Page 44 of Hot n Bothered

“ I ’m late.” Isobelle muttered as Nat insisted on changing her hair again. “I’m late, even for Belle time.”

“It’ll be worth it.” She repined it then blasted her with some more hairspray. “There. Perfect.”

She stepped back with a smile, finally handing over her glasses. “You look gorgeous Iz. And I’m not just saying that because of my dress. Look.”

She perfected those smoky eyes and half-pinned up loose curls framed her face. This was how she had wanted to look the other night.

“Thank you. It’s so beautiful.” Isobelle hugged her tightly.

“Am I allowed to take pictures of you?” She asked.

Isobelle was about to refuse, but instead paused. Looking back in the mirror she nodded.

“And send them to me please. Our group would love to see this.”

Nat squealed excitedly, clapping her hands together. “Yay! I’ll grab some of you and Ben together before you leave. Now go make him speechless.”

Ben’s face was a picture. He went from looking at his watch frustrated, to wide open mouth when he looked up and saw her. His eyes were wide and he worked his mouth, but no sounds came out.

“Say something Ben.” Bea hissed from behind her phone.

He swallowed looking her up and down. “Perfect.” He rasped taking her hand and pulling her close to him. “You are perfect.”

Isobelle giggled at the stunned look that was still on his face. She’d never felt this confident before. “I do look pretty good don’t I?”

Ben’s mouth dropped open again as both Bea and Peter exclaimed.

“That’s a kiss!”

“You heard that? You need to kiss her now.”

Laughing Ben lifted Isobelle’s chin and gave her a soft sweet kiss.

“That’s enough.” Nat said. “You’re late. You need to go.”

“I’m only late because you changed my hair three times.” Isobelle shot at her as Ben pulled her outside to the waiting taxi.

“You really do look so beautiful.” Ben said to her, pressing kisses to her neck. “Gorgeous. Devine. Aphrodite herself would look plain next to you.”

“So corny.” She laughed, shoving him away. Blushing as the taxi driver’s eyes looked amused in the mirror.

“You love it.”

“Not happening.”

“One day I’ll get you to admit it.”

“But not today.”

The restaurant was gorgeous. So romantic, lots of couples there, amazing food, soft candlelight and discrete music it was perfect.

At first Ben was his usual attentive laughing self.

But as the night wore on, he got tenser and quieter.

Three times it looked like he was going to say something and after some stumbling and muttering he shook his head and changed the subject.

Each time it was a little harder to coax a smile out of him.

In the taxi on the way back, Ben scowled silently out the window.

At first Isobelle worried it might’ve been something she had done, all her anxieties and those dark whispers about how terrible she was threatening to overtake her.

But he kept her hand in his, thumb brushing over her skin, that was enough to quiet them.

Even though it was late his parents were up as though waiting. Bea’s face was looking hopeful, until Ben shook his head dragging his hand through his hair. He looked so upset, she didn’t like that.

“Ben? What’s wrong?” She asked as his mother gestured for them to go into the living room.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong.” Peter said moving in front of her. “Chapter twenty-two is what’s wrong. How could you do that to me? I’m now distraught. Had me bawling like a damn baby and after I laughed at Bea for crying as well.”

“I’m sorry. I…I…well…Really?”

“You don’t have to look so damned happy about it.”

But Isobelle couldn’t stop smiling. That was probably the best compliment for her work, it meant that her characters actually meant something to the readers.

“You… you really liked it? Wait, you got to chapter twenty-two in a day?”

“Liked it? I Loved it. Couldn’t put it down, neither of us could. Just finished it earlier on, and I want more. You are really talented at this. Ben said you’ve sent this off to agents?”

She nodded. “Darren made me.”

“Always liked him. It’s a good job he did. You shouldn’t keep this mind hidden away from the world. Now, I hear it’s difficult. You’ll get lots of rejections. But don’t you dare give up. I believe in you, we both do. Um…”

He froze probably because Isobelle was grinning like an idiot and crying so much.

“Oh no, no. Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She laughed through her tears at his panicking.

“I’m not.” She sniffed, wiping her face but more tears came.

“I’m happy. I really am. I’m sorry I’m a mess.

I cry a lot. Sorry. It’s just I’ve never had anyone say that to me.

Other than Ben or Darren. It’s… it’s just…

I …” She didn’t know how to articulate the feeling she had when she knew he was being honest about believing in her.

He didn’t criticise, put down or even tell her it might not work out.

He actually believed in her and told her to keep going.

All her ways with words and they all fled her.

“Well if you need to cry. You need to cry. You do you. So long as I’ve not upset you, and I now know to keep spare tissues on me just in case.” He held his arms out. “Do you need a hug?”

She actually did, so she nodded and stepped into something she didn’t think she’d ever get. A genuine hug from a dad who just accepted her as she was.

“Ben’s really lucky.” She said when she stepped back, wiping her face again. “He’s got really good parents.”

Peter nodded seriously. “He does, doesn’t he.”

He made her laugh and feel comfortable crying in front of. There was no shame in it at all, maybe it was a Wallace thing?

“I should go wash my face. Thank you, for what you said. It really meant a lot. I can see where Ben gets it from.”

“We’ll send him up shortly. Good night.”

Whatever Ben was talking about with his parents, it took long enough for her to wash her face and get undressed. She had just finished brushing her hair out when he came in.

He crossed the room and was kissing her hungrily before she even had a chance to say anything. His hands moved over her, knowing how to play her body like a piano. She removed his clothes, doing the same to him.

He moved them to the bed where he dragged his tongue over every inch of her before burying his head between her legs. Tonight he was silent. Normally he was talking to her, words of encouragement, endearments. But not this time.

Even after he’d made her come with his talented tongue and moved above her.

He didn’t say anything. When he thrust inside her he moved so slowly as though taking his time and just enjoying being with her.

His eyes never left hers. Even when he sped up and lifted her leg so he could drive in deeper, harder.

She was the one to break eye contact by closing hers as her orgasm approached. Ben leaned down and nipped at her neck. Her other leg curled around his waist, heel digging into his thigh, she was so close.

For the first time Ben finished before she did.

She was right on the cusp when he buried himself so deep within her and groaned her name against her neck.

A fleeting feeling of disappointment went through her before she realised that she’d done that to him.

She’d made him lose control, and she smiled to herself as she hugged him to her.

She should’ve known he wouldn’t disappoint her like that. His hand moved between them, seeking out her clit. Pinching it and flicking it just the way she liked. He smothered her cries with a deep kiss. Not letting up until she pushed at his hand to stop him.

He stayed inside her, but kept his weight off her on his elbows. Pulling back to look down at her.

“I’m sorry.” He said softly.

“Whatever for?” She smoothed the hair from his forehead, smiling as it immediately flopped back down.

“I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t control myself, I…” He frowned at her covering his mouth with her hand.

“You don’t need to apologise for that. I enjoyed it enough.”

“No bare minimum remember.”

“You’re good on that alright?” She stroked his cheek looking into his beautiful blue eyes. They had an almost strained sadness to them. “What about you? Are you alright?”

He nodded, but looked away from her as he climbed off to get a cloth from the bathroom. Once he'd finished cleaning her, he re-joined her on the bed, laying beside her and pulling the covers over them both.

“Come on, talk to me Ben. What’s wrong? What do you need?”

He pulled her into his arms with a weary sounding sigh. “Just this. And you. That’s all I need. You.”

“Well that I can give you. How long do you need me for?”

It was meant to be a light-hearted question, but it hung heavy in the air between them. Neither of them even breathing, until he took a shuddering breath.

“Right now? I’ll take forever.” He whispered, pressing his lips to her forehead.

“Alright.” She whispered back, closing her eyes as his arms tightened around her.