Finding Home (33 page)

“I know. I just need to make sure my legs work. You rendered them useless. Your mouth is a gift.” I chuckle as she helps me pull my shorts back up.

“A gift that’s only for you.” God, she can cut me open with one sentence. I kiss her again and contemplate throwing her over my shoulder and taking her back to my place. My sister yelling out our names snaps me back to reality as we try to sneak out of the door unnoticed.

The drink up is turning rowdy as we all have several beers in us. I’m standing at the table with Sam, Jenny, and Jack. We laugh about the game and the fact that Jack’s shorts got ripped in two, and everyone saw his bare ass as he walked off the field. Jack takes a sip of his beer, adjusting himself. “Well, at least I got a nice ass, and the ladies don’t seem to mind seeing what I have to offer.”

Just as I’m about to give shit back to him, one of our rugby groupies grabs Jack from behind. “You got that right, Jack.” She strokes her hands up and down his chest a few times before he breaks free. I can’t tell if he welcomes the advances or wants her to back the hell off.

“Hey, Lisa. Haven’t seen you for awhile?” Jack takes a step back, obviously trying to get some distance.

Lisa proceeds to fill the space again. “Do you want to hang out later?” She glances around the table, pausing to scowl at the girls. “Or are you busy?”

Jack looks back, and his eyes seem to go right to Jenny’s. “No, I’m cool. I’m keeping it low key tonight.”

Shrugging her shoulders, she turns to leave. “Whatever. Call me later if you change your mind.”

Jack only gives her a nod before once again facing the table. The tension in the air is thick, and he won’t make eye contact with us. The noise of Jenny’s hand across Jack’s shoulder breaks us out of the soupiness. “Bean! What the hell? What’s that for?”

Jenny’s enjoyment turns to anger and disgust. “You’re gross, Jack. Trust me when I tell you that no one, and I mean no one, wants to see that.”

“Oh?” He wraps his arm around my sister and her body locks. “Come on, Bean. Women can’t resist me.”

The whole scene playing out before me is suddenly turning weird. Sam must sense it, too, because she shifts her body closer to Jenny.

Jenny nudges herself away and looks hurt. Almost like what Jack says bothers her personally. “Whatever, Jack. I’m done for the night. I’m driving home.”

Sam reaches for her. “Hey. Are you okay? Don’t let that ruin our time.”

“I’m fine. I’m not feeling great, and I’m super tired. It’s best that I go home. You staying with Benny?” She gives me a slight smile, but her abrupt change in behavior bothers me.

“Yeah, if that’s cool with you. Are you okay with me staying?”

“Of course I want you to stay. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Her eyes appear a bit brighter as she pulls Sam into a hug.

“Okay. I’ll see you then. Text me later.”

“Sure, now go have some good, clean fun with my brother here.”

I pull her into a hug, chuckling at her statement. “Oh, there will be nothing clean about tonight.”

“Ew, gross! You guys are too much. I’m outta here.”

Jack gets up and offers Jenny a hug, which she reluctantly returns. “Hey, let me walk you out. I’m going to head home, too.”

“Not going to hang with Lisa?” The tone of her voice is icy.

“Nope. Not tonight. I’m beat. So please let me walk you out.” She only nods as he leads her away from the table and out the door.

Sam’s worried look concerns me. “What’s up, babe?”

“Hmm, she’s acting strange. Something is up with her, and she won’t tell me. I hope she’s okay.”

“I know what you mean. We’ll call her later to check in.” I slide my body closer to her now that we’re alone. She snuggles into me, burying her lips tenderly into my neck. “Mmm, that feels so good, baby.”

Her eyes go dark, and a wicked look comes over her. “As good as my mouth on your dick?” She clamps her teeth down on my neck before sucking it.

“Shit, babe, don’t talk like that. I’m getting hard just thinking about it.”

Sam shifts her body so she’s standing slightly in front of me. Her hand reaches out and cups me over my shorts. “Yes, you are. What should we do about that?” Her gentle touch has me leaning one arm on the table for support.

“Ah, we have to go. Like right fucking now.” She jumps slightly at my aggressive tone, but she’s not playing fair. Grabbing her hand, I yank her to the front door and out to my car. There are no words spoken between us, and she has no idea what she’s done to me or what she’s in for when we get to my place.

Ben hasn’t said a word to me the entire ride back to his place. His body looks strained in his seat, and his hand clutches the wheel tightly. Every once in awhile, his jaw clenches as a pained look moves across his face. The only way I know he’s not pissed is that he hasn’t let go of my hand. His thumb strokes tiny circles over it, causing goose bumps. My nerves flare up as anticipation runs through me. He has no idea what he does to me.

As we drive, my inner conscience is screaming to tell him about the phone call, but I don’t have the guts to do it. I’m being totally selfish. His behavior is so intense, and I crave him. I tell myself we’ll have time to talk later.
Yeah right, you’re a total wimp.

When we reach his apartment he finally lets go of my hand to get out of the car. Walking around to my side, he takes the bag from my hand and immediately holds it again. We walk into his building in complete silence. I can’t take it anymore. It’s is thrilling, scary, and totally turning me on.

He shifts his body to allow me to go into his apartment first. I notice that there is a long hallway with big bay windows that must be in the living room. They allow a faint glow of light to filter in from the street lamp outside. He drops my bag on the floor and closes and locks the door. I try to move into the apartment, but he only pulls me back. His hand stays firmly in place. “Ben ... I—” He covers his mouth with mine, not letting me speak. Just like his other kisses, I’m left to his submission.

“Samantha Cole, you have no idea what you do to me, do you?” After the kiss he just gave me, my lips aren’t functioning so I simply shake my head no. “This is what you do to me.” He places my hand over his heart and it beats wildly. “This is what you’ve done to me. What you keep doing to me.” He pulls me in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s all you. It started with our first talk. Our first touch. Our first kiss. Our first time making love. Our first everything. Because you are my everything, Sam. I want more firsts with you.”

Oh my fucking God. Who even talks like this?

“Talk to me, Sam. What are you thinking?” His hands grip my hair at the base of my neck, massaging it gently.

“I like firsts. I like being your everything.” His smile burns me to the core, and I know that I make him happy. “There is one first I think I’d like to do right now.”

Ben’s mouth begins to attack my neck with his teeth and tongue. “What’s that, babe?”

“I’ve never been taken up against a wall.” Ben stills for a moment before moving to my earlobe.

“Never?”

“No, never.”

“Well, that’s a first I can manage.” The next thing I know, my shorts are off, panties are ripped, and I’m up against the wall. I have no idea where the condom came from, but he’s suited up and ready to go. He tests my wetness and then licks his fingers. “Mmm ... you always taste so good. Hold on, babe.” Those are the only words he says before slamming into me. “God, you feel so good. Always so good.”

Ben begins this rotation with his hips that sends him sinking further into me. The force of his thrusts, plus gravity, has me feeling him deeper than I ever have. “Fuck Ben… oh God … don’t stop!” My breath increases as he hits the spot that sends me splintering. I shudder in his arms as waves of pleasure take over me. Biting down on his shoulder to muffle my screams, his punishing thrusts increase to take him over with me. He holds me there for several minutes while we try and regain our breaths. He stays inside me, and I can’t remember ever feeling this full.

As he lowers my legs to the floor, I joke with him about being grateful that I exercise regularly. “I don’t know if I could’ve kept my body up.” He laughs at me, kissing my nose.

“That was a good first for me.” His statement surprises me.

“You’ve never done it like that either?”

“Nope. I also never got a blow job right after a game.”

“I like that those are two firsts for you, and they were with me.” He pulls me against him while bending down and throwing my body over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” Ben’s hand playfully smacks me on the ass.

“I’m taking you in for a shower, and then we can check off more firsts in my bed.” He smacks me again while I pretend to protest. Secretly, I love it, and I’m sure he knows it because he playfully smacks me the whole way down the hall and into the bathroom before lowering me down.

“That sounds like a nice plan, but I hate to break it to you, besides the shower, we’ve already done it on a bed.” Ben turns on the shower and checks the water temperature.

“Yeah, but there are things we’ve not done while
in
the bed.” He says it so matter of fact, like he’s got a mental checklist he’s ticking off.

“Good point.” That’s all I can get out because he’s undressing me while his tongue and lips assault me. My mind ponders taking an extra long shower because chances are my muscles will need it. I know I’ll be sore tomorrow.

I lie in his bed after an evening of marathon lovemaking, and my body begins to feel that familiar pull of sleep. I’m tired and my muscles ache, but in a good way. We both seem to be making up for lost time. As we lay there wrapped around each other, Ben’s fingers trace lazy patterns across my back, mimicking my movements over his chest.

My ears listen as his breaths become slow and even, and his body drifts into a deep sleep.

The serene stillness of the night beckons my weighted eyes to close. Just as my body gives in to slumber, a faint, familiar chirp from my phone rouses me. Realizing I have an incoming text, my mind and body tell me to get the hell up and see who it is. Glancing at Ben, I gingerly remove his arm from across me and slide out of bed.

Looking around for my clutch, I take note of his home. We were too busy earlier for me to notice. The décor is simple enough. Leather couches, a large square coffee table, and big screen TV. Normal things a guy would have, but when you really take a closer look there are little knick-knacks that only come from a feminine touch. Baskets, photos, scented candles, mirrors and sconces on the wall. One wall has a sculpted piece made of wrought iron. Curtains, throw pillows, blankets, and what looks like a reading alcove complete the space. As I stand there in the middle of it all, reality hits me. Beth is still present in his life whether he realizes it or not, and it sucks the air right out of me.