by Abi Walters
The crowd loved Burnside. Even without Max’s energy, they soared. As they wrapped up their last song, the group of four moved to the side to allow the stream of bodies to pass. A roar of activity sprung around them as the curtains closed and sets were changed. Charlotte’s Drive sold out stadiums. Their shows were packed full of excitement. A skilled team of roadies had everything switched out within ten minutes, and when the curtains rose and the male model of a lead singer took stage, the shrill of female yells was enough to shatter glass.
Grant took Tyler’s spot by the stage. Lora and Zach stood near him, begrudgingly, while Mia and Benson sat on the red sectional in the middle of the room. Mia was obligated to stay for the entire performance, as she was technically on the clock. A fit of giggles washed over her as she thought about how she was getting paid to have sex with Benson in an office and cozy up to him in the middle of a hectic backstage. He didn’t bat an eye at her laugher, just leaned into her with a smile.
The second to last song Charlotte’s Drive played was a slow crooning song. At the sound of the low tempo, Benson stood and pulled Mia to her feet. He danced with expertise and precision, like a man who grew up with money would. Admittedly, the dance they shared under the eye of every roadie, groupie, and band member was way more intimate than those that occurred at official parties. His hands were pressed against the small of her back, and hers tangled at the base of his head. She rested against his chest, breathing in his intoxicating scent of leather and sandalwood.
Mia was totally and completely in love with Benson Ward.
By the time the second encore ended, Mia and Benson were dying to leave the venue. They hadn’t had skin to skin contact in too long, especially after pressing against one another all night long. He barely let her congratulate Burnside and say goodbye to Zach and Lora before pulling her out a back exit and straight into the waiting limo.
His hands were under her shirt and his lips hot on her neck as soon as he slammed the door shut behind them. She was spread out on her back on the leather seat, moaning Benson’s name between hard kisses. When her hands eagerly grabbed his zipper, he stopped her.
“Not yet. We’ve got a few stops to make first.”
“Stops?” She questioned, her voice whiney.
Benson nodded with an almost evil smile, “First thing’s first; we need to swing by your apartment and get your passport.”
Chapter Thirteen
Mia gaped at him, “My passport?”
“I didn’t stutter, precious,” Benson grinned. His eyes darted out the window then back at her. “Just in time. I’ll accompany you up just in case your brother is up there.”
“Why do I need my passport?” She questioned.
Benson sat up and scooted to leave the limo. Mia didn’t budge, sitting up on her elbow and staring at the man in front of her with a mouth half open. He shook his head and teased,
“It’s a secret. Come on, we have two more stops after this.”
“Two more?” Mia pressed, scrambling to follow him. “I hate secrets, Benson. Just tell me.”
She pushed him for an answer the entire way up the elevator. Thankfully, her brother wasn’t lurking in the shadows in front of her door. She had tried to make it as clear as possible the day before that there was no way she would ever return to that stupid Connecticut town to her broken family. As soon as the threat disappeared and they were in her apartment, her string of questioning began again. Benson silenced her with a kiss and instructed her to get her passport.
Mia knelt beside her bed and pulled out a tiny black security box. Benson perched himself against the tall post of the frame as he watched her punch in a four digit code and flip open the treasure chest. Inside he could see a tiny stack of important documents. She shuffled them around and pulled out the thin blue book, passing it to Benson as she locked up the safe once more.
He flipped through it, smiling at the picture of Mia. Only she could take a great passport photo. Her hair was noticeably shorter, cropping around her face with sharp edges. There was only one stamp in the passport, and Benson desperately wished to fill the pages with the promise of adventure.
“It’s kind of empty, right?” She smiled sheepishly. “So are you going to tell me where we are going so I can pack a bag? Do I even need to pack a bag? Almost all my clothes are at the penthouse, so I don’t think I could get anything here but rain boots and a few pair of lounge pants. Unless I need those?”
“If you don’t stop asking me questions I am going to take you over my knee,” He tossed playfully, though his eyes were hard with desire.
“If that’s the case, then why is the sky blue? Do you think Bigfoot is real? How do bears manage to be so scary and so adorable at the same time? Do you think I’ll ever become the president some day? When I’m president, do you think-”
She was cut off by a forceful kiss. It took every ounce of will inside Benson’s body to not toss her on the bed and spank her until her cheeks were black and blue. He had already roughed them up earlier in the evening, and wondered if they already wore the mark of punishment. But the ache could wait. They had a schedule to stick to.
“Don’t try to seduce me. If you keep pushing like this, you won’t like the results.”
Though his words were utterly intimidating, they were also completely arousing. She licked her lips before whispering in his ear,
“I wasn’t seducing you. You’d know if I was.”
He growled a warning, “Mia.”
“You’re still inside me Benson,” Her voice had taken on a sultry drawl. “A little slipped out into my panties. I haven’t cleaned it up; I wanted to feel you all night long.”
Mia thought she heard a whimper, but Benson Ward didn’t whimper, he growled and grunted.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” His voice cracked. The woman undid him. Never in his life had he made a noise like that- whatever that was. As much as he wanted to be an alpha male and dominate her, he looked at her and for a moment was completely at her will.
“The feeling is mutual,” Her words were wispy and accented.
Benson found a chunk of sanity and handed her the passport that was lying on the bed, “Two more stops.”
Mia whined and followed him out and back down to the limo. He loved watching her squirm the next chunk of the drive. When the pulled into the garage next to Benson’s high rise, her ears perked and she looked at him with a finger resting on her lips. The stop was only to switch vehicles, as she soon found out. They transitioned from the limo to the Bentley SUV. Victor was in the front seat, and Mia wondered who had been driving the limo.
As they peeled out of the garage, Mia couldn’t help but ask about the car change. Benson tilted his head to the side and finally answered her,
“The Bentley had our luggage in it.”
“Luggage?” Mia’s head cranked trying to see in the trunk. “I didn’t pack anything.”
“I called in a few favors and got a stylist into a few shops to get what you’ll need.”
His biggest request? No animal print.
“Stylist?” Mia’s eyes threatened to bug out of her head. “Where are we going? I work Monday; I can’t be traveling to Timbuctoo.” Her face paled. “That’s not where we’re going, right?”
Benson laughed, “Not this weekend, sorry precious. About work, though. How much vacation time do you have?”
“I can’t take vacation on such short notice.”
“You need to take off every day until Thursday. We will leave late Wednesday, and you can sleep on the plane and be ready for work Thursday morning.”
“Benson!” Mia exclaimed. “I can’t do that. Unlike you, I don’t own the company. I can’t just take off unannounced without reason, especially after a big event.”
He whipped his phone out, “I’ll pull a few strings.”
“No,” She put her foot down. “Absolutely not. No more pulling strings and calling in favors for me. If I am going to fuck up my career, I’m going to d
o it on my own, not with your help.”
“It’s just a few days, Mia.”
“For you it is. I’m not at the bottom level of the totem pole, but I’m still shark bait at Monarch,” She looked at his face and sighed. “If I email Anne at two thirty in the morning she will be even more pissed. I will wait until we are wherever the hell we’re going before I talk to her.”
Benson understood, on some level, her stubborn need for control and independence. But he wanted nothing more than to take care of everything for her. He swallowed the lump in his throat and crossed his hands in his lap, “Fine, but when we land if you decide you want my help it’ll still be available.”
The ride to the airport was tense. Mia sat with her arms crossed and her gaze fixed out the window. She hated surprises, and she hated letting her boss down. Now she was stuck on her way to an unknown country counting down the hours until it would be acceptable to email her boss. She thought of the best way to word the communication.
Hey Anne, my insanely handsome and insanely crazy rich boyfriend is kidnapping me, and I won’t be able to make it in until Thursday. He’s not really kidnapping me, so don’t call the police or anything. He just sort of made it impossible to say no. I will bring him to work with me so you can look in his beautiful eyes and try to say no. Then you will understand why I need to have a few days off. Anyway, please don’t fire me.
Mia held back a snort. Yeah, Anne would love that email. Mia was so wrapped up in her narrative that she didn’t realize they had reached the small airport and were driving out to a lone plane, illuminated by the floodlights of the runway. When the car slowed to a stop and her door jerked open, Mia jumped.
She took Victor’s hand and stepped out, then respectively dropped it to gawk at the looming jet. She’d never flown before, especially on something as luxurious looking as the vehicle in front of her. She felt Benson’s hand slide into hers and squeeze, and she looked at him, her tongue still wagging.
“Is this yours?”
“Of course it is, precious,” A cock grin slid on his face. “Much better than flying commercial.”
She saw two men carrying their luggage in front of them as Benson pulled her closer to the plane. She boarded with shaky legs and gasped at the sight in front of her. The inside was as luxurious at the outside, reeking of money and class. The cool tan shades and rich woods that covered the cabin were fresh and new. At the front of the cabin were eight chairs that looked like high end recliners. They were separated into two groups of two on either side of the wide aisle. Some ways behind them was a small sitting area with two more chairs and a table. The other side of the aisle featured a similar scene, though there was a flat screened television mounted on an interior wall.
There were two doors at the end of the corridor. One was open, and though dark inside, Mia could see the faint outlines of a bathroom. She let go of Benson’s hand and walked down to the mystery door. When Benson didn’t stop her, she clicked it open. On the other side was a bedroom. Featuring the same color scheme and materials as the rest of the plane, the room was a pleasant surprise. She had had a busy day, running virtually on no sleep, and the sight of the large bed covered in a fluffy white blanket made her moan softly. It looked incredibly inviting. On the other side of the room was a small table with a chair on either side. Another TV was pressed into the wall directly across from the bed. Again, there was a mystery door. She didn’t have time to peek through, nor did she want to. All that she could focus on was the bed just a few feet from her.
“Not yet, Mia,” Benson’s tender voice wrapped around her. “I know you’re tired, but you can’t lie down until we take off. Come sit with me.”
She groaned and leaned into him, letting him place a kiss on the top of her head before directing her back to the cabin. They settled on in the chairs near the television and he squeezed her hand. A pretty redheaded flight attendant came by offering drinks. Mia declined, and Benson followed. He regarded the woman with soft familiarity that stung her heart. She was too tired to hide her jealous scowl. The corners of Benson’s mouth twitched and he grabbed her hand, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles.
For being a first time flyer, Mia thought she handled the transition from being on the ground to in the air fairly well. When they were steady in the air, Mia looked at Benson with heavy eyes and he silently picked her up and carried her to the bed in the back. He stripped her down to her undergarments, appreciating the curves and silken skin before tucking her in. He draped his blazer across the back of a chair and slipped out of his shoes before climbing in next to her. Mia was already half asleep.
“I’m sorry I teased you earlier and now I’m too tired to play,” She muttered, nuzzling into his chest.
“Don’t ever apologize for that, Mia.”
“Will you tell me where we are going now?”
“You will see when I wake you up in four hours. Get some rest, precious. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
For the few fleeting moments before she drifted into a heavy sleep, Mia thought of all the places in the world she thought it would take four hours to travel to. Benson watched her drift away quickly and stifled a yawn. He decided to take his own advice and get some rest. Nestling his head against the jet black waves on the pillow, Benson inhaled the scent of her flowery shampoo and fell asleep with a smile on his face.
**********
The turquoise water and white sands of the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve were breathtakingly picturesque. Beautifully juxtaposed behind her was the stunning private villa, nestled in the midst of the emerald tops of the trees. The jungle dune was surrounded by the Caribbean Sea on either side, and the villa was the only property on the small stretch of paradise. The dune, as well as Casa de la Belleza, were owned by Jet Hammond. Benson explained, gripping the wheel of their rental Mercedes as they turned down the unmarked dirt road that led to the dune, that Jet had graciously lent them the house for an impromptu vacation after the Golden Horse incident. Benson would never tell Mia he had nearly gotten on his knees begging Jet for the favor.
The property was a dream. The one story stucco villa was an architectural beauty. In addition to the seamless mix of island and luxury that seeped from every inch of the home, it was also low impact. Drawing energy from the sun, wind and rain, the home was completely immersed in the tropical setting.
The dome like living room featured a contemporary sunken in couch that wrapped around in a giant U shape. The sand color of the fabric was background to the myriad of throw pillows in vibrant shades of yellows, blues and oranges. Strategically placed windows with open shutters were enhanced by the high palapa-style ceiling that brought a just the right amount of island life into the furnishings.
The rest of the home was just as bright and airy. The kitchen was modern and sleek, but the décor kept it within the aura of the house. There were two bedrooms of similar size and shape, both featuring large windows with amazing views to the jungle brush that surrounded the house. A bathroom jointed the two rooms together. On the other side of the airy hall was the master bedroom. It was luxurious in a way that was understated. Crisp white linens and a tiled mosaic above the bed gave the room an effortless appeal. The same mosaic was featured in the master bathroom, swirling inside the glass shower. A stunning tub carved from wood sat beneath a long window that overlooked the scenery of the dune. The coziness of the room was rivaled by the folding doors that opened directly out onto the back deck.
The outdoor living space was nearly the same size as the indoor. Featuring three tiers, the deck showcased a crystalline infinity pool, a bar, and a stone pit surrounded by a set of comfortable looking chairs. There was an abundance of seating on the three tiers, though it didn’t seem overcrowded. The mixture of soft neutral chairs against the bright blues of the lounge chairs helped tie each level together.
Mia closed her eyes and inhaled the salty ocean scents. A slight wind wisped her thin white maxi dress around her ankles. When they arrived at the villa
, the first thing they did was strip out of their clothes and indulged in one another’s bodies on the warm floor. They made it to the bedroom with their luggage before falling into bed again. With their bodies tangled and the silent fan spinning above them, they napped until the mid-hours of the day. After an exploratory shower where one of the detachable heads was used for something other than cleaning, Mia got a chance to see the clothing that had been hand-picked for the trip. The bag held mostly shades of whites and golds, but as she slipped into the flowing white dress sans undergarments (as there were none packed), Benson nibbled on her neck and told her she wouldn’t need very many clothes anyway.
Benson had taken her to Mexico, of all places. She had looked at him with disbelief when they got off the jet. He didn’t want her only experience in Mexico to be with Grant, and he was determined to give her the best extended weekend of her life. The first sight of Sian Kaan had Mia sold. They could have stomped back up on the plane and gone home. Benson had taken her to paradise, while Grant had only allowed her a few hours of his time in the urban sprawl of Mexico City. The two were beyond comparison.
Casa de la Belleza was a vacation pulled straight out of her dreams.
Benson informed her that there was a chef on staff and a caretaker who looked over the property while Jet was away. He wanted the place to themselves for the weekend, so Jet dismissed them after they stocked the house full of enough food to last them during their stay. The bar on the deck had been restocked as well, though Mia hadn’t bartended in years and could barely remember how to make a drink.
In the bright hours of the morning when they were driving to the secluded dune, Mia had shakily emailed her boss an explanation she had read out loud to Benson ten times. While drafting a more casual email to Lora detailing the surprise vacation, Anne had emailed her back. It was brief and sterile. Totally unlike Anne. She granted Mia the vacation, noting that she had so many days saved up they would start rolling off at the beginning of the new year if they weren’t used, but also expressed direct orders to be in her office first thing Thursday morning. The news stung, but at the sight of the island paradise sprawling around her, Mia couldn’t let herself be upset.