Against All Odds (Shifters) (10 page)

She took a shaky breath and smiled. “Wow, I thought I would be too ugly then or something.”

Wrapping her fingers around his hardening length, Ben shook his head. “There’s not a chance of me not being attracted to you, Heather. I ache for you
.”

For now he was happy to simply be with her without being inside her.

Chapter Twelve

Over the next couple of days Heather was in a state of bliss. She couldn’t believe there was ever a time when Ben wasn’t in her life. He’d taken over her life, and she was so happy. She’d noted that she was always smiling or laughing at something he did or said.

Brushing her hair, Heather stared at her reflection. The barbeque was tomorrow
, and she needed to talk with him about their costume. Dana was visiting them tonight for dinner. She looked forward to being with her friend. Felix was also chancing a visit with Ben. Heather tugged on Ben’s shirt. It was too big, but she loved having his scent surround her. He made her feel comforted with him close by. Fisting her hands at her sides she stared at her reflection.

The chicken was baking in the oven
, and a chocolate cake was sitting on the side on a stand. She’d spent the entire day in the kitchen with Ben. He really could cook, and some of his ideas were amazing. She just hoped his idea of adding a little extra salt to the batter for the cake actually worked. If not, she was going to make him bring himself to orgasm that night.

Most of their nights were spent in his bedroom. She’d start the night going to her own bed
, and as she thought about their time together she’d get aroused. He’d promised to get her off, and the first time had been a joke but now, she went to him whenever she needed a release. She wasn’t using him. There were times when she went to him for a release, but the real reason was because she couldn’t sleep without his arms wrapped around her.

“Felix and Dana are close by,” Ben said, coming into the room.

His arms were around her before she turned toward him. He moved so fast at times that he startled her. She loved it when he changed their positions from when she was on top to being underneath him. His cock was a thing of dreams. She loved it pressing against her core.

“Please, baby, stop, there’s only so much of your creamy, musky scent I can take.”
He kissed her neck, his tongue licking over her pulse.

Her nipples hardened
, and cream spilt into her panties. She crossed her legs creating some friction. His hands went from around her waist down to cup her mound.

“Stop and tonight I’ll lick you until you come on my face twice,” he said.

“Do you promise?” she asked, whimpering from the pleasure of his touch.

“Yes.”

“Okay. We better leave the room. Being close to you makes me want to do other things to you.” She took his hand, leading him out of the bedroom.

Ben tried to fight her
, but she eventually tugged him out of the bedroom. “Why did we invite Dana and Felix?”

“They’re our friends.”

“Did I ever mention how friends are overrated?” he asked.

They made their way down to the kitchen. She put a pan of water on to boil as Ben grabbed the ingredients for the salad from the fridge. These were the moments she loved. She couldn’t get over how easy it was to work beside him in the kitchen.

“You’ve never mentioned it to me.” She took a carrot strip from his box and nibbled on it. Heather had skipped lunch, and she was starting to feel it. She was starving.

“We need to come up with a costume for tomorrow,” she said, nibbling on the carrot.

“I was thinking we could just go as ourselves.”

“Why? It’s Halloween. We should dress up.”

He shrugged. “I don’t want our first time out to be covered in some garish costume. Couldn’t we just go as a couple and have fun?”

Staring into his eyes she saw the seriousness of it. “No costume, just us?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” She was good with that. Over the years she’d dressed up as a ghost, a witch
, and many other things. It would be nice to go as herself. “If you start to get repulsed by me, you could always throw a white blanket over my head,” she said, teasing.

“Don’t, Heather.”

“What?” she asked, taking another carrot. He caught her hand.

“Don’t say stuff like that. You’re a beautiful woman
, and I never want you to cover yourself from me.” There was a flash of guilt in his gaze, which disappeared as quickly as it came.

“Okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He brought her close, pressing his lips against hers. The doorbell chimed interrupting the moment.

“See, overrated,” he said.

Chuckling, Heather left him alone to go and answer the door. Dana and Felix stood waiting. They embraced her as soon as she opened the door.

“It’s so good to see you, honey. It has been too damn long. Ben won’t let me visit,” Dana said.

“I do not,” Ben said, coming up behind her.

Felix shook hands with him and then gave her a hug. There was a small growl coming from Ben
, but she ignored it.

“He’s a little overprotective. I doubt it will ever change,” she said, rubbing his chest.

“It’s the tiger in him,” Dana said.

They went into the sitting room
, and Heather enjoyed having her friends around. All too soon Ben and Felix were in a conversation about sports, and Dana took her through to the kitchen. “So how are things?” Dana asked.

She worked with Dana, aware of the difference
between working with her friend as opposed to Ben.

“It’s amazing
. He’s like a completely different person.” Heather smiled. She couldn’t even think of the attack and the man he’d shown her to be in the same sentence.

“And the sex? How’s the sex? He looks like he’d be a rock star in the bedroom.” Dana forked some pasta and started eating from the serving bowl. Heather slapped her hand.

“We’ve not actually had sex yet.”

“What? Why not?”

“We’re doing everything else, and we’re getting used to each other,” Heather said. “Don’t forget we’ve had a lot to overcome.”

“That’s bullshit. The energy between you two is smoking. You need to fuck him soon, Heather
, otherwise you’re going to explode, and that’s my advice.” Dana ate more pasta.

“I don’t want to rush it or spoil it. What if I make the wrong move? The only experience I have is with quick flash Mark, remember? He lasted about a minute at best.” Heather cringed thinking about the other man.

“You’ll never know until you try. I’m sure Ben will be more than happy to show you how it’s done.”

Dana nudged her shoulder, winking.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“I’m a woman who needs details. Lots and lots of details. I’ve made a pact with myself. I’m not having sex
again until I find my mate.”

“How many
vibrators have you broken?” Heather asked, smiling.

“Six
, and it has been a week. What can I say? I’m used to a lot of sex.”

Laughing, Heather listened to her friend moan.

****

Ben watched the women leave
, and he was left to look at Felix. The leopard was smirking at him.

“You’re in love,” Felix said.

“So, have you found the right woman for you yet?” he asked. No matter how many times he tried to tell Heather his true feelings he always balked and never spoke how he felt.

“Does Heather know?”

He shook his head. Ben felt like a coward for not telling her the truth.

“Why haven’t you told her?”

“I can’t. What if she laughs in my face? I can’t take that kind of rejection. If I’d not lost control and if I didn’t have the attack hanging over my head I wouldn’t have a problem with speaking the truth.” Standing up, he went to the drinks cabinet and poured himself a small whiskey. He could never get drunk, but he liked the taste of the dark amber liquid. The burn was a welcome relief to the ache in his gut.

“Regardless of the rejection, she deserves the truth. You owe her that much.”

Ben handed the other man a drink and took his seat. He heard Dana and Heather talking and smirked when the other woman mentioned the dildos. Felix shuddered. “There are things some men should never know about their sisters.”

Laughing, Ben took a large gulp of the liquid.

“She doesn’t know about the scars,” Ben said, finally confessing the truth.

“What do you mean? Shouldn’t you have told her? Is this why she’s not leaving the house?” Felix asked.

Taking his time, Ben looked at the leopard and saw the judgement in his eyes. “I can’t bring myself to tell her yet. We’ve not been together fully.”

“You’ve not fucked her?”

Wincing, Ben glared at him.

“Sorry, you’ve not mated with her yet?”

“No.”

“Her scent is all over you. I thought you’d gotten down to some business at least,” Felix said.

“Not yet. We’re doing other things. If I tell her the truth about the scars she could leave me, Felix. I can’t let that happen. I need her.”

The other man stared at him as if he’d lost hi
s mind. To a point he truly believed he had.

“You’re not telling her in case she’ll leave you?” Felix asked.

“I’ve not got any hold over her at all.”

“I don’t know, Ben. From the way she looks at you I’d say she’s half in love with you, if not more.”

Shrugging, Ben wished he knew the truth. He wasn’t going to rely on scent alone. With Heather he wanted the truth to come from her lips. There was no way he was going to get the answer from his nose.

“Dad won’t be happy with her not knowing the truth,” Felix said.

He’d always intended to tell her the truth about the scars. There would come a point when he’d have to tell her the truth, but until then, he was keeping their secret to himself. He needed to make her fall in love with him before he risked the chance of her leaving him.

“Well I’ll feel happier leaving you alone with her. There’s no way you’d hurt her. You’re too much in love with her.”

“Of course I’m in love with her.”

Dana walked through to the sitting room. “Heather is putting the food on the table. You better tell her the truth
, or I will.”

She stormed out of the room with her arms folded.

“I’ll keep my sister in check. You’re going to have to tell her soon. You can’t keep something like this from her.”

“If you both
are so against what I’m doing why don’t you just tell her?” Ben asked, tired of their judging looks and attitude.

“Because you’re her mate. We’re giving you time
, and it will be up to Dad what he decides to do.” Felix stood, leaving the room.

Ben stared at the door wondering what the hell he should do. It seemed everything was against him.
Heather popped her head around the door. “Are you coming through?” she asked.

Getting up he went to her. He tugged her inside the room and cupped her cheek. “I’m going to say something to you
, and I don’t want you to say anything at all. In fact leave your thoughts and tell me tomorrow or something.”

“You’re starting to scare me, Ben.”

Dropping a kiss to her lips he stared into her eyes.

“There’s nothing
to worry about.” He stopped to look at her. She was his future, and he needed to put himself out there. “I love you, Heather. I’m in love with you. You’re the only person I ever want to spend the rest of my life with.”

Her eyes glistened with tears.

“No words, okay? I want you to think about what I’ve said. I’m not expecting anything, but I want you to know that I’m in love with you.”

Kissing her one final time
Ben left to go and eat.

Throughout the meal he was aware of Heather watching him. He didn’t say anything to her besides what they were discussing in conversation.
Felix and Dana brought her out of her shell, and in no time at all they were laughing and eating.

She really was a good cook
, and when they were in the kitchen together the time just flew by.

When it was time for their guests to go, they saw them out together. They washed their dishes in silence. He knew she wanted to say something. Ben moved up behind her as she was washing the dishes.
He wrapped his arms around her waist. She tensed, and he nibbled her neck.

“I know you want to say something to me
, but I’m not ready to hear it. Please, take your time.”

“What if I want to tell you my thoughts now?” she asked.

“Keep them to yourself. I love you, and I’m happy. I don’t want you to rush into anything. Think about it, and take your time.”

Later that night, Heather came to him. When he reached for her, Heather told him no. She didn’
t want him to make her feel good. Heather asked him to hold her. For the whole night, he held her and was more than happy to do so.