Darkness washed over me, cold covered every inch of me, and I struggled to breathe. Nothing moved. Paralyzed. Blind. Deaf. So very cold.
I sat straight up, sucking in great lungfuls of air as I stared into the darkness.
Benedict snorted awake next to me, palm on my thigh. "Babe? What's wrong?"
My heart pounded as I stared into the dim surroundings. His bed. In his bedroom. In his apartment. Safe. My chest heaved and I fought to slow my breathing. It felt so real. I'd been paralyzed, lost in that dark water with not even a shred of hope to drag me to the surface.
"I dreamed I was — back there," I whispered, shivering.
"It's okay." His arm slid around my waist and dragged me down next to him so he could spoon me close. He kissed the back of my neck. "You're safe."
I almost didn't dare blink.
Benedict stroked from my waist and down my hip to my thigh, over and over, then his hand began to wander elsewhere. A delicious heat ignited in my stomach and drove away some of the fear and ice weighing me down. I rolled so I could face him and plant my lips on his.
He laughed, then kissed me back until I lay breathless half-under him. He traced shapes on my clavicle, nuzzling behind my ear. "I want to give you another shower. Make you smell like me even more."
I kissed his jaw and the corner of his mouth, my hands more bold on his sides. Not quite desperate but almost. I touched his stomach and let my palm slide down and down until I found his hard length standing between us.
Benedict sucked in a breath and caught my shoulders, holding me back for a moment. "Are you sure you're ready, Eloise? You just came back this morning and —"
"I'm still cold," I said. I stroked his velvety cock and pulled a groan from him as well. "I want to be warm everywhere, Benedict. Inside and out. Warm me up. Please."
He rumbled in his chest and grabbed my hips, kneading my butt until I arched my back and gripped his hair. His mouth left a searing trail to my breasts, drawing on my nipples until I cried out and tried to pull him closer, pushing my hips at him. I wanted him inside me, moving on top of me. Driving me towards that cliff of pleasure that would fix everything.
"Tell me what you want," Benedict said as he knelt over me, all dark and mysterious in the shadows of his bedroom. He gripped my thighs and his eyes devoured every inch of me until I flushed and squirmed under his survey.
"I want you to hold me," I said. I caught his face and dragged his lips to mine, then wrapped my legs around his hips. "Make me feel again."
The grumble turned into a purr. He lay on his side and drew my leg over his hip, murmuring, "Nice and easy, baby," as the blunt head of his cock slid against my channel.
I gasped again and held still as he pressed forward, the thick length parting me in an inevitable push. My head fell back on the pillow and stars sparked in my vision. Benedict's hand slid into my hair and drew my head to his shoulder, keeping me close, and he began to rock his hips to mine. I shivered and shook in his arms with the gentle thrusts, the crush of my breasts against his chest, the nipping at my shoulder.
Heat traveled from my core to every part of me, thawing the rest of the darkness that lurked inside me, and I held on to him desperately as I tried to move faster. But he kept up the gentle, steady rocking until I clawed at his back and my muscles clamped down on his invading cock. I moaned, pressing my face against his neck, and he grumbled in pleasure.
Sweat covered us both and made a slick friction where our bodies met. I sighed and tensed against him as he continued his slow torment, rocking into me as he teased my sides and kissed my throat and loved every inch of me. Everywhere he touched me, I burned with fierce desire. He ignited strength in me, until I felt powerful and invincible and protected. Loved.
I cried out as another wave of ecstasy rolled over me and Benedict groaned, his movements short and sharp and deep as he found his own pleasure. The hot rush of his climax filled me as well and I clung to him, hitching my leg higher on his hip as I tried to pull him deeper, keep his stomach pressed to mine.
Benedict sighed as he kissed a trail from my shoulder to my lips, stroking my hip in appreciation. "I love you, Eloise."
"I love you," I said to his throat, even as fatigue rolled over me and I wanted to sleep.
"Are you warm enough?"
It sounded like he was laughing at me, but I didn't care. I nodded and stretched. "Good job, Bennie."
"Don't ever call me Bennie," he murmured, kissing my forehead. He rolled to his back but took me with him, until I sprawled across his chest. The purr vibrated through me and I stretched. He traced the path of my backbone from my shoulders to my butt over and over, as if he petted me, and I settled more closely against his body.
Benedict pulled the sheets and comforter up over us but kept me cradled on his chest so he could wrap his arms around me. I set my teeth to his earlobe and said very quietly, "I'll call you whatever I want, Bennie."
His smile curved against my cheek and I smiled back. He patted my butt — not quite a spank, but a harbinger of good times to come. "For now, you naughty girl."
I dozed. The rhythm of his heart and the even rise and fall of his chest lulled me. But when I dreamed and thought I might be paralyzed, the sound of his heart drew me back to safety. To warmth. To love.