Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 27

Lucy's Point of View.

We walked through the corridors of the large castle, now turned into a hotel, my arm through Ben's as he smiled down at me, his grey eyes swirling with what looked like pride. Reaching the 'Library Bar', we entered together relaxed and happy. The bar was full of people all dressed up in their best finery, sitting in the large plush seats, each of them took a second to pause, turning towards us to see who had entered their domain. I feel like all eyes were on us, ordinary me, with this giant Adonis-of-a-man by my side. Some of the women gazed at him, their eyes clouded with l**t, then looked at me, jealousy dancing in their dilated pupils, clearly not understanding why such a man was with plain old me. I understood their confusion because I could not believe he was with me either.

Men looked at Ben with a great deal of scepticism, whilst others made no attempt to cover the fear they felt at seeing such an imposing man walk into a domain where those who wanted to have the appearance of being refined and having wealth for one night, sat sipping on their drinks, in the opulent surroundings of the North East's premier hotel, that had stood for over 600 years, once the home of Lords and Ladies.

I looked up at him, wondering what these people really saw, when they looked at my personal hero? Why they had a look of fear in their eyes? Because to me, this hulk was the kindest, most considerate, most humble, and gentlest of men you could ever wish to meet. He was my saviour, in more ways than one. Glancing down, Ben held my gaze, a small smirk on his lips.

"It seems we have an audience." His voice low, unless you were stood right beside him, you would never hear it.

I nodded, unsure what to say.

"It also appears I am the envy of almost all of the men in this place, because I have you on my arm." He grinned, giving me a playful wink.

"I think they are more envious of your muscle mass." I snickered slightly.

I am not one for being the centre of attention, unless at work, where I ooze the confidence required to convince business owners to part with their hard-earned cash and trust me to turn it into more, marketing their company. But at home, on the street, in a bar, I prefer to slip by unnoticed. Standing with Ben, I knew that hiding in plain sight was never going to be achievable. Rather than fill me with nervousness or insecurity, I felt confident, and the now-familiar feeling of safety whenever I am with him washed over me. "What would you like to drink?" his deep baritone voice asked, causing a shudder of undiluted lust to wash through my body like a tidal wave.

"Erm, I think a glass of wine, please." I smile up at him.

I am not a wine drinker, preferring a cold pint of lager, but given where we are, I have to at least put up an appearance of fitting in.

Ben looked at me, a small frown on his handsome face, as if scrutinizing my choice. Leaning into me, he whispered softly in my ear. "If we were not here, what would you be drinking? Because I can see in your eyes, it is not a glass of wine." Blinking up at him, another wave of tingles rushed through my body, just from the knowledge that this man, who in the grand scheme of things hardly knew me, had read me like an open book.

"I would normally have a pint," I whispered back, the heat on my cheeks revealing my embarrassment, wondering what he would think of a girl drinking pints of lager rather than a more lady-like drink.

"Good choice, I think I will join you." Ben grinned.

"Two pints of lager please," Ben ordered from the barman, then took hold of both when they were served, and led us to a table in a secluded corner of the posh bar.

Placing the drinks in front of us, he placed his giant frame in the cream chesterfield-style chair opposite my own.

"Lucy, don't try and change who you are to fit in, especially not when you are with me, because I think you are perfect just as you are." He smiled.

My pulse soars at his words. After all, there is not a girl who would not swoon at being told they are perfect just as they were. Isn't that the dream?

"How are you not taken?" I ask, my mouth open before my brain had time to engage.

Ben chuckles, then leans towards me. "I am hoping that I am now, or soon will be." He winks.

"You have got game Firefighter Bishop." I laugh.

"Not really, but I am trying very hard to impress you. I guess the question is, is it working?"

I giggle then place my thumb and finger slightly apart, holding them up to him. "Maybe just a little bit."

Ben chuckles taking another gulp of his pint, as I sip at my own.

The room is brought to a hush, as a man dressed in Elizabethan costume enters the bar.

"MY LORDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE BANQUETING HALL."

He shouts, I let out a small giggle, as Ben downs his pint, then nods to mine, and I follow suit. As I stand, he reaches out for my hand, engulfing it, then intertwining our fingers, we follow the crowds as bagpipes welcome us into the banqueting hall. Long wooden tables sit in rows, in front of a stage area, the seats are long benches. Each place setting is a single plate, with one two-pronged fork, a silver wine goblet to the side, and a large bib to cover your clothes.

As Ben sits down, the whole bench moves, as I shuffle in beside him, his leg brushing against mine, heightening my arousal. The five-course meal is served as we are entertained by the lords and ladies of the court, all dressed in Elizabethan clothing. The atmosphere is electric, as we are served goblets of mead and red wine to drink with the traditional fayre.

We laugh, joke, and just enjoy living in the moment, stabbing our meat with our folk, and pulling it free with our fingers, then washing them in a bowl of water with lemon in. Gone are my worries for my brother and his children. My housing situation is not given a second thought. Nor is my mind filled with thoughts of the fire. For the first time in what feels like forever, I am relaxed and totally happy.

The meal over, we are led by the staff down some stone steps into another room, where a DJ is set up in the corner, and modern music replaces Greensleeves. Ben pulls me onto the dance floor, where we bop the night way, doing the Y.M.C.A, along with Gangnam style, laughing and joking together. The music slows, and Ben wraps his arms around my waist pulling me into his rock-hard chest as we gently sway to the music. His fingers begin to trail up and down my spine, as the alcohol chases away all my inhibitions. I let out a small gasp as I feel the large bulge in his trousers pressing against me.

"You are so beautiful," he whispers in my ear.

My body begins to pulse with need, want, desire, as I blink up at him. Unconsciously, I press myself even further towards him, enjoying the feel of his body against mine.

"f**k Lucy, I am trying to be a gentleman here, but if you keep moving like that against me, all bets are off," Ben growls huskily in my ear.

His arms tighten around me, his large fingers still gently moving up-and-down my spine. My arousal is pooling out of me. I could easily forget everything, lose myself in this moment, give this man my all, right here, right now. I have waited my whole life to find someone with a connection that would give me the confidence to offer myself to them. I had held on to my innocence through my teenage years, an old-fashioned standpoint for many, then after witnessing first-hand the consequences of impulsive decisions when I saw my brother, it had only strengthened my resolve to wait for that special someone. Yet here I am, in Ben's arms, wanting him so much that all my fears of intimate connections disappear into thin air, knowing that if he tries to take me, I am powerless to resist him.

Ben tilts his head down, his lips finding mine, as fireworks erupt all over me. His tongue presses against the seam of my lips, and he lets out a low groan as I part them. His tongue invades my mouth, as I melt into the kiss, passion overflowing. His hand moves upwards, grasping the back of my head, as our lips move in sync with each other, our tongues dancing together, exploring each other. The music stops, and the lights go back on, and breathless we break our embrace.

My cheeks are flushed, as Ben takes hold of my hand, and leads me out of the room, through the stone corridors, out into the courtyard and through the doorway into the bedroom area. Opening the wooden slat door to our room. I walked inside, my heart beating out of my chest. Ben closes it behind us, locking it, then takes hold of my arm, gently pulling me towards him once more.

Our lips collide with each other, the kiss turning frenzied. Lifting me up as if I weigh nothing at all, he gently lays me on my bed, his mouth never leaving mine. I let out soft moans, as my body goes on high alert. This is better than I could ever have imagined, his lips leave mine as he trails kisses along my jaw to my ear.

"Tell me to stop Lucy, because I am losing control." His voice was gruff, almost sounding in pain.

"I don't know if I can," I whisper back, not ashamed of my honest confession.

Ben groaned, his lips finding purchase with my own once more. I am lost in a heady world of bliss, unable to have a coherent thought, all that matters is him, this feeling. The world and its problems are just a haze in the distance.

"Lucy, I want you to know, I do not normally do this. I haven't done this in years," Ben groaned out between kisses.

"I haven't done this, ever." I sigh as he kisses my neck, the feeling hitting me straight between my legs.

"What are you telling me?" Ben whispered, halting the kisses, his eyes boring into mine as if to see my very soul.

"I have never done this," I softly whisper, my cheeks beginning to burn with my confession.

Ben rolls off me, gathering me so that I am laid on his hard chest.

"s**t Lucy, you're a virgin?" he asks,

I nod my head, looking down. His finger finds my chin as he tilts my face up to his.

"Lucy, I want you, so much, but I will not do this tonight. I want you to completely trust me, and for me to earn the gift of your virginity, ... if you give it to me. I do not want your first time to be a thing of regret because you are vulnerable right now," He whispers. My cheeks burn feeling embarrassed that I was going to just give him my everything, yet he has refused me.

"Lucy, don't be embarrassed. I want this more than you will ever know. But I have too much respect for you, for us, to do this now. You deserve the world, and I will give it to you. I want you to have no regrets. I like you Lucy, hell it is more than just like. I have never felt this strong connection with anyone, especially not so soon after meeting them, but I do with you. So, please no embarrassment, not between us. Because once I have you, I promise you, I will never let you go," he whispers softly to me.

My emotions are jumbled up in my mind. I am both swooning at his words, and feeling like something is wrong with me, in equal measure.

"Hey, let's get ready for bed. I want to hold you in my arms till we fall asleep. Then tomorrow, when we go home, we will plan another date, and the next, and the next. Then, when everything is perfect and you know how you really feel about me, we will take the next step." He smiles down at me, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

I go grab my PJ's and head to the bathroom to get changed. His words comforted me, and now I have had a chance to breathe, I know he is right. As I walk out the bathroom, he is laid taking up the whole of the twin bed, in just a pair of tight black boxer briefs, and I wonder how the heck we are both supposed to sleep in it.

Gently, he reaches out and takes my hand, pulling me towards him.

"I don't think we will both fit." I start to giggle a little.

"Oh, we will manage." Pulling me onto the bed, then moving so I am laid on top of his hard body, his arms wrapped around me, he softly kisses my head.

"Night, night sleeping beauty." He chuckles, as my eyes begin to grow heavy.

"Night, night, handsome prince," I whispered back as I drifted off to sleep in his arms.