“If you take care of them at school, I can probably make it home by four,” Ben said. “Then I can relieve you. Is that okay?”
“Whatever you want. I’ll be vigilant.”
“The other thing is, when do you get off work?”
“Me? Late. Doesn’t matter. I’m not his type. Too old.”
“I’m serious, Ro.”
“I’ll be in a public place. Stop worrying.”
“Just answer the question, please. What time do you get off?”
“Aw, you care. Around eleven, eleven thirty.”
“On the equinox, I’ll wait for you at the hotel, walk you to your car, and see you home.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I’m serious.” The desserts came. The waiter made a big show of punching down the soufflé to add the Grand Marnier sauce. She smiled until he left, then said, “I don’t want you waiting for me at the hotel. It’s embarrassing.”
“Ro, I promise not to come into the lobby as long as you promise to call me when you’re done. That’s the deal. If not, I’ll come in and snicker at you in your ridiculous uniform. Yes or no?”
“Just don’t come inside the hotel.”
“If you keep your end of the bargain, we won’t have a problem.” Vicks got up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where’re you going?”
“Can’t you guess?”
A few minutes passed, then a few minutes more. Maybe he wasn’t used to rich food, although anyone who could eat fire-laced salsa like he did must be cast iron down there. When he came back, he said, “Let’s go.”
“I’ve got to pay.”
“I took care of it.”
“What!” Her voice came out louder than expected and people turned around. “Just kidding.” She spoke softer. “Ben, why did you do that?”
He pulled out her chair and helped her up. “I guess my mom raised me right.”
He took her hand and they walked out to the parking lot and waited for the valet. Without asking, Ro threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. The next one was more passionate, but less passionate than the one that followed.
“Oh dear Lord!” He kissed her again. “I can’t take this.” Another kiss. “I really can’t!”
“One more time for my birthday, Ben,” she whispered. “Then I’m back with JD and you’re out of luck. And we’re not even cheating because I’m not officially with him yet.”
“This is crazy!”
“And that’s what makes it fun.”
He looked dazed. “My parents are probably still awake. I know Haley is. My house is out.”
“My parents are definitely awake.” They kissed again.
“I don’t want to do it in a car,” he said. “You deserve more . . . especially on your birthday.”
“My birthday is tomorrow . . . but the car is out of the question.” She dropped her hands and kissed his nose. “Lucky for us I know a hotel where the staff gets discount rates.”
Chapter 17
As soon as Ro heard the click of the lock, something came over her. She had always liked boys, she liked being physical with them, but this was the first time she’d ever felt lust: hard-driving, come-give-it-to-me lust. She had had sex with only two guys, but they were as different in love as they were in life. JD was a warrior, an in-your-face guy who did anything and everything with his eyes wide open. He matched his appearance: steely, strong, and dominating—direct with no hesitation.
Ben was all stealth, quiet and cerebral, utterly mysterious. The force of his eyes made her nervous and excited all at the same time. He rarely spoke with words, but his actions screamed volumes and this time he had the confidence that only comes when two people have been together. It was certainly not their first time, but it was the way she had always imagined her first time would be—a deep craving rather than something to be done. It was no longer an option. It was a need. It took all of thirty seconds before they were disrobed and on top of the bed and on each other.
She could hear his breath quicken. “Oh God, don’t you dare come.” She hit him. “Don’t . . . stop!”
“I don’t know how much longer.”
She raked his back. She could feel her nails break skin. “Don’t you dare!”
“Oh jeez . . .” He flipped her on top. His face sheened with sweat. “You do all the moving. If I move, I’m a goner.”
She reached across the bed and grabbed his red tie. He was still wearing his shirt but it was unbuttoned. “Wanna tie me up?”
He winced. “No!”
A rather strong reaction. But then Ben probably associated bound women with dead girls. Ro said, “You want me to tie you up?”
“Don’t want that either, but . . .” He sat up and took the red tie. Still inside of her, he knotted it around her neck and pulled it up, first tight, then he loosened it so that the knot fell below her Adam’s apple, the tie dangling between her breasts. He took off his shirt and dressed her in it, rolling up the sleeves. Then, he plopped back down on the pillow and stared as she sat upright and nude in his open white shirt and tie. His eyes held such intensity that Ro almost blushed.
“God, you are smokin’ hot! Just killer dope! You’re fantasyland: a wicked, walking wet dream sitting on top of me! I’m gonna die!”
Stealing a glance in the mirror, she thought she did look hot in a retro way . . . like those centerfolds from seventies girlie magazines. All that was missing was the pouty look and the top hat. “Sort of old-school.”
“I am old-school,” Ben said. “I’m a boy eating a TV dinner on a tray, watching Ed Sullivan on a black-and-white TV, thinking that the Beatles are groovy. I’m slavering over Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot with their big tits and their fantastic asses. I’m stoned to the gills, lying on my bed, staring at my lava lamp and listening to ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.’ I’m trick-or-treating in a Batman costume, only to me, Batman is Adam West with Burt Ward as Robin. What the fuck happened to Robin in the movies, can you tell me that?”
“Robin was in the last one.”
“As a frickin’ afterthought.” He yanked her down with his tie until they were face-to-face. “Kiss me!”
She kissed him hard and then flipped him around until he was on top of her. It felt better . . . much, much better. It not only felt better, it felt very, very good!
“Do it harder.” When he complied, she said, “Not that hard! Do it a little harder and faster! Way faster!”
“God, I’m gonna come!”
“No, you’re not!” Again, she raked his back. “Keep going.”
“I can’t help it!”
She bit his shoulder hard. “Keep going . . . keep . . . going.”
And he did—with all the passion and hunger and unfettered desire that she wanted and needed. He kept at it until the intensity started to build inside, something familiar that she had previously felt only when she did it herself.
“Keep . . . going . . . going . . . going.” On the verge . . . on the edge . . . she was tipping over. Still digging her nails into his back. “Not yet . . . not yet.”
“Tell me!”
“Not . . . yet! . . . Okay . . . okay . . . yyeeesssss! . . . Now!”
“Now?”