The Lady Is Daring

by Megan Frampton

  The mode of transportation is not important—take a carriage, a train, or walk. The important thing is to go.

  Lady Ida’s Tips for the Adventurous Lady Traveler

  “Up there,” Bennett said, turning back to Ida. She was walking just a few steps behind him, holding her skirts up, rain streaming down her face, her hair undone, entirely wet and sticking to her skin and her body.

  She had never looked more gorgeous.

  “Up where?” she said in her prickly hedgehog voice, ameliorated by the grin she shot his way.

  He would never get tired of her smile.

  “There’s a building up ahead. We should head that way. At the worst, it will be a roof.”

  “And at the best there will be a fire.” She sounded rapturous, and she quickened her pace to come alongside him.

  “And possibly a delicious stew. And tea. With lemon, of course,” he added.

  He heard her make a startled noise, and turned to her, hoping she hadn’t stepped on anything. But her face was delighted, and it was almost as though the sun was breaking through all this rain. Even though it was just her expression.

  “You remember how I take my tea,” she said in a wondering voice.

  “Of course I do. I remember all sorts of things.” He took her arm and walked even faster. Now that they were in sight of the building, he was feeling just how sodden he was. And he didn’t want her to catch cold or anything, given that she was so close to seeing her sister.

  “You like your tea with lemon. You get sore after riding in carriages for too long—you didn’t hide ours, by chance, did you?”

  She laughed.

  “You like cheese. You love your sisters. Your parents do not understand you. You don’t like white gowns. You are adventurous, and intelligent, and fierce, and surprisingly funny.”

  “Funny?”

  “Yes, you have a sharp sense of humor. Even if you yourself don’t realize it.” But I do, Bennett thought, and that’s one of the many reasons I love you.

  He continued. “You don’t value yourself enough as a kind human being. I know you’re not out here, doing what we’re doing, because you are too stubborn to allow your sister to live her own life. You are worried for her, even if you hide it.”

  “Oh.” Her voice sounded small, and he didn’t think it was just because she was drenched.

  He waited. Nothing else from his hedgehog. And, yes, she was his hedgehog now. At least in his thoughts.

  They walked quickly, Bennett thinking he might never feel dry again. And then they were at the door to what appeared to be a small cottage, a few broken windows and a general air of neglect indicating there would be neither fire nor stew.

  At least there seemed to be a roof.

  Bennett pushed on the door, finding it locked, then leaned into it with his shoulder, pushing against the wood.

  It opened, sending him flying into the room, which smelled musty, but at least appeared to be dry.

  She came in after, shutting the door behind them.

  “I don’t think we’ll need to ask permission,” she said softly.

  Bennett glanced around the clearly deserted abode. A few broken chairs lay on their sides next to a large wooden table, while in the corner he could see a pile of what appeared to be old blankets.

  “I wonder why the people who lived here left,” he said, going to the corner to pick up the topmost blanket.

  It actually wasn’t a blanket, as it turned out, but a coat that had apparently been feasted on by moths, judging by the holes. Underneath that, however, was a blanket, one that had some hay stuck to it and had clearly been used in a stable. But thankfully was relatively intact, so the moths hadn’t gotten to it.

  Bennett dragged it out from the pile and laid it on the floor, gesturing to Ida. “We will at least be able to rest a bit. Even if we never are able to dry off,” he added, wiping drops of rain away from his face. She stood in the middle of the room, a puddle forming rapidly at her feet.

  “You should get out of those wet clothes,” Bennett said, trying to sound as neutral as possible. Because of course he wanted to see her naked, but he didn’t want her to think he was saying that just because he wanted to see her naked.

  He also didn’t want her to get ill or melt away.

  Although the naked part was the one he was thinking the most about.

  “You should too,” she replied, raising an eyebrow toward him.

  “I should.” He took hold of the edge of his sleeve and began to draw it up his arm. “I will.”

  Her eyes widened. “Right here? Now?”

  As though she hadn’t seen him unclothed the night before. Reminding him that even though she was the redoubtable Ida, she was still a young lady who was somewhat innocent.

  Albeit less innocent than before they’d come on this journey.

  “It is your suggestion,” Bennett said, taking his jacket off and folding it before placing it on the wooden table. He yanked his shirt from his trousers and drew the bottom of it up so he could remove it over his head.

  He already felt much better, even if it was cold in the cabin.

  And he was already thinking of ways he could warm up. And of course she would need warming too.

  He bent down to remove first one boot, then the other, wiggling his toes on the floor.

  And then his hands went to his trousers, and he began to undo them, only to pause as he saw what she was doing.

  She’d shaken her hair out, and it hung down around her face, hiding most of her features. Her hands were at the back of her gown, and she was wriggling as though to unbutton herself. She was worrying her mouth with her teeth, and he felt his cock react as he thought about her putting that mouth on him—licking his nipples, taking his cock between her lips.

  Dragging her fingernails over him as she sucked.

  “Can you help me?” she asked in a huskier voice than usual. His hedgehog also seemed to be getting ideas.

  “I can help you with so many things,” he replied, smiling in satisfaction to himself at her intake of breath. He strode toward her as she presented her back, and he undid her buttons swiftly, shoving her gown down her arms so it fell in a crumpled sodden heap to the ground.

  Leaving her in only a shift that was damp, clinging to her magnificently rounded arse.

  She bent over to pick up the gown and shake it out, meaning she was leaning over in front of him.

  God. He was speechless.

  She stood and placed the gown on the pile of blankets.

  He cupped the globes of her arse in his hands, lowering his mouth to her neck. Biting her gently at her nape as he kneaded the soft flesh. “Are you warming up?”

  She pushed back against him, tilting her head up to allow him better access to her neck. Placing her hands on his thighs and gripping hard.

  His cock throbbed, and he turned her in his arms, capturing her mouth in a fiercely possessive kiss, wrapping his arms around her body and pulling her against him so he could feel the soft push of her breasts on his bare skin.

  He broke the kiss and pulled her shift up, his fingertips skating on her skin as he drew the garment up and over her head.

  And now she was entirely and gloriously naked.

  “I’m not warm enough,” she said, putting her palm on his chest. Then she slid her fingers to the waistband of his trousers, hooking her fingers between his skin and the fabric, beginning to tug them down, a wicked smile on her lips.

  He wanted to see that smile every day for the rest of his life.

  But he couldn’t think about that now. Not when he knew that wasn’t what she wanted, even though she wanted him, and this, right now.

  He would take what she wanted to give, and wouldn’t press her.

  He bent to take his trousers off, tossing them onto the table on top of his jacket. Standing in his smallclothes, his cock jutting out, tenting the fabric.

  She arched a brow as she regarded him there. Frankly, directly, as was her glorious Ida way.r />
  “That is quite large,” she said, her tone speculative. Her hands went to her breasts, and she rubbed her nipples, licking her lips as she did so.

  “You said you wished you could have seen me do this,” she added, sliding one hand down her stomach to the thatch of curls below. His breath caught, and he couldn’t have stopped looking if several hundred elephants had come stampeding into the room.

  He saw her fingers slide over her nub, and he advanced forward, placing his hand on top of hers.

  “I’d like to help,” he said in a low rumble. His voice was almost unrecognizable to himself; he had never sounded this raw and needy. But of course he did with her. She made him raw and needy, made him see that what he wanted, and what he deserved, were so much more than what he had.

  Even if what he wanted the most wouldn’t be possible.

  “We should take care of this too,” she replied, tilting her head up as she reached to take his cock in her hand. Sliding her palm up and down as she’d done the previous night.

  She was clearly a fast learner. Not that he didn’t know that already.

  “I’m not sure I can stand if you’re going to continue this,” he said in a ragged tone.

  She smiled, and lowered herself down to lie on the blanket, wriggling as she got comfortable. And then she raised her outstretched arms to him, beckoning him to her.

  He complied, situating himself between her legs. Looking at her, at that warm, soft, wet place which was where he most wanted to be.

  He gripped her thighs and kissed the juncture where her leg met her body. She shifted, and he slid his mouth to there, licking her right on that most sensitive nub.

  “Oh,” she gasped in surprise.

  He wrapped his hands around her legs and began to lick and suck her rhythmically, noting how she reacted, learning from her body the way he could pleasure her the best.

  Her hands were in his hair, gripping his head tightly, her moans a luscious, passionate accompaniment.

  “Oh, God,” she cried as she came on his tongue, arching her back.

  He licked her softly, then moved up her body, holding her waist and positioning her so they were lying face-to-face.

  Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were darkened in passion. Had he thought her the most beautiful outside in the rain? No, now was when she was the most beautiful—proudly naked, sexually satisfied, a smile playing about her lips.

  “Take me,” she said, reaching up to place her finger on his mouth, sliding her fingertip over his lips. He opened and sucked her finger inside, licking her as he had just licked her there.

  “Mmm,” she said, biting her lip. “I didn’t know all these possibilities existed. There’s so much more I can learn.”

  He wanted to laugh at just how typically Ida that statement was—she wasn’t scared by the unknown, she wanted to learn and know more. Focused on the educational aspects of it all. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she knew everything. Which meant—

  He removed her finger from his mouth. “Take me?” he repeated, his hand tightening its grip on her hip. “Do you mean—?”

  “Yes,” she said before he could finish. “I want to know what it feels like. What all of it feels like. Here and now. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to warm up, can you?” And as she said that, she put her hand firmly on his cock and squeezed, making him unable to speak.

  “Fuck, Ida,” he said, his teeth gritted.

  “That is what I want, yes.” Her voice was ragged. “I want you to fuck me.”

  He closed his eyes, almost unable to bear hearing the words—those blunt sexual words—coming from his Ida.

  “I want you to be as educated as possible,” he replied as he opened his eyes to look at her, his eyes moving from her face to her neck to her glorious breasts to where her hand was stroking him.

  “So educational,” she said in a wry tone. “I am so glad you didn’t ask if I knew what I was doing,” she said, shifting to her back. “Because you know me, you know I know what I am doing.”

  “I do know you, Ida.” I do love you. “I would never argue with a woman whose mind is so sharp, whose intelligence is unmatched by anybody I have ever met.”

  She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was low and sincere. “Nobody has ever thought of me that way. For that, for everything, I am grateful.”

  “Don’t thank me until I’ve made you climax again,” he said, moving his hand to her breast, cupping it in his palm.

  “Oh, I like that,” she said as he took her nipple between two fingers, pinching just a bit.

  “I thought you would,” he said as he moved, placing himself between her legs, his cock brushing her inner thigh.

  “I liked when you did that—that,” she said, gesturing downward.

  “When I licked your sweet cunny? When I made you come on my tongue? You liked that?”

  “Oh, yes,” she moaned. “Just like I know I will like it when you fuck me. When you put your manshaft inside.”

  “Manshaft?” he said, stifling a laugh. “Please don’t call it that ever again. It’s my penis, or my cock. Try again.”

  “I want you to fuck me with your cock,” she said, meeting his gaze.

  He almost couldn’t breathe, never mind speak.

  But he could do something, and that was to drag his cock over her nub, making her squirm. “Are you certain, Ida?”

  “Yes, I am entirely certain. I want to know.”

  He didn’t wait for her to end her sentence before beginning to slide his penis inside her, going slowly even though it was agony not to just thrust inside.

  She bit her lip, her face showing discomfort, and he paused, gritting his teeth.

  “It’s fine, it just hurts a little.” She put her hands on his arse and pulled his body closer to hers, making his cock push inside more.

  “Oh,” she said, her body relaxing as he pushed all the way in, finding her tight and warm and wet.

  Perfect.

  “That feels good,” she said, sounding surprised.

  “I can make you feel better. Again,” he added with a grin. He began to move inside her, bracing himself on his arms. Her legs were wrapped around his, and her hands were still on his arse, clutching him as he moved in and out, trying to gauge what angle and rhythm would please her the most.

  He could tell he was doing something right when she bit her lip, her expression and her grip on him tightening.

  “Are you ready to come again, Ida?” he asked.

  Are you ready to come again?

  She’d barely been ready the first time. She hadn’t been prepared for how incredible it would feel, even though she had experienced the same thing the night before under his hand. But his doing it with his mouth felt so intimate, so passionate, so instinctual.

  Her whole body felt as though it were lit from inside, and she wanted more, even though she didn’t know if she could handle more.

  The words they’d spoken ignited her also—frankly, shockingly crude and so, so persuasive.

  Fuck me, she’d said, and she meant it. She liked the harsh click of the “k” in “Fuck,” the way she commanded him. It felt empowering.

  He was pushing his cock in and out of her, his hair falling over his forehead, his expression one of concentration.

  It was endearing, how intent he was on her pleasure. As though he knew how little she’d been taken care of in her life. Not just in this way, of course, because obviously he knew this was her first time. But in general.

  He knew how she took her tea. He was watching to see what touch she preferred, and he changed his actions to accommodate that.

  He was so protective, and charming, and it seemed he liked to argue with her.

  But right now, he was fucking her, and that was what was most important. The movement, the pace, the way his body touched that sensitive spot he’d been kissing just moments ago.

  Incredibly, she felt the pressure building again. She hadn’t thought it would, not with havin
g happened so recently. But there it was, the want, the need to topple over that cliff all over again, this time with him buried inside her.

  “Do you like me inside you, Ida?” he murmured, his hand going between them to touch her there, lighting her up even more.

  “I love it,” she replied, raking her nails over his arse, running them up his back as he continued to move.

  I love you.

  Dear lord, she did, didn’t she? Oh no. She could not consider all that that meant, not with him naked on top of her, not with her pleasure building and growing. Not when she knew that this was likely to be the first and last time she could be with him like this.

  She shoved that thought away in a back part of her brain and slammed the door behind it, instead focusing on how she felt. Which was wonderful.

  He shifted position, angling his body another way, hitting that spot even more directly, and she heard herself moan, closing her eyes as he continued moving forcefully, relentlessly driving her to her climax.

  And then—“Aah,” she said, everything converging together, her whole body alive with the shivers running through it.

  “God, you’re gorgeous when you’re coming,” he said, slowing his movements. She opened her eyes to see him gazing at her face with a raw hungered expression.

  “What about you?” she asked, moving her hips. He groaned, and thrust faster. His face was so concentrated, so intense, and she wanted to see how he would look when he felt the same thing she had. “Don’t stop,” she said, as though there was the slightest chance he would.

  Although he would have if she had told him to. She knew that.

  “God, Ida,” he said, his movements getting faster, the force of his thrusts pushing her up the floor.

  She held onto him, feeling her whole body jiggle as their bodies moved together, the muscles of his arms standing out as he tensed.

  And then he froze, pulling out and spilling his seed all over her stomach.

  He was splendid.

  And damn it, she loved him.

  Chapter 14

  Sometimes there are no words for the adventure.

  Lady Ida’s Tips for the Adventurous Lady Traveler