CHAPTER NINTEEN-THE ROOF

“I hope you don’t think poorly of me, Ben. This isn’t the kind of thing I do.” Imara slid her dress back down her body as she straightened it and Ben pulled the zipper up then smirked and shook his head.

“I don’t Imara. Not at all. I can’t really explain it to you, you’ll think I’m crazy, but I’ve been dreaming of doing that for a long time.”

Imara looked back at him and smiled then walked to the dresser and looked over her hair. “Do I look alright? My hair must be a mess.”

Ben appeared behind her in her reflection and he put his hands on her arms. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” Goosebumps erupted all over Imara and she crossed her arms then put her hands on his. “Do you know why your brother hired me? Are you in some kind of danger or something?”

Imara looked to the floor as she tried to ignore the sound of knocking. “Umm...I don’t believe so. I really don’t know why he did, but I’m not going to complain at all. I could get used to this kind of personal attention.”

Ben turned her around, then put his arms around Imara. “Well, whatever it is, you don’t need to worry none. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Imara smiled and pushed his hair off his face. “I can’t believe this is happening. I think Thorin may have lost his mind. He’s always been so protective of me; this just seems so strange.”

Ben leaned in and kissed Imara then closed his eyes at the thought of having to let anyone into the little bubble they shared. “We should get going before your brother comes looking for us. This isn’t exactly the kind of position I want him to find us in on the first night.”

Imara took his leather bag as he grabbed his bag of tools. Before he opened the door, Ben grabbed Imara’s arm and pulled her close again. “Just in case he changes his mind about all this,” Ben said then pressed his lips against Imara’s one last desperate time. “Just know that I’m never giving you up. I’ve been waiting too long to have you by my side. If I have to come up in that house and snatch you away in the middle of the night like a dirty thief, I will.”

Imara smiled and poked her finger into his chest. “I’ll hold you to that, Ben Logan.”

As they walked out the door, Ben shut off the light then closed the door behind him. While they walked down the hall, Jasper poked his head out his office door and said, “Come on in.”

Imara was sure that they could tell what her and Ben had been up to, the smell of his seed was thick on her body. Her cheeks flushed as she took a seat on the sofa beside him and faced her brother.

“Are you all set then, Ben?” asked Jasper as his leather office chair scoffed underneath him when he  pushed himself back.

“Yes, sir. I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me Jasper. I know I can never repay that debt, but if ever I can do anything to help you, I will.”

Jasper smiled warmly. “You don’t need to thank me. I’m glad that I could help you folks out.”

Thorin stretched his back then pushed himself up off the too comfortable leather chair and said, “So, are we ready then?”

As they walked home, Imara wrapped her little finger around Ben’s. Thorin looked back over his shoulder and saw the couple gazing at each other then he smirked to himself. He wasn’t stupid, he and Jasper had seen the two of them sneak off earlier. In her last life, Thorin had taken every precaution to keep Imara safe and, in the end, it meant nothing. Keeping her away from her mate was a cruel and useless tactic that he wouldn’t use again.

When they got to the front door, Aster opened it and said, “Welcome home. I trust you enjoyed the party.”

As they stepped through the door, Thorin nodded as he allowed Ben and Imara through. “Yes, it never disappoints. Is Mr. Logan’s room ready?”

Aster gave him a disapproving look and said, “Yes, sir.”

Thorin smirked at his butler’s snooty attitude then turned to Ben and Imara. “Darlin can you show Ben to his room? It’s right next to yours. Please entertain him, if you will. I have some work I need to take care of.”

Imara looked at him in surprise then rolled her eyes. “This way Ben.”

When she got to Ben’s room, she opened the door and stepped inside then waited for him. “So, would you like me to show you  around?”

Ben smiled as he sat on the bed and shook his head no. “I’ve been taking care of this place for almost a year now. I know every square inch of it.”

Imara smiled nervously and licked her lip. “Yes, of course. Umm...I suppose I’ll see you in the morning then.”

Ben stood and walked over to her. “Do you want to go sit up on the roof?”

Pulling her brows down, Imara tried to decide if he was serious. “The roof?”

Ben nodded as he picked at the beads on the front of her gown. They shimmered against her skin as the light hit them and made her green eyes twinkle. “The one that sits over the back garage. It’s a pretty night and the stars are out. Plus, I’m just not ready to let you go tonight yet.”

Relief washed over Imara, because she couldn’t imagine being able to sleep tonight anyway. “Alright. Let me go change into something else.”

Imara went to her room then quickly changed into her nightgown and robe.

As she looked herself over in the mirror, Imara put her hands to her mouth. “It’s you. Isn’t it? You have to be him.” When she came out, Ben was leaning against the wall with a blanket in his arms. He took Imara’s hand and pulled her to him and he shook his head. “I am. You know I am.”

After he stepped out onto the roof, Ben held Imara’s hand as she climbed through the window. He laid out a blanket on the flat tarred roof then sat down and pulled her down beside him.

As she watched the stars above her, Ben gazed at her delicate face. Feeling his eyes on her, she glanced over and smiled. “Do you know much about them?”

Ben shook his head. “I never cared much for reading and all. I’m much better with my hands.”

Imara smiled widely at the implication. “Yes, that’s true. I am a believer in that. Well, I know a little about astronomy. You see that star right there? The bright red one?”

Ben watched her face as she looked up again then turned his head up to the sky and squinted where she pointed. “Yes.”

“That’s Antares. The story of it goes that a handsome man named Orpheus could charm everyone with his magical harp. He could even stop battles with the beautiful music. All the women just loved him. One day he married a beautiful woman, I just can never remember her name though, but on their wedding night she was bitten by a snake and died. He traveled all the way to the underworld to collect her soul and bring her back to the land of the living because he loved her so much.”

As the pain in Ben’s wound began to radiate through his chest, he looked back to Imara. Something about this whole story sounded so familiar. “Sounds like quite a fella.”

Imara laughed out loud. “Yes, I believe he was.”

Ben took Imara’s fingers in his hand and rubbed his thumb over them. “Have you ever loved anyone like that? Enough to go through hell for them?”

As she inhaled through her nose and pouted her lips, Imara shook her head. “If I did, I can’t remember it.”

Ben nodded and licked his lips as he contemplated how to say what he felt. He blew out through his mouth and looked into Imara’s eyes. “I don’t remember much up until about a year ago. I just don’t know what happened between the time I lived with my parents and when I got here. But I can’t imagine that I ever felt for anyone what I feel for you. You can think I’m crazy if you want, but I’ve been dreaming about you for as long as I can remember.”

Pinching her lips together, Imara tried to ignore the knocking on her mind’s door. Every day she heard it, but since she met Ben, it was getting harder not to answer. “I don’t think you’re crazy. I feel it too.”

Imara got to her knees then crawled up on Ben’s lap and wrapped her arms around him. As she ran her fingers through his wavy black hair, she gently kissed his plump lips. She softly dragged her fingertips down his cheek and said, “I’ve never wanted anything in all my life the way I want you. You’re like, it’s like you’re part of me and I was so lonely without you.” She laughed as her eyes teared. “But now you’re here and I feel like I’m whole now.”

He nodded because he understood exactly what she meant. “I know.” As Ben kissed Imara’s neck, she gasped and instinctively rubbed herself into Ben’s lap. Ben pulled up the back of her gown until her legs were free of it while Imara unbuttoned his pants. He lifted his hips, then pulled them down between his legs. While she looked in his eyes, she climbed on him and slowly slid down his cock. Ben took her ass cheeks in his hands and guided her as she rocked her hips on his. 

“You’re so beautiful, Imara. Don’t you ever leave me.” Ben buried his face in her neck as her hair fell around him.

Imara looked up to the stars in the sky as the pressure built inside her. “Oh, Ben. Ah!” she moaned softly in his ear. She bit her lip and tried to swallow as the pleasure erupted from inside. As Ben felt her throb around him, he lifted his face to watch her ride out her orgasm.  

Ben closed his eyes and licked his lips, then he gritted his teeth and leaned back on his hand as he released his seed inside her.

Imara panted against his forehead head as she came down from her high while Ben nuzzled against her neck. Ben knew this was crazy, but it felt right.  He put his hands around her face and pulled her down onto his lips. “I love you, baby.”