Living Again (14 page)

Emily and Ben walked towards the pool. Emily’s husband, Trevor, watched curiously from the grill as his wife led Ben directly to Kayley’s chair. “Kay-ley,” Emily sing-songed. “Look who’s here!” Ben watched as Kayley turned her head to face Emily, and he thought he could pass out he was so nervous. What if she hated that he came? What if she kicked him out?

Time stood still as Emily moved out of the way and Kayley’s eyes connected with his. She was propped up on her elbows, having still been laying on her stomach in the sun. He fought with his brain to not look away from her eyes and look at her amazing body up close. As she realized he was standing there, he saw a flash of that same electricity he felt every time he was around her in her eyes.

“Happy Birthday, Kayley,” Ben said, trying not to nervously wring his hands.

Kayley couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Ben Nichols stood in front of her, wearing plaid board shorts, flip flops, and no shirt. Her eyes took all of that in so fast, she could hardly register what her eyes were telling her. It had been two weeks since she had seen him last and had embarrassed herself by basically running away from him after he kissed her.
An amazing kiss,
she thought, surprising herself at the thought.

She met his eyes, butterflies running rampant in her stomach. She tingled from head to toe as he looked intently at her. “Ben?” she squeaked out, sitting up so she could see him more clearly. As she did, she couldn’t help but notice his broad, tanned, muscular shoulders and arms and chiseled abs that then went into a V before disappearing into his shorts. Kayley’s mouth went dry and she couldn’t speak.

Ben held out his hand and she took it without even registering what she was doing. He pulled her up and the next thing she knew, she ended up pressed against him in a hug. She closed her eyes, aware of every part of her body pressed against his in a very intimate way.

“Surprise, Kayley,” Ben breathed, his lips so close to her ear she could feel his warm breath. “I hope you don’t mind me being here. I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday.” Kayley wanted to think rationally and push him away, but with him touching her basically from head to toe, she couldn’t.

Ben leaned back so he could look in her eyes, and Kayley took that moment to look for Emily to question her with her eyes on how in the world Ben ended up here. However, she instantly realized that they were totally and completely alone out by the pool.

Kayley couldn’t stop the incredulous laugh that escaped from her, realizing that her best friends AND Trevor had totally set her up. “Wow,” she said, looking behind her and realizing Rachel was also gone.

A playful smirk from Ben caught her attention. “Looks like we’re all alone.” His voice was husky and he was still touching her very closely.

Kayley shook her head, laughing. “Yes, yes it does,” she took one step back away from him so that she could think, but he instantly closed the space between them again.

“Kayley,” Ben began, taking a stray piece of hair and tucking it behind her ear. God, she loved when he did that. “I am so sorry for scaring you that day at the beach. But, unless you tell me to get lost and never talk to you again, I just can’t stay away from you. God knows I have tried. But when Emily told me she was having a birthday party for you, I had to see you.” Ben stopped and then looked Kayley up and down, stopping when he reached her eyes again. Kayley trembled inside at the way he looked at her. Even though she knew she needed to take a moment and get her head back on straight, she couldn’t make herself move.

“You’re so beautiful,” Ben continued. Was it just her or was his voice shaky? He put his hands on either side of her face, rubbing his thumb along her cheek and then her lips. “I don’t want to push you, but… I want to kiss you. I’ll ask you this time, but I may just beg if you say no.”

Kayley breathed shakily, her body screaming for her to reach up and touch him, bring him to her and lose herself in him completely. She waited for her head, her common sense to start yelling at her to stop, but it was eerily silent. She closed her eyes briefly as he waited, continuing to stroke the sides of her face with his thumbs. His touch was electric, sending shivers throughout her body.

“Ben,” she forced out, trying to control her breathing. She looked up at him, into his beautiful blue eyes that were intently focused on her face. His lips parted and he licked his lips unconsciously. He leaned over, closing the small space in between them until his forehead touched hers. She had been ridiculously attracted to Alex, but never in her life had felt this almost supernatural pull towards someone before.

“I won’t hurt you,” Ben whispered, smoothing her hair back off her face. “Kayley…”

“Yes,” Kayley found herself saying before she could stop it. Ben’s eyes lit up, and she felt his heartbeat speed up.

“Yes?” Ben questioned, his eyes leaving hers and looking at her lips. When their eyes met again, Kayley sucked in a breath and nodded her head silently. Her heart jumped erratically around her chest in anticipation. She felt as though someone else had taken over her body and her brain, and that someone was this very attractive doctor practically begging for a kiss.

Ben leaned in, brushing her lips with his momentarily. He pulled back, looking into her eyes again. When she smiled, he pressed his lips to hers once more. This time, though his lips were soft and his kiss sweet, it was more urgent. He took her lips in between his, tasting them gently. Kayley couldn’t stop the gasp from leaving her lips as he pulled away.

Kayley’s rationale went out the window as she wrapped her arms around Ben’s neck and pulled him closer to her. She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, taking the lead this time. He pulled her body into his so that no space was between them, and at the same time his tongue entered her mouth, teasing hers. Ben groaned into her mouth as she allowed her tongue to meet his, and knowing that she was the reason for that incredible sound to come from him transformed her. She ran her hands up and down his ripped back, then through his hair as he continued to taste every part of her mouth. His hands caressed her back and arms, feeling the string of her bikini under his hands. He was careful not to go any further, afraid to push her too far.

She kissed him like he was breath that she needed in her lungs. As their tongues entwined and their bodies pressed together urgently, she had never felt so desired, so cherished, and so turned on all at once.

Ben pulled back slightly, leaving them both panting. “Wow,” he half laughed and half groaned. “I thought your kiss was incredible before, Kayley, but that was the best kiss in the history of kisses. You have just ruined me for life. I can never kiss anyone else now.”

Kayley laughed, putting her head on his shoulder in embarrassment. “Ben,” she said, muffled into his shoulder.

Ben stepped back, forcing her to remove her head from his shoulder and look at him. He put his fingers under her chin gently, and she looked into his eyes. What she saw there put the butterflies right back in her stomach. “Don’t be embarrassed,” Ben whispered, leaning in to her again. “That was simply amazing. You’re everything I knew you would be and more.” He brushed his lips to hers again briefly while she attempted to calm her erratic breathing.

“Maybe we should see where everyone went?” Kayley asked shakily, a nervous giggle escaping her mouth. Ben laced his fingers with hers and started walking with her towards the back door to the house.

Ben looked her up and down as he reached for the doorknob. She felt herself blushing at the heated look in his eyes. “I think pink just became my favorite color,” he stated. Kayley looked down at her hot pink two-piece bathing suit and couldn’t stop herself from grinning.

“How did you do that?” Emily whispered, watching Kayley go down the hall to the bathroom. Ben watched her until she disappeared from sight and then turned to face the rest of the party, all of whom had just seen his very public display of attention outside by the pool.

“Did you have to watch?” Ben teased, thankful that he was able to calm himself down quickly after the most amazing five minutes of his life. All he could hope is that when she came out of the bathroom, she wouldn’t regret what happened with them and push him away again. He didn’t know if he could bear it.

“We didn’t watch the
whole
time,” Rachel piped up. “But hot
damn
, that was sizzlin’! How did you
do
that?”

While Ben appreciated her sentiment, he immediately looked down the hall, nervous that Kayley could hear her friends’ discussion. “Shhh,” he scolded. “Please.”

Emily nodded at Rachel. “Yeah, shhh,” she agreed. “If Kayley hears you, she will be embarrassed. This is a good thing, guys. She needs this, and if she starts getting teased from everyone, she will feel guilty and clam up. Now, let’s everyone go outside and get the food set up, and for goodness sake, act like you didn’t just see the hottest thing between her and Dr. Yummy over here.”

Ben couldn’t help the laugh that burst from him. “Dr. Yummy? Now that’s a new one.” Trevor smiled over at him and handed him a beer.

“That’s my wife for you,” he laughed, clinking the beer with his. Ben and Trevor led the way outside to eat Kayley’s birthday dinner of chicken and burgers, Ben feeling that he had just found himself a great group of people
and
that a certain blonde haired, pink bikini wearing girl had completely captured his heart.

Kayley sipped her margarita, listening to everyone chat and laugh around her. She couldn’t remember feeling this content and happy in a really long time. She was full of Trevor’s yummy chicken, burgers, and potato salad, and Emily’s margaritas. She was feeling good and carefree, and as much as she wanted to think it was just because she was surrounded by wonderful friends, she knew the real reason she was feeling the way she was tonight.

Kayley looked over at Ben sitting next to her. She hadn’t thought about Alex since the moment Ben walked onto the pool deck. The connection that they seemed to have with one another was unlike anything she could believe. His kiss, his touch was intoxicating. She pressed her fingers to her lips, still tasting him there and feeling his body pressed up against her. It bothered her that she was so in tuned to Ben, but she also couldn’t stop herself from feeling giddy about it. Alex would be okay with this, right? She shook her head, resigned to force what he would think from her mind for now.

As if he knew she was thinking about him, Ben looked over at her, his combustible smile igniting her insides again. He reached his hand out and touched her leg, rubbing circles on it. He winked at her and she smiled, genuinely happy. He seemed like part of the group- he fit in with all of her friends so perfectly after having just met them tonight (with the exception of Emily, who had apparently been chatting with the hot doctor pretty frequently).

Ben leaned over and Kayley immediately started shaking from anticipation. “Can I drive you home?” he whispered in her ear. Without warning, goose bumps broke out all over her body.
Seriously, Kayley
, she thought to herself.
Get control already. You’re acting like a teenager.