But his relief was short-lived as Lauren’s image appeared on screen, and she stared back at him with a smug, defiant expression on her face – and very little clothing on her lush little body.
Ben couldn’t help himself – and from the looks of it, neither could Chris or George – from staring at the tousled-haired, sleepy-eyed woman who positively shrieked wild, dirty sex. All she wore was a tiny black cotton camisole that clung to her full, round breasts like a second skin, displaying a whole lot of cleavage, and a pair of black cotton boy shorts. The shapely length of her legs was bare, as were her small, surprisingly dainty feet, and Ben offered up a silent thanks that Lauren had worn even this much clothing, given her penchant for sleeping in the nude.
“Ah, I think we can, uh, delay for a minute or two while you, er, get dressed,” sputtered Ben, trying desperately not to notice how her nipples were poking against the camisole. Or that Chris and George had noticed, too, and were making no attempt to hide their slacked-jawed fascination.
Lauren seemed to be enjoying herself, too, her behavior irritatingly provocative. She shrugged, causing a spaghetti strap to slip down her shoulder, baring the top half of one breast. George’s eyes bugged out, Chris’s tongue hung out, and Ben’s cock hardened to almost painful proportions.
“Nah.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “I’m fine. Besides, boss, I wouldn’t want to delay your meeting a minute longer and screw up your schedule. Carry on.”
It was the least productive meeting Ben had ever had the misfortune to sit in on. Every time he tried to discuss a subject, all he could see were Lauren’s boobs thrusting out at him from the video screen. Or, when he attempted to divert his gaze, he had to watch George and Chris practically drooling as they kept their own gazes peeled to the screen. Every so often, when Karl spoke from his end in Tennessee, the amusement in his voice was glaringly obvious.
And all the while Lauren continued to sit there, half-naked and cool as a cucumber, not seeming to give a rat’s ass that four men were all leering at her lustfully. She was doing it on purpose, of course, as payback for Ben’s early wake-up call and stern insistence that she join the chat without further delay. And her truly evil method of revenge was working all too well, because instead of discussing important details about the team’s next assignment, all he could think about was pulling that strap further down her arm until one plump breast popped out and then sucking at the erect pink nipple until she was wild with sensation. He wished he could yank her right through the screen into this room and onto his lap, strip her naked and let her ride him until they were both crying out in release. Lauren liked to be on top, controlling things, and he’d been helpless to resist her each time she’d pushed him onto his back and had her wicked way with him.
Just when he was ready to call an abrupt halt to the meeting, figuring that nothing the least bit productive was getting done, Lauren’s image disappeared from the screen for a few moments. When she returned, Ben couldn’t help sighing in relief to see that she had pulled on that ratty old bathrobe she loved so much. With her ripe, tempting body now fully concealed, he was able to concentrate on the meeting and not worry that George and Chris would spy his massive erection.
She was a devil, he thought darkly a short while after the video chat ended, and he was alone in his office. A green-eyed, long-haired devil with a face and body to tempt a saint. And he was constantly tempted, continually provoked, no matter how far away she was or how coolly she treated him.
As the demands of his workday pressed upon him, however, he forced thoughts of Lauren from his mind. Ben considered himself to still be very much in learning curve mode when it came to his job, still unfamiliar with any number of his new responsibilities. He’d known from the moment he had accepted this job that he would be at an immediate disadvantage, and would have to work extra hard to learn the ropes. And that meant spending long hours at the office, taking work home with him at night, and often on the weekends as well.
And even though it had only been a scant three months since he’d left his old job, Ben sorely missed the travel and excitement of exploring new places, of writing his stories, and even hanging around airports to wait for a connection or because of a flight delay. Most days something like that would beat the hell out of reviewing an article that wasn’t his own, or sitting through a planning meeting for a trip he wouldn’t be taking, or, worse, enduring another tiresome session going over finances and budgets with the irritating Nadine.
But he’d made a commitment – both to his new bosses here at the magazine and also in a way to Elle – and he wasn’t inclined to commit professional suicide by bailing on a brand new job this quickly. Or to upset Elle by telling her that this really wasn’t what he wanted for himself.
Elle was already none too pleased with the long hours he worked, and how tired and stressed he was as a result. He’d had to back out of more than a few social engagements as of late, including a dinner just two nights ago with a college friend of Elle’s and her new husband. Elle had been equal parts annoyed and disappointed, and he had even noticed a shimmer of tears in her eyes, which in turn had made him feel like an unfeeling jerk.
“Look, Elle. I’m really sorry,” he’d apologized. “But these reports have to be turned in first thing in the morning, and I’m already going to be working until two or three a.m. to get them done.”
She’d given a little sniffle, her mouth quivering just a bit. “I know how busy you are,” she’d acknowledged. “It’s just that Antonia and Oscar will only be in town for two nights, and they already have plans for tomorrow. And I really wanted you to meet her.”
“I’m sorry,” he had told her again, giving her a quick hug. “This job is really kicking me in the ass right now, though. I’m beginning to think I’ve taken on more than I can handle.”
“What?” Elle had asked in alarm. “Ben, you can’t start thinking that way. You’ve only been on the job a few months, so give it some time. I mean, even with all the hours you work it’s still better than having you traveling so often.”
He’d nodded. “I know. It’s just going to take some getting used to. Everything is so different – so, well, monotonous, I guess.”
The look of alarm on her face was replaced with one of dismay. “Are you trying to say you miss the travel? Miss your old job?” she asked, her voice pitched higher than normal. “That you regret making this move?”
Ben had sighed. “I’m not saying that, Elle. It’s just – different. And it’s going to take some time for me to adjust. Now, stop worrying about it or you’re going to be late meeting your friends.”
“You’re sure you can’t steal away for a little while and join us?” she’d pleaded. “Even for a quick drink?”
“I wish I could,” he’d told her gently. “But every minute is going to count tonight if I want to get caught up.”
Elle had given a little huff. “You always seem to have time to meet your staff for drinks, though. Just last week you were late meeting me for dinner because you were having a drink with Chris and Karl and that awful Lauren.”
It had been the second time that Elle had brought Lauren into the conversation. The first had been the evening they’d had drinks with the team, and Elle had been aghast at Lauren’s bold, forthright manner, how much she’d had to drink, the way she had been dressed, and of course her tattoos.
“But I suppose for someone like her tattoos and piercings are no big deal,” Elle had sniffed. “She’s very crude, isn’t she?”
Ben had shrugged, trying valiantly to maintain a casual, unconcerned air. “She’s a tough lady, no doubt about it. But she needs to be, given her profession and the fact that the rest of her team are all men.”
“Lady?” Elle had been scornful. “There’s nothing the least bit ladylike about her. Even George said so.”
“George is an ass,” Ben had stated flatly. “And he was way out of line with what he said. He’s just lucky Lauren didn’t deck him. She’s quite the martial arts e
xpert from what I’m told.” He hadn’t added that he’d seen her in action, and that her skills were off the charts.
Elle had given a dainty shudder. “Which only serves to prove my point. None of the ladies I know would ever consider practicing martial arts. And she has no filter at all, no manners. Did you see the way she lifted her shirt up to show off that ugly tattoo on her back? Does she really think that men find that sort of thing attractive?”
“Some men do,” Ben had replied neutrally. “And just because she has tattoos doesn’t automatically make her unladylike. Lots of people – men and women – get tattoos these days.”
Elle had grimaced. “Don’t remind me. At least you keep yours covered up most of the time. Have you ever thought about getting it removed?”
“No.” He rarely spoke to Elle in what could be thought of as a stern tone, but he had done so then. “I like my tattoo and have no intention of getting it removed. But I’m well aware of your feelings about it, so I’ve tried my best to cover it up around you.” He also hadn’t bothered to mention that Lauren had been fascinated by his tattoo, had traced her fingers over the intricate design, and even taken photos of it before replacing her fingers with her tongue.
Elle’s indignation had increased at his tone. “You’re probably one of those men you just mentioned who think Lauren’s tattoos are attractive. You probably think she’s attractive.”
“Lauren is a beautiful woman,” he had stated calmly, aware that Elle’s agitation had been slowly mounting. “And despite how much you dislike her personality, I don’t think you can deny that fact.”
Elle had given a careless shrug. “I guess she’s pretty enough, even if she doesn’t bother with her appearance. I suppose she’s the sort of woman you used to date, hmm? Did she look like Lauren?”
Ben’s blood had turned ice cold at that moment, and he’d been terrified that he had betrayed himself with that stupid, offhand remark about Lauren’s beauty. But before he could dream up a reply, he’d been saved by providence – or rather, Elle’s cell phone. And since it had been an incoming call from her father – an occasion that always warranted dropping everything – she had dashed off to talk to him.
He’d given himself a mental kick in the ass after that near miss. It was glaringly apparent that Elle was jealous of Lauren, which shouldn’t have been all that surprising. Since they had become a couple, Elle’s jealousy and insecurity had come rushing to the surface. Despite her own quiet beauty, sophistication, and poise, she wasn’t all that experienced with men or dating or relationships, and thus her tendency to cling and almost smother him a little too often was somewhat understandable. But at times her jealousy could get tiresome and annoying, and Ben had nearly lost his patience with her on a few occasions. He’d assured her time and again that he wasn’t interested in other women, that he’d only smiled at the waitress to thank her and hadn’t been flirting, and that things were good between them.
But he also knew it bothered Elle that he had yet to say the three words she longed to hear – “I love you”. She had said those same words to him soon after they’d slept together for the first time, but had assured him she didn’t expect him to feel the same way. At least not right away.
But as the weeks and months had passed, and he still hadn’t uttered the magic words, Elle’s insecurities had mounted, and it seemed at times that she was unreasonably jealous of nearly every woman he came in contact with, no matter how innocent the association was. So it was little wonder that she was consumed with jealousy over someone like Lauren – a gorgeous, sexy, and sassy woman who was both strong and confident, and didn’t know the meaning of the word insecure.
It would be a disaster if Elle was ever to discover that Lauren was the woman he’d been so deeply in love with. He’d actually thought several times about telling Elle, about finding some way to break the news to her. But then she would glare darkly at a waitress or sales clerk or even a stranger passing by on the street because she was convinced they were smiling at Ben and flirting with him. And then he would have to spend long minutes soothing her, assuring her, until she seemed convinced. Until the next time it happened.
So in the end he’d decided to keep the details of his past relationship with Lauren a carefully guarded secret, knowing how hurt and upset Elle would be to learn the truth. Especially since he didn’t think he could tell her an outright lie by saying he no longer loved Lauren.
Chapter Eleven
April
“I still say you should have let me put some makeup on those bruises. Nobody would even notice that way.”
Chris glared at her through an eye that was half swollen shut, before retorting through puffy lips, “I don’t think a professional makeup artist could cover up these bruises.”
Lauren brightened as a new thought arose. “What about a ski mask? One of those things people wear to cover up from the cold or sometimes the sun – a baklava.”
“That’s a pastry made with filo dough,” corrected Karl, wincing as his cracked ribs sent pain coursing through his upper body. “You’re thinking of a balaclava. And that isn’t a half-bad idea, Chris.”
Chris shook his head. “Except that it’s seventy degrees outside. Plus, I have no idea where we could buy something like that within the next five minutes. No, there’s no hope for it. We’re just going to have to fess up to the boss.”
Lauren’s expression darkened considerably. “Yeah, especially since the town crier is bound to spill the beans the second he walks into the room. I still say you guys should have let me push him around a little, made sure he kept his big mouth shut for once.”
Karl gave her a pat on the head, then grimaced as even that brief movement made his ribs hurt again. “I think we’ve all had enough brawling for awhile. And George won’t need to tattle to Ben about what happened, since it’s pretty damned obvious from looking at the three of us. Even you didn’t come out of it unscathed.”
Lauren scowled as they reached the conference room. “The only reason I have this bruise is because I head-butted that fat bastard a little too hard. I should have just jabbed him in the throat instead, works much better.”
Chris gave a little groan. “What we should have done was go to a different bar. That’s where all of our troubles began.”
“You mean where your troubles began, Christina,” corrected Lauren. “Karl and I only got roped into the fray to save your sorry ass. Now, play it cool and keep your head down, and maybe Ben will be too preoccupied to even notice.”
But Lauren was overly optimistic, because the very first thing their boss said as they entered the conference room was, “What the fuck happened to you all? And I want Karl to tell me. I doubt I’d believe any wild story Lauren would concoct. And Chris – well, judging from the size of that fat lip you’re sporting, I’m guessing that talking isn’t all that easy right now.”
The three of them glanced at each other hesitantly, until Ben practically barked, “Sit. Now. And explain, please – Karl.”
Lauren plunked herself down on one of the chairs, making sure it was the farthest away from where Ben was sitting and glaring darkly at each of them in turn. “I’m, uh, surprised you haven’t already heard the story from George,” she mumbled.
Ben’s eyes narrowed almost dangerously as he gave Lauren a look that sent a rare chill up her spine. “George is running late this morning, though he should be arriving any minute. The message I received said that he was under the weather. But after seeing the three of you, I’m guessing that was just an excuse. How bad does he look?”
“Oh, he looks fine,” Lauren assured him quickly. “George doesn’t have a scratch on him. He really is sick. Something he ate in Croatia, and then our flight home was pretty turbulent so he spent most of the time upchucking in the bathroom. He wasn’t even involved when we - ”
Ben held up a hand to indicate she needed to stop talking. “I believe I said that I wanted Karl to tell me what happened. So unless you want to get into more trouble t
han you already are, I strongly suggest you keep quiet for once.”
Lauren glowered at him before crossing her arms across her chest mutinously, but grudgingly did as she was told.
Karl took a deep breath, a not so easy accomplishment given his sore ribs. “It’s not as bad as it looks, Ben,” he began in a calm voice, his Southern drawl lazy and more pronounced than usual. “And before you ask, nobody in the place knew we were there on assignment, or that we work for the magazine. Not to mention we hightailed it out of there before the local authorities arrived.”
Ben shook his head, looking perplexed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you trying to tell me you all got roughed up during the assignment? Because so far as I know, your assignment in Croatia was a story about ocean kayaking and white water rafting. So unless you all capsized into some rocks, I’m going to assume the bruises and sore ribs were acquired in some other way.”
Karl glanced at Chris and Lauren before giving an apologetic shrug. “Uh, you would assume correctly. The assignment went off without a hitch. Or a bruise. Those were courtesy of a little altercation we had in one of Dubrovnik’s pubs. And not one of their finer establishments, I might add.”
“Chris here got a so-called ‘tip’”, interjected Lauren scornfully, using air quotes to emphasize her last word. “Some local told him that this bar was one of the happening places in town. Unfortunately, the only things happening were bad 80’s music and cheap booze. Not to mention some really skanky women, including the one Christina chose to hit on. The one who happened to have The Hulk’s twin brother as a boyfriend.”
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