When we arrived, I spotted the pop star who had become my first celebrity client, and I smiled at the sight of her. She was very much pregnant, and she waved at me when she spotted me. She would be after the couture line as soon as the baby popped, if not sooner. The pop star made a beeline for me and hugged me tightly.
“Katie, you look stunning. You must tell me how you got the baby weight off.”
“Oh, it wasn’t easy, let me tell you.” I smiled, proud of my accomplishment.
“I have heard amazing things about your couture children’s line. I must have it when this little one pops out. I’m going to wait until we find out what we’re having, and then I will be putting in an order.”
“Of course. Just let me know. I’m surprised you’re waiting to find out.”
She giggled. “I know. I wanted to find out right away, but my man insists on waiting. I can’t believe it myself—I think he just likes torturing me. But either way, I will be all over the junior line of yours.”
“That’s wonderful. You have been one of my most loyal clients. I really do appreciate it.”
“Oh please, you are insanely talented. Your clothing is a work of art. I would be foolish not to grab it when I can.”
I thanked her again and excused myself from the conversation. I wanted to make sure that my assistant sent a gift basket to the pop star for her baby shower. I liked adding little touches like that for my best clients.
As Matt and I made our way to our table, we were approached by Ben. I had wondered if he was going to be at the event, as he usually found his way to these sorts of things. I was surprised, however, that he had the balls to approach us, but he may have felt safe since there were a lot of people around. I refused to have a scene at the event, however, so I plastered a smile on my face and vowed to be polite. I just hoped that Matt would do the same thing.
“Hello, Matt, Katie, how are you both? I’m glad to see you here. I bet it brings you back to Africa, doesn’t it?”
I smiled warmly. “Yes, I think about it often. I would love to go back one day, but it’s not in the foreseeable future I’m afraid. Maybe when Bella is old enough to come with me, it would be a wonderful lesson for her.”
Ben nodded. “Indeed. You should have brought little Bella. I would have loved to have met her.”
I nodded. “Not at this age. It probably wouldn’t be much fun for anyone. Babies and benefits don’t typically go together.”
Ben chuckled. “Yes, I guess you’re right.”
I periodically glanced at Matt while I talked with Ben. He didn’t once speak or even break into a smile. He just stared hard at Ben, and I hoped to god he wasn’t going to say something awful. I grew more annoyed as the conversation continued. Why couldn’t he just smile or be amiable? Would that be so terrible? He could at least be polite, show me that he had put things about Ben behind him. Our future depended on it, and yet there he was acting like a stone wall, not doing anything normal.
Ben turned to Matt. “I’ve noticed that your team is doing quite well out there these days. Congratulations, you must be one hell of an owner.”
I looked at Matt to see how he was going to handle the situation, and I was shocked to see him glaring at Ben. Oh dear, he was going to make a scene, and that was the last thing I wanted or needed. I just wanted to enjoy myself for one evening without any drama. If the night went badly, I knew that I would hear about Ben on the way home, and I dreaded having that talk for the hundredth time.
“I have stayed quiet long enough, Ben, and I think it’s about time that I make myself perfectly clear to you once and for all. I want you to stay the hell away from my family. You have no reason in the world to need to talk to Katie, and I want it to stop immediately.” Matt practically hissed out the words, spittle coming out of his mouth.
I gasped, shocked by his words, my face burning with embarrassment. Ben just stared at Matt, his mouth a thin line. I could just imagine what was going through his head. I took a deep breath and turned to Matt.
“What are you doing? You are acting completely untoward. Ben has been nothing but polite to us this evening.”
Matt turned to me, and he didn’t appear as if he was about to back down for a minute. I didn’t like the look he had in his eyes. He was certainly angry, and just the sight of him was causing me heaps of embarrassment. I felt humiliated that the man I had married was behaving in such a way in front of Ben. What must he think of me and my choices to look at me that way?
“What I find interesting, Katie, is that you defend Ben every chance you get. Now, why is that, do you think?”
I looked at him, appalled. What the hell was the matter with him? I looked at Ben and saw that he was biting his tongue in a big way. He took a deep breath and nodded to the both of us. “If you two will excuse me, I think I need a drink.”
I watched Ben walk toward the bar, and then I turned to Matt. “How could you behave in that way? After all the talks we’ve had about Ben, you think it’s okay to behave this way? How am I ever going to be able to deal with this? It’s too much.”
He rolled his eyes. “Please don’t start with me, Katie. I’m not in the mood. The guy had a lot of nerve walking up to us, don’t you think?”
I shook my head. “He was just being polite, and it’s okay for me to speak with the man in social settings without you pitching a fit. Ben and I were together almost two years ago. Two years! It wasn’t even a long-term relationship—it was over before I knew it. You are behaving like a fool over someone that I dated a lifetime ago. When are you going to grow up?”
I didn’t wait for a response from him; I turned and walked away from him. I needed some time to clear my head. I was disgusted by his behavior, and I required some immediate distance from him. Things weren’t getting better between us, that much was obvious. He was never going to be able to let go of his feelings about Ben, and those thoughts were destroying us. We were going to continue to have these same fights endlessly, and I didn’t think that I could bear it any longer.
I headed to the bar, wanting a drink as well, and I longed to down a few shots. I wouldn’t, of course, but I couldn’t help feeling that way. When I sidled up to the bar, Ben was still there, and even though I had no right to be, I was annoyed with him.
“I just can’t seem to get rid of you, can I, Ben?”
“It’s not like you to be mean, Katie. I’m sorry for approaching you. I keep making mistakes around you, it seems.”
I ordered a glass of wine and sipped at it before finally turning to him. “Yeah, saying hi probably wasn’t the best idea. But it’s not your fault. You were just trying to be nice, and I couldn’t control Matt’s behavior even if I wanted to.”
“I guess I’m just a nice guy,” he said, laughing.
“Let’s not get ahead of yourself there. You’re not really that nice.”
He chuckled, but he sounded sad. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that one.”
“Matt’s pretty pissed at me. God, I don’t know how we’re going to salvage this night. But I probably should go and find him and try to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Katie, but Matt left.”
“Excuse me?” I said as I took a sip of wine. I felt panicky, and suddenly fear started to crawl up my spine as I tried to understand what Ben was saying to me.
“Yes, I’m afraid your husband has left the event. I was watching you guys argue after I left, and as soon as you walked away from him, he left the party. My driver told me he walked right out to his car, but he never came back in.”
“You’re lying to me. Why are you saying this?”
“I’m not lying. He left you again. He keeps leaving you.”
I stared at him in shock. He couldn’t be right. I would not believe that my husband would abandon me at an event, leaving me with no way to get home. He just wouldn’t do something like that to me. I took out my phone and dialed his number. The phone rang for a while and then finally went to voice ma
il. My stomach dropped and I didn’t know what to say. Matt never ignored my phone calls, not ever. He never shut off his phone, especially if we were out somewhere together. He was deliberately ignoring me, and I couldn’t believe it. What had come over him? He always kept his phone on just in case we got separated. I tried the number again, and it once again went to voice mail.
I looked up at Ben, who was watching me, and my face burned with embarrassment. My husband really had walked out on me and left me at an event alone. I would have to call for a driver, and that was just the shittiest thing for Matt to have done to me. He didn’t even say goodbye to me; he had just walked out. I was in shock when I took a seat at the bar. I was clearly not going anywhere anytime soon. I couldn’t believe my miserable luck. It really took very little to set Matt off these days.
I gulped my glass of wine and quickly ordered another one. I decided to take it easy on the second one so that I wouldn’t get kicked out of the event. I turned to Ben and made a poor attempt at smiling at him. He knew my husband was behaving like a jerk, and it made me feel stupid that he constantly saw Matt at his worst.
“You are gorgeous tonight, if that makes you feel any better.”
I chuckled. I knew he was trying to cheer me up, and I appreciated it. I had a hard time smiling, however. All I wanted to do was get my hands on Matt and strangle the life out of him. Matt just kept on disappointing me, and I didn’t understand why he couldn’t let go and be the husband that I needed. Instead, he continued to be a buffoon. It was embarrassing, to say the least.
“Well, I guess it can’t hurt being stunning when your heart is breaking. At least I have something.” I finished my drink and motioned to the bartender to bring me another.
“That’s a lot of wine in a short period of time, Katie. I know you’re upset, but don’t get carried away.”
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do. I already have one husband that does that.”
“True, but I assure you that getting wasted is not going to make this situation any better. You need to deal with it, once and for all. You need to face it head on, and you can’t do that if you are drunk or hungover. You’re better than that, Katie.”
I looked over at him and felt grateful that he was looking out for me. But wasn’t that what he always did? He was always there, even in the background, watching out for me. “Can you please take me somewhere else? I can’t be here right now at this place, and I can’t go home right now. I don’t want to see Matt.”
He looked at me and held my gaze before saying, “Are you sure that’s really what you want?”
“Yes, absolutely. I can’t be here right now. I have to get out of here.”
He grasped my hand, and I followed him out of the main dining area. I hadn’t even had a bite to eat of the exquisite meal that was to be served that evening. Everything had spiraled out of control, and my head was still spinning from it all. I felt foolish every time I thought of Matt, and I wanted to be anywhere but there. Somewhere that could allow me a few moments to think of something else.
I was pretty sure that my marriage was over. I couldn’t stay married to a man that was bound and determined to make me miserable. Leaving me alone at an event that we had gone to together was just too sickening to think about. Did he even love me at all? What was I supposed to say to the other guests about his rapid departure? It was foolish and I was tired of feeling the way that I did.
“Can you wait here a moment?” I stood outside the door to the dining room and waited while Ben disappeared.
20
Chapter Twenty
Katie
It wasn’t long before Ben returned to my side. “Are you ready?” I nodded. “Okay, let’s go.”
I couldn’t be sure why I was following Ben; it just felt like the right thing to do. I had made so many mistakes in my life, and I just wanted to do something right for once. Being around Ben felt real, and that was what I needed. I had no idea where he was taking me, but I was relieved to be out of the event. It had felt suffocating in there, and I couldn’t stand to be around people at that point. Matt had not returned any of my calls, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. How dare he treat me in that manner? I didn’t deserve it, and I wasn’t going to put up with it any longer.
I followed Ben to the elevator, and he pressed the button. He must have had a room in the hotel; he often did that during an event instead of driving all the way back to his own home. When the elevator opened, we stepped inside and he pressed the button for the penthouse suite. We rode up to the most luxurious suite in the entire hotel. I looked over at Ben and was unsure of how I felt at that moment. I couldn’t be sure of what would happen once we got up to the suite, but I lacked the ability to care. I was pissed at Matt, and I knew I would have to deal with him eventually, but as far as I was concerned, we were finished. I could no longer continue living that way, and Matt clearly had no intention of changing at all. I had given him more than enough chances to move on from my past and make me happy, and he continued to blow those chances every single time.
When the elevator doors opened, I looked around the penthouse, appreciating it for its value. It was a gorgeous suite, and I liked the way it was laid out. Ben came up behind me, and he gently put his mouth on my shoulder, causing chills to go up my spine. I turned around to face him and kissed him full on the mouth. Our tongues molded together with heat building up between us. I moaned, aching in every part of my body for him. It felt like we had never been apart.
He kissed my mouth, my chin, and lingered on my neck, nipping his way down. He was setting fire to every part of me.
“Please, I need you now. Please don't make me wait.”
He picked me up and carried me to the master bedroom. I noticed the room had items scattered around.
“Have you been staying here?”
“No, but I had hoped you would end up here with me, and I wanted to claim you as mine.”
“Really? You planned to have me here?” I was shocked.
“Well, I didn't think Matt would make it quite so easy, but yes, I did intend on making you mine again, in body, if not in mind.”
“I missed you, Ben.”
“God, darling, I missed you too.”
“It looks like you have something rough in store for me.”
“Well, I think you’ve been bad, darling, keeping me away from your beautiful pussy for so long. I haven’t stopped thinking about you in two years.”
“Bad?”
“Yes, and you need to be punished. A good, hard fucking should make you see where you belong.”
I couldn’t believe how wet I was getting just from him talking to me. I began to undress, sliding the straps of my lace gown off my shoulders and letting the gown fall to the floor. I was completely nude underneath the dress, and I smiled as he looked me over. He undressed, showing me a completely rock-hard cock ready to punish me just the way that he wanted.
He led me to the bed and bent me over, holding both of my arms behind me back, holding me down. I knew he was going to take me from behind. He picked up a paddle and slapped my bottom with it. I gasped and swore I could cum just like that.
“You’re mine, Katie.”
I moaned loudly, loving his words.
“Say it. Tell me your mine.”
“I’m yours, Ben. I’m all yours. Take me.”
He paddled my ass again and drove his cock into me. I cried out, and he plunged in deeper and deeper every time. I was moaning so loudly that I’m sure he was losing his mind. He always used to tell me it was the best sound in the world.
I didn’t know how much I could take, and I came all over his cock. He flipped me over, putting his hands around my throat, and my voice caught just as he plunged his cock into me. I got completely foggy and light-headed. I thought I would pass out. He released my throat, pumping inside me hard and fast. I came so hard my whole body rocked.
“Oh Ben, you feel so good. I can’t stand it.”
“O
h baby, you are perfect. Every part of you. You are so wet. I need to be inside you all the time.”
I came again, feeling completely taken by this man. I didn’t know if I could ever leave his side again. He had stayed with me for years. Just waiting for me.
“Mmmm baby, I’ve been thinking about you fucking me all day.”
“I missed you so much.”
“God, you are dripping so much.” He whispered in my ear, his voice husky. His words were only for me. My mouth found his hot and wanting. Our tongues tangled together, and I gasped at the taste of him. My pussy was throbbing for his cock, and I couldn’t understand the power he had over my body. He made me ache to be fucked by him.
His hands were on my breasts, kneading them, and I moaned when he pinched one of my nipples. My hand reached behind him and grabbed his ass, and I squeezed it hard thinking about what his powerful thrusts could do to me. He moved inside of me flawlessly, and I moaned with every thrust. He kissed my lips and then moved down to my jaw line and then my neck. He pumped his cock into me rhythmically, making my pussy wetter. He bit my neck, and it caused me to grip him tighter around the waist.
“Oh baby, your cock is so big.”
“You like that, don’t you darling. You like being fucked by my big cock?”
“Oh yes. Please fuck me harder.”
With that, I got exactly what I asked for. He pounded against me over and over again, his cock buried deep inside of me. He was so deep that I could feel his balls slapping up against me.
“Oh god, that feels good. Oh baby, you fuck me so good.”
The Promise of Love Page 16
