Ballsy

by Sean Ashcroft

  Ben realized then that Annie had read the situation between them just a little wrong—she hadn’t clued in that they were never together before, that they’d come here as friends… but then why was she doing this?

  If not to expose him as a liar, what was the point?

  “Unless we could come to some kind of arrangement where you convince me not to tell him,” she said.

  Oh.

  Blackmail.

  That made a little more sense.

  Obviously, she’d gotten the impression that Ben was better paid than he actually was. Or that Sam had money that he had access to.

  That wasn’t the worst conclusion she could have jumped to. This place wasn’t cheap, so if they could afford to be here…

  Well, it was easy to fool yourself into thinking that travel photographers had to be rolling in family money to do what they did. In reality, Sam had just always been good at getting a free meal when he needed one. Or when he didn’t need one.

  People liked doing things for him.

  If anything, Ben would be the insecure one in this relationship. Annie had picked the wrong target.

  But this was a much, much better story than the one he’d been sent here to write.

  “How much?” he asked. Annie’s eyes lit up.

  “We’ll talk about money later,” she said. “I’m going to leave you to think about how much Sam is worth to you. I think it’s a lot.”

  It was a lot. Money didn’t mean anything to Ben, but Sam meant the world. There was nothing he wouldn’t have done to keep him, no amount he wouldn’t have paid.

  A lot of people could get caught up in a scam like this, though, desperate to hold onto partners they loved—or needed—who maybe didn’t trust them as much as they should have. Partners who would have been swayed by video evidence, who could have used it in court to take advantage of prenuptial agreements.

  Sam would believe Ben, though. Wouldn’t he?

  She was right that their romantic relationship was on shaky ground, but that didn’t mean their friendship was. If he’d learned nothing else this week, Ben had definitely learned that Sam was still his best friend. The person he’d been closest to in his entire life.

  As long as he was honest, as long as Sam heard his side of the story first, they’d be okay.

  Unless…

  Ben’s stomach clenched as he thought about it, suddenly unsure. What if Sam did believe her? Or even if he didn’t, what if the whole incident planted doubts in his mind?

  “It is,” Ben said quietly, keeping up the act. He wanted to see how this would all play out before he jumped to any conclusions. The story was still important. The story was going to be enough to save Ballsy.

  At least he’d have that to comfort him.

  The more he thought about it, the more brilliant the scam became. Charge a fortune to come to your exclusive couples’ retreat, which would ensure that only wealthy couples turned up, and then double-dip with a little side of blackmail, knowing that all your potential targets were in fragile relationships already.

  If Ben hadn’t been pissed off about it, he would have been more inclined to appreciate the genius.

  What if this was how he lost Sam, after all?

  How many people had been caught in this mess? How many lives ruined quietly, out of the public eye, because it was too embarrassing to admit that you’d been scammed like this?

  If the higher-ups at Cocky wanted a piece about couples’ retreats, they were going to get one.

  “Good,” Annie repeated. “You’ll receive further instructions before you leave tomorrow. I hope the rest of your stay is pleasant.”

  Rather than argue, Ben turned and made a show of storming away, heading back to his and Sam’s room.

  He couldn’t hide this from him. He’d have to come clean as soon as possible and hope that Sam believed him.

  Sam had to believe him.

  Ben couldn’t face losing him again.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sam grunted as he felt someone shaking him, and opened his eyes sleepily to see that it was Ben. Despite being disturbed from his nap, he smiled. There were times when he would have given anything to have Ben wake him up like this, so he wasn’t about to get mad over it.

  “Ready to go another round?” he asked, smirking. Sex with Ben had been everything he’d hoped for and more, and he was eager to do it again if that was what Ben wanted.

  He was a little sore, as he’d expected, but he could live with it for the promise of another great orgasm. There’d be time to recover later.

  “Later,” Ben said softly. “Right now, I need you to be awake so I can fill you in on what just happened.”

  Sam took a moment to process the serious tone of Ben’s voice, as well as the expression on his face, and forced himself to wake up a little more. He sat up, not worried this time when the bedclothes fell away from him.

  Whatever anyone else might have thought, Ben still wanted him. That was all he really cared about.

  It’d still be a while before he was comfortable in short sleeves in public, but it was a start. Ben wouldn’t push him, anyway.

  That was one of the perks of being in love with your best friend. Even if you hadn’t seen him for a while.

  “What’s up?” Sam asked once he felt his brain had started up enough for him to engage in a serious conversation.

  “I’m being blackmailed,” Ben said, his face perfectly straight.

  Sam laughed. It wasn’t funny, not really, but Ben wasn’t a rich man. Not by any means. Anyone who was blackmailing him was an idiot.

  “What did you do?”

  Ben cleared his throat, glancing down. “Annie kissed me,” he said.

  Sam’s stomach flipped over at the instant mental image of Ben with someone else.

  His throat closed up, his chest felt tight. He’d been so close to getting to have Ben. So close to the happy ending he’d always pined after.

  Of course Ben was tempted. Given the choice between a broken, scarred man who’d already betrayed him and literally anyone else, of course he wouldn’t choose Sam.

  “I…” Sam swallowed, unable to get any of the words he wanted to say out. Tears stung at his eyes, and he wanted to wipe them away, but he couldn’t make himself move to do it. “I understand,” he choked out, not wanting Ben to feel guilty over it. It was okay.

  If he wanted forgiveness, he had it. Sam couldn’t be angry with him over something like this. He valued Ben’s friendship, his company, too much. Too much to throw it away over a mistake.

  “Sam,” Ben said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. His fingers brushed against the scars there, making Sam’s heart race. This was too much. He loved Ben, loved him with every atom of his being, but it was too much.

  “Sam, I’m so sorry,” he continued, his eyes soft. “She took me by surprise. I didn’t want it. I’d never hurt you like that.”

  As the rush of blood in Sam’s ears slowed, he realised what Ben had actually said.

  Not that he kissed Annie. That Annie had kissed him.

  It wasn’t enough to completely chase away the sinking feeling, but it did help.

  Ben wasn’t the kind of man who was unfaithful. Not ever.

  Ben had proved his loyalty a thousand times over in a thousand different ways. He didn’t cheat. It just wasn’t in his makeup.

  Right down to his core, Ben was fundamentally honest. Not in the sense that he’d never once told a harmless lie, but in the sense that he wouldn’t lie about anything important. Definitely not anything that would hurt someone he cared about.

  Sam believed that Ben cared about him.

  “Obviously, this wasn’t something I encouraged,” Ben said, though Sam had already well and truly come to that conclusion.

  “I figured,” Sam responded, since Ben still looked nervous.

  “You mean too much to me for me to risk losing you,” Ben added. “Please believe me.”

  Sam swallowed, nodding slowly. “I belie
ve you.”

  Of course he believed Ben. Why would Ben lie about it?

  He still felt a little sick to his stomach at the thought, but Ben wouldn’t hurt him. Not like this. Ben had never hurt him before.

  “So… blackmail?” he said, trying to chase the last of the image out of his head.

  He wanted to shove Ben down onto the bed and hold him there, kiss him all over, leave bruises. Mark him out as his own.

  Sam shoved that impulse aside, focusing on what Ben was trying to tell him.

  “Right. So she won’t tell you. Which is why I’m telling you.”

  “Because you’re going after the story, right?” Sam asked. He should have known this wasn’t going to stay a relaxing weekend away. He’d been waiting for work to happen.

  That was okay, though. Sam knew Ben well enough to know what he was getting. Ben without a story to chase wasn’t Ben at all.

  “Right. And I’m hoping you’ll put up with me doing it.” Ben reached out, taking Sam’s hand.

  Sam’s heart leapt at the tiny gesture. He’d never thought of Ben as someone who was prone to holding hands. This new, more intimate side of him was something he could definitely get used to.

  “I know you,” Sam said. “I expect work to come first. You’re still my best option.”

  “You sure? Because we’re at a retreat full of men in unfulfilling marriages, half of whom are probably secretly gay and terrified that their trophy wife is gonna figure it out. You could make some people very happy,” Ben said.

  It was supposed to be a joke, but there was an undertone of nervousness to it.

  That, more than anything, calmed Sam’s nerves. Ben wanted to keep him.

  “I’m sure,” Sam said softly. “I’m not walking away again until you tell me to. No matter what happens. We lost too much time together, I don’t wanna lose any more.”

  “You don’t come second to work,” Ben murmured, playing with Sam’s fingers. “You never did. I just liked dragging you along for the ride because I wanted to spend more time with you. I’m sorry I wasn’t braver about all this back then.”

  “No more apologies,” Sam said. “You get a clean slate. All is forgiven. I’m not gonna be mad at you for being young when we met.”

  Ben looked up, meeting Sam’s eyes. “Clean slate,” he agreed. “For both of us.”

  Sam grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that, ‘cause I screwed up a lot, too.”

  “No more apologies goes for you, too,” Ben said. “I don’t want to hear that you’re anything less than perfect.”

  He lifted Sam’s hand up and pressed the knuckles against his lips. The tenderness of it stopped the comeback on the tip of Sam’s tongue in its tracks.

  He was so in love with Ben he could barely function around him.

  That was okay. Functioning was for people whose whole lives hadn’t all fallen into place at once.

  Sam hadn’t ever thought past this point, but he could already tell it was going to be another big adventure.

  “So I should keep pretending to be a little insecure about you, and you should pretend to be weirdly guilty? In public, I mean,” Sam said.

  “That’s the game plan,” Ben confirmed, kissing Sam’s hand again before letting go of it. “I need more evidence than a verbal threat if I’m gonna report on this.”

  Sam shrugged. “Then I’ll help you however I can,” he said.

  Maybe work didn’t come first, but Sam didn’t want Ben to have to choose. He wanted to be the supportive partner he deserved.

  He couldn’t help smiling a little at the thought of being Ben’s partner. They weren’t quite there yet, but Sam was really hoping that was where they were headed. That was what he wanted, at the end of all this.

  Him and Ben against the world, just like old times.

  Just like old times, but without any of the uncomfortable uncertainty they’d had about each other before. They were finally ready to be together, and Sam couldn’t have been more excited about it.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving, and we’re late for lunch,” Ben said. “So I’m going with or without you.”

  “Gimme a minute to get dressed.” Sam threw the blankets off and rolled out of bed, not worried about Ben seeing him naked now.

  Behind him, Ben let out a low wolf whistle.

  Yeah, things between them were going to be great.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Having spotted Robert giving him a few furtive glances over lunch, Ben excused himself the moment Sam was finished eating and promised to meet him for the next activity, kissing his cheek as he went past.

  His own cheeks were still burning from the public display of affection, but there was a warm, heavy ball of joy curled up in his chest.

  Normally, he’d hate to feel sentimental like this. Ben wasn’t accustomed to feeling particularly strongly about anyone.

  Sam was a special case. Eliot was also a special case, but in a different way.

  As intimidating as it was to open up after he’d spent so many years shut down, protecting his fragile heart from harm, it was also nice. It was nice to feel things—big, happy things—again.

  He sent a quick I found a story text to Eliot, wanting him to be in on the chase if he wasn’t still struggling with the one he was already chasing.

  As soon as Ben rounded the corner he’d seen Robert slip away behind, he nearly ran directly into his startlingly broad chest. He took a step back and looked up at him, fighting not to look surprised.

  Robert only had a few inches on him, but it suddenly felt like several feet.

  Not that he was afraid. He’d squared off against worse.

  “You need anything?” Robert asked, still as blandly pleasant as ever.

  Ben wasn’t sure whether he knew what was going on, but he couldn’t really see how the scam would work without his knowledge. It seemed like the kind of thing that would be hard to hide.

  “I was supposed to talk to Annie about something,” Ben said, keeping his cards close to his chest. If Robert didn’t know, he didn’t want him to, either. Not yet. He needed hard evidence first.

  The neutral look on Robert’s face transformed into an ugly smirk as Ben watched. “We’ll get to you in good time. Watching you squirm is half the fun.”

  Ben growled. Even though he knew he was the one coming for them, he hated to be laughed at. He hated to let them think they were going to win this one.

  Ruining people’s lives for profit was one thing—disgusting, immoral, and all the rest, but at least the motive was clear and almost reasonable. Actively enjoying their pain was pure evil.

  “This isn’t a game,” Ben said, keeping his voice low. “Sam is the most important thing in the world to me.”

  “Then you won’t want to lose him,” Robert said.

  “Why me?” Ben asked. He didn’t exactly expect a Bond-villain monologue, but some insight into why he’d been chosen would have been nice. There were five other couples here.

  Robert shrugged. “You’re an easy target. Your boyfriend is insecure, you’re uncomfortable with physical affection, and you’ve just been separated. He’d be willing to believe that you just didn’t really love him in the first place.”

  Ben paused to take that in. Although it was coming from someone who was trying to hurt him, parts of it hit uncomfortably close to home.

  Sam was the kind of man who would want to hold hands in public. If Ben was going to make him feel happy and secure, he was probably going to have to learn to do that, at least sometimes.

  It was just now dawning on Ben that getting together was only the first, tiny hill they needed to conquer. Staying together was a mountainous trek. He’d just been so focused on the hill that he hadn’t seen the landscape beyond until now.

  “I love him more than anything,” Ben said automatically. It was a good answer, anyway—it might encourage them to get greedy, and the larger the amount they demanded, the worse it would look for them.

  Robert sm
irked again. “Like I said, we’ll see. You should go enjoy your time with him.”

  Ben’s stomach flipped at the thought of losing Sam. Even though he knew it wouldn’t happen over this, the idea was enough to rattle him to his core. He couldn’t go through that again. It would kill him this time.

  He glared at Robert for effect as he walked away, pulling his phone out to see if Eliot had responded.

  Good, because mine is dead. Bad source.

  Great.

  Ben didn’t blame Eliot—whatever had gone wrong, he knew it wasn’t something Eliot could have foreseen. If it had been, he would have seen it coming a mile away, like he always did. The combination of stress, panic, and the looming deadline for proving that Ballsy was a valuable asset probably hadn’t helped.

  That did mean it was all up to him now.

  I have stuff to do right now, but look for an email from me later. I need you to put on your research hat.

  I never take my research hat off, Eliot responded before Ben could even put his phone away.

  Go enjoy the rest of your Saturday like a normal person, Ben texted back. Eliot had tried his best, and he deserved a break now.

  Besides, Ben was about to ask him to work on a Sunday, so he needed to be in his good graces.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You’ve each been given a map to a beautiful, secluded location to watch the sunset together,” Robert explained to the group. “But you’ll have to find your way there first by working as a team.”

  Sam bristled at being told what to do by a man who was trying to blackmail Ben, but listened attentively to the instructions anyway. Ben had insisted that they continue to behave as normal, as though he was hiding the threat from Sam and fully intending to pay up.

  For Ben’s sake, Sam was going along with it, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

  By the time the instructions were finished, Ben was already playing with his phone.

  Sam’s heart sank. He’d known it wouldn’t last forever, but it looked like the new-relationship honeymoon was already over.