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Instead, I utter the handful of words that have plagued my mind for days. “Definitely special. He’s my Bethany.”
ELEVEN
Nate
Apparently,Benji only needed five days in the hospital to recover from a gunshot wound, and not a moment longer. Seeing him be sweet, kind, and attentive to me, even when he was laid up in the hospital bed, only made me more addicted to him. Watching him grumble at the doctors and nurses for prodding and poking him was a lot of fun too.
Every moment spent in his presence has seemed to encourage the blossoming feelings growing between us. Part of me had worried I was rocking a bit of Stockholm Syndrome or something, like in all the books I’ve read, but being here with him, every moment of every day, was a choice from my soul. I could have walked away at any time, but the thought alone has pain creeping up my spine.
I’ve officially met Ryan, his best friend, and his stunning wife, Bethany. Two people who seem to be his family through and through. It feels special being in their presence when they’re all together, and I can’t help but want to be a part of it.
A knock sounds at my door and I jolt in my seat, setting down the book I wasn’t giving my full attention to anyway, before brushing the invisible lint off my jeans. I’ve been so happy sitting in my beat up green chair, staring at the pages while being completely lost in thought, that I forgot where I was for a moment.
Running my hands down my legs one last time, I glance down at my shirt to make sure there’s no fluff or lint on it before I head for the door. Swinging it open with excitement, I come face to face with the man consuming my every thought.
“Hey, Cupcake,” he murmurs, instantly cutting the distance between us to place a chaste kiss on my lips, making me grin like the Cheshire Cat.
“Hey, Killer,” I breathe in response, desperate to grip him by the shirt and pull him toward the bedroom, but I refrain. We’re having our first official date, and I don’t want to miss a second of it.
I’m highly aware that he has to head back to Ohio this week. The thought makes my gut clench, but I try to swallow it down.
“Let’s go,” he states, offering me his hand. I take it, raking my eyes over him from head to toe as he leads me out of my apartment building. In black jeans and a fitted white tee with a pair of combat boots, he looks hotter than ever. I love seeing him dressed casually and relaxed, like I’m getting a sneak peek at the man underneath all of the armor.
As we step out into the cool evening air, I nudge my shoulder against his. “So, where are we going?” I ask. My curiosity over what he came up with and his refusal to tell me about it have been killing me. Now is no different, it seems, because he simply shrugs.
“You’ll see in a minute. It’s not far,” he says with a grin, and I melt into his side.
I’d let this man walk me anywhere. I’d follow willingly without question.
We walk in comfortable silence until Benji slows his steps, and my brows crinkle in confusion. His hand reaches for the handle of a shop, but it’s not just any shop, it’s a shop I’mveryfamiliar with.
“What are we doing here?” I ask as he encourages me insideCake Creations.Instead of responding, he just offers me a huge smile before pulling me through the darkened shop space and ushering me into the back.
“What’s going on?” I ask as he moves me to the left, standing me by the stainless steel worktop before taking a step back. When my eyes meet his, he almost looks nervous as he rubs the back of his head, glancing around the space like he’s trying to piece something together. “Benji?”
He clears his throat, turning to face me head on as he reaches out his hand for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Benji, and I’m not here to abduct you against your will and protect you from a mad man,” he starts, licking his bottom lip as he goes. “Just regular Benji who thinks you’re hot as fuck,” he adds, and a sense of understanding washes over me as my heart warms in my chest.
This fucking man.
“Nice to meet you, Benji,” I mutter, shaking his extended hand, which he doesn’t try to retrieve.
“So, is anyone free to give me a cupcake making class while I’m here?” he asks, a grin reaching his eyes as he looks directly into my soul.
“And why would you need help with that when you have a perfectly good baker on hand?” I ask, stepping closer to him so our chests are touching, and his hand immediately lifts to my face.
“For when I have a sweet tooth in Ohio,” he murmurs, my heart constricting at the thought of the distance between us again. Before I can think better of it, my heart takes over, running my mouth without a filter.
“Maybe you could just take the baker with you.”
Nerves run through my veins, my hand trembling as I place it on Benji’s chest, waiting for his response.
“For real?” he finally whispers, hope in his voice like a kid at Christmas tiptoeing downstairs to see Santa placing the gifts under the tree, and I nod.
“For real,” I repeat, and my next breath is stolen when Benji crushes his mouth to mine.
Completely lost in each other, our mouths collide again and again, heat rising between us until he reluctantly pulls away, leaning his forehead against mine as he looks deep into my eyes.
“I’ll give you the world at your feet and everything you need to be who you’re meant to be, Nate. And I’m going to have fun watching you grow,” he states, squeezing my dick at the same time as a wicked grin spreads across his face. “In more ways than one.”
A burst of laughter passes my lips as I shake my head at him. “You did not just say that.”
“Yeah I did,” he replies with a chuckle of his own, far too pleased with himself as he feels my cock stiffen in his hold.
“You’re a dick,” I grumble, a hint of breathlessness seeping through.
“And evidently that’s why you like me,” he retorts, his eyebrow quirked like he’s challenging me to deny it, but I can’t.
This man before me has changed my life. Death was knocking at my door, ready to tear me down without care, and he swooped in, defying the odds and refusing to give me anything other than a future. I’m going to spend the rest of my life by his side, being exactly who he needs, just like he is to me.
Brushing my lips against his, I smile, my soul lighting up with happiness. “You just might be right.”
