11. Bennett
ELEVEN
BENNETT
After Nancy and Karl head home, and after I assure Marley I’m not some dirty old man out trawling for teenage girls, I excuse myself to go out to my office in the barn. I’ve got several emails to answer and a couple of phone calls from counterparts at other rescues in the province. After addressing a few of them, I sit back in my chair and close my eyes. I can still feel where Marley’s hand landed on my thigh, her hand in mine for far too short of a time. I’d have loved the Hores to stay a bit longer if it meant more of that. I’m annoyed as I feel a headache coming on, and it erases all the lingering pleasurable sensations. I tip my head back and close my eyes, letting myself sink into the fog that’s settled in my head.
Marley is sitting at the island drinking her coffee and laughing at something I said. Her laugh makes me happy, and when she stops she asks why I’m smiling like that at her.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to kiss me, Benny.” She’s grinning widely at me now, eyes challenging me to give in to what feels right .
“Do you want me to kiss you, Marley?” I ask, leaning back against the counter, setting my own challenge for her.
She bites that perfect bottom lip and stands slowly. I let my eyes drift down her body, nearly laughing at myself for admiring her so blatantly as she walks towards me, all smiles and sparkly brown eyes. The anticipation is visceral. I can already feel her skin beneath my fingertips, her breath against my skin, and her legs wrapped around me. I don’t know how I’m holding myself in place as she makes her way around the kitchen island. I don’t know why she’s not already in my arms, and still I stay where I am and let her choose what’s next. I’m a gentleman, after all.
When she’s finally standing in front of me, I gaze down at her, taking in the little details of her face. Her eyes are flecked with gold, her high cheekbones are more pronounced when she smiles, and she has a tiny scar below her left eyebrow. I want to know how she got it, but that’s a question for another time. She draws my attention to her mouth again as her tongue sneaks out to wet her lips. I’m immediately hit with a vision of her on her knees, that tongue on my body.
She’s so close but hasn’t touched me yet. I’m convinced when she does I’m going to lose every ounce of control I have. I’m wondering how I managed to find the perfect woman for me lost in the woods when Marley’s attention is pulled from me and down to the floor where Yogurt sits whining.
“Aw. What’s wrong, Milkdud?” Marley asks, squatting down to Yogurt’s level.
“Yogurt,” I remind her.
She looks up at me, confused. “What?”
“His name is Yogurt.”
“That’s what I said. Milkdud.” She shakes her head at me like I’m the one getting it wrong.
“You keep saying Milkdud,” I say .
She looks annoyed now. “No, I don’t. Why would I say that?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug.
“It’s not funny, Bennett.” She’s mad now, and I’m lost. In one swift movement, she’s picked Yogurt up and is walking out the door. I’m left standing there, watching as the kitchen door slams. When I go after her she’s gone, and Yogurt is sitting on the porch whining again.
“Yogurt!” I scold, looking around to see where Marley went. Then my conscience seems to catch up, and I realize Marley was walking around on two perfectly unsprained ankles. Yogurt whines again, and that’s when I snap forward in my chair and realize Yogurt is indeed whining, but I’ve been dreaming.
I rub my hands over my face and groan. I’ve never been one to look for the deeper meaning of a dream, but as I lean down to pick Yogurt up, I wonder what the fuck that was all about.
“You’ve been alone for too long, you dumbass,” I scold myself, trying to remember the last time I’ve gotten laid or, hell, even just flirted with someone. Too fucking long. I turn off my computer and head up to the house.
I stop halfway there. How the hell am I going to walk into the house and look at Marley without seeing the look dream-Marley had just given me? It almost feels like I’ve violated her trust in some way. Or maybe it’s my subconscious trying to get me to act for a change.