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Liv got up from her chair. “I should go too.”
Ben stood and put his arm around Liv’s shoulders. “No. Stay. Can you stay? Please?” He wasn’t used to women trying so hard to get away from him. It was usually the other way around.
Liv looked at Paige, as if to ask for a reason to leave. “I’ll be back for dinner. Stay. Enjoy yourself.”
“Well, I guess…”
“There, it’s settled. You’re staying. Before you go, what are you doing for dinner?”
“We hadn’t gotten that far.”
“Good, then you’ll both join me and the band. We have something special planned tonight. You’ll e
njoy it.”
Liv and Ben had a nice, quiet afternoon. Somewhat unexpected. They sat on the steps of the pool and talked. He told her about his two boys, and she told him more about Renie. When he noticed her getting chill bumps, he led her to the hot tub. “Let’s get warm.”
She was plenty warm, overheated in fact, but she wouldn’t admit it to him. Ben, with clothes on, made her blood boil. Without them, the sweat bubbled on the surface of her skin. She longed to have his powerful arms wrapped around her, and to be close enough that she could feel his ripped chest against her.
He sat down first and pulled her to sit in front of him, as if he’d read her mind.
He ran his lips between her neck and shoulder. “God, Liv, what you do to me,” he whispered, pulling her closer. Liv heard a moan and wasn’t sure if it came from him or her. She closed her eyes and leaned into him.
“That’s my girl.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and scooted her as close as she could get without sitting on his lap.
“Ben—”
“Shh…the music is starting to play. Listen.” He started to hum, then sing softly.
The soft skin on your bones and the smile I would own.
He nuzzled into her hair and breathed in her scent. “You smell delicious. What is it?”
Liv couldn’t wait a moment longer, instead of answering, she turned far enough that her lips touched his.
When she did, his mouth devoured hers. She pulled back and bit her lip. Ben’s hand slid into her hair and gripped a fistful, gentle, but firm, tugging her head back.
The steam rising off the warm water in the hot tub swirled around them. His arms moved back to her waist and tightened around her, pulling her even closer. He gave a rough groan as he lowered his head and kissed her again. His body felt big and solid against hers, and she sank into him. His kiss was heated, yet so tender. He slid his tongue over her bottom lip and nipped at it.
“I want you, Liv.”
Liv pulled back, gasping to get air into her straining lungs.
“Let’s go somewhere we can be alone,” he said, his lips parted, his eyes dark and hungry. “I want to get you out of this bikini.”
Liv shifted away from him. She wanted his lips back on hers, wanted him naked too, but…they needed to slow down. She moved away, but held his gaze as they stared at each other.
“Too much?” he ventured.
“Too soon,” she answered.
Ben insisted on walking her back to her room, to her door. “This way, if you run from me again, I’ll know where to find you.”
“Ben, I—”
“Shh…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I can’t explain this attraction between us. It feels as though I’ve known you forever, not that I’m just getting to know you. That must sound crazy. I won’t push so hard, I promise.”
It wasn’t that, she wanted the same thing he did. She didn’t know how to tell him, though, how long it had been since she’d done this. I hope it’s like riding a bike.
