Page 20 of Love In The Shadows

“I was there for about three months, and I left. They told me to stay—warned me—to stay. I knew I’d be all on my own and stuff, but I just couldn’t. I mean—I know I can’t go back to Vegas. But…maybe I can at least settle down somewhere and have a real life.”

I let out a long sigh. “I’m a dancer, Bennett, and they had me working in an elementary school putting away library books. I was going nuts! So, I left. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“No one knows where you are?”

“Nope. Just you. Can you believe I thought California would be a great place to start over?” I scoffed. “Los Angeles is a far cry from Vegas, but then I met Paige and Reed, and they offered me the gig at Parkston’s Hollywood. So here I am. And I’m…I’m still Avery. Not Tori.”

Bennett stroked a hand over my cheek. “Well, to me, you’ll always be Tori. My Tori.”

I smiled, struck by how powerful the simple words were. It was like being set free. Awakened from a nightmare. “And to me, you’ll always be my Bennett.”

He smiled. “Good, ’cause I hate being Eric Starr.”

A giggle slipped from my lips as I reached up and ran a finger along his bearded jaw. “I like Bennett. But Starr is a pretty cool name.”

He tipped my chin up and brought his mouth to mine. As our lips met, I felt a new flurry of memories releasing from deep inside of me.

“I missed you,” he whispered, breaking away momentarily.

I dragged him back to my lips, and his tongue slipped past my lips. A groan escaped from the back of his throat, and he pulled me closer. It was a perfect fit, just like I remembered. In the darkest days after my world went to hell, I’d imagined being back in his arms. The reality was even better than I imagined. Being with him was surreal, like something from a dream.

Bennett pulled away and met my eyes. “Stay with me tonight, Tori. I don’t want to say goodnight.”

I nodded. “You don’t have to.”

He traced his fingertips down my cheek before he stood from the couch and reached for my hand. He led me to the bedroom and turned the lights down low. The room had picture windows that looked out over the city, and I considered the view while Bennett worked the zipper of my dress free. When the fabric parted, he slid his warm hands inside the dress and ran them down my sides, grazing the sides of my breasts and over my waist to my hips. I leaned my head back onto his shoulder as he worked his hands around my hips. I shivered against his chest as his fingers found the waistband of my silk panties. My one indulgence. I might have to eat ramen noodles, but damn it, I’d have exquisite panties.

“Mmmm. I need to see you, baby. I’ve dreamed of this for so long.”

He gently spun me around and pushed the straps of my dress down over each shoulder. I shimmied slightly, and the dress slid down my body and pooled at my feet.

“Damn, girl. Even better than I remembered. You have such a beautiful body. I missed these,” he said, his eyes locked on mine as he cupped my breasts.

“You did, huh?” I smiled, but it fell away, turning to an open-mouthed moan as he ran his thumb over my nipples. They hardened instantly, and Bennett chuckled softly, the sound echoing through me. “God, I want you so bad. Please, baby, make love to me.”

He scooped me up and took me to the bed. I landed softly on the huge mattress, and Bennett parted my thighs. He wasted no time in dragging his lips over my pussy through my panties, and I clutched the thick comforter to keep from squirming as sensations and heat danced over my skin.

Bennett tugged my panties aside and slipped his tongue over my lips. I moaned as he worked his tongue and mouth over my clit, but I forced my eyes to stay open so I wouldn’t miss anything. He’d never looked so sexy as he did between my thighs, closing his eyes as he breathed me in. I wanted to memorize this moment with him and remember the way each second felt. I worked my fingers through his hair and tugged him closer, wanting to hold on forever.

Hours later, when we finally collapsed together on the bed, Bennett gathered me against his chest. I relaxed against his firm muscles, running my fingers absently over the slick, sweat-covered surface of his skin. Neither of us said anything for a long time, but when Bennett finally broke the silence, it was with a soft whisper.

“Baby, the day they took you into the program was the worst day of my life.”

He stroked a finger down the side of my face. “I’m so sorry, baby. I wish…” his voice broke off, and his eyes bounced briefly to the wall behind me as though he were gathering his thoughts. When they returned to mine, a sheen coated the emerald pools. “I should have been there for you.”

“Don’t.”

He wrinkled his brow. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t think about what could have happened. Believe me, I’ve spent the better part of a year playing that game. It doesn’t do either one of us any good.”

After a long moment, he nodded, agreeing with me. “You’re right. Just know, I still regret not going with you, and I haven’t had a day where I didn’t think about you.”

I sat in his words for a second, wrapping them around me like a big, soft blanket.

“What happens next?” I asked, my voice quiet and small.

Bennett stroked my bare shoulder and then dropped a series of small kisses where his fingers traced. “I’m gonna do my damnedest to set you free for good, honey.”

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