Free A Question of Class by Julia Tagan Page A

“No.”
    She grabbed a handful of his hair and made him look at her. He drew his fingertip around her nipple, making her gasp with longing, before taking the nub between his finger and thumb. She arched her back so he could reach her breast with his mouth. It was a kind of exquisite pain, as he teased her and sucked the nipple until it became hard and tight. He pulled back and covered her entire breast with his hand.
    “You’re beautiful.”
    Benjamin’s quiet strength made her want to possess him, and be possessed by him. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and it drove her crazy and intrigued her. She wanted to know him, and be touched by him. She’d never felt this with Morris. And certainly never with Percy, who had lunged at her with a surprising lack of grace.
    But this was a sweet anticipation. Catherine moved against his body. She hated having so many layers of skirts between them, and wished dearly she could lie down and feel nothing but his skin against her own.
    Benjamin’s hardness beneath his breeches pressed against her. She touched it with her hand and he groaned in response. She pushed her pelvis into his. His body was strong and muscular and she grabbed his shoulders. The pleasure was building up. He placed his hands on her hips and wet his lips.
    The carriage came to a stop. She scrambled off Benjamin and landed with a thud on the seat beside him, straightening her dress as the footman opened the door of the carriage.
    “This way, my lady,” said the footman, holding out his hand.
    Catherine glanced over at Benjamin. “We’re here.”
    In response, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Catherine desperately wanted to climb on top of him again. Instead, she allowed herself to be led out of the carriage and up the townhouse stairs, her legs quaking with desire.
    * * * *
    Benjamin sat for a moment in the carriage, recovering. Catherine was not only beautiful, but she was also impulsive. There was something about her eyes and manner that was different from any other woman he’d met. She didn’t sit back and let the world pass by and admire her. Instead, she took an active role in her own life, whatever mess she made of it. He wondered how she’d ever ended up with a man like Delcour. And where she came from.
    He’d been suppressing his attraction to her since the evening they’d first met, and it had built up in a dangerous way. When Catherine had set upon him with anger in the carriage, he hadn’t been able to help his reaction to her proximity and her passion, and the fact he couldn’t control himself shocked him to the core.
    Benjamin walked in the front door. The day’s mail lay in a heap on the rug, and Catherine and Mrs. Daggett were at each other’s throats. Catherine held a letter in her hand.
    “Why would you hide this from me?” Her hand was shaking.
    “I was only acting on Mr. Delcour’s orders,” said Mrs. Daggett. “He told me to pass any of your correspondence on to him.”
    “But how could you?” Catherine asked. “Were there more?” She advanced toward Mrs. Daggett, and Benjamin stepped in front of her.
    “I’m sure Mrs. Daggett meant no harm. As she said, she was only following orders.”
    Catherine stared at him as if he had spoken in tongues. “You have no idea.” She turned and ran up the stairs to her room.
    Benjamin helped Mrs. Daggett pick up the rest of the mail. “I assume it was from Percy Bonneville?” he asked.
    Mrs. Daggett didn’t answer for a moment. “Not exactly.”
    She left before he could inquire further. Of course, it wouldn’t surprise him if Catherine had more than one paramour. Delcour hinted at it during their first meeting. Benjamin should’ve taken the letter from Catherine there and then, but he was still reeling from the carriage ride, and with Mrs. Daggett watching, he hadn’t been able to make any kind of demand of Catherine. He had to remember he was dealing with a woman who was not to be trusted. Even though