Page 48 of Storm in a Teacup (Love in Edinburgh #3)

“Come for me one more time, sugar? I need to feel that pretty cunt pulsing on my cock.”

“Yes,” I agree readily. “Yes.” I move up and down with his thrusts, wet and slippery between us.

I glide on his cock, the position we’re in perfect for my clit.

“Ben,” I say, only wanting to say his name.

“Benny,” I plead as he gets me so close.

“Oh, fuck .” I come a third time, and this time, he comes with me, releasing himself as his head drops to my shoulder, brow moist with sweat.

We stay in that position, connected, as we catch our breath, just exchanging our own air for each other’s. I cling to him, feeling boneless and happy. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to move again, but that’s fine by me. When I have enough air, I kiss him lightly. “We should do this again.”

“And again,” he agrees.

…

My fingers trail down Ben’s face as we lie side by side in bed. Once we tired out, we opened the door to let in a very disgruntled Oscar Wilde, who is now resting at the edge of the bed between our feet. It’s 2 a.m., but I’m not tired.

“It will be your face,” I say quietly, trailing my finger down his cheek, the askew glasses on my nose and the dim light of the lamp offering a visual.

“Hmm?” he asks through heavy lids.

I swallow. “What I’ll miss most when I can’t see anything anymore. When I’m like seventy or whatever. It’ll be your face.”

He smiles giddily. “Well, then you better spend so much time looking at it that you won’t forget.”

“Okay.” I stare at him, taking in his dark eyes, his graying hair, and the smile lines I know will eventually form. He leans forward and kisses me, mouth opening on mine. I sink into him, but I pull away as soon as I can. “I can’t see you if you’re kissing me.”

He inches away, resigned, as we just stare at each other, both trying to memorize every little detail. The natural quirk in his eyebrow, the slight stubble growing on his face, the singular small pockmarked scar on his cheek. I love his face.

I scoot my feet around the cat so that they are touching Ben’s. “I think I finally have to admit that I’m a cuddler.”

He laughs. “Like I didn’t already know that.” His foot nudges mine. “You’ve said that to me before,” he says quietly. “About my face. But I didn’t know what you meant.”

“When?”

“After the wedding. You said you’d miss me the most. I figured you were talking about our arrangement ending, but that’s not what you were talking about, was it?”

I shake my head. “By that night, I knew I never wanted this to end, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it.”

“Now it won’t.”

…

In the morning, I drag myself out of my flat and down to the shop, forgoing coffee in favor of forgoing a scolding from Carolyn for being late. However, I end up getting scolded for another reason. “Och, you’re letting out Fergus! Close the door, child.”

I swing the front door closed tightly. “Did we lose him?”

“No, no. He’s still here. A lot grumpier, mind you.” She looks me up and down as I approach the front counter, commenting, “Someone didn’t sleep well. You alright, Melinda? ”

I yawn as if to prove her point. “I slept well once I finally got to sleep,” I say. And I did, solidly and in Ben’s arms until my phone started buzzing in an effort to wake me up.

There’s a mischievous glint in her eye. “Up doing other things?”

My cheeks redden involuntarily. “Other things that do not concern you,” I admonish. “Ben is still upstairs. He’s off on Saturdays, so I figured I’d let him sleep. He always has to get up so early.” I add, “We’re officially dating.”

“Good, good. Wondering when the two of you would figure it out was wearying.”

About half an hour later, I hear footsteps descending the stairs on the other side of the wall. I expect him to walk into the shop after I hear the door close, but he does not. I can’t help the visible disappointment on my face.

Carolyn tuts. “That’ll be the ghost who lives in the hallway, lass. Ben’ll pop in later, surely.”

“That ghost doesn’t normally walk down the entire staircase. He stays at the top,” I argue weakly. “I’m sure he wanted to go home and shower or something.”

Even though the body wash he loves is in my shower. I shake my head. I’m being ridiculous. Just because we’re dating does not mean we’re not allowed to live our own lives. I was just expecting him to come say good morning to me, that’s all.

I usher Carolyn out from behind the counter so I can take my place and start going through new inventory while she gets to work on the orders that came in overnight.

The bell over our door jingles. I peer up to find Ben walking in, three cups of coffee in his hands.

I laugh to myself because of how insecure I was being.

He went, from the looks of the cups, into his café to get coffee.

He sets down all three cups before he leans across the counter to kiss me.

I have to stand on my tiptoes to meet him.

“Morning, my love. I come bearing the source of all power: caffeine.”

I giggle, so overcome by this goddamn man to act like a normal person. “My hero,” I swoon like Olive Oyl. I choose my cup and then take a grateful sip. “Ugh, this is why you sleep with a man who owns a café.”

His head is thrown back in a laugh. “Where’s Carolyn? In the office? I’ll bring this to her.”

He takes the cup meant for Carolyn into the back.

I hold my cup to my chest, a near-permanent smile etched on my face.

I am so happy. Unbelievably. I mean, this came out of nowhere.

I was not expecting him, but that’s what they always say, right?

That love will find you when you least expect it.

I think I just didn’t expect to find love and new friends.

Emma being back in my life is great—and I’m going to put in the work to keep it that way.

And Rachel asked me to come with her to help look for a car.

Super random, but I love doing random errands with friends.

Two months ago, I felt like I had nothing and no one except for Mel and Carolyn, but I now have friends.

That’s what should be found in a partner, right? Someone who helps grow your community, not deplete it.

Ben comes back out, and I lean my head up for another kiss. I’ll never grow tired of casual kisses with him. I love him. “I love you,” I say aloud, like I think I need a reminder.

He simpers, hands meeting my hips. “I love you, too, sugar lips.”

“Big no to ‘sugar lips.’”

He pouts. “Fine.” He removes one hand to take a sip of his coffee. “Isla had a real go at me just now. ”

“How come?”

“She’s miffed about missing my whole I-need-to-go-confess-my-love-for-Linny revelation at Hoot last night.”

I laugh lightly. “I rather enjoyed that love confession. You can repeat it if you want. For her benefit, of course.”

“Of course.” He has another drink of his coffee, then asks, “Will it drive you mad if I loiter around here all day? I’ve nothing else to do.”

“I’d like it if you loitered.”

Ben does hang out at the shop for the rest of the day.

Carolyn is tickled pink by his presence—she makes him start dusting, still dissatisfied with my continual effort.

At one point during the day, while I’m talking to a customer about a chest of drawers with a mixture of original brass handles and new ones I attached myself and made look original, I feel his eyes on me.

As soon as the customer retreats to the counter to purchase said chest of drawers from Carolyn, I say to him, “You’re staring at me. ”

He gives me a goofy smile. “You’re pretty.”

My eyes water a bit—not at that specific compliment, just because of him . “You’re so nice to me,” I say quietly.

His mouth twitches downward as he makes it to me in two big steps. “Of course, I am, sugar.” He grabs me by the cheeks, making me look up at him. “I will always be nice to you. If I am ever not, I will apologize and grovel as much as I need to grovel.”

I nod, tears still brimming. “I promise that, too.” I swallow and ask thickly, “Want to get dinner tonight?”

“Linny Jenkins, are you asking me out on a date ?”

I press my lips together in an attempt to keep my smile at bay. “Well, you never actually said yes when I asked you last night. So, Ben Pyeon, would you like to go on a date with me?”

He kisses me and says into my lips. “Yes, please.”