Page 26 of Forgotten Promise

Kailani rolled her eyes, though she was used to Benjamin’s continual attempts at spoiling her by buying her flowers, jewelry, and clothing. “Or I’ll buy them for myself.”

Benjamin had grown up with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, and apparently he’d dated too many women in the past who took advantage of that.

Kailani was not that woman.

Her family had money in their own right, but that didn’t mean she intended to live her life as a trust-fund baby. She was three years away from finishing her degree in Environmental Sciences, which she planned to put to use by changing some aspects of how her family ran their hotels.

Benjamin wrapped his arm around her shoulder and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “I’m looking forward to having you all to myself for four whole days. It’s going to suck when we have to go back to school next week.”

Kailani had opted to spend her summer break in Boston rather than returning home to Hawaii. Something all her East Coast friends thought was complete madness. She had tried to explain that Hawaii, during the height of the tourist season, wasn’t exactly a good time for the locals, even the Nu’uanu Valley where her family lived. She much preferred the slower, quieter spring and fall seasons.

Benjamin had just one more year of college, and like her, he’d decided to steal a few months for himself, proclaiming he had the rest of his life to work, and since he was joining his family’s business right after graduation, this was his last summer as a “free man.”

Benjamin was looking down at his phone, checking his texts, so she took the time to study him in profile. They’d known each other since they were children, both legacies of the Trinity Masters. Despite that fact, their families seemed to work on opposing sides more often than not. She and Benjamin had met and become friends at a time when they were too young to give a shit about stuff like that.

The friendship portion of their relationship changed a few weeks earlier when they reconnected at a party at the legacy house. Seven legacy kids from some of the oldest Trinity Masters families had gotten together to purchase the property as a home base in Boston, and since then, it had been called everything from the frat house to the Fortress of Solitude. Benjamin was staying there while in Boston, and along with his summer roommates, had decided to host the party for the legacies in town that changed everything for the two of them.

She wasn’t sure what had changed, but it was as if they both opened their eyes at the same time and said, “Oh. Wow. There you are,” truly seeing each other for the first time. They’d spent the entire party sitting on a couch in the corner just talking for hours about anything and everything, long after everyone else had left or passed out.

And they had been talking ever since, inseparable.

Benjamin put his phone down and caught her staring at him. He gave her a charming grin, flashing his perfect, straight white teeth at her. He had an amazing smile and her heart skipped three beats.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, cupping her face so he could steal a kiss. Kailani had been kissed by plenty of guys in her life, but she decided right then and there, none of those any longer counted as kisses. Those past weak attempts faded in the face of Benjamin’s long, slow, sensuous kisses. “I can’t get enough of you,” he admitted, pressing his forehead to hers.

His affectionate nature was one of her favorite things about him. She’d had a handful of boyfriends, and even lovers in the past, but none of them had ever looked at her or made her feel like Benjamin. It was as if she was vital to his happiness. He was equal parts passionate and cuddly and when she talked, he listened. Really listened.

He pointed toward the window, his lips brushing her ear when he whispered, “Surprise.”

Kailani gasped as the Eiffel Tower came into view as their private jet descended. “Paris!” She had admitted to Benjamin that first night at the legacy house party that she’d never been to Paris but hoped to go after graduation from college. The fact he remembered touched her.

“I can’t believe this,” she said, turning to hug Benjamin, the embrace ending when the flight attendant stopped by to ask them to put their seat belts on as they prepared to land.

The next few hours were an absolute whirlwind as Benjamin showed her around Paris—by limousine—pointing out some of the more famous attractions, promising they’d return to spend more time at each over the course of the next few days. He’d built an incredible itinerary.

They’d ended their first night with a private dinner cruise on the Seine, which offered an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower.

“Come on.” Benjamin took her hand. Kailani hadn’t been surprised to learn that the Daras owned a luxurious apartment in Champs de Mars with an amazing view of the tower. “Let me show you around.”

Kailani followed him through the apartment, in awe of the intricately hand-painted ceilings, elaborate marble work, Versailles parquet floors, crystal chandeliers, and grand staircase.

Finally, he led her into the master bedroom.

“Holy shit. That bed is huge.”

Benjamin laughed. “It’s an emperor king.”

“Of course, it is. Because the Daras can’t just be kings…they have to be emperor kings,” Kailani teased, though there was no denying the truth behind her jest. The Daras seemed determined to own the world, which was the reason for so much contentiousness between their families.

Benjamin, as always, took her jest in stride. “Sounds richer, doesn’t it? Besides, if I’m the emperor king that makes you the empress queen.”

“Well, I do like the sound of that.”

Benjamin grinned as he picked her up and carried her over to the monstrous mattress, tossing her into the middle. Sometimes she was amazed how well they fit…physically. Benjamin was a big guy, tall and broad, while the best word to describe her was petite. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that his strength and muscular build were big turn-ons for her.

Kailani came up on her knees and crooked her finger at him, inviting him to join her. There had been too many kisses, glancing touching, longing looks since they’d left Boston. She’d spent close to twelve hours with her arousal set on simmer. She was ready to turn up the heat, to boil over in his arms.

Benjamin didn’t accept her invitation, so she scooted to the edge of the bed, reached out, gripped his shirt, and pulled him toward her. Benjamin met her halfway, bending down and kissing her hard. She wasn’t a passive lover, but she’d realized since sleeping with Benjamin, that had less to do with sexual preferences and more to do with a poor choice of partners. They’d needed guidance. A lot of guidance.

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