The Benefactor

by Nana Malone

  I grinned. “Welcome home, or sort of home, I guess.”

  She laughed. “Long story, but I grew up between Canada and the UK. And Roone is English, so technically, it is home.”

  I marched over with my hand outstretched, and she took it and then also pulled me in for a warm hug. “It’s nice to meet you at last, and I’m excited to finally work with you in person.”

  “Right. Me too. Ah, I know I sent you the files already, but I figured if you want paper copies they’re here, and we’ll just wait for the rest of the team members, and we can have some breakfast while we wait.”

  As it turned out, there was no reason to worry about Jessa. She was warm. Friendly. Everything I could want in a boss. She was also sharp as a tack. Smart. And she gave Ben endless shit. Which, honestly, endeared her to me even more. At the end of the meeting, she gave me a warm smile. “Honestly, Olivia, you’re doing a fantastic job. I don’t think anyone else could have gotten this project in line, but you’ve done it.”

  “Well, it wasn’t always easy.”

  Ben just lifted his brow and rolled his eyes as he took a sip from his World’s Biggest Dick mug.

  Jessa just snorted. “I don’t think you’re taking that with the irony that you should be.”

  He glanced down at his mug. “It means I have a big dick, right?”

  Jessa and I exchanged glances, then howled with laughter.

  “Oh my God, Ben, thanks for the laugh. But before we adjourn, I wanted to invite you over to the house in Mayfair tomorrow night. I think there is a Team Winston Isles-London thing that needs to happen.”

  I frowned. “What’s Team Winston Isles?“

  She shrugged. “It’s a whole group of us. Those of us who have been shot at once or twice. We want to see if we can help with your situation.”

  Oh, hell. My eyes stung, and I blinked the sensation away rapidly. “You don’t even know me.”

  “Hey, you’re one of mine, which means I get to protect you too.”

  I didn’t know what to do with the warmth spreading from my chest. “You people are all crazy. I don’t need protecting.”

  “Well, however I can protect you, I will. So, no arguing with your boss.”

  I laughed. “Oh, my God, now you sound like Ben.”

  Ben’s laugh was a low rumble. “Trust me, my life would be a lot easier if she would just listen to me and do as I told her.”

  Jessa wasn’t having any of it though. It was nice to see someone besides myself put Ben in his place. But he seemed to have a lot of respect for her.

  “I’m excited that you’re on this team. Or both teams, and whatever the hell that means.”

  When she stood, I mimicked her actions. “I think this was productive. I’ll get the rest of these files over to Peterman and—” Ben brushed against me, and I stopped mid-thought, unable to find my words.

  He paused. There was a brush of his fingers across mine when I handed him the files, a touch of his leg pressed to mine. They were constant reminders that physically we were more than compatible. We combusted.

  At that point, I didn’t even care that I was weak. I didn’t care that Jessa was seeing me so affected by him. I just wanted his touch.

  Junkie.

  I was full-on strung out.

  But for the last couple of days, things had been different between us. Maybe I was beginning to understand the decisions he’d made better. He was trying to keep me safe. And he was right. There was a naïve part of me that thought I could just go back to my life the way it was. That when this was all over, I could pretend that none of it had happened and go back to being me. But the thing was, even if I didn’t want to, I was growing. I was changing.

  Just being able to focus and having what I needed made me excited again about the book. And that was all due to Ben. The real question was, what did I want from him long-term? Sure, there was a scorching heat between us, but I didn’t know if I was ready to let myself care about someone and lose myself again. Because he would leave. And it would hurt. But I was at a point that I almost didn’t care about the pain that might come.

  Livy

  I had to give him credit. He had more raw power than I thought. He also had more sex appeal than I had bargained on. Somehow, I’d thought I could get away with living with him, working with him, and just ignoring the magnetic pull of him. Somehow pretending that his Viking swagger didn’t exist. I thought I could go about my days with little concern about giving in, but ever since that night, when I had seen the anguish in his eyes, heard the vulnerability in his voice, held his hand until he fell asleep again, I was seeing the old Ben.

  The one who’d found out I was trying to finish my mother’s book and then given me research as a present. The one who, after reading several pages, told me that I was a fantastic writer and then immediately arranged an introduction to an editor. The one who wanted all the best things for me just because.

  But he kept you in the dark about why you’re in danger.

  I’d kept things from him as well. My actions hadn’t put him in danger exactly, but I should have told him. And holding on to this anger was doing no one any good.

  It felt like a safety net, but really, it was more like a cage, keeping me locked in. And the cage was keeping me in position for an evil who came calling.

  I knocked on Ben’s door with files for him to sign.

  “Come in,” his voice was terse when he spoke.

  When I peeked in, I saw he was on the phone. He waved me over, and I held up the files. He indicated I should come around the desk.

  “Yes, while I mentioned the property, that’s far too much. Kennedy, I’d like you to bring Jax in on this. You’re in a relationship. See if you can get the price lower. It’s not worth what he’s asking.”

  My former boss must have said something else, and Ben nodded as he opened one of the folders. “Yes, that’s it exactly. If you can’t charm him, then I’ll step in. But this is a bullshit negotiation tactic. You should be able to handle it.”

  When he hung up the phone, his gaze flickered to mine. “Kennedy asked about you.”

  “Oh, I’ll make it a point to go down and see her today.”

  His gaze tracked me as I moved around for him to sign. “Actually, if I’m being honest, she asked if you had me by the balls yet.”

  I grinned at that. “I’m sure you told her you’d never surrender them.”

  His voice dropped an octave. “On the contrary, I told her that you basically owned me.”

  I swallowed hard and watched as his strong fingers grasped the pen and signed with his usual flourish, Bennett James Covington. God, even that name was sex. It dripped money and refinement. But there was something just a little bit dirty about the way he held the pen. Like any moment he was going to shove it in his mouth and lick it.

  Or lick you.

  God, I had to get my mind off sex. No way was I going to admit to him that he was right, that he did make me want it. Every damn day. When we got home and he would whip off his tie, unbutton his shirt, and yank off his jacket before offering to make me a drink. There were a number of times I considered asking him to just give me an orgasm. But that wasn’t appropriate. Besides, I was mad at him then.

  And now?

  His fingers snapped in front of my eyes. “Earth to Livy.”

  I blinked. “Sorry, daydreaming. One last paper for you to sign.”

  He quickly scanned the paperwork and signed it. “There you are.” He handed the files back, his fingertips brushing mine, and I sucked in a short breath.

  These days, he was careful not to touch me, not to rub up against me, but he would stand just close enough so I might think he could… so I might want him to, or even worse, I might beg him to.

  His gaze flickered up at me, and I couldn’t help it. Once I met that icy-blue stare, I was riveted. Frozen. Unable to move away, even knowing it was probably better for me.

  Still, there I was, hip perched on his desk, files in my hand and unabl
e to drag my eyes away from him. His voice was barely a growl.

  “Jesus fucking Christ, if you don’t want this to happen, you have to stop fucking looking at me like I’m an ice lolly on a hot summer day. Because I guarantee I have just the lolly for you.”

  “I-I’m not doing it on purpose.” Okay I was doing it a little on purpose.

  “What the fuck do you call this? I can smell your goddamn perfume. Your shampoo.” His eyes rolled up. “God, every time you graze your fucking lips with your teeth, you have to know the effect you’re having on me. You think I don’t know you’re wearing garters under there? You’re killing me. So if you don’t want this, you should probably go.”

  He was right. I should go. I should hop down off his desk, grab the files, and take them back to Kevin for processing for Peterman.

  Except, I didn’t move.

  His eyes were blazing ice when they met my gaze. “Olivia. Tell me what you want.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what you want, Bennett?”

  His tongue peeked out and licked his bottom lip. “What I want to do right now is lift up your skirt and put my lips on that sweet little pussy. And I don’t plan on coming up, until you start shouting my name, so you need to go.”

  As if my panties weren’t already soaked when I walked in there. I didn’t know how he did that. He managed to make me forget everything about what I wanted, or thought, or dreamed. All with a look.

  I set the files on his desk and lifted my chin. “I want what you want. I’m tired of fighting you.”

  His gaze narrowed and skimmed over my body, pausing at my legs and snapping back to my eyes. “What is it you want? Be specific, Liv.”

  Specificity. Oh boy. I licked my lips again. I could do this. “I want your lips on me. I’ve missed your hands. I've missed the way that you groan when your dick slides inside me, like that’s the only place you ever want to be. I miss how when you’re kissing me, you always shove your hands in my hair. Even though you know you probably shouldn’t, you do it anyway because you would rather die than not kiss me. I miss you.”

  “Thank fuck. Because if I had to go one more minute without you, I really think my dick was going to snap off.”

  He scooted his chair over and settled me more firmly on his desk and gazed up at me. “Open wide. I’m going to make this last.”

  14

  Ben

  I swallowed hard.

  I might talk a good damn game, but I was a thirsty man fresh out of the desert, and I was almost asking with need.

  Her skirt proved to be a challenge, so I had to tug her to her feet. “Lose the skirt.”

  Her eyes on mine, she bit her lip. “Door’s not locked.”

  Christ. She had a point. I reached over to the remote and hit the lock button, the distant clicking sound only serving to make my muscles coil tighter. “On second thought, lose all the clothes.” Less chance of me tearing them off like a bloody animal that way.

  You sure about that?

  Her fingers played at her zipper as the smile danced in her eyes. “You’re very bossy.”

  “You like me bossy. And it’s either I tell you to hurry the fuck up so I can make you scream my name, or I rip your clothes off with the same end result. Only one of those scenarios allows you to walk out of here after a couple of hours like nothing happened. Your choice.”

  She tugged down her zipper smoothly then gently tugged on the soft fabric before batting her lashes at me. “I think I need help. This is all so complicated.”

  A smirk pulled at my lips. “Naughty thing. I guess we’re going with the ripped garments option. I’m good with that.”

  With a swift tug, I had her skirt pooling at her ankles. I left the panties, garters and shoes on though. She saw my impatience with the skirt and opted to help me with the buttons of her blouse. I hadn’t been kidding. I would have ripped it off to get access to her.

  When she was clad in her matching bra, knickers and garter set, I lifted her easily and placed her on the edge of my desk. “Now open.”

  “Is this good for you?” She raised a brow but parted her thighs for me. Just not as wide as I wanted them.

  I sunk into my chair and rolled up to her. “Now princess, teasing a thirsty man is very naughty and there will be consequences.” Planting my hands on the delicate skin on the inside of her knees, I parted her thighs wide. Wide enough to accommodate my shoulders.

  She gasped as she peered down at me. “Bennett…” Her voice was a whisper and a surprise.

  I watched in awe as heat suffused my body, making my skin tingle. “You are... complete perfection.”

  Livy braced her palms on my desk as she watched me with rapt attention. I changed my mind. No fucking way did I have the patience to tease now. With rough jerky movements, I pulled on the little bows at the side of her knickers and yanked off the fabric, the sound of the tear surprising me.

  When she gasped, I shrugged. “I warned you I was going to rip something.”

  Because I couldn’t hold myself back any longer, I pushed to my feet and kissed her deeply. She locked her legs around me and held onto my shoulders. I hissed when her fingernails dug into my flesh, and my cock throbbed against her heat. Electricity tingled up my spine. Without even trying, she could bring me to the brink.

  I wanted to stop time and hold on to this moment. She was mine, despite everything. We were meant to be together and I would do everything in my power to keep her.

  As my tongue slid over hers, my hands cupped her ass, and I edged her into position. She rocked her hips against my steel-like erection, and I knew I was going to need to change. She was fucking soaking me, and before I was done, I fully expected to have her scent all over me.

  She kept rocking her heated core against my cock, and I couldn’t get enough. All thought ceased as I kissed my way to her jaw, then to her collarbone, then down her torso to her belly button. Easing myself back into my chair, I gently blew a heated caress along the top of her sex.

  And then my tongue found her slick folds, and I lost any and all control. I devoured her.

  Oh. Holy. Hell.

  Heaven, she tasted like goddamn heaven. Sweet, like melted sugar on my tongue. I’d missed her taste. There was no way to prepare for how much tasting her was going to affect me. Whatever tenuous hold I had on my control was lost with my tongue inside her.

  I could no longer block out the emotion and the intimacy. I could hold nothing back from her now, so instead, I felt it all.

  Livy grabbed two handfuls of my hair and held on. My unrelenting fingers and tongue parted her folds, licking and stroking. My thumb traced circles over her clit and she cried out. Heated desire slammed though her, and blazing fire skipped over every nerve ending. Then I did the unexpected. Running my tongue down her slit to her dewy core, I used my tongue to fuck her.

  “Jesus. Oh my God.”

  “So…good,” I growled.

  This wasn’t enough. This would never be enough.

  She answered me with a breathy, “Y-yes, more. Please, more.” But the words were strangled in her throat.

  I went back to lazy strokes of her clit. Impatiently, she wiggled against me, and I muttered a curse. She wanted more. And I wanted to give it to her.

  I slid a finger inside, then nipped at her clit with my teeth. With her slick juices, I teased her ass with my middle finger. I sucked her clit hard as my middle finger eased past the tight ring of muscle.

  Her orgasm hit her hard, making her clamp her legs around my head as she thrashed.

  But I held her thighs wide as I dragged her back to the edge of ecstasy. For the time being, she was mine, and I wasn’t going to waste that time.

  I worked my fingers inside her, pretending they were my dick. Content to stay right there between her soft thighs, licking at her sweetness. I knew I was lucky she’d let her walls down around me. I wasn’t a fool. I could have lost her. Because of the secrets. Because of the omissions.

  I wasn’t taking any more chance
s. For her, I would break any oath.

  Her hands slid into my hair, nails scoring my scalp and sending a shiver of lust through my body. I squeezed my eyes shut. I could hold off.

  But Livy had other plans. Instead of holding me in position, she was trying to tug me up. The hint of pain only made me more desperate.

  “Bennett, please. Kiss me.”

  Hell. “I am kissing you.” I wanted to stay here. Here was safe... for the both of us.

  “You know what I mean.” She tugged harder.

  Shit. She was surprisingly strong given her size. I complied with the command of her hands. I could kiss her. But this was for her. She wasn’t going to tempt me into shagging her on my desk. As much as I would love that, when I was inside her again, I was going to take my damn fucking time. Go for that long slow round we’d been meaning to get to.

  I kissed my way up her body, pausing to kiss along her skin. I didn’t know if I’d ever get the chance to touch her again, so I wanted to savor the moment. By the time I kissed her belly button, her ribs, and the most perfect breasts I’d ever seen, I was beyond throbbing. A tingling had started in my spine.

  I reached her lips, certain I could get myself back under control. But she still pulled and tugged at my fingers. And my dick didn’t seem to get the memo that he wasn’t playing this round.

  As always, kissing her was explosive. Our lips together were a combustible charge, and I couldn’t stop the storm of desire. And then she locked her legs around me and started to rock her hips again.

  Holy. Fuck.

  Her heels dug into the top of my ass. Finally, frustrated, she tore her lips from mine and reached between us, dislodging my hand. “Hey, I was busy.”

  “Well, I want to be busy too.” My belt and zipper were no challenge for her deft fingers, and she shoved my trousers and boxers down.

  My dick sprang in front of her, begging for attention. “You see what you did to me?”

  She gave me an emphatic nod. “Good thing I have just the remedy.”

  With a slim, delicate hand wrapped around the base of my dick, she positioned me at her slick folds, teasing me enough to make me shake. “Livy,” I groaned. My next word was a growling benediction. “Fuuuuck.”