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 his 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.
Chapter Thirteen
The following night Heather sat beside Ben. Their day together had been quiet. She’d not known what to say to him. Actually, she did know what to say to him, but he didn’t want to hear her answer. For the first time in her life she wanted to tell him how she felt, and she couldn’t. He’d asked her to wait.
She pushed the skirt down over her thighs of the white dress she wore. When she’d gone for a shower, Ben had sneaked into her room to leave a dress for her to wear. She’d not worn anything quite so revealing since the attack.
The attack felt like a lifetime ago. She tried to get angry with him. Every time she thought about their meeting she felt relieved rather than angry.
Her life was a mess. She’d fallen for the man who scarred her, and he wouldn’t let her speak her thoughts.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She watched as he reached out to her, grabbing her hand.
“I’m nervous. You don’t think this is showing too much flesh, do you?”
“No. You’re beautiful, and I’ll be the luckiest guy in the world.” He kissed her hand and sped toward the Ashton household. “Will your parents be there tonight?”
“No, they hate Halloween. They’ll probably be home watching the news or something.” Her parents never celebrated Halloween, and they’d only given in for a tree at Christmas.
“Next year we’ll decorate our home. We can have scarecrows and spiders. We’ll have a pot of candy for the kids to come and earn.”
Heather chuckled. “You’d do that for me.”
He reached behind her chair and handed her a wrapped parcel. “This is just a little something I picked up with you in mind.”
The parcel felt like a book. She turned it over and started tearing off the wrapping.