CHAPTER ELEVEN
Bethany faintly heard the sounds of whoops and cheers while she continued to get lost in the man in front of her. She clung to him. Reveling in every swipe of his tongue, every angle he moved her, and every goosebump he administered.
Yes, it was crazy. Yes, she should definitely get her head checked.
She’d gone out of her way to avoid Benny all week.
Depriving herself of the addictive coffee from Molly’s Diner and resisting a trip to Fairy Baked to sample some of their delicious cakes.
She’d even called his mother to check to see if he’d be attending the support group this week, only confident enough to turn up when she’d found out he was on shift.
Then, of course, there were all the messages she’d ignored.
Watching a hot firefighter risk his life and save the day would be enough for most, but it was the thought of losing him all over again that made her insides twist. Had her heart leaping out of her chest. And her hands ready to wrap around him and hold on tight.
So, she has no idea what she’s doing. Who cares there’s no plan?
After witnessing how quickly everything could change, she’d decided that all that matters is the here.
The now. The earthy musk filling her throat.
The press of Benny’s hand on the small of her back, plastering her body to his.
And the possessive growl she was currently swallowing, making her chest pound and her panties wet.
“Dude!” a deep voice called, closer this time. “Are you freaking serious, right now? We need to head out!”
She felt Benny’s fingers slowly slip to her waist, digging into the fabric of her silk blouse and ensuring not even air could filter through their molded bodies. Another gravelly groan vibrated down her throat as he took their kiss deeper than she thought possible.
“Don’t make me hose you down,” the same voice tried again. This time waking up a few of Bethany’s brain cells. She definitely didn’t want to be hosed down.
With an animalistic growl, Benny pulled back. Releasing her lips but keeping their bodies fused together. His head snapping to the man beside them. He was dressed in the same uniform as Benny, scruffy brown hair sticking to his forehead as dark hair dotted his square jaw.
“If you ever interrupt me again while I’m kissing my woman, I’ll stick that hose up your—”
Bethany’s hand came up to his mouth. Stopping him from finishing that sentence and suppressing a smile as she did. “Nope! Just nope!”
His eyes came back to her then, softening as they locked onto her. “I’m defending your honor,” he mumbled through her fingers.
“Really? Is that what you were doing?” Her lips quirked at that. “‘Cause it sounded more like you were threatening a co-worker with cruel and unusual violence to me?”
“Cruel and unusual violence?” A dark eyebrow arched as she finally freed his lips.
“Well, threatening to shove uncomfortable objects into a man’s orifices sounds pretty cruel to me. And I’m hoping it’s not a common thing that goes down here in Woodvalley, otherwise I’ll have to seriously reconsider setting up shop here.”
“Hello?” Grumpy Fireman impatiently prompted. “We’re out, Romeo. So, say goodbye to your girl. Get your shit. And let’s go.”
In no hurry to move, Benny continued to smile at her. “That’s my friend Luke.”
“Hi, Luke.” She lifted her hand to wave at the man, her eyes not leaving Benny’s as she did.
“Oh, for fucks sake,” Luke grumbled.
The man was a laugh a minute.
“Come by my place tonight...after work?” Benny asked. “I’ll be done by eight.”
She nodded. Her attention going back to his lips as she felt the urge for one last taste.
She didn’t get a chance to take it though, not before Benny’s head dipped again, claiming her lips and making her world tilt.
Leaving her gasping, shaking, and more impatient for their night together than she thought possible.
***
This was dumb. Beyond stupid. A terrible, terrible idea.
The smoke fumes had clearly gone to her head. It was the only possible explanation as to why she was here, in her ex-boyfriend’s kitchen, shamelessly flirting with him.
“What about this?” Bethany teased as she flitted from the toaster to the portable grill. A hand casually waving over the metal object.
Why are you like this?
The troll in her head may have been getting louder, but it had been fighting a losing battle all day.
“How many times, woman.” He stalked toward her. Coming to a stop just a breath away, hands going to the counter on either side of her. Caging her in. “What part of nothing don’t you understand?”
“You’re seriously telling me there’s not one single thing in this house that you’ve picked out yourself?” she challenged.
That easy smile turned wicked as he leaned closer. “I chose the bed.” His voice dropped dangerously low. “You wanna come take a look?”
Strong hands went to her hips, his thumbs lazily stroking back and forth over denim.
“What are we doing?” Obviously high on ex-boyfriend fumes, she felt her voice shake.
His head drifted down until their foreheads touched.
Ragged breaths landing on her lips, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut.
It was too much. She really was an idiot to think she could keep doing this.
Accidentally sleeping with an ex once was one thing, but this?
Was she seriously going to ‘accidently’ do it three times?
Where was her self-control? Her dignity?
Some sort of self-preservation instinct?
I think all that went out the window around the time you decided to hump his leg.
Shut up, brain! Can’t some questions just be rhetorical?
Urgh.
“We’re doing what feels right, NeNe.” Goosebumps broke out on her forearms as those heavy breaths traveled up her jaw and landed on her ear. “We’re doing what we’re good at.”
Okay. So it was true. Sex had technically been one thing they had always been good at.
Even now, a decade on, she was woman enough to admit that Benjamin Tucker was the best she’d ever had.
Still, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Especially as she had been about to marry a man who was sorely lacking in the giving her orgasms department.
If they stuck to sex, then really, this was just some basic self-care. Life was rough. Mind blowing orgasms are good for her wellbeing. Right?
Oh, now, you decide to stay quiet?
“Get out of your head, B,” Benny drawled, knowing her far too well. “I told you, no more fucking around.”
He had. He’d also gone on to state that she was his. And like the dumbass she was, she’d gone and told him that she was.
“I don’t know what that means,” she whispered into him, still not ready to open her eyes.
Benny pressed a kiss to the shell of her ear before dragging those sinful lips back down the line of her jaw.
“It means, you want me, and I want you.” Not helpful.
“That we’re not gonna fight it anymore.” Another soft kiss.
“No more running.” He kissed her again, this time scraping her skin as he edged closer to her mouth.
“That while we’re doing this, you’re mine.
” His lips then lightly brushed hers, making her shiver.
“Mine to kiss. Mine to touch. Mine to fuck.”
Goddamnit, stupid traitorous body. First the shiver, now she was panting.
Stop it!
Benny was her weakness. He knew exactly what she liked. What to say. How to touch her. She’d practically melted into him already. Her brain didn’t stand a chance.
“Say it, NeNe. Tell me what I want to hear, and I’ll give you what you need.”
One big hand slipped from her hip, thick fingers trailing down until he reached her core.
His thumb somehow found that magical spot and began teasing.
Tracing circles. Going round and round and round.
Getting harder and faster until the pressure that had been building inside her was too much. She was going to explode.
Don’t say it. There’s no going back if you say it.
It didn’t matter they’d done this twice already. They both knew her giving him that trust again would change everything.
Benny’s fingers curled until he was cupping her. His thumb continuing to drive her insane as his teeth tugged on her lower lip.
“Say it,” he growled.
A whimper left her lips as his grip on her tightened. She couldn’t think. It was getting hard to breathe.
“Okay,” she panted. Okay? “You want me to say it?” She felt his chest vibrate. “Fine. Fine Benny, I’ll say it.”
The air charged. Her chest pounded. And her eyes opened. She wasn’t surprised to find Benny’s gaze on her. Dark with want. But she was surprised by how fiercely she wanted him back. It was all consuming. Unbearable. And really freaking scary.
No more fucking around.
“Do it,” she breathed. “Ruin me.”
Benny’s mouth took her in a singeing kiss. Taking her back in time to when he’d first allowed himself to lose control. Just the thought of it still made her body burn. It was another reminder that she’d not let go like this, either. Not since him.
Pulling back, her hands went to his face as she kept their mouths touching. “Make me feel it tomorrow,” she pleaded, no longer caring about the consequences.
She felt a rip, it was either her jeans or her panties, both of which were being dragged down her thigh’s moments later. Benny’s sweats were next to be pulled down, leaving him just as bare. And ready.
She found her eyes darting down and there was a strong possibility she licked her lips.
Jesus. This man. When she met his gaze again, his eyes were just as wild as she was feeling.
Only getting wilder as he kept them on her.
He didn’t even glance down as he spit into his hand, using it to stroke himself.
“Turn around, B. Hands on the counter.”
Sliding off the counter and down his muscled body, she wasn’t just panting anymore; it was more like hyperventilating as he spun her and yanked her backward.
She knew he didn’t need to spit again as he teased her entrance, she was dripping, but she heard him do it anyway. Because that’s how she liked it.
As he inched into her at a torturously slow pace, she knew deep down he’d already ruined her. Not today, not last week or the week before. He’d marked her a long time ago. And there was no scrubbing that mark off.
“Fuck,” they both groaned as he finally filled her. He stayed there, not moving. Making her feel impossibly full. Her body arched, her palms were sweating, and her hips bucked. She needed more.
“Benny,” she whined. “Please.”
The man laughed. A dark chuckle. She was going to kill him.
Right after this orgasm?
Yes. Right after the orgasm she was practically guaranteed as Benny started to move again, this time with punishing thrusts that had already blown two brain cells.
Priorities.