Page 76 of Loved By The Bad Boy

“Don’t say that, Benny. They didn’t allow me inside because of what I did.”

Ben backs away from me. I match each step with a calm determination. We keep at it until he realizes I won’t stop. I went away once, and that was out of my control. This time, we are stuck together. The breeze blows his hair into his eyes. I swipe at the irritating strands, and he sighs.

All we do is stare at each other for the next few seconds. “I was scared, and you were not there.”

He’s making it sound like I left on my accord. I fucked up, but to hear her try to play the victim made me lose it. From my periphery, I glimpse his parents leaning on the car while watching us.

There’s no spark in his eyes. I slide my arms around him in a loose hug.

“Sorry.” My apology falls on deaf ears. Ben pries my arms from his waist and drops my necklace on my palm. It feels like he returned a gift, and a fleeting pain cuts through me. He is pushing me away again. I don’t understand why he’s acting like it’s my fault. Okay, maybe it’s partially my fault. But to be fair, she had it coming. “Benny, don’t be mad at your Gracie. I’m really sorry.”

I don’t know what pushes him further away from me. Maybe my apology or my existence or the harsh reminder that I share the same name with someone he loathes so much. He turns his back to me.

“What do you want me to do, Benny? You are punishing both of us.”

Ben halts. I stand behind him as he points a finger at the floor. “You were not there, and I was scared. And she kept saying I was lying…” He pauses to catch his breath, and I throw my arms around him from behind. His hand goes over mine, putting more force on my limbs like he wants me to hide him from the world. I would if I could. His tears drop to my arms. “Tighter. Tighter, please.”

I lock Ben in a tighter hug. We are stuck together whether or not he’s mad at me. “I believe you, Benny. Always have, always will.” When his hands drop, I change positions to face him. Red-rimmed eyes narrow to harsh slits, and my smile falls. I wrap my arms around my belly. “Say something, please. If you don’t talk to me, I’ll not be happy. Do you want your Gracie to be sad?”

Ben’s head moves left, then right. I offer him a smile that dies off immediately he scowls. I might as well rename him King of grudge. At last, he cups my cheeks, his gaze sad and intense.

“You cannot leave me next time, okay?” he murmurs.

“I don’t want there to be a next time, but I swear, I won’t leave you. I’ll control my temper.”

Dabbing his cheeks dry with his sleeves, he asks, “How do I look?”

I brush his hair out of his face and pat his flushed cheeks. “Like a champion, Benny.”

A barely visible smile lifts his lips. “I love you.”

“Of course you love me. I’m your Gracie,” I say to lighten the mood. He offers me his hand, and I drag him to the car. Laughter trickles out of my lips when he spanks me. I keep a straight face and repay the favor by smacking his ass. A few yards from the car, I whisper, “I love you too.”

Ben doesn’t reply, but the smile he sends me says more than a thousand words. Maddie and Josef get into the car before we join them. I crawl to Ben’s lap without giving him a chance to shoo me. My eyes meet Josef’s in the rearview mirror. His gaze darts to Ben and returns to the road.

Maddie sends us furtive glances. I understand they are worried, but they are only making Ben uncomfortable. Ben slips his hands into mine. I hide my smile by tucking my head into his chest. He hums an unfamiliar tune under his breath while stroking my back, and everything is right again.

Sleep claws at me, but I fight it. I spent most of last night trying to stop Ben from having a panic attack or changing his mind about today. My parents are still upset, mostly Mom. The vehicle slows for some seconds, then picks up speed. The next time that happens, I look out of the car, and we are home. Ben helps me out. He doesn’t let me walk. Instead, he pulls me into his arms.

I catch Maddie whispering something into Josef’s ear before we disappear up the stairs. Maddie wiggles her brows, and my cheeks turn the color of tomatoes. Ben opens the door and pushes it close with his foot. Kicking off his shoes, he sets me on the bed and jumps in right after me.

His lips are on mine in an instant, kissing and kissing me until we are breathing the same air. My fingers rake through his soft hair, and he groans into my mouth when I bite his lower lip. Pulling back, he swipes the back of his palm over the cut on his lips and frowns. I stick out my tongue.

“Are you a vampire or something?” he jokes at the sight of blood on his palm.

Not at all, but I won’t mind being one if it guarantees eternity with him. “Maybe a wolf,” I reply.

Ben raises his hands for me to take off his shirt. I mimic his position by kneeling on the bed, splaying my fingers on his chest. A wry smile touches his lips, and he watches me like it’s our first time. My hands lower to his abs, but he pushes them back to his chest, right above his heart.

“It was beating so fast back there,” he murmurs.

Our eyes meet. He brushes his lips against mine. I should ask for the final verdict if they reached one today, but I’m too worried about ruining this moment. He draws me in for another kiss, and I moan against his lips. He kisses me softly, so softly, like he’s afraid I will break apart if he goes harder. I palm his face and take charge of the kiss, parting his lips with my tongue for a tango.

Ben tugs on the hem of my shirt, and I raise my hands. “Did you lock the door?” I ask.

“I think so,” he says, eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Benny.”

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