by Lana Love
“There are lots of jobs in Fairview. Have you ever considered moving?”
I look at Ben quickly and my mind races at the possibilities – not just of a new, better job, but of also being closer to him. I’ve avoided thinking about what happens when he goes back home.
“It’s tempting, Ben. You have no idea.”
“I think I have an idea. I don’t know if you realize how happy it would make me, too, if you were in Fairview. I wouldn’t let anything ever come between us. Do you realize how much I care for you?”
My heart expands and I realize that in the middle of the most difficult thing I’ve ever faced, I’ve found something special with Ben. The kiss wasn’t a fluke and what I felt was real. Is real. I put my bottle of beer down and move so that I’m sitting next to Ben, our legs touching.
“I think I’d like to hear more about this.” I smile at Ben, then lean over and kiss him on the lips. Ben kisses me back and I feel happier than I have in months. For once, it feels like things are going my way.
“Was that enough? Because I can talk about this all night long, if you like.”
“Yes, please.”
The moment that Ben’s lips meet mine again, there’s a banging at the front door.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Ben asks, his green eyes suddenly alert.
“No, I’m not,” I say as we walk to the front door.
I open the door and my heart sinks.
Chapter 6
Ben
The way Leah’s face crumples and falls when her boss appears at her front door, something shifts deep inside of me and I move to stand in front of her.
“Why are you here?” I stare at her boss, disgusted that he’s shown up here. I’ve seen the way this jackass looks and talks to Leah, and my fists clench and ache to punch him in the nose. He blinks quickly and squints his eyes at me, but doesn’t talk to me directly.
“Leah. If I can have a word?” He talks to her like he owns her and I’m not standing in front of Leah.
“Do you need something, Mr. Whipple?” Leah thrusts her chin forward, but her voice trembles. When she grabs my hand with hers, she squeezes so tightly that it hurts. “We can talk here. Ben can hear whatever it is you have to say. I trust him completely.”
Mr. Whipple shifts the weight of his feet and looks surprised. I’m guessing that Leah always goes along with whatever he says, which makes sense given how she’s described the lack of job opportunities here in town. I’m so proud of her for challenging him.
“Well, I came to ask if you are ready to start talking about putting this house on the market. It’s no secret that you have to sell, and you know that I know the local real estate markets. I’ll forgive you to talking to a different agent.” He laughs smugly and tension coils in my body.
“Mr. Whipple. I’ve already talked to another agent. I don’t need your opinion or your help.”
I put my arm around Leah shoulder and pull her tightly to me. Leah is mine.
“You know how fast the things move around here, despite this being a small town. And this house,” he says moving his hand in a large gesture and trying to lean in and look around the house. “This house is in a prime location and I know I can sell it in an instant. Why don’t you just let me come in and have a look around.”
“I don’t think so.” Leah’s voice is audibly shaking now and a rage courses through my veins.
Mr. Whipple ignores her and steps into the house. I put my hand on his chest and stare at him as he glares at me with his small, beady eyes.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” The color of embarrassment and anger rises in his face.
“Leah did not invite you in, so you are not invited. Is that clear?” My body is humming with adrenaline and my fingers are twitching. This guy is a piece of work in the worst possible way and it makes me angry that he’s Leah’s boss.
“Get out of my way. I don’t know who you think you are, but you have no idea who I am.” He pushes my arm, unable to move me, then sidesteps my arm and steps into the house.
The world slows for a moment and then my fist is launching and it hits him square in the middle of his face. The distinct crunch of his nose breaking is the only sound.
“She said no. Now leave before that happens again.”
He looks at me, his eyes wild as he holds his hands to his nose to try and stop the bleeding. He looks from me to Leah and back to me. Wisely, he turns and walks down the pathway to the sidewalk.
My hand shakes as I close the door. Adrenaline is still flooding through my system. I’m not afraid to get into fights and I will always defend the people who are important to me, but the honest truth is that I don’t like to fight. But there’s something satisfying about a physical altercation and establishing dominance. And some weaselly man in a cheap suit is not dominant to me.
I turn to Leah, not sure what to expect from her. Her eyes are wide as she looks at me.
“I shouldn’t have done that. I…”
“It’s… I don’t want to say it’s okay, but… It’s not the end of the world? Though I have to admit I’m a bit scared to go into work tomorrow, because I know he’ll make my life hell. He’s a petty man and he knows how hard jobs are to come by unless there at the mill.”
“Then quits. I was serious when I asked you to come to Fairview. There are so many more jobs there and I can take care of you and look out for you.” More than anything, I want to save her from this life that is causing her nothing by heartache and despair. I want give her a life she loves, and I want to love her and be loved by her.
“Are you serious?” Her voice is soft as she looks up at me.
“I am absolutely serious, Leah. Let’s sit down and talk.”
I guide her back into the living room and we sit back down on the couch. I hold her hands in mine and carefully watch her face.
“That would be a really big step.”
“It would be. But Leah, you know it’s the right decision.” I take a deep breath and steady my nerves. No one tells you just how difficult it will be when you’re going to lay your heart on the table in front of the woman you love. “It’s impossible to deny that there is something between us, something unbreakable. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re the woman for me. I know you and I love you.”
I look at Leah and watch her reaction, and I realize I’ve never felt this scared. My life is riding on her answer. As her lips form into a smile, it feels better than winning the lottery. Having all the money in the world would mean nothing if I didn’t have Leah.
“You really feel that way about me?” Leah reaches up and runs her hand along my jaw.
“I do, Leah. I liked you when we were younger and seeing you again? It makes me realize that I was a fool for ever letting you go, back then. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are the only woman I will ever love.”
“I…” Leah’s mouth opens and closes as she struggles for words. Her voice is quiet, yet firm when she finally speaks. “Yes! I’ll do it. I love you, too!”
“Sweetheart, I’m so glad to hear you say that. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you would said no.”
“Do you want to know a secret?” She pauses and bites her lip. After I nod my head, she continues. “I feel the same way about you. I liked you so much in high school and it terrified me. When I saw you again the other day, all of those emotions came rushing back. And spending time with you has only shown me that everything I believed to be true about you in high school, that it was true and is still true. You are the only man for me.”
Leah kisses me with her full lips and my body is hungry to make love to Leah.
“Words aren’t enough to tell you how happy you make me, Leah. But there’s something that we need to do. Right now.”
Chapter 7
Leah
This is the best day,” I say, reaching over and running my fingers through Ben’s light hair. I want to be as close to him as possible. I want to give him what I’ve be
en saving for someone special.
“It’s about to get a lot better.”
“Oh! I can finally tell Mr. Whipple that I quit! I didn’t think this day could be any better, but it is!” A wave of excitement rushes over me and I giggle uncontrollably. “Oh my God! I am so not going to miss that job.”
“I want you to have the best life possible, Leah. I will do everything in my power to make you and keep you happy.”
“You really are wonderful, you know.” I squeeze his hand tightly and feels so thankful that he loves me, too.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” he teases, squeezing my hand back. “But don’t tell my friends that,” he laughs. “I wouldn’t hear the end of it if they knew I was really a softie.”
“Don’t worry, Ben. Your secret is safe with me.” I love that he’s different with me, that I brought out this side of him that he doesn’t share with anyone else. He makes me feel so special, that it takes my breath away. Now that he’s in my life, I can’t imagine how I ever made it this far without him. He’s the piece of me that I didn’t even realize existed.
“Now come with me. There’s one room in this house I haven’t seen yet, and I want to.”
“I might have guessed that’s where you want to go.” I smile and take his hand, and lead him upstairs and to my bedroom. I’ve always planned it would be the last room I deal with, since it’s mine.
“It’s a nice room. I can’t wait to show you my bedroom.” Ben comes over to me and holds my face as he kisses me. “What’s important is that I make love to you and show you just how much I love you.”
I return his kiss, the passion I feel blinding me to anything else but Ben. His hands pull at my clothes and bolts of erotic electricity shock me as his hands touch my bare skin. Shivers of excitement run through me, especially as I realize I’m not scared for him to see me naked. I’ve always been scared to let a man see me naked, but I trust Ben. He’s proven that he loves me and loves my body, just as it is.
Ben’s lips on mine, he moves us over to the bed and I laugh into our kiss as we fall through the air and onto my soft bed.
“I’m so ready for this. For you.” My breathing is fast and jagged as we pause long enough for Ben to stand back up and take off his clothes. “Oh, wow. You’re gorgeous.”
I bite my lip as I stare at his perfect body. Narrow waist, broad shoulders, more muscles than I can possibly count. He looks sexier than a movie star and I have to pinch myself to remind myself that he’s real, that what we have is real. Finding Ben was like winning the lottery for love, only our love will become richer than money could ever make us.
“You’re gorgeous, too, you know,” Ben says, climbing into my bed and pressing his body against mine. He moves his hand over my body, from my legs to my stomach, before lingering his touch on my breasts. “Your body is perfect.”
“It’s not too…too much for you?” I ask, a wave of insecurity suddenly crashing over me.
“Too much? Oh hello no. You are gorgeous exactly how you are. I wouldn’t have you any other way, than how you are now or how you want to be in the future. My love is for you and I will always love your body, too. These things are not separate.”
“Oh, Ben.” Tears of happiness prick at my eyes, and then we’re kissing again, but it’s fierce this time. It’s like we can’t get close enough, can’t taste each other enough. My skin burns with heat and a different fire builds inside of me, making me squirm. “I need you,” I whisper.
“I want you on top. I want to watch you as you begin learning how wonderful sex is,” Ben says. His green eyes are filled with love and tenderness, and they erase any traces of self-consciousness I still have.
“But… I… This is my first time. I don’t know how to do anything.” I look at Ben, feeling so uncertain.
“Trust your body, Leah. I want to touch every part of your body, always.” Ben caresses me as I move myself over his hips. “Just do what comes naturally, at the pace it feels natural for you. Don’t worry about me.”
I feel Ben’s cock bumps against my core and I suddenly understand what he means. My body grinds down against his cock, hungry for it. Ben holds his cock for me, and I slide onto him, crying out from how good it feels. He’s so big, but my body takes over and my hips move over him, taking him a little bit deeper each time.
“Oh, God. You feel so amazing!” Ben groans as his body moves beneath me. His hands are gripping onto my hips, and I like how it feels. He moves one of his hands around my back and pulls me so that we’re chest to chest.
“This… Oh! Yes, right there!” My body is lit up from inside, a pleasure building up inside of me that is bigger than anything I’ve felt before. It feels as big as my love for Ben, and it takes my breath away. I don’t know how I can feel so much without it exploding from it all.
Ben claims my mouth in a hot kiss and wraps his arms around me and holds me so tightly. I grind down on to him, my core hot with desire and a blinding need to have him deep inside of me. Ben thrusts up into me and something otherworldly takes us both over. We’re kissing and touching our bodies are moving together faster and faster.
“Oh my God! I think I’m about to come!” What we’re doing with our bodies feels nothing like how my body does when I masturbate. This is so much more powerful and addictive.
“Yes, baby! Come on my cock! Give yourself over to me!” Then wraps his lips and tongue around one of my nipples and sucks so hard that I scream out in pleasure. My hips grind on his cock faster and faster and harder, my body aching as it works to push itself over the edge. And then I’m coming, and my juices are flowing over and as my body shakes and pushes down, hungry for even more.
“That was amazing!” I pant, slowly moving my hips over Ben. I feel so sensitive and he is so hard inside of me, that I don’t know if I need a break. “I want more. I want you to feel as good as I do.”
Ben makes a sound like a growl and wraps his arms around me, and flips me over so that I’m on my back.
“Let me know if this too much for you,” Ben says as his hips start plunging his cock deep inside of me, faster and faster. I spread my legs as wide as I can and push my hips up to meet his thrusts.
“Give me more, then. Please!” There’s a new hunger inside of me and it’s fueled by my love for Ben and how making love with him feels. I never imagined that sex could feel like this, but I know that this is more than just sex… It’s a pure expression of our love.
Ben lowers himself to me and kisses me deeply as his body shakes and he plunges deep into my core. I wrap my arms around him and hold him so tightly.
“You are so beautiful when you come, Leah. You have no idea.” Ben gently puts his hands on the side of my face and pulls my mouth to him and gives me and tender kiss. As we lay in bed together, his hands never leave my body.
“That tickles!” I wiggle around in bed as Ben starts intentionally tickling the curve of my hips.
“I didn’t know you were ticklish.” Ben’s lips twitch devilishly as he puts a leg over mine and starts tickling me in earnest.
“Neither did I! Stop, please!” I’m laughing and I love this moment with Ben, but the sensitivity of my skin right now is astounding. “Thanks,” I say, grabbing at his hand and holding it in mine.
“There is a lot to learn about you, my darling Leah.”
“And we have a whole lifetime for that, Ben. I love you so much that it feels like I’m going to burst. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” Tears of happiness well up and Ben kisses them away from my eyes.
“You’re the most important part of my life, Leah. I will always love you and always take care of you. You are mine.”
Epilogue
Are you ready yet?” Ben calls up the stairs to me and I can tell he’s impatient to go to dinner.
“I’m coming, Ben!” I called him, checking my makeup and hair one final time, to make sure it’s perfect. Satisfied with how I look, I head downstairs to meet Ben.
“That’s wh
at you said an hour ago,” he teases, fox-whistling at me as I come down the stairs. “You look fucking amazing and that dress, Leah.”
“And I hope to be saying that again after dinner, too.” I give Ben a quick kiss on the lips, then pull back when he starts to deepen the kiss. “You’re going to make us late for dinner,” I tease, putting my arm through his.
Everything has changed so much in the last year with Ben. Every minute of every hour is better and better. Every love song on the radio describes only a tiny percentage of how I feel for him. I’m doing my best to hide it, but I have a special surprise for Ben tonight. I’ve been bursting with the news for days now, but I wanted to save it for tonight so that our anniversary can be even more special.
“Would you care for dessert?” The waiter asks, looking from me to Ben and back to me. I look over the menu and I can’t decide between the molten chocolate cake or the mixed berry cobbler.
“Can you give us a few minutes to decide?” Ben asks, pulling the dessert menu for my hands as the waiter walks away.
“Do you want to choose?” Ben always lets me choose, because he’s not much of a dessert person. He’s happy to have one or two bites of whatever I order. We’ve been together a year now and he still won’t tell me if he has a favorite dessert, always saying that’s a taste of what I have is more than enough for him.
“Leah, my love. Happy anniversary. I’ve already chosen.” I look at Ben and smile, because he looks amazing in his dress shirt and sport jacket. He refuses to wear a tie, but he still looks perfect.
“Is everything okay? You look so serious.”
“Leah, I love you more than life itself. If you would choose me to be your husband, it would make me happier than any man in the world.”
I’ve known this was coming, because we’ve talked about getting married, but my emotions at him finally popping the question overwhelm me. He reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out a beautiful blue velvet box. I gasp when he opens it and I see the prettiest, most sparkling diamond ring that I’ve ever seen.
