Page 91 of Storm in a Teacup
I turn around, glass in hand, and start to make my way back to Ben. Someone is walking my way, so I swerve a little too much as an overcorrection and bump into a chair. It scoots on the ground, and I let out a little groan, but nothing was spilled. No one was hurt. I really hate chairs, though. Why are they always in my way?
I round that one, but then I hit another one that someone pushed out too far.
I’m about to let that be as well, more than ready to get back to Ben, but a deep voice says, “God, Linny. You should walk slower.”
Atti is watching me with pure distaste. I freeze up, wishing I wouldn’t. His embarrassment of me burns through me, churning in my core like molten lava.
“Or go easy on the drinks,” he says, eyeing the glass in my hand.
“It’s my first one,” I say tightly, not knowing why I am bothering to defend myself from him.
He holds his hands up as though I’m yelling at him. Like I’m the one being overdramatic. “All I’m saying is that you should be more careful. That guy isn’t going to want to date someone always making a scene.” My jaw tightens at the mention of Ben. “It’s easier for everyone if you just stand still.”
Before I get my mouth to work, Ben slides in out of nowhere and says, “Apologize.” Atti chortles like Ben is joking, but Ben doubles down. “I said,apologize.”
Atti’s lip curls. “Sorry.”
Ben steps closer, encompassed by fury. “Say it like you mean it.” Even though Atticus has a few inches on him, with the expression on Ben’s face, Ben seems much taller.
I grab Ben’s arm, saying his name quietly. I don’t want to cause a scene. No one seems to be looking at us, thankfully. Ben’s hand covers where mine grasps his arm.
Atti tsks and peers down at me. “Sorry, Linny. I just think you should be more careful. I’m looking out for you.”
Ben laughs at that. Loudly. “Looking out for her?” he asks. “You think she needs you to look out for her? You think youdeserveto look out for her? That is hilarious. Truly.” Ben turns away, taking my hand in his.
But Atti isn’t going to let this go. “She’s not worth it, mate. You say one wrong thing in the heat of the moment, and she’ll drop you. Dump you like you never meant anything to her.”
My entire body is so rigid that I am in pain.
Ben turns back slowly. “She’s not worth it?She’snot worth it?” He laughs like that is the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard.“Sheis worth the world, andyouare hardly a blade of grass.”
My heart catches in my throat. He takes my hand to pull me away from Atti and back to the center of the room. He stops, but I tug on his hand to keep walking, eyes trained ahead as I am now on a mission.
I set my drink on a table before I push our way through the curtains and down the hallway that holds the restrooms and the cloakroom. The bathrooms are both occupied, so I shove open the door to the empty cloakroom. I lock it behind me.
Ben followed me willingly, but is incredibly confused as he asks, “Linny, what—?”
“Shut up,” I say, pulling his mouth to mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ben
Linny’s mouth is scorching as her hands pull at my tie, undoing it and dropping it to the floor. She pushes me back into a wall of coats, the hangers clanging together when our bodies rattle them.
My hands stroke over her hips, taking fistfuls of fabric to pull her closer. I’m…confused is not the correct word.Elatedis better. But something is tapping at the back of my mind, making me break the kiss so I can ask, “Is this you saying thank you again?”
She shakes her head, fingers tangling in my hair. “I don’t want to see it like that.” Her mouth meets mine again, hot and heavy. She moves to my jaw, murmuring, “You’re just so…ugh,” as her lips make trails of searing kisses. Her fingers work at the buttons of my shirt, undoing them one by one before she pulls it open, hands stroking down my chest and over my shoulders. “You would wear a V-neck undershirt,” she mutters, mouth on my neck.
“That feels like an insult,” I say, eyes blinking closed at the sensation of her lips.
“Not at all.” Her hands stroke down over me again. “Ugh, your chest. Your fucking chest.” My fucking chest is heaving, heartpounding from all the attention she’s giving me. Her mouth meets the skin above the collar of my undershirt, sucking lightly, sending a thrill through me, before she moves downward.
She kneels before me, undoing the belt of my trousers.
“Linny, you don’t have to—”
Hand gripping my thigh, she says, “Please, shut up. I want to. I really, really want to. I mean, it’s almost absurd to me how much I want to. I can’t stop thinking about it.” She looks up at me, long lashes fluttering. “Ben, I need your cock in my mouth.”
