Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
How We Heal
Work forgotten, Lorielle pushed away from her desk and walked to her room to grab her coat and slip her feet in her boots. She knew the last thing she should be doing was going outside, but she bundled up and headed for the door.
When she passed through the living room, Jo was on the phone with Trey. They were arguing.
Lorielle shook her head.
She hoped her friend didn’t feel like a fool tomorrow with the way she had been carrying on for the past few weeks.
Outside was cold, but not as bad as she thought it would be. Benny’s car was backed in, making the passenger side closer to her front door. She rushed to the car where he pushed the door open when she got close.
“Whew! Thank you,” she said as she slid into the seat.
“Warm enough for you?” he asked, adjusting the heat settings.
“Yes.” She snuggled into the cushions, enjoying the warming feature of the seat.
“You hungry?”
Only if he was on the menu. He looked so good in his long-sleeved tan shirt and brown puffer vest and dark jeans. His scent filled the car, so she was already intoxicated by it. It had to be the reason she was thinking about indulging in him instead of food.
“So, so.” She motioned with her hand. “Jo and I were going to order something soon.”
“Good thing I came prepared.” Benny reached to the back seat, producing a bag with her and Jo’s favorite wing brand on it.
“Wings!” She snatched the bag, pulling out each plate. He turned the light on for her. “I hope you didn’t get me hot ones because—”
“Of your acid reflux. I know. I got the breaded sweet thai chili wings for you, mild for Jo, and mine are hot, but it’s the last container so you can take mine out and put the other two back in the bag.”
She did as he instructed. “Thank you.” Most men would’ve pulled up empty-handed, so she appreciated his thoughtfulness. “I should get this in the house while it’s hot.” She had said she wasn’t that hungry, but her stomach called her a liar by growling.
They both laughed.
“Okay, baby. I’ll see you later.”
No coercion. No guilt trip. No anger. Not that she expected that of him, she was just caught by surprise at how different he was from most men. “Just okay?”
“I told you all I wanted to do was lay eyes on you. I missed this pretty face,” Benny said as he pinched her chin.
She sucked her teeth, leaning back in the seat. “I’m sure that’s what you tell all the ladies.”
He laughed. “You too old to be saying shit like that.”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“I’m here with you right now. I had to beg and plead and you’re bringing up other women. If I wanted to be with another woman, I would. I definitely wouldn’t be chasing you, Elle. I’m where I want to be with who I want to be with, and that’s not changing any time soon.”
“So, you’re saying I’m the immature one when you're seven years younger than me?” She smirked.
“There you go assuming again. All I’m saying is to be in the moment.”
He had a point, but there was no way she was about to let him know he had one up on her.
“Well, I’m here in the moment,” she sassed. “Tell me what happens next since—”
Benny caught her words with his mouth.
At first, she was shocked, then she was possessed by pleasure. Desire she didn’t know existed entered her body, making her want to retract all the things she said the other night.
She wanted more of his taste, so she opened her mouth more and he slid his tongue into her mouth. She thought he may be a mind reader by the way he knew what she wanted when she wanted it, but he was more of a body reader.
Just when she was longing for his touch, firm hands roamed her body.
She moaned as they kissed passionately and he explored her body.
More.
She needed more.
Lorielle leaned into him, and he helped her by moving the food to the dashboard. He pulled her close to where she was damn near on his lap.
His hands gripped her ass through her sweats, leaving her breathless. She broke away from the kiss to catch her breath.
Benny peppered kisses down her neck, nipping in places. She shivered when he got to the place between her neck and shoulder. That spot would have her tearing their clothes off.
“Hot spot?”
She didn’t answer him. Instead, she pulled his head back up to kiss him again. She was missing his lips on hers.
Her hands went under his vest, running them down the smooth material of his shirt. Her hands went under it, feeling the soft hairs of his happy trail and his firm six-pack. He was warm to the touch, and she knew if she went lower, she would find exactly what she desired.
Dare she go there?
Lorielle couldn’t get enough. His lips were so soft. He smelled so good, and he felt even better.
Suddenly, he pulled his lips away, putting his back to the seat.
“You better get in the house.”
“Benny,” she whined, almost too desperately for her liking.
“I mean it, Elle. Go inside.” Still, she sat, folding her arms over her chest. “Go before I turn this car off and come in with you and ruin girls’ night. I’ll take you straight to your bedroom and give you exactly what you're asking for. Sister in the living room or not.”
Seeing reason, she reluctantly gave in to his command. “Okay.” She climbed out of the car with the food in her hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, baby.”
She closed the door and headed back for the house.
Benny didn’t pull off until she was inside. She didn’t dare stop in the living room, allowing Jo to see her flustered.
“Benny brought food.” She set it on the counter and continued down the hall.
“Wait! Where are you going?” Jo asked.
“I’ll be back in a second.”
“Wait.” Jo stood, coming around the couch. “Look at me, Elle.”
Lorielle released a heavy sigh before she turned to her. “I was just going to take this stuff off.”
And think about the kissing session me and your brother just had.
“Did he tell you how much he liked you?”
Lorielle crossed her arms. So, they had been talking about her. “How do you feel about him liking me?”
“I’m more concerned about how much you like him. He’s my brother, Elle. Don’t play with his feelings.”
“I know he’s your brother, Jo! Do you think I want to like him? But like I told him, I’m afraid because if this goes bad, there’s so much to lose. You know I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”
Jo nodded her head. “But you do like him, and more than in a brotherly love type of way?”
She had talked herself out of it a million times, but Benny was one of a kind and not one to forget easily. “I do.”
“Enough to settle down? Because that’s what he wants. Benny wants marriage, babies, the whole nine… and he deserves it. So, if you don’t, put an end to it now.”
Lorielle respected her friend’s stance on things. It didn’t feel good standing there accepting her harsh words, but it was necessary. It was real. She needed to make sure this was really what she wanted. She had to make sure she was ready to let go of past hurt and move on.
“Go get undressed. I’ll wait for you to eat.” Jo walked off to the couch. She resumed the show that was on pause. Lorielle propped against the wall, throwing her head back. She had so much to think about.
A three-hour ride with the Collinses had been eventful to say the least. It was more of the crazy conversations that kept Lorielle awake and laughing the whole time.
She and Jo held down the middle row since their luggage was taking up all the back. Benny and Gavin sat in front of them. Gavin was his typical self, being funny, making everyone laugh. Even Jo was in better spirits laughing at her brothers’ antics.
Benny kept stealing glances at her, making her blush each time. She was too grown to be this gone over any man.
“Look, guys, we’re here!” Their mother, who Lorielle liked to call Mrs. J, was pointing out the window.
The whole ride up to the resort had been beautiful. But at the destination there was a scenic view of everything, from the mountains to the valley and river. All of it was breathtaking. It was like something out of the movies.
“Baby girl, you want to text Trey?” Mr. B, their father, asked Jo. “You can let him know you made it and check on the time he should be arriving.”
“Fuck, Trey,” she mumbled.
Lorielle chuckled. One, because she thought it was funny, and two, her friend was about to be looking crazy when she made it out back.
They climbed out of the Sprinter, walking around. She was happy to stretch her legs.
“There’s supposed to be someone here to greet us and tell us where to go,” Mrs. J said as she looked around.
There were five other large cabins outside of the one that was supposed to be theirs. Then there was a small cabin that was the main central that also had rental spaces and an area out back looking over the river and out at wonderful mountains.
“This looks like the main cabin. Should we check inside?” Lorielle asked, knowing the response she would get.
“You and Jo check. The guys will start unpacking the Sprinter.”
She and Jo made it into the main cabin, but there was no one working the front.
“Wow, this is beautiful.” Jo spun around as she walked, paying attention to how the place was decorated. “Daddy went all out this year. I can’t wait to see what our cabin looks like.”
Lorielle had moved ahead of her to make sure Trey was in place. When she saw he was, she called her over. “Jo, come here. Come look out back. You’re going to love this view.”
Jo moved to her side. It took one look out the glass of the door for her to look back at Lorielle with wild eyes. “What is Trey doing here?”
The attendant opened the door. Jo walked down the stairs onto the path that led to her future husband. Rose petals led her all the way to him, where he was standing in front of the majestic fountain.
Everyone else joined Lorielle, walking quietly behind Jo. Benny rested his hand at the small of her back as she walked. It was a light touch that she found comfort in.