Private Affair (The Private Series) (12 page)

I pad quietly and quickly to find Ben. I am entering the kitchen and I see the whole apartment filled with vases of pink peonies. My step slows; I am in awe of all the shades of my favorite flower and the scent cascading through the space. I hold my new favorite mug with both hands clutched to my heart, I look around for Ben, but he is nowhere to be seen. I walk to the breakfast bar and find fresh fruit, French toast, scones and all the yummy breakfast items you could think of.

“Jesus!” I screech as I stumble back when Ben pops up from behind the bar. “Where you hiding there on purpose?” I shriek out, my adrenaline in high gear from the sheer terror of being snuck up on.

He lets out a light laugh and comes around the bar to comfort me, “No, I was looking for a pan in the cabinet. I didn’t hear you come in the room, you are a very stealthy walker.”

I smack his arm, “No excuse to startle the crap out of me.” Then I notice that he is dressed in only his signature black boxer briefs… And I am standing here in just a tee and pair of pink panties. He notices me checking him out and licks his lips. Now this is how a man should cook, only in his underwear. Gets two hungers taken care of at once.

“Like what you see Birthday girl?” He asks with a smoldering look on his face.

I take my bottom lip between my teeth and nod.

His eyes roam me, which only ignites the slow but now growing inferno taking place in my core. I begin to feel my nipples harden under my shirt and he must take notice, because his eyes set on my breasts. He steps closer to me and my heartbeat quickens, “So what would the birthday girl like to do?”

I grab at the waistband of his shorts and pull him into me closer. “I can think of a thing or two…” He lets me take charge and I slip my fingers under the elastic band and pull the boxers down, his erection springs free immediately. I look up to him and give him a smirk of my own.

“You like?”

“I approve. The best birthday present that I don’t need to unwrap.”

He nearly rips my tee off and I am standing with nothing but my pink cheeky undies and he twitches. He grabs himself and groans, and then he is lifting me up onto the bar and is between my legs, at my opening.

“Happy birthday baby,” he tells me and I use my heels to urge him into me, fast and hard. I toss my head back as he takes me on the counter, just as the mug promised. He slows his pace and reaches to the side of me and picks up a strawberry. He dips it into a little dish of melted chocolate, which I hadn’t noticed before. He holds it to my mouth and I lick off a drop of chocolate, which was about to fall.

“Oh fucking bloody hell that’s hot,” he moans and I take a bite out of the lush ripe fruit.

I get bold and I dip my finger into the dish of chocolate and I run it between my breasts and glare at him. His eyes become darker, more hooded than before. He looks hungry. He dips down and with the tip of his tongue he runs it slowly up the trail I made for him. His mouth his hot and divine on my already too sensitive skin. He doesn’t stop once the chocolate is gone; his tongue finds my nipple and flicks it. I moan out and push my chest closer to his face. He thrusts into me and takes my pink mound in between his slick fingers and rolls it. I feel myself start to quicken, and his hand reaches for the other nipple and I yell out as I reach my high and his pace picks up and he goes deeper and deeper and before I know it I am laying back on the cool marble and he over me. I meet him thrust for thrust and he is coming hot and hard inside of me.

I laugh a little as we both pant, trying to catch our breaths. “You know what? I really like that chocolate.”

“Yeah, me too,” He chuckles, “Pretty damn tasty. How about some actual breakfast? I can reheat the French toast.”

We sit up and find that we have tipped over a few of the dishes, but nothing is mushed, thankfully, because I am now starving. He grabs the platter of perfectly made French toast and pops it in the microwave. I am still sitting on the counter with my legs dangling off its edge. I watch him gather plates and silverware and then he comes over holding my birthday mug and pours me a fresh cup.

“I love my new mug,” I confess and kiss him on the cheek.

“I am glad. I wanted to give you something personal, yet simple.” He glances at the mug in my left hand and places his hand over mine. “So, when should we pick a date?”

I take in a deep breath, “Well, that depends.”

“On…?”

I cross my legs and take a sip, “Oh, when Caroline can travel.” I can’t imagine getting married in London, without her there. If it were the case where she couldn’t travel for a while I would be perfectly happy getting married right here.

“I spoke to my father the other day about how she is coming along and they think in a few weeks she should be okay to be released. Just as long as she continues to see the therapist there.”

This makes me happy to hear, I can’t help but smile from ear to ear, “Now, that is some great news to hear on my birthday.”

Ben kisses my nose, “Now for the rest of the day. Eat up and get that hot ass in the shower and we are going out!” With a smack on my behind I skip to the bathroom.

We are in Ben’s sixty-nine GTO, it’s freezing today, but I am feeling warm and cozy with my belly full of my amazing breakfast and coffee that Ben had made for me and the fact that he is holding my hand. I have my arm warmers on that Caroline made for me, which go perfectly with my simple black long sleeve top with the shoulders exposed and a pair of dark skinny jeans, paired with black Doc Martin boots. Ben is looking particularly sexy in his hooded royal blue thermo shirt, black jeans and his signature boots. I just look over at him in the driver seat and I can’t resist licking my pink glossed lips.

“What?” He asks innocently, knowing full well what I am thinking.

I shift in my seat, feeling the warm tinglies starting to build, he notices and lets out a single deep laugh, which reverberates to my core. “Like you don’t always know,” I stick out my tongue trying to calm myself down.

I look out the window and we are still in the city, “Where are we going anyways?”

Ben leans his head down and looks out my passenger window, I follow his eyes and see the Seattle Space Needle. “Really?” I ask, hearing my own shock. “I have never been there, not in the many years of living here.”

“Really?” He asks using my own questioning technique.

“Really.”

He rubs his thumbs on my hand, “Good, another first.”

I can’t help but smile and swoon. I look back at him and he has a soft serene smile on his scruff covered face, as he pulls into a parking space. My heart swells and fills with more Ben.

Heading to the massive tower, he opens the door for me. “So what are we doing here? Isn’t it a little too cold to go to the observation deck?”

“Bloody straight it is!” He gusts out, and I can’t help but laugh at his robust English language coming out. He doesn’t use too much of it, he explained that it started to wear off when he was in college. He maintained the accent but the ‘slang’ was falling off, but it sure as hell made a comeback just now!

“Well it is,” he defends his answer.

We start for the elevator and I ask, “So, then what is going on?”

The door closes and we start to ascend upward. “There’s an indie musician feature happening. I thought, since you love Cilver and a few other up and coming bands that you might get a kick out of this today. We can have lunch, a couple drinks and enjoy the afternoon.”

I latch onto his arm as the elevator slows. The doors open and I can hear and feel the smooth vibrations of an acoustic guitar being strummed. Then my mind goes back to my own private show with Ben. I blush and hide behind my pink hair to disguise my pink cheeks.

We make our way to the Puget Sound room. As we approach the room the music becomes clearer. The room is flooded with brisk sunlight and nearly makes you forget that it’s February. Round tables are fitted around the room and a small stage with a mic and stool, a young woman with reddish dreads is singing a smooth soulful song and an acoustic guitar on her lap.

Ben pays a guy at the door and we are greeted into the intimate event. We pick a small table for two and a young man offers us coffee. And tells us to help ourselves to a buffet table. Ben leans over and kisses my cheek, “You like?”

I nod and kiss him softly on his lips. “This is a perfect way to spend my birthday, thank you.”

The woman on the stage exits and a young man takes the stage. Tony. Ben’s head snaps in his direction, obviously he’s as surprised as I am. “Again with this guy?” Ben rolls his eyes.

I smack his shoulder and scold him, “Hey, be nice. You seemed as if you liked him at the New Year’s event.”

“I did. But he seems to be popping up everywhere as of late.”

Tony notices us at the table and offers a smile and little wave, I return the gesture and Ben takes my hand and brings it to his mouth and kisses it, but he looks at Tony during that not so sweet anymore of a gesture. I pull my hand away.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asks.

“Oh please,” I whisper as Tony starts to play. “You, you made a cute motion of kissing me into a pissing contest or a way of marking your territory.” I scold.

Ben pinches his eyes close, conflicted. “I’m sorry love, it’s a natural reflex it seems. I just want everyone to know that you’re
my
girl.”

“I get that, I do. I always worry when a woman looks at you, but I know that you wouldn’t do a thing to hurt me. And you must know that I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“But, who’s to say some bloat won’t make a move on you?”

I sigh, “If someone ever does, which they don’t, you have to trust in me that I can take care of myself.”

Ben dips his forehead to mine, eyes closed then he opens them to find mine looking at him. His eyes are extra bright today and have a tinge of gold streaming through the deep mocha that resides there. Amazing.

Tony’s sound is smooth and edgy. His voice is the exact opposite of Ben’s, his is rough and oozes sex. Tony’s is softer, sweeter, but just enticing. I notice the young women in the room just sit forward in their seats as they watch him perform. He can truly captivate an audience. When he is done he exits the small platform of a stage and grabs a soda at the bar.

“Do you mind if I go say hi?” I ask Ben. I shouldn’t feel the need to ask, but I do. He doesn’t have any control over who I choose to be my friends, but I don’t know, I can just sense an odd vibe from Ben when Tony is around. He says he’s cool with him, but I guess we shall see.

Ben pushes out from the table, stands and offers his hand for me to stand, “Of course, I need to hit the loo anyways. I’ll meet you back here in a few.”

I kiss him on the cheek, “Sounds good.”

Ben walks across the room and heads for the restrooms and I make my way to the bar area. Tony sees me approaching and smiles. “Hey!” I greet him.

“Hey, yourself! Stalking me are ya?” He teases.

I do an over dramatic hair flip, “Oh don’t you know? I’m your biggest fan and I’m stalking you…”

Tony takes a step back and I snort out a laugh. “Really though, you are great. I had no idea you got around so much in the city.”

“Thank you, and yeah I am starting to get into the whole musician thing. Tattooing is fun and all, but I love my music. I am actually heading to Florida to go visit my Dad and his … girlfriend, I heard her friend has a sweet bar that people perform at. There’s this Breast cancer event going on, so I am going to check that out when I am in town.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun! I have never been south of here really. You will have to tell me all about it when you get back in town.” I tell him.

“Plan on stalking me some more then?” He jokes.

I cover my face with my hands and do a cheesy peek-a-boo motion, “you never know where I might pop up on ya!”

We are laughing when Ben joins my side. “Want another coffee love?”

“Need you ask?” I flutter my eye lashes up at him.

“Hey … Tony right?” Ben greets my friend.

“Yeah, how’s it going? Enjoying the set up today?” Tony makes small talk.

Ben wraps his arm around my waist, “Sure am, I get to spend the whole day with my fiancé on her birthday.”

Tony’s eyes shoot open and all of a sudden starts to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and people over hear and start to chime in and I go pink.

“Gee, thanks!” I gasp out when he is done.

Tony is smiling from ear to ear, “You’re welcome. Hey I gotta get going, I have a shift at the shop today. Make sure you come back, your next piece … consider it a birthday present.”

“Aww, that’s cool of you! Thanks! Once I know of something I want I will come find you.”

Ben eyes him and only nods when Tony says his goodbye.

“Be any colder?” I ask.

“Sorry, I just wanted to spend the afternoon enjoying you to myself.”

I run my hand over his chest, “Well, let’s go home then.”

“Your birthday, your call,” and I see his eyes darken with thoughts of what he is going to do with me at home. We are out of the place before my latte is ready from the bar.