Kat408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIqE8V1r4j
May 21, 2005
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXa3yVfMyF
*
Same day
*
I love seeing Ben like this.
So carefree. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPARgYDsYQ3
So happy.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayD2Zd6cgS
So very weird.
This is the real him, the one he hides away.
Sometimes, when he thinks nobody's looking, his mask drops. In those moments, I can see the face of a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
It breaks my heart.
Every day he pretends to be someone he's not and every day I think he loses a little piece of himself.
But right now, in this moment, he is purely Joseph Bentley Alexander.
He's not hiding his identity.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWDk3btUz6
He's not the billionaire's son. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kcbbel81h
He's not the heir to the AME kingdom.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XQjleHomz
He's not even the playboy.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K09GyFVoP
He's just living in this moment.
Which makes what I'm about to do even harder.
He takes one look at my face and his laughter stops. "What's wrong, Beautiful?"
"Ben, I don't know if I can do this." The words sting as they leave my mouth.
"Do what?" His demeanor has completely changed. I can tell he's worried about me, which makes me feel even worse.
"Us. A relationship." His concern is quickly replaced by irritation.
"But you just said-" I cut him off before he can throw my words back in my face.
"I know and I meant every word, but..." I can't bring myself to finish the sentence.
"But what?" His voice is rough and he's moved into a defensive stance, with his legs parted and his arms crossed over his chest.
"It's just difficult to wrap my head around this, you know?" He doesn't move a muscle, he just continues to stare at me.
"Okay... Less than an hour ago, I thought this was a prank." He scoffs, but doesn't say anything. "Or at the very least, an elaborate ploy to get into my pants."
"You aren't wearing pants." His mood lightens slightly, he's clearly proud of his lame joke.
"Ben, seriously." I cross my arms over my chest, watching his eyes dart down briefly, just like they always do. "I can't just go from that to being in a relationship with you."
He steps forward, tucking my hair behind my ear. His eyes leave my face for a second to watch the strand spring free again. I could have told him that wouldn't work.
His face is determined, but his voice is soft. "I'm not letting you push me away, darlin'."
"I'm not. I guess I just need proof that there's really something more." I look at the floor, hoping he doesn't push back too hard.
"Okay... I can do that." I blow out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding, but my relief is short lived. "What will it take?"
"I don't know..." He huffs, annoyed with my non-answer. "But I think we should take the break to make sure it's what you want."
His eyes widen. I guess he wasn't expecting that. "Seriously?"
"I need this, Ben." I wrap my arms around myself, resisting the urge to reach out to him. "I need to know that you are serious."
"Okay." He lets out a breath. "I don't like it, but I will do whatever it takes."
"If you don't want to wait, I would understand." I want to give him a chance to say no. There's no reason for him to wait if he's not really interested in me.
"I will do anything for you, even wait because of a ridiculous reason." He's slowly getting back to playful Ben.
I roll my eyes. "Jeez. Tell me how you really feel."
"I feel like I don't want to wait any longer." He smirks, causing my heart to beat out of control.
Pitter, patter.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDpBIJQGvD
Pitter, patter.
And just like that, I can't wait for the next school year to start.
A fresh start and a new relationship wait for me when I return. Well, the latter depends on if he still wants to be with me in three months.
I really hope so.
He grabs my hand, pulling me closer to him. He presses a kiss to my forehead, as he wraps his arms around me. "I'll do whatever it takes for you to believe me, Beautiful."
I feel even worse, but I need this validation. It's not that I don't believe him or trust him, but after my last, and only, relationship I just want to be sure.
I need to be sure.
Being held by him is something I don't deserve right now, but I cling to him, nonetheless.
He leans down, kissing my forehead.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7xPw1VMko
My right cheek. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FEcKQDm2d
My left cheek.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5HtlM1eom
My nose.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvHtgf48qX
My chin.
My pulse speeds up as his lips brush against mine. Before I get a chance to react, they're gone. I release an involuntary whimper, causing him to chuckle.
Again, he kisses my forehead.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoTL4vdBQD
My right cheek. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27Nqp5LWc0
My left cheek.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1rel9O6vq
My nose.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTmOwIIIF5
My chin.
This time when his lips brush against mine, I'm ready. I push forward, trying to capture his mouth, but he's too quick.
His eyes are dancing with amusement. "Uh-uhh... We're waiting, remember?"
I sigh. Dang it. Why couldn't I have waited to say something?
He chuckles, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. He's enjoying this way too much.
He leans in again, kissing my lips quickly. God, he's so adorable.
And perfect. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDoQ4TeE6W
And hot.
I kiss each one of his cheeks, before pressing my lips to his. He pulls back, laughing.
I feel the smile take over my face to the point my cheeks hurt. "Tease."
"Oh darlin'..." His eyes drop to my lips. "I'm not the tease."
I gasp at his words. I'm a tease?
He chuckles before kissing my forehead. My eyes roll back in my head. I can't take this. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKmIYEsvxs
He kisses my right cheek. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAosigUHQg
My left cheek.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqaRtTD1Cm
My nose.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwSOkUGwIW
My chin.
I tense, waiting for his lips to graze mine.
But they don't.
I open my eyes to find him watching me. Before I can ask him anything, his mouth captures mine.
It feels like the first kiss all over again. My stomach and my heart have decided to become gymnasts.
The kiss is soft, but hard. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyZuhn8TDT
It's intense, but yielding. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaqHM4JtDw
It's sweet, but mind-blowing. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm8A6alSB5
It feels like we've been connected by our mouths forever.
It feels right and wrong. It feels good, but it's also breaking my heart.
Before I know it, his lips leave mine.
"You sure you want to wait?" His voice is husky and smooth, as he speaks into my mouth.
I'm not sure what I want anymore.
I know I wanted to wait, but I can't remember the reason right now.
I want to keep kissing him, but I know it's not right. I need to stop this.
I nod my head, despite my body's objections.
He kisses my cheek before clearing his throat. "Come on, let's go do something else." He grabs my hand, pulling me towards the door.
"What?" I don't follow, so my arm pulls him to a halt. He turns back to see what's stopping me. "Where?"
"I don't know, but if we stay in this bedroom, I won't be able to behave." Maybe we should stay.
"Oh." I can't bring myself to agree with him.
"Oh?" He smirks at me.
Maybe I don't want to go anywhere.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftOGidGI8r
Maybe I want to stay here and continue what we were just doing. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReUj85hwNj
Maybe I don't really want to wait.
"Oh." It's all that will come out of my mouth, apparently.
Okay, I have to behave. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHj8Ybp1UI
This was my choice. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xFm9wpcGm
Get it together, Katarina. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTXb0frifG
Pull up your big girl panties and--
Oh crap!
"Uh, Ben." I lick my lips nervously. "I can't really go anywhere."
"What? Why?" He's looking at me with concern, but I'm not sure I can say it.
"I... uh... You... uh..." Yeah, real good start. "I don't have any underwear... anymore."
His eyes widen, before glancing at the floor by the bed.
Crap! Were they sitting out in the open this whole time?
"Uh... Right." He walks to his dresser, opening the drawer and pulling out something black. "Here." He holds it out to me.
I take it from him, unfolding it in my hands. "Is this... What is this?"
"They're mine." He blushes, looking to the floor.
"You want me to wear your underwear?" I love shy Ben almost as much as carefree Ben.
His face burns even brighter, as he reaches out to grab them from my hand. "Nevermind."
"No." I clutch them tighter, as his eyes snap to mine. "I want them."
He releases them, but doesn't move away. I find the front, slip each foot in and slide them up my legs.
"Jesus, Kat." He takes several steps back while looking up at the ceiling.
"What?" I slid them on under my dress, what's the big deal?
He sighs. "Nevermind. Let's just get out of here." His hand wraps around mine, but this time I follow behind him.
I would follow him anywhere.
ns 172.68.245.134da2
