“You’d be amazed at what you can find on Amazon,” Ben says as he flashes a shit-eating grin from ear to ear.
We take a seat at our usual table, though me being able to climb onto a stool in this dress takes a little more effort than it should.
“If I haven’t told you yet, you look amazing,” Ben whispers, helping me get situated.
“Thank you. And if I haven’t told you yet, you’re getting me every drink tonight because I don’t think I’ll be able to get off this stool without popping out of this dress.”
“Hmmm… I don’t think I’d hate that.” He places a kiss on my cheek and heads to the bar to grab our drinks. It’s then I find Annabelle’s and Tori’s eyes glued to me.
“What?”
“You two are freaking adorable,” Tori says.
“Whatever. It’s nothing. Where are Scarlett and Maverick?”
“They are on there way. Kid issue. And don’t change the subject.”
I didn’t think I would get away with it, but it was worth a try.
“Fine. I can tell both of you are dying to ask me something. So you each get one question. And hurry up. I don’t want to make this a weird thing with Ben.”
“What would be a weird thing?” Scarlett asks, sliding her way onto a barstool dressed as Bo Peep from “Toy Story.”
“Amanda is still trying to convince herself that she and Ben aren’t a couple even though they wore a couple costume and I have on good authority that they spend almost every night together so I’m about to ask her what’s holding her back.”
Damn Tori. I didn’t realize it was going to be all that.
“Nothing is holding me back,” I defend. “I’m not ready for a relationship. With anyone. Ben knows this. He’s fine with it. If dressing up in costume makes him happy, then it’s the least I can do. He’s a good guy. We have fun together. Why does it have to be more than that?”
That’s what I don’t get. Why do people need to put labels on things? I realize that Ben and I are the most couple-y, non-couple that exists. I’m not an idiot. But putting that label on it will change everything, and I don’t want to change anything.
I have my career. I have Ben in our friends-with-very-good-benefits situation. I have my friends and my dad. I’m good.
Everything is good.
“Are you sure Ben is OK with this?” Annabelle asks, giving a look to him and the other guys at the bar. Ben is looking at me, a smile on his face that melts me every time.
“He’s fine. He knows what’s going on.”
“Just be careful. I know it’s a different situation, but friends with benefits is a lot more complicated than it seems,” Tori says, looking at the guys at the bar before looking back to me. “See that? Right there? There’s a girl hitting on Ben. Or trying to. And you, right now, have no right to be mad. Or jealous. Are you sure you’re OK with that?”
I look over and indeed there is a girl talking and trying to flirt with Ben. She’s a slutty cat -- come on, at least be something original -- and rubbing her hand up and down his arm. From the looks of it, he’s not doing anything to encourage her, but he’s polite, so he’s not going to dismiss her.
I hate it.
“I need to use the restroom.”
I get up and don’t look at my friends as I make a dash to the ladies’ room, needing a second to pull myself together.
Tori’s right. We’re just friends. Friends who have a lot of sex without putting a label on it. It’s what I wanted. So I can’t be mad if someone flirts with Ben. He could go home with her if he wanted to. We aren’t exclusive.
Except the thought of Ben going home with anyone that isn’t me makes my blood boil. Thinking about him saying his unexpected filthy words to anyone but me make me want to pull my hair out.
And the thought of another man touching me? No. Why would I let anyone touch me when Ben is the one who knows where and how to touch every inch of me?
Holy shit... I’m Ben Jameson’s girlfriend.
I think I always knew this, but at this moment, standing in front of a mirror in a ridiculous Britney Spears dress, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
I pull myself together and leave the bathroom, only to find slutty cat still trying to talk to Ben, only now she has followed him to our table.
Oh hell no.
I walk over, trying to stay calm, and as soon as I get next to him, I lace my arm through his and plant a kiss on his cheek.
“Hey, baby. Sorry about that. I needed to use the restroom,” I say before shooting a look to slutty cat.
“It’s fine,” he says, bringing me in a little closer. “It was nice talking to you…”
“Britney.”
Of course, her name is Britney.
“Yes, Britney. It was great. You can leave now.”
My words shock her and she stomps away. But I don’t know who is more surprised by my dismissal, Britney, me, Ben, or our friends.
“Not a couple my ass.”
She might have said it under her breath, but I heard it clear as day.
One of these days Tori is going to stop being right.
* * *
Chapter 17 -- Ben
“Are we going to talk about what happened at the bar or just ignore that you basically peed on my leg?”
I meant for it to come out as a joke, but apparently Amanda, who has had a couple of vodka tonics tonight, doesn’t find this very funny.
“I did no such thing!” she says, kicking off her heels as we make our way into her apartment. “She just invited herself over to our table so I wanted to get the point across to her that she was not welcome. I did not piss on your leg! And a slutty cat? Really? She should at least be original.”
“Babe, I’m not mad. Honestly, it was pretty hot. I didn’t know you could get jealous like that.”
And it was. I hated that Britney was flirting with me, and I wanted to tell her to go away. But a little voice in my brain wondered what Amanda would do when she saw it.
So yeah, this whole thing might have worked out in my favor. I might look like a nice guy, but I can be pretty devious when I want to be. Maybe I should have dressed up as the devil for Halloween.
“Jealous? I wasn’t jealous!” she said, now stomping back to her bedroom, well as much as she can in that dress. “Why would you think I was jealous?”
“What would you call how you acted tonight?”
“Like I said. There wasn’t room for her. She needed to leave.”
Ah, my stubborn, stubborn woman. I walk up behind her and put my arms around her waist, bringing her into my chest. We are in front of her vanity mirror, looking ridiculous in all denim. We just stand there and stare at our reflections for a few minutes, the emotions of the night settling on us.
“You know I didn’t want her there, right?” I ask before lighting kissing a piece of exposed skin on her shoulder.
“I do. And I’m sorry I acted a little crazy. Just seeing her with you… I didn’t realize how much it would drive me nuts.”
I turn her around, still holding her, needing to look her in the eye for this conversation.
“So, I didn’t want another woman flirting with me, and neither did you. I sure as hell don’t want a man talking to you, and I’m going to go on a limb and say that you don’t want another man hitting on you…”
I trail off but she nods her head, trying to put her eyes down. Nope. Not going to do. I place two fingers under chin and tilt her face up so she is looking at me.
“Amanda, I know you don’t like titles, and the thought of being in a relationship freaks you out but--”
“I want to be your girlfriend.”
The words come out of her with no warning, almost startling me.
“What was that?” I heard it, but I want to make sure she knew what she was saying.
“I realized tonight that I’ve been your girlfriend for a while now. You were just sneaky and made me think we weren’t. And I thank you for that, because I don’t think I wa
s ready for that word yet. But seeing that bitch tonight touching you, I couldn’t take it Ben.”
I know we aren’t done with this yet, but I lean down to kiss her. I need to. She just said the words I’ve been dying to hear.
“Wait,” she says, stopping our kiss before it could, and likely would, go further. “I don’t think I can promise you long term though. It’s something… I don’t know how… I’ve never… My job…”
I kiss her again, this time to stop the rambling.
“Babe, just because we are dating exclusively doesn’t mean we are getting married tomorrow. We will still take this one day at a time. Nothing else changes… except now, when we go out, I get to touch you whenever I want. Every man will know your mine.”
“And every woman will know that you are mine.”
As she says the words, she lowers herself to her knees, her hands trailing down my body until they hit the top of my jeans. Before I know it, she has my belt undone and she is sliding the tighter than normal pants down my legs, taking my boxer briefs with them.
My dick is already hard, the words we spoke and the moments we shared already turning me on. But looking down at her on her knees, holding my dick in her hand, stroking me while licking the tip… it’s almost too much for me to handle.
“Mine.” It’s the last words she says before she wraps her mouth around my cock, slowly taking it all the way in before bringing almost all the way back out.
“Fuck… babe your mouth feels amazing.”
I’ve always been more of a giver when it comes to oral sex, but the way Amanda sucks me I’d be willing to change my ways.
Except I love pleasing her too much.
But right now, if she wants to give, I’ll be happy to receive. The feel of her warm taking me in, her hand stroking me where her mouth isn’t, I have to force my knees not to give out. She’s that good.
Her hand leaves my cock as she wraps both hands around my thighs, bringing me in so she is taking literally every inch of my dick in her mouth.
Holy fuck…
I can’t help it… I start pumping into her mouth. I wrap her hair around my hands, slowly pushing in and out of her.
Needing air, she releases me and I take the reprieve to scoop her up and place her on the bed.
“I wasn’t done yet.”
Her sultry voice only makes me strip off this ridiculous denim shirt faster. I kick off my boxer briefs the rest of the way and flip her over to unzip her denim dress.
“Holy fuck…”
This little minx. As I remove the dress from her body, I realize that there was nothing underneath her dress tonight.
Nothing.
She moves to her knees, her ass now in the air. She looks over her shoulder, her eyes summoning me to her.
“Fuck me Ben. Make me yours.”
Chapter 17
Amanda
I normally didn’t go commando. OK, I never went commando. I always had this fear that I’d be out on patrol and something would happen. Next thing I knew, I’d be taken to the hospital and everyone would be talking about the freaky cop who doesn’t wear panties.
But tonight? Seeing the look in Ben’s eyes when he realized that I was bare underneath the hideous denim dress… going without was the best decision I made that day.
Well, maybe except coming to the realization that Ben is mine. And I am his.
For however long this will last.
I was honest with him earlier. I still don’t know how long I can promise him. I’m not wired to think that far out. Long term has never been in my game plan. Ben was the puzzle that I never expected to put together.
But as I look back at him over my shoulder, my ass in the air, his cock in his hand, and a look of pure desire on his face, I can’t go another day without knowing that this man is mine.
And I am his.
This might be stupid. I might be setting myself up for heartbreak. But I don’t care. For the first time in my life, I’m going to follow my heart and tell my head to take a backseat.
“Fuck me Ben. Make me yours.”
It’s all I need to say. He strokes himself a few times before lining up his throbbing cock against my center, grabs on to my hip and plunges into me. Hitting that spot so deep that I think I’m going to be split in two.
Sex with us has never been boring or quiet. But tonight, something is different. Instead of the normal frantic pace that he would usually set when he is fucking me from behind, tonight is slower, like every time he pushes in and pulls out of me he is trying to memorize the feeling.
“Mine…”
The word is a whisper against my ear as he is now on top of me, his front to my back, still working his cock in and out. This position is new… intimate… I have no idea where he ends and I begin.
Which says a lot considering the events of the night.
He trails kisses along my back as he holds my hands above my head, my body now flat against the bed, giving him complete control and access to my body. I love it when he’s like this. When he takes what he wants and gives me what I need all at once. There aren’t many times in my life I can be submissive… but in bed with Ben… I can be, and he will give me, whatever I want.
He lets go of my hands, sliding them down around to my front, cupping each of my breasts in his hands. He slowly brings my chest off the mattress, playing with my nipples as he continues this slow, but amazing pace.
“Ben… I need more… Please...”
“Shh… patience baby. Let me take you there tonight.”
I don’t know where he is taking me, but at this point, I’ll go to Hell with him on a one-way ticket.
Ben has got me off plenty of times, I have no fear that tonight will be any different, but this time… it has never been so slow. It’s never been such a gradual climb to the top. It’s beautiful… it’s consuming… it’s taking over my entire body… it’s driving me absolutely fucking crazy.
“I’m close Ben… so close…”
He lays us back down, and somehow without ever exiting my body, rolls us over so I’m on top. He knows how much I love this position. I know he loves it too. Normally, I’d ride him until we both screamed in ecstasy, both of us loving how wild and free I feel when I’m in control.
But looking down at him right now, a softness in his eyes as he looks up at me, and I know what he means about patience. About taking our time. The words and promises we made to each other tonight scroll back through my mind.
Tonight isn’t just a crazy fuck between two people insanely attracted to each other. Tonight is making love for the first time.
The first time in my life.
And like always, Ben knows what I needed before I do. And when he looks at me like he is right now as I move my center up and down on his length, I’ll give him whatever he wants.
I lay my body flat on top of him, continuing to circle my hips, guiding him in and out of me as I kiss him with everything in me. I might not be ready to say the words yet, but I’m hoping that I can show him with my body.
That this is more. That we are more.
“You feel so good Amanda… Come with me…”
His words are all I need to hit my climax. With our bodies joined in every place they can be, we come together, falling over the peak together.
Together. For the first time in my life, I have someone that I can be a “together” with. Even the few relationships I have had, I never felt like I truly had a partner, in or out of the bedroom.
Now I have Ben. For as long as he’ll have me.
“Thank you,” he whispers in my ear.
“For what?”
“Giving us a chance.”
I roll so I’m facing him, my fingers tracing the ink across his arm.
“Thank you.”
He places a kiss on my lips. “For what?”
“For waiting for me.”
Chapter 18
Ben
Amanda and I have spent plenty of nights together over the past f
ew months. Her waking up in my arms isn’t a new thing.
Some people could complain about waking up like this. My arm is numb because at some point in the night, she laid her head on my shoulder, ceasing any potential movement on my right side. She has stolen most of the covers. Her light snores woke me up probably an hour before I was ready to face the day.
But I’m not complaining. Opposite actually. Because today is the first day I’m waking up knowing that without a doubt Amanda and I are in this together.
Though I heard her plain as day, I still couldn’t believe it when she said last night that she was ready to make this official between us. In my head, we had been, but I knew she wasn’t there yet.
And now she is. It might not change a lot between us, but it also changes everything.
“What are you smiling about?” her sleepy mumble pulls me from my thoughts and I bring her in a little closer so I can place a kiss on her hair.
“Oh nothing. Just that I’m waking up with my girlfriend for the first time.”
“You’ve woken up with me plenty of times.”
“Yeah, but none of those times were you actually my girlfriend. Excuse me for being excited about that.”
Now it’s her turn to smile as she nuzzles even closer to me, though she can’t get much closer. Her leg is now tossed over mine and her free arm is tracing lines up and down my arm.
“What are your plans today?” I ask, getting lost in the feel of her touch.
“Nothing exciting. Grocery shopping and running a few errands.”
“Do you want company?”
She looks up at me, confusion in her eyes. “You want to come with me grocery shopping?”
“Sure. I need to as well. We can do it together.”
“That’s so… domestic.” She says the word like it’s foreign on her tongue. Which I guess maybe it is.
“Is that a bad thing?”
She shakes her head, her eyes now back and focused on the tattoos on my arm. “No. It’s just… I’ve never thought of grocery shopping as a couple thing. It’s just the thing I do on Sundays.”
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