25. Ben
25
Ben
W hen I roll over the next morning, the space beside me is empty. Stretching my arms lazily above me, I take a moment to wake up before loping downstairs towards the smell of coffee and… something delicious. My stomach growls loudly in response to the aromas wafting from the kitchen. Carlisle is standing at the stove working her magic.
Walking up behind Carlisle, I slide my arms around her waist and rest my head on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck with a series of kisses. “Good morning, babe.”
Spinning in my arms to face me, with a spatula still in one hand, Carlisle smiles and gives me a proper good morning kiss.
“Hey, your sunburn looks so much better today.”
“I told you it would turn to tan.”
“Well, I’m glad it you were right.” Nodding towards the stove, I ask, “What are you making?”
“Breakfast.”
I snag a slice of turkey bacon off a paper-towel lined plate and pop it into my mouth. “I assumed as much, but what is it?”
Playfully slapping my hand when I reach for a second slice, she replies, “It’s a healthy spin on a savory breakfast bread pudding.” She scowls slightly and rolls her eyes. “Hopefully it will turn out okay. I’ve never made it with turkey bacon or low carb bread before.”
“For what it’s worth, it smells delicious. Can I do anything to help?”
“No, just keep me company.”
After pouring myself a cup of coffee, I take a seat on one of the bar stools and watch Carlisle as she works. Unbidden, an image of Carlisle at the stove with a couple of kids at her feet jumps into my mind. That should scare me, and maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but for the first time since Kelsey and I split up, the thought of building a life, and possibly a family, with someone doesn’t freak me out.
Carlisle is exactly where she needs to be. In my home and in my heart.
While I eat, Carlisle plates her breakfast and then takes a series of photos of it before she starts eating.
“What are you doing?” I mumble between bites.
“Nothing,” she replies. “It’s just a hobby of mine.”
“I never had you pegged as one of those people who has to photograph their food before they can eat it.” Shoveling another bite in my mouth, I moan. “This is really fucking good, by the way.” Carlisle beams at my compliment. I’ll keep complimenting her if it means that she’ll keep smiling at me like she just did.
“Instead of using milk to dilute the eggs, I pureed cottage cheese, so it has added protein.”
“I appreciate that. Thanks.” She’s obviously been listening to me when I’ve harped on how important protein is to my diet.
While Carlisle takes a shower, I pop into the pool house to discuss an idea I had with Joanna. I’m going to need her help to pull it off.
I plop into the comfortable blue and white striped armchair that sits across from Jo’s desk. She’s on the phone and holds up a finger signaling for me to wait. I listen as she goes back and forth with someone about my travel schedule.
Dropping her cell phone onto her desk with a clatter, Jo grins at me. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I need your help.” I grab a pen from the cupholder and play with it, spinning it between my fingers. “After the debacle at Le Bistro, I can’t take Carlisle out on dates, so I want to bring the dates to her. I want to make this week special, so she knows how important she is to me.”
Squealing, Jo rubs her hands together excitedly. “Oh, I love this idea! Like instead of going out to dinner and a movie, we’ll bring the dinner and a movie to her?”
“Exactly,” I nod vigorously. I knew Jo would be all over this idea.
“Ok, this I can do. And it’ll be more fun than calling all the hotels you're staying at during the promo tour to see if they carry the special electrolyte water you prefer.” She rolls her eyes.
“Shut up. But speaking of when I’m gone, do you have any advice on how best to reassure Carlisle while I'm traveling? Willa and I will be together nonstop, and I don’t want the scrutiny of the press to get inside Carlisle’s head.”
Contemplating my question before answering, Jo suggests, “Keep in contact with her as much as you can. Tell her beforehand if she’s going to see or hear something in the news that might be upsetting.” Jo stops and eyes me shrewdly. “But really, you need to ask Carlisle that question, not me. Let her know that this is something you’ve thought of, and that you’re working to prioritize and protect her feelings. She may have different triggers that you’re unaware of.”
“I will, but I want to go above and beyond what she expects.” I want her to feel confident about our relationship, so that she won’t have any room in her heart for doubts. “I’ve never felt this way about a woman before and I don’t want to screw it up."
Any more than I already have, anyway.
“Good for you, Ben. I’m proud of you.” Jo sends a brilliant smile my way.
“Thanks, Jo. I’ve come up with some date ideas,” I slide a piece of paper across the desk to her, “but I need your help with the logistics of arranging everything.”
As Jo reads through the list, the corners of her mouth rise. Apparently, I did good.
That evening, the first of our surprise at-home dates commences.
As the sun starts setting, I lead Carlisle to the outside patio overlooking the pool. The veranda has been decorated with thousands of white, twinkling lights that grow brighter as the sun sets. Their sparkles reflect off the placid water in the pool, magnifying the glittering effect. The patio dining table is covered with bouquets of fresh flowers and candles waiting to be lit, and peaceful music pours from the outdoor speakers.
Off to the side, two masseuses stand next to their massage tables, ready for our private couple’s massages. They greet us politely and hand us two pale blue terry cloth robes with the Beverly Hills Spa insignia embroidered on them. Grabbing her hand, I lead Carlisle towards the pool house to change.
Mouth agape, she looks at me in astonishment. “What’s going on, Ben? ”
“Since my life is a chaotic circus and we can’t go out on dates, I wanted to bring the dates to you, babe. Our relationship is unconventional, but I want to make it as normal as I can.”
Her eyes sparkle as she laughs. “This is not even close to normal, Ben.”
Once inside the pool house, I lift her arms up and my hands slide to the bottom hem of her tank top. Pausing, I question her with my eyes, silently asking for permission to undress her. I haven't seen her naked since the first, and only, time we had sex. When she nods, I feel a rush of pleasure as I slowly unwrap her like a present, savoring the removal of each item of clothing in anticipation of getting to see her body again.
I slip her top over her head before coasting my hands down her neck and back to remove her bra. Then my hands graze south to her hips. I hook my thumbs underneath the sides of her shorts and panties and guide them down her legs until I reach her feet. My gentle touch sends a shiver down her body as goosebumps break out across her skin. I love that her body responds to the merest touch from mine. As she steps out of her clothes, I caress her ankle and softly kiss the inside of her knee, trailing my nose upwards towards the apex of her thighs.
Fuck, I can smell her arousal.
My dick hardens in response . Taking a deep breath, I tamp down my desire and slip the luxurious robe over her shoulders, pull it closed, and loosely knot the belt around her waist.
“Thank you,” her voice husky and pitched just above a whisper.
“No, thank you. For putting up with the insanity of dating me.”
Quickly, I shuck off my clothes and put on my robe.
Before I can tie my robe shut, Carlisle steps towards me, and I watch in slow motion as she unties her robe, granting me another glimpse of her body. Sliding her hands around my waist and up my back, she stands on her tiptoes to kiss my lips. Our naked bodies connect in our embrace.
“You’re killing me,” I murmur against her soft, sensuous lips.
“After our spa treatments, maybe I can offer you a happy ending?” Her beguiling eyes locked on mine, she smirks and licks her lips.
Shit, this girl is sending my hormones into the stratosphere. “I could be on board with that idea, babe, but I also understand if you want to slow things down until everything with Willa is officially over. I know this has been a mindfuck.”
“I’d be lying if I disagreed with your last statement, but I’ve missed being with you. You’re going away next week, so let’s take full advantage of the time we have together. Let’s live in the moment, just the two of us, and then we can face the future as it comes.”
“So, what you’re saying is that I’m getting laid tonight?” I shoot her a smile and to my happy relief, she winks.
“If you play your cards right. Tonight, again tonight, tomorrow morning, tomorrow at lunchtime, tomorrow at teatime—"
Smashing my lips down upon hers, Carlisle’s arms tighten around me. Breathing heavily, between kisses, I mumble, “Your plan sounds so much better than mine.”
Showing a modicum of restraint, I lean back and gaze upon her face, brushing her hair back. “You better get outside before we start something we don’t have time to finish.”
She tilts her head. “You’re not coming?”
Wiggling my eyebrows, I joke, “According to you, I'll be coming later.” Gesturing to my massive erection, I respond, “I’ll be out in a couple minutes. I need to let this guy deflate so I don’t embarrass myself out there.”
Biting back a giant smile, Carlisle leaves the pool house .
When we’re nearing the end of our treatments, Jo quietly lights the candles on the outdoor table, arranges our catered sushi dinner from Nobu, and pours glasses of the chilled sake. One of the perks of at-home date nights is that you can dress as casually as you want, so after our massages, Carlisle and I opt to stay in our robes rather than redressing.
An added bonus for me is that Carlisle’s robe keeps gaping open at the neck, offering my tantalizing glimpses of the swell of her breasts over our candlelit dinner.
Carlisle lived up to her word and supplied me with multiple happy endings over the course of the evening and the following day.
The following evening, Jo obtains—probably illegally, though I don’t ask because plausible deniability is important—an advanced studio copy of a new romantic comedy that is opening in theaters next spring. I lead Carlisle into my darkened media room and thanks to the rented popcorn machine, it smells like a real movie theater. She loads up on buttered popcorn and sweet treats from the vast array that Jo stocked for us while I stick with nuts and fresh-cut veggies. Then we snuggle on the leather recliners under a shared blanket and watch the movie.
As the credits roll, Carlisle gives me her grateful smile. She has a wide variety of smiles and I’m learning to catalog them all. My favorite is her blissful post-orgasm grin though.
“Thank you again for doing all this, Ben. ”
I pause to kiss her bare shoulder, sliding down the thin strap of her sundress so I can kiss my way up her neck unimpeded by clothing. When I reach the sensitive spot under her ear, my lips feel the erratic thumping of her pulse. “I enjoy spoiling you. Making you happy makes me happy.”
Carlisle slides out from under the blanket and tosses it aside before straddling my lap. She crashes her mouth upon mine and fists my shirt, pulling me closer. The power she has over me is explosive, and when she starts to roll her hips against my growing erection, I think I might combust.
Given all the time we’re spending with each other, the sexual tension between us should be dissipating, especially with how often we’ve had sex over the past twenty-four hours, but instead the opposite is true. This heady desire continues ramping up.
The realization hits me that I no longer just want Carlisle, but the more time I spend with her, the more I need her.
I draw my hands up her smooth legs slowly as we continue kissing, starting at her delicate ankles up her calves, her knees, and her thighs. My fingertips continue their ascent until I reach to her round, delectable ass.
Her very bare ass.
“You’re not wearing underwear,” I growl, squeezing and kneading the globes of her perfect backside. “If I’d known that, we wouldn’t have watched the movie.”
Breaking our contact, Carlisle kneels on the recliner and peels off her dress. “I’m not wearing a bra either.”
“Shit, babe,” I murmur, burying my head between her perky breasts. My hands slide up her ribs, holding her in place as she continues to grind on me. “You’re going to be the death of me, but what a way to go. ”
Launching upwards, I encircle her waist with my arms and flip her onto her back. Kissing down her body, I take my time when I reach her breasts, touching and tonguing, biting and squeezing, until she’s moaning and writhing underneath me.
It’s a powerful turn on to have her underneath me completely naked while I’m still fully dressed.
I settle my face between her legs, rubbing my scruff against her silky, smooth thighs. She wraps her legs over my shoulders, gripping my forearms as I use my tongue to flick and my teeth to nibble her sensitive nub before filling her with my fingers. Her eyes flutter closed as I feel her orgasm building inside her, her inner walls clenching.
“Look at me,” my voice gruff and commanding. “I want your eyes on me as you come.”
Sitting up on her elbows, her dazed eyes meet mine as her whimpers grow louder. “Oh fuck, oh Ben. Don’t stop!” She releases a strangled moan, her body heaving as her orgasm tears through her. It’s so fucking hot hearing her call my name as she comes.
I cannot wait a second longer to get inside her. I rip open the button-fly on my Levi’s and push them down only so far as my knees, too hurried to take them off completely. I spin Carlisle over, lifting her onto her knees with her ass in the air and her breasts pressed against the couch. “It’s gonna be hard and fast, babe,” I mutter through clenched jaws. I thrust inside her wet, dripping pussy even as she’s still quivering from the aftereffects of her first orgasm.
“Fuck, you feel good. So fucking tight.” She feels even better tonight than she ever has before. I can feel all of her, her wetness sucking me in and holding me tight. I increase my speed, gripping tightly to her hips as I piston in and out of her without mercy. She bucks against me, tossing back her head as a second orgasm overtakes her. Hearing the slapping of our skin and her gasps is almost too much. There’s a powerful ache building deep inside me, contracting my muscles to the point of pain just before I come. My eyes roll back in my head as fireworks explode behind them.
Depleted and completely sated, I slump my body on top of hers. We lay quietly, still connected, for a minute as our breathing and heart rates return to normal. I roll off her since I’m probably crushing her under my body weight, immediately missing the feeling of her body next to mine. I sweep the hair off her face and leave my fingers cradling her head.
Then reality hits me. “Oh shit,” I utter, sitting up suddenly. “We didn’t use a condom.” I’ve never forgotten to use a condom before. My eyes wide, I stare at Carlisle in disbelief.
How could I have gotten so wrapped up in the moment that I forgot to wrap it up?
Taking a deep breath, Carlisle replies calmly, “Probably safest to always use condoms, but I’m on the pill. So don’t worry about pregnancy. I haven’t been with anyone since Matt, and I got tested after we broke up since he cheated on me.” Hesitantly, she meets my gaze, worrying her lip between her teeth. “I’m clean.”
“I’m clean too, and I’ve always used a condom.”
“Ok. Nothing to worry about then.” She reaches up to comb her fingers gently through my hair. I purse my lips, contemplating.
“Do you feel comfortable not using condoms? Because it felt fucking fantastic being inside you bare.” She eyes me thoughtfully, and as the silence between us grows longer, I fear that I overstepped. “Never mind.”
“No, it’s just that…”
Shaking my head, I cut her off. “If it makes you hesitate, then it’s too soon.”
“Wait, let me finish.” She crosses her arms over her chest. My eyes follow the movement, and I stare at her still naked breasts perched atop her arms. She chuckles, easing the tension. “Are you staring at my boobs?”
Reluctantly, I raise my gaze. “I’m sorry, but they’re perfect and I’m a guy,” I shrug. “But you were saying…”
“Right. As I was saying, I think we should wait until we’re exclusive.” She chews the corner of her bottom lip some more and looks at me anxiously, waiting for my reaction to her statement.
“I know we’re dealing with the Willa showmance, but that isn’t real.” My palms cup her face. “Carlisle, there’s no one else for me but you, and I hope you feel the same.”
When she nods eagerly, a smile breaks out on my face. Feeling like I’m in junior high again, I ask, “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Squealing, Carlisle jumps into my arms and agrees.
“I’ve never felt like this with anyone else before.”
“I haven’t either, Ben.” She lets out a choppy breath and whispers, “It’s kind of scary.”
“Fucking terrifying, but in the best possible way.”