“Absolutely. Might fall prey to some crazy stalker and I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
She stood and tugged him up with her. He followed her into the bedroom, crawling under the covers alongside her. His fingers trailed along her arm in the semi-darkness. “Can I tell you something?” His voice sounded so serious she became alarmed.
“Of course.” Her heart skipped a beat.
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever shared a bed with, apart from my wife.”
“What?” She propped herself on her elbow, straining to see his face. His eyes were dark and shiny in the dim light.
“It’s never felt right with anyone else. I wasn’t sure it ever would.”
“And now?”
“It feels more than right.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.
Tears prickled the back of her eyes. It feels right for me too.
* * * * *
Julia awoke to the sight of Ben, fully dressed and sitting on the edge of her bed. “Sorry to wake you,” he said, his hand caressing her head, “but I’ve got a breakfast meeting and I need to get back to the hotel to change.” He leaned in for a kiss.
She squinted at the clock. “Oh geez, I need to be up anyway. I can’t believe I slept so late.”
“I did too. I was hoping I’d get up early. I pretty much trashed your kitchen cooking last night. I meant to straighten that.”
“I’ll get it later.”
He shook his head. “You’ve already told me you’re not fond of cleaning. How about if I send someone over?”
“That’s not necessary.” He’s so good to me.
“Seriously. I’ll have someone give me a name. You can just leave a key with—”
She cut him off. “I don’t give out my key.”
His forehead crinkled and she realized she’d overreacted. “Okay, I just thought…”
“It was a very sweet thought, but please, don’t worry about it. I don’t mind cleaning, especially not in exchange for an amazing meal like that.”
His eyes were deep swirls of blue and she could tell he was trying to figure her out. A smile crossed his face. “It was pretty good, eh?”
“Delicious.” She kissed him, massaging the base of his skull with her fingers.
“You need to stop that or we’re both going to be late.” He held her hands in his, the tension gone from his expression. “Can I see you later?”
“Yes.”
“I love it when you say that. Marry me?” He arched his eyebrows, looking extra handsome.
“Not today.” She smiled, no longer able to give him an outright “no”.
Chapter Eight
Ben sank into the booth, book in hand. It had been over a month since he’d eaten breakfast at the hotel restaurant, he’d spent every morning with Julia. He ordered a coffee, sunny-side up eggs and bacon, then settled in to read.
He didn’t get more than two sentences in when Niles interrupted. “Julia finally dumped you, eh, mate?”
“Hardly. She’s out of town.” Ben sat back so the waitress could pour his coffee.
“I’ll take one of those too, luv. And a sausage and cheese omelet.” Niles turned his cup upright, being none too subtle about eyeing the waitress’s well-endowed chest or watching her walk away. He blew on his coffee then took a sip. “What’s she up to?”
“Some other GQ shoot. Out in the Hamptons.”
“Ahh, surrounded by those hot model types, no doubt.” Niles was in a particularly annoying mood and was enjoying himself way too much for Ben’s liking. “Probably beating them off with a stick.” He chuckled and started stacking sugar cubes on the table.
“I’m sure she can handle herself.”
“I’m thinking they’d like to handle her as well.”
Ben set his cup down harder than he’d intended and his spoon clattered onto the floor. “Bugger.”
Niles furrowed his brow. “You know I’m joking, right? Julia’s completely mad about you. You’ve nothing to worry about.”
Ben slumped against the seat. “I know.” He wished he were more convinced. She’d left the night before and he’d yet to hear from her. Not even after he’d texted to make sure she got there okay.
“All right, talk to Uncle Niles, what’s wrong?”
It was pointless not to answer, Niles was unrelenting. “She left yesterday afternoon and she didn’t pick up her phone last night, that’s all.”
“She’s fine.”
Ben’s stomach twisted. The idea of her with another guy was wholly unpleasant, but the thought of any harm having come to her was just unthinkable.
Niles’ voice snapped him out of his worries. “Hey, listen to me. Nothing’s wrong. She’s busy working, end of story.”
“I know.” Ben watched the cream swirl into his coffee. “I’m just not used to being away from her. How lame is that?”
“Totally.” Niles’ eyes narrowed. “But you’ve been so much more pleasant to be around since you’ve been with Julia I’m not even going to give you a hard time about it.”
“Have I really?”
“Yes. I’m thinking we need to find a way to take her on tour with us. I can’t bear the thought of you sulking your way across America.”
The waitress returned with their eggs and a basket of toast and muffins. “Can I get you gentlemen anything else?”
Ben answered before Niles could say something inappropriate. “No, thanks.”
“Killjoy.” Niles tucked into his omelet.
“I’ve been thinking about the tour. I may actually ask her if she can come along. For parts. I mean, I know she’s busy with clients, but maybe some of the time.” He tried to sound nonchalant but failed.
“You’ve really got it bad.”
“No, I’ve got it good and I don’t want to muck it up.”
* * * * *
When he hadn’t heard from her by ten that night, Ben had grown rather frantic. He paced around his hotel room, cursing the fact that he couldn’t remember the name of the inn where she said she’d be staying. The room phone rang and he lunged for it.
“Oh good, you’re there.” Her voice was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
He sank onto the bed, overcome with relief. “I was hoping it was you.”
“I was going to call you last night, but my cell was out of battery and I forgot my charger. And your cell number is in my phone. I tried to call the hotel earlier but the operator said your room number is blocked so I waited half an hour and tried again and managed to talk the second operator into putting me through.”
Ben no longer cared what the problem was, he was just glad to be talking to her. He lay back against the pillows. “Sweet-talked the operator, did you?”
“Now that you mention it, yes. The first one was a woman and she was quite the bitch. The guy who answered was much easier to persuade.”
“Out of my sight for twenty-four hours and you’re seducing operators and spending the day with male models. I’ve heard about girls like you.”
She giggled. “I did spend my day measuring some inseams…”
“Oh you did, eh? Should I be jealous?”
“Not really. We were shooting on the beach all day. It was freezing. The cold air definitely kept anyone from being impressive.”
Ben laughed. “That sounds unpleasant all around.”
“I just took a hot shower to warm up.” Her voice purred through the phone.
Images of Julia in the shower flashed through his mind, causing an immediate rush of heat to his groin. “I wish I was there. I’d warm you up.”
“You already did. I thought about you the whole time.”
Ben swallowed hard. “What were you thinking?”
“My hands were all slippery from the soap. I wanted to run them all over you.”
“Now I’m really sorry I’m not there. I’m making a mental note right now to pencil you in for a shower immediately upon your return.”
“Actually,” Julia paused, her voi
ce extra sultry. “I was hoping we could get started right now.”
Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
“Are you in bed?” she asked.
Jesus, she is. “I am. You?”
“Mmm hmmm. My skin is still hot from the shower but the sheets are cool and soft. They feel good.”
“You sound good.” He ran his hand along the hardened ridge in his jeans. His cock throbbed.
“What are you wearing?”
“Entirely too much for this conversation.”
“Take off your pants.”
“If you insist.” He struggled them off, trying to keep the phone at his ear, not wanting to miss a single word she said.
“Are you hard?” She breathed the words into the phone.
He closed his eyes to let her voice wash over him. “Insanely.”
“I love how hard you get. Your skin feels like satin.”
He ran his fingertips along his cock. The skin was smooth and warm. He’d never given it much thought before. He imagined it was her hand stroking him. “What are you doing?” He needed to picture her more clearly.
“I’m tracing my fingers across my inner thigh, super slow, like you do.”
He smiled. “You like when I do that?”
“It makes me crazy. I can hardly stay still when you do it.”
“Run your fingers higher, just under your hipbone. I love to kiss you there.”
“Mmmm. Your lips are so soft. I can feel them now.”
He rubbed his cock, trying to keep his movements slow to prolong the incredible tension she was building inside him. “Pretend I’m kissing lower.”
She gasped and he knew she’d just run her fingers over her clit.
“I love it when you make that sound.” He could see her in his mind, eyes closed, fingers sliding into her tantalizing folds. “Are you wet?”
He heard her sharp intake of breath. “Dripping.”
He tightened his grip, feeling a bead of moisture roll from his swollen tip. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
“Are you stroking your cock?”
He’d never heard her say the word “cock” before and it almost drove him over the edge. “Yes, forcing myself to go slow, like you do.”
“Do you like it slow?”
“I like everything you do to me.”
She sighed and he could feel her breath against his cheek, warm and sweet. “Like what?”
“That thing you do where you swirl your palm then stroke with your thumb. That drives me positively mad.”
“Do it.” This new, commanding Julia was an extraordinary breed of hot.
He did as she asked, smoothing his palm along the slick head of his cock, then running his thumb along the ridge. “Fuck.”
“Good?”
“Uh-huh.” He couldn’t form a word let alone a complete thought.
She moaned into his ear. The sound seemed to travel straight through his body, concentrating in his balls. “I want you inside me. I’m so close.” Her breathing was faster, matching his.
“Come for me.” His voice was low and deep, barely recognizable as his own.
“Oh God,” she puffed into the phone as he spiraled his hand faster, feeling the cum rising through him.
“Jesus, Julia.”
A low rumble emanated from her, followed by a high-pitched cry. He pulsed his hand, imagining the contractions of her body as she came. He couldn’t hold out any longer. His neck arched back against the pillows and the phone slipped away. The hot cum coursed through him, splattering on his chest in thick wet bursts. It took a moment before he was able to gain enough composure to search for the receiver.
Julia was still breathing hard. “You’re even good from fifty miles away.”
He chuckled.
“I’m serious,” she said.
“You’re pretty good yourself. That was bloody hot.” The sudden pounding on his door startled him. “Fuck. Room service is here. I completely forgot I’d called them.”
Julia’s laughter tumbled through the phone.
Ben looked around, realizing he didn’t have a towel nearby, let alone was he in any condition to get the door. He called as loudly as he could. “Just leave it in the hall, please.”
“No problem, sir.”
Julia was still giggling.
“It’s not that funny.” He shuffled into the bathroom to clean off.
“Yeah, it kind of is. I’m flattered though. I made you forget about food.”
“I’m surprised I still remember my own name.”
Julia stretched and snuggled under the covers as she waited for Ben to get his tray from the hallway. She wondered if he’d gotten dressed or decided to risk it in just a towel. Either way, the thought of him made her feel even warmer.
“Still there?” he asked.
“Of course. So, what are you eating?”
“Turkey club and apple tart.”
“That sounds good. I can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow, I’m starving.” She fiddled with the edge of her blanket, still tingling from their activities.
“Check your bag,” he said.
Julia caught the hint of mischief in his voice. “What bag?”
“That monstrous thing you call a purse. Rummage around in there, I’m certain you’ll find something.”
She turned on the bedside light and reached for it. She moved aside her wallet and scarf and found a brand new bag of foil-covered chocolates. Hearts this time. “Oh my God. When did you put these in here?”
“When I was kissing you goodbye.”
“So that kiss was just a distraction technique?”
“Among other things.”
“You’re the sweetest guy I’ve ever known.” She almost added I love you, but the words caught in her throat.
“Well, don’t let that get around. You’ll ruin the brooding artist reputation I’ve cultivated.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” She unwrapped a chocolate and took a bite. The creamy chocolate hazelnut filling liquefied against her tongue.
“You know a lot of my secrets after tonight.”
“What else?” She heard him set down a fork.
“Until tonight I was a phone sex virgin.”
Her eyes popped open. “Seriously?”
“Pure as the driven snow.”
She heard him take a bite of sandwich and could picture the smirk on his face. “So you never…with your wife?” She hoped it was okay to ask that.
“No. Sheila would never have been comfortable with something like that. She caught me having a wank in the shower a few months after we married and she was devastated. Thought it meant I wasn’t satisfied. She had a very strict Catholic upbringing.”
“Oh.” Julia tried to imagine what that must have been like. What Ben must have been like back then.
“What about you? I take it you’re more phone experienced?”
Julia felt her cheeks burn. “Not really. I had a boyfriend who used to try to get me to do it but I could never bring myself to say anything.”
“What changed tonight?”
“It was you.” There was no other answer.
Ben was silent and she wondered what he was thinking. Was that too much information? Should I not have asked about his wife?
“I almost forgot,” he said. “You’re coming back Saturday, right?”
“I’m supposed to.”
“Excellent. The label is having a huge release party for one of their new albums. Will you come with me?”
She’d read about those events but had never attended one. “Sure, if you want me to.”
“Nothing would make me happier than to have you there on my arm. We’ll have to do some press stuff though. Talk to reporters, pose a little. Are you okay with that?”
She could feel the nerves bubbling in her stomach. “What am I supposed to wear?”
“I’d say one of your own creations. Everyone loves to ask ‘who are you wearing?’ It’ll be wonderful publicity for your d
esigns. And you’ll be the most gorgeous woman there.”
“Are you angling for another round of phone sex?”
He chuckled, “Hadn’t thought of it. ’Til now.”
Chapter Nine
Julia was glad her work schedule kept her so busy because she didn’t want to spend time worrying about the release party. The idea of being in the spotlight terrified her. Not only did she not like the attention, but she wasn’t thrilled with the idea of her picture being splashed around. She preferred to stay behind the scenes. But Ben had seemed so happy about it she’d been unable to say no. The fact that he wanted her there with him made her feel excited in a way she never had before. This was it. They were going totally public with their relationship.
She called Marissa for moral support.
“Relax,” Marissa said. “Enjoy it. Who cares about the stupid gossip magazines anyway? Now, back to the important stuff. How are you doing your hair?”
Julia went over every last detail with her, from makeup to accessories. She had the perfect dress in mind, there was just one thing missing and she knew she could sew it in time. Not only would it complete the outfit but she had a feeling Ben was going to love it.
She got dropped off at her apartment at noon the day of the event. As much as she wanted to call Ben and tell him she was home early she resisted. She needed time to prepare herself and sew the last bit of her wardrobe. By eight o’clock she was completely ready.
Ben knocked on her door right on time. She’d given him a key a few weeks earlier. His nighttime recording schedule made it impossible for him to get to her place before she fell asleep so she’d told him to start letting himself in. He did, late at night, but if he knew she was awake he still knocked first. She found it adorable how considerate he was.
She held her breath as she opened the door, excited to see him again and hoping he was just as happy to see her.
Somehow the week apart managed to make Ben even more handsome. It didn’t hurt that he was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit with a blue-gray shirt that matched his mystical eyes. She could have stared at him for hours but he had other ideas. He swept her into an embrace, his strong arms closing around her waist as his nose nuzzled into her hair.
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