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It was the sixth month of lying to everyone. Admittedly, they were even lying to themselves. What started as a random Friday night hook up has evolved into six months of secretly seeing each other. Not that it was anyone's business anyway. Firstly, it is a free country. Secondly and most importantly, they were very welcome to use their free will. The latter was something they have used very, very freely at this point.
They were at Sage and Thyme on a busy Saturday. It was never a good idea to be at the most popular pub on a Saturday night, but it was John's birthday and he insisted on Sage and Thyme. Fortunately, having a reservation made a month prior was always a good idea, thanks to Hazel's incredible foresight.
"I'm getting another pint," John said as he slid out of the booth to head to the bar. "Anyone else want a pint?"
All remaining three people in the booth raised their hands.
"Be right back," John said before he disappeared among the crowd of people who were also headed to the bar.
"What did you get him for his birthday?" Benedict asked Hazel as he reached towards the basket of freshly made fries. He plucked a handful and popped one after the other in his mouth. Sophie reached out to grab a piece just as Benedict reached for more, making their fingers touch. Sophie immediately pulled back, as if the touch sent an electric current from her fingertips to the length of her arm. Benedict was a little more discreet, but he side-eyed her as if to say don't make it weird, Baek. Luckily, Hazel was busy taking a bunch of selfies on her phone.
"I got him a black push-up lace teddy, a red rose lace plunge teddy, and a black butterflies embroidery strappy naked playsuit."
Benedict's reaction was hilarious. Sophie reached out to push his mouth shut.
"Haze…" Sophie said with a knowing grin. "Did you just get yourself several teddies from the Victoria's Secret catalog?"
Benedict had a look on his face that said he was both surprised and impressed. He may have looked hot and bothered as well, but Sophie tried to ignore that one. Especially in front of Hazel. "How is that for John? More importantly, how the fuck did you know it was from a Victoria's Secret catalog?"
Sophie and Hazel shared a secret look that only women would understand. "I was looking at it too when Hazel was placing her orders."
Benedict gave her another side eye. It was funny how he was still pretending to be unbothered about this lingerie talk when Sophie knew he was very, very interested in the subject. "Did you order anything from there?"
Sophie gave a small shrug. "Maybe."
Benedict choked on his fry.
"You okay, bro?" she asked, sliding his now warm pint of beer.
He was still choking on his fry but he gave a thumbs up.
"Did I miss anything?" John was back with three ice-cold glasses of beer. He placed each in front of his companions and sat back down beside his girlfriend.
"Nope," Benedict and Sophie replied at the same time.
Hazel laughed. "You guys are spending too much time together you're starting to reply in sync now. It's creepy."
"And weird," John added.
Don't make it weird…don't make it weird…
"I need to go to the rest room," Sophie said, nudging Benedict's side so she could get out of the booth. Benedict slid out of it so Sophie could pass.
A pint and a half has her bladder full to bursting. Especially since Benedict has been secretly squeezing her thigh under the table to which she responded in the same way. At one point, he had his hand higher up her thigh and closer to where his hand shouldn't be at a pub full of people who, with just the right angle, could see what he was doing.
This secret dating thing was starting to get on her nerves. Both of them, actually. Benedict has been wanting to tell John and Hazel already, but Sophie was a little more hesitant. She told Benedict she still wasn't sure how they would take the news, but in truth, she just wanted to keep the secret for longer because she was enjoying the fact that she and Benedict were sharing something they wanted to keep from everyone's business.
And Sophie is still in denial that she has fallen deeply in love with Benedict Bridgerton. All five foot eleven inches of this Chewbacca (she calls him that affectionately just because he's a gigantor compared to her size), nerd-geek, sweet and romantic, funny as fuck, theater kid, nepo baby. The latter being something she did not know until recently when they ran into his siblings at a fancy restaurant that Benedict told her was for a fundraiser for the community theater in Mayfair that he always volunteered at. As it turns out, his entire family donates a fuckton of money to the community theater to keep it running. As well as donations to the community shelter, an elderly care home, and the public library. Sophie was pissed at first that he kept all that information from her, but she also understood why he wanted to keep it on the down low. His family did not want or need the recognition while helping the community. She admitted to herself that it was part of why she fell in love with him. He had a big heart with a whole lot of love for his family and his community and the manners of a 19th century gentleman.
Well. Most of the time. The rest of the time he was a manwhore in bed, but that was information that only Sophie would know and was not willing to share to people like John and Hazel.
After a long queue at the rest room, she battled her way back to their booth, only to find a brunette sitting next to Benedict. They were facing each other and a little too close for Sophie's liking. She had her right hand on his chest, her left hand somewhere she'd rather not know, and she threw her head back as she laughed. It was totally unnecessary, if she were being honest. But maybe she was just…jealous.
Not this again.
John looked like he was too engrossed with what was happening in front of him, but Hazel looked a little too annoyed. Girl, same, Sophie thought. What the fuck.
Benedict jumped in his seat when he saw Sophie looking at him like she was about to dracarys her way back to her seat. He moved back to put a little distance between him and the brunette, but she followed his movement and moved closer to him. Sophie was glaring at him now, which was very obvious to Benedict, but not so obvious to the rest.
"Hi," Sophie said with a little smile. She made sure she smiled, but it was a saccharine smile that she made sure Benedict got the message. "You're in my seat."
The brunette turned to look at her. She found out her name is Tessa (Benedict said her name when he signaled for her to move), and she's an actress at the community theater. That part came from John when he introduced her to Sophie because Benedict looked like he was about to piss his pants.
"Oh, sorry!" Tessa said. But instead of sliding out of the booth, she sidled closer to Benedict to give Sophie space beside her. Now, Tessa was sitting between her and Chewbacca. Right now, he's Chewbacca.
Benedict scratched the back of his head. It was a nervous tick, and Sophie knew that very well. Sophie kept glaring at him over Tessa's head. She didn't care if John and Hazel would notice the jealous eye squint and tensing of her jaw. She was getting more pissed the longer Tessa sat there like the Holy Spirit preventing her from getting her hands on Benedict's thunder thighs.
For a minute, Benedict was nervous. But the more he saw this jealous side of Sophie, the more aroused he got. He loved how pissy she got when she was jealous. Because it felt like she also cared for him as much as he did.
God, he was in love with this woman. Totally, madly, deeply in love.
"Hey, Soph!"
All heads turned at the voice. It was a Yorkshire accent, and from someone Benedict hasn't seen before.
"Alfie!"
Sophie got up from the booth and was immediately pulled in for a hug. She and this new guy seemed close enough to be hugging and kissing (on the cheek) in front of everyone. Hazel seemed to know him as well because she waved at him enthusiastically.
"Alfie!" Hazel said with a huge grin on her face. "When did you get back from America?"
"Last weekend," he replied. He looked at Hazel to John, then Benedict and Tessa. "Friends of yours?"
"Boyfriend," Hazel replied. "Alfie, John. John, Alfie."
The two shook each other's hands. Alfie looked at Sophie and waited for her to introduce Benedict and Tessa.
"Oh! Uh…Alfie, Benedict. Benedict, this is Alfie."
The two also shook hands. Alfie was giving her a look, and Sophie immediately added. "Not a boyfriend."
"Ah," Alfie said, though his smile said he knew Benedict was not a boyfriend but he was not just a friend either. "And the beautiful lady?"
"Tessa," Benedict replied, almost too quickly for Sophie's liking. He was quite enjoying the jealous monster and he decided to poke it a bit more. "Nice to meet you, Alfie."
"Likewise."
"Do you want to get out of here? It's gotten a bit boring now," Sophie told Alfie as she grabbed her purse from the seat.
"Yeah, yeah, let's get out of here," Alfie replied. He sort of knew what was happening, and he was amused by the way Sophie was shooting him signals with her eyes while Benedict looked like he wanted to jump out of his seat and strangle Alfie. "Anywhere you want to be, babe?"
"Anywhere but here."
Sophie greeted John again and apologized for wanting to head out as soon as possible, but she was already annoyed about Benedict and Tessa that she'd rather poke her own eyes and squeeze lemons into it. She saw Benedict's eyes squint in annoyance, but she didn't care. He was rage-baiting Sophie with his Pokemon friend that Sophie decided to call Jigglypuff because Sophie was beyond annoyed by her sudden appearance and she decided she hated her voice.
Bye, Felicia!
It was two in the morning when Sophie came home from hours of catching up with Alfie. She missed her dear friend, and the yap session was too good to end in just a short time. Hazel was still not home, so she wondered if she was at John's. At this point, they should just live together. But that would leave her without a housemate, and Benedict with a new one.
Or maybe exchanging housemates might be the best thing.
She's jealous. She's jealous. She's jealous.
Fine. She's admitting to herself that she's jealous of Jigglypuff and Chewbacca. What a pair.
"It's 2 am."
Sophie didn't notice Benedict sitting on the dusty blue wingback chair next to her bed. He looked like he was waiting a while because he had an annoyed look on his face.
"Thank you for the unsolicited information," Sophie said in a monotone voice that said she was just as annoyed. "I have a watch."
"You should use it."
"What's your problem?"
He was out of the chair now and standing in front of her. Too close…he was standing too close.
"I should be asking you what's your problem."
"Who's Tessa to you?"
"Who's Alfie to you?
Okay, he's definitely pissing her off.
She poked a finger to his chest. "I asked you about Tessa. Is she an ex?"
"If I say yes, will you admit Alfie is an ex too?"
"He's not an ex."
"So he wants to hook up with you?"
"Maybe."
"Sophie."
"Benedict. You're pissing me off."
"There's only one answer for that."
He heard Sophie scoff. Hands on her hips, the familiar forehead crease, her lips in a tight line. He knew a jealous Sophie stance by now, and he must admit, he was affected. Jealous Sophie did things to him no one has ever done for him before. He felt his cock twitch in his pants and he should feel bad about it, but he really was enjoying riling her up.
Because the angry sex was mind-blowing, and right now, he needed her to be angry.
"You're not getting any tonight, Bridgerton."
"You're a fucking liar, Baek," he said. He inched a little closer still, as if the current closeness wasn't close enough. "You want my hands all over you and my mouth where you crave it the most."
Sophie's breath hitched. Or was it an angry grunt? He wasn't sure. But it was sexy and it wasn't helping Benedict's erection.
"You're an asshole."
"That's not what you're thinking."
"What do you care about what I think," Sophie snapped. "When do you think about me?"
She turned to go into the bathroom so she could lock herself in there. She made a mental note to change the lock to the front door and her bedroom. But Benedict was quicker. He had his fingers around her wrist to keep her from walking away.
"Every minute of every day."
She froze.
"You're the most exasperating person I've ever met," he added. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but she was taken aback enough to keep listening. "You always have a rebuttal for everything I say."
She opened her mouth to argue, but he stopped her with a finger to her lips to shut her up. It was almost comical, how she was about to prove his point, but he had to get his point across and he needed her to be quiet.
"You always want to win an argument and it's exhausting, Sophie. I just want you to let me win sometimes. You're stubborn and sometimes annoying."
"I am annoying?!"
"Shut up," he snapped. "I'm mad, Sophie."
"That's a you problem."
"No," he said. His face was so close to hers she could feel his breath on her face. "It's an us problem. Because somewhere between that char siu pork barbecue at Chop Chop and your Victoria's Secret shopping cart, I've fallen madly in love with you, it's pathetic."
He expected to hear an equally angry rebuttal, but he was genuinely surprised over her reaction.
Sophie Baek, love of his fucking life, started crying.
It wasn't the loud, shrilly kind of weeping. It was just silent tears…where her cute little face scrunched up and her pouty lips trembled. Benedict suddenly felt bad for his sudden confession disguised as an angry outburst.
"Oh god…don't cry. Don't cry, baby."
For some reason, that just multiplied her tears.
"You called me baby…"
"I did," he said as he reached out to wipe her tears with his thumbs. "Do you hate it?"
"I hate that you call me dude."
Benedict chuckled. "It's payback for calling me bro."
"Well…that was our agreement, remember?"
"I know."
"I don't want you to call me dude anymore."
"Okay, baby."
He heard a sniffle. Then a soft, strangled cry. "Keep calling me baby."
"As long as you like."
"Ben?"
"Hmm?"
She was fiddling with the buttons on his shirt, like she was trying to decide if she should take his shirt off of him or fasten the buttons to not tempt her further.
"Alfie's gay."
Benedict threw his head back and laughed. It felt good to laugh, because he was about to combust from either the relief of knowing her friend is gay or the strong need to kiss her senseless.
"Happy pride, Alfie."
That earned a laugh from Sophie. "This is the time to kiss me, Ben. I'm at my breaking point and the wait is killing me."
He did not need to hear anything more. Despite the strong urge to fuck her six ways to Sunday, he wanted to take his time. It was the first time in six months they admitted they loved each other, which was stupid because how did they reach six months without admitting their feelings?
Undressing was quick. All he had to do was pull the black Aritzia suite satin dress over her head and let it fall on her bedroom floor…just where he wanted it. Her hands tugged on the buttons of his navy blue button up shirt and quickly discarded it. He made quick work of his jeans and his underwear, letting them pool around his ankles before stepping out of them. Her lips were already nipping at the side of his neck and clouding his thoughts for a good few minutes before he gently pushed her back to lay on the bed, his body a welcome weight on her.
Sophie's legs fell farther apart as he pressed his form against her. He smelled faintly of his soap like he just stepped out of the shower, which he probably just did. It was her favorite scent of his — just fresh and clean and masculine. Like crushed clover, snapped pine needles, and cold river water. Her hands crept around his back, resting on his broad shoulders, and feeling the muscles rippling against her touch. He was attacking her neck like he was a starved man. They were clinging to each other, and the distinction between his body and hers were no longer obvious.
Somewhere between kissing her mouth and nipping at her neck, his hand reached between her thighs to touch her. Holy fuck. She was wet. His fingers were working her clit in slow yet sure strokes, earning a soft moan from her. He could feel her getting worked up, her back arching a bit more as he stroked her clit.
"You're beautiful like this," he murmured against her lips. When her breath started to come quicker and more shallow, he slid a finger…then two…inside her. Her back arched completely off the bed. She was grinding her hips against the way he was torturing her with his fingers, and Benedict let out an airy "Fuck…Sophie…" against her lips. He could feel she was close to coming apart, but he needed to be inside her when she orgasms.
"Baby…please…" She was begging now. He almost teased her about it because she hated admitting she begs him for it, even if she really does. But at the rate they're going, he was close to begging too.
He could feel her slowly coming apart. Could feel everything all at once — her nipples grazing his chest as she pushed herself closer as if she still wasn't close enough. Her nails were digging into his arms, and he was sure he would find marks and scratches on his skin later. They would be like battle scars, and he would wear them proudly. She was wet…she was so fucking wet he wanted to weep. And tight. God, she was tight. He felt his cock stir further into hardness. the tip beading at this point. He needed to be inside her now or he would self-combust. Reluctantly pulling his fingers out of her cunt, he shifted to kneel between her legs.
Fuck…fuck..fuck. They have had sex so many times in the last six months but he still couldn't get past how tight she felt when he enters her. He noticed the littlest things about her — how her skin feels warm and flushed against his. Her breath comes in short, shallow gasps, which he inhales into his system like it fed his addiction for her.
"Please…please…Ben!"
He was deep inside her and it felt so fucking good. He could tell she was close, and he alternated his quick thrusts with slow, deep strokes. His hips snapped against hers, driving his cock into her so deeply that had her grinding her hips harder against his. He pressed his face against the side of her neck, kissing the sweaty , smooth skin that smelled satisfyingly like him now.
"Let go, baby…now, Sophie…"
On his command, she shatters. Her inner walls contract — those rhythmic contractions around his cock that pulls him into his own orgasm not long after. And when he comes, he feels her legs around his hips, tightening as she grinds into a rhythm so familiar now. He shouts into the dark room, for the first time not bothering with being quiet enough so her housemate wouldn't hear. The fuck did he care right now. Even Sophie was making enough noise to wake the dead. It was freeing to make enough noise to wake Hazel, and maybe even John could hear next door.
The fuck did they care.
They were a tangle of arms and legs, sweat and heat, lips and tongue.
He pulls out slowly, feeling her shiver underneath him. Maybe she was cold. Or maybe she was still sensitive over the feel of his cock from inside her. Either way, she was satisfied, and so was he. He rolled onto his back and pulled her body flush against his. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and he saw the corner of her lips tug into a smile.
"You alright?" he asked, voice soft but gruff.
She nodded. She did not trust her voice at this time. She was still reeling from the high he just gave her.
"When did you realize you were in love with me?"
The question did not surprise him at all. He had mulled it over so many times he knew at some point they would be having this conversation.
"My birthday dinner," he said in a soft voice.
"Huh? That was the first time we met."
"Exactly."
Sophie froze. Again. "Why?"
"What do you mean why? It just is. You don't question what the god of love tells you. You just accept it."
Sophie snorted. "Impossible. I'm not the kind people fall in love with at first sight."
"You and your self-doubt."
"It's true."
"It's self-hatred at this point."
She laughs. "I am far too self-deprecating to take you seriously."
"I'm serious."
And he was serious. His tone, his expression, and the way he pulled her back to lie next to him. "Stop questioning me. It's hurting my feelings."
"I believe you."
"Good."
"So you also believe Alfie is gay?"
"Don't ruin the moment, dude."
"Bro…answer me. Is Tessa an ex?"
"If you were a doctor, you have the worst bedside manner."
"Good thing I'm not a doctor. So…is Tessa an ex?"
"No," he replied. "Never. I knew she was interested. I just wasn't."
"Okay."
He chuckled. Good Lord, she had his whole heart. He's beyond saving. He's a goner.
"Are we telling John and Hazel about us?"
"I think Hazel has it figured out," she admitted. "John's oblivious, I think."
He could feel sleep coming. He tightened his arms around her. nuzzling the crook of her neck before trailing his lips up and behind her ear. He heard the soft gasp escape her when his teeth nipped the soft lobe of her ear.
"One last question," he murmured. "Did you check out anything from your Victoria's Secret cart? Because I would gladly pay for it."
She replied without a second thought. "Whatever happens, don't look up Laces Out Embroidery Crotchless Open-Cup Playsuit."
"You had me at crotchless," he mumbled. "And I'm definitely looking that up later."