by Josie Wright
Suddenly Dave pipes up, interrupting our trip down memory lane. “Oh, I forgot the gifts from mom and dad in the car. And Drake gave me something for you, Stinker.”
Instantly, Ben’s eyes bore into me. “Drake, the biker?”
“Yep, he told me to give her a Christmas present. Hold on, I’ll get them.”
While Dave plods out to the car, Ben’s stare gets a bit uncomfortable.
“Drake, your ex?”
“I guess so,” I shrug innocently.
Dave comes in, throwing a box my way. I unpack it under Ben’s scrutiny and if I’m not fully mistaken I hear him growl. I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t like his possessive attitude. And I’d be even more of a liar if I said I’m not going to toy with it.
In the box I first find a plush motorbike, all black and grey.
“Awww, he sent a toy for Archer. How sweet,” I coo, getting up to give the toy to Archer, but Ben intercepts me, taking it out of my hands.
“Why is Drake giving things to Archer?”
I detect a hint of jealousy in his words and it gives me a rush.
“Chill Ben. I ran into him at the mall over Thanksgiving when I was out with Archer.”
“Do you still talk to him, babe?”
“Oh, you jealous?” I smile up at him sweetly until I notice his clenched jaw and his narrowed eyes, shooting daggers my way. “No, I hadn’t seen him in forever before the run-in at the mall. No reason to get your panties in a twist.”
“Man, you forgot to beat your chest and grunt.” Dave never misses a chance to make a comment.
Snort-laughing, I put my hand on Ben’s arm. “He’s got a point. It happens rarely, but he’s got a point.”
“What else did the asshole send?” He steps past me to the box, looking into it, when he suddenly growls. “What the fuck?” He turns around, a bra hanging around his finger. Giving him a puzzled look, I rummage through the box, finding a note.
“I was cleaning out my house and found this. If I’m not mistaken, it’s yours. Thought you might want it back.”
I hand the note to Ben, rolling my eyes when he actually swears. “Fucker. I’m gonna hang him by the balls.”
“Dramatic much? It’s not my bra. You should leave the violence and bloodshed to the boyfriend of whoever’s bra this is.”
He plops down next to me on the couch, flinging the bra back in the box.
“I don’t like the guy.”
“I know, babe. I know.” I gently pat his thigh, trying hard to smother another bout of laughter that is about to erupt.
When he comes to my room that night, he kisses me with so much abandon; it feels like he’s trying to mark his territory. And judging by the hickey I’m sporting the next morning, that is exactly what he has done.
Chapter 30
Hearts Under The Christmas Tree
Two days later, Christmas morning finally rolls around. I wake up to Ben holding Archer, snuggled up in the armchair.
“Look who’s awake. Now you can open your presents,” he croons into Archer’s ear. I have the suspicion Archer wasn’t the one that woke Ben up with the need to unwrap gifts.
“You take Archer and I’ll get everyone else. Meet you downstairs.” He kisses me, before shoving Archer into my arms. “Merry Christmas, babe.” Within the blink of an eye he’s out the door to wake up Dave and Viv. And he isn’t quiet about it either.
We gather around the tree, sitting on the floor, Archer on my lap. He’s trying to chew on one of the packages and I highly doubt he’ll be interested in the content. One by one we open our gifts. Viv loves her game and is barely coherent while she examines the contents of the limited edition. Dave gets a voucher for the tattoo parlor that Viv frequents; he’s wanted to add to the few tattoos he already has, and that our parents know nothing about. An additional present is a box of 100 condoms, courtesy of me. I’ve gotten used to the black sheep status in the family, no reason for him to go and ruin it.
“Thanks, Stinker,” he throws the box to Ben, “but I think it’s better if you two have them. There’s no need for Archer to get a sibling just yet.”
Ben doesn’t even blink, before throwing it back. “Sorry bro, they’re not my size. I need XXL.”
I look at him, my eyebrows arched. “Cocky much?”
He slowly licks his lips, before looking down at his crotch and then back up at me. “Yep. You should know, babe.”
I quickly look down, biting my lip, trying to not think about his cock, but I fail miserably.
My brother manages to douse any kind of amorous feelings in an instant, when he turns to Viv.
“So what do you say, sweetheart? Want to put them to good use?” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively at her. “They should last us for the holidays.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, hot stuff.” Viv’s smile is sweet as a peach as they stare each other down. Something passes between them, but I decide to ignore it. I don’t even want to think about it.
“Okay, enough of that, ‘cause...gross,” I say with mock disgust.
We all laugh before we turn to Archer, who has single-handedly destroyed the wrapping paper from Viv’s present with his drool.
“Now it’s your turn, little monkey.” Ben takes him on his lap and starts opening the present, a nice wooden rocking horse for toddlers, fully equipped with safety bars around the seat. We all put our money together to get this gift.
Archer looks at it for a second, before he tries to lick it. Ben lifts him up and sets him into the seat, giving it a little push. “Cool isn’t it?”
And Archer really seems to find it fun as every time the horse moves he erupts into a fit of giggles. Dave hands us my parents’ gifts for Archer, which are really nice and it seems they’ve paid attention to the things I suggested. But right now he doesn’t care much about the adorable building blocks he’s got. He’s too busy rocking and munching on some wrapping paper. Therefore, the toddler band shirts that Dave got him get ignored too.
Then it’s Ben’s turn, and he first opens the gift from the gang, being genuinely thrilled about all the different tools.
I hand him my present then. He opens it and a smile flashes across his face. His Adam’s apple bobs up and down when he swallows hard.
“You remember?” he asks and points at the wolf.
“How could I forget?”
He tries the belt on, putting the tools in their place. And seeing him in his jeans hanging low on his hips, his black shirt and the tool belt on, is every woman’s fantasy come true. I’m fairly sure a few porn movies start that way. I ogle him without any shame and it doesn’t go unnoticed. When he leans down to give me a thank you kiss, he whispers into my ear, “How wet are you for me right now?”
My breath hitches and I bite my lip to keep the whimper locked inside. I don’t need to answer; the look on his face tells me he knows exactly how turned on I am.
“I’ve got another present for you.” I hand him a small package, watching him unwrap it. I can tell the exact moment that he sees what’s inside. His eyes well up a bit and he clears his voice, trying to shake off the emotions. To see how much it means to him makes me emotional in return. I point to the wooden frame he is holding with the picture of him and Archer in the wing chair in my bedroom and the words “Bestest Daddy In The World” engraved into the top part of the frame. “You are.”
From the corner of my eyes I see Dave smiling in approval, while Viv looks like she’s melting.
Ben leans over to kiss me again before he ruffles Archer’s hair and gives him a kiss.
I’m thrilled about the present from the gang, a new set of essential oils that I plan to read up on as soon as I can. And Dave’s present is also awesome, a spiritual magazine subscription.
But it’s when I open Ben’s present that the breath whooshes out of me. I’m speechless and can’t help staring at it, gently running my trembling fingers over the beautiful wooden, heart-shaped pendant with a key hole in the middle. Its l
ight wood is carved, revealing darker wood on the inside. The carving is elaborate in its detail, the design weaving its way all around the heart. I swallow hard, incapable of forming words. The fact that he would spend all his time in the shed, making this for me—nothing in the world could mean as much. The time, work, and perseverance he was willing to put into creating something so perfect for me makes the fact that he hasn’t told me he loves me meaningless.
“Open it.” He gently nudges my side.
I take the key he has made and put in the locket, opening it up to find a picture of Archer on one side, the other one still empty, but for a piece of paper. Without a doubt I know whose picture belongs in there, my heart so full of happiness I feel like it’ll explode in my chest. Tears well up in my eyes and my lower lip wobbles. I unfold the paper, finding Ben’s unruly writing. “I hope one day you’ll be ready to give me the key.” Clutching the pendant to my chest, I fling myself into Ben’s arms, sobbing.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever gotten. I love it,” I sob onto his shoulder, hugging him close, sniffling away. “Thank you.”
“Glad you like it, babe.” He runs his hand through my hair, gently tugging at it so I look at him.
“I don’t like it. I love it!” I manage to say between sobs.
He looks down at my face, a gentle, loving look in his eyes. “Then stop crying.” He softly flicks my nose, making me giggle.
“Can you help me put it on, please?” I ask him, handing him the pendant on its brown leather band before turning my back to him. He puts it around my neck, leaving his hands on my shoulders when he’s finished, pulling me back so I lean into him.
“Okay, I need booze. This was a bit too much of a hallmark moment,” Dave jokes as he gets up to get some eggnog.
Until it’s time for Christmas dinner, we all hang out, chatting, while Dave and Viv try out her new game. Ben and I just watch them, my feet in his lap and my hand clasped around the pendant, thinking about the words on his note. He wants a key to my heart. Besides Archer, this is the single most amazing gift I’ve ever gotten.
Dave volunteers to pick up Vince and Mrs. Walsh for dinner, so while he’s gone Viv plays with Archer and his building blocks, and Ben and I set the table. When everyone arrives, I’m surprised to see that Vince isn’t alone.
“Kiddo, this is Marge. I think you remember her.” He pulls the woman towards him, making my jaw hit the floor.
“We’re seeing each other,” he announces and then strolls to the table with her. Sheepishly, I follow behind.
“Hi, Marge. Sorry for…ummm…the stuff I said.”
“No need to apologize. I knew then that he must be special.” She squeezes Vince’s hand, making him chuckle like a teenage boy. Oh dear.
I feel really emotional during dinner, not only because of Ben’s gift, but because of the people around me. It’s family—not by blood, but by choice. And that is worth so much more. I only wish Dean and Alex were here as well to celebrate with us.
After dinner, Vince, Marge, and Mrs. Walsh leave, followed by Viv and Dave. They make up a story about needing a few drinks to wash down the dinner, but I think they just want to give Ben and me some time alone, which is appreciated. There is still one more thing I have for him. One gift that will hopefully show him what I feel.
Chapter 31
More Than Just A Gift
Ben is up in his room after Archer has fallen asleep, and I walk in without knocking to find him relaxing back on his bed, listening to music coming from the small speakers on the dresser. He’s not wearing a shirt, only his low-hanging jeans. The sight is breathtaking. He’s sexy without trying. His muscles are defined without being too much. It’s clear he earned them with physical work, not with countless hours at the gym. He looks strong and all man, his sinewy arms crossed behind his head. I want to feel them around me, his hands on me. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. This is not the reason I came into his room.
“Ben.” I walk toward him when he looks up at me. “I have another present for you.”
He gives me a puzzled look when I sit down on his bed and hand him an envelope. He opens it, pulling out the legal documents in order to change Archer’s birth certificate.
“What is that?” He tries to skim over the text, but seems more confused by the minute.
“If you sign those papers your name will be added to the birth certificate as Archer’s father and his last name will be changed to yours.” My heart is beating in a frantic rhythm, nervous and excited for Ben’s reaction.
He leans over, grabs my arm and yanks me towards him. His arms encircle me, hugging me close. My name is all he says at first, and it’s more of a croak than anything, his voice thick with emotion.
He holds me like this for a while, until I can feel something shift in the air. It might be because of the first notes of the song filtering through the speakers, the sexy, sensual lyrics of “I Need You” by Mass Undergoe spilling in to the room, adding to the desire that’s been building between us. It’s hard not to think about doing the things that the song talks about, laying this close to him, feeling hard muscle, feeling every inch of his body. I lift myself up, starting to kiss his neck, his jaw, moving towards his lips.
Groaning, he pulls me closer. “Fuck, Frankie.”
Looking up at him, I smile. “My thoughts exactly.”
That’s all the encouragement he needs. While I straddle him, one of his hands holds onto the back of my neck, pulling me in for another kiss, and his other is groping my ass, rubbing and squeezing it occasionally. I whimper softly, enjoying the strength and possessiveness that his every touch, his every kiss, conveys. That only spurs him on more. He sits up, his hands sliding down to my hips and grabbing the edge of my shirt, then with one swift movement he takes it off, leaving me in only my lacy, red bra.
He doesn’t hesitate before he attacks my lips again, his tongue thrusting into my mouth. He holds me close, like a man dying from thirst, and I’m his favorite drink. I start to grind against his erection constrained by the jeans he’s wearing. The friction nearly drives me wild. I tangle my hands in his hair, holding onto him while I kiss him back—putting every emotion I feel into the kiss.
Before I know it, he’s undone my bra, sliding it down my arms, forcing me to let go for a minute. He leans forward, kissing down my neck, sucking and nibbling his way down my collarbone, before he grabs one of my breasts, squeezing it lightly, peppering it with kisses. Moving to the other one, I can tell he’s holding back, trying to be gentle in order not to hurt them, which only turns me on more. The fact that he’s putting me and my needs first makes me want him with a need that’s beyond words. I moan and rock my hips even more frantically against him.
The sound of his low growl reverberates through my body, setting every cell in me on fire. My core clenches and pure heat travels through me. I sink my fingernails in his back, glad he’s already topless, slowly sliding them down, using enough pressure to leave a mark, but not enough to break his skin. I want to mark him. I want to make him mine.
I can feel him shudder, and he flips me over to my back, kissing me once before he moves down my body like a man on a mission. Kissing his way down, he doesn’t stop until he gets to the seam of my black jeans. The anticipation is nearly killing me; I can’t help panting, feeling completely wanton.
“God, Ben. I need you.”
He moves quickly, making short work of his jeans and boxer briefs, before unbuttoning my pants and sliding them down together with my panties, leaving me completely naked and exposed. Kissing me around my navel, he moves down further, his warm breath tickling me as he goes. I squirm, moaning and mewling, wanting nothing more than to feel his mouth on me. I don’t have to wait long before his tongue finds my clit, circling it gently at first. I fist the sheets, thrashing my head from side to side, when his tongue sweeps out, licking along my folds. I’m so turned on I nearly leap off the bed at the contact, but he’s holding down my hips. I feel him chuckle agains
t my sensitive flesh, the vibrations sending little jolts of pleasure through my body. Then his mouth is back on my clit, sucking and licking, driving me to the edge of insanity.
“You taste so sweet, babe,” he murmurs against my flesh, and I feel like I’m losing control. I’m writhing, wanting more, wanting him. Suddenly his finger enters me, followed by a second one. He doesn’t give me time to adjust before he starts thrusting them in and out, and I cry out in pleasure.
As skillful fingers strum the guitar in the song, his fingers skillfully make my body hum, bringing it to life. Bringing me to the edge of what feels like a mind-blowing orgasm. I can feel it building, feel my inner walls starting to clench, squeezing his fingers. He must notice, as he pulls them out suddenly. I scowl at him.
“Jesus, Ben. I’m so fucking close,” I pant, not sure if he can even understand a single one of my breathless words.
He leans over, grabbing something out of the nightstand and I hear the rustle of a condom package.
“I want you to come with me inside of you,” he grins, his eyes fixed on me, blazing with passion and desire.
He rolls the condom on and then slides up my body, grabbing my arms on the way and sliding them up above my head, where he holds them down, pinning me to the bed. I surrender, giving him all of me. I forget everything around us, totally honed in on him, noticing the slightest twitch of a muscle. My hips are rocking against his hard cock of their own accord, trying to encourage him to finally fuck me. I’m so turned on by him on top of me, holding me down. I’m about to combust with the tension in my body when his lips crash down on mine, his tongue fucking my mouth. I can taste myself on his lips and it’s extremely erotic. I moan into his mouth and when he finally slides into me with one fluid stroke, I cry out.