Ben brushed Rachel's long, auburn hair aside to kiss her bare shoulder. A sound caught his attention, and his eyes landed on the phone that beeped him awake.
Carefully extracting himself from the mattress so not to disturb her, Ben grinned with satisfaction as he observed the peacefully sleeping addition to his bed; a permanent addition. Finally dragging his eyes from Rachel's tempting figure, he checked his phone.
"Huh?" he quietly frowned at the red event dropped to his calendar.
Ben informed anyone who professionally mattered that he was taking a short break from work. After wrapping up some pre-existing commitments, his time and energy would be focused on Rachel.
Soon after, Rachel roused to the scent of food, and she blinked around sleepily. On the hefty oak bedside sat a warm plate of eggs with toast, herbed mushrooms and tomato. Beside the food was a little card. As she lazily reached for it, she heard the front door click shut, shortly followed by the sound of an engine as Ben went somewhere.
Lying back to the pillows, Rachel idly opened the small slip of paper.
Work thing. Don't go anywhere, or I'll find you :) x
Rachel softly giggled at the cheeky scrawl before her attention transferred to the steaming food.
*******
Ben's stormy expression was starkly different to the one he'd woken up with. Impatiently swiping his card, he entered an enormous building and headed for the lifts. The building was large, with an abundance of windows and glossed surfaces that filled the interior with sparkling sun-rays.
Ben glared at the elevator doors as his temper heightened with his ascent, spiked by the fact that he could at that very moment be seducing Rachel into some hot morning sex.
By the time he entered his agent's office, Ben was seething. Blake smiled mildly at his towering rage, and gestured to the man sitting across. Ben reigned in his explosive tirade, and curtly nodded to the visitor.
"Ben, this is Marcus
Pevel,
" Blake introduced the stranger, and Ben caught his warning tone. So, it was someone important. The name rang a bell, but Ben couldn't place it.
"Marcus is interested in procuring our services for a large-scale project. Erm..." Blake looked uncomfortable as he faced Ben's glare of disapproval. "He would like us to oversee the advertising structure of his new business."
"Pleasure to meet you, Marcus," Ben said tersely, his hand still twisting the doorknob.
Advertising
? Why would Blake drag him in for something like this?
Marcus' eyes roamed Ben's strong figure with a palpable hostility. In his own foul mood, Ben thought nothing of it, and looked back to Blake, who met his fierce gaze with a rare, pleading look. Meanwhile, a muscle worked in Marcus' jaw as he scrutinised Ben.
This was the man who snared Rachel. Marcus resentfully perceived that Ben was certainly more muscular, taller and better looking than him. Marcus knew he was no comparison. All he had was money, and Rachel didn't care about money.
Without realising it, Marcus loudly growled. Blake seemed bemused by it, but Ben's expression of scornful amusement made Marcus want to lure the woman-thief to the top of the building and push him into oblivion.
"I forgot I had something booked," he scowled, his eyes on the floor. "I'll call." Without acknowledging either men, he sourly stalked past Ben, looking as though he had indigestion.
"I'm not working with that nutter," Ben scoffed, shaking his head as the door slammed behind Marcus. Though still irritated by the morning's disruption, he cracked a wry smile from pure disbelief. "Is this why you wouldn't tell me what it was about? You made it sound like a fucking emergency."
"Hey." Blake tapped his desk confidingly. "The kid has
millions."
"So what!" Ben snapped, suddenly remembering there was a girl in his bed worth more than any money Blake could throw at him.
"This kind of affiliation could send us to an early retirement."
"Why me?"
"Because he asked for you."
"What the hell? I don't know the guy!"
"Well, you're on his radar," Blake shrugged, rolling a blue pen along the glossy brown surface of his desk. He was an intelligent man, and in full agreement with Ben's doubts about Marcus. But he wasn't going to turn down this kind of opportunity.
"I said I'd knock off those deadlines within the week, so I could take time off!" Ben angrily reminded Blake, fighting to keep his voice level.
"Come on, do me a favour," Blake cajoled. "How often do I ask for favours?"
"How often do I take time out?"
"I know, I know," Blake sighed, waving a hand. "You can't blame me for calling you in."
"I'm not giving more than one day a week on this. I don't like him, and I'm a good judge of character."
"Just two, come on. Benny?"
"He better be as rich as you make out, that's all."
"That's my boy!" Blake cheered, holding up both fists in a winning gesture. "I'll send you-"
Whatever he said next was lost on Ben as he turned with disgust and abruptly left the room. Well, at least the meeting was short, and he would soon be back in bed with Rachel.
Exiting the building, Ben was significantly more cheered by the thought, until he spotted Marcus loitering by his car. Praying he hadn't attracted the attentions of a rich, gay maniac, Ben sighed impatiently and went over.
"Blake said you'd take the gig," Marcus said sullenly, not quite meeting Ben's watchful, steadfast gaze.
Opting not to reply, Ben coldly looked Marcus over and quickly recognised an entitled brat. He'd endured his fair share of them before he went freelance with Blake. What he didn't understand was the pre-existing resentment in the other man's eyes. A simmering aggression, as though Marcus personally disliked him. It intrigued Ben, because he was certain they'd never crossed paths. Marcus' next words caught him off guard.
"You ought to know - that girl you're seeing, Rachel. She's poison."
"Huh?" Ben said, completely thrown off. Moments later, the truth hit him with a force that made him feel winded. This was Rachel's ex.
"You heard me," Marcus sneered. Tempted to kick Ben's car, he decided against it at the last second. His instincts warned Ben was not the type to stand idle and let someone vandalise his vehicle.
Before Ben could reply, Marcus quickly turned and disappeared into the throng of people on the busy footpath. But Ben's astonishment quickly wore off, and a new rage surged through him. How dare this sore loser talk shit about his girl? It wasn't enough to painfully break up with her, the bastard wanted to tarnish her chance of future happiness?
Smiling spitefully, Marcus briskly moved within the crowd, very satisfied by the disconcerted shock on Ben's face.
That'll give the pompous dickhead something to mull over, until-!
Marcus' smug thoughts exploded with panic when a strong hand brutally seized the back of his neck. Struggling not to fall, Marcus' feet carried him along as he was smoothly dragged from the main path and down the next alley.
Roughly turned, his blood ran cold with an unfamiliar feeling of true fear as he faced Ben's piercing glare. For a reputable professional, he looked very dangerous.
"I'm not working with you, ever," Ben snarled, painfully jabbing a finger into Marcus' shoulder. "And if you come anywhere near Rachel, I'll make you fucking sorry."
The lethal look in his eye and tone of his voice was enough to make Marcus back into the bin behind him. Before his frightened mind could form any suitable comeback, Marcus yelped as Ben firmly seized the waist of his pants. Then he was painfully hoisted up and into the trash.
Marcus yelled, kicked and struggled as he came into contact with several revolting pieces of miscellaneous garbage. The more he flailed about, the deeper he seemed to bury himself. Meanwhile, a nauseating pain burned across his lower region from having his pants viciously yanked up his crotch against the force of his weight.
Finally managing to get upright, Marcus clumsily scrambled from the bin to land on his ass in an undignified heap. By the time he sat up, heaving and gagging, Ben was gone.
*******
Rachel had already washed the dishes, showered and cleaned her teeth by the time Ben returned. She'd slightly frowned at the purple toothbrush, still in new packaging next to Ben's. But she shrugged it off, ultimately grateful for the practicality.
The moment Ben arrived and filled the bedroom doorway, Rachel felt something was wrong. But he didn't speak, nor did he seem particularly upset with her. His eyes seemed to approve that she was wearing his navy bed-shirt and nothing else. Seconds later, she was tugged into his arms.
Rachel closed her eyes with a sigh as Ben's fingers crept up her neck and into her hair. Pressed against her, his chest expanded with deep, measured breaths, as though he struggled with something.
Arms blissfully full of Rachel, Ben's mind reverted against its will to his meeting with Marcus. The man who broke Rachel's heart. A pathetically surly man, with too much money and mean green eyes. A man who once had Rachel in his bed. Who knows the ways he hurt her... Ben suddenly jerked with anger, and Rachel tensed in his arms.
"Is everything ok?" she asked timidly, slightly alarmed by the change in him.
Ben normally oozed a playful, sexy confidence. But right now, his intense energy was making her uneasy. Pulling himself together, Ben nodded against her neck before pressing kisses against it. Rachel smiled nervously as delightful thrills spread through her body from his touch.
"Well, I have to go home," she murmured, her fingers gently pressing his biceps. But his arms tightened around her waist, and he squeezed her.
"Nope," he said, his lips curved against her skin in a sardonic smile.
"I do, really!" she insisted, wriggling. Ben moved, and his cock nudged her stomach. "Oh."
"Uh huh," he breathed, restlessly moving against her.
"Ben?"
"Yeah?"
"I feel like something's off. Did anything happen?" Rachel tentatively asked, still suspecting she was in a daydream.
"Nothing I can't handle, gorgeous."
At that, she was lifted and carried to bed. Standing tall with his hands on his hips, Ben grinned at her doe-eyed anticipation as she stared up at him.
"I've been thinking of this sight since I left the house."
