by Abi Walters
Though on the other side of the room through a sea of swaying bodies, their eyes met. The masks did nothing to conceal their identities. Mia would recognize those cerulean pools anywhere. She wanted nothing more than to run in the opposite direction, but it was like a magnet was drawing her closer. Each step brought a thunderous thump in her chest.
They drew closer together until they were a heartbeat away. Without saying a word, he tilted her head and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Her body exploded under his touch. Fire lit from under her toes and traveled to the furthest corners of her brain. Sensing that her legs were above to give, he curled an arm under her and provided the stability she desperately needed.
Once she regained the strength in her knees, he pulled her into the soft breeze of dancers. Dancing was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted take his face in her hands and apologize for everything she had done. She wanted to right all the wrongs and love him until he could forgive her. But if his thin lips and stone jaw were any indication of how he felt, that was the last thing he wanted and she wanted a few selfish moments to feel his touch before he would set her free.
When Mia noticed the flash of his cufflinks, the pair of lion heads she had bought for him at the tiny vintage shop, her heart thrummed wildly in her chest and tears threatened to spill like a waterfall.
It killed Benson not to grab her and storm out of the party. Her eagerness to accept him was a relief, but when he looked at her he saw nothing but a newfound fragility that didn’t set well on the normally strong willed and stubborn face. Instead, he was going to dance with her until she was comfortable enough to speak.
Benson sent a silent thank you to Jet Hammond, who had agreed to ask Lora for a dance. He needed a chance to get Mia alone… just for a few second. He hadn’t expected her to glide across the room and directly into his arms.
She looked breathtaking. Her hair had just a slight curl to it, and her red lips were full and kissable. The dress was elegant and form flattering, though it looked as if she had lost a little weight since she had last been with him.
The security detail he had issued to follow her had mentioned she took long hours at work and rarely bought groceries or takeout. Mia may have needed space to clear her head, but he wasn’t going to let her put herself in a dangerous position. So she went back to the subway and traveled the streets as she did before she met him, only she had a guardian following her the entire time. His motives weren’t entirely pure. He wanted to see who she was associating with. When the guard reported the only person she spent time with outside of work was Lora, and on occasion, her boyfriend, Benson rested easier. Some part of him thought Tyler would try to play knight in shining armor. Or perhaps, Grant would try to weasel his way back into her life.
No, the reality was just as sinister. She was working her way into an early grave to avoid him. Not that he hadn’t been sleeping at the office, either. When he managed to sleep at home, he held her tee shirts desperate for any contact with her. Sometimes when he woke up, groggily and smelling of whisky, her scent surrounded him and it was almost like she was really there.
She haunted him everywhere he went. He had a framed photo of the two of them, a happy snapshot from a weekend at her apartment, at his office. Next to it was another shot. It was the picture of Mia standing on the deck in Sian Kaan wearing the white dress and the flower crown, leaning into the cool island breeze. At home, he had a similar arrangement of pictures spread throughout the penthouse. He could barely stand being there. Everywhere he looked, he saw her. In the silence, he could hear her laughter and sweet cadence.
But she was in front of him now, hands burning holes on his hips as they swayed to the rich music released from the orchestra. Her head rested delicately on his chest, as if she were fearful she’d fall right through. Her floral scent was heavy under his nose. When the music faded away, they stood unmoving.
Finally, Mia lifted her head and stared breathlessly at the man who held her so tightly.
“I missed you so much,” Her voice cracked as she dug her hand under the lapel of his jacket. “Please talk to me. The quiet is worse than yelling.”
He couldn’t find words. He kissed her again, unable to help himself. His eyes scanned the room quickly and he took a step back. Her hands fell away and she let out an audible sob, her eyes full of the same dread that filled Benson’s the night she threw him away. But even after all of that, he still wanted to pull her back in and comfort her. He wasn’t running away. He was looking for an escape. And he had found one.
He laced their fingers together and led her through the maze of bodies to the French doors she had failed to walk through moments before. The party spilled onto the outdoor living space and well-manicured landscaping. He led her as far away from the lights and noise of the house as he could. Finally, on a cold bench under a willow tree, he pulled her into his arms and shook with relief.
“Thank you for not running away,” He whispered into her hair, his fingers undoing the thin ribbon that tied the mask on.
“Thank you for giving me space,” She pulled away to remove his mask, and then cupped his face, pulling him closer until their lips nearly touched. “I understand if you hate me. I hate me, too.”
He kissed her, letting the passion between them say all the words he couldn’t. Did she really think he hated her? When he tasted salty tears he pulled away, staring at her with the softest eyes.
Mia could sense that he was going to speak, but she suddenly didn’t want him to say anything. First, she wanted to let go of all the insecurities and fears, all the late night epiphanies she had in his absence.
“For so long I was trying to play this unforgiving career woman. I thought that was the best way to shield myself from any sort of relationship. I am terrified of becoming that girl again- the broken one who let some drugged out rock star verbally abuse and control, the one who opened her heart to a successful man only to have him turn out to be just as manipulative as the first guy. I’m so ashamed of that person.
“I was doing so well with the walls I put up, the rules I created. But you captivated me, Benson, and suddenly nothing mattered but you. I think that was the scariest part. You turned my world upside down, and I was okay with it. The way Anne looked at me that morning when we got back from Mexico… the way she talked to me. Benson, I panicked. Suddenly I had a thousand voices in my head telling me what to do and how to feel. I wasn’t going to let myself end up in a place where I wasn’t in control. I didn’t want to be old Mia. I didn’t want to end up like my mom.
“The way you looked at me that night… I haven’t been sleeping much, but when I do I see your face and you’re so disappointed and hurt, and I know that I misused the trust you gave me. And for what? I resent the job I gave you up for, the one I worked so hard to get. I fucking hate it because every time I am there, or every time I am working on a project, I’m thinking of how I let you down.
“I love you, Benson. I dreamed of you when I was younger. You were my happy place when he was… when he was raping me, I went to a place where there was a man who loved me unconditionally and would shelter me. Now I know that that savior was you, Benson. I have waited my whole life for you, and I didn’t even know it.”
Her words wrapped around them creating a cocoon. He was stunned, unaware of the silent streaks that ran down his face. Mia’s heart ached at the sight of the tears knowing she was the cause. Gingerly, she brushed them away. Benson caught her hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. His voice was hoarse and rough.
“I don’t know how you managed to get inside me, Mia, but I don’t ever want you to leave. I would do anything for you, give you whatever you want. All I ask is that you never do that to me again. I don’t know if I will be able to survive if you walk away.”
“I’m sorry,” She wept. “I was afraid.”
It was his turn to dry the tears, “I was afraid, too, Mia. Hell, I’m still afraid. You always say that I’m a man who gets what I want. I want you. I want you
for the rest of my life.”
He kissed her again and all her worries, all her fears and doubts, melted away. When he pulled back and stared at her with a thoughtful, seeking gaze, she simply stared back and without hesitation said,
“Take me home.”
Benson had been waiting to hear those three words for weeks. He directed her back to the roar of the mansion, the pace of the masquerade party picking up as the night progressed. She stopped once they were inside the ballroom again. After a quick scan, she located Lora standing with the same man she had danced with. Mia tugged and led Benson to the two.
“Mia!” Lora exclaimed, and then her face lit up even more. “Benson!”
“I don’t want to ruin your night, Cinderella, but I’m leaving. Do you want me to leave the keys to the Coop, or are you not comfortable staying here alone?”
“Jet will get her home safely, precious,” Benson smiled, his hand squeezing her hip possessively.
Mia’s eyes shot quickly as she gawked at the amber eyed man of steel, “Jet? Jet Hammond?”
He extended a hand, “Nice to finally meet you. Benson is right; I’ll make sure she gets home safely. I promised Lora here that I’d introduce her to Heir.”
Lora bounced with excitement, “He did! Can you believe it? Hopefully I don’t word vomit when I see her.”
The three chuckled at her and then Mia bit her bottom lip, “Okay, okay. I will talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night, Lora.”
Lora swung her arms around Mia and hugged her, “No, thank you. I’m so happy to see you with Benson.”
When they released, Benson cave a curt nod and pulled Mia away. He was desperate to have her under him again. With a hand pressed to the small of her back, he navigated them out to the front of the mansion. Both retrieved their cars from valet. Benson snagged Mia’s keys and passed them to Victor, who looked more than happy to see her. He barely batted an eye as he climbed into her tiny red Mini Cooper. Benson helped Mia into the Bentley and then climbed into the driver’s seat.
She couldn’t keep her hand off his thigh as they made the long trip back into the city. It was driving him mad. He was so hard that the seam of his pants threatened to release him. He wanted to pull over and pin her to the hood, taking her on the side of the highway. He couldn’t wait any longer, but he would have to. He had his Mia back, and he wanted her right where she belonged- in their bed.
When they finally reached the penthouse, Benson picked her up and carried her over the threshold. Mia tossed her head back and laughed. He had missed the melody. It traveled through every room filling the home with the presence it had missed. The memories of Mia making breakfast wearing nothing but a t-shirt or cozying by the windows overlooking Central Park didn’t hurt any more. They were a warm flood to Benson. She was home.
The penthouse felt different- it looked different. It wasn’t until Mia was standing in front of Benson in the bedroom that she noticed the pictures that hadn’t been there before. Pictures of her- of them. She spotted her shirts folded neatly on the bed, as if they were warming the spot where she once laid.
Benson unzipped the gown and helped as Mia shimmied out of it. He groaned. The tan from their trip had all but faded, her skin returning to the silken cream he loved so much. Her hair held a little more curl than it naturally did, not that he was complaining. It cascaded around her face like gentle waves. The strapless black bra and torturously thin thong made his cock twitch a steady rhythm against his pants. Her hands disappeared behind her back, releasing her breasts with a gentle bounce. The thong came next. Benson looked at her with heavy eyes. She was a perfect vision.
The layers of his own clothing became too much to bear. Without breaking eye contact with her, he stripped out of the constricting suit. Only after he was naked in front of her did they rush to embrace. Skin-to-skin. The way they were meant to be.
Mia felt weightless as Benson scooped her in his arms for the second time that night. He set her on the bed, moving her shirts to the nightstand, before joining her. His hands splayed on her stomach as he came up between her pressing tender kisses along her breasts and then her neck. Mia strained beneath him. His mouth felt better than she remembered.
“I want to go slow and show you how much I love you,” He groaned in her ear, almost as if he were talking to himself. “But dammit, I missed you too much. I’m not going to be able to control myself.”
The words moisturized her skin as they sank into her bones. They would have plenty of time to take it slow and show their love. Right now, right now she wanted to feel the white hot passion.
“Then don’t.”
An animalistic groan strangled in his throat as he hooked her legs under his arms and lifted her hips to his cock. He would take her hard and fast, but he was going to savor the first thrust. His head pressed against her folds and she sighed his name desperately. He pressed in and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. The tight velvet glove welcomed him like a perfect fit. Every ripple and squeeze of her muscles around him as she stretched to accept him sent more blood to his throbbing member.
She bucked her hips up. It was the only invitation he needed. Mia was his drug and he had gone without for too long. He tore into her, channeling all of his tortured dreams and stubborn cries into her as he pumped.
Mia shook beneath him, a constant stream of noise coming from her mouth. If she wasn’t crying out his name, she was switching between sweet as sin moans and breathless pants. When Benson tilted his head down to flick a tongue over her nipples, she fell silent. He slowed and looked up in alarm, only to have his balls tighten with satisfaction and pleasure.
She rode the most intense orgasm she had ever experienced silently, back arched and mouth slightly open. Her eyes were slightly closed, but she could feel Benson watching her. His gaze was as hot as the orgasm tearing through her. The image unfolded beneath him like a page from his prepubescent dreams. She was completely unhinged, and she was completely his.
He came shortly after, bursting wave after wave of himself into her. Her name tangled with profanities in his throat as he slipped into a violent orgasm. She accepted it all, her hips rolling into the jerky spasms. When the last tremor subsided, he carefully felt over her. He wanted to be inside of her for a few more minutes.
After catching her breath, Mia nudged Benson with her nose. He was still over her, his shallow breaths the only indication he was still alive. He shifted, and gave her a loving gaze before rising to clean the two of them.
Hours later, Mia lay on his hard chest watching the sunrise over the city through the open curtains in the room. She was exhausted, and the steady rise and fall of Benson’s chest as he peacefully slept was a sweet lullaby. After he had fallen asleep she rested on his chest and studied him with pure infatuation.
He was the man she had dreamed of in her youth. His unconditional love and dedication was all her pre-teen self would have asked for, but Benson gave more than that. He was giving her the world. It was utterly terrifying, but she wasn’t going to run. No matter how scary things seemed, with Benson by her side she felt calm and prepared.
Mia nuzzled her head into the crook of his arm and his hand instinctually squeezed her side. As her eyes fluttered, she reached up and pinched herself. The sting brought a wide grin. She was awake.
Benson wasn’t a dream. He was real. Flesh and blood. And he was all hers.