by Sam Crescent
When Kathleen started to clear away the breakfast dishes, she helped, aware of Ben’s gaze on her at all times.
Heat started to pool in her groin at his attention. She knew the rest of the family would smell her arousal.
Without looking back, she headed toward the front door. Closing the door behind her, she started toward her bench. Staring at the bench, she heard the door open and close.
Deciding not to stick around the bench, she headed toward the vast trees. Dana had told her about this cabin, secluded by trees. There was a small town off the beaten track where they got many of supplies. This was the home they came to when they wanted privacy and a chance to run wild through the forests.
She wasn’t surprised. Living near the city could be too open and exposed. She’d always wanted the chance to get away from it all.
In no time at all, Ben caught up with her. He stayed by her side without saying a word. They kept walking, and she circled one tree and then another. All the time he was following her.
“What’s it like to be a tiger?” she asked, turning around with her back against a tree and staring at him.
“It’s scary sometimes and dangerous. I feel him close to the surface.”
“Do you have to turn at the full moon? Dana and her family don’t. I know some wolves are contained to the full moon.”
“No, I’m not bound by the full moon. I can turn whenever the hell I want to.”
One hand rested above her head against the tree.
“Why aren’t I afraid of you?” she asked.
Staring up at him, she was aware of her lack of fear, and she didn’t understand it. He’d attacked, hurt her, and now she was thriving off his attention.
“I don’t know. Maybe if I do this?” He stroked her cheek, and she flinched. “You’re still afraid of my touch, but I think you like my company.”
“Thank you for giving me your blood,” she said.
He frowned.
“Malcolm explained about you giving me your blood. I want to say thank you. After everything that happened you still wanted to make me better.”
When she was with Ben she didn’t feel conscious of her scars. He always looked into her eyes instead of looking anywhere else.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
Her cheeks had to be bright red from the compliment. “Please, don’t say stuff you don’t mean.”
“I mean it. In your world I’d be doing jail time, and if you want to turn me over to the law then I’d gladly go. I never want to be the cause of your fear or pain.”
She’d never even considered reporting him to the law.
“Dana told me you don’t make a habit of hurting women. Is that true?”
He nodded. “I would never hurt you again. My tiger was too close, and when I should have backed away from you, I didn’t. I’ll do everything to make it up to you.”
Heather stared at him, aware he spoke the truth. “Cherry brown,” she said, making a quick decision.
“Sorry?”
“My hair colour is cherry brown. My roots are growing back, and I like this colour. I’m not ready to wander into town yet.” She caressed a finger down her scar. “Would you go and get the hair dye and do it for me?”
He stared at her for several seconds. “You’re not reporting me to the law?”
“No, I’m not. How can you make it up to me if you’re rotting in a jail cell? I’m going to trust my friend with this.”
“You don’t need the hair dye. Your hair will be amazing as a chestnut brown.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want it to be a chestnut brown. Cherry brown, and you can do it. I heard peroxide is hard on your nostrils, so you might want to get a mask to cover yourself with.”
Turning back she headed for the house.
“You want it today?”
“I’ve not got anything else to do.”
Heather left him alone and walked back to the house. Dana was waiting on the steps leading up to the front door.
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you yesterday,” she said.
Dana looked up. “You’re being very brave. I talked to Mom and Dad about our fight. They took your side and opened my mind up. I really do need to listen to you, and I’m sorry for not doing it.”
“You’re forgiven. Am I forgiven for yelling at you?” Heather took a seat next to her friend.
“Yeah. It’s just I want to find that one man so much. You’ve got your mate, and you act like you don’t care. I keep forgetting you’re human and that we’re not actually sisters.”
Leaning her head on Dana’s shoulder, Heather let out a sigh. “Answer me honestly. Do you have a problem with me trying with Ben?”
“No, I don’t. To be honest with you, honey, I wished he was my mate. There was no connection between us, but I wanted to have a mate. The one guy who’s supposed to complement me.” Dana shrugged. “Ben’s not my mate. He’s your mate not mine. I’m happy for you, and I refuse to settle for any man but mine. Sorry.”
“No, I’ve sent him to town to get me a new hair dye. He’s going to do my hair for me.”
“That should be interesting.”
They were silent for a long time.
“You’ll find your mate, Dana, or he’ll find you. When you do, you’ll set the world afire with passion,” Heather said.
“You’re too much of a romantic at heart.”
“I love you, and I want what’s best for you.”
****
Ben couldn’t believe how many different types and styles of hair dye there actually were. He lifted the bottle close to his face and took a sniff. For ten bottles he did this until he found the right scent that matched Heather’s hair. This was a huge step for both of them. He didn’t anticipate her being open with him immediately. Time, that was all he had with her, and he intended to use it wisely.
He had a home on the outskirts of the city, and he wanted to take her there. She’d be close enough to be with Dana and the rest of the Ashtons. Her comfort around him was what he was searching for.
On the way back he found Felix and John chopping logs and talking.
“Did you get the dye?” Felix asked.
“Yeah, I got it. I don’t think she needs it, but my opinion doesn’t count.” Ben held up the box.
“Kathleen is making her lasagne for tonight. She’s doing a salad to go with, but she’s made a chocolate fudge cake if you’re still hungry,” John said.
“Thank you.” He walked up the steps and then turned. “I also want to say thank you for giving me this chance with Heather. I know it was a risk, and you didn’t have to do it. I’m grateful for the time I get to spend with her.”
“Treat her right and I’ll never have a problem. I know Dana and Felix will maim, torture, and kill you, if you hurt her.” John looked up, smiling. “Treat her right.”
“I will.” He headed in the house in time to see Heather walking down the stairs. Ben was so taken with her as a person that he no longer saw the scars. It had only been a day, but already he felt closer to her than anyone else in his life.
“Did you get the right one?” she asked.
Lifting the box, he handed it to her.
She gazed over the writing and smiled. “You did. Congratulations. We’re going to do this in the sitting room. Kathleen’s cooking in the kitchen, and I don’t want her to be too bothered by the smell.”
“I’m going to watch you do this,” Dana said, presenting a mask.
He pulled his mask out of his pocket.
“Are you ready for this, tiger?” Dana asked.
Heather had already left them to get set up in the sitting room. “I’m ready.” He’d get to touch her without fear of her flinching away. Even touching her hair with the dye on was better than not touching her at all.
“Good, she’s excited about this. Her body is starting to respond to yours. Treat her right.”
Dana slapped him on the back as she passed.
Removing his jack
et, Ben rolled up his sleeves and entered the room. Heather sat on a chair. She’d put the chair on a towel, and another towel was wrapped around her shoulders.
“I’m protecting the carpet in case you spill.”
“I’ll try not to.”
She handed him back the box. Dana was sat eating popcorn and watching them both.
“Do you have your mask, Dana?” Heather asked.
“I sure do. While he looks at the back of the box, I’m eating. I don’t know why you use that stuff. Your hair is gorgeous without the colour,” Dana said.
“Do you have a picture of her with her natural hair colour?” Ben was curious to see what she looked like before all the dyes.
“Here it is,” Dana said, showing him a picture of Dana and Heather together. They were younger, much younger. It looked like they were in their early to mid-teens.
Heather’s happiness glowed from within. Her hair was bound on top of her head. The chestnut colour looked natural flowing down her back.
“Why do you dye it?” he asked, handing the picture back to Dana.
“I like it. It feels right to always be changing it.”
“Her parents hate it. This is her rebellion against them.”
His woman glared at Dana while she smiled back.
“Then I see why. Let’s be rebellious together.”
Ben went to work on her hair. All the time he was listening to the women talk.
“When do you have to go back home?” Heather asked.
“Not yet. We’ve got a few more weeks, maybe even a couple of months before we have to worry. Everyone sends you love and wishes. They want to see you but know they have to wait until you’re ready.”
“That’s sweet.”
He stroked her hair for many minutes, loving the silky feel of it running through his fingers.
“Are you okay?” Heather asked.
“I’m fine. Your hair is nice and soft.”
“He’s got a hair fetish, Heather. You should run away before he becomes all stalkerish on you.”
Heather chuckled. “It’s nice.”
“And he’s nothing like Mark,” Dana said.
“Who’s Mark?” Ben asked, applying the dye to her roots.
Silence met his answer.
“He’s the ex that we do not talk about,” Heather said.
Dana shrugged. “If you want any dirt on that guy then you’re going to have to get it out of her.”
Ben listened and worked on her hair. The mask he wore was barely covering the burning scent.
“I’ve got to go. He’s not doing anything amusing,” Dana said, leaving them alone.
“Sorry about Dana. She can be a little talkative sometimes.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’re more comfortable talking with her than you are with me.”
Her silence was answer enough. He wasn’t going to take offence. Ben knew he had a long way to go to earn back her trust.
“I’m sorry. I should be more open with you.”
“No. I’m not going to pressure you. You’ll tell me everything you need me to know in your own good time.”
Ben moved around to her front and knelt down. Her green eyes were wide as she looked at him. He touched her hand not even trying to risk touching anywhere else.
“You’ll come to trust me. I need to earn back that trust, Heather.”
“What if you can never earn it back?” she asked, dropping her gaze.
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life trying.”
She frowned. “Why? Why would you waste your time?”
“When I’m with you it’s not a waste of time. I like being with you.”
“You could have any woman in the world, Ben.”
“And yet, the only person I want to be with is the woman I’ve hurt deeply. I want to be with you, Heather. No one else. Where you go, I’ll go.”
Tears filled her eyes.
He couldn’t bear to see her cry, and he went back to finishing her hair. Whatever she wanted him to do, he’d do it gladly.
Chapter Seven
Over the next couple of weeks Heather grew closer to Ben. They didn’t touch each other besides the odd caress of hands. He reached out several times to touch her, and she’d flinched away. She was hoping that with time she’d be far more accepting of him than she was right now.
Every day she felt drawn to him until she’d started to seek him out when he wasn’t at breakfast. She would sit watching him cut logs, or do some job around the cabin. Heather had watched him paint the whole east side of the fence. She’d carried the can for him to work. Dana was getting pissed with being cooped up all the time.
It was only a matter of time before the Ashtons needed to leave. They were not fit for life as recluses. She wasn’t sleeping through the night, and many times she found herself lain in bed thinking about the future. Her life had never been uncertain. She’d phoned her parents to let them know she was fine. They’d spoken the necessary lines but nothing else. There were times she wished she could shock them into feeling something for her.
At the end of her second month since the attack, Heather was lying in bed. Everyone had gone to bed hours ago. The night was cold, as even early fall could be in the mountains. She was thirsty and tired of being laid out on the bed waiting for something to happen.
Throwing the blanket off her, she padded toward the door and slowly made her way downstairs. She didn’t want to wake the whole house with her presence. Heather already felt guilty for uprooting them.
Taking a deep breath she headed toward the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the cabinet.
“You’re going to have to do better at sneaking,” Ben said, startling her.
She jumped, dropping the glass from her fingers. Heather tried to catch it, but it was heading for the floor.
Ben caught it easily, presenting it to her. “Here you go.”
Heather took the glass from him. “I wasn’t sneaking. I just don’t want to wake the whole house, or is it cabin?”
He chuckled. “It’s the same wherever you go.” He reached over her head. His wide chest was inches from her face. She was struck by his many tattoos. Heather had not known many men with tattoos. Licking her lips, she waited for him to step back.
She opened the fridge and poured some milk into his glass and then her own.
“I’m taking mine upstairs with me,” she said.
“It’s what I’m doing.”
They headed back to the stairs. Ben was walking behind her, and she wondered if he was checking out her ass.
Shaking her head, she went to her door and stared at her bed. The blankets were all over the place. Ben stared at her from his door. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“What? Yeah, I’m fine.”
She didn’t want to be alone. There was still a lot of light left. “Actually, will you come and stay with me? I mean, that’s not some sordid invitation, and nothing frisky will be going on.” She stopped for a second, trying to get her voice back. Her cheeks had to be hot to the touch. “What I mean is, I don’t want to be alone. I’m not going to try anything, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try anything. Would you mind keeping me company?”
Ben smiled. “I’d love to keep you company.”
He closed his own door and headed back to hers. Closing the door behind him, Heather watched as he walked over to her bed.
“This is disgusting,” he said.
“What?” She put her glass down and headed toward him.
“How can you sleep on something so wrinkled? This is horrid.” He pulled her blanket off, and she watched, amazed, as he set her bed to right.
She’d never seen a bottom sheet get pulled so straight before.
Within ten minutes her bed was made. Ben bounced on the end, patted the top and grabbed his milk from the dresser beside her bed.
Sitting down, she curled her feet under her. The bed felt different even just to sit on it. “I can see you appreciate my handiwork
.”
“It’s good. Do you always make beds like this?” she asked.
“It was something I learned a long time ago from my mother.”
“Where are your parents? I’ve not heard you mention them.” She took a sip of her milk and waited.
“My parents are dead.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. You must think I’m a total bitch for bringing it up.”
“No, I don’t.”
Heather wished the floor would open up and eat her. Touching her fingers to her nose she felt the ridged scar and followed the track down. Ben watched her progress.
“How did they die, if you don’t mind me asking? God, I’m not usually this bad for company.”
“It’s okay. We should know more about each other.” He took a sip of his milk. From the look on his face, he clearly wished it was stronger. “My dad killed my mom, and then he killed himself. I saw their bodies and reported it. End of story.”
Her mouth was open as she took in his words. “How can you be so blunt when you talk about them?” she asked.
“It happened a long time ago. I’m thirty-five years old, Heather. This happened when I was eighteen. I’m not some sucker who can’t take it. I’ve accepted what happened, and I’ve had a lot of time to get used to it.”
She was ashamed. Her parents actually seemed nice in comparison.
“I’ve been complaining about my folks while yours have been—I’m so sorry.” She touched his hand, trying to give him comfort.
Ben caressed her hand, stroking her fingers with his other.
“Don’t be. This is part of my past, and I’m not going to let it ruin my future.”
“If you ever need to talk about it, I’m here.” She let go of his hand and took a sip of her milk. Breaking the touch left her feeling empty.
The anger she once felt had long gone. She wasn’t upset with him even if his touch did scare her. Being around Ben, she’d come to accept he was a kind man. He was moody at times, but he treated her with respect and kindness.