“The hospital paid for this?” Kayley turned her face so she could see him. He took the liberty of having her face close and planted his lips on hers. She responded instantly, her body molding into his and a moan reverberated from within her. Her question forgotten, she turned in Ben’s arms and deepened their kiss. No matter how many times they had made love to each other, to her, each time felt just as emotional and heart felt as the last. And this being the first trip they had ever taken together, coupled with the unease she had about what was happening here, she needed his touch.
“I need you,” Kayley whispered into his ear, kissing him along his neck. Her body ignited, a slow, flickering flame traveling up her entire body at each place he touched her.
Ben knew, without her even saying a word, that she was feeling nervous about being here in New York. While she was trying to put on a brave face and be supportive of his career opportunity, he knew that the whole thing was rocking her. She needed some reassurance that things were the same with them, and needed more than just words. He would show her that she was his number one.
Rubbing Kayley’s shoulders and feeling the tense muscles there, he led her to the soft bed and lay her back, kissing her the whole time. Releasing her, he removed her shoes, rubbing her feet. He then worked on removing her jeans, unbuttoning them and sliding them off while trailing kisses down her stomach and legs. She watched him with a hooded gaze as he removed her jacket, then her long sleeved shirt, his hot breath kissing the goose bumps off of her skin. She was now laying on the bed in just her pale blue underwear set, her breasts heaving with anticipation.
“Strip,” she demanded, raising up on one elbow so she could watch him. Ben quirked up one eyebrow, the smirk on his face making the dimples she loved so much deepen. She would need to lick those once he got those clothes off. He removed his jacket and threw it over one of the side chairs. Kayley watched him as he then removed his shoes, then his jeans, and then his shirt. When he stood in front of her in just those sexy boxers she loved so much, her heartbeat accelerated even more. Seeing him like this never got old. In fact, she loved it even more that she knew his body so well now.
“Turn over,” Ben’s voice was like silk running over her body. She shivered as she listened. She loved when he got demanding. While she didn’t like to remember the horrible days they had spent apart, she did like to remember the night that they made up.
He climbed over her, straddling her back as he started rubbing her muscles. She was so wound up, and, in true Ben fashion, he knew it. She groaned as he massaged the tight muscles, both from the fact that he was touching her and that it felt so amazing. She could feel his strong legs caging her hips, and she had to stop herself from reaching back to touch them, knowing she couldn’t do that and let him massage her at the same time. Leaning over, Ben trailed kisses from her neck down her back, still loosening the knots in her shoulders. She closed her eyes, relishing in the rough caressing of her muscles and the soft whispers of his kisses. He moved down from her shoulders, massaging her back.
She turned her face to the side to try to see him and Ben’s lips met her there. Something about him leaning over her, resting some of his weight against her back, made this extremely arousing. The angle he was at, just barely able to reach her mouth, meant that their lips weren’t all the way attached when his tongue started its magic. Groaning, she tried turning her face closer to get more of him. Using one of his hands, he turned her face, thrusting his tongue in her mouth deeply. His other hand roamed down her body, stopping at the T of her panties and running underneath the small fabric. His obvious desire for her pressed against her leg, and she turned over, wanting to feel him everywhere.
Looking into his eyes now, her body trembled. His jaw was clenched, making the dimples in his cheeks deep like canyons, and his eyelids were lowered over his eyes. The look he was giving her was enough to set this room on fire, and she was ready to extinguish her fire right now. He lowered his head to hers, simultaneously using both of his hands to discard her bra and underwear as he licked and sucked her mouth. He blazed a path to her neck, then to her breasts. As he paid special attention to them, his hand travelled the length of her and found where she was ready for him. Sliding a finger inside, she arched her back instinctively. Adding another, they groaned in ecstasy together.
Lifting his head so he could watch her, he felt his need for her increase monumentally. As she lay there, her eyes shut and her lips blowing out puffs of air all because of his touch, his head reeled. She really was the most beautiful woman. Realizing he had stopped kissing her, she opened her eyes, catching him watching her. A blush crept over her cheeks. He loved that as many times as they had been together now, she still felt shy when he watched her. She ran her hands through his hair, and he closed his eyes. This was one of his most favorite things she did, and not just when they were making love. She would do it while they were falling asleep, or laying on the couch watching television, his head in her lap.
“Let’s go christen that bathtub,” Ben said against her stomach, licking her belly button. He stood up and dropped his boxers to the floor. Kayley’s eyes followed the motion, her gaze heating as she looked at him. He held out his hand and she took it. Pulling her up, he followed her to the expansive bathroom, trying hard to control the urge to push her against the window and take her with the backdrop of New York behind them.
She turned on the water and then found some bubble bath on the counter. Adding a liberal amount, she could feel Ben’s gaze on her as she moved. She tried not to feel self-conscious as he openly stared. Coming to sit on the edge of the tub, he pulled her to him and she straddled him, fitting herself against his manhood like puzzle pieces. He pulled her hair back and picked up where they left off, kissing every part of her that he could reach while sitting on the edge of a bathtub. His fingers explored her further, realizing she was just as ready for him as he was for her. Steam from the warm water started wafting throughout the bathroom, enveloping them in warmth. Leaning back slightly, she moved her hand in between them to caress him, and he sucked in a breath.
“Remember the first time- in the shower?” Kayley whispered in his ear as she touched him. The pressure of his fingers increased.
“Baby,” Ben grunted, cupping a breast in his free hand, “it will go down in my record books as one of the best nights ever. As well as taking you against the door…and…oh, I can’t talk about this right now, with you so hot and ready on me, touching me…”
Kayley stood up and backed away, and Ben pouted. “Bath time,” she teased, her voice low and seductive. “Are you dirty?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her and nodded. She got into the tub, the feeling of the warm water soothing her body. “It’s so nice in here. Bubbly, and warm. Makes me feel relaxed and…”
Ben stepped in quickly, sloshing water on her. “Better not be too relaxed,” he grumbled. She sat up so he could slide in behind her, and when she felt him touch her from behind, she tensed in anticipation. “Kay, every time with you is the best I’ve ever had. You’re so beautiful.”
Wetting her hair, he smoothed it down her back. Taking some shower gel from the bottle, he rubbed some in his hands and then stroked her breasts, then moved downward, needing to touch her again. She arched back as he pressed into her. “I can’t wait too much longer,” she panted, reaching behind her to touch him. As their senses were overtaken with one another, the room filled with their mutual sounds. Kayley turned, sloshing some water over the edge. Neither of them could’ve cared less if the whole thing spilled out of the tub at this point.
Finally fitting himself inside her, he lay his head back against the bathtub, closing his eyes with the sensations of the water rippling over him and the love of his life covering him like a glove. She pressed against him, licking the water from his neck and chin, then settling on his lips. His eyes opened as she kissed him, and he saw that she was watching him as well. He cupped her backside with his hands, pulling her into him as much as they physically could with w
ater filling the tub.
“Touch me,” she whispered, still looking into his eyes. As he reached his hand in between them, her eyes began rolling back in her head and her breath quickened. Watching her was better than anything he could’ve ever imagined.
“So amazing,” he murmured, holding her to him with one hand as his other continued touching her. She tightened up from head to toe, and a familiar sensation began to buzz through his body, waiting for her. As she began convulsing against him, shaking with the power of her release, he followed her, both of them calling each other’s names until they had not one thing left in them to give.
“To be in New York, you have to eat a few distinct things,” Ben explained, standing next to her at the bathroom counter, putting gel in his hair as she dried her hair. He wore just a towel slung low on his hips, and she couldn’t help staring at the V at his hips as he talked. “Pizza, and hot dogs.” Ben looked at her in the mirror. “And spiders covered in chocolate. And squirrel.”
“Sounds nice,” she murmured, and he burst out laughing, causing her to blink her eyes at him and then look at him quizzically.
“Do you know anything that I said?” Ben teased, washing his hands free of the gel. He loved flustering her, and was proud that even after the several rounds of love making they had done, she still looked at him like she wanted to eat him. “You’re staring at me like I’m a steak, Ms. Carson. Would you like another taste?”
Kayley laughed, blushing. “Hey, I can’t help it that you stand around here in just a towel and I appreciate staring at you. If I were you, I’d stare at myself.”
Ben roared, stepping towards her and pulling her towel off and throwing it across the bathroom. Kayley gasped, giggling. “Hey!” He stood behind her, the differences in their size apparent as they looked at each other’s reflections in the mirror.
“See this?” he touched her beautiful body, caressing her gently. “If I had this body I’d stare at it, too. But, I do stare at you, and I greatly appreciate that you stare at me. Now that I am looking at our reflections, I want to make love to you again. So, we either put some clothes on now or we’re never going to get out to get something to eat and walk around and sightsee.”
Kayley tilted her head. “Well, they have room service, right? And, I may just choose you over a New York pizza or window shopping.”
Ben twirled her, dipping her back. “I greatly appreciate that, but I want to take you somewhere. And tomorrow I’m going to be gone for a good portion of the day, so I don’t want to lock you in here all night tonight.”
Kayley held his face in her hands. “I love you, Ben. I’m so proud of you.”
Ben breathed her in, her praise reaching all the way through his soul. “I love you, Kayley. Nothing in my life would be as meaningful without you.”
When they finally got dressed and ready, they left the hotel and started walking. Ben knew exactly where he wanted to end up, but he pretended he didn’t. Stopping at a vendor, they bought hot dogs and drinks, then kept walking.
“Hmm, this is good,” Kayley said with her mouth full. “I may need another.”
“As many as you want, baby,” Ben curled his finger to her and she stepped closer. People moved past them quickly on the sidewalk, but they didn’t care. He leaned over and licked the corner of her mouth. “Mustard tastes much better off your mouth,” he said playfully.
“Ben!” Kayley grinned. “You could’ve just told me.”
“But it was more fun to lick it off. Come on, before we get run over.” They continued walking, and Ben directed her. “There are some awesome places down here.”
“5th Avenue?” Kayley looked up and down the street. “I’ve heard about these places. These are the expensive stores, aren’t they?”
Ben threw his wrapper and soda in a nearby trash can, and Kayley followed suit. “Well, some of them, yes. But, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leaned over to her. “I make a pretty good living as a doctor, and you make pretty decent money, too. So, I think I can indulge my beautiful girlfriend a little while we’re on vacation.”
Kayley’s heart pitter-pattered as he took her hand and led her down the sidewalk, to a destination only he knew. She took it all in- the sights, the smells, the people rushing by, the cabs honking and screeching on their brakes.
“Where would we live, if you got the job?” Kayley had no idea if she could get used to this much noise.
Ben looked at her. “Well, we’re a long way away from making that decision, baby. But, if we did decide to move here, we could look at apartments in the city or we could look at houses in the suburbs. On one hand, it would be nice to be in the city, do something we haven’t done before. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still have the interview to get through.”
“Who are you kidding, Ben, you know they are going to love you and offer you the job on the spot. Who wouldn’t want this man?” She tugged on his jacket playfully.
“So biased,” he said, kissing her head. “And I love it. Here we are.”
Kayley turned her head so that she could see where they were, and gasped when she saw the Tiffany store in front of her. Looking down at the infinity bracelet she wore from Christmas, she couldn’t imagine what else she could possibly need here. And just like that, it hit her like a ton of bricks. He wouldn’t take her here to pick out engagement rings, would he? No, she thought. He doesn’t need my help picking that out. He’s the most romantic guy in the universe. Surely he wouldn’t buy me a ring with me here, would he? Her stomach started toiling with nerves and she could feel her heart rate start jumping. Could this be it? Is this why he wanted her to come to New York? She could feel her hopes soaring through the sky.
Ben opened the door to the boutique and Kayley stopped herself from gasping at the sight of the store. Just stepping in here felt expensive. As soon as they stepped in, several pairs of eyes swung their way. Kayley was dressed in a sweater dress with dressy, heeled boots and a long jacket. Ben was wearing a pair of khaki pants and a sweater. She guessed they looked good enough to be in a store this fancy.
“Can we help you?” A beautiful woman dressed to the nine’s asked them as they stepped closer. Her brown hair was styled perfectly, and she wore a black pencil skirt, a silk blouse, and high heels Kayley wouldn’t have wanted to wear for ten minutes much less hours on end. Her eyes had followed Ben since the second he opened the door. Kayley was used to this, and instead of it bothering her, it actually made her feel good, knowing that Ben attracted all of these amazing females and he came home to her.
“Absolutely,” Ben said confidently, and Kayley tried to force herself to stop shaking from nerves. “You okay, baby?” His hand was on her lower back and he could no doubt feel her soft tremors.
“Cold,” she explained, pulling her jacket closer in explanation. “I’m okay.”
Turning his attention back to the saleswoman, who ironically wore a nametag that said Tiffany, he smiled his mega-watt lady killer smile. Kayley wanted to roll her eyes but was too nervous for what they were doing there. She looked around, thinking that if Ben actually planned to propose here, surely he would have set something up ahead of time. Do people get engaged in jewelry stores?
“I would like to look at a few things,” Ben started. “First of all, I would like to know if you have any bracelets or necklaces that would be suitable for a two year old.”
Kayley looked at him, confused. “You want something for Alexis, here?”
“It’s almost her birthday,” he said, looking sheepish. “I want her to have something from her Daddy that is pretty.”
“She’s two, babe.”
Tiffany the saleslady looked amused. “Well, not really. We don’t usually sell jewelry that small. The only baby type items we have are like memento things, like a piggy bank, and a picture frame.”
Ben looked disappointed. “Well that just stinks. I have a little princess that needs some spoiling.”
“What was the other thing you wanted to look
at?” Tiffany’s eyes never left Ben’s. It was like Kayley didn’t exist.
“Well, I wanted to look at some rings,” he said to her, and Kayley’s stomach about came out of her mouth. He really was going to do this?
Tiffany’s mouth made a little O and she finally looked at Kayley. “E-engagement rings?” She stumbled over her words, looking as shocked as Kayley felt. She looked at both of their hands and realized they weren’t married.
“Oh, no, not today,” Ben explained, and just like that, all of the air whooshed out of Kayley’s lungs, and she felt light headed. “See, I got my girlfriend the infinity bracelet for Christmas, and I wanted to get her the ring to match, but I need her to try it on.” Kayley’s blood pounded in her ears, and she no longer heard anything he said. He brought her to Tiffany’s, in New York, to look for Alexis a birthday present and an infinity ring for her? She felt like she was punched in the gut. Tears threatened and she forced them back. No way was she going to allow herself to break down, not here.
Tiffany looked at Kayley with a question in her eyes, probably picking up on her devastation, and then back at Ben. Kayley blinked rapidly, looking out the side windows to watch the cars and people. If she looked at him right now, she was liable to break down and cry. She had no idea why she was being so ridiculous, but she was completely overcome with emotion and didn’t know how to reign it in.
She should be thankful her boyfriend wanted to buy her a matching ring to her bracelet at Tiffany’s in New York. Right? So what in the hell was her problem? Trying to talk herself down off the ledge, Kayley finally looked back at Ben, who was holding the ring in his hand.
Living Again Page 36