Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
Efa
We walk into Ben’s suite at the Mandarin Oriental, and my gaze is immediately drawn to the gold-leaf ceiling. “You know you’re cheating on your own hotel by staying here.”
“Market research,” Bennett says. “I just couldn’t go back to my apartment.”
“But Nadia’s been caught. And anyway, you’re on the cover of Forbes . I hate to tell you but your cover is officially blown.” I grin at him, and then can’t stop grinning, because being with him, knowing we have a future together, feels almost too good to be true.
“I know. It’s not that. I just don’t want to go backward, you know?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Do I?”
“I chose my old apartment because I was hiding. It was an out-of-the-way building with a private entrance. The security is unrivaled. It doesn’t seem like a place I belong anymore. A place we belong.”
How did this guy go from dickwad to mushball?
How did I turn into this heart-eyed gal who’s prepared to emigrate for a guy?
“A place we belong?” I exhale and try to imagine what it will be like living in New York. “My sister isn’t going to be happy that where I belong isn’t next door to her in London. You know my brother-in-law lives opposite his brother.”
“I can’t wait to meet all these brothers-in-law. If they even exist.”
I laugh. “You’ll meet them. We’ll have to go over at some point. I actually need to call my sister and fill her in on all the bits I’ve not told her.”
“All the bits?”
“Like how I’m in love with this reclusive tech billionaire and he’s making me stay stateside.”
He flops down next to me on the sofa and reaches for my waist. “Get your cell. Let’s call her now. No time like the present.”
“It’s eleven. I’m not sure she’ll even be up.”
“Then we’ll leave a message.”
A flutter of excitement skates over my skin. I love that he’s so willing to meet my sister. “Okay.” I bring up my phone and start a video call to Eira.
She answers on the first ring. “Hey! How was your last day?”
I wince. She’s so looking forward to me coming home. “Well, I have a funny story to tell you.”
I glance over at Bennett, who’s grinning at me. I reach up and cup his jaw, swiping his chin with my thumb. “I might not be coming back tomorrow as planned.”
“What? But I miss you! Did you get a job at Fort?”
Bennett and I lock eyes. “Better than that.” I press my lips together, scared about what I’m about to admit. “I’m in love with the CEO, and I’m really hoping that he’s going to marry me.”
“What?” she screams.
Dax shushes her in the background. Poor Guinevere. I hope she didn’t get woken up.
“Are you kidding?” she asks.
Bennett shifts so he’s in frame. “Hi, Eira. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh wow, you’re not kidding,” Eira says. “But you were joking about the marriage thing, right? You’re twenty-one.”
“If she wants to wait, we can wait,” Bennett says. “But married or not, we’re together now. I want to be with her for the rest of my life.” I lean into Bennett, trying to get closer. Will I ever not want to be as close to him as possible?
Eira turns, and I can tell she’s looking at Dax. Knowing him, he’s not following what’s going on. He’s probably focused on a medical journal or something.
“It’s still you and me and Dylan,” I say, my voice breaking. Bennett takes the phone from me, keeping the screen on me but freeing up my hands. “Just like when you found Dax and Guinevere. Being with Bennett doesn’t change that.”
“Except you’re so far away.” This time it’s Eira’s voice that cracks.
“If you think about it, it’s just like living in Scotland and coming up and down on the train. It’s only a six- or seven-hour flight.” Before I can tell her how I can come back to London periodically, Dax comes into the shot.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asks. He probably wants to get to bed and have this conversation another time. Except I don’t want to leave my sister upset.
I look at Bennett and then back to the screen. “I’m not doing anything. I’ve finished at work, so I’m not making beds. Bennett and I have only just… you know, we haven’t planned anything.”
“Okay, so we’ll see you tomorrow around lunchtime your time,” Dax says bluntly, like I live in Notting Hill and we’re meeting at a local café. “I’ve just texted Vincent and we can borrow the jet—not the first time I’ve asked him for that particular favor, and it won’t be the last if I have a sister-in-law in New York.”
“What?” Eira says.
I half squeal, half yelp. “Did I tell you, you’re my favorite brother-in-law?”
“You don’t need to tell me. Of course I am.”
“We’ll get to meet you in person, Bennett,” Eira says.
“Saw the Forbes thing,” Dax says, as if he’s just mentioned it’s raining. “Eddie’s the one you mention, right?”
“Yup,” Bennett says.
“You went public for her?” Dax asks.
“Yup,” Bennett asks.
“Yeah, Eira, he’ll do for Eddie.” He presses a kiss to the side of her head. “Eddie, I’ll talk to Eira. And we’ll see you tomorrow. Everything’s going to be fine.”
And that’s why I love Dax for my sister.
“Thanks, Dax. Love you, Eira.”
Eira blows me a kiss and we hang up.
“I don’t have a jet,” Bennett says as I toss my phone on the table in front of us.
“Your takeaway from that conversation is that you don’t have a jet?” I link my fingers through his and press a kiss to the back of his hand.
“It just got me thinking, that’s all. It might be a good idea to get one.”
I groan. “No. Think of the environmental cost. We can fly like normal people.”
“You mean charter something?” he asks.
I shake my head. “You’re ridiculous. We can go online, book a seat, and turn up to the airport like everyone else.”
“I’m not sure about that.” He bends and presses a kiss on the corner of my mouth. “How am I going to fuck you on a commercial flight?”
“Maybe you’re not going to fuck me on a commercial flight. Ever thought about that?”
He leans over me, and my entire body flushes with heat. “You’re mine now.”
“I was always yours,” I reply. I don’t know what it was about Bennett that first time I met him. He wasn’t the first man I’d ever slept with, but in so many ways it felt like he was. Maybe that’s how everyone feels when they meet the love of their life. I felt it then, and every time he’s touched me since.
He growls. “It’s been too long.”
“I was in physical pain being away from you,” I say, lifting my arms as he peels my top off.
He strokes his knuckles down my cheek and shakes his head. “Never again. I’m serious about marrying you. I don’t have a ring and I haven’t gone down on one knee, but I will.”
I pull at his shirt, trying to get the buttons open as quickly as I can. I don’t want to wait any longer to feel his skin against mine.
“I know. And I’m going to say yes. But maybe we can just do something small, with those closest to us. My sister is going to do a big wedding next year and… I just need you.”
“Whatever you want,” he says, shifting so he’s kneeling on the floor between my thighs. “I’ve got to taste you again.”
There’s no preamble before he sinks his tongue into me like he’s been deprived for too long and now he’s going to feast.
I open my legs wider, wanting to give him everything I have.