Tags: Post-Canon, Lake, Fluff, Banter, Kissing, Sophie POV
Summary: Benedict steals Sophie away at My Cottage for some alone time
The knock on her door didn’t wake Sophie—a lifetime of early mornings making it impossible to sleep in, even in this ridiculously comfortable bed—but it did surprise her. Who could possibly need her attention this early in the morning, and so urgently, from the sound of their knocks?
The answer, naturally, was Benedict, which wasn’t at all surprising, except the part where he was up and about so early in the morning.
“Get dressed,” he instructed in that charmingly insistent way of his. “I’ll be right back.” And then he was gone.
“Good morning to you too,” Sophie muttered to herself with bemusement, closing the door and proceeding to get dressed. There was no reason not to, and whatever Benedict was up to, well, she might as well be dressed appropriately.
Sure enough, moments after she had gotten herself into a blue dress and a wrap, there was another knock on the door. Once again she did not have the chance to utter a greeting before Benedict was taking her hand and pulling her along the hallway.
“Shh, we don’t want anyone to hear us. Trust me?”
Benedict shot her a warm grin. Sophie’s stomach fluttered. That grin of his was no less effective now that they were engaged. It was even more appealing, now that she didn’t have to fight against the pull of him, not that she’d ever had much luck with that. But it felt wonderful to surrender to her feelings, to allow herself to fall, knowing he would catch her.
They quickly, but quietly, made their way along the hall, down the stairs and out of the house. It was still dark out, the sun barely starting to rise.
“Now will you tell me what we’re doing?” She asked with a laugh, stopping to look at Benedict.
“We’re running away together, of course.” The mischief in his expression told Sophie he was being playful, not attempting to race off to Gretna Green to elope. Which was good, because despite her excitement to be married, and her willingness to go anywhere with Benedict, she knew exactly where she wanted to get married. Right here, at My Cottage, where she’d first fallen deeply in love with Benedict, the place where she’d found her home, surrounded by all the people who loved and supported them.
But an adventure? Well, she was up for one of those.
“Somewhere special,” Benedict said with a wink, and Sophie knew exactly where. “Come on, before anyone comes along and tries to protect your virtue.”
“A little late for that.”
Benedict laughed. “Unfortunately I don’t think informing anyone of that fact will have the desired result.” He pulled at her hand once more and Sophie ran with him, feeling so utterly free.
They didn’t stop running until they made it to the lakeside, the exact spot where she’d watched him swim from behind a tree. Not on purpose, mind you, no matter what Benedict said, but could anyone blame her for being transfixed? The powerful way he cut through the water was breathtaking, as was the fact that he came out of the water entirely naked.
Sophie was similarly breathless from their run, and then for an entirely different reason when Benedict pulled her into a kiss. It was reminiscent of their last kiss in this very spot, but instead of the rush of an almost first kiss, it was the desperate desire of coming back together after far too long.
A week could be considered a long time, could it not? That was how long it had been since they’d had any privacy to kiss like this. There was always someone around to prevent anything more affectionate than hand holding, and they’d been so busy they’d had no chance of sneaking away. Sophie had missed it dearly, Benedict’s body pressed to hers, his hands touching her, holding her, his soft lips kissing her so greedily. Sophie tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him down and lifting up, needing to be closer, to eliminate any space between them.
Finally needing air, they pulled apart, their foreheads coming to rest against each other. For several moments they simply breathed, everything in Sophie settling. A tightness she hadn’t realised she had been feeling unwound now that they had this moment to just exist together.
“I needed that,” Benedict whispered, lifting his head. “I haven’t been able to get a single moment alone with you since we got here. Surrounded by nosy people who need to mind their own business.”
“Your family, you mean?” Sophie asked, brows raised, laughing.
“Yes! When will they leave?”
“After the wedding, I believe.”
Benedict groaned, dropping his head on her shoulder dramatically. “That’s an eternity.”
“As I said. Four weeks until we’re alone, until we’re married and I can kiss you anytime I want.”
“I know,” Sophie sighed, stroking her hand through his hair. He was being over dramatic and pouty, and it would make her laugh, except for the part where she felt entirely the same way.
If one week felt too long, four weeks was truly painful.
“I miss having you in my bed,” Benedict said when he lifted his head.
Sophie blushed, remembering their naked bodies intertwined, Benedict moving inside her so deeply, slow and measured and then faster and harder as their pleasure spiraled higher and higher—
“To sleep, but I miss that too,” Benedict grinned slyly. “Strange how keenly I feel your absence there when it’s occurred so infrequently.”
“I feel it, too. I miss having your arms around me like I know you’re supposed to be there.”
Benedict sighed. “Soon, Sophie. We’ll get through this hideous month and then we’ll never spend a night apart.”
Sophie giggled. While she could envision the possibility of a time where they had to spend a night apart, she would never choose that either.
“But for now, we have our own little place where no one will bother us for oh, a few hours. If we’re very lucky.”
Sophie looked around at the lake, the lush verdant bank, the riot of colours in the sky, and most importantly, back at Benedict’s smiling, handsome face. “It’s perfect.”
“I thought so.” Benedict’s smile became teasing. “We can even go for a swim after it warms up a little. Or, if you prefer, I can swim and you can watch, I know how much you like that.”
“How did I know you could not resist bringing that up? It was an accident, I did not know you would be here.”
“Mmmm,” Benedict hummed. “But you can admit it now, Sophie, you stayed because you liked what you saw.”
“Why don’t you admit that you wanted me to like it?”
“Oh, I am happy to admit that. Why else do you think I asked you to fetch my shirt for me?”
Sophie shook her head, but was unable to entirely suppress the grin that was determined to break though her reproachful expression. “You were a wicked, diabolical tease.”
Benedict laughed. “And you were so adorably flustered. And lovely. It was like lightning striking twice, the way I felt about you. I couldn’t resist kissing you, even if I should have.”
“Neither could I. A bit of a problem of ours, wouldn’t you say?”
“Not anymore,” he said against her lips, before their mouths joined once more, this time in a series of long and languorous kisses.
Eventually they settled on the grass, Sophie leaning back against Benedict’s chest as they watched the sun rise over the lake. They talked about everything and nothing, and basked in the comfortable silence of two people who didn’t need to speak to feel connected.
After the sun was high in the sky, Benedict did strip off his clothes—Sophie watching unabashedly—before diving in the lake for a swim.
“Are you sure you have no desire to join me?”
“Quite sure. I’m content to watch, and to warm you up when you return.”
Benedict’s eyes flared, and he swam away at a startling speed, splashing Sophie in the process.
His laughter could be heard even as he got further away, and Sophie grinned. She was so, so happy.
