she was afraid of herself, of what would become of her - of them - if they found themselves alone again. The odds were not good. Benedict greeted her politely, keeping a distance, but closing the door behind his broad frame. Now that she knew how he looked inside all the fancy attire he wore on a daily basis, it was hard not to think about him that way. The muscular arms, the defined chest, the patch of hair that guided her eyesight to the most forbidden place in his body… She looked up at him the moment her eyesight went south, clearing her throat. “Mister Solo.” She said with a bow of her head, eyes to the floor, keeping that way for longer than she should. Due to that, she did not see him approach her, only when it was too late and the tip of his boots were touching hers; his fingers on her chin, lifting her head up. The kiss came before she could prevent it, a soft press of his mouth on hers, a guttural groan when he attempted to deepen the kiss but she leaned away from it, fingers on her lips and terror on her face. He placed a strand of hair behind her ear, admiring her blush. Reyne knew she should say something. She knew she had the power to do so, that anything that she vocalized at that time would be one hundred percent obeyed by him. But she could not find the courage to do so. Or maybe courage was something she was having just then, letting him approach her. Which he did, slowly walking forward. Ben gave her time to reconsider, time to tell him to leave, time for her to speak her mind or push him away. However, she did none of that. Dropping the book at her feet, her chest was heavy underneath her garments, layers of clothing that now felt too tight, too much, enough to affect her breathing attempts. She took deep breaths in and out, bringing his attention to the way her breasts were almost popping out of the dress collar. Placing both hands on her waist, ever so slowly, he waited and watched as she watched him back, daring him to make that decision for them. Lowering his head, Ben crashed his lips on hers, immediately deepening the kiss and pulling her body closer to him. She melted in his arms and moaned in his mouth, the small hands weakly trying to push him away. “Ben.” She whimpered, which only made him desire her even more. His tongue fought hers, tangling inside her mouth with such violence she would feel the kiss for days to come. All of a sudden, he shifted her in his arms, pressing her body against the nearest bookcase. “You made me a promise, Ben.” She whined, feeling the press of his hips on her back, his member already rock hard poking her ass. How did a simple heated kiss lead to that so suddenly? Was that how it felt to be wanted? Out of control? Loved ?! To want a person so bad you forgot everything about decorum, right from wrong, all the sinful acts that came from claiming someone before marriage? “I know I did.” He mouthed against her neck, hands travelling up her torso. “But I cannot stop thinking about you, Rey.” She moaned his name when his left hand gripped the top of her dress and pulled it down, exposing her nipples to the dusty air of the library. “Please.” His tone was painful. “I cannot stop thinking about how good you felt around me, dripping wet and wrapped so tightly.” “Ben.” She cried as he pinched a nipple, the other hand gathering her skirts the best way he could to touch the secret area between her legs, already drenched in desire as he ran two fingers over it just slightly to gather that moisture. “What?” He challenged with a wet finger ghosting that bundle of nerves between her legs, hovering above the place she wanted him most. “Please.” She pressed her hips back, and Ben fumbled with his trousers to drag it down just enough to pull his painful hard cock out, then she assisted him with her undergarments that only made halfway down her thighs before he was pressed against her again. “Can you be quiet?” He asked, stroking his member in the middle of her legs, gathering her natural lubricant as he flicked her clit and nipple between his fingers. She threw her head over his shoulder, humming in understanding. “Good.” He praised, nibbling her earlobe and slowly pushing it in. She shivered at the contact she had missed the most, the way her cunt walls gripped his girth and welcomed him home. He was deep inside in no time, getting used to her tight hole once again. Ben stopped himself entirely in order to hold back a premature orgasm, guiding both hands to her waist for purchase. “So good, Rey.” He said softly by her ear, nibbling her earlobe and pulling his cock out just to shove it back in a swift movement. Rey’s mouth opened in a silent cry but she managed to remain silent. “My perfect girl.” Ben had no idea where that inappropriate way of talking was coming from, but the way Rey responded to him, meeting his thrusts again and again, showed him he was doing something right, that she was enjoying it. “So… Oh God… so goddamn tight.” She groaned louder than she was instructed to, and his hand clasped over her mouth as she giggled in a pleasure haze. Ben started mercilessly thrusting inside of her, biting the inner part of his mouth to not scream obscenities in the shell of her ear. Then, to her surprise, he pulled out and shifted her again, pressing her back on the shelves. Their mouths met halfway as he pulled her right leg up his hip, finding her entrance once more and resuming his ministrations. Benedict silenced her again by kissing her passionately, and Rey found purchase on the lapel of his vest while he covered the bare tit entirely with the palm of his hand, squeezing it delicately. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head before she stared at him with eyes that begged for more, shining with tears she wouldn’t dare release. “Ben, please.” She voiced her thoughts, and he promptly understood what she requested. Assisting her foot back on the floor, he gave one last kiss to her lips, pulled out and swirled her in place, pushing his cock back in ruthlessly. Rey herself covered her mouth this time as she squeaked a surprise sound the moment he hit a place inside of her that made her see stars, a place that increased her need for release and made her grip hard around him as she came with a cry. It did not take more than a few seconds for Ben to follow her, contracting his muscles as he released himself in her pussy. He took a hand lower, flicking his forefinger on the little death button a couple of times, making her come again with his name on her lips. He panted on the back of her neck, exhausted, and Rey slowly turned to face him, dress falling back down. Their eyes locked, her hands surrounding his neck and bringing him close for a kiss she was not sure it should even be initiated, but when she did it was impossible to stop until they were both breaking for air. Resting their foreheads together, Ben helped her fix her dress up, making it look like nothing had happened. Rey felt like they could stay like that, practically hidden from the world in his arms, if footsteps outside the library door hadn’t startled them. Taking one last look at her perfect form, Ben kissed her goodbye and left before anyone could find them. Reyne wished she could say that was the last time. However, a few more late night secret encounters happened throughout the following week, never in the same place, though. It was always him the one to go after her, which made her feel so powerful, seductive, like a prey being hunted by the hungriest of predators. Reyne loved the danger of their moments alone, but she knew she had to put a stop to them before it was too late. More than once she had reminded him of his promise to propose to her sister, and more than once he had tried shifting the conversation back to her and his desires of marrying her instead. All those times, although both being hurt, she was the one to silence him brutally and leave without a word. Avoiding the topic was easier than facing the truth, she discovered. But that took a toll on their affair, and soon Mister Solo stopped looking for her. Keeping pride as a lonely, stubborn partner, she also did not go after him, and it did not take long for them to not talk in secret again. It is for the best , Reyne tried to remind herself. Even though loneliness returned to her side like an old dark friend. Even though, deep down, it killed her to see her sister so happy with her perfect match. Even though she was often reminded that that reality would never belong to her, only in her wildest dreams and long gone memories. Even though she would have to live with that heartbreaking decision for the rest of her life, knowing her sister would be the one living the future she had always wanted with the only man she could have ever loved… It was for the best.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It felt like life had no meaning. During those long days Reyne and Benedict had been apart, they both felt empty. A loneliness not even the greatest of books could fill. An unhappiness that none of the warm conversations could heal. They were both trapped in their own inner world, miserable, looking for a new meaning in the chaos of life. A few stolen glances and quick diversions that would have shown everyone in the room something was wrong if they had paid closer attention. It would not make a difference, though. They had made their decision and life was about to change drastically. Rey was aware it was just a matter of time before Mister Solo proposed to her adored younger sister, and she dreaded that moment with a cold to her stomach that turned into agitation, leaving her unwell. Every second Rose peered at her or walked towards her direction, Rey composed herself, straightening her spine and forcing a smile. However, on the seventh day after the last time they’d been together - not that any of them were counting -, nothing had taken place yet. Rey fretfully conjectured why. Part of her yearned to ask Rose if the proposal had come her way. Perhaps she had been concealing that fact for apprehension of her sister’s reaction, feasibly aware something had been happening between the two adults; Perhaps Rose had already been making plans with the maids and purposefully keeping Rey away from it, so her visible sadness would not interfere with the cheerfulness of a wedding. Those were all possible outcomes from any person other than Rose. Even though Rey wanted to find the reason for the lack of events so far, deep down she knew none of the conjectures her brain had been creating could ever be true. Her sister would never hide anything from her, unlike what she had been doing for the past season right under the same roof. If her sister had not brought the request into conversation yet, it had in reality not occurred. That fact crept inside her mind, only adding worry to the extensive list of other things she had been concerned about. Her abdomen ached, bitterness rising up her throat just to remind her of it. She swallowed hard, sighing quite too loudly and every eye in the family room diverged to her. Rose’s, comforting and pitiful as she assigned the last wooden piece letter in a board game on the coffee table; Ben’s, curious and longing as he turned the page of that day’s newspaper; Kaydel’s, confused and comical as she served them all another round of warm ginger tea; Maz’s, maternal and suspicious as she polished away the dust that had collected above the fireplace that week. “Sister?” Rose reached for her, but her eyesight was on her hands now instead of her face. Reyne dropped her gaze and followed the direction to where the needle she had been using now stuck to her thumb, then a gasp came from the gentleman’s mouth as he rushed to her side, gently pulling the sharp object away to then press a handkerchief she knew too well against the bleeding finger as he couched in front of her, elbows in contact with her covered knees. Her heart’s pace increased with his closeness, but she blindly stared at the white fabric turning crimson and the droplets that had gravitated towards the lilac afternoon dress; then she shifted to the embroidery hoop still firmly secured on the other hand as she sadly noticed the ruined project she had started earlier that day. Blood stained the linen fabric that held a beautiful floral mix of threads and stitches, and a tear rolled down her cheek seeing what her poor attention span had done. “Don’t you fret, my sister.” Rose approached to sit near her on the side of the same armchair she was now frozen trapped into, pressing her shoulders closer to her ribcage and resting her head on top of Rey’s. “We can fix it.” Ben had stepped away the moment Rose came closer, leaving the square of cloth wrapped around her digit, letting it care for the wound. Their eyes met for a brief second before she guided it away, wiping away the tears with the back of her free hand as her lips attempted a smile to ensure everyone she was reasonably fine. “I might need some fresh air.” She declared to the silent room, setting down the embroidery hoop aside and handing Ben the handkerchief back that was now smeared with her blood just like a rainy afternoon that seemed to have happened years before. Raising from her seat and wrapping the arms around herself without even checking if the injury on her finger had stopped bleeding entirely, Rey made her way to the front door. “Would you like some company?” Her sister’s voice accompanied the sound of the dress rustling as she got up from her own seat, but Rey ignored the inquiry and made her way out of the door without looking behind. She eventually strolled through the forest alone, soaking in the last rays of sunshine of that afternoon, listening to the birds chirping above her head, watching the leaves quiver with the wind, the sky above her so clear she could get lost in it. It was peaceful out there, a few animals running to escape her presence, but otherwise no one else to disturb her. Being alone granted her mind a slower pace and it quieted for the first time in days, and she ventured farther away from the house in order to keep that tranquillity within her. Reyne did not want to admit to herself, but her head turned back a few times as she made her way among the trees just to catch a glimpse of the roof of the house standing far away, deep inside expecting a certain someone to be coming after her. Instead, the path she had opened was empty. Her heart sank with disappointment, but she kept her head upright and continued her slow pace through the meadow until it began getting dark. ✉️ The next morning the house was incredibly quiet by the time Reyne left the bedroom, dressed for the day in a dark green dress and a different mindset that was even bringing a smile to her face. She was committed to making the day productive and ignoring the whispers inside her head about all the things she could not control. Making her way downstairs discreetly, she was surprised to see she had not been the first to wake up. The maids were still nowhere to be seen, but the house already smelled like recently brewed coffee and freshly made bread. Mister Solo was sipping from a steaming mug that could only contain black sugarless coffee as he read from the daily newspaper, so deep in his actions he only noticed Rey when she walked past him to fetch a piece of warm bread. He promptly released the paper on the table, rested the mug carelessly on top of it and got up from his seat, dropping a courtesy to politely greet her. “Miss Reyne.” “Mister Solo.” She nodded in his direction without sparing a second glance, and served herself some steamed milk and another slice of bread. She began walking towards the back door in order to be alone in the garden before her sister could see them alone but Benedict’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Have you been sleeping well, Miss Reyne?” It was an odd question and, although Reyne knew he could not know of her countless sleepless nights or the way her mind could not keep him out of it, she still blushed. “Like a princess, Sir.” She forced a smile and rested her back against the kitchen counter. He hummed, looking down at the paper before sparing another glimpse in her direction and it was then that she noticed how his eyes were deeper than normal. Darker large bags underneath his lower lashes indicating he had possibly been suffering at night as much as she had been. A rush of words dropped on her tongue, questions about his well being and comments about his delayed actions that were too hard for her to ignore, but Rey managed to endure quietly and compel some milk down her throat with long swallows. An awkward silence fell above them and, when she heard footsteps advancing from the back of the house followed by quicker ones coming down the stairs, Rey finished her breakfast and hurried outside without another word to the man that kept affectionately and somehow hopefully staring at her. “Was that my sister?” She heard Rose ask the moment she left the threshold to the backyard, stumbling on Maz and Kaydel returning from the barn with baskets full of large eggs and fresh vegetables from the garden. “Everything alright, Miss Reyne? You’re up early!” Kaydel stopped on her tracks with her apron folded up carrying carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and a few potatoes, and Rey took in a deep breath before looking back at her with a smile that felt no longer honest. “Anything else left there so I can help?” She questioned the young woman instead of replying to her, and Maz informed over her shoulder that they still had to milk the goats. “I shall take care of that!” Reyne increased her pace towards the shed without giving them a chance to refute her generosity. Retrieving an older apron as she stepped inside the barn, she tied it around her waist a little too tightly and it took her a few attempts to undo the knot and tie it back again loosely but firmly. Her hand rested on her stomach as she inhaled and exhaled slowly a few times, that minute long action exhausting her more than it should. Before Rey could give attention to the goats, though, she noticed the mess inside the hennery. With them released outside and both large wooden doors opened to the sunny morning, the smell of excrement and dirt was not supposed to be so overwhelming. However, the wind was nonexistent and the summer heat had already established inside, causing the bad smell to thicken. In a second Rey had dropped to her knees by the cages to clean anything she could manage, but in less than a minute she was stumbling outside, not making it far before her stomach twisted and she emptied all its content on the ground. She blindly reached for a structural wooden pole on the left to recline against it, sweat collecting on her forehead. She fought with the apron knot again, critically struggling to untie it so she could wipe her mouth from the repulsive taste of bile. Unsuccessfully, Rey guided herself down onto both knees to bend forward and draw the fabric towards her face, breathing into the cotton material in order to remove the putrid barn smell that seemed to cling through her nostrils like an ivy on a house’s exterior. She ungracefully swallowed only saliva a couple of times, finding it arduous to draw a proper breath as another wave of nausea caught up to her efforts and she gagged. Crawling to the side on all fours she puked again, so violently her stomach started to hurt straight away. Reyne coughed, desperate to erradicate that abhorrent sensation spreading inside of her, so overburdened with her senses that it was arduous to think. Even though her stomach kept trying to force out all that was inside, there was nothing left and soon she was rasping dryly and painfully, spitting out what she could as she breathed through her nose. A hand, one she was acquainted with, rested briefly on her back, warm, firm and large, and she tried to shove him away with an arm precariously uplifting her from the ground, reaching blindly behind her to use all the strength she had left to push him out of the way, but the man was resolute and his body stronger than she could ever be. With muscular and steady arms, Ben swooped Rey off the ground before she could dodge or lose stability, cradled her in his arms and rushed back to the house. Her ears ringed and her stomach churned again as the rocking movement from being carried became extreme. Unaware of where she was, vision blurred and the world spinning around her, Reyne just managed to lean to the side and vomit on the floor anything left inside her body. She heard, however muffled, Ben curse and speak to someone from a distance, desolation perceptible in his timbre. A few moments later she was being accommodated on a mattress, a hand on her forehead - possibly Maz’s this time - to check her temperature and another - she was almost sure it was Ben’s - on her arm to maintain her serene. “She doesn’t seem to have a fever.” A softer voice spoke, that time possibly Kaydel’s. “Perhaps it was something she ate?” “The cheese on the counter had a strange appearance to it.” It was Rose’s turn to concern on her sister’s behalf, and Rey tried to talk over them, above the fogginess in her mind and the bile taste on her tongue, but as she raised herself up on both elbows to make herself listened, another wave of nausea made her lay back down again. “Miss Reyne ate nothing but bread this morning.” Ben’s voice was low and hoarse, and Rose whispered something she could not understand, possibly seeking logic in the event with the few information she had been given. Suddenly, all four of them were speaking at the same time and she couldn’t spare another ounce of consciousness, drifting to a troubled sleep that lasted all afternoon. As she woke up to a silent house again, Reyne could almost guarantee it had all been a nightmare and she was about to walk downstairs for the first meal of the day. But when she opened the door to a dark candle lit hallway, whispers quieted on the far end. For a second she thought it was Mister Solo glancing towards her, but the man was a lot shorter than her lover, dressed in white - a colour she knew only belonged to Benedict Solo’s undershirts and sleeping clothes - and carrying a suitcase. “Miss Tico.” Their family doctor approached and she looked beyond him to see Maz waiting with Rose. They stayed behind as the middle aged man gently compelled her back into the bedroom, guiding her to sit back on the unmade and warm bed as he sat uncomfortably on a chair nearby. “How are you feeling?” “Not worse.” She did not waste time to reply, quickly noticing how her insides felt just as normal again, her throat was no longer hurting. A headache crept on the back of her skull, so she reached for a water jug on the bedside table and poured it in a glass, gulping it down all at once. That eased the pain momentarily, so she shut her eyes and drew in a slow and deep breath as the doctor explained to her his suspicions. According to his expertise, the cause of her indisposition could have been caused by a handful of things: food poisoning brought by any expired dairy they had consumed or poorly treated vegetables - although no one else had gotten sick lately, she almost pointed out -; a momentarily stomach bug that would definitely be gone soon; and other reasons he scarcely brought up. “Nothing for deeper concern.” He concluded with a grin. Yet, Reyne was not one hundred percent content with his dismissive response. She knew something might not be right because she was not used to being unwell. She barely had any recollection from the last time she had felt nauseated like that. “Is there anything else that could have caused it?” Her voice trembled as she asked, hands fidgeting over her stained dress. The doctor cocked his eyebrow, not sure of what direction of questioning she was going with that. She extended her thoughts. “Since I was the only one feeling ill?” He leaned closer, resting the callused palm of his hand on top of hers. It was a weird proximity, but comforting nonetheless. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “You are not a married lady, are you Miss Tico?” She denied with a shake of her head, and he spared a comforting smile, lightly tapping on top of her knuckles and getting up from the chair. “Then there is nothing to be worried about.” With no drug prescription but the advice to keep herself hydrated, well fed and himself informed in case anything went out of the ordinary, the man discharged her and waved goodbye from the hallway, leaving her alone for a couple of seconds before Rose peeked inside from the crack on the door. “Sister.” She kindly smiled, entering the room and closing the door. They could hear footsteps going down the stairs in the momentarily silence that fell into the room. “How are you feeling? Better?” Rey nodded, keeping the distress in the back of her mind. There was no challenge in faking how she was truly feeling anymore, and that should have made her feel terrible, but it only made Rey numb. It was so easy to put on a smile just to cry herself to sleep that it did not take her an ounce of effort. It came as easily as replying to her dear sister she was feeling much better. “We were so worried about you that Maz threatened to write Mom and Dad.” A giggle left Rose’s lips as she saw the despair in her sister’s expression. “Tell me she did not.” Rey said through gritted teeth, the mere thought of their parents knowing she had been sick making her feel ill again. Rose’s comforting laugh eased her body back to lighten. “I promised her I would do it myself if I saw you throwing up again.” Rey playfully slapped her sister’s thigh, then squeezed it over her pale pink dress. “Thank you, sister.” The easiness in their relationship was something Rey was frightened it could be lost if she ever found out about hers and Mister Solo encounters. But the way her sister looked at her - the devotion and love, always and forever there - told her she was still oblivious. Rey only hoped that secret would be kept hidden under seven keys until the day she died. But then Rose’s demeanour changed, her expression dimming and her brows furrowing, a finger pointed right at her face. Rey’s heart dropped to her belly and she almost felt like she was going to throw up again before her words were out. “Now, you put Mister Solo into such a state of misery that I am not sure how he is managing the long trip back home now.” Those words sank deeper into her stomach and, somehow, that possibility felt more dreadful than what she was expecting to hear from her sister’s lips. “Pardon me?” Her face turned pale and Rose’s faux accusation shifted immediately back to comfort seeing her sister’s distraught. She closed her hands around Rey’s, hands that were once again fidgeting with one another, picking the edge of her cuticles. “He didn’t tell you, sister?” Rey’s mouth opened and closed once before she managed to stutter the next words. “Tell me what?” “Mister Solo left.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Mister Solo left.” Rose’s words echoed inside her brain like the most insistent nuisance, straight from her nightmares that crept in from her darkest nights. Rey’s mind went completely numb as she stared to her sister’s middle and fought against tears. Her heart sank even deeper and she bent forward, letting go of her Rose’s hands and pressing hers on her lower stomach, bile going up her throat. Rose leaned closer, then sat by her side and hugged her shoulders. “Oh, sister, there is no need for desperation! Perhaps he didn’t have time to say goodbye due to your condition. He almost didn’t leave, if you must know, making us promise you would be well taken care of so he could go at peace.” Even though Rose’s kind words brought her a brief sense of relief, one thing stuck to her and she could not listen to anything else. A tear trailed down her cheek, which Rose did not see, resting her head behind Rey’s upper back. “He was worried about me?” She questioned in a weak voice. “Terribly it is what it seemed!” Rose replied, circling her waist with both arms, leaning closer. “He didn’t want to leave but the carriage was already here.” So many questions started forming inside her head, so much wondering of “what if” situations that frightened her profoundly. There would be a logical explanation for it, there had to be. Or the suffering would be too great to bear. “Did he… Did he tell you why the sudden departure?” “Not exactly.” Rose looked away above Rey’s head then came to kneel on the floor in front of her. Rey felt like her sister was hiding something from her with the way she avoided her gaze from time to time. “But apparently it was a last minute decision. He sent a letter to his parents in America, it is what Maz told me. The next day he was packing his belongings.” Rey scanned Rose’s face, waiting for more information that was not provided. “I see.” She stood up and pulled Rose with her, holding both her hands in between them. Her chest constricted and she fought against the giant lump in her throat. “And… are you alright?” The question seemed to have caught Rose by surprise, a wide smile appearing on her plushy lips. “Never better! Why?” “Well, he left without a word. I just worry about you, sister.” “You should not be worrying about me, Rey! I am perfectly fine.” Rose pulled Rey into her arms and that long hug almost dragged the sick girl to tears again. Her well being was brought back into subject as her sister - unaware of the full truth - scanned her face. “Have you eaten, are you hungry?” ✉️ Every household member came to check on Rey after dinner was served in her bedroom. She ate alongside Rose - who was repeating the meal just to make her sister company - and every time a pair of footsteps echoed on the corridor Rey’s head would lift, hopeful, expecting to be someone who never was. Mister Solo’s absence that night hung upon her like a nightmare. It was different from the past few nights they had just been avoiding one another, because his presence still loomed around them. Knowing he was absent hurt. Not knowing the reason why was even worse. Her trail of thought went alarmingly to her sister, and what that meant for their future relationship. If he had proposed already, had he asked her to swear secrecy until he solved anything that had to be solved back home? Maybe a previous bride he had left behind… Had he asked her to wait for the return of their parents before telling everyone? Or did he simply never propose and left before the situation became too critical for him? There were so many reasons that her mind started to pound painfully. As her head met the soft cotton pillowcase, sleep drifted away. Her mind was on full alert for any noise outside of her door, any evidence that his leave might have been temporary. An emergency in town, a sick relative a state away... anything that could bring him back to her - to them, to her sister - as quickly as possible. But as the night got darker and silence reigned in the house, she knew there was a possibility he might not be returning, and that truth materialized threateningly above her. Reyne managed to sleep that night, after hours of staring at the ceiling. However, the following days passed by her like a ghost, quick and mysterious. She had no recollection of the hours, of what she had eaten or the dress she wore; What words had her sister spoken to her the moment she became too quiet, what kind of tea had Kaydel brought up an early morning after she got sick again. Everything felt numb. Miss Maz visited her again a few nights later, concerned, carrying some tea on a tray. The door got locked behind her, the words whispered. “My dear child, I'm worried about you.” She placed the contents she carried on top of the dresser and sat by her side. Rey was already dressed in her nightgown, hair tied down in a braid, a book in hands as she waited for sleep to take her peacefully. She had left dinner before anyone else, complaining of a headache, locking herself in her room and waiting for it to pass. She had the choice of remaining quiet about her possible condition - one that Maz had already been suspicious about - or being honest, hoping the old maid would have a solution for her sorrows. “I'm scared, Maz.” She whispered, holding the book between both hands and looking down. Maz sat by her side. “Of what exactly, my dear?” Her soft words landed on Rey comfortably, and she swallowed away the hiccups that threatened to escape her throat in a loud wail. Instead, she rested the top of her head on Maz’s shoulder and sobbed quietly. The woman’s arms circled her and she asked carefully. “Is there a possibility of you being with child?” The hiccups found their way out when those words were spoken. The young girl was not naive. Reyne knew the risk she had put herself through committing to a man before marriage. She recovered herself and slowly nodded, another wave of tears flowing down her chin. Maz hummed, pressing her hands tightly over her shoulders before getting up and bringing the tray closer. “What am I going to do, Maz?” Rey asked as she sat back by her side again. “I know of a solution in case you want to…” She let her words diminish, but Rey understood them almost immediately. There were two cups of tea on the wooden tray, and they both looked practically identical, if it wasn’t for the lack of cream in one of them and the slight appearance of a powder on the bottom of the white ceramic. “What - what’s in it?” “A chamomile tea with ginger for your sickness and to help you sleep.” Maz explained without further detail, getting up from her seat and leaving what she held on the nightstand. Reyne rested both hands on her stomach and stared at the solution of her problem right within reach. Maz walked to the door and stopped with the hand on the doorknob. “If you decide not to drink one of them, simply toss it away in the flames. No one will know.” “What…” The older lady stopped and Rey gulped, a knot forming in her guts as reality sunk in. “What will happen?” Maz spared a knowing soft glance towards the frightened girl in front of her. “Some painfully but manageable cramps and just a bit more blood than your normal course, that’s all.” Reyne weighed her options as the maid left, carefully contemplating the steam coming from the cups. She could end her doubts and be free of concern easily, drinking both teas and letting that decision soon be just a faded memory in the back of her mind. Or she could leave it to destiny and accept her condition, accepting she would be just fine by herself. Without giving it another glance, Rey spilled the bland liquid on the fire, dimming the light off, and drank from the chamomile, hoping to have made the right decision. Even though she swallowed every last drop of the tea and felt as her stomach accepted and soothed with the warm beverage, Reyne still found no peace laying alone in the dark. Her mind was clouded, overthinking her most recent decision and how that would affect her future. Sighing, she got up from the bed and circled her body with a soft robe, then paced outside silently, walking towards a room she was not too familiar with, but that held a deeper meaning than any other. The door creaked open and a soft breeze from a half opened window welcomed her to a dark and cold ambience. The bed was visibly made and the trunks gone, nothing left to remind her of his presence there. It was almost like he had never been there at all. Rey opened the drawers of his dresser and nightstand just to find them as empty as the rest of the room. As she leaned down to search under the bed, though, her nostrils flared with a knowing scent. Following it, her nose met the edge of the bedsheets and she guided herself up, smelling the rest of the bed. It still smelled like him. That deep, sandalwood, male sweat mixed with bath water and another scent she was almost sure was floral - possibly hers. Still there, still permeating the bed she lost her virtue on. His scent was predominant on the pillows and Rey was not proud of her actions as she curled herself on top of the duvet and inhaled the ghost of him in, deeply, trying to fill her lungs with the smell that brought back so many memories. Memories shared in the intimacy of that very room, but also in many other different places. Memories that belonged to them until the end of times, memories that she could never regret, only miss deeply. A tear started to flow down her cheek, followed by many more and soon she was sobbing quietly and staining his pillowcase, letting it soak her sorrows and bring her some kind of comfort she longed for. The crying continued as her body stiffened on the verge of a panic attack, the reality of his departure and her possible condition sinking down her core as a painful reminder of what she could’ve had, of what they could’ve been. She needed to leave, get out of that room and make sure all that pain stayed behind but Rey had no strength to get up from the bed. She curled around herself even more, circling the knees with her arms and hoping sleep would take her to a land far away, where all that ache would be nothing but a faint idea. A lonely tear trailed down her wet cheek as those last thoughts echoed in her mind, her fingers curling into a fist as she continued sobbing uncontrollably. She found sleep right there, wrapped on a bed that had seen better moments, inhaling the smell of a man she would probably never see again, waiting for the nightmares to creep in. Drifting to sleep was easier than she had expected, but the next morning proved onerous as the sun woke her up and a sharp pain on her lower belly lifted her slowly to sit. She winced, and the sudden movement nauseated her, leaving Reyne slightly lightheaded. She worried something might be wrong when her abdomen churned, and she tried to remember if she had drank the tea Maz had offered the night before. The tea that contained the solution to her current situation. But she hadn’t, had she? She had emptied it on the fire and made her decision. Instead of having time to worry about that, something else started to hurt. Right below her palm on the pillow, a hard object was poking her skin and she groaned in pain as she leaned herself to the side, searching blindly what was underneath the cushions. A simple envelope adorned with a dark brown border and the Solo’s house insignia on the front lap stared back at her. It was not sealed or signed, but in big delicate black calligraphy read her name. Not Miss Tico, or Reyne Tico, or even Miss R. Tico, but her own name in short form. Three letters that, when spoken in that deep guttural voice, could bring her to a state where she would do almost anything. Rey. She let its content fall on the bed and stared at them with a hammering heart and tears still flowing. Inside the beautiful envelope there were 4 things: a letter carefully folded and creased way too many times; a clean perfectly white handkerchief with an embroidered B letter in gold thread and, in the middle of that pristine wrap, a ring tied with a pink ribbon. She gasped soundless at that last object. There was no mistaking the ribbon belonged to her, a keepsake from that night they shared their insecurities, nudity and all intimacy one could keep inside oneself. He had stolen it from her hair braid and kept with him, a simple yet perfect token from a treasured moment. Rey held the ring between her fingers, watching it unfold into a magical sphere. She remembered the story he had told her about his parents and that piece of jewellery. It was on a bright and warm night. He had found her hiding in the library as it was her usual routine then invited her outside for a stroll that ended with them making love against a tree trunk under the moonlight, her dress hoisted up and his pants pulled down as he made her see stars, both figuratively and literally. He had kept the ring with him and shared the properties of its surprising unfolding, also telling her the reason his father had gifted it to his mother, and why he wanted to give her. Once again that night she dismissed the gesture, running back home with shame stamping her inner thighs white. Rey gave one last look to the beautiful gold band and tied the ribbon with it around her neck, keeping it secure under her dress. With shaky fingers, she then proceeded to unfold the letter.
“My beloved Reyne,
I don't have much time to write this, there is a carriage waiting for me outside and you’re being cared for by your maids and your most devoted sister. I couldn’t even say goodbye to you and for that I am deeply sorry.
There are personal matters I shall tend to immediately. Expect my return before the seasons change, hopefully… and keep me in your thoughts.
Yours only and forever,
Ben.
Ps: let this ring be a reminder that I have not forgotten you. We are under the same sky and the stars are our companions when we ever feel lonely. I know without you I will be. Look for peace in the constellations and know that I will be thinking of you.”
It was then, with a tightness in her heart and tears flowing down like a stream that she heard footsteps coming from the hallway. “Rey?” Her sister’s voice surprised her from outside the guest bedroom. But before she could compose herself and find a good reason for being there, Rose was opening the door and staring at Reyne sitting at the edge of the messy bed, letter secured in between her hands. “Sister?” The bright morning light tricked her and she had to squint to see it better, but as soon as Rose recognized it was indeed Rey, she rushed to her side. Finding Rey locked inside a gentleman’s former bedroom was already a shocking surprise, but finding her holding back tears and looking absolutely devastated was even worse. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes dropped to the paper still crumpled between her fingers, the ribbon with the ring now tied around her neck and the envelope forgotten beside the handkerchief on the bed. Rose knew something was wrong, and her worry about her sister’s well-being was stronger than anything else that could have happened away from her concerned eyes. “Rose…” Rey looked up to a stunned girl, searching for words in the extensive repertoire inside her head. Her other hand gripped the edge of the comforter until her knuckles turned white. She never stopped looking at her sister, no matter how hard it was. “Rose, my most beloved sister, my best friend… I have to tell you something.” Rose seemed puzzled, but she walked forward to stand in front of Rey and brought her up to both feet, hand in hand. Her legs were shaking, the letter still being held firmly between her fingers, the ring cold against her ribcage as she took in deep breaths, thankful the sleeping gown was not as constrict as her daily clothes. “Has something happened?” A nod was everything Rey could execute at that moment, looking at her feet, more tears flowing down on her dress and onto the floor. Her fingers trembled between her sister’s small hands. There was an inexplicable patience as Rose waited until Rey was comfortable enough to speak again. “Yes.” She whispered, lips shivering. Reyne bit the lower one to keep it still. When her eyes met her sister’s again, they were blurry with even more tears. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “It has.” She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, looking away before staring down at the short woman. “I don't even know how to say it.” Rose’s hand clasped around hers. “You're worrying me. What is it, Rey?” Speaking up was a simple thing. At least it was supposed to be. The words were just there, surging from a thought in her mind since the talk with the doctor. One single thought that had taken root inside of her core and that now she could not shake it away. Yet it was the hardest thing to put into words. When she finally managed to open her mouth and let it out, it was barely a whisper. “I think I'm with child.” Voicing that sentence sent a chill down her spine, a churn on her stomach and a hiccup from down her throat. Rose only managed to widen her eyes and frown the eyebrows into a pitiful glare. “Oh my God, sister.” Rey was almost sure she could hear the engines in Rose’s brain shifting, forming questions and expecting answers as quickly as she was drawing breath. Her hold on Rey’s palm became firmer. An urge of explaining her suspicion and just trying to make sense of everything going through her mind made words rush out from her mouth faster than she could control. “My curse did not come this month, I am feeling extremely ill and nauseated, and so tired. I had never felt like this before.” Rose’s mouth gaped then closed. “Oh, sister, what have I done?!” Another wave of tears and panic crept in, bubbling powerfully to the surface. Rey sat back down and rested her face in hands, attempting to muffle the sounds of her suffering. “Oh, Rey…” Rose remained in front of her, a hand running up and down her arm, still oblivious of the dreadful truth that was about to come out, allowing Rey to release everything she had been keeping inside for so long. Rey swallowed a deep breath, speaking in between shallow ones and tears that did not stop running down her cheekbones. “I - I swear we weren’t trying to - to hurt you or jeopardize your prospects. We were two lost foolish souls who thought it was…” She cleared those unspoken desires out of her mind. “I'm so deeply sorry it all came to that.” “We?” Rose cocked her head to the right, confused. Then the protectiveness over her middle sister took over. “Who did this to you?” Her sister’s silence revealed what she had already suspected. “Was it Mister Solo?!” Rose walked closer to stand knee to knee and held both Rey’s hands between hers, the letter still crumbled between Rey’s fingers. “Did he force himself onto you? Rey, tell me.” It felt worse to hear Rose afraid of her being somehow forced by the man she might have found love with. The man she gave herself to. The one she let herself get lost and found in. “No…” Her head shook precisely. “No, he didn't.” That brought even more tears to her eyes. The next words stumbled on her tongue as she tried to explain the truth, “It was… we were… I don’t even know, Rosie. It just… happened.” Their eyes met and Rey felt the shame that had been hidden away coming back to the surface. “I’m so sorry, Rosie. I'm so sorry .” But Rose’s reaction was nothing of disapproval. She concealed a crooked smile on the corner of her lips, soothing the back of Rey’s hands with her thumbs. “Why are you apologizing to me, sister?” Rey could not understand. “I've ruined everything.” She stated. “I've let myself get lost in lust and I've ruined everything.” “You didn’t ruin anything.” Rose assured her, running a hand on her face and wiping some stubborn tears away. Then she finally revealed what she had been keeping from Rey for the past couple of days. “Rey, I’m not marrying him.” “You’re not?” Rose’s comforting smile grew, not secretive anymore, and now both hands were on Rey’s face, ready to catch any more tears that blurred her vision. Ready to catch her whenever she needed. “I've seen the way he looks at you.” Rose explained, dropping the hands to her sister’s shoulders then her waist. “How you both look at each other, in fact, even though you'd never admit it.” A chuckle left her lips while Rey still looked at her too stunned to say anything. “But I've seen it.” Shaking her head in complete confusion, Rey kept babbling incomprehensive words until a firm grip on her wrists brought her back to what her sister was trying to say. “Rey, I declined his proposal.” “Why would you do that?!” Rey whispered in shock, weakly attempting to come to terms with so many things at the same time. “For the reason that…” She looked down to Rey’s flat stomach, hopeful. And her happiness could not be contained. Her smile widened. “He wants to marry my best friend. And I couldn’t jeopardize that.” “Rose…” A shake to her head and Rose silenced Rey from any other comment or refutal. “Do you love him?” Although it had been something she was trying not to think about, avoiding the word like the plague, Rey knew the truth and she replied without taking a second to think about it. “More than anything.” “And have you told him of your suspicion?” “No! Oh, Lord in Heaven, no!” Her heart dropped to her stomach with the thought of revealing that secret to him. She felt dizzy. “This was a mistake, Rose. This was all a mistake. I’m ruined, I’ve ruined our futures.” “You have not.” Rose assured her one more time, squeezing their fingers together. The pinch it brought helped Rey focus on the present situation. “Rey, the man adores you. This pregnancy is only an early miracle.” “I cannot tell him. I can't.” “Do you not want a child? His child?” Rey pondered for a moment, because those were two different types of questions that dragged her to consideration. She had never put much thought before about conceiving, because it was not a topic a lady should have opinions about. It had always sounded like a duty, something her future husband might put on the table and not even ask her about it. She would get married and have a child - or many - and that was it. There would be nothing to decide upon, society had already made sure of that. And now, even though she had had a choice and she knew her sister would show support on whatever she had decided upon, Rey was one hundred percent sure the night before unreflective settlement had been the right one. She did want to have that baby because it was Ben’s baby. More than that, she needed to have his child as she was not sure of what the future held, and that might be the only thing she would ever carry from those love filled moments, from him. An innocent baby conceived in a lustful but also love-filled night, from the dedication of a man who desired her, a man who had never forced anything. In the end, the answer was quite simple. “I do… ” And her sister’s reply, another question that was also very straightforward. “Then why such despair?” The truth came crashing to her. “Because he might not see me the same way again.” Rose immediately started saying otherwise, but Rey’s mind was back at her sister’s prospects. “And you?! What about you, Rosie?” “My heart is at peace, Rey.” She revealed with all the calmness she had in herself. “I didn’t love him. I don't think I could have ever loved him. Not when he was clearly obsessed with my sister.” Rey blushed, looking down. “Rose, I’m so sorry.” “I’m not.” Rose childishly stomped her feet on the ground, gripping Rey’s hand even tighter, to the point of hurting. But just as quickly she let them go, pulling her taller sister to a hug. “You met each other. Isn't that the most wonderful thing?” Rose gently pushed her to an arm’s distance and wiped away the freshly dropped tears from her eyelids. “You met half of your soul, Rey. And I had the chance to witness this. I feel blessed.” A smile longed to appear with the words her sister voiced, the love within them so deep Reyne knew nothing else she said would make a difference. Her sister had made her decision, and so had she. And they were both at peace at last.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The entire convo with her dearest sister Rose could have left Reyne with a turbulent temperament that would lead her to a never ending spiral of overthinking consequently culminating in a very anxious and stressed mindset. However, strangely, it mainly guided her spirit into wandering across both hopeful and hopeless scenarios in equal measure. She would spend an entire afternoon pacing around her bedroom and their land as she contemplated what would happen next. If Reyne had to guess, it was the most troublesome period of her life. In the condition of her secrecy, the pregnancy had been kept between the household members exclusively. Both Maz and Kaydel made sure to feed Rey a nutritions choice of meals and kept her in constant health check without alerting strangers. Her clothes had been resized by the skilled hands of her sister in order to allow the belly to have space to grow comfortably and Kaydel had thoughtfully stationed an empty bucket to the side of her bed, an ultimate companion in many mornings the sickness kept her relentlessly bedridden. A week slowly turned into two, three, then an entire month had gone by and every sunset compelled Rey to go to bed with a knot in her heart and a lump in her throat. The following sunrise made her feel as empty as the one before. When the first autumn leaves started gravitating onto the ground, two long months had passed and Rey’s sickness had only worsened. Even so, her spirit was becoming much brighter watching the changes her body was enduring. Her stomach, once flat, now carried the smallest of bumps, making her feel both blessed and terrified. Her breasts had doubled the size already, the ties of her corset looser than normal, and she had never felt them more sensitive. Reyne had been so distracted with her condition that time appeared to flow by, thankfully. In addition, the horrible early morning sickness which only allowed her stomach to keep a handful of bland food and water - alongside a variety of teas Maz would bring her every night and morning before she left the room. It was such a whirlwind state that she would barely notice when there was no one but her left in the house, only fully noticing everyone’s absence when the kitchen remained empty during the breakfast hour, her suddenly loud chewing on a piece of bread echoing inside the walls of a quiet house. One specific morning, when the leaves of every tree had been gathered in piles all over their land and the air had become crisper than normal, a commotion at the front door had Rey lifting her head from the teacup with an attention and expectation that sent a chill down her spine, her eyes going from the kitchen archway to Maz, who curiously peeked behind her as she stirred something in a pot on the stove. Kaydel quickly approached them from the back door, wiping her mud-covered hands on the apron after leaving some fresh eggs on the stone counter, attentively looking for the reason of commotion in the other room. “Rey!” Her sister stormed inside the kitchen, cheeks a crimson color with the rush to inform Rey of the next. “Mother and father have returned!” Rey’s eyes widened with surprise before her lips could accompany a smile. She carefully raised from her seated position, not wanting a sudden movement to send her into another wave of nausea or fainting; wrapped the arms around herself to keep the muslin blanket around her shoulders and made her way outside. She heard the carriage stopping on the gravel path just as she walked down the steps to the front garden, gazing towards the doors with an expectation that skyrocketed her heart pace. The driver opened the small door and helped her mother down, whom Rey quickly ran to, open arms to welcome her home. The dark haired short lady chanted her name as she inhaled the familiar floral scent of her hair, planting kisses on her cheeks as they said how much they missed each other. Rose approached a few seconds later, squeezing her way in the embrace. The three women blocked the path to the door until their father cleared his throat. They all giggled and stepped aside, the young women throwing their arms onto him, feeling like children again in the tight well-known hug. He wiped away Rey’s tears with his thumb, planting a kiss on her forehead then doing the same with Rose, who chuckled and continued side by side with him, not allowing them to part. Rey turned to face her mother again and started asking about the trip when her eyes drifted to a looming presence, someone she had not been expecting waiting behind. The words got caught in her throat as she tried to contain more tears from spilling out, hugging herself tightly, intentionally covering her stomach with the muslin cloth. No one seemed to notice the sudden change in her demeanor, thankfully. For Reyne, the sensation the sight of that man brought her was overbearing. Her heart hammered inside her ribcage in a way it hadn’t done in months, and she felt like she was about to be sick. Her throat went dry, stomach flipped as the butterflies awakened and flapped their wings as if yearning that long lost sensation. Their eyes locked and Ben opened his mouth to speak to her, face brightening a beautiful red sheer at the sight of his beloved. But before he could mutter a word, a tall man with short orange hair clumsily left the carriage and stepped in between them, raising his hand to greet Rey, who introduced herself mechanically. “My Lady, such a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance!” He spoke, waiting for her to shake his hand, which she did slowly, eyes still on the man behind him. “Armitage Hux, my Lady, one of Lord Solo’s oldest friends!” “Reyne Tico.” She replied automatically once again, letting him drop her hand that she quickly wrapped back around her middle. Her sister quickly stepped from her father’s embrace and lowered her head in respect before standing in front of the man. “Rose Tico, my Lord.” He gently held the palm she extended for him and, instead of repeating the same gesture he had done with Rey a few seconds before, he leaned down - a considerate amount since Rose was so small next to him - and planted a kiss to the back of her hand, making her sister blush and completely ignore anyone else around them until Ben cleared his throat. He had approached them in silence, hands behind his back as he politely nodded towards Rose, who spared an enormous smile in his direction, leaving him somewhat stunned. She smirked as she stared from him back to Rey, who could only notice Ben and how it seemed as if it was taking every cell in his body to keep him from running towards her. She felt every eye on them and a quietude emerged above. “Miss Reyne.” He greeted her with a quick bow, lifting his hand to receive hers. She removed it from the protection behind the warm shawl and extended the shaky fingers to him. He kept his eyes on hers as he guided the back of her hand to his lips, planting a long kiss to the soft skin. Butterflies fluttered violently inside her belly and she blushed faintly, fully aware of the attention that exchange had brought them. She did not dare to look around to confirm. Ben took her out of her head, extending his arm in her direction. “Can we go for a stroll, Miss Reyne?” In her head she muttered a “certainly” but the truth was she did voice a word, scared of how scratchy and needy it could sound. She interlaced her trembling arm on his carefully and they walked to the far back of the house, where the pond was located, a place that would allow them some kind of privacy. Without drifting his eyes away from the small path, his other hand gently covered her fingertips on his forearm, applying the softest of pressure just to assure her of his presence. “I assume everyone is watching us from the kitchen window right now.” Reyne shivered and her stomach dropped. She refrained herself from looking back, blushing furiously with that image slotted in her brain. She could see the smirk in her sister’s lips as well as her mother’s caring stare and her father’s jealous concern as they all watched every movement they made distant from any type of chaperoning. “If it wasn’t for that, my lady…” Ben continued, stopping in front of her and placing a strand of hair behind her ear in the gentlest of movements, casually taking a peek behind her head in the direction of the house. “I assure you I’d be kissing you right now.” He revealed with a smirk, looking back at her. Rey spared him a shy glance before looking down at her feet. They resumed the walk as he took her to a location where they could not be properly seen, guiding her to rest against a tree. Her eyes sparkled as she expected him to finally kiss her the way he had indicated but, instead, he reached for his trousers’ pocket and retrieved something with shaky fingers. A small blue velvet square box that had him staring at it nervously. Rey inaudibly gasped. Her lips trembled as she called his name hoarsely. His eyes drifted to hers as he cleared his throat and started speaking without waiting another second. “I had the most troublesome time away from you, my Lady.” A moment to lick his dry lips and take another strand of her hair behind her ear. This time the back of his fingers traced lightly the shape of her cheekbones, spreading the redness across it. “Couldn’t wait to see you once again.” Ben played with the box in his long fingertips, nervously stammering the next sentence. “There’s so much I want to do and say to you right now, but one thing is of extreme urgency…” His knees started dropping to the floor, and Rey desperately tried pulling him back up again, without success. “Wait, Ben.” He looked up at her, confused, elbow resting on his knee as he waited with fingers ready to open the box that possibly contained their entire future prospects. “Ben, please, wait. There is something you need to know first.” He did as she requested, scanning her face patiently. Rey took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with the courage she needed to reveal her secret, looking down as she did so. “Ben, I’m pregnant.“ She barely heard the gasp that came from him and waited to be admonished, blamed, driven to the guilt single women usually experienced from conceiving a child before marriage. But he did none of that. Ben stood his ground, letting the box drop at his side as he gathered both of her hands in his and met her eyes. The warmth brought her the kind of comfort she so desperately needed. “You are?” She bit her lower lip, nodding. “You’re carrying my child, my Lady?” The way those last words were spoken, possessively hopeful made her blush, but they also brought a shy smile to her lips. “Yes.” She whispered and soon he was back on his feet again, hands on her waist as the tips of his fingers brushed against her covered belly. He pressed his forehead against hers and her eyes closed. “Oh Heavens, Rey… Marry me!” “Are you - are you sure?” She stammered, still slightly uneasy, eyes scanning his expression for anything that could say something different than his words. But of course there was nothing. “Why would you ask that?” He asked with sincere apprehension. “Because I, - my virtue… ” Those last two words were nothing but a whisper. Her eyes dropped down again, to her stomach this time. She refrained herself from cradling, though, too self-aware of the position she was putting him in. Instead, to her surprise, Ben rested a palm over her lower belly, smiling as he felt it swollen, and applied a faint pressure over her corset. “It's mine already, isn't it?” He asked rhetorically. The smirk his lips shaped made her blush. “The universe just decided to bless us before God could. Marry me. Please, Rey.” Her mind could not comprehend what she was hearing. Fear still found its way to her core, digging roots that were hard to shake away. “But - what about Rose? And my parents?!” From her waist, he guided both hands to her face, placing them around her neck and jaw. Once again that feeling of comfort eased her worries. He held back, undisturbed, until she found herself serene. Then, as his thumbs caressed her cheeks, he lifted her fears away. “You have nothing to worry about, my darling.” Her mouth parted as he breathed too close to her, air tickling her nose and their lips brushed vaguely. More than anything Reyne wished she could drown in that sensation, not a care in the world for whoever could be watching them from afar. Ben, however, had other plans. He leaned down to pick the little box from the ground and extended it to her, opening it to reveal an exquisite gold engagement ring adorned with an iridescent Opal gemstone and diamonds crowning it, producing a beautiful halo of sparkles in the autumn light. Rey covered her mouth with the back of her hand to contain a sharp inhale. Ben did nothing but smile, looking from the ring to her and making a revelation of his words. “They’ve given me their blessings already.” All of a sudden, everything made sense. His unforeseen departure, the long dreadful months away, the unexpected return alongside her parents… “You went after them.” She concluded after only a few seconds. Ben nodded earnestly. “Of course.” He disclosed matter of factly, picking the ring up from its slot and extending it to her, twisting it between his fingertips while shoving the empty box back to his pocket. Then he ever so slowly guided the hand on her stomach up to his heart. “After Rose refused to marry me I knew I had one chance to ask for your hand.” “And they agreed?” Somehow her mind could not comprehend that possibility when, for her, she literally stole her sister’s match under her watchful eye. But Ben’s words proved the opposite, and she inhaled a few short breaths in shock. “I dare to say they were delighted with it, love.” The new nickname made her silently swoon. She rested her palm in the middle of his chest, sensing his heartbeat reverberating inside as she grazed the rigid muscle underneath the dark brown vest he wore. His heart picked up the pace just as she stroked her thumb on his body, and he held her hand down wanting to never let go as he continued. “Even more so when I presented a very adequate match for your sister…” “What… for Rosie?” Her heart stopped beating so fast, steading to a rhythm that allowed her to breathe at peace again. Then she recalled Mister Solo’s acquaintance who had travelled with him and everything seemed to snap into place. “That friend of yours?” “Sir Armitage Hux, yes.” He spoke slowly, as if the last thing he wanted at that moment was to speak about his good friend. Either way Ben carried on, understanding how Rey needed all the information he could provide to be restful about her sister’s future. “Respectable family, wealthy upbringing that will allow him to offer a generous dowry for your sister and extremely loyal. Nearly a brother to me if I must say. He owns a neighboring state to mine, actually.” Her eyes sparkled a different shine at the mention of the possibility of her loved sister to live close by. Rey hummed, deep in her thoughts, pretending to ignore how the ring was still casually being held by two of his thick fingers, another jewel that reflected the promise of a loving future. At that, as if reading her mind, Ben noticed for the first time the ribbon she carried around her neck. His fingers skillfully - without even touching her skin - pulled the fabric piece up, revealing the round gold band tied at its end that she kept close to her heart. He stared at it passionately, interpreting the meaning of that gesture. The ring appeared in her line of sight one more time, just briefly before Ben dropped to his knee and offered her the world. “Be my wife, Rey, the mother of my children, and make me the happiest man in the Universe.” ✉️ The first snowfall in her new home abroad began like the fairy tales she had read so many times. A bright white untouched morning, heavy pine trees by the window and tall bushes along the pathways that made the landscape extend for miles and miles without discernment until it reached the edge of the forest. As the fire cracked in the fireplace in front of the canopy bed, Rey hummed a known lullaby to the baby latching at her nipple, quiet and content. She watched the tiny mouth quickly suck the milk out of her, bringing her a sensation of blissfulness she had never experienced before. The first thing she did when their baby girl was born on a dark and rainy Spring night was to pull down her nightgown and carefully guide the baby’s head to her chest, where it peacefully drank from her until she was barely awake. Despite the offers of providing her a wet nurse so she could shield herself from the pain and suffering breastfeeding carried, Rey knew that exchange with the baby was unique and the one thing she had a deepest desire to experience. Thankfully, her milk source was vast and enough to make sure their child did not need anything else during the first full year of her life. Now, as she enjoyed that moment alone with the six-month-old, waiting for her husband to bring breakfast in bed, Rey finally understood the unconditional love her mother had always told her about since she was adopted. She felt blessed to go through that adventure and share it with her husband, who had also become completely obsessed with the little girl. A knock on the heavy wooden door guided her eyesight up, and she smiled as Ben entered, carrying a tray with her morning tea, bread, a selection of fruits and cheese. Nothing but a nutritious start for her day. He sat by her side, set the tray by Rey’s feet as she crossed her legs up, retrieving the sleepy baby girl from her mother’s arms and carefully placing her at the crib by the side of the large marital bed. Rey delicately held the fine china in her hands and sipped from the earl grey while he shared the most recent news from their state and businesses, taking the opportunity to surround her in his arms and caress her belly. “I was informed by our staff this early morning that they’re halfway through repairing and upgrading the left wing of the house to accommodate your brand new library and our babies’ nursery.” Rey smiled and hummed in contentment, reaching for the tray for a slice of bread and munching on it before speaking. “You told them she’s staying with us until this baby is born, right?” She placed a hand over her belly to indicate whom she was referring to. Ben covered her palm with his and squeezed. His next words were careful and slow, the last few sentences a sharp whisper. “No, I did not, because I thought you might wanna reconsider it?” She did not even listen to him finish speaking before promptly shaking her head, the simple mention of it too much for her to deal with. “I’m not ready to be apart from her, Ben.” She confessed, watching in the corner of her eye as the baby girl slept quietly on the bassinet beside them. Her husband followed her gaze for a second before returning to focusing on her mother, who seemed distressed. “Rey, it’s just a few doors down the hallway.” He reminded her, gesturing west with a hand while the other gripped her knuckles that had been pushed into fists between her thighs. “Yes, but she is too tiny to be by herself.” She motioned as if to get up but Ben kindly held her in place. “She won’t be by herself, love.” He focused his attention on her, cradling her face in his large warm hands. It immediately gave her a calmness only he could bring nowadays. “You’re barely sleeping, Rey.” He pointed out, tracing the bags under her eyes with his thumbs. Now that he focused, really looking at the traces in his wife's face, she looked extremely fatigued. “If you would just let me take the nights and care for her, or let one of the maids do it -” “No, I can’t. Not yet.” She sighed a loud sob, sniffling and just waiting for the dam to break, like it has been doing a lot recently. “ Ok ?” She asked in a hoarse voice, Ben already nodding and holding her face between his hands, soothing her with words she could not exactly hear above the echoing in her ears. “Please, I need you to unders -” And before he could even interrupt her she was crying, fat heavy tears flowing down her cheeks like a waterfall. She felt so foolish . “Hey, shh, I do, Rey. I do.” The attempt in soothing her thankfully worked, and Rey repressed a sob as she leaned a head to his shoulder and was hugged tightly. He gave her a moment before guiding her back to the cushions and staring deep into her eyes. “Ok, fine, she stays here until you decide so … but you can’t blame me if the baby wakes up because her mother is being too loud.” She unsuspiciously contemplated his words and movements as he progressed to the foot of the bed where her legs rested, one ankle crossed over another now; and pulled them apart. Still, she only stared at him, curious and confused. His hands were firm on her skin, hot and demanding. “What do you mean, why would I be lou - ah, Ben!” She squeaked his name followed by a moan as his hands skillfully gathered the nightgown skirt up and his head delved between her legs, licking a long stripe in her folds. The baby shifted and turned, moaning in discontentment for a brief moment before returning to a peaceful sleep. Her husband looked at her with a cocked eyebrow as if confirming his own prediction and she could not avoid but laugh, which was precariously muffled but his mouth on hers. He drifted apart just slightly to speak again, in a much more serious voice. “Allow me to take her to my mother? God knows the woman is desperate to have her granddaughter to herself for a while.” And in a secretive hushed tone he added. “And God knows I’ve been waiting too long to fuck my wife on our own bed.” She blushed furiously, mind tracing a few months back when they had last properly laid together. “You know what happened the last time we let her stay the night with the baby, right?” A soft kiss to her lips. “Yes, I do recall that very well.” A gentle bite at the pink skin, wetting it with his tongue before tracing those kisses to her cheeks, neck and collarbone. “We made another one.” “Exactly.” She managed to voice, swallowing a moan as his mouth reached her nipples over the fabric. “And you know I want to make many, many more, love.” He spoke in a seductive tone, ghosting above the sensitive buttons that begged for his attention. But just like that his expression became serious again, like he hadn’t been teasing her just then. “But I also want you to rest, so please, let my parents help. Let us take care of the two of you. Let me take care of you.” Their eyes locked as he silently begged to be of assistance. To be there for them. For her. Once again she reminded herself she was not alone. As she considered it, she tried to push those guilty feelings away, and to focus on the best for her and their child. “Alright. Fine.” She huffed, folding her thighs up and shivering as his fingertips traced the inner part of her legs. She groaned at that, an urge to close her legs shut if it wasn’t for his firm hold around them. Her next few words were rushed. “But just for today. And they bring her to me for feedings.” He smirked against her skin, drifting those provocative hands up to spread her labia open. Rey held in a sharp breath, waiting, biting her lower lip while looking down to where he admired her. “I promise to let them know. But, first, may I finish what I started?” And before waiting for her full response, he was diving his head back between her legs and feasting on his favorite morning treat.