8. Benjamin
BENJAMIN
I have absolutely no idea what this movie is about.
But neither do the other three people I’m watching it with. One of them has a good excuse. She fell asleep about thirty minutes in.
The other two have a good excuse too, I suppose. If she was sitting on the couch right next to me, then leaning against me, then eventually lying with her head in my lap when she fell asleep, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the movie either.
Then again, I’m sitting in an armchair, perpendicular to the couch where Dash and Kane have Abby snuggled between them, and I can’t concentrate even from here.
I swear the room is filled with the scent of strawberries and cream, and all I want to do is taste her from head to toe.
Of course I won’t do that. She doesn’t know us. She just had a very trying night. She’s a guest in our house. And I have no idea how she feels about us. Me in particular.
I am smart enough to know that she’s here, staying with us for two reasons: she feels comfortable and safe with Kane and Dash, and two, she recognizes that I like to get my way.
I’m thrilled that she’s here.
I would’ve had a hard time sleeping tonight after meeting her anyway. I have a feeling she would’ve been on my mind no matter what.
Even if we had dropped her off at the nicest apartment complex in the city, I would’ve been thinking of her, but I could tell from the outside of the building that we were not leaving her in a highly secure, luxury apartment.
That was already bugging me. I want this woman to have the best of everything.
It is the strangest urge I have ever felt in my life.
We barely know her. Still, I feel this undeniable urge to take care of her and not just that, but to spoil her, to surround her in extravagance, to give her things beyond her wildest dreams.
My two best friends are definitely two ways to spoil her.
While I am jealous of Dash and Kane sitting right next to her, feeling her body heat, smelling her scent even more strongly, and feeling like they are right there, protecting and comforting her, I also love watching the three of them.
She seems lighter when she’s with them. She smiles easily.
She lets them take her bags, seems completely fine with them resting their hands on her lower back, and she is constantly casting sweet, adorable glances in their directions.
Like she can’t help but watch them while not wanting to get caught.
And the guys are clearly smitten.
Kane is obviously head over heels for this girl already. He’s always happy and easy to be around, but he’s been downright giddy since meeting Abby.
Dash is always a little harder to read, but not tonight. He’s smiling, relaxed, and the only time he has left her side for more than two minutes is when he went into her apartment to pack her suitcase.
Seeing her now curled up, subconsciously feeling comfortable with her head on Kane’s thigh and her feet resting in Dash’s lap, makes my chest feel less tight. She’s here, safe, and she knows it.
Dash has his head resting against the back of the couch, his mouth open, snoring softly. His hand is wrapped around one of her ankles, his big paw, covering nearly her entire foot.
Kane has propped himself up in the corner of the couch, also asleep. His fingers are tangled in her hair, and I swear he’s smiling, even in his sleep.
The three of them look right together. Like they’ve been sitting on that couch, falling asleep to movies together for years.
I rub my hand over my sternum, actually feeling a physical ache there.
Can we keep her?
I know the guys will say yes. And they’ll do anything to make that happen. But will Abby let that happen? Would she want that? Would she want all three of us?
Because that’s the bottom line. It’s all three of us or nothing at the end of the day.
We’ve never done that before. Never even discussed it. But it seems crystal clear now that we’ve met her. The three of us together would be exactly what Abby needs.
The movie credits begin to roll, and I look at the three of them, debating my next move. I need to put them to bed.
While I would very much like to herd everyone up to the same bedroom, it is way too soon for that. If I leave the guys here, eventually, they’ll wake up and find their way to their rooms. But somehow Abby needs to get to bed.
And I suddenly very much want to be the one who does that. I could wake either of the other guys, and they would happily scoop her up and take her upstairs. But they’ve been attending to her all night.
It’s my turn.
I push up from the chair and turn off the television and all the lights except the one lamp on the side table. I lean over the couch and carefully detangle her hair from Kane’s fingers, and then slowly unwrap Dash’s hand from around her dainty ankle.
Both men are deeply asleep, making only little snorting noises and a groan as they reposition on the couch. I’m able to slip Abby off their laps by scooping my hands underneath her knees and behind her shoulders.
To my delight and surprise, she doesn’t awaken as I lift her and cradle her against my chest. Instead, she curls into me, nuzzling her cheek against my shoulder.
Her sweet strawberry scent floats up to me, stronger now that she’s in my arms, and I breathe deeply, feeling heat and need and affection course through me.
It doesn’t make sense, but I’m about to give up trying to figure it out. She is a fact now.
I start for the stairs, determined to lay her on the bed, cover her up, and leave her alone.
She’s dressed in soft sweatpants and a sweatshirt that will work just fine as pajamas for the night.
Dash has already taken her belongings up to the bedroom, and Kane gave her a tour of the house, so when she does awaken, she’ll know where she is, and she’ll have everything she needs.
But halfway up the stairs, she stirs in my arms. I pause on the steps and look down into her gorgeous blue eyes.
“Hi,” I say softly, giving her a chance to recognize who’s holding her.
She gives me a sweet smile that makes me want to kiss her.
Well, it makes me want to kiss her more than I already did.
“Hi.”
“I’m just carrying you up to bed.” Her eyes widen slightly, and I add, “your bedroom.”
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, and I let that sink in, prepared to put her down if she asks.
Dammit, she’s beautiful. And this urge to take care of her, keep her close, surround her, and protect her surges stronger.
I work on not squeezing her tighter and ask, “Okay?”
She nods. “Of course. But you don’t have to carry me.”
“I want to,” I tell her honestly.
She simply smiles. She doesn’t ask to be put down, and she doesn’t so much as wiggle a toe, so I continue up the stairs, my heart pounding.
I stop in front of the door to the room we’ve given her.
It’s right in the middle of the others. My room is the furthest down the hall, but hers is between mine and the one Dash uses.
Kane’s is directly across from hers. It’s not as if we ever planned to bring a woman to the house and give her the bedroom situated in the midst of all of ours.
I let the guys choose which of the extra rooms here they each wanted, and this is just how it worked out. But now it seems startlingly perfect.
I take a deep breath of her scent, unable to help myself, before I let her down.
When her feet touch the floor, she pauses, not making a move at first.
“I know I said it before, but it is really generous of you to let me stay here.”
“I should thank you for agreeing. It’s really the only way the three of us would be getting any sleep tonight.”
A little smile teases her lips, but she shakes her head, looking puzzled. “Are you three like this with all the women that you meet? So protective? Is that just how you’re wired or something?”
I can’t think of a good reason not to be honest here. “Absolutely not. Just you.”
She goes from puzzled to startled. “Oh.” She frowns. “That’s…weird. Right?”
I lift a shoulder. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s just perfect.”
She studies me. “I don’t like being coddled.”
“Okay.”
She slowly smiles. “That doesn’t matter, does it? You’re still going to.”
“I’m going to be sure that you have everything you need and that you’re safe and happy,” I tell her. That probably sounds intense for having known her only a few hours, but I’m not sure what will come of me telling her that I’ll leave her alone and then…not doing that.
“Why?” she finally asks.
“I’m not sure I can totally explain it. I just…need to.”
She slowly nods. “I had very overprotective parents growing up,” she says. “I don’t really do well with all of that now.”
I nod in return. “You’ll get used to it.”
I don’t know what I expect her reaction to be, but the laugh she lets out is not it. The sound is light and sweet and wraps around me like a fucking breath of strawberry-scented air.
And the only reaction I can come up with is to kiss her.
I step close, cup her cheek, tip her face up, and touch my lips to hers.
She sighs against my mouth, and I have no choice but to deepen the contact.
I press more fully, my other hand sliding to the curve of her lower back, bringing her up against me.
Her hands come to rest on my chest, but she doesn’t push me away. She lifts on her tiptoes, pressing our mouths together more firmly.
For a brief moment, I consider turning her, backing her into the wall, and devouring her.
There is only one tiny spot in my brain still lighting up with go slow.
Thank god it’s a part that I listen to often.
I lift my head and stare down at her. Her cheeks are pink, her pupils are dilated, and she’s breathing fast.
I run my thumb over her lower lip. “I thought Kane would be the first one to kiss you.”
Her lips tip up. “So did I.”
Well…okay, then.
I reach for the knob on the bedroom door, twist it, and push the door open.
“Goodnight, Abby.”
“Goodnight, Benjamin.”
She slips inside and closes the door behind her.
I let out a long breath.
Then do something I haven’t done enough of lately.
I smile. A big, satisfying, fuck-I-feel-good smile.