Maelstrőm

by Michelle Love

  It might end because his family makes it. Or it might end when he finds this middle man he needs to become. Or it might even end when I find my full strength.

  He eases the kiss and leans his forehead against mine. “Angel, tell me you will marry me. Please tell me that one day you will become mine in name too.”

  “I will marry you one day, Benny. I will.”

  I say the words because he so desperately needs to hear them. I’m not lying to him but the reality is, I have no idea if that will come true or not.

  I can’t see the future and if hearing what he wants will help him. Then I’ll say anything he needs me to.

  He buttons up my pants then leans over and pull his up. “Guess we should get back to the party, Baby.”

  “Guess so. You feel better now?” I ask as he runs his arm around my neck and pulls me close to him.

  His lips touch the side of my head. “Yeah, I feel better. You sure do know how to make your man feel better, Baby.”

  My man.

  I have a man.

  One to take care of.

  Am I really up to this?

  He stops just before we get back into the firelight and can be seen. He turns me to him and I see the vulnerability in his expression. “Angel, I want to thank you. Thank you for finding me.”

  I nearly cry as he looks so fragile and innocent.

  “You found me, remember,” I say and try to hold back the tears.

  “That’s not what I mean. I slipped away there for a moment. I don’t want to be Benjamin or Blaze. I want to be the man I am with you. I want to be Benny. Your Benny. I always want to be him. You found that man in the first place and you just found him again. That’s how I know you’re the one for me. You make me a better man. So thank you for finding me. I’ve been lost my entire life.” He kisses my cheek and I can’t stop a tear from escaping.

  He looks at me then wipes the tear away. “Let’s try really hard to keep these out of each other’s eyes.”

  “Will do.” I put on a smile and sniffle then let him lead me back to his friends.

  And know now I have to be careful not to hurt this man as he’s as fragile as I am.

  BLAZE

  The last week has flown by as we’ve been busy with buying the house. But it’s now ours and today we’re moving in. I made Angel sign all of the papers of ownership too.

  She protested, of course. In the end, though, I won, and she’s part owner in the place too. I saw the smile on her face when they handed her the keys to the house. She was happy.

  I’m waiting here for the furniture company to bring the new mattresses for the enormous bed in the master suite. The house came furnished as we found out there was a death that left the house on the market.

  Only it didn’t occur here. The widow of a Greek tycoon passed away in one of her other mansions in Spain. The couple never had children and had ten homes around the world. So the sale was easy and the items in it stayed.

  I’ve already had Angel’s things brought over and she’ll be on her way here after she does a bit of work at her uncle’s shop. Cuddles, has settled in nicely and is checking out the enormous yard she now has.

  I watch her out of the line of the floor to ceiling windows that runs along the sun porch along the back of the house. My phone rings and startles me as I was taking in the gorgeous scenery.

  And I see it’s my mother. “Hello, Mom.”

  “Benjamin, what on Earth have you done?”

  “What has Grandfather told you all?”

  “Well, that isn’t what I’m talking about. He told us you refused to come back for the meeting with that Bain fellow. He said you didn’t agree with the firm’s decision to represent the man and he told you maybe you should think about leaving the firm. Is that why you bought a home in Sturgis?”

  Her question floors me. “How do you know I did that?”

  “You used the bank account I opened for you when you turned eighteen. We never took my name off of it and when an exorbitant amount of money leaves, they notify me. So why buy a home all the way over there unless you’re contemplating leaving the family business?”

  “I have a use for a home here. I’ve met someone, Mom.” I wait to see how she’s going to react.

  The wait is excruciating as she’s dead silent. Then she clears her throat and says, “Benjamin there aren’t a lot of eligible woman of the stature you are to marry hanging around in a motorcycle town like Sturgis is.”

  My hand balls into a fist and I slam it against my leg. “I should be able to marry who I want. Who I love. Her financial status shouldn’t come into it.”

  “Tell me you haven’t jumped the gun and asked this woman to marry you yet?”

  “It’s complicated now. One day we’ll be married. And I put her name on the paperwork for the house. She’s an owner in it with me.”

  Mom makes a deep sigh then says, “So she does have money. Why didn’t you just say that?”

  “No, she doesn’t have money or come from money. I just wanted to make sure she knew this place is hers as much as it’s mine. I wanted her name on it too.” I look out the window and watch Cuddles chase a bird who dared to land on her lawn.

  “That was an unwise decision. I don’t know why you’d do that. If she didn’t pay at least some on it, why would her name get to be on it?”

  “Because that’s the way I wanted it. I’ll go back to New York sometime soon to make sure I get what I have coming to me from the firm. Then I will resign and start my own. Two-thirds of the clients are ones I brought in. They’ll go with me.”

  “Benjamin, you need to rethink things. So about this woman. You aren’t married and even though you have a home together now doesn’t mean you have to marry her. You’re meant for more, Son. And what will you do if your grandfather does cut you off financially?”

  “It might stifle more income but it won’t break me by any means. I’ve made investments on my own. I have several accounts only I know about. He can’t stop me from making money on my own.” I get up and pace as this conversation is making my insides hurt.

  “Darling, I just don’t want to see you squander away your legacy. You are a Worthington for God’s sakes. Certain things go along with that. Things like marrying within your class. Staying with the family business is also a thing that should be a top priority to you. Mingling with trashy women is one thing, trying to make one your wife is quite another.”

  “She isn’t trashy, Mother. Angel is about to hold a Master’s Degree in Engineering. She’s the smartest woman I know.”

  “Does she ride a motorcycle, Benjamin?”

  I hesitate to answer because my mother has an idea of how a lady acts. Ladies do not ride motorcycles in her opinion. “She does. So what?”

  The sound of my mother sighing, as she falls back onto what sounds like pillows on her bed I bet, I can hear over the phone then she says, “Oh, Son! Why a thing like that? Next, you’ll be telling me she drives a truck or some horrible thing like that. Lord, please do not tell me she wears tight leather pants and boots too.”

  She does, and she looks hot as hell in them!

  “Mom, don’t worry about what the woman wears. She’s fantastic and funny, smart and she makes your son happy. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Can’t that be enough?”

  The doorbell rings and I make my way to let in what surely must be the furniture delivery guys. I can’t wait to get those new mattresses on and start breaking in the new house.

  “Benjamin, come home so we can talk. Bring the girl if you want. Let her see what’s expected out of her. I bet she won’t be so keen on marrying you when she sees how she’s expected to dress and behave.”

  “Mom, I have to go. I have work to do. Love you bunches.”

  “What? Love you bunches? Who talks like that, Benjamin? The trailer trash girl? Son, please…”

  “Sorry, got to go. Bye Mom.” I end the call and open the door. “Hi, come on in and follow me upstairs, guys.”

&nbs
p; Two burley men follow me up the staircase with the mattress. The one right behind me seems to be marveling at the house. He lets out a long whistle. “Boy, I bet this set you back a bundle.”

  “You’d win that bet.” I open the bedroom door. “In here, guys.”

  “Gee, this room is bigger than my whole damn house,” he says as they prop the mattress against the wall. He points to the mattresses that are still on the bed. “What you want us to do with those?”

  “Take them where ever you want.” I walk over to the bed and look the clean and most likely barely used thing over. “It looks to be in perfect condition. I just wanted brand new ones. You can have these if you want.”

  The guys come over and both sit on the mattress. “It’s very comfortable. Sure, we can take this out of here for you.”

  I give them a nod. “I’ll leave you to it then. I have to get some things going in the kitchen before the old ball and chain gets home from work.”

  The local meat market had a couple of steaks I found to my liking earlier today and they had a couple of lobsters that had been flown in by helicopter from Maine. I plan on making my sweet lady a feast for our first night in the new house.

  I want to get a bottle of red wine out and open so I can give her a glass of it when she gets here. It’s funny that my mother said something about Angel driving a truck because I just ordered her one online this morning. It’s going to be delivered here next week as a surprise.

  The delivery guys come down the stairs with the old mattress and go out the front door just as Cuddles starts to scratch at the back door, wanting in.

  I go over and open the door for her and she zips inside jumping up and down so I get her a treat from the cookie jar we brought from Angel’s house. “Who’s a good girl?” I pick her up and give her the little dog biscuit.

  The men come back through with the other mattress and the little fur ball changes into Cuddles right in my arms. “Cuddles, what the fuck?”

  She wiggles and almost gets away from me as she lunges to get at the men. They get up the stairs and she is still fighting me. I take her to the laundry room that’s off the kitchen and put her in there and close her up.

  She is a bit on the mean side where strangers are concerned. I thought Angel was being a bit overdramatic about that.

  They guys come back down and I go to the door with them. “That’s it then, guys?”

  “Yeah, it’s all ready for you,” the guy says.

  I hand him a couple of twenties. “Give one to your buddy.”

  “Will do,” he says and they leave just as I see Angel pulling in on her bike.

  She climbs off and comes to me her arms open as she gets to me. “I need a hug, Benny.”

  Wrapping her in my arms, I hug her tight. “Why the needed hug, Babydoll?”

  She takes in a deep breath. “I handed my house keys over to my landlady after I left work. It was the last part of my independence and I feel a little shaky.”

  I lift her up and carry her inside. “No reason to feel shaky. This is your home, Baby.”

  Her head rests against my chest as her hand moves over it. “This feels like a dream. My whole house and yard could fit in the living room alone.”

  “Now you get to see how the other half lives, Pumpkin. Speaking of that. I’m going to need to go to New York sometime to deal with some business. I’ll hire a private jet to take us out there. I won’t make you stay with my family in their place. We’ll get a room at the Four Seasons. It’ll be cool. I’ll take you sight-seeing and make you an appointment at a fancy salon to get your hair and nails done.”

  She looks at me with drooping eyes. “You don’t like my hair?”

  “Of course, I love your hair. It’s not that. It’s just that I want to pamper you. Show you the finest things I can.” I kiss her cheek and she smiles a little.

  “Oh. And I’ll get to meet your family?” She looks so hopeful.

  “You do. But I’d not get my hopes up about them. They’re snobby. Not at all down to Earth like you are.” I place her on her feet in the kitchen and pour us a couple of glasses of wine.

  She takes hers and I take her hand, leading her to the outside patio so we can watch the sunset together. Then I hear Cuddles barking and Angel looks oddly at me. “Where’s the dog?”

  I turn back and go let her out of the laundry room with a chuckle. “Hey there, killer. I had to put her in there so she wouldn’t kill the delivery men. I thought you were kidding about her being aggressive to strangers.”

  She shakes her head. “No, I was telling the truth. That’s why her liking you surprised me so much. So when will this trip to the fancy town of New York occur?”

  “When do you want to go?” I ask as I take her hand again and lead her outside.

  “Whenever, I guess. Maybe if you send me to a fancy salon and buy me some clothes your family will deem appropriate, you can transform me into the right girl for you,” she says as I sit down and pull her down to sit on my lap.

  I can’t tell her that no amount of transformation will help. My family wants paperwork. Like a well-bred animal, the paper is what it’s all about.

  “I’m not about transforming you into someone you don’t want to be. But if it would make you feel better if you dressed to fit in, I suppose I can help you make that transformation. I’ll make sure you feel very comfortable before I take you to them.” I pull her braid over her shoulder and play with it.

  She leans in and kisses me. “This is nice. The view is amazing. Your lap feels like home already.” She laughs, and it makes my heart jump.

  “Your ass in my lap feels like home.” I kiss her and she places her glass on the table and wraps her arms around me, deepening our kiss.

  My cock springs to life as our tongues twirl around together. When our lips part we both are breathing heavily. She whispers, “That was our first kiss in our place, Benny.”

  “And after dinner, I’m going to devour you for the first time on our brand new bed in our bedroom, Angel.” I tickle her ribs a little, sending her into a fit of laughter.

  “Stop!” she screams.

  I stop and gaze at her with the sunset’s oranges and pinks filling the sky behind her. “You’re beautiful, my Angel.”

  She strokes my beard. “You’re pretty too.” Her smile is bright and her eyes tell me she’s happy.

  Happier than I think she knew she could be. And I have barely begun to show her all I can bring to her life.

  “I bought steaks and lobsters for dinner. Would you care to accompany me to the kitchen and help me prepare our first dinner in our first home together?”

  Her hand travels over my shoulder and up my neck, sending sparks all through me. “I would. The sun’s just about to drop out of the sky.”

  I turn her in my arms and she lays her head back on me as we watch the sun leave the sky on our first night home. Our first real home.

  I feel like she and I have been together forever. She and I seem to have an instant history. It’s odd but a great odd.

  She climbs off my lap and holds out her hand to me. I take it and run my arm around her. “So I need you to throw the lobsters into the boiling water. That shit freaks me out,” I tell her.

  “You bought live ones? Oh, Benny, I can’t kill them either.”

  Cuddles, runs along behind us, coming inside like she owns the place. I laugh. “Maybe Cuddles could toss them into the boiling water. I’m sure the killer in her wouldn’t even flinch.”

  And now it looks like we’re going to need an aquarium for our new pet lobsters!

  ANGEL

  “Come on, they’re all leaving in the morning,” Benny calls out to me from the bedroom as I’m braiding my hair in the bathroom mirror. “This will be our last night out.”

  I like his friends but hanging out in a noisy bar just isn’t my idea of fun. But for Benny, I’ll do it for tonight, anyway. Once they all leave and it’s down to just he and I. Then we can start to settle into our own routine. And bars
have no place in it.

  As I walk out, he holds up a little box. “Look what I found when I was in town this afternoon while you were working.”

  “What did you find?” I ask as he comes toward me, taking the lid off the box.

  I see a set of earrings. In the shape of motorcycles. Very trendy and not my style at all. But he bought them, so I’ll wear them. He pulls one out of the box and puts it on me.

  He kisses my neck just behind my ear. “They’re cute on you. I knew they would be.” He puts the other one on and kisses the other side and now I think he’s ready for us to leave.

  “Thank you, Benny. I’d never have bought these for myself.” It’s not a lie.

  He laughs and pulls me along with him. “I know they’re a little whimsical for you. But the old woman who was selling them said she’d made the trip all the way from Kansas to sell her handcrafted jewelry at the rally so I had to buy something.”

  I kiss his cheek as we head down the stairs. “Sweet to your very core, aren’t you?”

  He shakes his head. “I hope you still love me after you see me in New York.”

  “How bad could you be?” I ask, knowing I had a real attitude when we first met and he managed to tame this tiger. He has to use that charisma on others as well.

  “I can be ruthless when I have to and chances are with my family, I’ll have to.” He puts my helmet on and holds my hand so I can get on the back of his bike, behind him.

  “You sound a little scary, Benny.” I hold tight to him.

  “Baby, you don’t even know.” He starts up the bike and off we go to the large biker bar his friends are at.

  The scene is pure chaos as we pull up to the jam-packed bar. Music is so loud you can hear it before you even enter the parking lot. He pulls to a stop in the line where his fellow bikers are parked.

  “Wow, this is nuts,” I say as he leads me inside.

  “You never go to these things do you?” he asks.

  I shake my head. “Not my thing.”

  “We don’t have to stay a real long time. Only until two or so.”

  Mentally, I grimace. Staying until two in the morning sounds like torture. Once we get inside and the first members of his gang sees him, they hand him a bottle of Jack Daniels and Benny takes a swig then hands it to me.