Page 34 of Hot n Bothered

I t was the first time Isobelle had ever witnessed Ben waking up. She had to chuckle at how long it took. Twice he blinked his eyes blearily at her before going back to sleep.

“Alright Wallace.” She finally said shaking him. “This is ridiculous. I need coffee, move.”

“Nope.” He muttered tightening his arms around her.

“Yes. You need to wake up so I can go get us coffee.”

“Uh uh.” He shook his head. “Stay.”

“I’m bored. Shift it mister and get your lazy arse in the shower.”

“Why?” He groaned, still with his eyes closed.

“Fine. Stay in bed all day.”

“Sounds good.”

“And leave me to deal with my delightful family by myself.”

“Not so good. Fine.” He sighed finally lifting his head and opening his eyes. “It’s nice to wake up with you here finally. Even if it is a rude awakening.”

“It wasn’t rude. Now shower while I hurry and get our coffee.”

“Bossy.” He flashed a grin as he got and headed into the bathroom stretching his arms above his head.

“You love it.” And boy did she love watching that bubble butt of his as he walked.

She grinned at his laughter and threw on a dress to head out to the kitchen. There was no sign of the twins, but her parents were already up drinking coffee at the table.

“Morning.” She said brightly to them as she started fixing their coffee.

“Are you going to tell us what you said to Anya to upset her?” Her father said sternly as a way of greeting.

“Me? I haven’t said anything to her.” She smiled to herself as she stirred in the milk. Ben really had made a huge difference to her. Normally she’d be so nervous, her anxiety spiking at that tone. So scared she had actually done something wrong. But now she knew she had done nothing.

“So it’s that man then?”

“Ben. His name is Ben. Why don’t you ask her?”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “You know your sisters don’t believe he actually is your boyfriend. Honestly I’m surprised by it myself, you understand why we are suspicious don’t you my darling? I mean…” She trailed off and gestured to her.

Isobelle shrugged. “Well I love him and he says he loves me. I don’t know what else I can do to convince them. Or you.”

She picked up the mugs and walked away feeling so confident and really happy. It wasn’t something she was used to feeling when with her parents. She frowned, hadn’t she shut the bedroom door when she left?

She rolled her eyes when she entered.

“Again? Really?” She sighed putting the mugs on the side. “Didn’t Anya tell you this didn’t work?”

A had frozen, her hand on the door handle to the bathroom. She spun round with a sly smile.

“No, this isn’t mum and dad’s room. Before you try that excuse again. No Ben did not invite you either.” Isobelle raised her eyebrows at her, waiting to see what she was going to say.

“You know we know all this is a lie. Why else would he have blocked us from his Instagram? It’s because he doesn’t want to keep showing you are together. You’re not exactly conducive to his image are you? It’s obvious he is way out of your league.” She said archly walking over to her.

Isobelle refused to be intimidated by her any more, she stood her ground folding her arms.

“You know full well he wouldn’t look twice at such a fat, ugly, crazy, mess like you.

He may not have invited me yet , but it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want me.

” She smiled so evilly. “I mean, we both know he wouldn't be the first who realised I was better.

I bet it's starting now." She lifted her eyebrows.

"He's already keeping secrets from you. Did he even told you what happened between him and Anya?”

“You mean when she sexually assaulted him? Yeah, he did.”

“What! How dare you! You always have to make such a drama out of everything. That’s so like you Izzy.”

“What else would you call groping someone without their consent while they are asleep? I mean I could ask dad his opinion on it.” She smirked as A huffed and stomped out the room, slamming the door behind her.

“Belle? Everything alright?” Ben called from the bathroom.

“Yep. Can I come in?”

“Of course.” He was about to brush his teeth, looking sexy as Hell with just a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair still wet from the shower. “What happened? Why did you slam the door?”

“ I didn’t. That was A.” She couldn’t stop herself from pressing a kiss to his back as she passed. “She was pissed I caught her trying to catch you in the shower.” She grinned as she stripped off and turned it on. “I think she’s even more pissed that I wasn’t fussed by what she said.”

“Wai doo see shay?”

Isobelle translated that as what did she say around his toothbrush.

“She tried to imply that something happened between you and T.” She said as she shampooed her hair. “Because you obviously didn’t tell me.”

Ben coughed as he laughed whilst still cleaning his teeth.

“She also said you blocked them from your Instagram. Which was more proof we are lying.” She put her conditioner in, then bent to shave her legs. “Why did you do that? If they already followed you, they would’ve gone through all your old posts.”

“If you followed me, you would know why.” He put the toilet seat down and sat on it. “Why are you doing that?”

“Shaving my legs? Really? You think they are naturally smooth?”

He rolled his eyes. “No smart arse. I meant why not rinse out your conditioner before doing that?”

“Oh, well because leaving it in longer means it soaks in better. So I might as well get on with doing other things while I wait.”

“Huh, so you’re not just a pretty face.” He chuckled when she flipped him off.

She suddenly realised that she was showering in front of him without a thought. It was another of those silly mundane, boring things that couples did. And the fact he stayed in the bathroom just to chat as though they did it a million times somehow made the moment much sweeter.

“Am I always going to have to tidy up after you Belle?” He asked picking up her discarded clothes from the floor.

She flashed him her best innocent smile. “Probably, but I pay you in coffee that’s perfect Ben temperature. It’s in the bedroom.”

“And that’s why you’re the perfect girlfriend.” He quipped as he made his way out.

She had to laugh when she came out of the bathroom to see the immaculately made bed.

“I leave you alone for a minute and you’re cleaning Wallace?”

He shrugged. “What can I say, my girlfriend is messy.”

“Are you sure it’s that or is it my way of keeping you out of trouble.” She winked at him as she opened the wardrobe. “Ooh are these what Nat suggested?”

Ben’s arms wrapped around her. “Yep. Do you like them?”

“This is super cute.” She held up a thin muslin sleeveless dress.

It was gathered in under the boobs with a simple beaded design, the fabric itself had a faint shimmer to it.

Delicate silver thread was sewn in an intricate design that didn’t take away from the simplistic feel to it.

She caught sight of the monogrammed lettering at the hem and gasped.

“Are you kidding me? This… this is a proper designer. How much did this cost?”

“Not telling. It’s a gift.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Are you going to wear that one? I think you’ll look gorgeous in it.”

“Absolutely not! You need to return this. Wait.”

She checked the hems of the other four, they were all by the same designer. All gorgeous, but still she couldn’t accept them.

“You can return all of these. You shouldn’t have bought these and don’t you dare tell me they didn’t cost much because I know how much these designers cost. Believe me I know.

This is my mum’s favourite and she keeps asking for things by them for her birthday and I couldn’t even afford a pair of socks.

It's ridiculous and stop smiling at me like that Ben. I mean it I can’t accept them. ”

But he just smiled at her in that way that made her toes curl and her heart melt. She shoved his chest, trying to get him to stop so she could stay angry at him.

“Stop smiling like that.”

“I’m smiling because you are doing your adorable babbling.

Plus I’m smiling because Nat told me to remove the tags so I couldn’t return them.

So you have to accept them Ah.” He put his hand over her mouth stopping her from arguing.

“Yes you do, because you deserve them. I thought I told you that you deserve everything.” He removed his hand and kissed her.

“You think you can say some corny lines, kiss me and I’ll just agree?” She said when he pulled back.

“How about the look on your mother’s face when she realises I bought them for you?”

Isobelle paused, she had to admit that was a very tempting reason. He folded his arms with a smug grin.

“If you don’t accept them, I’ll just have to offer them to the twins, so I’ve not wasted money.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“You want to test me?”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t. You suck at lying. Now get dressed. I want to see their jaws drop when they see how gorgeous you look.”

She rolled her eyes. “They’re designer. Not magic. I can’t look… Ow! Ben!” She spun round to punch him, but he moved back laughing.

“You know the rules. Negative comments get pinches. Positive get kisses.”

“I’m positive what you are doing is abuse.” She muttered scowling at him.