Chapter 18
You jealous, Blue?
Annie
Ben’s chuckle floats up to me, and I look down to see him on my couch, Joan Wick winding herself between his ankles. “I already told you no more treats.”
I stretch, then climb down and walk over to him. His hair is messy, like he’d been running his hands through it all night. His eyes are soft as they take me in, wearing another one of his hoodies. “Mornin’, Blue.”
“Morning, Ben.”
“How many of those did I leave behind?”
“Three, plus a couple of T-shirts.”
He crooks his finger. “Come here.”
I move to the couch, but as soon as I get close enough, he tugs me over so I’m straddling him. The last time I was in this position, my world fell apart. My breath hitches as he gently tucks some loose strands behind my ear and whispers, “Beautiful.”
I’m already warm with him near, but his body heat sets me on fire.
I slowly raise my arms in the air, and his nostrils flare.
He grabs the hem of his hoodie and starts pulling it up.
Once it’s removed, he tosses it on the floor and leans back on his palms as that intense gaze of his roams down. “What are you thinking?”
“That you’re where you should be.”
I put my hands on his broad shoulders and settle into him, sucking a breath when I feel how hard he is. “What else are you thinking?”
“That I’d like to see you like this, but naked.
” I roll my hips, and the cords in his neck strain.
“I want you to sink down nice and slow, feel every inch. I’m thinking I’ll hold you still, full of my cock, and watch you touch yourself.
” I whimper, watching his eyes flash. “When you can’t take it anymore, it’ll be my turn to play, but I’m thinking all it’ll take is my thumb before you start begging.
” He sucks in air through his teeth, and his eyes get darker, and he grows thicker against me.
“Then you’ll fuck me hard, and you’ll come so fast, but you won’t stop coming. ”
I gasp softly at his hot, filthy words, and my hips move of their own volition.
He fists my hair, I reciprocate, and we meet with an explosive kiss.
I welcome his mouth, moan at his tongue stroking, and tremble when he sinks his teeth into my lip.
“God.” I’m grinding against his big, hard dick, and the insides of my thighs start to tremble.
He wraps his arm around my waist, forcing me still.
“Ben,” I beg, the pressure between my legs on the verge of pain. “I need to move.”
He tightens his arm to keep me in place like I’m not about to combust. “That’s what I’m thinking right now, Annie.”
“I want that, too.”
“Good, but I can’t have it, not yet…”
“What? Why?” I whine, desperately trying to get friction.
“I haven’t earned it yet.” He sits up, and I’m moving—no, he’s moving me. “But you have.” His hands on my waist grip like a vise, and he rubs the wet crotch of my panties over his jeans, slow, steady, hard.
“Ben.” I moan, so, so close.
“You’re soaked,” he rasps, and before I know what’s happening, I’m on my back, my pajama shorts and undies are on the floor, and his mouth is between my legs.
“Oh my God! Ben!” I scream. I grab the back of his head and sink my fingers into his hair. He does something with his tongue, and I have his hair twisted in my hand, tugging so hard I hear him grunt.
That vibration against my clit throws me over the edge. “Yes. Yes, baby, yes, yes, yes.” I’m soaring. Gliding and floating and then spinning so fast I see stars. “Benny, baby. God!” My legs are spasming, my pussy is desperately clenching, and my hips are jerking uncontrollably.
It’s an out-of-body experience, but I savor every second, every minute of existential bliss in the marrow of my bones.
He gently laps at me as I slowly come down to earth, and when I’m lucid again, I feel an ache in my wrist. I still have his hair in my fist, and I relax my fingers to see that I tugged it so tightly that there are strands woven between my fingers.
Oh no. He kisses the inside of my thigh before he closes my legs and then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Why is that so hot?
I move to return the favor, but he shakes his head and tosses a blanket over me. “Just you right now.” His eyes move over my face. “Did that feel as good as it looked?”
“It was way better.”
“Love that you call me baby when you’re reaching for it.”
“I didn’t realize I did.”
He grins. “You do.”
“I pulled your hair,” I confess, still out of breath, mortified that I hurt him.
He traces his finger down my neck, between my breasts, until his palm splays on my stomach. “I know, I liked it. All of it. All of you.”
“I like all of you, too.”
He leans over me and is about to kiss me, but I turn my head. “Hey.” He holds my jaw and makes me look at him. “What’s wrong?”
I look at his lips and then close my eyes and mutter, “Nothing.” I catch myself because he deserves the truth. “No. That’s a lie.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“No, it’s nothing to do with that. It’s…”
He arches a brow and sits up. “What?”
“I want to make you happy, not be a burden. You made your brother, who, by the way, is hilarious, come and babysit me.”
“I know, and that’s on me, not you. You’re not a burden, Blue. No matter what happens, you would never be a burden. Understand?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“And whatever you do, don’t ever compliment Parker. He doesn’t need a boost to his already inflated ego.”
“Too late. I already gave him the biggest compliment I could ever give anyone.” I put my hand on his chest, right over his heart. “I told him he reminds me of you.”
“Sweetheart…” He kisses me then, soft and slow. I wish it could have lasted forever, but he pulls away with a frustrated sigh. “I don’t want to leave you, but I’ve gotta go get Mazie.”
I sit up as he does. “Of course. Have fun.”
He kisses me again and follows it with, “Do you have a little black dress?”
“I think so.” I don’t…but I’m going to get one.
“Wear it.” He touches the tip of my nose with his. “I’ll be back at six.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Everything in this boutique is outrageously priced, including the dress I’m wearing, but I’ll empty my bank account for this beauty because I know Ben will love it.
The silky black material swoops indecently low on my back, and as I turn to check the other side, a phantom palm, Ben’s exact size, warms the bare skin there, as if he’s guiding me like he used to. I shiver at the tingly sensation and bite my lip in anticipation of the real thing tonight.
“What do we think?” the saleswoman asks.
I answer her dreamily. “This is the one.”
“Great! I’ll ring you up while you change.”
“Thank you.”
I have a small sachet of new lingerie, which I slip into the dress bag as I’m leaving the store, and run straight into a man who’s just entered.
“Sorry.” He’s tall and slender, wearing a baseball cap, and his sunglasses are aimed at me.
That tingling in my spine starts at my neck and trickles down. “Annie?”
It takes me a few more seconds to place him, but then I realize he’s the social worker at Sunny Hill. “Oh. Hi. Noah, right?”
“Yeah. Good to see you.” He holds the door open, but doesn’t leave me much room. “After you, darlin’.”
“Thanks.” I offer a smile as I pass. “Have a good weekend.”
“You, too. See you soon.”
Air swooshes out of my lungs, my heart pounds, and I shake my head. He wasn’t there to stalk me. It was just a guy I work with shopping. I really need to stop being so scared. Ben won’t let anything happen to me. I know that.
My phone vibrates, and I jump out of my skin, but fear disappears when I see it’s Ben. “Hi, Benny.”
“Hey, Blue.” He sounds weird.
When he doesn’t continue, I take that as my cue. “What are you doing? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just dropped Mazie off. Wish you were there.” On my way to the Agency.”
“Are you mad at me that I didn’t go?”
“No, not at all. I just miss you.”
My belly warms. “I miss you too. How was her class?” I can’t wait to see how Ben is with her. I already know he spoils her rotten.
“Loud and pink, but she’s cute, so it’s worth it.”
“I bet all the moms spent more time looking at you than the class.” I let out a soft chuckle, just picturing it
“You jealous, Blue?”
“Do I need to be?” I stop at the crosswalk and am waiting for the orange hand to switch to the white stick figures.
“Hell no, baby. Hell no.”
I hope nobody’s looking at me because I can tell the grin on my face rivals the Joker’s. “I’m kidding.”
“I’m not. What are you doing?”
The light changes, and I cross. “I just went shopping.”
“You did? Where?”
“I walked down Meridian to—”
“You walked?” He snaps. “Alone?”
I hesitate to tell him the truth. “Yes. Is that not okay?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t think I needed to, I’m sorry.”
A loud fuzziness sounds in my ear, and he apologizes. “I just switched off Bluetooth because I want you to really hear me, Annie. You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“Okay.”
“Did you feel scared shopping at all? Like anyone was following you?”
“No, not really.”
“What’s not really mean?”
Again, I hesitate to tell him this because I don’t want him to worry. “I just ran into Noah, the social worker from Sunny Hill on the way out of the store.”
“Does he make you uncomfortable?”
“No, I just thought it was weird because it was a dress boutique.” That also sells lingerie. “But I’ve also been on edge for so long that I’m overthinking everything.”
“I’ll look into him. Now, sweetheart, tell me, a dress store? What did you buy?”
Warmth creeps up my neck. “You’ll find out later. And don’t try to sweet-talk me, Benny. I know you don’t like surprises, but I promise it’s a good one.”
He groans. “Can I at least get a hint?”
“It’s your favorite color.”
“Is my surprise going to derail me from getting to our reservation on time?”
“I won’t let it.”
“Maybe you won’t have a choice,” he declares huskily.
My belly flips, but I stand strong. “You can wait.”
“I don’t know how much longer…you test my control.”
I roll my eyes. “Be patient.”