by Lexy Timms
“Let’s go see what all the hoopla is about,” Ben said, as they pulled into a long driveway that led to a valet stand.
Ben climbed out and walked around to greet Katherine, offering his arm before leading the way into the crowded restaurant. Feeling Katherine tense up, Ben leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“You’re safe with me, sweetheart. I’ll never let anything happen to you while we’re together,” he assured her, and the gleam in her eyes let him know that she believed him, and trusted his ability to live up to the promise. “I’m only sorry I didn’t know the score the other night, or I’d never have let him take you away.”
“I know that, Ben. Let’s not let that unpleasantness ruin our evening.”
Chapter Thirteen
Katherine
“HELLO, I HAVE A RESERVATION for two under Ben O’Leary,” Ben announced.
“Mr. O’Leary?” The young male host repeated his name, like he couldn’t believe it was him.
“That’s me,” Ben offered a half a smile.
“Yes, sir! Of course. Please, this way,” the young man said, before grabbing two menus and leading Katherine and Ben through the dining area.
As they walked through the restaurant, Katherine was wondering what the host’s reaction was all about. She knew Ben was a big deal and respected in his professional world, but from the way the host reacted she would have thought Ben was a movie star.
“The best table in the restaurant, sir,” the host began, as they arrived at a table for four.
“Is that so?” Ben asked.
“Yes, sir. You have the best view of the water, and you get more privacy than anywhere else. Will this be okay for you, sir?”
“Of course. Thanks a lot,” Ben smiled, before pulling Katherine’s chair out so she could be seated.
After placing the menus on the table, the host informed Katherine and Ben that their waiter would be with them in a few minutes, then quickly scurried off.
“Well, that was interesting. Do you know him?” Katherine asked.
“No, but I imagine Jacob is making a big deal about me coming to his grand opening.” Ben shook his head at the possibility.
“Jacob?” She asked. “Who is he?”
“The owner. I called him my friend earlier, and he is, but Jacob is also my mentee. I met him when he was in high school and have helped him develop throughout his career,” Ben explained, just as the waiter arrived.
“Good evening. We’ve all been excited to see which section you would be seated in, and I have to say I am honored it happened to be mine. I just want you to know that I plan to do my very best to make sure your dining experience is excellent tonight,” the waiter said.
“Sounds great... Daniel,” Ben said, reading the young man’s nametag.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I'm Daniel and I’ll be taking care of you tonight,” he corrected his introduction.
“Sounds good. Let’s start with two glasses of water and your wine list,” Ben requested.
“No problem,” the man answered, before walking away as quickly as he appeared.
“Seems like you’re a very important man around here,” Katherine remarked.
It seemed like everywhere she went with Ben, he was the center of attention as everyone clamored to be around him. While it didn’t bother her at all, she couldn’t help but admire how he handled it. He was kind to everyone, and didn’t appear to let the attention go to his head. She liked the fact that there was no hint of his wealth or status in the way he treated others.
No stranger to wealthy men, Katherine had seen her share of millionaires and celebrities and they all walked with an added layer of entitlement that drove her crazy. Unable to understand how or why anyone would ever think they were better than someone else, Katherine really appreciated Ben’s down to earth attitude. The more time she spent with Ben, getting to know more about him and his life, the more she liked. There wasn’t anything about him that rubbed her the wrong way or set off any red flags. And for her, that was more than impressive.
“Tell me about your day,” Ben smiled at Katherine as he reached across the table, rubbing her hand with the pad of his thumb.
Over the course of their meal, Ben and Katherine shared the trials of their day, which was especially interesting to Katherine. She was beyond intrigued by his business and the many important decisions he had to make. Listening closely, she even offered some input before telling Ben all about her own day at work.
Ben’s charismatic personality always helped Katherine relax, and that night was no different. She laughed like she didn’t have a care in the world, and felt more like herself than she had since her past collided with her present, resulting in the awful train wreck at the charity event.
When it was time to leave the restaurant, she was actually sad the date was over, yet was looking forward to the prospect of getting Ben alone. Their flirtatious behavior had started out innocent enough, but had been edging towards inappropriate as the evening wore on. She was excited to see where it could go.
Thankfully, the ride back to her place seemed shorter than the ride to the restaurant, but it was enough time for Katherine to contemplate what she wanted from Ben. Recalling the circumstances of the other time he’d come to her place, she assumed he would be too. It had caught her off guard when he mentioned they could go out as friends, and she wanted to make it clear that she wanted to be more than friends with him. Much more.
Ben pulled to the curb outside her apartment building and Katherine could feel her heart beating so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest. The sexual tension was—well, tense.
Looking into Ben’s eyes, she searched for any sign that she was making a bad decision. The last thing she wanted was to be rejected by him, but she couldn’t risk not getting what she wanted simply because she was too timid to ask. Katherine was tired of being the quiet fearful girl who settled for whatever she got. She knew what she wanted and she was ready to go after it.
“Do you want to come upstairs?” She heard herself ask the question, still shocked that she would invite a man into her sacred personal space, after protecting it so carefully all this time.
Chapter Fourteen
Katherine
KATHERINE COULDN’T believe those words had just come out of her mouth. Why had she invited him up? But Ben was everything a real man should be. He made her feel safe, which was a welcome feeling after being afraid for so long. And the way he looked at her made her feel like the only woman in the room. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder if Ben was too good to be true. He seemed the exact opposite of Tim in so many ways. Would the fantasy end soon? She hoped it didn’t, but the cold reality of her life was always weighing on her.
When he opened the passenger door, she got out, her ribs still sore when she moved.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He glanced her way. “I noticed you winced when you got out of the car.”
She looked at him and smiled. “I’m okay. Just a little stiff.”
He was shaking his head, muttering something under his breath. “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I will never forgive myself for letting you out of my sight.”
“It’s fine. You couldn’t have known. I don’t blame you in any way. It was Tim. I did nothing wrong and neither did you. I’ve spent too many hours of my life wondering what I could have done differently. Or how I could have been a little better to keep him happy. Don’t let yourself get caught up in that kind of thinking,” she assured him.
She thought about the lie she had told earlier about Tim being gone. It was for the best. She had to protect Ben as best she could and that meant not letting him fight her battles. She would not bring this mess to his door.
He took her hand and together they headed up to her place. As expected, he walked in and checked the place out before he would let her leave the three-foot space by her front door.
�
�It’s clear,” he said, coming out of her bedroom.
“Do you want something to drink?” she asked, knowing from the look on his face that he had something else in mind.
The way he was walking towards her made her feel stalked, but in a far different way than it was with Tim. Ben had sex appeal, charisma and he was damn hot. She felt that familiar stirring low in her belly, not moving from where she stood in front of the door.
Reaching out, he gently pulled her into his warm embrace, leaning down and softly touching her tender lips with his own. Deepening the kiss, soon they both were breathing heavily.
“Katherine, I want you so badly,” he murmured, lightly running his hands down her arms.
“I want you too,” she replied, pushing herself against him.
“I’m almost afraid to touch you. I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, one hand resting softly on her hips.
Fearful, he would stop, she offered reassurance. “I’m okay, really.”
“I’m going to handle you with tender loving care, I promise.”
“Well, just in case, maybe I should take the top,” she volunteered, with a giggle.
The heat in his eyes, his breathing, and the flare of his nostrils told her he was just fine with that idea. His hands caressed her hips, pulling her close to him as his lips returned to hers. This time it was a sweet, gentle kiss. She let him set the pace, her heart beating faster with each passing second, his lips against hers, exploring and teasing.
He stepped away, grabbed her hand and led her towards the bedroom. He turned off the overhead light, flipping on the small bedside lamp instead. At first she hesitated, preferring he not see her battered body, but it was Ben. She reminded herself that he was safe.
“We don’t have to do this,” he whispered.
She shook her head. “Please,” she said, “I want to.”
His hands rested on either side of her face as he gently held her in place while his mouth danced over hers. His plunging tongue sent heatwaves through her body. She shivered with delight, ready to have the man join with her once again. The first time hadn’t been enough. She wanted him in every way.
She stepped back and slowly removed her dress, revealing the sexy teddy she had put on with the intention of him seeing it.
“Damn, you’re beautiful,” he told her, his hands brushing down her sides, fingering the lace and ribbons.
She slowly turned around, moving her hair out of the way, giving him easy access to the clasps that held the teddy on.
The tips of his warm fingers brushed over her neck before he deftly flicked a few clasps and the bodice fell forward. When she turned to meet his eyes, they were focused on her breasts, one hand reaching out to caress one pert nipple, then the other.
Her hands went to his shirt, yanking it from his waistband before quickly working the buttons, exposing his hard chest, the happy trail promising great things below the waist. She stepped close, both hands undoing his pants before stepping back and slowly pushing the pants down his long, muscular legs. She gasped at the sight of his erection, craving a small taste. She wanted to take him in her mouth.
Without warning, she dropped to her knees in front of him and did just that.
“Fuck,” he groaned, his body stiffening as her mouth slid down his hard shaft, taking him deep inside, the tip of his head tickling the back of her throat.
Her body immediately responded to his excitement. She felt herself growing wet between the legs, with little tingles of arousal spiraling throughout her body.
“Not now,” he groaned, stepping back, his dick sliding out of her mouth.
He helped her up before turning to sit on the bed, reaching out to her. “Lay down, sweetheart.”
She did as he asked, lying on her bed beside him. Her eyes met his before he began a slow perusal of her body, stopping and staring at the ugly bruising that had spread over her ribcage.
“It’s okay,” she assured him, not wanting him to stop.
He reached out, his fingers barely brushing the area before traveling south between her legs. She sucked in air through her teeth when he spread her folds, his fingers slipping inside. She moaned low in her throat as he expertly worked with her body, gently bringing her closer and closer to release.
“Let go, sweetheart, let go,” he murmured above her, dropping his mouth to hers, his tongue shoving inside her mouth, mimicking the two fingers pushing inside her body.
She could feel it happening. It was the orgasm she’d been craving since the last one he’d given her. Sex with him was amazing. She wanted him all the time. The things he could do to her body reminded her how good it was to be alive.
“Ben,” she said his name, knowing she was reaching the crest of the wave he had her riding.
The pad of his thumb found a beautiful G-spot, pressing and rubbing, sending her crashing down in a spiral of vibrations that had her body clenching every muscle.
“Damn, you’re so wet,” he murmured, pulling his head away from hers.
He helped her up, before sliding up to rest his head on her pillows, gesturing for her to mount him. She gingerly climbed onto the bed, his hands on her hips as she slowly moved over him. She reached between them, grabbing his hard shaft in her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. He jerked. She smiled, loving the feeling of power she had over him.
Her body was weeping, needing him to fill her. She held him in place, slowly sliding down and letting her body stretch to accommodate him as she moved. She heard a long moan of ecstasy escape her parted lips as she slid down. His hands moved to her hips, gently gripping.
“Oh damn,” she moaned when she was fully seated on him, her thighs squeezing his body.
“Your pace,” he grunted, his words stilted.
She smiled looking down at him, noticing the clenched jaw and the rapid breathing. She loved that he was that turned on for her. It was the first time in a long time she felt completely in control. The feeling was making her wet and hot as hell as she jerked her hips forward, pulling a grunt from him.
Her body took over, jerking and riding him like a skilled bronc rider. She completely lost control, her head dropped back, his hands on her breasts, squeezing and tugging as she let herself take the man deep inside her.
“Katherine!” he shouted her name from somewhere far away.
She was lost in the moment. Her body was possessed, chasing the sweet orgasm just out of reach. She wasn’t going to stop until she got it. His body was bucking under hers, pushing him deeper inside her passage. His grunts and shouts of pleasure were pushing her on as her body milked his.
Then, in an explosive combination of light and raw nerve endings, her body erupted. She screamed out in supreme pleasure. It overwhelmed her. Her body arched so hard, she feared her spine would snap in two. Her fingers dug into his pecs, holding on for dear life as her body shattered in spasms around him. She collapsed against his chest, her cheek resting between his defined pectoral muscles, her body still convulsing as his hands ran up and down her back, quietly soothing her overheated body.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, a little embarrassed for completely losing control.
She had a feeling his chest would have half-moon circles from where her fingers had dug into his flesh.
“Don’t be sorry. That was amazing,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“Did I hurt you?” she asked hesitantly.
His soft chuckled vibrated in his chest, causing her overly-sensitive breasts to send triggers of excitement straight between her legs with the touch, causing her to moan.
“Sweetheart, if that’s how you hurt me, I want you to do it again and again,” he assured her.
She giggled and slowly rolled off him, but didn’t get far. He pulled her back against him, pressing her head against his chest in a protective move that warmed her very soul. She shuddered in a series of post-climax aftershocks. Her hands moved over the place where she knew she had dug in.
“Are you sure?” she asked, loving
the feel of his hot skin under her hand.
“I’m very sure. You’re an amazing woman, Katherine,” he said, in a voice filled with admiration.
She smiled against his chest, kissing the area her nails had scoured. “Thank you.”
“Should I go?” he asked.
“No,” she said too quickly.
“Okay, let’s get you under the blankets before you freeze,” he said, moving to push the blankets down before snuggling under them and pulling her close to his body.
She sighed in contentment. This was what life could be like, she thought to herself. The feeling of being protected and safe was foreign to her, but she liked it. She never wanted to leave this safe little cocoon he created for her.
She suddenly remembered the suitcase and wondered if he’d noticed. If he had, he didn’t say anything, and she wasn’t going to bring it up and spoil the mood. She would allow herself this little slice of heaven and worry about Tim and all the rest of the baggage tomorrow.
Chapter Fifteen
Ben
BEN WOKE UP WITH A smile on his face. It was a smile of complete satisfaction and contentment. A beautiful woman was curled up next to him, her soft curves pressed against his much harder and hairier body. The bruises on her arms were evident in the bright light of the morning sun streaming through the white curtains. He hated to see the evidence of the attack she had endured. It was like a vice being squeezed around his heart.
She mumbled something in her sleep, rolling to her back, and nearly hitting him in the nose with the back of her hand. He turned his head, narrowly missing the accidental attack. She settled back into sleep, her face now resting against his bare chest.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her chin tilted up, her eyes opened and looked into his.
