Once in a Lifetime(70)

She crossed her arms. “Now. I want to know what devious angle you’re working.”

“Devious,” he repeated. “Wow. I’m wounded.”

“Is it going to be sexual?” she asked, unable to keep the hopeful tone out of her voice. “Because I should have specified—if it’s something sexual, it can’t be from my taboo list.”

He laughed. “Sunshine, we obliterated your taboo list the other night.”

Oh, yeah. Damn.

“Come eat.”

She sat next to him, carefully tucking the shirt around her for modesty, which cracked him up again. “You’re full of laughs tonight,” she said.

He shrugged. “I like being with you.”

Her chest tightened. She’d wanted this, oh, God, how much she wanted this. And now she was going to have to ruin it.

You ruined it a long time ago…

“You were at Reading Corner,” he said, halfway through his burrito. “Lucille told me.”

“Yes,” she said. “Your girls were there. They’re so smart, Ben.”

“I know. Dan’s working on custody.”

Her breath caught. “Really? How wonderful for all of them.” She paused. “You did that. You brought them together. You gave those girls a real family.”

He shrugged.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “You’re amazing.”

“No. I just couldn’t stand it, them not having anyone. I had my aunt Dee.” He ran his thumb over the backs of her knuckles. “Without her and Jack…” He shook his head. “I’d have fallen through the cracks. I probably wouldn’t even be here.”

Her heart squeezed. “You saved them from falling through the cracks. You gave them so much, Ben.”

He busied himself with cleaning up the trash and shoving it back into the bag the food had come in. Then he balled it, aimed for the trash can twenty feet across the room, and shot.

The bag swooshed into the can.

And still he stayed quiet.

“Did I upset you?” she asked.

“No. I like the way you care about stuff,” he said. “You aren’t quiet about it, and though you’re reserved, you aren’t shy. When you have your heart and soul in something, you’re in it.”

Her breath caught. Had anyone ever gotten her the way he did? No. And that’s when she knew. Truth was, she’d known for a damn long time. She had her heart and soul in something, all right—him. She closed her eyes and gave herself a lecture. Don’t you sleep with him. Don’t you dare. Not until you tell him…

He turned his hand over and entangled his fingers with hers. “I like the way you care,” he said again. “I like the way you care about me.”

“Is that why you’re here?” she asked, heart pounding. “And not at the Winter Festival?”

“I’m the seniors’ ride, but wasn’t in the mood for a crowd. I have to go back to get them later,” he said, and he rose. “I’ll take my spoils now.”

Oh, God. “We should play another game,” she said quickly, and jumped up, heading to the dartboard. “We’ll make it the best of two out of three—”

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and he turned, effectively caging her in between the hard wall and his harder body. “You reneging?” he asked, mouth against her ear.

“No, but—” She sucked in a breath as his hands roamed over her, molding the shirt to her curves. “I was just thinking it might be more fair if—”

He whipped her around to face him and then backed her to the kitchen counter, lifting her to it.

Her bare ass touched the cold surface, and she yelped.

“I claim you,” he said, and his lips descended on hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and traced her tongue over his lower lip, knowing it drove him wild.

Pinning her with his big body, he let her feel what she did to him. “I’ve got a question,” he said. “A serious one.”

Her heart skidded to a stop. Oh, God. “Okay,” she whispered tentatively.

“What are you wearing beneath my shirt?”

She stared at him. “Not much,” she confessed.

This made him swear roughly, reverently. She laughed again and then realized that whenever she was with him, she was laughing, or smiling.

Or having an orgasm.

It’d been a long time since she’d had someone like him in her life. Maybe since…ever. But even as the warm fuzzies washed over her, so did fear. Because this was all an illusion; he wasn’t really hers. And at that thought, her smile faded.

His did, too. “Should I go, Aubrey?”

“You mean…leave? Now?”

“If you want.”

“No.” She knew she should be embarrassed by how quickly she answered, but she felt only panic at the thought of him leaving. “Don’t go.”

There. She’d said it. She’d put it out there and couldn’t, wouldn’t, take it back. Tomorrow would be a different story, and she’d face that then, but for now, right this very minute, she knew what she needed.

Him.

Inside of her.

Ben caught her close and slowly lowered his head to hers, giving her plenty of time to stop him.