Chapter 21: Chapter 21
With a hint of shame on her pink cheeks, Imara’s eyes left her reflection to see Ben tucking his shirt into his pants. “I hope you don’t think poorly of me. This isn’t the kind of thing I normally do.”
Her pale, white shoulders rolled as she straightened her dress again. The gold flash of his eyes shot back at her in the mirror as Ben pulled his zipper up. “I don’t. Not at all. I can’t explain it to you, you’ll think I’m crazy, but I’ve been dreaming of doing that for a long time.”
She pushed the little hairs away from her face with her fingertips when she turned around to face him. “Do I look alright? My hair must be a mess.”
His hands cupped her arms, and he peeked down between them, then his eyes slowly rose to meet hers again. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Goosebumps moved over her like a wave crashing on the beach, and Ben smirked at the reaction, then rubbed them away with his hands. “Do you know why your brother hired me? Are you in trouble or something?”
A knocking started in the back of her mind, and she shrugged it away as she shook her head. “Um, I don’t believe so. I don’t know why he did, but I’m not going to complain at all. I could become accustomed to this kind of personal attention.”
His hands moved to frame her face, and he leaned into her lips. “Well, whatever it is, you don’t need to worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
While he shoved some clothing into his bag, Imara sat on the edge of his bed. “I can’t believe this is happening. I think Thorin may have lost his mind. He’s always been so protective of me; this just seems so strange.”
His neck tilted as he pulled the strap over his head, then he held out his hand. “We should get going before your brother comes looking for us. This isn’t exactly the position I want him to find us in on the first night.”
Before he opened the door, Ben pushed her into it once again. “Just in case he changes his mind about all this-” his hand met the back of her head, and he kissed her so desperately that even the woman buried deep inside her mind felt it- “know that I’m never giving you up. I’ve been waiting too long to have you by my side. If I have to come up in that house and snatch you away in the middle of the night like a dirty thief, I will.”
A pointy finger poked into his chest. “I’ll hold you to that, Ben Logan.”
They walked down the hall together, stealing glances and grinning like two school kids, until Jasper poked his head out his office door. “Come on in here for a minute.”
The two of them sank into the leather settee, and without even realizing it, their hands found each other.
Jasper pressed his back into his chair and tugged off his tie. “Are you all set, Ben?”
Ben shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “Yes, sir. I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I know I can never repay that debt, but if ever I can do anything to help you, I will.”
When Ben showed up last year, Jasper kept him close by, hoping that Fate would intervene and give him the answers he was looking for. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m glad that I could help you out.”
Thorin stretched his back, then pushed himself up off the much-too-comfortable leather chair. “So, are we ready, then?”
Imara wrapped her little finger around Ben’s on the walk home. Every time Thorin looked back over his shoulder, he found them gazing at each other, and it made him smile. In her previous life, he’d taken every precaution to keep his sister safe, and it meant nothing.
Keeping her away from her mate was a cruel and useless tactic that he wouldn’t use again.
When Thorin told the butler that Ben would live there, Aster wasn’t shy with his opinion, and he was no more welcoming when he opened the door and shook his head at the former caretaker. “I trust you enjoyed the party.”
After he allowed the couple to walk through, Thorin shut the door behind him. “Yes, those old boys never disappoint. Is Mr. Logan’s room ready?”
Aster cleared his throat and wrinkled his nose at his employer. “Of course, sir.”
“Thank you.” Thorin held out his arm as Aster pulled off his jacket and lifted his chin at Imara. “Darlin, can you show Ben to his room? Please entertain him, if you will. I have some things I need to take care of.”
“Why sure.” Her hand moved up Ben’s arm as her brother turned away. “What in the world is going on?” After rolling her eyes and trilling her lips, she turned to Ben. “So, would you like me to show you around?”
“Are you kidding?” He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead, then tugged her with him to the stairs. “I’ve been taking care of this place for almost a year now. I know it like the back of my hand.”
He backed her against the door to her bedroom when they got there and wrapped his hand around her face as he hovered over her. “Do you want to go sit up on the roof?”
Both her hands pulled at his jacket. “The roof?
Ben nodded as he picked at the beads on the front of her gown. “The one that sits over the back garage. It’s a pretty night, and I’m not ready to let you go yet.”
He mouthed every inch of her face until he met her neck, and she slid out from underneath him. “Alright. Let me go change into something else real quick.”
Before she reached her door, his arms were around her, and his lips met her shoulder. “Let me help you with that.” She met every one of his hot breaths against her neck with a whimper as he pulled her zipper down her back. “Don’t belong.”
She closed her door behind her and shook off her dress, then kicked it across the floor on her way to her armoire. After pulling on a fresh silk nightgown, she gripped the doorknob and closed her eyes. “It’s you. Isn’t it?”
As the door swung open, Ben was there with a blanket on his arm and his hand, waiting for her. “I am. You know I am.”
After he stepped out onto the roof, he held onto her fingers as she climbed through the window. He snapped the blanket and let it fall to the floor, then pulled her down beside him.
She rested against his chest while he rubbed his lips against her ear, and she searched the starry sky. “Do you know much about stars?”
His chin rested on her shoulder as his eyes swept over the horizon. “I never much cared for all that.”
His fingers were threaded through hers, but she lifted her finger to the red star. “You see that red one there?”
“Mmm-hmm.” While he made his way down her neck, she leaned away and tugged his arms tighter around her.
“That’s Antares. His wife died on their wedding night, and he had to walk through the fires of Hell to save her.” She rubbed the tears from her cheek and closed her eyes. “Have you ever loved anyone like that?”
His hands-on her shoulders twisted her until she faced him and straddled his lap. “I don’t remember much until about a year ago, but I can’t imagine that I ever felt anything like this before. I’m so in love with you.”
Between the soft, clumsy kisses, her hands found their way to his night pants. “I’ve never wanted anything in all my life the way I want you.” Her teeth held his lip, and she pinched her eyes shut as she slid down his cock. “Where have you been?”
His powerful hands cupped her ass cheeks and guided her hips as she yanked at his hair. Her eyes rolled up to the red star, and the distant knocking returned with each fiery breath in her ear.
Her lips slid up and down his cheek until the heat of his cum filled her. His fingers moved down her face until they met her chest. “Look at me.” A pouty frown came before her teary eyes opened to find him nose to nose with her. He tapped at the space above her heart. “No matter what happens, I’m right here.”