Sexual content warning.

CH 6: Bound

For the past several days, they were insatiable. Despite their own specific duties, Ben and Anna made certain to meet in secret, whether it be in the morning, afternoon or night, if only to frantically rut away their growing need. It wasn't enough. Even after consuming Anna while she straddled his face, or stealing away to fuck in private, or even allowing her to suck him off while he coded important correspondence, it wasn't enough. Ben was beginning to fear that it never would be. Each time he had Anna Strong, he only wanted more of her – to feel her, to taste her, to devour her – to capture her in the way she'd captured him. When he wasn't touching her, he felt panicked and adrift, and he liked to torment himself into believing Anna felt the same. She had to, didn't she? Why else would she agree to their rendezvouses? Why else would she allow him to lie her on her back and fuck her until he felt human again?

"Oi!"

Ben jerked, turning to find Caleb strutting toward him across camp. He offered the other man a smile, albeit a cautious one. There was something about his friend's warm, glittering eyes that gave him immediate pause.

Finally at his side, Caleb took hold of Ben's shoulder and jostled it fondly. "I've heard the doxies whispering."

All at once, Ben's face turned bone-white. "About what?"

"About you knocking on someone's door, if you know what I mean."

He winced. "Caleb, for God's sake…"

"So is it true or not?"

"It…i-it…"

"What is that?" With a delighted whoop, Caleb tugged on Ben's cravat and peered up at a faded, but unmistakable suck mark against his throat. "Holy leaping loyalists – it is true! Setauket's greatest prude finally convinced some poor sap to lay hands on him!"

Embarrassed, Ben shook himself free. "Sod off," he muttered. "I accidentally punched my throat."

"What, from boxing the Jesuit too hard? I never thought you could accidentally punch your own throat, but stranger things have happened." Ben swung at him, and Caleb easily avoided the half-hearted swipe, a grating laugh rumbling in his chest. "What's her name?"

"Caleb, I told you-"

"How stupid do you think I am, uh?" He winced before amending, "On second thought, don't answer that. I've lain with women – many, many women, as it so happens – and I know for a God-given fact that that mark isn't from a punch. Not unless you have tiny fists, of course."

Ben sighed. "Caleb…"

"All right, fine, you don't want to say her name. I get it. How about her kettledrums then? Are they a nice set?"

Selah appeared upon the scene then, warm in demeanor and smiling. "Good morning!" he greeted. "Have either of you seen my wife?"

Ben tried not to flinch. He'd just come from a rendezvous with her in the barn – it was presently empty and not being used to house prisoners – so he knew Anna was off somewhere close by, more than likely using a wash bowl to clean between her legs.

Selah, however, seemed more interested in Caleb, given how the man could barely contain himself.

With a triumphant punch against Ben's arm, the whaler exclaimed, "Our Tall-boy's finally become a man!"

Selah arched a brow. "Oh?"

"Aye. He's got some filly stashed away somewhere, but he underestimates my powers of deduction. I'll sniff 'er out sooner or later."

Ben winced. "I really wish you wouldn't…"

"Love is sacred," Selah agreed, nodding. "What happens between a man and a woman should remain between them, and no one else."

Caleb snorted. "What is this, a lady's sewing party? I didn't realize I was dealing with a couple of chits!" Feigning a dramatic swoon, he mocked, "Oh, my! Our Benny-boy is just so in love that he's gone off and punched his own throat!"

This time, Ben's swipe did connect with Caleb's shoulder and the whaler yelped, scowling at his friend while rubbing his arm. "Shite, can'tcha take a joke anymore?"

"You are the joke," Ben muttered. Face growing hot, he added to Selah, "Have you checked Anna's cart? I'm sure she'll turn up again sooner or later."

He nodded. "I checked there first thing, but you're probably right. I'm hoping to run something by her for Congress."

Ben arched a brow, intrigued. "Congress?"

"Aye. During my stay here, I've come to realize that her letters were right. The state of affairs is far worse than I'd originally anticipated, so I feel it my duty to do my part." Selah smiled. "If I can help it, your men will be getting their recompense within a few months."

A wave of relief washed over Ben, and he mirrored the other man's smile. However, that relief soon turned to guilt once he realized that during his trysts with Anna, he hadn't once thought about the rest of the army. He'd thought only of himself. Day in and day out, his thoughts were consumed by Anna, and how wet and warm and tight she felt gripping around him with each thrust – of how he needed to be inside her in order to forget the ugliness of the world.

Swallowing, Ben told his friend, "The men will be thrilled to hear it, Selah. And so will Anna. Thank you."

Selah inclined his head with a smile, then looked between both Ben and Caleb. "Well, I suppose I should check the cart again. Good day to you both."

They all said their goodbyes, and as Selah headed off for Anna's quarters, Ben released the breath he hadn't been aware of holding.

Anna had started closing up shop earlier and earlier – or at least, she would secure the cart's flaps any time she and Ben felt the need for intimacy – so she was just reopening when Selah entered her quarters.

"What, back already?" she teased, presuming that the presence behind her was Ben. "I'm beginning to think you have a problem." There came a familiar chuckle and she jerked, whirling around in horror. "Selah!"

"I may have a problem," he fondly agreed, "but if I do, it's that my wife is far too beautiful. Who's been giving you problems, my love? An overzealous camp follower?"

Tasting bile – by God, she'd nearly called him Major – Anna forced a smile and moved on to opening up the rest of her cart. "Oh no, uh…it's definitely not a problem," she lied. "One of the doxies is obsessed with bartering over the same items, and I keep telling her no. That's all…honest."

Honest… The word nearly choked her, and unbidden, the urge to cry nipped at her throat. Selah was a good man – a good, good man – and yet for some horrible, inexplicable reason, she and Ben couldn't seem to stop. They'd both become addicted by this point, and she needed more of his bruising, possessive touch to keep her alive.

Coming to stand alongside her, Selah smiled and said, "I would like your input on something, if you have a moment."

"Oh?"

"A letter to Congress," he continued. "I want your opinion on its content."

Startled, Anna turned her eyes to him, genuinely stunned. "You want…my opinion?"

"Yes, of course. As a woman who has witnessed the horrors here firsthand, I believe you would lend invaluable insight."

Yet again, hot tears burned behind Anna's eyes, but she did not cry. "I…I-I would be honored. Thank you, Selah."

Warmly, he curled a hand around her shoulder and stooped to kiss her brow. "You might as well stop opening up shop," he said, "because we may be at this for a while. Come along."

Feeling as though she were in a daze, Anna released the flap she'd been securing, and then followed her husband over to take a seat.

Hours later, Anna found herself partaking in latrine duty. Though it was a dirty, thankless job, she felt it was one she deserved. The hot afternoon sun beat down upon her as she dug through the dirt, and while wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, she smudged filth across her skin. That was when she spotted Ben advancing toward her.

All at once, a stirring started low in her stomach, warm and electric. She couldn't help it. Even when fraught with guilt, just the sight of him lent to memories of him sitting on his knees, her legs perched over his shoulders while he tongue-fucked her into submission. He was getting damn good at finding all of her pleasure spots, and while he stalked toward her, quick and full of purpose, Anna could feel her thighs tense in eager anticipation.

This was wrong. This was wrong. Only hours prior, Selah had asked for her opinions and allowed her to make changes to his letter for Congress, but now? Now she was willing to overthrow all his trust just for Ben's touch. It didn't seem logical… She'd spent years yearning to be treated as his equal, and yet now that Selah finally was giving her said attentions, she barely felt any interest.

When Ben approached, he seemed unnaturally miffed. He came to a halt alongside the latrine, his fists tensing as she lifted a hand to shield her gaze from the afternoon sun.

"Mrs. Strong?" he growled. "A word." It was a command, not a question. Ben's voice was low and dangerous, with his accent far heavier than usual. Any time he was aroused, Anna noticed that he tended to have a thicker, earthier tone to his timbre. Hearing his bedroom voice in public made her weak in the knees, but she somehow managed to save face. Anna knew this had to be a ruse, and the wild, stormy look to Ben's eyes coupled with the slight curl of his mouth did little to keep her from throbbing all over. Looking down, she discovered the growing bulge barely concealed beneath his breeches and swallowed. Yes. This was definitely a ruse.

Deciding to play into it, she tensed her chin and glared up at him with an air of defiance. "I thought I told you I'm not one of your soldiers, Major. I'm not here to be ordered around at your whim."

"Now, madam."

Feeling a shiver rush through her, Anna lifted her hand, pretending to be infuriated as Ben reached down and helped her out of the latrine. The contact of their palms, no matter how brief, further tormented her and she could feel her core pulsing with need, already tightening in anticipation of his touch.

Once out of the man-made pit, Anna allowed Ben to take her by the arm and practically drag her back toward his quarters. "What are you doing?" she asked him, breathless. "We've already met up today…"

Ignoring her, Ben placed his hand between her shoulder blades, then shoved her through the entrance of his tent. Anna went staggering over the threshold and turned, her chest heaving once he came in and secured the flaps. "Ben? Did something happen?"

Choosing not to reply, he descended upon her in an instant, urging her mouth into his and groaning into their heated kiss.

"Ben," she breathed out between kisses, giving a startled laugh, "Ben, I'm untidy…"

"You're about to be far untidier," he muttered back, grinning as he nipped at her bottom lip.

Curling her fingers through his hair, Anna eagerly claimed his mouth and staggered with him toward his bed, his fingers making quick work of her jumps while they deepened their kiss with a slow, fervent glossing of tongues.

Anna imagined him doing that between her legs, and a needy, throbbing ache flared wetly between her thighs. Parting their lips, she pleaded with him to take her – to use her however he saw fit.

Ben's eyes were wild and heavy-lidded, and he fumblingly reached up to start unfastening his cravat. Keen to assist, Anna unbuttoned his waistcoat and spread the fabric, just as readily stopping to push his jacket off his shoulders.

Ben shrugged out of the garment and eyed her with interest, her chin catching between his thumb and forefinger before he leaned down and mouthed at her parted lips. He licked at them, sucking her full, sensual bottom lip between his teeth before they parted again and he looked into her eyes. "Turn around," he commanded.

Confused, Anna moved to argue, but yelped whenever Ben twisted her about and yanked her flush against him, his hot rush of breath flooding against her neck as he kept her restrained. Slowly, he loosened his hold on her wrist, and then lifted what she realized to be his cravat. Behind her, she could feel the hard, thick outline of his cock pressing into the small of her back and she whimpered, grinding against him as he growled and pulled the strip of fabric over her eyes.

Breathing heavily, Ben secured the cravat around her head with a knot, and Anna trembled once all of her senses instantly became heightened. She'd never been blindfolded before, but the moment his strong hands moved around to massage and tweak at her nipples through the fabric of her shift, she moaned softly and dropped her head back against his chest. Responsive to her unspoken plea, Ben licked the curve of her neck and sucked a kiss there, his teeth grazing over her skin as her knees wobbled helplessly. "Please…" She turned her head, seeking his mouth with hers. She was rewarded when Ben lowered down to kiss her, their tongues tangling as he slipped a hand between her legs and rolled his palm against her through the fabric of her skirts. Anna whimpered and bucked into his touch, seeking the friction as she tried to grind into his fingertips.

He started pulling up her petticoats and shift, and Anna was quick to assist, a soft whine catching in her throat when Ben bared her to his hand and slid his touch between her legs. Being unable to see what he was doing somehow heightened the pleasure, and Anna sagged against him, rolling her hips into the assault of his stroking digits. He used one hand to sink two fingers deep inside her throbbing heat, and the other to rub brisk little circles around her clit, his arms holding her steady in an embrace that left her reeling. His mouth was at her ear, and his fingers were fucking into her hard and fast, each thrust causing soft, needy little moans to catch in her throat. "Ben," she begged him, "please…"

She was so wet that his fingering sounded like an obscene kiss. Nuzzling into her neck, Ben finally stopped driving his hand between Anna's thighs and instead, bent her over and shoved her down to her knees. Her shins banged against the earth and she gasped, finding her cheek pressed down into his bedding as he lifted up her skirts and draped them around her waist.

"Ben," she pleaded again, parting her legs and arching her hips toward him. "I need it…please."

Behind her, Anna could hear Ben unfastening his breeches, and then he took her by the hips, a soft gasp catching in her throat when he started rubbing his leaking cock against her slit. She moved to beg for it again, but that was when he rammed his hardness inside her and she cried out, tensing up at the harsh, but pleasurable entry. He began to move immediately, and she buried her face into the blanket to muffle her sounds.

Ben, however, seized her by the hair and yanked her free of his bedding, his voice low in her ear as he demanded, "Let me hear you, Anna."

She whimpered, a sound akin to a sob catching in her throat each time he fucked up inside her. Her breasts bounced from the force of his jabs, and each thrust left her knees sliding harshly against the grass. She scrabbled at the bedding with her hands, and arched forward so that she could push back into his pounding thrusts, her eyes closing as she mewled and allowed herself to be claimed. He was rough with her, desperate, and when Anna tossed her head to bite back a scream, Ben reached up and slid three fingers into her mouth, choking off her cries as she started clenching around his throbbing cock.

He felt so thick and full inside her, and Anna moaned around his fingers, licking and sucking at them while he burned kisses along her cheek and neck.

"Cum on me," he pleaded with her, his hot breath in her ear as he pounded into her more aggressively.

Anna sank down each time he drove up, leaving her weak and tingly all over as she rapidly felt her body reaching that precipice. With his cock stroking against her spot, she gripped at the bedding and practically sobbed around his fingers, her insides tightening around him as her body released and grew awash in pleasure. For once, Ben managed to cum after her, and he growled lowly in her ear, fucking into her with invigored desperation until he cried out and collapsed over top of her, breathless and sated. Afterward, he removed his fingers from her mouth and groaned into the nape of her neck.

"Dear God," Anna gasped, laughing softly. She felt him pressing kisses along her clothed back, and while his hands stroked over her bare thighs, she moaned and dropped forward against his bed. He pulled out from between her legs, but kept her from removing the cravat while he gently thumbed her clit. She writhed at the sensation, overstimulated. "Ben," she choked out, trembling, "w-what happened? Is something wrong?"

He tended to only need her when he was upset – when he was desperate – and judging by the harshness of their coupling, he was in rare form that afternoon.

Nuzzling into the crook of her neck, Ben slid his fingers back and forth along her folds, smearing their mingled fluids as he nipped at her ear. "I feel…guilty," he admitted. "Am I a terrible person?" Dropping his forehead against her shoulder, he weakly added, "Are we?"

Anna froze up against him, not quite wanting to put a voice to her thoughts. "Not terrible," she finally promised. "Just…confused."

Dragging his lips across her clothed shoulder, Ben nodded before shakily pulling away. He fastened himself back inside his breeches, remaining on his knees while Anna turned and lifted her makeshift blindfold. He didn't look at her when he revealed, "People are starting to talk, Anna. They know I'm knocking someone."

A flutter of terror swelled within her breast, and she crawled toward him before taking his hands. "They may suspect, but they don't know it's me," she assured him. "We've been very careful with how we act outside of our quarters. No one would suspect us – for all anyone knows, we loathe one another."

Ben offered a feeble smile. "You are pretty good at inciting my faux wrath…and occasionally my very real anger."

"Likewise," she assured him, smirking. That amusement soon faded, and she moved to frame his cheeks between her hands. Lifting his chin so that he returned her gaze, the pain in his eyes bruised her tender heart and she drew a breath. "Ben, you already carry the weight of the world," she whispered. "Please don't carry this one thing, too – this one thing that makes you feel good. You're allowed to feel good."

"But not at the expense of others," he feebly reminded her. "Adultery-"

"Is my sin, not yours."

"But I'm the one making you stray," he persisted. "This is my fault. Most especially since I don't ever want to stop."

"And I don't want you to stop either," she promised. "It's not just you, Ben. I'm just as guilty."

"Then...our arrangement makes you happy?"

"For now, yes."

He flinched at that, startled. "What do you mean?"

"I haven't ever been happy for long, Ben. It's just my way. Sooner or later, something keeps me from connecting to my heart, and then I lose myself all over again. Though for what it's worth..." Here Anna paused, a tearful smile tugging at her lips. "This is the first time I've ever had hope of that changing."

Ben felt a flutter in his chest. Did that mean she shared in his affections?

Expression coloring with adoration, he drew her hands to rest over his heart, and he fondly edged his forehead down into hers. "Anna, I want you to know-"

"Don't," she pleaded, cupping his face between her palms. "Just kiss me…hold me, fuck me, whatever you need. Words won't help us right now."

Her command stung. Ben wanted to tell her what she meant to him – how she made him feel, how she drew him out of himself, saved him – but rather than upset her, he enveloped her into his arms and complied.

Stumbling out of a doxy's tent, Amos Harrell smoothed his mussed hair and smirked. He'd pretended to defect from the British months ago, and it amazed him how easily gleaning intel had been – not to mention, it amazed him how willing and delighted the doxies were to spread their legs for a so-called rebel.

While he made his way through camp, he heard whisperings that immediately drew his interest.

"…a real lady of easy virtue too, don't you think? Hell, that Major Tallmadge sure seems to have fallen into her man trap. Doesn't seem in any hurry to get out of it, either."

"Excuse me," Amos spoke up, causing the gossiping women to eye him with distrust. "Did you say something about Tallmadge having a lover?"

The woman on the left, a thin, slip of a thing with rotting teeth appraised him with scorn. "Who wants to know?"

"John West," he lied, bowing at the waist. "At your service." Holding up a hand, he assured her, "I'm not one of the Major's men – honest! I find him a bit unreliable, personally."

"Aye," the woman on the right agreed. Wrapping a lock of her oily, frizzy blonde hair around her finger, she spat, "Especially these days. Have you seen him getting all addlepated? One time, he walked by me tent for a second, only to immediately walk back as though he'd forgotten something. Then about a minute later, he came right back! The man's lost it, I tell you!"

"It's Anna Strong," the thin woman agreed. "She's always comin' in and out of his tent, and always a bit flushed afterwards, too. No shame, whatsoever, what with her husband still lingerin' about camp."

Amos perked up. "Her husband is the congressman, correct?"

"Aye, that's right. Such a nice man, too. I dunno what he ever saw in that saucy, good-for-nothin'-"

"Thank you, madam," Amos cut in, trying not to appear too eager. "Good day to you both." Turning on his heel, he suppressed a grin while deciding that he needed to pay Mr. Selah Strong a visit.

A/N: Clearly, I've started weaving in some of the plot points from S4, but I don't actually intend to follow it to a "T" since I find that boring. I just liked the idea of nodding to the canon rumors of Ben/Anna, as well as Ben's weird little semi-jealous behavior in 4x5 (you can see what I mean here: post/642006075444527105/turn-4x1-4x5). I also might incorporate the love letter, because now that Ben's developing actual feelings for Anna, that could hit a different level of tension. *chinhands*

ALSO, I feel dumb since I'm only NOW realizing I could've just used Ben's angst about the firing squad/recompense issue for the basis of his sex addiction, and not this whacky espionage sideplot, but OH WELL. I'd already written that in CH 4, so I'm obviously following through. I do at least have a plan on how to end this, so it'll probably be about 10 chapters at the most. Either way, it's almost done! :) I've never written this many chapters of smut in a row, so this has been a personal challenge to myself. I'm just glad I finally got to write what I'd been envisioning since the beginning, because a more confident Ben is fun to write.

P.S. I have a sketch that accompanies this chapter on AO3, so if you'd like to see the line art, feel free to check it out! My username is the same over there as it is here.