AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When there’s a knock on the door at 5:55, Ritz runs to greet them like a dog or some shit. I pull the door open and see Ben and this prompts a meow from Ritz.
“Five minutes early. I’m impressed.”
“I figured that’s about how long it’ll take.” Ben steps inside, kicks the door closed, bends down to pet Ritz.
“How long what will take?”
He stands upright, fists my hair and grabs my ass. “This.”
His mouth is on mine and if ever a kiss could completely consume someone, it just did me.
He walks me back, until I bump into the kitchen counter, and then he picks me up, sliding me across the granite surface. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist as heat blooms from the inside out.
My fingers knot his hair as we make out for several long minutes, alternating between rough and easy. Ben’s hands wander to my chest and for the first time in my life the word “grope” doesn’t have a negative connotation.
“Damn,” he breathes, bumping his forehead with mine. “I’ve honestly never dated anyone who kisses as good as you.”
“My lips are addictive.”
He brushes his thumb across my upper cheek, making me melt under his stare. “That they are. I can think of a few other places I’d like them.”
“Afew?”
With a smirk, he glances at my mouth. “Okay, maybe not a few. But certainlyone.”
“I’m with you there. As it just so happens my schedule is free right now.” I reach for his belt buckle and he lets out a groan.
“And I’d definitely take the opportunity to book up that free space but my sister is downstairs waiting on us.”
I slowly back my hands away in mock surrender, making Ben chuckle. “Well, we don’t want to keep the lady waiting.” I slide off the counter and pull my strands over my shoulders. “Did you mess up my hair?”
“No, you look gorgeous. Come on.” Ben tugs me by the hand and I snatch my bag off the counter. In the elevator, he tries to pin me against the wall but I push him away.
“I need to fix my lipstick,” I laugh.
“Fuck that,” he grits out, pushing my hands above my head and stealing all the air from my lungs with a kiss. I swear his tongue is like a sex organ the way it moves. My cheeks must be on fire by the time we reach the ground floor. The door slides open, and he backs off, leaving me standing there huffing.
“Just helping you overcome your fear of elevators.” He winks.
I almost forgot that I’d let that little fact about me out of the bag. And it makes me think of Rigger and when I’d told him the same thing. He’d helped me overcome my fear by taking me to one of the high rises uptown, telling me I just needed some exposure therapy. I’d been so gaga over that man that I’d wanted to impress him. But inside, I was crumbling from fear.
He saw that I was near panic halfway up and pulled me close to his side, telling me, “I got you. I wouldn’t bring you here if it wasn’t safe.” He kept reminding me to breathe. And when we finally got to the 42ndfloor, he took me into a high-end clothing store and bought me a new dress. That was four years ago.
God, what I would have given for him to kiss me then. He wouldn’t have done that though. I was 17 and he was 27.
I rub my lips, wipe away the smudged lipstick. “I’ll have to remember to wait until we’re in your car to put on makeup from now on,” I joke.
“That would be wise.”
As we walk through the parking lot I spot his SUV at the far end. Frenchie is standing by the rear bumper, holding a vape pen and looking at her phone. When she sees us she drops her hand and gives Ben a stern look.
“Bout damn time. I was about to send out an APB on your ass.” She flicks her eyes at me, smiles. “Hey, girl.”
“Hey. Sorry for the holdup. I was trying to pick out a shirt.”
“Mm-hmm,” she says, tugging a pull from her pen and exhaling upward. “That explains the smeared makeup for sure.”
Ben shakes his head. “Get in the car, Frenchie.”
