by Ava May
Except Jason. He'd hid a lot. Or maybe she didn't want to see. Thoughts of her ex spurred her to attempt to sit up again, but Ben pushed her back
"You need to drink some water. Then I'll see if you can walk all right by yourself."
Oh, he would, would he? As soon as he turned his back she tried to escape again, but she fell back as the room continued to turn. Tired as she was of Ben's bossy attitude, Chris knew she didn't have a choice but to stay put.
"Here." He shoved a glass of water at her.
She drank, watching him as he prowled around the room, opening the drapes and looking out the window.
"How's the view?"
"Lovely."
Okay, he didn't want to talk to her anymore. She could see that. "Hey, listen, I'm not trying to pick on you. I didn't mean to say that, about you being miserable. It's none of my business."
"Is it that obvious?" He turned to look at her.
Chris caught her breath. The light from the full moon shown into the room, outlining Luke. He'd changed from his dress slacks and shirt he'd worn at dinner, and now had on a pair of tight jeans and t-shirt. She'd watched him, while they played shuffleboard, and had deliberately blocked out any lustful thoughts.
But now, in his room, his scent reached her nostrils and did funny things to her lady parts. Her nipples hardened and a burst of wet drenched her thighs. She had to get out of here.
"It's not, to most everyone else. I told you, I have this kind of freaky thing, that I can read people."
He strode across the room to the bed. "Can you tell what I'm thinking now?"
Oh boy. His eyes had gone dark, with a look she hadn't seen directed at her for a long time. Hot, hard, desire.
"I should leave."
"Not yet." He sat on the bed and once again, reached a hand to smooth her hair. "You look a lot like your mom."
"Thanks. I guess."
A quick smile. "That was a compliment. She's a beautiful woman." His hand moved from her hair, down her face, and caressed her neck. "Such soft skin."
Heart pounding, Chris didn't move. His touch set off sparks of pleasure, firing through her body. "I use a good moisturizer."
That smile again, now infused with heat. "You're pretty, funny and smart. Why no boyfriend?"
"Who says I don't have a boyfriend?"
"If you did, I know Amanda would have insisted he come along on this get-together."
"Okay, I don't have a boyfriend. Men suck, that's why."
Oh no, she did not just say that. Like a teenage girl, crying over her first break-up.
But Ben just smiled broader. "Some of us do. I'd like to think I don't. I'd also like to think I'm not totally dead inside. You've stirred a spark in me, Christina."
"Don't call me that."
But then she stopped talking because his lips were on hers. Tentative, at first, like he suspected she would stop him. She didn't. She returned the kiss, hungrily, her arms unthinkingly coming up to wrap around his neck, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Shocked at her own response, she nearly pushed him away after a moment, but he'd wrapped her into his arms and pulled her close.
His hard chest felt good pressed against hers. Strong, firm. A good place to rest her head while sleeping. What would it look like naked? She took one hand from around his neck and slid it between their bodies, then laid it on his pec. In turn, he moved one of his hands to rest on her breast. Gently he squeezed, his thumb grazing her tightened nipple, forcing an involuntary moan from her.
Pinching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger brought another moan, and he continued to fondle her, while deepening the kiss. His tongue explored her mouth and she met his hunger, even as a voice in the back of her head screamed at her to stop. When he finally pulled away, panting, the voice had reached a crescendo.
"Shit. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"
A knocking on the door interrupted his sentence.
She looked into his eyes, now full of life and heat, but still with a trace of sadness.
"Hello!" The knock sounded again. "Ben? Are you in there?" Robert's voice.
He disentangled his arms from around her and slid off the bed. "Can you get up now?"
"I think so. Lord, I hope so."
Chris eased herself off the pillows, heart pounding. Maybe this blood rushing through her veins would give her the strength to stand. Yep. Feet on the floor, head only slightly woozy, she tugged at her shirt to straighten it, then retrieved her shoes from where they were placed neatly by the bed.
"There, just sit there until you feel all the way better." Ben pointed to a chair.
"I'm fine." She remained standing, listing slightly from side to side. No way did she want to sit back down. She had to get out of here.
He wanted to demand that she stay put, she knew, but she wouldn't. She walked with him to the door and stood back a pace as he opened it. Robert stood outside, with Lila prancing around his legs.
"Watcha doing?" She dashed into the room. "Hi there, Chrissie. You want to come exploring with me?"
The little girl tugged her hand and Chris looked down, biting back a bout of nausea. "Where are you going to explore?"
"All over the hotel. Daddy wants to walk outside with your mom. For a moonlight stroll. He said I should find one of you to play with. Did you see my room? It's ginormous."
Chris stole at glance at Robert, who was looking at her and Ben with narrowed eyes.
"So is my room. Why don't you show me yours and then we'll go find the swimming pool."
Chris, Lila and Robert stepped into the hallway.
"That's her room, next to mine." Robert pointed. If you could stay with her for a half hour or so, then bring her back, I'd appreciate it. She can be by herself for a while. She's very responsible. Aren't you?" He ruffled her hair.
"Yes I am. I stay by myself all the time. Come on, Chrissie, show me the pool."
"I'll take her." Ben stepped up and took hold of Lila's free hand. "Chris hurt her ankle. She shouldn't be walking on it too much. That's why she was in my room."
"Oh." Lila stuck out her lower lip and Chris had to smile.
"I think your brother is right. I should put my foot up and rest it. We'll explore together tomorrow, okay? We'll have all day."
Lila's face brightened. "Okay. Good night. I hope you feel better."
Sweet kid. Chris watched her and Ben walk away.
Uh-oh. Alone with Robert. Time to end the most awkward day ever.
"You and Amanda have a nice walk. I'll see you tomorrow."
Robert looked down at her chest. "You missed a button on your shirt." He wheeled around and strode away.
And that was the final topping on this day from hell.
Chapter 5
Shit. What had she done, making out with her…gaaaa! Her stepbrother. Sure, he was super cute and pretty much fun once he relaxed, but he had some dark, secret weirdness going on and she didn't want to get sucked in. Didn't want to get involved with him anyway. With anyone. She wasn't ready.
But remembering the feeling of his lips on hers, his hand on her skin, her breast…a shudder ran along her spine. Her body had certainly been ready. She'd drenched her panties, she noticed, as she undressed for bed.
Well, no big deal. They would see each other on holidays, maybe birthdays, if Amanda insisted. Chris planned to stay in Maplewood and Robert's house was an hour away. Not really that far, but far enough she could make excuses not to visit on a regular basis. She'd join a softball team, or a bowling league, something to keep her busy and keep her mom off her back. Give her a ready-made excuse not to come over.
Damn him! All those feelings she'd been pushing down, all that sensual longing, the memory of how good it felt to connect with another human being both physically and emotionally…
Hobbling to the bathroom, she dug out the bottle of pain pills. The other half should be enough to knock her into la-la land, and make her forget those few moments of bliss.
****
> "Order whatever you'd like, dear," Amanda said, lifting her china coffee cup and sipping gracefully.
"I plan on it," Chris shot back, rattling the parchment paper breakfast menu. She hated that tone her mother got when she said those words. The message was clearly, "Don't you think you should get the low-calorie selection?"
They sat in the Lilac room again. Just the two of them. Robert must really have a butt-load of money to buy these amenities. A note on Regency letterhead, slipped under her door, informed her they would be dining at eight o'clock sharp. La-dee-da. Sorely tempted to skip the meal, her growling stomach suggested otherwise and Chris dressed, combed her hair, and showed up on time. Which Robert and his clan couldn't seem to do.
"Where are the others?"
"They're eating elsewhere. I thought it would be nice if we had a chat, just you and me."
"Mom, I see you every day. We've been chatting for what, a year since I moved in with you?"
"Two years. You've been living with me for two years and three months."
That long?
"Which is what I want to discuss. You know I'm selling the house and you said you don't want to come live with me at Robert's place."
"That is correct." Chris poured herself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the table.
"And where do you plan to live?"
"With some friends. An apartment. I don't know. I've got a few ideas."
"You don't make that much money working as a mechanic."
"I make enough. I'll get by."
"Honey." Amanda put her hand on top of Chris's. Like a touch of sunshine. Her mother always had such warm hands.
Chris fought back the surprising sting of tears.
"It's time to move on with your life. I know Jason upset you terribly, but you have to get past that and make plans for the future. You can resume your classes, get your computer science degree, like you always wanted."
"I will. Soon. I'm just not ready yet. My job keeps me too busy anyway."
Liar. She had plenty of free time. If she wasn't playing football, she was watching movies and playing online games. Anything to fill that aching void.
"I worry about you, Christina. Please, come and live with us. Then, you won't have to work for a while and can concentrate on school."
"I'll think about it." Chris slid her hand away from the comfort of her mother's and picked up the menu again. "What are you going to have?"
The truth was, Chris thought later as she wiggled into her swimsuit, ever since Jason, her confidence had hit rock bottom. If she didn't know her own husband was gay, how stupid was she? She could figure out moods and feelings for everyone else, but not the guy she'd lived with for three years. Coming home early one day, finding him in their bed with another man, had been like getting smacked in the head with a baseball bat.
Jason had apologized up one end and down the other. He wasn't sure what he wanted, he said. When they'd married, he loved her, really he did. Just in the wrong way, it turned out. She didn't hate him for being gay, or being confused, or really, for any reason. More like, she hated herself for not picking up on the obvious.
Chris shook her head. Enough about Jason. She'd go for a swim, then hunt down Lila and take her on that promised exploration tour.
No one else occupied the pool, to her relief. Her ankle still ached a little and she had to move slowly. She didn't want to dodge rambunctious kids or oblivious adults. Or look like a little old lady, hobbling along.
Like everything at The Regency Hotel, the aquatic area was huge. The pool spanned the indoor area and extended outdoors. Two hot tubs, a steam room, and a dry sauna occupied the indoor area also. Several doors led off the main atrium, to massage rooms or some other type of pampering service, no doubt. Maybe she'd get a massage later. Charge it to Robert. Better yet, Ben. And get a really long one, with a facial tacked on.
Easing herself into the water, she began swimming slow laps. Clearly, she was still pissed at the dude for last night. It wasn't like he attacked her. She willingly let him kiss her, and eagerly returned it. So why was she working off her anger chopping the water so ferociously?
Because he'd made her feel. Opened that part of her she'd sealed tightly shut. The way it should stay.
A flash of movement caught her eye and threw off her rhythm, causing her to inhale a spray of water. She stopped stroking abruptly and stood, coughing, glad she was in the shallow end. Shit. Ben. Was he going to appear every time she thought about him?
"You okay out there?"
"Fine. I'm fine." Was she doomed to have him always see her at her worst?
"Guess we're thinking the same thing." He dove into the deep end and swam toward her.
Doubt that. Too late to escape now, without looking like a complete idiot, she waited till he reached her.
"Hey there." He stopped and stood next to her, shaking the water from his hair like a dog.
"Hey there yourself." She coughed again.
"Swim much?" He grinned.
Bastard. "Yes, I do. You startled me and I got some water in my mouth. You're looking mighty happy this morning. I take it your breakfast was more fun without my mom and me around."
The light in his eyes dimmed and she mentally kicked herself. Stop being a bitch.
"Lila made a waffle fort. We got kind of silly with the syrup and jelly. Guess I let the fun carry over." He leaned back in the water and floated.
"And you should."
"What?" He raised his head.
"I said you should. Let the fun carry over."
"Still can't hear you. Come here."
She strolled over to where he drifted by the steps. "I said…" she broke off with a yelp as he grabbed her.
"I want you. I want more of this."
And just like they'd never stopped, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. She fell into it, allowing the heat, the energy they'd created the previous night, to come rushing back. For just one minute. Then she broke away.
"What are you doing? This is such a bad idea on so many levels."
"I realize that, believe me. I thought about it all last night and this morning. But you know what? I don't care. You're special, and I want you. Want to get to know you."
"So we'll have dinner now and then." She tried to wriggle out of his grasp but he held on. In fact, he smiled as she squirmed, pressing his erection against her.
Oh damn, that felt good. Hard, strong. Her lustful body responded and she felt a burst of wet heat between her legs.
"You don't want me. Shit Ben, you're a doctor. You could have any rich, skinny girl you want…"
"Which is why I'm here. You're right, I am hiding something. Everyone thinks I'm so wonderful, moving to Maplewood to be with my dad. The truth is, I'm also running away from something. Someone. Marlene, the woman my dad thinks I'm going to marry. Not happening."
As he talked, Ben slowly moved them to a secluded corner of the pool near a waterfall. "She's rich, socially connected, skinny, totally into herself and boring as hell. You, on the other hand," he ran a finger down her cheek, making her shiver, "fascinate me. You pay attention to what's going on around you, and you can look at people and see them as they really are. That's a gift."
"More like a curse, sometimes."
"It's because you care about others. Lila is usually super shy, but she senses your beautiful soul. She opened right up with you."
Now he ran his finger lower, tracing her collarbone, then slipping into the V of her swimsuit. She caught her breath.
"But, we're kind of related. Doesn't that creep you out?"
"We are absolutely not related. We have none of the same blood or genes. Would you like me to give you the scientific explanation?"
Hell no. She wanted his hands on her naked flesh. But the last little bit of common sense she had spoke up.
"Shouldn't we go somewhere more private?"
"No. I can't wait."
He peeled her top down and his pupils went large and dark.
; "So beautiful," he murmured, and then quit talking.
Lifting one breast, he took it into his mouth, swirling his tongue around her nipple, then grazing his teeth along it. His other hand pushed her suit down further, then reached between her legs to explore. She felt how slick she was as he slid his fingers in and out of her pussy, his thumb teasing and stroking her clit.
He tugged her suit all the way down, lifting her legs to pull it off. Though half her mind cringed at being naked, with a man she barely knew and in public, the other half urged her to spread her legs further and grant him complete access. She let her head fall back and her body lean onto the side of the pool.
Weightless, he could maneuver her around, lifting her hips, resting her ass on his legs. He continued to rub her, sending searing jolts of pleasure up and down her spine. When he dove under the water and began licking her clit, she grabbed his hair and pulled him back up.
"Stop. I'm going to come right now."
"That's okay. I can do this all day."
He pinched her nipple hard, a move he'd already figured out she enjoyed, and plunged two fingers into her pussy. He thrust in and out, using his thumb to tease and stroke her clit, driving her insane with desire. Looking into his eyes, she saw tenderness and lust. He wanted to give her pleasure, to make her come while he watched.
Letting her inhibitions roll far away, she closed her eyes and gave in to the waves of arousal. As he increased the pace of his movements and the pressure on her clit, she arched her back and groaned, pushing her pelvis into his hands. She exploded with sheer delight, losing her footing, then laughed as Ben caught her.
"Wow! I've never done that."
"Had an orgasm?" He stroked her breast with his palm.
"No, had sex in the water."
"How about on a bar stool, by the side of a pool?" Before she could stop him, he lifted her out of the water, up onto the ledge.
"Come on, over here." He held out his hand.
"Someone's going to come in."
"I'm not going to take long, believe me."
Judging by the bulge in his pants, she did. A shiver of anticipation ran through her. She suddenly had to have him inside her, she wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and feel his wet skin sliding against hers. She grabbed her suit from where it floated in the water, took his hand and followed him to one of the stools that surrounded a tiki-style bar.