warning: mature content: oral sex,
read at your own discretion

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The sun was high in the sky and a soft breeze in the air. The grass beneath her bare feet felt soft as she stood basking it all in. Her usually curled hair flowed in it's natural waves, the strands billowing against her back as they moved with the wind. As she shut her eyes, her ears tuned in and heightened their sense. She could hear birds chirping in the trees around her, soft buzzing as bees flew around the pink rose bushes. A smile graced her face as she stood breathing in the fresh air, feeling the serenity of the nature wash over her.  A set of hands gripping her waist softly from behind startled her. Her eyes flew open but the owner of the hands kept her in place, not letting her turn to see who they belonged to.

"Of all the beauty in your garden, it still pales in comparison to yours." His voice was quiet but husky as he bent to whisper in her ear. She sucked in a quick breath of surprise at feeling him so close. He pulled her back into his chest and she placed her hands over his to steady herself. "Careful there." He turned her in his arms and she saw a grin on his usual stoic face, his blue eyes glimmering in amusement. His eyes bore into hers, neither of them saying a word. "So beautiful." He reached a hand up to caress her face, his palm cupping her cheek. She leaned into his touch, welcoming his hold.

"Benjamin I-"

He interrupted her. "We shall have plenty of time for talking much later. For now, I simply wish to occupy our alone time in other ways." The smirk he gave her shook her to her core. A wave of desire flowed through her. He grasped her hips and in one swift move, he had her laid on the grass, her mouth letting out a squeal of surprise. He smirked at her reaction as he however his body over hers. "Keep making more of those sounds and I will not be able to control myself." She didn't know how to respond, not that he'd let her. He bent forward and peppered soft kisses against her neck, her eyes fluttering shut at his bold moves. His lips trailed over her chest, atop the part of her breast her dress didn't cover.

She felt his tongue dip into the valley between her breasts as he hitched one of her legs around his waist, his hand pushing her dress to her waist. "Say you're mine Aurora. Say those words and I'll give you pleasure like you've never had before."

"I'm yours Benjamin." She gasped out as his teeth nicked her skin, biting her fleshy breast softly.

"Forever." He moved his body away from hers, positioning himself between her open legs. "Breathtaking." He muttered as his gaze swept over her panting body. She aches for his touch, he knew, and he was going to give her everything she could dream of. He bent his head to kiss at the soft skin on the inside of her thigh, peppering kisses as his mouth reached where she aches for him the most. He pushed her skirt up to reveal her bare core, no slip or fabric hiding her from him. Had he known she wore nothing under her dress he would've devoured her much earlier in his day. Flashes of their day spent together raced through his mind, the public outings he endured and the realization that she was bare for him that whole time. That thought made him growl as he finally gave in to her and put his mouth where she wanted him, needed him.

"Ben!" She gasped as his tongue lapped at her, his lips sucking her. She moaned and gripped onto his hair, pushing his head into her, moving her hips against him as she sought her release. "Oh, Ben!" Her moans got louder as his fingers came into play. She felt one enter her before two more were quickly joining. She tried to hold back her sounds but he made it nearly impossible as his lips sucked her clit and his fingers pumped into her. She let out a whimper as his fingers and mouth left her but she wasn't unsatisfied for long. He flipped them over and forced her down onto his face, his tongue darting inside her as she gasped and rocked against him.

His nose bumped at her clit as she rocked and the new position was one she was loving easily. She moved her dress aside and her blue eyes met his. His stare was heated as she gasped and moaned above him. His hands grasped onto her backside, squeezing the fleshy skin in his big hands. She felt his hands pull her cheeks apart and the tip of his finger rub against her puckered hole. The new sensation brought a wave of euphoria over her and she moaned loudly as she felt her orgasm happen. Her hips slowed as she threw her head back and —

The sound of knocking startled her awake. She gasped as she sat up in her bed and glanced around the room. She groaned in disappointment as she flopped onto her back. There was still a knocking at her door and she instantly hated whoever it was. "Come in!" She shouted. The person didn't hesitate to push open the door, stomping into the room.

"I have been knocking for ten minutes!" Of course it was Jasper, she thought. She sat up and gave him her best glare as he stood there with his hands on his hips.

"What do you want?"

"There's no need to be so pissy with me." He glared back at her.

"What is it you need Jasper?" She softened her glare and sighed.

"Father says your suitors are to arrive soon. That it is time for you to awaken." He walked to her curtains and shoved them aside, quickly blinking as the bright sunlight blinded him.

"Where is Stella?" Aurora left her bed and helped her brother push the curtains back on her other window. He frowned slightly as he stared at the white fabric.

"Your room is very bland." He commented. The blonde rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers in his face. "Right. Stella is out for the day so I've been tasked to help you."

"You can barely dress yourself and Father wants you to help me?" She quirked an eyebrow as he gasped, clearly offended. "Right, no thank you. I shall be fine to do it on my own." She nudged him towards the door and he took the hint. "Tell him I will be down as soon as I'm ready."

"Can I at least lie and say I tried my hardest to get you to agree?" He whined.

"Sure. Tell him whatever you wish to." She nodded and closed the door before he could say anything more. She sagged against in relief. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and relive her dream but she knew she couldn't. She had to dress and ready for the day. "If only it were real."

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It was only an hour later that the blonde girl was wishing for the day to finally end. She wanted nothing more than to sit out in her garden and read or sit with her father and talk with him, do anything other than what she was doing. She knew with Daphne's newfound relationship with the Duke that suitors would either flock to her or follow after Daphne still but she hadn't imagined just how many men Daphne had lined up at her doors daily, but sitting in her family's drawing room as she awaited the masses, she was beginning to get an idea.

"Just how many are out there?" She eyed Jasper closely as he peered through the drawing room window that overlooked their front walkway.

"Sister, I fear you may be stuck here all day." He frowned apologetically and she merely smiled slightly, disturbed by the idea of that many men hoping for a moment with her.

"Surely they know I am not the only eligible woman in this city. Why must they all be here and not with Cressida or even Penelope?" She sighed and slouched. Her gloved fingers picked at the fabric of the lavender dress she wore, trying to calm herself. From the chair across from her, Jedidiah gave his daughter what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"You will be fine my dear. Your brother and I will be with you until the last man makes his leave. And if they hang about too long, Bailey will take pride in giving them the boot." She gave a quiet giggle at his words and straightened her posture as the double doors opened.

"Presenting -"

"No need for an announcement, they know who I am." Aurora stood to her feet as the curly haired and blue eyed man strode in the room with his famed quiet confidence.

"Benjamin? Why are you here?" He waited for Bailey to leave and shut the doors before he stepped closer to her and produced a single pink gardenia flower.

"For you, Miss Hanford." She gave him a confused look at the formality but smiled brightly as she accepted his gift. "May we sit?" She nodded and gestured to the couch. While Benjamin busied himself with moving, she turned and gave her father a wide and hopeful smile, she would hate herself if she was wrong, but she hoped he was there because he returned her silent feelings.

"Thank you for the flower Lord Bridgerton. May I ask for the significance of it?" She brought the flower to her nose and sniffed it, the sweet scent filling her nose.

"I shall tell you later." He replied in his usual hushed tone. "And to answer your earlier question, I am here for you Aurora."

She sucked in a breath. "You are?"

"I am." He replied simply. "I apologize for having you wait so long but I am here. You must know I am not very good with words but my intentions towards you are true Aurora. You have my heart and if I have to sit here with you all day and glare at every man who believes he has a slimmer of a chance, I will."

"You can't scare away every man who shows up at my door!" She grinned.

"I can damn well try." He kept his tone quiet as he leaned closer to her. "You have no idea of the grip you have on me Hanford and I'll be damned if you fall in love with someone who isn't me." His serious tone and the silence in the room was deafening. She wasn't given a chance to respond as Bailey strode into the room and announced her first visitor.

She was aware of Benjamin's eyes on her while he switched seats and occupied the chair beside her father. Her visitor, a Lord Franklin, sat beside her and began to chat about himself but it was the man with the steely blue eyes that had her attention. One leg was bent at the knee and rested on the other while he clasped his hands in his lap and paid close attention to the man beside her, his ever-present glare fixated on him. To Aurora, the lord seemed like a nice enough man but she knew he could never be what Benjamin was to her.

It was proving to be a long day and the announcement of the man she temporarily shared a home with, was about to make it even longer. With his usual confidence and humor, Oliver strode inside the room, offering his dimpled smile and a bouquets of lilies to her. She hadn't seen much of the man in the two weeks he'd been with them and she was beginning to think he had left suddenly but hadn't. His massive stature took up most of the small couch they shared and she tried to engage in his conversation and ignore the heated stare from across the room.

"I don't believe your friend is fond of me." Olly leaned closer to her as he spoke quietly. Aurora glanced towards Benjamin and saw his eyes darken at the sight of them close together. She subtly moved away from Oliver and gave him a kind smile.

"He's merely protective is all." She assured him. It was a lie but it was also the truth. "I haven't seen you much of late, what have you been doing with your time here?"

The man quickly lost his smile and sighed softly. "I have not been truthful with you lass." Noticing his sorrowed look, she placed her gloved hand over his and tried to offer some comfort to him.

"What is it Olly? You can tell me."

The man sighed before meeting her eye and answering. "My affections are with another." Before she could ask who, his eyes darted to a figure by the window and her eyes widened when she realized who still stood there. A smile instantly adorned her face as he sighed in relief. She wanted to scream and shout her glee but she knew her father was still slightly oblivious to the path her brother had chosen and did not wish to out him before he was ready.

"I see." She cleared her throat. "Then I must confess, mine are as well." Her eyes drifted to Benjamin and Oliver grinned as he understood who she meant.

"It seems we both have been keeping something secret." He chuckled. She giggled and it seemed to cause a snap within Benjamin as he suddenly stood and voiced his thoughts.

"I believe that is enough now." His muscled arms crossed over his chest and Aurora was quickly reminded of her dream. A blush made its way to her cheeks and Benjamin's eyes narrowed at the sight. Oliver took his disgruntled tone in stride and simply smiled at him. He bowed to Aurora and gave her a sly wink before moving to pass Benjamin.

"Fear not friend, she is all yours." He mumbled to him before he finally made his way out of the room.

"She forever will be." Benjamin muttered to himself as he watched Bailey bring in another man and Aurora plaster the same polite smile she gave to everybody. He hadn't lied to her before. The girl held his heart and he'd die before he allowed another man to know her love.