Page 35 of Falling for the Forbidden
“But you trust me?”
“Of course. Zach’s just…a dog.”
I can’t help laughing. “And you’re not?”
He shoots me a look, but his eyes are full of amusement. “Okay, yeah, I deserve that.”
Any reference of him being with plenty of girls before me always has nerves fluttering in my belly, but the moment he reaches over and entwines his fingers with mine, I forget all about the outside world and just focus on this—on us.
* * *
As the clock ticks around,I feel Ben starting to pull away from me. The whole weekend has been beyond incredible, but we’re both well aware that our time is coming to an end. Dad said they wouldn’t be back until this afternoon, but it’s barely lunchtime and we’re both already on edge.
“Let’s watch a film,” I suggest in an attempt to take our minds off the inevitable. I’ve tried to push any thoughts of our reality to the back of my mind as we’ve enjoyed each other this weekend, but it’s never really that far away. What we’re doing might feel like the most natural thing in the world to us but, to the outside world, what we’re doing is forbidden. As far as most people believe, a relationship between us is wrong.
But is it?
“Lauren, are you even watching?” I flinch when Ben’s hand lands on my thigh.
“Sorry, yeah. I just zoned out for a minute.”
“Do I need to ask what you were thinking about?”
“No. I just don’t know what—”
“We’ll figure it out.” With his hands on my cheeks and confidence shining from his eyes, I almost believe him.
“How?”
“Honestly, I’ve no idea. But what I do know is that I’m not letting anyone get between us. I’m not letting you go, Lauren. You make everything so much lighter. I won’t go back into the dark. I can’t.”
His body looming over me forces me to lie back on the sofa. He presses me into the cushions, his lips landing on mine and his hands trailing over my body.
Everything falls away—our surroundings, my concerns, everything but how I feel for him. It’s exciting. It’s overwhelming. It’s scary as hell. But everything he just said is true, because I’m not giving him up, either.
“Honey, we’re home.” Jenny’s voice rings out through the house loud and clear. Ben jumps into action, scrambling off me and practically flying to the chair at the other end of the room. I watch as he looks around in panic, running his hands through his hair, trying to smooth it down.
“Lauren,” he prompts when he spots that I haven’t moved.
Pulling myself to a sitting position on the sofa, I also attempt to sort out my hair and calm my racing heart. Dread fills me. I’ve never heard Jenny shout, let alone loud enough to wake the dead like that.
She knows.
“Did you have a good weekend?” Ben asks when she walks into the living room, looking between the two of us.
“Yes, it was love—”
“Lauren, what are you doing here?” Dad barks when he eventually follows her into the room.
“I…uh…came back this morning.”
“Your mum said you were staying for lunch.”
“I was, but I had some things that needed doing before work tomorrow, so I came back a little early. Problem?” I ask, jutting my chin out. Fire burns within me; I’m ready to start an argument if he wants to.
Turning towards Ben, his stare holds for a few seconds before he looks back at me. “I really hope not,” he mutters before storming from the room.
The three of us stay silent as the sounds of him crashing about in the kitchen filter through. Jenny looks between us once more before muttering her excuse and racing from the room.
