Easy Nights (Boudreaux #6)

He licks his lips and slides his hands down my arms to link his fingers with mine. “I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I know that I said earlier that this is your choice, and it is, but I couldn’t stay away tonight. I’m terrified that you’ll tell me you can’t do this, and if that’s what you want, I’ll respect your decision. But I needed just one more look at your beautiful face while there’s still hope.”

My God, how could I have ever considered saying no? His face is ashen. His voice is raw with vulnerability.

He’s stripped himself bare for me, regardless of the consequences, and I want with all of my heart to soothe him.

I step to him and cup his face with my hands. His cheeks are covered with stubble, and his skin is warm.

He reaches up to brush a tear from my cheek. I hadn’t noticed that I was crying.

“What did you say in your text?” he whispers.

“I just asked if you were awake.”

“I am.”

I smile and let my hands slide down to his chest.

“I wanted to see you.”

He tips my chin up so I’m looking him in the face.

“Why?”

“Because it’s bad form to tell a man in a text that you don’t want to be just friends with him.”

He inhales sharply and his hands tighten on mine.

“Go on.”

“I’ve always had a crush on you, Ben. Or at least, that’s what it was when I was young. You’re a sight to behold.”

He snorts, but I keep going.

“But more than that, you’re so…good. You’re good, Ben. You’ve always looked out for me, and made me feel safe.”

He frowns, but I keep going, not letting him speak.

“What happened before isn’t your fault. I know you beat yourself up about it, just like my brothers do, but it wasn’t any of you that caused it. It wasn’t my fault either. It was all his fault, and he’s being punished for it, Ben. I’m free, and I’m safe.

“You have always been a safe haven for me. So to say that I want to be just acquaintances with you, that I could ever be content with that, is just bullshit. I’ve felt a connection with you for as long as I can remember, and to hear that it’s reciprocated is just—” I shrug because I simply don’t have a word big enough to explain it.

“Is this a long way of telling me that you want me?” Ben asks, making me laugh.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“Thank Christ.” He pulls me to him again and hugs me so tightly, I don’t know where I end and he begins. Finally, he kisses me sweetly, longingly, and all I can do is hold on tightly as he explores every inch of my mouth. When he pulls away, we’re both panting, and I would strip him naked right now, but that’s not what this moment calls for.

And I’m not convinced that I’m ready for that, anyway.

“Let’s sit,” Ben says and leads me to the couch. I curl up next to him, leaning my head on his shoulder. He links his fingers with mine and kisses my forehead.

“I have to say something else,” I begin. “Ben, if this doesn’t work out, it can’t change our family dynamic.”

“Agreed.”

“It’s too important.”

“I know.”

“My brothers would be devastated if they lost you.”

“Hey, I just agreed with you.”

I sigh. “I know. I just… it’s important to me.”

“To me too,” he replies and wraps his arms around me, tugging me into his lap. “You look so tired.”

“I don’t sleep much,” I reply with a yawn. Now that we’ve had our chat, and he’s here, all I want to do is sleep.

“Drift off,” he says. “I’m right here.”

“We could go upstairs.”

“No, we can’t.” He kisses my temple. “I don’t trust myself in a bed with you.”

I pry my eyes open. “That wouldn’t be horrible.”

“It better not be horrible,” he says with a chuckle. “But we’re not there yet.”

“Almost,” I say. “I’ve had to keep my hands off of you for a very long time.”

“Go to sleep,” he whispers in my ear. He’s playing with my hair, and between that, his warmth under me, and his strong arms around me, I can’t resist. I let sleep fall over me.

***

“Do you need anything before I leave?” Becky, my assistant, asks at the end of the workday.

“No, I think I’m good to go. Thank you.”

“Don’t spend the night here,” she says and narrows her eyes on me. “I’ll know if you do.”

“I always forget who the boss is in this relationship,” I reply with a laugh.

“It’s mutual,” she says.

“I came in late today. I need to stay late to catch up.”

She nods and backs out of the doorway with a wave and I stretch my neck before returning to my computer.

About an hour later, there’s a noise just outside my door.

“Hello?” I call out just as a man walks into my office, a huge bouquet of tulips hiding his face.

But I’d know Ben’s legs anywhere.

“Delivery,” he says and then looks around the side of the bright pink blooms and flashes a smile at me.

“You’re the best looking flower delivery man I’ve ever seen.”

He smirks and sets the flowers on my desk.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Are you about done here?”

“Almost,” I reply with a sigh. “Someone let me sleep late this morning.”

“I wasn’t even there,” he says, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Exactly. And my alarm wasn’t set, so I slept until nine, and I don’t remember the last time I slept that late.”

“You needed it.”

“I was late to work.”

“You own the business, Van. I hardly think anyone is going to write you up for being an hour later than normal.”

“I don’t know, Becky looked like she’d thought about it.” I laugh and stand, stretching my back and arms, then lean over to smell the flowers. “I love tulips.”

“I know.”

“You look mighty smug right now, Mr. Preston.”

“I’m feeling mighty smug, Ms. Boudreaux,” he replies and walks behind my desk to kiss the hell out of me.

Jesus, the man’s lips should come with a warning label.

May cause light-headedness and a loss of control.

“I have plans for us tonight,” he says.

“You do?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I tilt my head. “I’m working.”

“It’s after work hours.”

“But I’m catching up from missing an hour this morning.”

“It’s two hours past working hours. You’ve made up the time. Unless you don’t want to see what I’ve planned, and trust me when I say, you want to see it.”

“Does it involve food?”

I’m suddenly starving.

“Oh yeah.”

“I’m in.”

He laughs as I shut my computer down and gather my things. He takes my handbag from me and smirks when I glance up at him in surprise.

“I don’t mind carrying my own handbag.”

“There’s no need for you to carry it.”

“You’re either very chivalrous, or you’re a control freak.”

His face changes, and I immediately regret my choice of words.

“I didn’t mean it like that. At all.”

“I know. I’m not trying to control you, I’m just carrying your bag. I plan to do lots of nice things for you, Savannah. And that’s all it is.”

“Thank you.” We step into the elevator and when the doors close, I kiss his bicep. “Really. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Is this our first official date?” I ask, getting excited all over again.

“It is,” he says. “I’ve waited fifteen years to take you out on a date, so I might have gone a little overboard with this.”

I raise a brow and suddenly can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve.