The One That Got Away

by S J Crabb

  “Then I will enjoy showing you around.” I move along and pick up another magazine, still not looking at him. “I may not have the time. I am on a business trip and my boss is a slave driver.” He moves along and also picks up a different magazine. He flicks through it casually and says, “Oh you will have the time, don’t worry about that.” I put the magazine down and walk around to the other side. He follows closely behind, still not looking at me. “I may not want to.” I say, wishing that I could see his expression. “You will want to Bella that I can promise you.” He moves away and I carry on standing reading the same magazine. When I can be sure he has gone I take the magazine to the till laughing to myself. I enjoy playing him at his own game and think with excitement of the coming week.

  Once we are on the plane I see that he is sitting next to Tony, the buyer for Menswear. I am sitting next to Karen. She is such good company and keeps me in stitches. I also have a good laugh at her obvious distress that Ben is also on the trip. She pulls a face and says, “God, what bad luck that he has come with us. I won’t relax now and even though he is drop dead gorgeous he really puts me on edge.” I grin. “I know what you mean. I wouldn’t worry though I am sure that he will be busy and leave us to our own devices.” She raises her eyes. “I hope so, I have been looking forward to this trip for ages. It’s a great excuse to have some- me time- away from the kids.” I smile and nod in agreement, I am also looking for the respite from Nathan‘s constant pestering.

  Luckily the flight is a short one and once we have cleared customs we find ourselves in a couple of taxis on the way to the hotel. Ben goes in the other one so I don’t have to keep up the pretence which I am pleased about. This week is going to be exhausting enough as it is without the added complication of a secret boyfriend.

  The hotel is lovely and we check in and soon have our room keys. The idea is to dump our things and then go to the town to look around some of the major stores for ideas and inspirations. The show starts tomorrow so we are due to meet up afterwards for a meal.

  We get into the lift and one by one everyone gets out at their relevant floors. Ben and I get out at the 3rd floor and I raise my eyes at him. “So, our rooms are on the same floor, what a coincidence.” He smiles wickedly at me. “Oh much better than that Bella.” I see him look at me like the complete predator that he is and hide my smile. Our rooms are side by side and he opens his door. Before I can follow suit he pulls me into his room after him. Grabbing hold of me he pushes me against the wall and holds me there looking intently at me, his eyes inches from my face. I stare at him and as usual completely buckle under his gaze.

  My feelings of longing are so great and he obviously knows it judging by the expression on his face. He smiles seductively at me and whispers, “Our rooms have a connecting door so we can meet up without worrying about who may see us. Do you like that idea?” I nod, excitement blazing in my eyes. He steps away and releases me. “Then you had better get unpacked, you can unlock the door from your side and I will do the same here. I feel disappointment flood through me. I want him so much; the thought of waiting is intolerable. He looks at me sensing my frustration and smiles seductively at me. He holds my gaze again and his eyes draw me in once again. Slowly he says, “I am going to look forward to this week with you Bella.” He draws closer to me until he is inches away from my face and traces his fingers down the side of it. “They say that Paris is for lovers. Do you agree?” I swallow, the desire very evident in my eyes. I can see that he knows the affect he is having on me as his eyes darken and he looks at me a triumphant expression on his face. I can’t speak and just nod and then abruptly he moves away.

  “Come on we have to go, the others will be waiting.” I race out of the door as though I have been released from his spell. Once I am inside my room my eyes are drawn to the connecting door. Suddenly I feel a thrill run through me. He always has to have control; he knows that I am powerless to resist him. The devil grabs hold of my mind and I think why make it so easy for him? Two can play at this game and for starters I have no intention of making it easy for him. For now the door can remain locked. Let’s see what he thinks about that. I giggle to myself and quickly get ready to meet the others. He is already waiting with the rest when I get downstairs. Karen pulls me aside and says, “Let’s try to escape from the others and have some fun on our own.” I nod, this could be fun. I laugh inside. Ben thinks that he holds all the cards; well let’s just see shall we?

  Chapter 23

  We all hit the pavement and head for the nearest Department store. It is quite cold and I shiver, grateful that I brought my padded coat with me. However the cold is soon forgotten when we come to the store. It is fantastic and we all split up to find the departments that interest us most. Karen is in heaven looking at the French fashions and I am equally excited to see the home wares. I wander around on my own taking it all in. I don’t see Ben which is a good thing as I don’t want any distractions as I absorb everything around me. After an hour or so I come across Karen and she says, “Great Bella, lets take our chance now and move on to the next store. We can tell Sue on our way out. The others can catch us up later.” We see Sue in the perfumery and let her know what we are doing and head off to the next store.

  We enjoy chatting about the last store and swap ideas. Then the conversation turns to more personal matters and Karen says, “I was sorry to hear about you and Nathan. I like him and you made a lovely couple.” I smile at her warmly. “Thanks. It’s fine though, hopefully we can still be friends.” She hesitates and then decides to spit out whatever it is that is bothering her. “You can tell me to mind my own business if you like but is it true that he ran off with Ben’s girlfriend?” I am startled and say quickly, “Who told you that?” Blushing and looking embarrassed she says, “Its general news around the store. I am not sure how it started but if it is true then Nathan is playing a dangerous game. I mean he could lose his job over this.”

  I think about what I should say. I don’t want to add to the gossip and certainly don’t want anyone finding out the true picture just yet. With a sigh I say, “Ben and Melissa finished before Christmas as I understand it. Nathan and I on New Years Eve. If he is seeing her now then good luck to them both. It wasn’t right between us but I wish him well and want him to be happy. If he is seeing Melissa then that is between him and Ben. It would be crazy to think that he would lose his job over it though.” She nods and then we reach the store and split up again.

  After a few hours we have moved around the city and visited all of the stores on our list. The idea was to all meet up in the last store in the coffee shop and then move on to a restaurant for dinner. We meet up and over coffee discuss all that we have found. Ben isn’t here yet and Karen and I sit chatting happily in the corner. After about half an hour Ben arrives with Tony and after they have finished their coffee we all leave for the restaurant.

  I have decided to keep my distance from Ben. Mainly to avoid the gossip but also as part of my plan to play him at his own game. On purpose I avoid looking at him. If I feel his eyes on me I make sure that I look somewhere else and totally blank him. At the restaurant I see where he goes to sit and grab Karen to sit with me at the other end of the table, on the same side as him so that he can’t even see me. I laugh inwardly, pleased with myself. We all have a lovely meal and walk back to the hotel. Once again I keep away and walk with Karen, deep in conversation. I can tell that it has bothered him. I can feel his gaze burning through me, but I don’t react. If I look at him I know that I will be lost. The only way that I can win this battle is to avoid him at all costs.

  We reach the hotel and Tony suggests that we all have a drink at the bar. Once again I keep my distance and chat to everybody but him. Every time he comes near me I move away. After about an hour I see him at the bar ordering another drink. I quickly excuse myself telling Karen that I am off to bed and sprint out before he turns around. I race for the lift and congratulate myself on a clean getaway. Once I am safely in my room I rela
x for the first time. Round one to me. I run a deep bath and relax letting the water warm me up and I feel my muscles relax and unwind.

  I change into my nightie, enjoying the feel of the satin on my tingling body. After I clean my teeth I jump into bed and giggle thinking of how annoyed Ben must be feeling right now. As much as I want him I am enjoying playing this game and feel like I have beaten him.

  I see my phone light up with a text from Ben. It just says - unlock the door. A thrill runs through me and I ignore it. A minute later it lights up again - Now! Again I ignore it, but the excitement is almost too much and all I really want to do is unlock it and make mad passionate love to him all night. Then it lights up again.

  If you don’t then I will set the fire alarm off and you will have to come out.

  I grin knowing that it is not an empty threat. I go to the door and unlock it. I open it and there he is, standing with a towel wrapped around his waist, the water from the shower still glistening on his body. Holding his gaze I say defiantly, “Do you want something Ben?” His eyes darken as he looks at me. “You know I do.” he says softly. I look up at him and smile seductively. “Well maybe it can wait until tomorrow. It’s just that I am exhausted and really need to go to bed now.”

  A slow smile creeps across his face and he moves in front of me so that we are almost touching. He looks down into my eyes and despite myself I am drawn into his hypnotic eyes and can’t look away. My legs feel weak from the desire coursing through my body and I know at that moment that all is lost.

  He reaches out and his fingers run down the front of my body with a light touch. I can feel my body betraying me as I arch towards him. He holds my gaze and I feel my resolve exploding all around me. I can feel his breath on my face and I run my tongue over my lower lip in anticipation. His hand reaches up and he runs his finger over my lower lip, teasing me. His eyes are almost black and I almost can’t breathe such is the air of sexual tension in the room.

  He lowers his lips on to mine, gently at first and then more demanding. His tongue reaches inside and possesses me. All at once he draws abruptly away, leaving me wanting him to carry on. He looks at me and smiles sexily, “Good night Bella, sleep well.” My body screams out in frustration and I must look shocked because he laughs softly. I realise that I will never win this game with him. He holds all the cards and I am powerless all the time he makes me feel like he does. I raise my hand up and run my fingers through my hair, trying to gather myself. Once again he approaches me and says in a low voice. “Don’t play games with me Bella. You know that I want you and you have to want me, otherwise it won’t work.” I blink and look up at him standing looking down into my eyes. Reaching up I kiss him gently on the lips. “I do want you Ben, you know that I do.” He grabs hold of my hand and pulls it behind my back. His other hand pulls me towards him roughly. He holds me against him, his leg trapping mine against his. I can feel that he is aroused and then all the resistance in me is gone. Nothing matters but my need for him. Who was I kidding? I will never win against him and he knows it.

  Chapter 24

  I wake up once again his body holding me against him. I love that he makes me feel so wanted and protected. I can feel him against me as he wakes up, already hard against my back. Gently he strokes my body until I am almost whimpering with desire. Roughly he pulls me around to face him and pulls me tightly against him. He kisses me deeply and then he thrusts inside me, driving me until I can bear it no more and the waves of ecstasy fill me, sending me deeper and deeper under his spell.

  “Morning Bella,” he whispers, his tone teasing me, knowing that I am powerless against him. I look at him shyly and his breath catches in his throat. His eyes darken and he says huskily, “You just need to look at me and I want you.” He crushes me to him and kisses me passionately and once again we both get carried away in our desire for each other.

  I notice that we have missed breakfast and look at him in alarm. “Oh my God, they will be wondering where we are. The exhibition is starting in 30 minutes and the taxi is probably here.”

  I try to jump out of bed but he catches hold of my arm and pulls me back down. He laughs and says, “They have gone already. I told Tony last night that we had a meeting planned this morning to look at a potential new supplier and that we wouldn’t be at the exhibition today.” I look at him in amazement. “Won’t they think it strange that I am going with you?” He laughs, “Not really, I told him that it was regarding the home wares section. He didn’t think anything of it, why would he?” I relax and grin at him. “So, is it true, is there a meeting?” I arch my eyebrows at him and he smiles. “No, I thought that we would enjoy our day in Paris as two lovers instead.” He jumps out of bed and I try not to let the sight of his naked body affect me. I can’t stop wanting him no matter how hard I try. He pulls on jeans and a t shirt and opens the door to his room. He brings inside a tray that was left outside. It has coffee and croissants and there are some delicious looking Danish Pastries amongst it all. Placing the tray on the bed he pulls me up and kisses me again. “Come on, let’s eat. I need you full of energy for what I have in mind today.”

  After breakfast we ventured out. Ben had arranged a full day of sightseeing around Paris. We went to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. We had lunch at a French Bistro and finally walked back to our hotel.

  Walking along hand in hand I couldn’t feel any happier. Looking at him I say, “Thanks Ben, I have had the most wonderful day, although I do feel really guilty at missing the exhibition and the thought that all of the others are working away doesn‘t help.” He grins wickedly. “Bosses perks. It’s not everyday that we get a chance to do this so I am pulling rank and I order you to enjoy it.” I laugh to myself, here he goes again. Looking at him with a pretend frown I say, “You order me do you?” He smiles wickedly at me and squeezes my hand. “Yes I do, and it won’t be the last time either.” I can’t help it and laugh out loud. He laughs with me but we both know that he means every word and my legs go weak with anticipation.

  Soon we are back at the hotel and move apart in case we are seen by anybody. Ben texted the others to say that we had been held up and to eat without us. As we head upstairs he says, “I hope that you don’t mind but I thought that we would get room service tonight.” I raise my eyes. “Oh did you now. You are very presumptuous.” He whispers in a low voice, “I am, and I always make it my business to get what I want.” He runs his fingers down my arm and a shiver runs through me. As soon as the lift closes he pushes me against the wall and pins me against it. We kiss each other passionately and desire floods through me. I can’t help myself. I know that I will do anything for him, he is like a drug and the more I have the more I want. At this moment in time I couldn’t even care less if anyone saw us. The lift stops and we walk sedately outside. We let ourselves into our separate rooms and before the doors are even closed we race over to the connecting door and are soon ripping each others clothes off. The need in both of us is so strong. This is all we really want. All day walking around Paris I just wanted to be here, nothing else mattered. It just felt as if we were wasting the time that we had and I know that he felt it too. This time it wasn’t gentle. This was an animal need and everything was stripped away except for the raw passion that we felt. I am not even how long we carried on for, we were insatiable.

  I wake up hungry. It is the middle of the night and I realise that we never did order room service. My body aches from the effects of our lovemaking. I laugh to myself thinking of how intense it was. My muscles ache and I feel as though I have been put through an extreme workout. Ben has once again got me pinned against him and I can feel his breath on my neck. I wriggle out of his grasp and for once he doesn’t wake up and just turns over and carries on sleeping. Grinning to myself I realise that he must be more worn out than usual.

  I can’t ignore my hunger so go back to my own room and sitting on the edge of the bed I phone room service and order a beef burger with fries, a chocolate milkshake and the same for Ben. I k
now that it won’t take him long to wake up and he must be as hungry as I am. I giggle as I think of his expression at my choice of food. Hardly healthy eating but I need something filling and it is the same lunch that we used to order when we were at Cunningham’s all those years ago.

  As I wait I look outside at the Paris skyline. I can even see the Eiffel Tower in the distance and my eyes mist over at the thought of how happy I feel. I never heard him approaching but all of a sudden I feel Ben pulling me against him gently. He tucks my hair behind my ears and squeezes my shoulder. “I love you Bella,” he whispers, gently kissing the side of my face. I turn into him and look up at him happily. “I love you too Ben, I believe that I always have.” His eyes light up and at this moment we are the students that we were. This is young love with all of the excitement that goes with it. Pulling me against him he kisses me gently but then we are interrupted by a knock on the door. He pulls away, his face registering his surprise. I laugh and say, “A bit late but dinner is served.” He grins and I wait until he has gone back to his room before I open the door.

  Chapter 25

  The rest of our stay passes quickly. I have a job to do and we spend the rest of our time at the Exhibition. We eat with the others but the nights are ours. We don’t get much sleep though and by the end of it we are both physically and mentally exhausted.

  On our last night before we return home I suddenly feel sad. Sighing I look at him and reaching over kiss him gently on the lips. He grabs hold of my hands looking concerned and says, “What’s the matter Bella, tell me?” I smile at his concern, always so intense and my eyes hold his. “I have loved this week Ben; it is the thought of going home and facing the problems again. Here we have been cocooned from everything. No phone calls, no questions just us, well in our rooms anyway.” I laugh but he still looks concerned. “You know that all I want is for you to be with me Bella. You can move in tomorrow if you want and forget what everyone thinks.” I smile gently at him and say, “No Ben, I made the mistake of moving too fast with Nathan. I have to deal with that situation first and despite the fact that what we have is so much more than what I ever had with him, I am not ready for everyone to know just yet.”