Chapter 47
Ben
Anticipation surged through Ben’s body as the plane touched down in Chicago.
With the briefest of polite farewells to his teammates, he made it over to the waiting town cars in record time.
Once he was buckled in, he did as he’d promised and fired off a quick text to let Melody know he was on his way.
As his driver sped through the lamp-lit city streets, he rubbed his hands against his slacks in a gesture he might have felt self-conscious about had anyone seen.
Rolling his shoulders, he forced himself to lean back against his seat and relax.
Staying still was an effort in self-control, but he managed it, if barely.
A part of him wanted to urge his driver to go faster, but he maintained his silence, knowing they were moving plenty fast enough. It was only his eagerness to get Melody back in his arms that was making him want to fly through the city streets at breakneck speed.
Everything about being with Melody felt so right. She completed him in a way he’d barely hoped to dream another person ever could. And yet, despite this certainty, he still had so much to learn about her. So many stories to hear and details to uncover. And he couldn’t wait.
After what couldn’t have been more than half an hour, his driver pulled the car to a stop in front of Melody’s building. Ben consciously released all the air he’d been holding in his lungs and focused on relaxing his arms and shoulders before catching the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Will that be all for tonight, sir?”
Ben paused briefly before responding. Would that be all for tonight?
He’d like to hope he would be spending the night with Melody, but he didn’t want to be presumptuous.
Just because they’d slept together over Thanksgiving didn’t mean he was guaranteed a repeat performance or an invitation to share Melody’s bed with her anytime he wanted.
Not knowing exactly what to say, Ben’s words were cautious when he spoke. “That should be all. Thank you.” If he needed a car later on, he’d call one. In the meantime, it didn’t make sense for his driver to waste his time hanging around when he might not be needed.
Even though Ben knew the Challengers organization paid well for the car service, he still pulled out his wallet and offered the man a generous tip. He’d grown up with the idiom “Share the wealth” and heaven knew he was privileged with more than his fair share.
With a final nod and goodnight to his driver, Ben grabbed his bag and exited the vehicle. He gave his neck a gentle stretch, moving it first this way and then that, before walking up the stairs to Melody’s building.
As he was cresting the final step, he remembered the florist shop he’d found a few blocks over.
Glancing down at his watch, Ben noticed that as much as it might not have felt like it, his driver had made surprisingly good time from the airport.
Conscious of both the time and the desire not to arrive empty-handed, Ben turned around, walked back down the steps, and hoofed it to the store.
In less than fifteen minutes, he was back where he’d started, on the stairs leading into Melody’s apartment building. Only this time, he had a bouquet of beautiful flowers in hand. Keying in the passcode Melody had given him, Ben let himself into her building.
He felt as giddy as a schoolboy as he bypassed the elevator, electing to take the stairs up to Melody’s apartment.
Excitement coursed through his body as he opened the door leading into the stairwell. Now that Melody was only a few flights of stairs away, his desire to see her had increased tenfold. She was so close. Finally.
His heart began to race as his breath quickened, though from sheer excitement or the exertion of taking the stairs three at a time, he couldn’t say.
He felt certain the goofiest of lovesick smiles was painted on his face and he couldn’t even bring himself to care.
He supposed that’s what love did to a man.
Ben took a moment to pause when he reached Melody’s floor.
Glancing around to confirm he was still alone, he lifted his arm and gave his armpit a quick sniff.
Relief flooded his body when the only smell he could detect was the faint amber and sandalwood of his deodorant.
With a job like his, it was inevitable he might smell a little musky every now and again, but he’d rather not arrive at Melody’s door smelling like he was fresh off the ice.
Ben took a deep, centering breath, envisioned the staccato rhythm of his heart smoothing out, and reached for the door handle. Flowers in hand, he took purposeful strides toward Melody’s apartment.
He barely had time to knock before the door was pulled open and Melody was standing before him, a beautiful smile upon her face. It was warm and welcoming and everything he could have hoped for.
“Hi, beautiful,” he greeted, his heart no doubt in his eyes as he took her in for the first time in days.
“Hi yourself, handsome,” Melody returned. She pushed the door open wider and waved him into her apartment.
Delicious smells wafted through the air as he stepped into her apartment. He looked forward to learning what smelled so darn good, but not right now. Right now, he was a man on a mission.
Melody barely had time to close the door before Ben dropped her flowers onto a small table, placed his hands on her hips, spun her around, and boldly pressed her back against the door.
Melody blinked in surprise before smiling up at him and lifting her face to receive his kiss. That was all the permission he needed.
Ben leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He groaned at the contact and the accompanying feeling of rightness that he’d only ever felt with her.
Keeping one hand on her gently rounded hip, he raised the other to her face. With careful fingers, he angled her chin the better to receive his kiss.
Just like every other time he’d touched her, fireworks exploded as they came together. If this wasn’t chemistry in action, he didn’t know what was.
As his lips continued to rove over hers, Melody blossomed like a flower. She was sweet, open, and so alluring in her natural beauty that he lacked the words to fully describe the way she affected him.
He couldn’t get over his good fortune that this kind, incredible woman was really his. He felt like he’d struck gold or won some sort of obscene cash-for-life lottery.
Ben startled when she lifted one of her legs and wrapped it around his thighs. He wouldn’t have expected such a bold move from her, but he wouldn’t pretend he didn’t love it.
Ben fought the desire to pick Melody up, wrap her legs around his hips, and carry her into her bedroom. He certainly hoped that’s where the night was leading, but that wasn’t his current focus. Right now, the kiss was the main event.
Ignoring the ever-increasing tightness in his slacks, he luxuriated in the simple pleasure of ravishing the woman he loved.
He could feel the warm puffs of her breath as he took gentle sips of her lips, savoring her as though she were the rarest of fine wines.
He kissed her softly, and then, when he couldn’t help himself, with a swift graduation in intensity.
He kissed her until she clung to him and she was practically shaking with want.
He was lost in reverie until she moaned his name and bit down on his bottom lip.
The pleasure-pain was enough to jolt him out of his dream state and back into the moment.
Unsure whether Melody was as into their kiss as he was or trying to get his attention, he drew back a little, the better to survey her.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Ben said as he pressed his forehead against hers and leaned back a little until a few inches of space separated their bodies.
“I didn’t mean to jump on you like that.
” Ben ran a frazzled hand through his hair.
“I guess my only excuse is that I missed you even more than I realized.” He resisted the urge to kiss her again, not wanting to deny her the opportunity to say whatever she might wish to.
Melody took a step forward and closed the distance between them.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” she said as she reached a hand up to caress the hair at the nape of his neck.
“I didn’t mind at all.” Melody bit down on her bottom lip before looking at him through her lashes.
“It feels good to know you want me so much.”
Ben smiled when he realized her love bite had come from passion rather than a desire to cool things down. Damn, but that made him feel good.
As he watched, two tiny spots of color appeared in the apples of her cheeks. The color was subtle, but he saw it since he was looking for it.
“I definitely want you, sweetheart,” Ben said as he slipped a hand behind her back and pressed her closer to him, at once hugging her and allowing her to feel the full effect she had on him.
“I will happily pick you up right now, carry you into your bedroom, and show you just how much I want you.” Ben paused to lay a soft kiss onto her passion ravaged lips.
“But I could just as soon pause to catch up and enjoy what smells like an amazing dinner before getting back to showing you just how much I missed you.” He felt one corner of his lip hook up into what he hoped was a seductive smile.
“I’m flexible when it comes to the order of operations. ”
Melody returned his smile shyly, leading Ben to guess that dessert might precede dinner. Tension mounted and anticipation coursed through his veins until he heard the telltale rumble of her belly.
Ben smiled his acceptance, choosing to be amenable to the pleasures of delayed gratification. “Maybe dinner first?” he suggested.