Page 29 of Hot n Bothered

I sobelle finally worked past the plot issue by the time they had finished eating breakfast and Ben had cleared everything away.

He seemed more relaxed and happier. He even appeared to touch her more, taking her hand, kissing her cheek and hair every chance he got.

Brushing his hand over her back or shoulder when he passed.

Of course, he insisted on carrying her bag and holding her hand as they walked.

“So what happened this morning?” She asked.

“Huh?” He looked up from the map on his phone and flashed his brilliant smile. “Well, I’m not one to kiss and tell but my girlfriend had the best…”

“Ben!” She exclaimed, blushing hotly. When he laughed like that it was so hard to stay annoyed with him. “I meant with T.”

“Oh that.” His face twisted. “She ruined a bloody good dream.”

“Oh?”

“It was of you, so yes a bloody good dream.” He bent down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I felt someone pressing kisses to my neck and I thought it was you. Then her hand went down my shorts and I knew it wasn’t.”

“Because I’d never be that forward?”

He shook his head, frowning at his phone.

“No, because your hands are always warm and have little calluses on your writing hand.” He looked up and pulled her down a street.

“Hers were cold. I shot out of the bed swearing at her. She had the gall to tell me to be quiet otherwise you’d hear.

Then I told her to get the fuck out and to stay the fuck away from me. ”

Isobelle shook her head. “There’s a part of me that can’t believe she did that. But then there is a much bigger part that isn’t surprised in the slightest. I take it she wasn’t happy.”

He huffed a laugh. “Not really. I might’ve made her more pissed off when I said why would I even consider looking at someone like her when my whole world was you. Ah ha! Here we are.” He pointed to the coffee shot in front of them.

“Oh wow, it’s gorgeous.”

It was, inside was also a bookshop. Isobelle browsed the shelves as Ben ordered for them.

“Any catch your eye?” He asked in her ear, pressing a kiss to her neck just below it.

“A couple, but I really shouldn’t. My Greek is non-existent and not to mention I have too many books.”

He snorted. “Really? I do believe you were the one who said there was no such thing as having too many books. I’ve set us up over there when you’re ready.” He pointed to a large table.

“That’s too big for us. What if more customers come in?”

“Selene says it’s fine. We need space to work.”

“Selene?”

Ben nodded and waved to the middle-aged woman behind the counter. “She’s a fan and is super happy for you to write here. It’ll give us a chance to try their selection of goodies to eat.”

“And for you to steal the recipes?”

“Maaaaaybe.”

His innocent smile was too cute to resist. She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips. His answering smile was blinding.

“What was that for?”

She shrugged. “Just because. Oooh what are these?” She eyed the sweet pastries Selene was placing on the table with their drinks.

“This is galkta… gala… um?” He sat and looked to Selene.

“Galaktoboureko.” She pointed to a plate. “This is kadaifi, bougatsa and pasteli.”

“They look yummy, thank you. Ow! Ben!” She glared at him as he smacked her hand away from picking one of them up.

She rolled her eyes at him arranging their plates and coffees on the table.

“What are you doing?” She asked as he also took out her pads and arranged them with some pens.

“It will be worth it in the end.” He said taking a few shots, before moving them into a different arrangement and taking more.

“Let me see.”

He held his phone up to his chest. “You want to see? Then follow me.”

Selene gasped. “But you’re Belle, you don’t follow him?”

She shook her head. “No I don’t. His head is big enough. Can I eat yet?”

“I should say not until you follow me.” He teased with a grin.

She pulled her best please face. Big eyes, pouty lips, he was always a sucker for them.

“Argh! Not the please face. I… can’t resist… I must… the cute is… too… powerful.” He really was ridiculous. He fell back dramatically hand to his forehead. “You have defeated me. Fine, eat away.”

Selene laughed. “You two are so cute together. If you need anything else let me know.”

“Would you like a picture taking with Ben?” Isobelle asked.

Selene’s face lit up. “Could I? Really? Can I put it on our social media?” She handed Isobelle her phone.

“No problem.” Ben said.

“I could take one of you two together?” Selene suggested.

“Nope.” Isobelle immediately said. “This is not a face for photographs.” She gestured to herself.

“But you are beautiful.” Selene protested as Ben huffed a sigh.

“See? Will you listen to us.”

She looked at him deadpan, why did he feel the need to churn out these false compliments? Why didn't he believe she didn't need them? “I can see what I look like so stop. Now get up and smile nicely.”

“Bossy.” He shot at her.

“You love it.” She shot back.

“Yeah, I do.” He sighed ruffling her hair as he got up. “I must be mad.”

They ended up staying there for a few hours as Isobelle got absorbed into the story she was writing. Ben took to typing up the one he had started on the plane after he had finished working on his phone. It was only her stomach grumbling so loudly that interrupted her flow.

Once it started it was like she couldn’t stop it. Ben of course found it far too amusing. Chuckling away as they packed up and waved goodbye to Selene.

“Come on, let’s get you fed. What do you want to eat?”

She shrugged. “I don’t care. What do you want to eat?”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him, dipping his head so his lips were next to her ear.

“You.” He whispered. “I can’t wait to taste you again. You are fast becoming my favourite food.”

“Oh my God Ben!” She gasped blushing so much. She hit his chest as he laughed completely uncaring at her embarrassment. “You are terrible.”

He captured her lips kissing her, his tongue dipping in to play with hers. Of course her body ignored her brain and just melted against him as she kissed him back. How did he do that to her? She was not one for PDA, but all it took was the feel of his lips and she didn’t care about anything else.

“It’s your fault.” He said when he pulled back with that cheeky grin of his. “Now I’ve tasted you, I want more. You’re like a drug.”

She burst out laughing. “So corny.”

“Your boyfriend is corny. Get used to it.”

“Nope. Still not used to it. Don’t think I’ll ever be.”

He took her hand and pulled her down the street. “Well then I’ll just have to stick around until you do.”

“And then what happens if I do? Will you magically disappear?”

“Oh no. Then I’ll open up the floodgates and allow the full-strength corniness out.”

“So I’ll be the one running away?”

“You could try. But it wouldn’t happen.”

“Oh really? You’re that sure of yourself?”

He nodded, face all serious. But she knew hidden behind his sunglasses he had that mischievous glint in his eyes that made him look so cute.

“Absolutely. Because at that point you’ll have become addicted to corny. You won’t be able to get it elsewhere. I mean you may try, but where else are you going to get such high-quality corn? So you might as well resign yourself to your fate now.”

“Never.” She laughed. “I refuse to be cowed by the power of corn.”

He shrugged. “That’s fine. Either way I get to stick around, which is perfect.”

“Hang on. Don’t I get a say in this?”

“Nope.”

“I really feel like I should get a say in this.”

He shook his head. “It’s already been decided.”

“By whom?”

“Hark at you sounding all English and proper with your whom usage.”

“Don’t try to change the subject. Who exactly decided my future?”

“My followers. I asked them and they agreed.”

“Your followers huh?” She eyed him, trying to keep a straight face was really difficult right now. “And I have to do what a bunch of strangers on the internet say?”

“Yep. It’s the law.”

She snorted a laugh. “No it’s not.”

“Is so.”

“Says who?”

“Me and my followers.”

“So ridiculous. Why do I even put up with you?”

“Because I’m the best boyfriend in the world.”

There was that grin again. It made her wish that this holiday could last forever.