Page 20 of Hot n Bothered

B en didn’t seem phased at all as he put their cases on the bed. He opened his and pulled out some painkillers. He passed Isobelle over a dose and a bottle of water.

“Here.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek as he passed to explore the room. “Oh hey. We’ve got an ensuite. Sweet.” He turned giving her his gorgeous grin and a wink.

She chuckled, swallowing the painkillers.

“Are you alright with this?” She asked.

“With having an ensuite? Yeah I’m pretty sure I’m ok with it.”

“No, I mean that.” She pointed to the bed.

He looked at it, then at her. “Yeah, it’s a bed. Looks comfy enough. Why? Aren’t you?”

“Yes… no… I… I don’t know.” She huffed.

“Don’t you trust me to keep my hands to myself?”

She snorted. “Yeah, because I’m that irresistible.” She said sarcastically. “I guess I’m just shocked that’s all. I thought we’d be in separate rooms.”

“Wow. Just wow, how to make your boyfriend feel so unwanted.” He grinned at her. “Look if it makes you feel better I’ll sleep on the floor. It’s not like we can ask for separate rooms now.”

She was just being ridiculous, overthinking as usual, trying to make something out of nothing.

He was right, being in the same room made sense if they were supposed to be together and in love.

They were both grown adults, they could share a bed easily enough.

Like he said, it’s not like he wanted to touch her anyway.

“So long as you don’t snore, I suppose you can sleep on the bed. I mean, you really are a beast if you don’t get your sleep.”

He laughed. “So romantic.” He pulled her close to him.

“What are…”

He smothered her words with his mouth, kissing her deeply. She melted into him, as always it was like he controlled her body. All it needed was the touch of his lips and all her ideas of keeping him at arm’s length disappeared. Oh who was she kidding? All he had to do was smile at her.

She loved how he had one hand between her shoulder blades holding her tight to him and the other hand was cupping her arse, so every inch of her body was against his. His tongue moved over hers almost lazily, as though he had all the time in the world to be kissing her.

A muttering of “For God’s sake.” Behind them had her freezing and pulling away from him.

“If you’ve quite finished, we came to ask Ben if he would be joining us at the pool.” T said.

So that’s why he kissed her, he must’ve heard them come to the door.

Isobelle’s eyes almost bugged out of her head at the sight of T.

She was leaning seductively against the doorframe.

Arm raised above her head, hip cocked to the side.

All done to show off her gorgeous slim figure in what could laughingly be called a bikini.

A few scraps of material and some dental floss would be a more accurate description.

“How’s your head?” Ben asked softly. “Do you feel up to heading outside, or would you rather lie down?”

“Let her lie down. You come out and enjoy yourself.” T smiled at him.

“No thanks. I’d rather take care of Belle, if she needs me.”

T’s glare was like twin daggers aimed right at Isobelle. She really should be the better person, she really should suggest they rest. But honestly? Why couldn’t she be a little petty? They could never be prepared for Ben in swim shorts.

“Why not? There’s a table out there in case I want to do some writing.”

“Perfect. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.” Ben wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I guess we’ll see you out there. Can you close the door?”

T couldn’t stop her face twisting in anger as she shut it hard, not quite slammed but it was close. Isobelle dissolved into laughter.

“Oh, that was too much fun. Looks like T won.”

“What do you mean? If you didn’t want to go out there you should have said.”

He still had his arms around her, even though they were alone. This was messing with her head too much. So she stepped away from him.

“Oh no, I want to go outside. I’m trusting you here in not falling for them. I want them to see what they can’t get.”

Ben huffed. “After everything I’ve said to you and you still don’t trust me?”

“I literally just said I’m trusting you.”

“Fine. So what do you mean about T winning?”

“When they both set their sights on someone they do rock, paper, scissors to see who takes the lead. In case they’re not into threesomes.” She winked at his shocked look as she opened her case. “It looks like T won, hence the pose.”

“What pose?”

She spun round in surprise. He was genuinely looking puzzled.

“What pose? Really? How did you miss her doing this?” She leant against the wall in a fair estimate of it.

“She was?” He shrugged. “In case you missed it I was paying attention to you not her.” Then he grinned. “You going to pose like that for me when you’ve got into your swimsuit?” He waggled his eyebrows making her laugh.

“Yeah, ‘cause that’s something you want to see.” She rooted in her suitcase, pulling out her two-piece swim dress. If she was going to have to show skin at least the long flowing folds of the top hid all the rolls of fat of her stomach.

Ben started chuckling. “Not even ten minutes and you’ve messed up Darren’s immaculate packing.”

He wasn’t wrong, her suitcase was now a disaster zone. Clothes half pulled out and strewn across the bed, it looked like a bomb had gone off.

She waved her hand. “I’ll get to it later. I’ll just get changed.”

Of course as soon as she stepped into the bathroom her stupid brain started overthinking.

Was this not an idiotic thing to do? If Ben really hadn’t seen T doing her thing then how could he be sure he could resist her? Especially since she’d stupidly thought showing him off would be a good idea.

Surely seeing the hotness that was Ben in swim shorts would only make the twins even more determined to have him?

Plus it’s not like she had anything going for her to keep his eyes away from them.

Yes, she trusted him, but he was a man after all and if he was being offered up what those two had on a platter, he’d be a fool not to want it.

Had she just created an impossible situation for him?

Or maybe she could be lucky and they aren’t the kind of girls he normally goes for?

She sighed scrutinising her reflection, obviously it wasn’t someone like her.

Rounded face, double chin, skin whiter than Snow White, shoulders so wide she could look at home on a rugby pitch and a big fat, flabby belly.

Why had she ever though this swim dress was cute? She looked like a fat bloated whale.

Urgh! Now she wanted to hide away in the room. But she couldn’t, she had to go out there and face the music. She squared her shoulders and opened the door, keeping her head down so she wouldn’t see his grimace. Instead she went to get her towel, except her suitcase was no longer on the bed.

Looking around she could see drawers open with clothes neatly folded in them.

“Really? Not even ten minutes and you’re tidying up already?

” She turned to see him as he stood staring at her, her case held in front of him.

“Give me that. I did say I would get to it.” She took the case and put it in the bottom of the wardrobe, that was now filled with her clothes on one side, Ben’s on the other.

She tried to ignore that little thrill that ran through her at the idea that she could get used to seeing that.

When she turned back Ben had his back to her as he rubbed his neck.

This allowed her to enjoy the view, his baggy shorts somehow accentuated his firm arse more than if he was wearing budgie smugglers.

And the muscles on his back just screamed to be touched, those tattoos not making it any easier as her hands ached to follow the curves and swirls of them.

“Oh, hey Moana.” She laughed. “Love it. What other new ones have you got?”

He turned with a grin. “I think there are five more for you to find.”

Ben’s tattoos were all black, mainly tribal swirling lines, with lots of points and curls. At first glance that’s all it looked like, just one giant piece covering his chest, back and arms. But on closer inspection you could pick out silhouettes of various Disney characters hidden amongst them.

It had become a game to try and find them all.

Ben even went to get more and never told anyone until the annual tattoo party.

This was where he would take his top off and slowly turn as everyone wrote down as many as they could see in five minutes.

The winner got a cheesy plastic gold crown and bragging rights for the year.

“This means I’m going to have to forfeit this year doesn’t it?”

“Darren will insist.”

“Stitch!” She pointed to his bicep. “Officer Hops.” That was on his forearm the other side. “Sven. Ben!” She huffed.

“What?”

“I just lost a tenner. I bet you’d get Olaf when you did Frozen. Oh Sisu.” She couldn’t stop herself from trailing her fingers over the dragon on his hip going down under his shorts.

Why had she just done that? Sparks shot through her fingertips and she swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as she noticed the last new addition. Beauty and the Beast’s iconic dancing silhouette. On his chest. Right over where his heart was.