by Tiara Bosh
They both laughed.
Ben took a bite of the lobster and nodded in appreciation.
“How about you?” Liz asked. “You and Alex have been friends forever. Has it always been just the two of you?”
Ben nodded. “There are some friends from high school or college I see occasionally but I don’t talk to them regularly.”
Liz nodded, understanding. She had friends like those too.
“But now that Kayla’s with Alex, isn’t it hard for you?” Liz asked.
Ben shrugged. “Well on one hand, Kayla and I get along great so I gained another friend, but of course she and Alex sorta have their own world. I’m used to being their third wheel most of the time, but sometimes I’d rather be on my own.”
“I have those days too,” Liz said, smiling. She realized that she could be an introvert and an extrovert, depending on her mood.
“What do you do when you’re not with your friends or not making the world a better place?” Ben asked.
Liz laughed. “You make me sound like a superhero, when you’re the one with a foundation. Anyway I do the usual stuff. I read, cook, run, and sometimes I visit my parents.”
“Where do your parents stay?” Ben asked.
It took her a while to answer, worried what he would think when she heard her response.
“Upper East Side,” she said then quickly looked down at her plate, as she tried to cut a piece of lobster.
“Hey,” Ben called, laying his hand on her hand that was holding on to the knife.
Liz looked up slowly, and was surprised to see sadness in his eyes.
“I know you already said you’ve forgiven me, but I hope that in time I could erase any doubts in your mind,” he said. “It’s not an issue, Liz. You’ve totally erased my prejudice.”
She didn’t know what to say. She just nodded, and smiled at him warmly.
“But I’m glad your parents are just close by,” Ben said, smiling brightly, shifting to a more joyous mood. Ben’s smile was very contagious, that her spirits instantly lifted again.
“Definitely,” Liz said.
They then started talking about trivial things – movies, hangouts, music.
“I can’t believe you listen to Kanye West,” Liz exclaimed. “Oh Ben, you loved The Expendables and you’ve never watched a Broadway musical. The list of your flaws is growing by the minute.” She grinned to show him she was just kidding. They’ve been laughing for the past hour over some of their differences in taste.
“Well you listen to Taylor Swift!” Ben said back, teasingly.
They laughed some more. They were done eating by then and the bottle of wine was empty. Liz truly enjoyed dinner and their conversation. The connection they felt in their past encounters was evidently real.
“Shall I get the bill?” Ben asked.
Liz nodded, wondering if he had anything planned after. She also wondered if she should invite him back to her apartment.
She felt her face flush with the thought of what they could do tonight.
She drank from her glass of water, but she caught Ben watching her intently. She blushed, hoping he couldn’t possibly know what she was thinking.
As they waited for Ben’s car outside the restaurant a few moments later, Liz was caught by surprise as Ben wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her on one side of her forehead.
She looked up at him to see her watching her. He bent down to kiss her on the lips. Liz knew the kiss was different this time though. It was hungrier and more exciting. Liz raised her arm to rest her hand on his chest. His touches and kisses were tuning out everything around them. She almost forgot they were in a public place.
Ben broke it and held Liz closer to him in an embrace. He rested his chin on her head. Liz was trying to settle down her heart.
She didn’t even think what the people around them were thinking.
“You make it so hard for me to be a gentleman, Liz,” Ben said thickly. “I didn’t even ask you if you wanted dessert. I just wanted to be alone with you.”
Liz couldn’t even respond. Ben has awakened feelings Liz also had a hard time containing.
It was great timing for Ben’s car to arrive right then.
Ben released Liz but took her hand as he opened the door for her. As Liz got in, it took her a while to remember to put on the seatbelt.
As Ben got in the car, he quickly turned to Liz, rotating her head with the help of his palm on her cheek. He kissed her to pick up from where they’ve left off. In just a few seconds, the temperature in the car instantly rose.
Liz knew then.
“Come home with me,” Liz said, as Ben kissed her on her neck.
Ben groaned.
He started the car and drove as fast as the laws could permit. When they encountered one stop signal, Ben took Liz’s hand and rested it on her thigh, close to knee. Even if he’d shift gears, he would bring his hand back. He would squeeze it, hold it tight, and massage it a bit.
Liz had to bite her lip from whimpering. She’s never been so turned on by a guy who was just playing with her hand. She had her eyes closed most of the ride back that she didn’t even realize they were at her place until Ben swerved the car and stopped.
“Liz,” he called huskily.
She opened her eyes to see that they have parked a few meters away from her building. She looked at him, and found him with a heated look that must have reflected what was on her face as well.
Liz leaned towards him, kissing him.
“Let’s go up,” she said, breaking the kiss. She’s never been so bold in her life, even with her past boyfriends. What was it with Ben?
Ben leaned back to study her face, probably checking if she was serious. He must have seen she was, because they almost synchronically took out their seatbelts and scampered out of the car -- Liz didn’t wait for Ben anymore to open the door for her. She got out and waited by the sidewalk until Ben shortly joined her. He set the alarm of the car, then they walked quickly to Liz’s building.
Liz quickly punched in the number code on the panel, unlocking the door. They were quiet as they hurried up the steps. Liz’s heart was pounding madly; she couldn’t even come up with anything to say. Liz searched her bag for her keys as they went up. She was too busy looking for her keys that she made a misstep and almost tripped.
“Easy there,” Ben said, quickly hooking his arm around her waist from behind her. They stilled as the contact heightened the anticipation that has been building up since they left the restaurant. Ben unhooked his arm as soon as Liz was righted, then he took her hand. They practically ran up the rest of the steps until they reached Liz’s unit.
By then Liz has managed to find her keys. Her hand was shaking as she tried to open the door, testing Ben’s patience. He must have been resisting taking the keys from her to do the job himself. It took Liz probably a couple of tries until she finally opened the door.
Ben followed closely as Liz entered her unit. She just opened the lights when Ben took hold of her upper arms and moved her until she had her back against the door.
He had his lips on hers before any thought entered Liz’s mind. Liz dropped her keys and her bag on the floor and placed her hands on Ben’s waist as Ben’s tongue explored her mouth.
Liz wanted more. She raised her hands up to his shoulders to push his jacket away. Ben helped her by releasing her arms to get it off. The blazer fell to the floor.
“Bedroom,” Liz managed to say when she stopped briefly for air.
Ben took her hand and walked to the hallway.
“Door to the left,” Liz breathed. Her mind was in a haze. Her vision seemed like it was going through a kaleidoscope. Everything was bursting with color, and Ben was in the center of it all.
As soon as they got in Liz’s room, Ben turned back to face Liz, tracing her face with his fingers.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, before leaning down to capture her lips again. He moved his hands to explore the expanse of her back exposed
by the deep V of her dress. He kissed his way down to her neck.
“Fuck,” Ben muttered, as he lowered the zipper.
Liz raised her hands and fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. It was a challenge, especially when Ben had lowered her dress to bare her shoulders and started kissing her there, distracting her senseless.
Liz finally managed to open all the buttons of his shirt to expose his impressive torso. Even the first time she saw him she knew he was fit. She ran her fingers over the contours of his chest.
Ben took his shirt off before lowering Liz’s dress to floor, leaving her in her strapless bra, panties and heels. He stepped back and studied her, tracing her body with his hands. Each part of her body that Ben touched burned. He brought his hands to her back to look for the clasp of her bra. Liz inhaled as the bra briefly tightened as he pulled, then exhaled as her breasts were freed.
Ben groaned as he placed each hand on her breasts and massaged them almost in worship – Liz forgot to feel ashamed that she wasn’t so blessed in that department. She placed both her hands on his shoulders. Ben kissed her again, placing his arms around her back and raised her until both her feet were suspended from the floor. Liz raised them higher and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Her raised height allowed Ben to take one of her breasts in his mouth, sucking on it. Liz threw her head back as the passion engulfed her. Ben’s stubbles ticked her breasts, heightening her arousal. Ben transferred his attention to the other breast, playfully biting on Liz’s nipple.
“Ben!” she screamed as the sensation and all the heat zoomed down to the bottom of her belly.
In her position, her crotch could feel Ben’s growing erection through his jeans. She grinded her hips to feel more of it.
“Liz!” Ben hissed, pulling his hips away to break the contact.
They both breathed deeply to slow it down a bit. Liz looked into Ben’s eyes and saw the desire clearly.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Ben said, leading the steps. He carefully lowered her, while kissing her neck.
Liz felt the soft mattress behind her, and felt she was lying on a cloud of heaven, looking at a god of a man. Ben was lean and muscular, and he had a face that she could look at all day.
Ben followed her to the bed, crawling up until he was on all fours with his head looming above hers.
Liz then knew she needed him. She raised her hands to pull his neck and meet him for a kiss. Ben had another plan though. He made a descent, kissing his way down to her chin, then to her throat, then to the valley between her breasts.
Liz whimpered in response, reveling in the sensations he was invoking in her. Liz reached for his hair, urging him to continue.
Ben pleased her by continuing his descent as he trailed kisses down her navel, lapping his tongue around her belly button. He then hooked his fingers into her underwear and pulled them down. He leaned back on his heels as he raised Liz’s legs to get her panty completely off. He threw it aside and placed his hands on her legs and pried them apart, causing Liz to gasp. For a second, she felt exposed, but those thoughts were erased as she looked up at Ben, to see him looking at her with so much want that she felt like she was going to combust on her sheets.
Ben glided his hands up and down her legs, and Liz inhaled every time his hands moved up. He stopped when it reached her calves then pushed them up until Liz had her knees bent and her feet flat on the bed. Her breaths were quick as she looked at Ben through the gap between her knees.
She suddenly stopped breathing as she watched Ben lean down and move forward, and felt his tongue on her core. She raised her bottom in surprise and pleasure, but dropped again to try to keep still, as Ben lapped at her folds. Each lap brought her closer to the edge. Liz had to transfer her hands to her sheets to hold on tightly. He suddenly sucked on her clitoris.
“Aahh!” Liz cried out.
Ben continued and Liz started panting. Her muscles started to clench and knew she was going to climax soon. She started to feel it coming when Ben suddenly stopped.
Liz raised her head and looked, but Ben was on his knees and moving up.
“I want to be inside you when you come,” he explained throatily.
Although Liz slightly felt she was left hanging, she didn’t mind that he postponed her climax. She wanted to share it with him too. She reached out to find the button of his jeans. She unhooked the button and pulled down the zipper. Steadying himself with one hand on the bed next to Liz’s shoulder, he pulled out a pack of condom from his pocket and threw it on the bed. And still with one hand, he pulled down his jeans, one leg at a time, taking his boxers with it.
Liz’s eyes bugged out to see his impressive erection, and she felt her throat dry up with need.
She was about to reach for it to return the favor of pleasuring him, but Ben must have seen what she was about to do because he pulled his hips back.
“Not now, I don’t think I can last any longer,” he admitted.
He leaned back again to sit on his heels. He reached for the foil pack and used his teeth to open it. She watched as he deftly put the condom on. The act made Liz get turned on more, if it was possible.
Ben moved forward again, crawling up until his face was over Liz’s.
He stared at her for a few seconds before he bent down to brush her lips with his, and reached down to hold on to the sides of her hips. He positioned himself at her entrance, and Liz can feel the tip of his cock. He teased her by running it against her folds.
“Ben…” she whimpered.
Ben kissed Liz as he slammed in. Liz gasped in shock, but Ben continued kissing her. The feel of him in her was full and so wonderful.
They moved together – Liz met each of his thrusts. She bit on her lower lip as she moved her hands until she was grasping Ben’s back. She raised her knees to make it deeper.
“Damn, Liz, you feel so good,” Ben said, looking into her eyes.
He started moving quickly and Liz knew she was close. She started shaking and her nerves were on high alert. When she was at the brink, Ben reached between them to stroke her clit. And that did it for Liz. She cried out as she saw stars.
She wanted Ben to finish also though, so she continued moving with him, maintaining their eye contact. It was Ben’s turn to shake. He slammed one last time as he reached his own climax, before collapsing on top of Liz.
He had his head next to Liz’s as they both tried to catch their breaths. Ben quickly scrambled to Liz’s side so he wouldn’t crush her.
“Shit that was amazing,” Ben said, turning his head to face Liz. Liz was looking up at the ceiling, still trying to calm herself down. “I wasn’t too rough?” he asked. He reached over to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Liz turned her head to face him. “No, it was perfect,” she admitted, shyly.
Ben rested his palm on Liz’s cheek and leaned over to kiss her softly on her lips. Liz watched as he propped himself up to look around. He pulled her with him until their heads were on pillows, before getting the edge of the blanket to pull it over the two of them. Ben wrapped his arm around Liz’s waist and entwined his leg with one of hers.
Liz was smiling as her eyes drooped in exhaustion.
She was content.
Chapter 23
Ben
Liz was still asleep when Ben woke up. She must be exhausted. Her back was snuggled against his front, as they spooned, facing her curtained windows. He had one of his arms curled under his head, and the other draped over Liz’s body, across her chest.
He grinned as he remembered in the dead of the night, he thought he was having a naughty dream, but awoke to find Liz stroking his already-erect penis. When Liz realized he was also awake, she went down on him to Ben’s pleasure. But just before he came, he scrambled for another condom, then raised Liz until she rode him.
It was hot watching Liz, moving on top of him until she came undone.
Liz was a great revelation for him. Aside from the good things he already knew about
her, she showed him a confident and daring side of her. He didn’t really expect to sleep with her that night, but somehow she also felt the chemistry he felt all evening.
Liz shifted under him, and Ben kissed her head.
Liz turned her head to smile at Ben.
“Good morning,” Ben said, kissing her on her cheek.
“Have you been awake long?” she asked, still a bit sleepily.
“Nah,” he said, though he knew he could have spent hours listening to her sleep.
They lay quietly for a couple minutes. Liz lay on her back as Ben propped up his head with one of his arm to look down at her. With his other hand, he reached over to get hold of one of Liz’s hands. They stayed like that for several minutes.
“What happened with your ex-boyfriend?” he asked curiously. It crossed his mind all night how a man could let Liz go.
Liz was quiet for a second that Ben got worried that it wasn’t the right time to ask her.
“It was starting to get difficult competing with his work,” Liz answered, and Ben was grateful she answered and relieved that he worried for nothing.
“He was a lawyer, just like my dad,” she continued, “and I think part of why he was with me was because of my dad.”
“He’s a fool,” Ben muttered, remembering the time he waited with Liz for the boyfriend to pick her up. If only he knew then, he should have done something. “He didn’t deserve you.”
“Thank you for thinking so,” Liz said.
Ben kissed her on her lips.
“Now tell me more about your parents,” Ben said. He just wanted to know everything about her.
Liz turned to look at him with a questioning look. Ben guessed she was worried whatever she would say would make him feel bad about his own parents.
“Liz, don’t worry about me,” Ben said.
Liz seemed startled.
“Your face says more than you care for it to show,” Ben said grinning. “So come on, tell me how your parents were.”
Ben waited as Liz seemed to be gathering her thoughts.
“At first my dad wasn’t around a lot,” Liz started slowly. “It was just my mom and me. My mom was active in school – bake sales, school events. That was what I remembered from my childhood.”