Page 46 of Saved By Love at Christmas
“Oh, no you don’t.” He tilted my chin upwards, our lips almost touching, the same way they’d been in his bedroom. “I’m going to take payment for the way you looked at me just now.”
His words had me squirming, and I clenched my thighs together. Ben noticed and let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a grunt of pain. Then his lips slammed down on mine, his thighs pressing against me, trapping me against the wall. The kiss got deeper until I thought I’d explode. My nipples ached and I felt an ever-building fire gather between my legs. His erection pressed against my belly.
I tore my lips from his. “More. Need. More. Ben… please,” I begged.
The doorbell chimed and Ben swore loudly, startling me. “Good job it’s the police or else there’d have been a murder.”
He readjusted his jeans, which did little to tamp down the fire building inside me. I heard someone introduce themselves as a police officer. My passion dissipated as I understood I now had to recount my experiences with Jamie. My insides turned cold, but I wasn’t on my own. I was with Ben. My best friend and the person I loved with all my heart.
* * *
BEN
All thoughts of passion ended when the officer came into the living room. Ruby was sitting in the corner of the sofa with Fred resting by her feet. Her face was pale, eyes emotionless. This was going to be tough, but I was here for her, and at least things would be documented now.
After detailing the incident with my car, the officer took the dashcam footage. Then I explained about the scratches on mine and Tom’s vehicles. The officer took copies of the images and noted the dates, locations, and possible times when the events may have occurred.
Then came the hard bit. Ruby had to tell her part of the story.
“Would you like to give me an account of what happened while you were in Spain, please, Miss James?”
Her face got even paler at the officer’s request, and her body trembled. I took one of her hands in mine and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Her eyes met mine and my heart constricted. The fear dissipated and her expression filled with an emotion that had my heart leaping out of my chest.
I’m in love with my best friend.This was something I could no longer deny to myself.
“I’m here. Jamie’s not going to hurt you again.” I sent a gentle smile her way.
* * *
RUBY
I don’t know if I’d have got through this without Ben. Listening to him talk to the officer had my insides churning. And I knew it would be my turn to give a statement next. Having to say everything out loud would terrify me.
When he took my hand, his eyes locking with mine, it felt like the universe had stopped turning. Something in his expression had me thinking that maybe we truly had a shot at making this relationship work. He hadn’t said the words, but his eyes told me that he loved me.
I cleared my throat and addressed the officer. “I’d been in Spain a short while when things began to change between me and Jamie.”
“In what ways?”
I closed my eyes as I recounted everything he’d done to me.
“He’d say things to make me feel worthless. Calling me stupid. He said I should be honoured that someone of his standing was dating me.” I grimaced at how it had made me feel. Useless. Pathetic.
I heard an almost growl rumble from Ben as he clutched my hand tighter. When I turned to face him, I smiled to let him know it was okay. That I was okay.
“How did things progress?”
A shudder ran through me. “He started telling me I could only go out if he was with me. That all the work I was supposed to be designing was total rubbish, and that I had to use his designs.” Hideous designs that made me almost too embarrassed to endorse them.
Tears leaked from my eyes. Ben wiped them away.
“Take your time, Miss James.”
I smiled my thanks at the officer.
“The name calling got progressively worse. He started seeing other women, even flaunting them in front of my face before taking them to our bed. I should’ve left then, but I didn’t.”
What I didn’t add was that I was too stubborn to admit things were wrong.
