My heart took a sharp little turn in my chest.My reactions to him were unexpected and unwanted.I couldn’t explain how he made me feel.It was overwhelming.I was excited, agitated,electrified,conflicted,stimulated,distressed.He moved forward,one arm coming around my waist and the other around my back.I slowly held onto him,my blood pounding through my veins.My heart trying to pound out of my chest.This was so distressing.Loving this man had dragged me down into the dirt yet all I could wish for right now was what we had together…everything we had together.I wanted it all back.I wanted to go back to that time six years ago and relived it over and over again.I stared up at him.God he was dazzling.He pulled me closer to his body,that played havoc on my hormones.We moved to the slow,rhythmic music.It was paradise.But even so because he kept staring into my eyes.I recalled dancing with him on the yacht.And the several times I had danced with him at functions.I could still reme
*MALIYAH*I was seated on the passenger’s seat,trying to get my body not to react to him for once!He was just driving me home.We had barely gotten anywhere when it started raining heavily.A call came in for him.I glanced at the stereo display and the caller’s ID read Simon.Ben clicked on the answer button.The call was on speaker.“Have you gotten home,sir?”“Barely.There’s a heavy downpour and I haven’t even made it to Mile 11.”“Oh God.You haven’t seen the weather report?There’s a storm coming…along Mile 11 region.If you had gone passed that place it would’ve been safe but you haven’t so you need to go back.The forecasters said it’s a very bad one.There should be an hotel close by.”He suggested.I glanced at Ben.There was no other way around it.We have to pass through Mile 11 to get back to town.It was the only major route.My phone rang and it was Timothy telling me the exact thing Simon had said.“We don’t know if the thunderstorm would occur in this area but we have to seek
I looked up at Ben,surprised.“What are you doing?”Wasn’t it obvious?“Setting fire on the chimney.It’s cold.”I pointed out.“Don’t…you can’t.”I frowned,standing up to face him.“I know how to put on a chimney.”I said to him.Even if he wanted to help me light it up,he doesn’t have to look all tensed.Was he worried that I’d accidentally scald myself?I blushed recalling how delicately he used to treat me.Even if I felt it was too delicate,I had enjoyed being treated like an egg.I shut my eyes,briefly.Focus,Maliyah.Focus.I stared at him again and he wasn’t making any move to light the chimney.Instead,he looked…nervous?“Is something wrong?”“Nothing.I…I just don’t want us to light anything in this room.”I blinked.”Why?”He looked around as if searching for an excuse.“This…this place is old so the chimney caps and chase covers might be bad.You might not be able to use it as it’s raining.”I looked into the chimney,there wasn’t a sign of any water dripping on it.“There’s no l
*MALIYAH*I stood there,perplexed.I never thought I’ll see her again,or even imagined she’d come to see me.What could she possibly want?Maybe she found out I was working with Ben.Perhaps,she was here to tell me to stay away from him.I scoffed.Wasn’t she too old to still be fighting over who gets to be with him?I wasn’t in the mood to talk to her at all so I turned around,wanting to head back to my office.“Maliyah…Maliyah,please wait.”I heard her call from behind me but I didn’t wait.“Maliyah…please I’m begging you.”I could tell she was following me trying to catch up.“Maliyah,please…just this once…please.”She seemed out of breath.And why the heck does she sound so soft and gentle?She had always been harsh and mean.I turned around to face her,exasperated.“Nothing is going to happen between Ben and I.You do not have to worry so leave me alone.”“No…no…that’s not why I’m here.”“Why are you here?!”“I…I wanted to ask for your forgiveness.”I frowned.For my forgiveness?W
*MALIYAH*Long after Madam Valentina left,I was still sitting there.I recalled how flabbergasted he had looked when he saw me for the first time in that conference hall.*Can I have a word with you,please?Alone?**Maliyah, I’m sorry.I’m deeply sorry.I…I know this is about what happened before the accident.I didn’t mean that,I just wanted to…*I had always thought he was apologizing for getting rid of me.*Maliyah,it’s me, Ben.Please talk to me…I won’t take much of your time.*But I didn’t give him any second of my time.When he followed me to the mall.He had been desperately trying to explain everything to me.*I know you’re angry and you have every right to be.I really do not mean to keep making you uncomfortable.But anyone in my shoes will be as worked up as I have been for the past few days.I thought you died.I was…I was…*When he came to Timothy’s house,how he kept begging restlessly to talk to me.I couldn’t sit here anymore…I hurried out of the restaurant.I didn’t go back to
*MALIYAH*On the next meeting day found me nervous to the core.Nervous to see him after knowing everything.Timothy had made time to come with me today so I wouldn’t end up messing up today’s presentation.I haven’t been doing anything right since I met up with Madam Valentina.My head was a mess and my heart aching badly with this new realization.I walked into the conference hall to find him already seated.He glanced at the door and no matter how he tried to be as discreet as possible,I caught his eyes running through me from head to toe as he always does.God.I still can’t believe I was the one who gave up on us.“Good morning,Ben.”I greeted,smiling at him while he looked surprised.I couldn’t blame him though.I had been nasty to him and suddenly calling him ‘Ben’ and smiling at him would look strange.“Good morning,Mrs Bassett.”He bit out and looked away from me.We really needed to talk but how can I bring this up to him?The presentation started,even with Timothy there trying
*BENNETT*“Are you serious right now?Tell me you’re joking because I can’t believe Leah just told me you’re going camping?”Logan queried over the phone.I sighed.”Yeah.I’m going.”“Do you know how dangerous that is for you?There’ll be campfire or bonfire,barbecue stand and the likes!You know,it’s as if the more I try to help you,the more damage you wanna do to yourself!”“I’m already damaged,Logan.And it’s high time you accept that and stop fruitlessly trying to help.”I snapped.He was quiet for a moment.”Ben,you can’t go camping.”“I want to.”“Why?”“Maliyah will be there.I want to see her.”“Oh God.You could see her next week.”“It’s almost over,Logan.Soon,she’ll stop coming to my company and I won’t get to see her again.I just wanna to see her as much as I can before it ends.”“This is frustrating.You want to see her all the time and at the same time,you do not want to make a move on her.There could be a chance that she still loves you.”“For her sake,I hope she doesn’t.I already
I had already taken note of his tent when I saw him settling into it earlier so I headed for it.But as I got closer,I saw two shadows…who was with him?“You cheated again,you brat.”I heard his voice as he laughed.“I didn’t.”Leah’s voice?When did she get here?Wasn’t she at the bonfire like two minutes ago?“I can see a card behind you.”“Oops.How did that get there?”She laughed.I sighed.They were playing a game.So he’d rather be alone with Leah than hang out with the rest of us…with me.Feeling dejected,I headed to my tent and lay down.I tried to get some sleep to help me get through the night but I couldn’t sleep.Was she still at his tent?Was she spending the night there?They couldn’t possibly be having sex right now,could they?And then cuddle all through the night?I pulled at my hair,angrily.This is all my fault.If I had reached out to Ben six years ago,we’ll be happily married by now.And I wouldn’t have to be putting up with someone like Leah.I released a shaky brea
THREE MONTHS LATER…*MALIYAH*“He just got here.”I announced to the others and we quickly took out positions.As soon as Ben walked into the house,we turned on the lights and yelled.“SURPRISE!”“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!”We began to sing for him.I knew he won’t be overly thrilled but he tried his best to look thrilled.He had said before he’d prefer spending his birthday with just me.But I wanted him to be surrounded by other people,to know more people found him amazing.In attendance were Logan,Leah,Timothy,Miles,Simon,Madam Valentina,my mom and Aunt FeliciaI could his smile fade as he saw Madam Valentina and I quickly walked up to him,whispering and warning him not to chase her away.He had been talking into forgiving my mom but he won’t forgive his grandmother.He always says what his Grandma did was unforgivable but she was remorseful about it and I felt that was all that matters now.Not that things were back to the way they were with my mom,I was still pretty wary of her but she
*MALIYAH*I moved in with Ben that day because I just couldn’t spend another day away from him.The following day,I got to the office super late.It had been hard for Ben and I to go our separate ways to work this morning.He had dropped me off at the front of Mobilotech and it was another struggle to get down from his car.He had to walk me into the company’s lobby hand in hand and we eventually let go of each other,promising each other that we would close from work early.“Look who finally decided to show up.”Timothy teased when I walked into his office to submit some documents to him.“I’m sorry…I was stuck in traffic.”That made him laugh,because it was an obvious lie.“My God,look at you,you’re glowing.You two are so in love.I was watching from my window…he practically walked you into the company,I thought he might just start work here because of you.”I laughed.”I’m missing him already.Tim,can I close early today?”“No.”He chuckled.“Please…”“Maliyah,look at the time…you’re very
“You’re always in my head.”He said to me.I was going to go up in flames.“You’re in my blood.”I let out a shaky breath as he continued thrusting into me with the vibrator.“You’re in every one of my fucking veins.”Oh I needed him,I needed him right now.“Ben…Ben…wait…I need…I need your cock.”I panted,trying to control the movements of my hips to prevent myself from coming.“I want you inside of me when I come.”I murmured.He grinned at me.I gasped as the bulbous head slid from me.He knelt on the bed,positioning himself between my legs,nudging my legs wide with his powerful hair roughened thighs.I tried to catch my breath as I looked up at him,I tried to calm the thundering of my heart,the roar in my ears, but all I wanted was to feel his weight on me…in me.He was poised against me,I could feel him.One push and he’d be inside me.He leaned down over me, his legs opening me wider,his forearms resting next to my head as he looked straight down into my eyes.His jaw flexed before h
*MALIYAH*I tried to ease my tensed muscles,to calm the erratic breathing,the roaring of my blood,but only managed to gasp again as he rocked back and forth once more.“It’s okay.”He groaned.”Relax”I swallowed at the blunt pressure,squeezed my eyes shut and tried to do just that.I shifted my hips a little on the bed in a futile effort to ease his way, for a better angle,to help alleviate the feeling of fullness.“Easy.”He ground out.I was holding myself taut in anticipation of his next retreat and entry.I could feel it,but my muscles wound tighter,nerves strung taut.My body just wouldn’t cooperate.It felt as if he was breaking into me all over again.He moved completely out of me and I quickly held his hand.“No…please…don’t stop.I…I just…it’s been awhile since I…”I paused,not sure if I should talk about the men I had tried to be with in London.“I don’t want to hear about your sex experience with other men.”He informed me,calmly.“Does that make you love me less?”I asked,my heart
*BENNETT*“Kiss me,Ben…please.”She urged,pulling her face close to mine.I caressed her gently in my arms.She was warm and soft.I lowered my head and molded my lips to hers.Fuck!I ran my tongue over her lips and between them.I groaned at the shaft of heat that arrowed down right into my cock and tightened my balls.I dipped my tongue inside her mouth,once,twice, a third time before I pulled sharply back.God I had been avoiding kissing or touching her,because I knew that would wear off the tiny bit of resistant I had left.I took a deep breath in a futile effort to stem the rapid thud in my heart and fight the urge to kiss her again.But when she rubbed herself against me,I gave in again.I pressed my lips against hers.Maliyah nibbled along my bottom lip,used her tongue to taste the shape of my mouth.The soft,tentative moments caused a curl in my gut.I felt her soft breath fan out against my mouth as she pulled back and that sigh was my undoing.Before I had the time to think about
*MALIYAH*It’s a Saturday morning and I awoke without Ben in bed.I knew he wasn’t going to work today.Running my hand through my hair,I walked out of the bedroom and went in search for him.I found him at the gym.I leaned against the door as I watched him do some exercises.I nibbled my lower lip watching him do some pulls up.He was bare chested and his muscles bulged with his every movement.I squeezed my thighs together feeling hot and bothered.Oh God,I wanted him to touch me so bad.I stood there,watching until he was done.When he started to gulp down a bottle of water,I finally walked in,trying to keep my hands to myself.“I might just take you by force,Mr Graham.I don’t know how long I can resist this temptation.”I said to him.I could see he was trying hard not to smile.God,how much longer was he going to make me chase him?Not that I was tired of chasing him but I wish he could just give in a bit.He clearly was still very much attracted to me and he’s equally been trying
*MALIYAH*Things were pretty messy at the office that day.With so many calls,the news of him coming out was pretty scandalous,because it also had to do with a divorce.People were throwing shades,saying whatever they felt about the whole thing but Timothy was unbothered.I could tell he wasn’t fully unbothered though.He loved his family and it would make him happy if they accepted him.But he didn’t really care about what the public thought though.He felt people who didn’t know him personally had no right to judge him.Hell,he had even set up a date with Miles.Miles seemed to like him too but was still pretty hurt by Timothy’s rejection in high school so he was currently playing hard to get.I hope they could get back together soon.At the close of work,I walked out of the office,excited to go see Ben.I frowned seeing someone else at the receptionist stand.My mom.The receptionist had called earlier that she wanted to see me but I had specifically told her to send this woman away.
*MALIYAH*Since he might not come down for dinner,I’ll bring it up to him.I dished out the meals and headed upstairs with the tray.Getting to his bedroom,I walked in to finding him pulling on a sweatpants.“Jesus!”He seemed,startled.”Why are you still here?”“Let’s eat together and get some sleep.”I announced,setting down the tray.When I turned to face him,he was covering his bare chest with a robe.“You could’ve at least knocked.I could’ve been naked.”He lashed out.I laughed.”So?Well now that you mentioned it,I want to see all of you…I’ve missed seeing you.”I purred and started walking up to him.He walked back.”What is wrong with you?Where the hell is Timothy?I thought I heard the sound of a car.”“He knows I belong here.”“You don’t belong anywhere near me.Get out.”“I don’t want to.”I backed him against the wall.Oh how the tables had turned.He used to be the one chasing after me.Not that I mind being in this position right now.It’s actually quite fun.“Maliyah,go home.Stop
“I don’t care what happens to me now.I just want to be with him.”“Then don’t give up.Don’t give up on him.He needs someone.He needs love.He’s just scared to say he needs you.You have to show him that he doesn’t need to be scared,okay?”I nodded.”Thank you,Emily.I should have come see you sooner.”She hugged me,tightly.”Thanks for being alive,Maliyah.Drew will be so happy knowing you found your way back to Ben.”I sobbed into her arms.A sound came from the door and I lifted up my head to see a boy and a girl walking in,obviously returning from school.I wiped my cheeks as I stared at them.“Aiden has gotten so much bigger.”I cooed.“He’ll be thirteen in a few days.”“Mommy.”The little girl ran up to her and hugged her.“How was school,baby?”“It was fine.I learnt a poem.”“This is Ava.”Emily introduced.”I was pregnant with her when Drew…passed.”Oh.I hope Charlotte rots in hell.“Hello.”Aiden beamed at me,politely.“Aiden,this is Ben’s wife.”And then he frowned.”I thought she…”“It