Page 57 of Live Like There's No Tomorrow
Once they reached the square she smiled at him. “Do you need to get back to work? I can walk home.”
Ben shook his head vigorously. “I don’t need to get back to work. I want to spend the evening with you. If you want me?” He hadn’t meant to word it like that, but the way she looked at him, the way she smiled, told him she did want him. And he wanted her.
“Do you want to come back to the house, then?” She smiled. “It’s funny, I can’t bring myself to call itmyhouse, it’s justthehouse.”
“Maybe that’s because a part of you knows it’s only temporary.”
“I hope so.”
When they did get back to the house, Charlotte let him in and then smiled at him shyly. “You know what I want to do. But somehow it doesn’t seem right.”
Ben nodded. He felt the same way. What he didn’t understand was why. In all of his fantasies about what might happen if she came back, they always ended up in bed, usually sooner than later. He wanted her. He had since the first moment he laid eyes on her again, but he wanted it to be right. He met her gaze. “Since we’re being totally honest with each other, I’m scared.”
“Why?”
“Because I want it to be perfect, and also, I suppose, because I feel that when we finally make love to each other again, that’s it. I’ll be lost. I think I’ve built it up in my mind to be the ultimate commitment, even though I know that’s crazy. And I don’t want to go there until we’re both really sure.”
Charlotte smiled. “It’s not crazy. That’s how I feel, too. Maybe we should just wait?”
Ben gave her a rueful smile. “You know I want to kick myself now, right?”
She laughed. “And you think I don’t?”
“I think it’s the right thing to do though.”
She nodded. “So, if I’m not allowed to ravish you, would you like a drink? In fact,” her eyes lit up, “what do you think? Do you want to come sit in the hot tub with me?”
Ben groaned. “You want me to drink with you and sit in the hot tub with you, and not touch you?”
“Who said anything about not touching?” She gave him the smile that still turned him on so much.
“Well, okay then.”
He was starting to wonder what he’d gotten himself into, when she ran upstairs and returned a few moments later wearing a bikini. He remembered all the times they’d sat naked in the hot tub at Pete’s cabin, and where it always led. She may not be naked right now, but the sight of her body covered only by a few triangles of fabric, was making him think how quickly she could be naked and how easy it would be to recreate old memories.
He took his shirt off and tried to hide his smile at the way her gaze moved over him hungrily. “I don’t have a swimsuit.”
She smiled. “I don’t mind.”
He took a deep breath—he did. He watched her climb into the water and then started to unbuckle his belt and take off his jeans. He hesitated then climbed in to join her, still wearing his boxers.
She handed him a beer and gave him a little pout. “That’s not fair.”
He laughed. “Come on, it wouldn’t be fair for me to sit here naked while you are wearing a bikini.”
She nodded grudgingly. “I know, but I was hoping.” She slid along to sit beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. Looking up into his eyes, she said, “How long do you think we should wait?” She ran her fingers over his chest as she spoke.
Ben closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “No more than about two minutes, if you carry on like that.”
She chuckled. “Oh good, I’ll keep it up then, shall I?”
Reluctantly he covered her hand with his own. “I can’t be held responsible if you do.” He cupped her cheek in his hand and lowered his lips to hers.
Her eyes widened as she looked up into his eyes. Her lips parted to let him in as he kissed her hungrily. Ben couldn’t help it; his hands moved over her while he kissed her. Her body, her skin felt so familiar under his touch. So familiar, and yet so new and intriguing. She was still slender, but she’d filled out as a woman. She moaned into his mouth as his fingers closed around her breast. The sound spurred him on and he pulled her into his lap.
“Hello?”
Ben’s head jerked up and Charlotte slid back down onto the seat at the sound of footsteps approaching.
