CHAPTER 25
BEN
The vents blow out cold air at first, but I crank the heat, hoping to warm the car up fast. I don’t want anything cooling the fire I just saw in Holly’s eyes.
The memory of her command makes me shiver. She wants to go back to her place.
Pleasant thoughts of what we might do tonight get interrupted when I pull around the corner, only to see Holly walking away from where I planned to pick her up. She moves purposefully toward a guy with overly styled hair and a cocky-as-hell grin.
Instantly, I know he’s not just a friend. The way this greasy-haired asshole runs his eyes over Holly makes it clear that he’s got only one thing on his mind. But there’s more than just attraction. He looks possessive.
Makes me want to punch that smirk off his face.
Why did Holly walk over to him? Why is she talking to him like they know each other?
Then, the obvious hits me in the gut.
Could this be one of her hook-ups?
My whole world tilts on its axis.
Are they still sleeping together?
I want to throw up.
My mind trips over the last few weeks, searching for something to deny what my eyes are telling me. This whole time, she could have been seeing someone else. Sleeping with someone else.
The cowardly thing to do would be to sit here, wait till she’s done, and then pretend I never saw them together. Or worse, blame her for technically doing nothing wrong. We haven’t talked about being exclusive. Just because the idea of her with another guy makes me want to spoon my eyes out of my sockets doesn’t mean it’s a betrayal.
So, I go with door number three.
It’s time to make sure all parties are aware of the situation. This guy is going to know that he isn’t the only one in Holly’s life. And I’m letting Holly know that more isn’t enough anymore. I want it all.
Time to crash their party.
The engine quiets as I put the car in park and remove the keys, praying I don’t get towed from the No Parking zone. As I stalk over to them, the cold helps to cool some of my anger. So does watching Holly step away from the guy’s reaching hand.
Maybe my first assumption was wrong.
When I come up behind her, something she says makes him frown. The agitation keeping my neck tense eases.
Glancing over her shoulder, the guy notices my approach, appearing startled at first and then glaring at me when I smile down at Holly.
Her wide eyes flick to me and then back to the jerk in front of her.
Time to lay it on thick.
“How’s it goin’? I’m Ben Gerhard.”
I hold out my hand to shake his, and reluctantly, he returns my grip. He squeezes hard, which just makes my false smile grow wider. Someone is not a happy camper.
“Roderick Harrison.” Short and crisp, and his scowl remains.
“Cool, bro.” Yep, totally just used my douche-bag, frat-guy voice. Just want to speak his language. “You two friends?”
The guy smirks, and I get that sickness back in my stomach.
“Kind of.” This comes from Holly, and when I turn to look at her, she’s all shades of uncomfortable.
“We’re more than friends. Isn’t that right?” Pompous ass has arrogance dripping off his words, and I’m back to wanting to smash his face in.
Instead, I plaster on the fakest grin I can muster. “More than friends? Whoa, you must be pretty special. Did you get a gold star? A note on your report card that says, Plays well with others?”
“Ben.” Holly sounds exasperated but not particularly mad.
When I turn my smile on her, all the mockery is gone; just genuine affection remains. “Holly.”
She rolls her eyes at me.
Still grinning, I grab her hand, setting the keys in her mittened fingers. “The car’s ready when you are.”
A laugh lacking any real humor comes from the guy. His smile is harsh as he transfers his glare to Holly. “Oh, I get it. You’ve found a new fuck buddy. So, what is it? Does he have a more flexible schedule than me or something?”
What. The. Hell?
Is this how he always talks to her?
I mean, I’m not happy about this situation either, but I’m not about to start tossing accusations around.
I’m ready to throw down to defend her, but instead, I get pushed to the side as Holly leans in close to Roderick, her eyes narrow.
“That’s not what this is about.” There’s something in her voice, like a warning. If I heard it during an argument between us, I’d take a step back and reevaluate.
Not Ricky boy.
“Oh, really? Is this supposed to be a relationship or something? Does pretty boy here know how we used to go at it? How we fucked more than we talked? How it was so easy to get you to spread your legs—”
“Are you mental?” The rage in her voice makes me flinch even though it’s directed at the asshole a few feet over.
Receiving the full brunt of her burning eyes, the guy is left standing with his words cut off, mouth agape. But she’s not done.
“What’s the point of this? I didn’t lie to you. I didn’t lead you on. And, now, you’re trying to make me feel like a whore because I don’t want to have sex with you anymore. Where’s the logic in that?” Breathing in deep through her nose, there’s an almost visible cloak of calm that she pulls over herself and her features.
Instead of hitting him with heat, all that’s left is ice.
“You did a good job of convincing me you were a decent guy. Clearly, I was wrong. So, like I told you weeks ago, we’re done. Do not contact me again.”
I’m left to follow in her wake as Holly turns abruptly and strides to the car. Neither of us looks back.
It’s not until we’re on the road that Holly’s icy exterior cracks. Someone cuts in front of us without using their blinker, causing her to slam on the brakes. Aggressively, she punches the horn.
“For the love of Pete! Look where you’re going, you son of a biscuit-eater!” she shouts the words like they’re the ripest curses in the book.
Knowing she’s upset, I bite my lower lip to keep from laughing.
Her eyes stray to the side, and I turn my head too slow to hide my amused expression.
“What?” she snaps the word at me.
Again, I try to school my face. “Nothing. I completely agree with you. That guy is a”—I snort—“son of a biscuit-eater.” Another snort.
Holly punches me in the arm, but it’s not a hard hit, and she’s clearly fighting a smile. “You’re right; he is.”
Carefully, so as not to startle her, I reach over and give her knee a reassuring squeeze. “Do you want to talk about it?”
The car stays silent for a few more blocks, but eventually, she sighs. “I ended things with him pretty soon after I met you.”
Most of the tension leaks away from my shoulders. “Why?”
“He started hinting at having a relationship. And I didn’t want that.”
My heart and hopes take a nosedive at her words, barreling toward the ground. I brace myself for a fiery impact.
“But the bigger reason was that I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Being with you. Roderick kinda paled in comparison.”
I level out, holding off on utter disappointment. “Do you still not want a relationship?”
We’ve reached her apartment, and Holly concentrates on parallel parking, leaving me to sit in suspense. When the car is settled, she shuts off the ignition and turns to meet my eyes.
“I want you. I want you to be mine. More isn’t good enough for me anymore. I want more than more.” Though her words are open and honest, from the way she sits, with her arms crossed, leaning back against the door, it’s obvious she’s bracing herself.
As if I’d reject her.
Reaching across the distance she put between us, I pry one of her hands free and kiss her palm. A slight curve of her lips is my reward.
“I want to tattoo my name on your forehead, so every guy in the world knows you’re mine.”
The curve grows, but she keeps her gaze on our hands. “That wouldn’t be very attractive.”
“I’d use a really nice font. I swear.” I lift her hand to my face, trying to get her to look at me. Time to get serious. “I’m already committed to you, Holly, but if you want the words, then let’s go for it. You’re my girlfriend. I’m your boyfriend. We’re exclusive.”
That earns me her eyes, and they glint with happiness. She drops her hand from my face, only to use it to push the armrests out of her way, so she can crawl over to straddle my lap. Then, she takes my head and kisses me slow, driving me mad with want. Our lips separate enough for her to whisper to me, “I’m your girlfriend. You’re my boyfriend. We’re exclusive.” Another deep, searching kiss before she leans back, her gaze now full of excited mischief and a volcano’s worth of heat.
We need to get up to her apartment. Right now.
We race each other to the elevator.
I stand on one side of the tiny compartment, my hands tucked behind my back, pressed flat on the cool wall, so I won’t reach for him. Not yet.
Ben keeps to his side, leaning back against the paneled wood with his thumbs casually hooked in his pockets. But I can see his chest rising and falling with deep breaths, the pulse in his neck pounding. The same rapid rhythm pushes at my heart rate.
The urge to attack him, rip his clothes off, and climb him like a jungle gym has me digging my fingers into the wall for more purchase.
Ben might appear to be in shape, but I know better than anyone that his health’s not one hundred percent. I should try to be gentle.
Hopefully, I can remember that once I have him naked.
The ding announcing our floor sounds, and I already have the apartment key in my hand. While I fumble to fit it in the lock, Ben moves to press his body against my back. He’s like a warm, sexy blanket that came straight out of the dryer. All I want to do is wrap myself in him. When I finally turn my key and the knob, I stumble forward, my legs not wanting to move away.
My coat, purse, and shoes all get tossed to the side. When I turn back to Ben, he’s leaning on the now-shut door, watching me with sparking eyes that set off a wildfire in my belly.
“Where’s Terra?”
“Faith, her girlfriend, just got back from deployment. Terra drove to North Carolina to meet up with her.”
“So, you’re here, all by yourself?”
I nod. “Looks like I need someone to keep me company.”
He lets out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess, as your boyfriend, that’s one of my responsibilities.” For a moment, he tries to keep a straight face, but a boyish grin cracks across it.
He’s too delicious to ignore; I need a taste. Stepping forward, I weave my fingers behind his neck and pull him down, so I can kiss him. Taking what’s mine.
Responding just as eagerly, he winds his arms around my waist and lifts me off my feet, so I have to clutch him tighter. His greedy reaction makes me smile as I enjoy his mouth. I suck on his lower lip, giving it a little nip.
He sets me down, breaking our kiss, but then turns me to face the ladder to my loft and gives my butt a firm squeeze. “I want you in your bed. Now.”
“And you said I was bossy,” I throw this over my shoulder as I make the climb, swaying my hips a bit more than usual.
I barely have time to step away before Ben lifts himself up after me, tossing his coat over the railing to land on the floor below.
Like last time, he has to stand awkwardly bent under my low ceiling. So, for his own good, I push him onto the bed. He lands with a grunt and a bounce but smiles up at me, his stare hungry. With him sprawled out on my plush bed, I feel like a conqueror, ready to stake my claim.
“Take your shirt off.”
He smirks. “I will if you will.”
There’s not a shred of modesty when I hook my fingers under the bottom of my T-shirt and yank it over my head. Now standing in my simple white bra, I wait for him to return the favor.
But Ben doesn’t make a move. Instead, his eyes roam over me, almost as heavy a touch as his hands.
No fair.
He reaches out toward me, but I step back and cross my arms over my chest.
“Nope. Your turn, buddy.”
His half-growl, half-grin is sexy enough to make me melt as he whips his own shirt off. Finally, I get to see his sinfully tempting tattoos again. Last time, he only let me touch them. This time, I’m going to lick them.
“And the pants, too.”
He raises an eyebrow at my demand, and I pick up on his silent request.
My fingers fiddle with the button and zipper on my own jeans until I can slide them down my legs and kick them to the side. Ben shucks his off, too.
The sight has me biting my lip. Hard.
Wearing only a set of black boxer briefs, Ben’s artwork is almost fully on display. He has more designs on his thighs, obscured slightly by the reddish-blond hair covering his skin. The pictures are intricate, connecting and twining together in creative ways. I could stare at them for hours, just memorizing how the images stretch and flex over his straining muscles.
“Come here. Now.”
When I glance up from Ben’s legs, I realize his hungry gaze has turned ravenous.
Giving in to the need to touch him, I step forward and slide down to straddle his lap, just like I wanted to the first time he sat on my bed.
His warmth makes my head swim with lust.
I lean forward to trace my fingers over the dark lines etched into his skin. As I move my hands along his shoulders and then his chest, teasing him, his breath comes quicker, panting.
Ben clutches my hips, digging into my skin as he grips me close. He hardens underneath me, the swell of him pressing against my core. My body responds, my panties growing damp.
Unable to take my light touches any longer, Ben wraps a hand in my hair and drags my mouth to his. We kiss like we’re starving for each other, lips exploring, tongues dancing. I rock my hips into him, and when he groans, I swallow the sound.
Then, his other hand slides from my side to my stomach, his fingers stopping to play with the waistband of my boy shorts. He uses his grip on the strands at the base of my neck to briefly separate us, his forcefulness ramping up my heart rate in the best way.
“Tell me I can.” The sound of his deepened voice has the muscles in my thighs clenching.
“Please. Yes. Touch me.”
Having gotten his permission, Ben resumes ravishing my mouth while also pushing past the thin cotton barrier. The pads of his fingers delve through my curls to discover my slick center.
He breaks away again. “You wet for me?”
“Obviously,” I moan, and he smirks.
My clit begs for his attention, and he gives it. His skin is alive with electricity, shocking my most sensitive spot.
“That how you like it? Nice and hard?”
Speaking is beyond me now, so I just nod vigorously, my nose brushing against his.
His firm, demanding strokes have me gasping for air.
With each deep breath, I drag in more of his fresh pine-needle scent mixed with something that’s unique to Ben. The man I trust enough to be out of control with.
He lets me enjoy the wildness. Makes me crave it.
My body starts to tremble. His talented fingers burn like a hot brand at my center.
“That’s it, Holly. Come for me,” he fiercely whispers these words in my ear, as if he has the power to decide when I break apart.
Turns out, he does.
“Ben!”
He bites my neck and gives another demanding stroke, and I’m gone.
Maybe I scream, maybe I black out, but I definitely follow his command. Delicious muscle spasms shudder through my body, making me twitch and moan. Every nerve ending tingles with shocks of pleasure.
When I come back to myself, panting and grinning, I’m bonelessly wrapped around my tattooed orgasm-giver.
His skilled fingers trace over my skin, promising that I’ve got more to look forward to.
We haven’t even taken off all our clothes, and I’m on the verge of finishing.
Watching Holly orgasm has adrenaline pumping through my veins, pushing all my blood to my dick. I want to beat my chest like an ape and then make a novelty T-shirt to wear everywhere that says, I made Holly Foster scream my name as she came!
Her soft body is draped around me, her breath panting hot on my neck. As she recovers, I unhook her bra, sliding the straps down her arms. She lets me and starts to pepper small kisses on my neck.
Already, my girl is heating up again.
I move to lay her down on the bed, but she stops me, instead pushing off me to stand up. The loss of her warm skin against mine is like a Band-Aid being ripped off. I reach out to pull her back, but she dances out of my grip.
“Nuh-uh. I still haven’t seen all the goods yet.”
Hell, she’s sexy.
Holly props her hands on her hips, not caring in the slightest that she’s topless, only wearing a pair of tiny blue underwear with a little bow on the front.
I’m so distracted by her, the sway of her tits, and the damp shine to her inner thighs; it takes me a moment to figure out what she’s saying.
“The goods?”
She crosses her arms, effectively covering her chest. I’m pretty sure I’m pouting or glaring. Doesn’t matter. I just want to see her tight pink nipples again.
“Yeah. The goods. Your tattoos. I demand to see every inch of you before we …” She peters off, biting her lip and fixating on my briefs.
Even though I’m so hard for her that it’s starting to hurt, the cotton of my underwear stretched tight, I can’t help teasing. “Before we what?”
Her eyes flick up to mine and then stay when she sees my expression. A slow smile, reminding me of that purple cat from Alice in Wonderland, curls across her mouth. “Before we”—she hesitates—“fuck.” The raspy tone of her voice as she carefully says that last word sets my brain on fire.
I should’ve known better than to mess with her. She plays to win.
“You’re gonna kill me.”
Holly shrugs, still wearing her evil grin.
She wants to see all of me? Who am I to deny her?
Because of the low ceiling, I stay seated, shimmying off my last piece of clothing. I thought I might be insecure. I’m not in good shape like I used to be. But the way she stares at me, like I’m something she wants to consume, takes away any discomfort.
So, I lean back on my arms, knees spread, cock standing at attention, as my girlfriend drinks her fill.
“Lie back on the bed.” Her voice, when it comes out, still has that deep, husky quality.
I do as she commanded, sliding backward on her silky comforter until I rest on the pillows.
But she doesn’t move closer.
“Flip over.” After I raise an eyebrow, she explains, “You said you have some on your … ass.” The dirty word is placed gently between us, just like before. I saw the conscious decision she made to say it, which somehow makes it even sexier.
I roll onto my stomach, unable to contain a groan as I push my hard dick into the soft mattress. The bed dips. Propped up on my elbows, I glance over my shoulder.
Holly crawls toward me. As she moves, her fingers trail over the designs. Then, her lips do.
Starting at my upper thighs, Holly caresses, kisses, and licks her way up my body.
The whole time, I’m grunting and groaning, unable to help thrusting into the mattress, as if it were her I was fucking. I’ll probably go insane if I can’t sink into her soon.
Of course, I’m definitely going to lose my mind when I do.
When her breasts brush my shoulder blade and her teeth graze my neck, I’m done with holding back.
I roll over, wrap my arms around her slim waist, and press her hot body against mine. She gasps in delight right before I capture her devilish mouth.
“Take these off,” I mutter in between kisses. My fingers tug at the scrap of cotton she’s still wearing.
Smiling against my mouth, Holly pushes the panties down and uses her legs to shimmy them off. Then, the temptress throws one leg high over my hips, making it easy for my hand to slip down her backside. When I reach her swollen pussy, she’s soaking wet.
Somehow, I tear my mouth from hers, even as my fingers push inside her. “Condom. We need a condom.”
She whimpers, leaning down to lick my neck and place hot, open-mouthed kisses along my jaw. Her snug, slick opening beckons me to slide into her.
“Holly. Please. I need you.”
She pauses, and in the brief break, I try to remember if I have any protection on me. I’ve got to have one in my wallet. Right?
I beg the universe that, at some point in the past, I was optimistic about my chances of getting laid. The minute Holly agreed to date me, I should’ve stuffed condoms in every one of my pockets. Just in case.
She reaches down to guide my fingers out of her, a gasp whispering over her lips as I slip free. When she rolls to the side of the bed, I prop myself up, worried I’ve killed the mood and still not sure I’m prepared if I didn’t.
“Was hoping we’d get a chance to use these.” Holly grins wickedly while holding up a variety pack of rubbers.
If possible, my dick grows harder when she has to take a moment to open the box. The new box. These are just for the two of us. A whole fucking box.
After selecting one and tearing the wrapper away, Holly shoves my shoulder. I land on my back with her moving to straddle my hips. My groan fills the small apartment as she strokes me a couple of times before carefully rolling the condom on.
We stay still for a moment—her gazing down at my body with a smug, heavy-lidded stare and me memorizing every gorgeous, naked curve of her.
She’s pale and soft, tits sitting high on her chest with nipples pink like bubblegum that taste just as sweet. Her short brown hair is messy from having my hands in it, which only makes me want to grab her again.
Holding my gaze, she slowly leans down to brush a gentle kiss across my lips. Her fingers comb through my hair and then settle on my cheeks, cupping them, thumbs rubbing against the scruff I’ve kept because she said how much she liked it.
The affectionate gesture, in the middle of all this lust, has my heart expanding painfully in my chest. It’s like she’s reached past my rib cage and gripped the organ in her slim hand.
“You ready for this?” Her voice is just as tender as her caress.
I’m not sure the sound that comes out of my throat can be categorized as a word, but my nod is firm.
Holly sits back up and then raises herself on her knees. I hold on to her hips as she reaches between us to position me. Then, little by little, she lowers down.
The second my head crests her opening, black dots scatter across my vision. I buck involuntarily, my whole body wanting more of her. But she keeps to her own pace, burning me up with her little gasps and moans as she works her way down my length.
Finally, I sit fully inside her, and we’re both breathing heavily. She moves, just a small shift to get used to the feel of me, but each slight adjustment sends hot streaks of pleasure through my dick and straight up my spine.
I groan. “This is perfect. I never want to leave.”
“Really?” Holly grins down at me, her palms braced on my chest.
“Mmm, yeah. I—” My words get choked off when she wiggles her hips.
Then, she leans down, her honeysuckle scent brushing over me as she nips at my earlobe. “You’ll have to leave for a little bit.”
Slowly, she raises her hips, and I start to slip out of her.
I moan in protest.
She chuckles. “Don’t worry. You can always come back.”
That’s when she really starts to move. Grabbing on to my shoulders, Holly sits up and begins to ride me, sliding up and down my cock.
As the friction builds, I meet each of her thrusts. I can’t get enough of the sight of her on top of me. Her small tits bouncing as I pound into her, her lips parted, eyes hazy.
Soon, I can barely focus enough to remember my own name, pleasure coursing through me with each sway of her hips, fogging my brain. Pressure builds, a straining need at the base of my cock.
Holly has her hand between us, fingers working her clit as she bites her lip. I slide my fingers next to hers, nudging her out of the way.
“My turn.” It comes out on a growl, and she adds a purr once I press down on her tight little nub.
We get a rhythm going—her riding me, me stroking her.
“Ben, I-I—”
“Yeah, princess. Give it to me!”
I demand her orgasm. She’s mine, and it belongs to me.
A raspy moan leaves her throat as her slick walls clench my dick.
Like an animal, I thrust into her, fast and hard, chasing my own release. It doesn’t take long.
I let out a shout of triumph as I climax, my fingers gripping her ass as I hold her tight against me. Ecstasy rolls through my body, seizing every muscle. I’m driven even further over the edge with the sight of my girlfriend above me, skin flushed with pleasure, still riding out her own orgasm.
This is what I’ve been fantasizing about for months—finishing as I’m buried in Holly’s silky warmth.
No daydream even came close.
When I finally return to earth, it’s with Holly spread across my chest and me still half-hard inside her. We stay like that for a while, letting our breathing and heart rates slow together.
I never want to move.
“We should do this all the time.” She sounds sleepy, and I chuckle.
“I’m yours to command. Whenever you need me.” I press a kiss to her forehead.
“I think I’m going to need you every day, Ben Gerhard. Because you make every day better.”
Hell, there she goes again, digging into my chest.
My mouth opens to whisper back to her, but I stop myself before the words tumble out.
We just agreed to be exclusive and then had sex for the first time. This isn’t the moment to be adding a certain three words into the mix.
Even if I know beyond a doubt that I’m in love with Holly Foster.