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“We’re going to spend the entire day together, just the three of us. Does that sound okay?” Ben pauses. “Unless you’re too tired. If you want to rest in the bedroom instead…”
“No. I love your idea.” Wrapping one arm around Laila, I pull us both into Ben’s arms. As he hugs both of us, he kisses the top of my head. “Spending the day with both of you sounds perfect.”
Chapter 25
BEN
I hope I didn’t forget anything.
After planning this for weeks, I want everything to be perfect.
Thea’s the first woman I ever wanted to make grand, romantic gestures for. But she’s the one. So it makes sense.
Not that I haven’t tried to do romantic things for her already. But flowers and gifts and special dinners are one thing. This is something different.
Something important.
I’ve been watching for Thea for the last ten minutes, sneaking quick glances out the front window and trying not to act like the overprotective boyfriend I know I’ve become. She texted me as she was leaving the library, and again once she was inside her car—yes, it’s overkill but after everything that happened with Alec—
Nope. Not going to think about him right now. He’s in jail, soon to be transferred to prison after his attorney negotiated a plea deal. And while I would rather have him serving the maximum time, I’m glad Thea was saved from having to go through the stress of a trial.
So he’s out of the picture for the next fifteen years, at least. Along with Stella, who’ll be in prison just as long.
My jaw clenches just thinking about them, the familiar anger boiling up again. It’s one of the reasons I’m going to counseling with Thea. When she suggested a couple of weeks ago that we both go, separately and together, I couldn’t deny that it made sense.
“I think it will help me with my nightmares,” she explained. “And feeling scared when I have to go somewhere alone.”
My response was immediate. “I’ll go with you. There’s no reason to be scared when I can take you anywhere you need to go.” She’d only gone to the supermarket once by herself at that point and when she came back, she was pale and shaking. Which made me feel guilty and angry all over again.
“You can’t do that forever, Ben.” Thea took my hand, giving me a soft look. “And I know you’re still feeling guilty. Even though you shouldn’t. But I think both of us going could help.”
So we’ve been going twice a week, and she was right. It is helping. Most of the time.
Aside from the emotional aftershocks from that terrible day, everything else is just about perfect. Thea is fully moved into my house—our house—and I couldn’t be happier. Not that I wasn’t happy living here with Laila, but with Thea here… She just makes everything brighter. Warmer. It feels like the home I always wanted for Laila.
And loving Thea is more than I ever dreamed of. I always thought it would be terrifying to trust again. I wasn’t sure if I could.
But with Thea? I handed my heart right over to her. I trust her with everything.
My phone chimes as the motion sensor out front is activated, and I glance down to watch Thea’s car pulling into the driveway. The faint hum of the garage door follows, so I head to the kitchen to meet her. It’s a routine we’ve fallen into—me waiting at the door and kissing her the second she comes home.
Initially, it was because I was a wreck when she first went back to work full-time. Even though rationally, I knew she was safe. But during those first days, I couldn’t get out of my head. I kept envisioning something happening to her at the library; getting hurt, Alec escaping from jail, some other person with a violent obsession with Thea.
So yeah, she had a good point about counseling.
Weeks later, my paranoia has mostly faded, but I haven’t stopped greeting her at the door each evening. And sometimes Laila will join me, and we’ll tag-team Thea for a double hug.
But today it’s just me. In my impatience, I yank the door open before Thea reaches it, and she lets out a little yip of surprise. “Ben,” she laughs, as I lift her into my arms, her feet bumping into my shins, “you can let me open the door, you know.”
“I know.” Holding on to her with one arm, I quickly close and lock the door. Once my arms are around her again, I dip my head and capture her mouth with mine. She twines her arms around my neck and pulls herself closer to me, her breasts pressing tantalizingly against my chest.
I trace the seam of her lips and she opens for me, sighing as my tongue plunges inside. Our kiss deepens, slow strokes and tiny nips and breathy moans that taste slightly of mint. Lifting her into my arms, I cup her ass, squeezing the full curves gently.
Whenever Thea makes a face at herself in the mirror, I tell her the same thing. She’s incredible. Every part of her is perfect. And her ass? It fits in my hands like she was made just for me.
Her nails drag along the back of my neck, just the tiniest bit of pain amidst the onslaught of pleasure.
Our eyes meet, hers heavy-lidded and dark with desire.
