Page 175 of Champagne Nights

“Yeah. It’s about time someone told her. I’ve tried so many times, but she would always just put her hand up and cut me off.”

Leah walked outside and looked at me and Ben. What’s wrong? She signed.

“Nothing. We’re just talking. Are you ready to go?”

“I was ready before we even got here.” She smirked as she signed.

Ben and I broke out into laughter. We walked back into the house and said our goodbyes to everyone. Ben’s dad hugged me while his mom didn’t even look at me. Ben dropped Leah off at home before driving me back to my house. I invited him in for a beer, and we sat at the kitchen table while he taught me some basic sign language.

“I better get going,” he said as he got up from the table.

“Okay. Thank you for teaching me some sign language.”

He smiled as he leaned over and brushed his lips against mine. Our kiss started out soft, but it soon erupted into a passion. His hands found their way under my shirt, and he moved them up and down my bare back. He felt so good, and I was turned on—so turned on that I lifted my shirt over my head and stood there in my black push-up bra. He gasped as he stared at my cleavage and then kissed me again. His tongue glided around my neck, and the wetness I felt below was more than ever. He picked me up and carried me over to the couch, laying me down and climbing on top of me. We stared into each other’s eyes before his lips trailed down the front of my neck and to my chest. We didn’t say a word to each other. I think we were too scared to. The hardness of his erection pulsated through the fabric of his jeans as he moved it back and forth against my aching clit. His hand pushed my bra cup to the side as he groped and kneaded my bare breast. He felt so good, and I was so turned on. His warm lips made their way around my erect nipple while my hand unbuttoned his jeans.

“Paisley,” he whispered.

“Ben.”

I unzipped his jeans and placed my hand down his pants, feeling his hard cock and the wetness that surrounded the tip. He moaned and threw his head back as I stroked him up anddown. He was well-gifted in the goods department. He was long and thick and well shaven. When his hand traveled down the front of my pants, I couldn’t see anything but my husband. I suddenly broke our kiss and pushed Ben off of me.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I shouldn’t have…Oh my God, I’m sorry, but I can’t.” I jumped up and slipped my shirt over my head.

He sat there and stared at me. “It’s fine. I’m sorry,” he said as he buttoned his jeans.

“You need to go, Ben, right now!”

“Paisley.”

“NO! Please just leave. Leave me alone. What the hell was I thinking?”

He walked over to me and attempted to place his arms around me. I immediately backed away.

“This isn’t going to work. I’m sorry.”

“Paisley, don’t do this. Everything will be okay. I promise,” he pleaded.

“No, it won’t. Nothing will ever be okay for me. There’s too much pain, and I can’t deal with it. Please just go and don’t call me. I’ll call you when I’m ready. I’m so sorry,” I said with tears in my eyes.

“If that’s how you truly feel, then fine. I won’t bother you again.” He shook his head at me, and with a look of hurt and disappointment, he walked out the door.

I ran to my purse, grabbed my cigarettes, and went out to the garage, shutting the door before Romeo could follow me out.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ben

I was still trying to wrap my head around what happened. I loved her, and I couldn’t bear to leave her like that, but I had no choice. She made it very clear that she wanted me to leave and to leave her alone. Sadness and disappointment tore through me as I tried to fall asleep. I kept my phone close to my side, hoping she’d either call or text me.

I got up the next morning at six a.m. and headed out for a run. It was earlier than usual, but I couldn’t sleep, and lying in bed just forced me to think too much about Paisley. Before heading to the pier, I decided to do some running on the beach near the shoreline. That was when I ran into Keaton as he was putting his surfboard in the water.

“Hey, Ben.” He smiled.

I stopped and placed my hands on my thighs as I tried to catch my breath. “Hey, Keaton.”

“You’re out early this morning? Couldn’t get Paisley to run with you?”

“Nah. She told me last night not to call her anymore, and when she’s ready, she’ll call me.”

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