Page 8 of Home to Me

“That's right.”

“What's the story with that?” Ben's voice had something of an edge underneath it now, something that telegraphed less 'genial host' and more 'man on the hunt.' It was primal, intense, but it was just under the surface.

Lauren felt the back of her hand begin to tingle again with the phantom imprint of Ben's lips, but she sternly shut it down, scolding herself internally.

“No story,” Lauren replied, feeling a little self-satisfied that her short replies were bringing out an authentic side of Ben, cracking the perfect veneer, even if that rawness did still linger right underneath the perfect surface.

“Brothers and sisters?”

“One.”

“Brother or sister?” Ben moved a little closer to Lauren, never breaking eye contact.

Lauren desperately wanted to look away, but she felt powerless to do so. Ben was staring at her so intently that she felt as though he could see into her very soul. It was quite unnerving. However, she knew that if she looked away first, then he would be the victor in this subtle power play they were locked in, and Lauren didn't enter contests with the intention of losing. No. She was not going to let that happen.

“Sister.”

“Older or younger?” As Ben spoke, he inched ever closer to Lauren.

“Older.”

Lauren noticed—as he moved closer to her—that his eyes, which appeared at first glance to be dark chocolate through and through, actually faded into a lighter caramel shade in the center. It was hypnotizing.

“Are you close to your family?”

“Somewhat.”

Lauren was surprised at the ease in her own voice as she heard the answers to these questions, which she considered quite personal, leave her lips. Normally, she wouldn’t have been comfortable discussing a topic like her family with someone she’d just met, regardless of the short and shallow nature of her responses. It was almost like Ben had lulled her into a trance.

She knew that cameras were rolling all around her and she needed to appear as if she were happily engaged in a friendly conversation. Yes, Lauren decided, that must be it. It had everything to do with the fact that the cameras were rolling and nothing to do with this so-called ‘spell’ she imagined she was under.

Ben scooted even closer to Lauren, and for a fleeting second, she thought he was going to close the short distance between them and kiss her.

She felt her eyes widen and her breathing start to hitch. She heard a tiny, low moan come from Ben's throat as she absently licked her lips.

He smirked playfully and leaned in, but to Lauren's surprise, his lips brushed past her mouth and continued back. She felt his hot breath against her ear as he whispered gruffly, “Ever thought about removing that stick from your ass and loosening up?”

With all the physical sensations that Ben's nearness and touch were causing to flood through her, it took a moment for Lauren to process what he’d just said. When her brain finally caught up to the conversation, she jerked away from him, hissing, “Excuse me?”

“Cut!” she heard a shrill voice ring out across the room.

Ben looked away, his attention diverted by the director, who’d walked over to speak to him.

Holy moly.

What in the world just happened?

Lauren looked clandestinely around the table to see if anyone else noticed the interaction that had just taken place between her and Ben. It seemed that she was in the clear, and she relaxed a little bit more as she glanced from friend to friend. They were all completely engrossed in conversation and flirting with their significant others, and she couldn’t have been less on their radar.

That is, until she reached Karina. Karina was looking at her and held her gaze while a slow, sly smile spread across her face. Karina then raised her glass in a faux toast, winked at Lauren, and wiggled her eyebrows up and down.

Lauren wanted to die. She narrowed her eyes at her friend, hoping to convey that there was no funny business going on.

She was fuming. What an ass. She couldn’t believe his nerve. Who in the hell did he think he was? He didn't know her. He didn't know anything about her. Arrogant jerk.

After speaking in hushed tones to Ben, the director stood. “Okay, people. That was great!” he enthused. “We're gonna reset and go again. I like everyone's interaction. You don't have to do exactly the same thing as you did last take, but if we could get the same feeling, that would be awesome.”

I'm not so sure about that, Lauren thought to herself.

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