Page 15 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

“I’m in this house because I came to see you and couldn’t get an answer.

I pounded on the door, rang the doorbell, called your phone, and nothing.

I heard the loud music, and I was planning to wait for you to turn it down before I knocked.

Only you started screaming. I thought you were being hurt, so I broke out the window by the front door and got in that way. Fuck, you took ten years off my life.”

I put a hand over my mouth in mortification. I’d been caught up in the flashback so profoundly that I’d been yelling? I hadn’t done that in a while. It took me a moment or two to remove my hand and respond.

“I’m so sorry. I had no idea you were coming here.

I waited until after eight, and when you didn’t call me, I assumed it was like the past couple of nights, and you were still dark and couldn’t.

Beau and my sister are out to dinner, and then they’re going dancing.

I decided to soak, listen to my music, and have some wine.

I must’ve drifted off and ended up in a memory,” I hastily explained.

I felt awful that I’d frightened him that much.

He reached down and picked up the bath towel on the table next to the tub. As he lifted it, Ben saw my gun underneath it. He nodded.

“At least you had protection nearby, but as loud as that music was, someone could’ve been on you before you got to it. Come on, it’s after nine thirty. Let’s get you out of here and into some warm clothes. You’re shivering.” Ben held the towel up and closed his eyes.

It warmed me to see him being such a gentleman. It wasn’t like when they rescued me. There hadn’t been much left to the imagination in the clothing I was permitted to wear. It was enough to disguise the scars at best.

Opening the stopper, I felt the water drain as I stood.

I was taking my first step over the tub’s edge when the foot still in it slipped.

I yelped in alarm and grabbed for Ben. The next thing I knew, I was being wrapped in a towel and lifted out of the water and into his arms. He didn’t bother to put me down.

Instead, he carried me out to my bedroom.

“How much wine did you have?” he asked.

“A glass. It was slippery. I’m not drunk,” I assured him.

“You’ll be alright if I leave you alone to get dressed? If you need help, I can do it. I swear, I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” Ben offered.

“Ben, I know you wouldn’t. And yes, I’m fine. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll join you in the living room.”

“Okay, see you out there,” he said before letting go and walking away. He shut the door behind him.

I buzzed excitedly around my room. Ben was here! I wonder why he hadn’t told me he was coming. Was it a stopover while working? I had no idea where he had been this week.

I was dried, dressed, and out to him in six minutes. I checked. He was at the front door, covering the broken window with a piece of plywood. He must’ve found it in the garage. He was hammering in the nails to hold it in place. When he saw me, he indicated the window with a chin lift.

“I’ll get this fixed tomorrow. Until then, this will have to do. You said Keeley and Beau are out eating and dancing. If that’s the case, they’ll be gone for a while.”

After finishing his work, Ben put the hammer on the table by the door and approached me. His intense gaze made me shiver for a different reason than coldness.

“Kensy, I’ve missed you so goddamn much, baby. Is it alright if I kiss you?”

I opened my arms as my heart sped up. “You don’t have to ask me every time, Ben. I’ll tell you if I don’t want you to, which I can’t see why I wouldn’t. And, yes, please kiss me before I die,” I moaned.

He let a growl rumble up the back of his throat as he took me in his arms and latched onto my mouth.

I strained to get closer and pressed up on my toes.

He groaned as I moaned at the first taste.

Then, I was lifted and carried to the sofa.

Ben sat down with me cradled on his lap.

Working not to break the connection, rather to deepen it, I got myself twisted so I was straddling his legs.

Tongues were twisting and lapping while our teeth nipped.

I buried my hands in his hair. He had what I called a faux mohawk.

The sides of his dark brown hair were cut close, like he probably wore it in the Army.

The top was several inches longer, and at the very top, it stood up slightly spiky.

It was thick and soft. It went with his rugged features, deeply tanned skin, and facial lines.

His light brown eyes sparkled with lust. I slid my hands down to rub along the scruff on his jaw.

He could have a full beard if he’d let it grow out.

Combine all that with his rugged, muscular body and height, and he was a scrumptious package. No one would look at him and call him pretty. He was too masculine and rugged to be that, but he melted my whole body. I whined when he jerked his head back and broke contact.

“No, don’t. I want more,” I protested.

He chuckled. “Believe me, I do too. But I need to maintain control. I can’t tell you how badly I needed that kiss. Or how much it sucked not to be able to talk to you this week.”

“I know. It was the same for me. I knew you were doing important work, but I was tempted to call and see if you’d pick up the phone or text me back. I was good. I didn’t. I wouldn’t ever do that unless it was an emergency. You never answered me. Why are you here?”

“I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it here tonight, so I didn’t tell you.

I wasn’t about to disappoint both of us if I couldn’t.

I hoped you wouldn’t be mad about the lack of advance notice.

I caught the first flight I could and got my ass here.

I rented a car at the airport. I want to be able to go places freely, and I hate taking Beau’s vehicle.

“When I first came up the driveway, I thought no one was home. Then I got close enough to hear music. How the hell you haven’t gone deaf, I don’t know.

Then you know what happened after that. Do you think your sister and Beau will mind if I hang around for the next three days?

I don’t need to leave until Tuesday morning. That is, if you want me here.”

“Don’t you dare think you’re staying somewhere else or that I’m letting you leave. You have a week to make up for. I thought I’d die this week. If I hadn’t had work to concentrate on several hours a day, I would’ve,” I confessed without an ounce of shame.

“I want to hear all about it, but first, I’m starved. Have you eaten?”

“No, I wasn’t hungry earlier. I can cook something,” I offered.

“No, don’t do that. Would you be open to pizza? I liked that place you and Keeley introduced me to.”

“I’m always open to pizza, especially from there. Throw in some spicy wings, and it’s a deal.”

“Shit, how did I get so lucky? A woman after my heart. We’ll have wings and pizza, and since we suffered so terribly this week, we’ll get an order of those cheesy breadsticks they make.”

“Let me get their number. I want it to be a meat lover’s pizza. Is that alright?” I asked.

He groaned. “She asks if it’s alright. What am I? A wimp. Hell yeah, it’s alright. You’re making yourself even more irresistible.”

I winked. “I know.”

Our funny conversation made us both chuckle.

The number was on the fridge since it was our favorite pizza place.

Five minutes later, the pizza, wings, and breadsticks were ordered.

I offered Ben a beer, but he said he’d wait to drink one with the food.

Instead, he went for water. I did the same.

I was already relaxed and happy merely because he was here. My shitty week was over.