Looking at Ben, she said, “No thank you. We have other plans.”
With the waiter gone, Ben stood taking her hand.
“Don’t you have to pay?” she asked.
“It’ll be on my bill. Come.”
He led her back to the lobby toward the elevators entwining his fingers with hers. Pushing the button for the sixth floor, he turned to her moving ever closer. Without a word, he pressed his body against hers. His lips brushed her ear before gently taking the lobe into his mouth. Slight licks against it were followed by a soft stroke of her arm. Her heart pounded against his chest as she leaned into him wanting more.
The elevator pinged as the doors opened ending their taste of what was to come. Taking her hand again, they walked toward his suite at the end of the hallway. The room wasn’t as large as she expected but elegantly appointed. There was a small sofa with a coffee table and two upholstered chairs. Off to the side was a small dining table for four. To the left was the bedroom with an exquisite king-sized bed.
Dropping the keycard on the table, he slowly removed his tie and jacket with his eyes fixed on hers. Then he came toward her again. Taking her face in his hands, he softly kissed her letting his tongue ease into her mouth. Her skin warmed to his touch being as smooth as he’d imagined. Desire for her coursed throughout his body. He wanted her… every luscious curve, but he was determined to take his time to savor every moment, every smell… the very taste of her.
The firmness of his body pressed against hers weakened defenses her brain tried to muster. Everything about this was reckless as hell, but she was drawn to him. Taking hold of his shoulders, she kissed him deeper probing his mouth as her hands moved from his shoulders to his chest. Carefully unbuttoning the finely tailored shirt clinging to his masculine frame, she kissed the notch of his neck. With each button released, her lips and tongue explored before returning to his mouth.
Ending the kiss, he bent slightly picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom. Setting her gently on the bed, he knelt down in front of her easing off the simple pumps. Stroking her feet and legs, his hands moved purposefully up and between her legs. Kissing and licking while teasing her inner thighs with his fingertips, she gasped. He then removed his hands as effortlessly as he had placed them. Gripping the sides of her blouse, he lifted it over her head. Leaning toward her, he kissed her belly before removing her skirt.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered while taking off his clothes. Fully naked, he stood before her without a shred of shame.
He was beautiful… every inch of him. Sliding her panties and bra off, she scooted further up on the bed until her head rested on the plush pillows. With inviting eyes, she reached out drawing him on top of her. Their slow and deliberate kisses became more fevered as he writhed over her body. Inching lower, he watched her face as his tongue explored her breasts and probed her inner recesses. Her plumped folds opened for him with each lick and touch. He had to have her. Wrapping his hands tightly around her hips, her legs spread even further inviting him in.
Guiding his tip inside her, he toyed and teased before plunging deeper. Her inner warmth and softness were breathtaking. In and out he moved as her hips rose to meet every stroke offered. Soon he was lost to the gloriousness of her. Each moan and wail of pleasure coming from her sent his head spiraling toward rapturous joy. He couldn’t recall an orgasm as powerful as what he experienced with her. He understood why this act, this human act he’d done countless times, was much more than procreation or recreation… somehow with Deborah, it touched the universal divine.
CHAPTER 8
The past two weeks had been glorious. At the end of each workday, Ben sent a car for her. They’d have dinner and talk about all manner of things followed by extraordinary orgasmic sex. Nights spent with him were the most erotic she’d ever experienced. He unleashed feelings she didn’t think were possible. Whenever she caught herself fantasizing about him, she’d reign in those thoughts. The truth was she didn’t know how things would end. He lived in London. For all she knew this was a fling… a passionate, remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime fling with a man who had the capacity to awaken every fiber of her being… and somehow touch her soul.
When her cell phone vibrated on the table, she smiled when she saw PRIVATE. Ben was calling.
“Hello, my pet.” The mere sound of his voice aroused her even through the phone.
“Hi.” She didn’t like him calling her ‘pet’ despite knowing it was a British phrase. It felt… possessive.
“Anything new and interesting in the papers today?”
“Afraid not. This part isn’t sexy. I’m simply inventorying items by year and placing them in Mylar wraps and acid-free folders. This is the quick and easy part, relatively speaking.”
“Surely you’re reading as you go?”
“It won’t make much sense until I finish this. Then I can begin properly cataloging. Since most of it’s in French, it’s going to take some time. Even for you.”
“Have you opened the crates?”
“No. They’re far heavier than they look. I think the real treasure is in the papers.”
“When is a good time for me to come over to review them with you?”
“Don’t worry, Ben. You’ll be the only other set of eyes on this once I get through everything. Okay?”
“Don’t keep me waiting too long,” he said.
“Eager, are we?”
“Insatiable, in more ways than one.” He chuckled.
“Who said Englishmen aren’t sexy?”
“A lie concocted by the French!” He laughed.
Her voice softened. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“My chariot awaits.”
Damn it! He’d have to be patient, but he would only wait for so long. As much as he enjoyed her company, there was a limit on how much time he was prepared to invest in this ruse. Fortunately, Bertram still believed he was the donor, as did Deborah and her colleagues. The additional donation for staffing kept any further inquiries into his background at bay… for now. If the veneer unraveled, it would require far more drastic measures to get the information he needed in that Collection to find Asira.
Deborah continued carefully placing another piece of paper inside the thin wrap. She hadn’t noticed Megan standing in the doorway.
“Oh, hi. What’s up?” Deborah asked.
“How’s it going?”
“Pretty good.”
“I assume Mr. Stewart is happy.”
There was something unusual in Megan’s tone.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to be seeing him socially?”
Deborah stopped working, trying to find the best response to the intrusive question. Her relationship with Ben wasn’t any of Megan’s business. “Is that a problem?”
“I thought you were smarter than that, Deborah! He’s a major donor. Imagine what could happen to prospects if… whatever is going on between you goes south.”
“The money he’s given isn’t enough?”
“I think it’s a bad idea. A really bad idea.”
“I’m not violating any policies.”
“This isn’t about policy but your lack of judgment.”
“Excuse me!” She was beyond annoyed and getting angry. “I’m an adult. The choices I make are my own. Furthermore, I’m a professional. Nothing I’ve done will impact my work.”
“Of course it will. It’s just a matter of when and how.”
“I have to get back to work, Megan,” Deborah said flatly.
“Of course you do. He’s expecting that.”
What the hell! Deborah had no idea what led Megan to broach the subject. She didn’t believe there was anything suggesting she’d become personally involved with Ben. For all anyone knew, she was simply meeting with him at the end of the day to discuss her progress. Watching her walk out of the room, it occurred to her this was personal.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
She took off her gloves and walked down the hall to Megan’s office. When she got there, Megan was on the phone, but quickly hung up.
Closing the door, Deborah said, “What the hell was that?”
“How could you be sleeping with him? You just met him for God’s sake!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Dr. Bertram saw you leaving the DAC this morning when he arrived for a breakfast meeting. The President saw you with Mr. Stewart! And as he described it, you were intimate.”
“What?” She was stunned by the revelation.
“How could you be so stupid? The DAC? Do you know how many wealthy and powerful people are members of that club? Some are our alumni, donors… anybody who’s anybody in this city! Jesus! And I got the phone call!”
The gravity of it all hit Deborah hard. She leaned against the door trying to make sense of what she was hearing. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t know how, but you’ve got to end this.”
“Why?”
“Deborah, listen. God knows he’s attractive and charming… but what do you know about him? For all you know he could have women in every city he visits. You deserve to be more than a rich man’s plaything… his flavor of the month.”
“What makes you think I’d allow myself to be any of that?”
“Because you slept with a man you’ve known for two weeks! Money and power are potent aphrodisiacs, especially when they’re wrapped up in a package like Ben Stewart.”
Deborah was nauseous. She didn’t want to end it. But it was clear she couldn’t be at the club with him anymore.
“Are you done?” Deborah asked solemnly.
“Yes… and I’m sorry. I really care about you.”
“Of course you do,” she said sarcastically.
The rest of the day dragged on mercilessly even as she mindlessly continued her work. Megan’s revelation weighed heavy on her mind… and heart. When the car arrived, she stepped outside to meet the driver but wouldn’t get in.
“Will you let Mr. Stewart know I can’t join him after all?”
“Are you sure, Ms. Brooks?”
“Please let him know I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Deborah walked to her car and sat for a moment. She’d never encountered anything like this before and wasn’t entirely sure how to manage it. There was no question she’d fallen head over heels for Ben. But what if Megan was right? What if she was his flavor of the month? What if he’d mastered charming naïve women to ensure his bed was never empty. Maybe she was ‘his pet,’ or his way of never having to remember a name.
Starting the engine, her cell phone rang. She was pretty sure it was Ben since the car he sent hadn’t pulled away from the building.
“Hello, Ben.”
“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming to me?”
“I’m really tired.”
“Deborah, don’t lie to me. What’s wrong?”
“It’s been a rough day. I have a lot to think about, okay? Frankly, it’s probably not a good idea for me to come to the club again.”
He was silent for a moment then said, “I want to see you.”
“Not tonight.”
“Yes, tonight. I’ll come to you. What’s the address?”
“I said no!” she snapped. “Respect my wishes! Please!”
Again he was quiet before saying, “All right. If you change your mind, I’m here… for whatever you need.”
“Goodbye.”
She waited a few moments for the car to pull away in the event Ben instructed the driver to follow her home. When she saw him drive out the main gate, she left. She took a different route home, just in case. After checking her rearview a few times, she was ashamed for letting such paranoia enter her head. It was downright foolish allowing any of it to impact her the way it did.
Arriving home, she plopped on the couch pondering everything Megan said. The truth was, she didn’t know anything about Ben. Reaching for her laptop, she searched to see what she could learn. Someone like him certainly wouldn’t be hard to find. The few online images showed him attending charity events with only one of those images including a woman. One particular image made her smile. It was a picture of him with his championship cricket team. He looked so young and carefree with his unruly hair framing his face. But there was that same vibrant smile. Fortunately, everything she found verified what he’d shared.
She did want to see him. Desperately. So she called.
“Ben?”
“Yes, my pet.”
“Is that what I am to you? A pet?”
“Where are you?”
“Answer me.”
“It is a term of endearment, Deborah. What is this about?”
“What happens when it’s time for you to go back to London?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“Why?”
He sighed deeply and said, “I am many things, but I can’t predict the future.”
“Then answer this. Now that you have my attention, what else do you want from me?”
“What do you want from me?”
“I… I want to know I’m not…”
“Not what?”
“Your flavor of the month.”
He burst into laughter at the absurdity. She has no idea! Most women, no matter how beautiful, bored him. But Deborah didn’t… from the moment he laid eyes on her. “You can’t be serious?”
She was incredibly embarrassed not knowing what caused him to laugh. But she was out there. “I am.”
His tone shifted considerably. “Deborah, you are not a diversion or bed warmer. What you are is a rare, remarkable woman who has captured my attention more than any other. It is unnerving, even for me.”
He sounded so damn sincere.
“So what is this?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say the universe was conspiring to have you in my sphere. But I do know better. That’s not quite how it works.”
“But something real is happening?” she asked.
He hated to admit it, but it was true. Something powerful was happening between them. While his focus remained squarely on finding Asira, there was no denying this was much more than a sexual dalliance.
“Yes,” he replied. “Something is happening.”
“Then come to me. No driver. No security. Just you. I’ll text the address.”
Allowing himself to become further entangled with Deborah—this human—could inevitably lead to her heartbreak… at the very least. But he reasoned if Asira were found, the war ended, and Bensaí restored control of the universe, he could have her… until the end of known time if he wanted.
Arriving at her apartment, he tapped lightly on the door. Much to his surprise, she answered wearing nothing at all. Yet, her lovely face looked tired and pleading. At that moment, he wanted to take care of her… to love her. He kissed her softly as she invited him into her home. She led him straight to her modest bedroom, gingerly undressed him touching and kissing before directing him to the bed.
Climbing on top of him, she explored his body, nibbling and licking before welcoming him between her warm, full lips and agile tongue. Not wanting to release, he flipped her onto to her back burying his face between her firm thighs. He fed from her with undeniable hunger. When she shuddered beneath him, she grabbed his hair, pressing herself further onto his tongue while gyrating her hips. The taste of her, the smell of her pushed him closer to the edge. She motioned for him by pulling him toward her mouth for a ravenous kiss.
He had to be inside her… to be lost to space and time again. Entering her, her body was warmer than usual. The heat between them seemed to intensify to the point sweat poured off them both. Her gentle pleading and moans were much more than he could bear. He couldn’t hold back anymore and released the fullness of his warmth inside her.
“Who are you?” he panted gazing into her eyes.
CHAPTER 9
Lying next to h
er while she slept, Ben contemplated the reality of this unexpected romance. Unnerving… and divine were the only words he had to describe it. Of all the women he’d known, none of them compared or possessed Deborah’s remarkable essence. He reminded himself that he was Bensaí. Deborah was human. Their future together was sealed for no mortal being could ever survive his realm. Yet, he still found himself wanting more with her knowing he could only give her now.
Her peaceful slumber was interrupted as her body suddenly jerked against his. Without warning, Deborah began thrashing about while she slept. Watching her, he was perplexed until he realized she was having a nightmare or perhaps more aptly, a night terror. He considered waking her until she started rambling in French. Then she shrieked, sat up with eyes wide open—but clearly still asleep—and fell back on the bed motionless. The bizarre episode lasted only a few minutes. But he was deeply concerned having never witnessed anything quite like it.
“Deborah!” he whispered. “My sweet, wake up!”
She took a deep breath and rolled to her side toward him. Opening her eyes, she seemed confused, but it gave way to her luminous smile.
Softly touching his face, she mumbled, “My insatiable Englishman.” It was clear she had no idea what happened.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She was confused by his question. “What?”
“You had a nightmare of sorts.”
Her eyes darted back and forth. Her lovely face now looked frightened or embarrassed, he couldn’t be certain.
“Oh, God!” she said rolling on her back away from him.
“It’s quite a display.”
“Night terrors. I’ve had them since I was a kid. That must’ve really freaked you out. I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Do you remember them?”
“Sometimes.” That was the first lie she told him. She remembered every horrid detail of the repetitive dream.
“Do you realize you speak French and some other language?”
“No. What did I say?”
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