Chapter Eighteen
Paige gasped as she jolted up in bed. Her heart slammed against her chest, and a light sheen of sweat coated her skin.
Her covers were in a tangle around her legs as if she’d been tossing and turning for a while.
She gazed around the dark room, trying to remember why she was in the unfamiliar space.
When memories of Ben flooded her mind, she relaxed.
Untangling herself, she climbed from the mattress and visited the bathroom.
She didn’t think she could fall asleep again so soon after her nightmare.
Careful not to make too much noise, she slowly opened the bedroom door and crept into the hallway.
She turned toward the kitchen to get a glass of water and then skidded to a stop.
Oh, my! The thought flitted across her mind unbidden, but it was apt for the moment.
Ben stood in the open doorway to his room, leaning against the door jamb as if he had all the time in the world.
He wore loose sweatpants and nothing else.
Her eyes traveled the length of his body.
From his bare, well-muscled chest, with only a hint of dark hair along his sternum, to his bare feet, she was entranced by him.
“Paige? Everything okay?”
“Hmmm?” she asked, bemused. “Oh, um, bad dream. I was just going for a glass of water.”
He straightened and approached her. Concern darkened his eyes, and when he was in front of her, he placed his fingers under her chin to lift it. His gentle touch sent butterflies fluttering across her stomach.
“Nightmare about Boyd?”
She shrugged. “Probably. I never remember them.”
He released her. “You’ve had them before?”
She nodded. “Since that day at Mr. Warner’s house. I never remember the details. I just wake up frightened. It usually takes me some time to shake it off.”
He pulled her into his embrace, and she allowed herself to relax against him. Her head rested on his chest, his heart beating in her ear. The sound was comforting.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, enjoying the feel of his arms around her.
“For what?”
“For earlier. For trying to use you to forget. I didn’t realize I was doing it at first. You don’t deserve that.”
“And what do I deserve?”
She pulled back and searched his face. The man before her was strong and handsome, but there was a hint of the insecure and sad little boy she once knew. She loved that little boy, and she hated to think of him being unhappy for even a moment.
“You’re incredible. You deserve only the best things in life.”
His finger traced a line down her cheek, and she shivered. “I’m not incredible. I’m human. There’s good, and there’s bad. There was a time when I didn’t care to be used by a woman because I was probably using her too.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you are not like any woman I’ve ever known. I play pretend when I’m working, but I’m not pretending with you. I’m not using you. I want to get to know you. ”
“I want that too.”
Their gazes held, and then Ben lowered his head.
His tongue teased the seam of her lips until her mouth opened.
Then his tongue swirled inside, tangling with hers and tasting the crevices of her mouth.
She moaned and clung to him, passion burning within her and spreading throughout her body with the speed of a forest fire.
His lips were firm but gentle. Paige moaned as he deepened the kiss, his hand caressing her back as he held her flush against him.
Her fingers swirled in the curly strands of his hair, the texture soft.
“Ben,” she breathed against his mouth, his rich, woodsy scent enveloping her .
“Paige, I…” His voice trailed away as he kissed a trail down her cheek to her throat. His hand pulled at the neckline of her sleep shirt, so his lips could trace the curve of her shoulder.
“Hmm,” she purred. “That feels amazing.”
He retraced the path until his mouth paused over the pulse in her neck. “You feel and taste amazing.”
He kissed her again as a hand slipped underneath her shirt. His hand slid from her waist to her rib cage, the gentle touch raising goosebumps on her skin. Then his hand cupped her breast, his palm kneading the tender flesh. His thumb circled the taunt nipple, and need curled in her belly.
Pulling away, he lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor.
Holding her breast, he wrapped his lips around her nipple and began his tender assault.
He nipped the sweet flesh, then soothed it with a delicate swipe of his tongue.
He sucked on the nub until she moaned and arched her back .
He repeated the process with her other nipple, dividing his attention between the two until she was writhing in his arms.
“Ben. Oohhh!”
The sensations building within her were powerful, almost too much to bear, but she wasn’t about to tell him to stop.
The need to touch him propelled her hands to explore.
She ran her fingers along the planes of his abs and chest. When she touched his nipples, she gave them a tweak and smiled at the deep groan rumbling from Ben’s throat.
“Ben,” she moaned. “Please.”
He raised his head to capture her lips in a hard, devastating kiss. “What do you want, baby?” His voice was rough and husky, and her insides melted.
“Make love to me. I want you, Ben.”
“Whatever you want, baby.”
He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She held tight as he kissed her, moving into his room without breaking the contact.
Damn, this man could kiss. He carried her to the edge of his bed and then lowered her to her feet.
The feel of her breasts sliding against his chest was delicious torture.
Her hands ran over his broad shoulders, down his chest, over his abdomen, and stopped on his waist. Her fingers dipped under the waistband of his sweatpants. Her tongue swiped across her lips.
“What are you waiting for?” He teased her, but his tone was rough, like he was holding to his control by a thread.
She lowered his pants gradually, his hard cock popping out hard and eager.
He stepped out of his pants, and she gripped his cock, licking the tip.
She smiled at his groan and enclosed her lips over him, her hand squeezing the base.
His skin felt like velvet, and the taste of him tantalized her tongue.
Her hands reached around to grip his firm buttocks, squeezing them as she sucked him deep in her throat.
“Nope!”
He stepped back until his cock fell from her mouth. He lifted her to her feet, then swept her in his arms. They shared a steamy kiss, and Paige thought she might combust with need.
“Why did you stop me?” Her lips curved into a pout.
“Because I wouldn’t have lasted if you kept that up. And I have something else in mind for our first time.”
He placed her gently on the mattress, then took his time drawing her sleep shorts and panties down her legs. He settled between her thighs, his smile hungry.
“Beautiful,” he murmured.
When his mouth tasted her core, she writhed in ecstasy.
Her hands squeezed fistfuls of the bedspread.
His lips latched on to her clit and sucked.
Her hips bucked, a moan escaping her lips.
He placed an arm over her hips to hold her still as he continued to feast. Waves of exquisite pleasure rolled through her until everything around her faded away, leaving only Ben and all the ways he made her body sing.
When his fingers joined the act, her orgasm built to a frantic height.
One then two slipped inside her channel, fingertips curling to find her delicate G spot.
She exploded, pure bliss coursing through her as she rode the intensity of her orgasm.
Ben’s fingers continued to tantalize her while his eyes studied her.
“God, you’re breathtaking,” he said as she came down from her high, feeling wonderfully drained.
“I would like to say something equally as complimentary, but my brain isn’t functioning at the moment.” Her breath came in short pants, punctuating her words.
Ben crawled up her body, claiming her lips.
She was shocked at how quickly her desire rose within her .
Her legs encircled his waist, her arms around his neck.
He positioned his cock at her entrance, the tip brushing her clit.
Her moan was deep and guttural. Her fingers dug into the skin at his back, sliding down a bit harder than necessary, but the pain mixed with their pleasure seemed to spur him on.
With one satisfying thrust, he entered her. He slowly started to move , and her hips met him thrust for thrust.
“More,” she whimpered. “Please, Ben. I need more.”
His hips moved faster, his thrusts more intense. He reached between them to rub his thumb on her clit.
“Come for me, baby.”
And she did. Her orgasm crashed through her, but still he pounded into her.
The friction only fueled her orgasm, drawing it out until she thought the tide of pleasure would kill her.
Ben tensed and then roared through his own orgasm.
They rode out their ecstasy together. Then he collapsed on top of her, careful to brace the bulk of his weight on his legs and arms.
Their pants were heavy and eliminated the need to speak.
She held him, relishing in the warmth of his body next to hers.
Being with him was everything she could have hoped for and didn’t know she needed.
He rested his head against her chest, and her fingers caressed his hair.
After several minutes, he stiffened and raised his head.
“Oh, shit. No condom.”
Paige felt her eyes widen, stunned she’d forgotten that important detail. “Um, well, I’m on the pill, and there hasn’t been anybody in a long time. Like so long, I may actually be a virgin again.”
She expected him to laugh or even smile at her lame attempt at humor. Instead, he sobered.
“I’m sorry, Paige. I never want to be careless with you, but I swear to you, I’m clean. .”
She placed a hand against his cheek. “Do you wish we hadn’t...?”
“Hell, no, but I never want to take advantage of you or make you uncomfortable in any way. Baby, I’m—”
She raised her head and kissed him briefly.
“What was that for?”
Paige smiled. “It was the only way I could think of to stop you from apologizing again. It’s okay, Ben. I know you would never hurt me, and I’m protected. Then we’ll both be less careless with protection the next time.”
His lips curved in a devilish smile. “Next time?”
“And next time. And the next.”
“Do you mind if I rest first? The last time threw me for a loop.”
He rolled to lay on the mattress and pulled her on top of him. He reached for a blanket at the bottom of his bed and pulled it over them.
Her smile radiated contentment. “It was pretty amazing.”
“The timing could have been better with all you have going on.”
She shook her head. “It was perfect. Whatever happens with my situation…it changes nothing with us. I won’t allow it.”
“That makes two of us. Rest, baby. We have a big day tomorrow, and I want to make love to you twice more before then.”
She placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes. “Just twice? You disappoint me, Ben Weston. I thought a Legend would be up for so much more.”
“Oh, I am, baby. More than you know.”