Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
Ben
“I had so much fun.” She sighed beside me as I drove to my place.
“Good.” I set my hand over hers.
“I think I’m drunk.”
“I think you are too.” I chuckled.
“Are we going back to your place?”
“Yep.”
“Are you going to take advantage of me?” She brought my hand up to her lips and sucked my pointer into her mouth.
“No.” I groaned.
“I want you to.” She sucked it again.
“Pilar.” I let out a shaky breath as I parked the car in the garage and closed the big door behind us. “As tempting as you are, I’d rather wait to take advantage of you when you’re not drunk.”
“But I want you to,” she repeated.
“And I will…when you’re sober.” I took back my hand and cupped her face with it, leaning in to kiss her deeply.
She tasted of vodka and orange. Like the sweetest sin I’d ever been tempted with. When I pulled away, she mumbled an argument, but I led her out of the car and into my villa nonetheless. I’d have her again, but tonight wasn’t the time for that. I wouldn’t discount the morning though.
Inside, I gave her something for the headache she’d likely have tomorrow. I helped her in the bathroom as she undressed for a shower. I’d never shown more restraint in my life, of that I was sure. Once we were both clean and dressed in one of his t-shirts, we lay in bed. I pulled her to me and enjoyed the sound of her soft breath. I was sure I’d never felt this level of peace before.
“Tell me something no one else knows about you,” she whispered.
“Are we having a heart-to-heart?” I whispered back.
She glanced up at me. “Is that okay?”
I’d never been the most forthcoming man, mostly because I’d seen what happened to people who let their guards down. Vulnerability was a virus. The moment you let your control slip, you became exposed to attack in ways you never imagined.
“Something no one else knows,” I said, letting myself savor the idea of opening up fully to this woman who had bared herself to me. “I had a brother.” I swallowed. “He died when I first came into the league. The year we won the championship. Everyone was elated, celebrating, while I was mourning. Maybe that’s why winning always tastes bitter to me.”
“I’m so sorry.” She glanced up and met my eyes. “I can’t imagine losing a sibling.”
“It’s pretty unimaginable.” I exhaled, holding her closer.
“How’d he…how did he die?”
“He was killed while documenting a war zone.”
“I’m so sorry.” She sat up straighter, no longer lounging against me. I instantly missed her warmth.
“As I mentioned at the gala, he was a photojournalist, and that was his passion. We all knew the risks, but it was still hard. The specific area he was in was supposed to be safe. He saw a lot those days, lived more lives than most of us, experienced loss the way I hope neither of us ever have to.” I swallowed, letting myself tell this story aloud for the first time. “They said it was suicide, not a war act, but I don’t believe that.”
“Maybe…maybe he witnessed too much pain?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe someone killed him because he saw too much. Either way, he’s gone, and we never even got his body back to give him a proper burial. It doesn’t matter. I just hate to think that my brother, my best friend, wouldn’t turn to me in a time of need.”
“I get that.” She set her hand over mine. “I’m sorry. Thank you for sharing that with me.”
I smiled softly.
“Did he ever see you play?”
“He came to a lot of my games.” I smiled. “He was my biggest supporter.”
“I’m sure you miss him.”
“More than anything.”
She held me tighter. “I wish I could’ve met him.”
“He would have loved you.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“Would you have introduced us? It seems like you don’t introduce many women to your family.” She looked at me again. “Am I right about that?”
“You are.”
“Yet you would have introduced us?”
“Definitely.” I kissed the top of her head.
I wasn’t just saying that because she was lying in my arms. I was serious. Pilar was the kind of woman I’d want to introduce to everyone in my life. She was kind and good and beautiful and made me feel things I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a long time, if ever. I wasn’t sure what to make of that or where to go from here, but I knew I wanted to keep her in my arms like this for as long as possible.