Page 24 of No Kind Words

I gasp, pulling away from his mouth to look into his eyes. He picks up speed, jacking my cock, harder, firmer, with a twist at the head. He remembers how I like it. As I rest my forehead on his, my breath quickens and my balls tighten, drawing high into my body. “I’m gonna come, Jet. Fuck, I’m gonna come.”

My dick spurts cum like a geyser, coating his hand and drenching his fingers. As I soften, he brings his hand to his mouth and cleans up the sticky mess I just made. His eyes never leave mine the whole time. We sink slowly to the floor.

“God, Ben, I’ve missed you so fucking much.” He leans in and presses his mouth to mine. His kiss is so tender now. My eyes sting with the burn of tears, and I have to blink them away. “Why were we so fucking stupid, so stubborn? We should have fought for each other, not run away. I should’ve called you. I was a fucking idiot.”

I shift off my knees to sit properly on the floor. When he sees what I’m doing, he gets to his feet and holds out his hand. He seems to do that a lot—take my hand. “I can think of better places to sit.”

I let him pull me up to stand and lead me into the main sitting area. Isla, his dog, lifts her head and thumps her tail but doesn’t get out of her bed.

The minute we sit down, I’m back in his arms. “God, that was incredible. I’ve wanted to do that, and more, from the moment I saw you again. I can’t wait for you to reciprocate.” He grins and waggles his eyebrows.

I huff out a chuckle. “Maybe another night.” I straighten, finally believing we could have something together. “I want this. I want us, but I owe you a huge apology. I kept what happened to you a secret, and that was wrong. I should’ve told the doctor or the police, someone, to get you out of that house and somewhere safe. I didn’t, and I’m sorry.”

“Ben, it wasn’t on you to do that. We had made such efforts to be secret. I was eighteen, an adult, not a shy little boy. I’m the one who should’ve called the police on him. Everyone knew he was a violent bastard. I think he scared himself a bit with what he did. My mum tore into him, threatening all sorts of things, including leaving him. I didn’t know what he’d said to you, which was one of the reasons I didn’t call you. I thought he would have threatened you off, and, fuck, I was ashamed. I didn’t want you to see what he’d done to me.”

“What do you mean?”

“He made quite a mess of my back with his belt.”

I stare at him, speechless. “He did what?” Jesus, what kind of savage was the man? He should’ve gone to prison. I let him get away with it. I should’ve stood up to him. We should’ve found somewhere safer. Hell, my home would’ve been better than the barn. “Will you show me?”

Jethro shakes his head. “Not now, not tonight. I think we’re raw enough. Please don’t pity me, Ben. I don’t want or need it. It’s done and over with. We deserve to forgive ourselves for the past. I want us to forget about it now or at least ignore it. We have a future to be hopeful about.”

He’s right. I’ve apologised, and he’s accepted it. I won’t ever be over what I didn’t do, but I can lock it up tight and move on. “Come here.” I hold out my arms. He moves swiftly into my embrace, and I kiss him. I kiss him until we’re both breathless and my dick aches. His probably does too, but neither of us makes a move.

When we pull apart, Jethro gives me a goofy grin, his lips swollen and eyes glazed. “You’re still a great kisser.”

“I would hope so. It’s not something I want to get worse at. You’re so different. The confidence in who you are is hot, but you were never shy about trying something new or saying what you wanted. I’m going to guess that you top now too.”

“Benny, sweetheart. I do it all, and I can’t wait for that part to happen. I’m prepared to wait. This is something worth waiting for, I think. Don’t you?”

“What kind of timescale are you thinking of? Does the three-date rule still apply?”

“As long as we count tonight as date number one.”

Not long after our talk, he left, wanting to get back to Hope. I wish he could’ve stayed, but I don’t know if we’re there yet. Maeve walks into the examination room, her riotous auburn curls tied back but still trying to escape the confines of the clip she has holding it in.

“What’s up?” I wipe down the table before the next client.

“What’s going on with you and Benny? I know you had a date. Everyone’s talking about it and something about a hot kiss.” She grins cheekily, trying to push my buttons.

“You should know better than to listen to gossip or try to get the tea so you can tell your little coven of gossipers.” I match her smile as her cheeks go a little pink. She has made good friends with Stacey and Melanie, and she hangs out with a few other women, but the main friends are the two I went to school with. “But FYI, it was a lovely meal at the bistro. That’s all you’re getting.”

“You’re a meanie.” She pokes her tongue out at me like a toddler.

“Stop being a pain in my arse and bring in the next patient.”

Halfway through the afternoon, my phone vibrates in my pocket. When I check it, it’s a missed call from an Edinburgh code, but the caller didn’t leave a voicemail or text. Curiosity has me calling the number back. It’s a hospital switchboard, but I have no clue why they would call me, so I put it down to a wrong digit being pressed.

Tonight it’s the late-night opening, with the last appointment at seven thirty: a quick check-over and a vaccination booster for a couple of cats. Then we’re done. Ben called to see if I wanted to go to his place, but with it being so late, all I want is a hot shower and something loaded with carbs. As I lock up, my phone buzzes again. This time it’s Ben, or Benny as I’m now beginning to call him, thanks to everyone else’s usage.

Benny: Open the door.

I walk to the front door and pull it open. He stands on the steps with Hope by his side and a huge pizza box in his hands. “I had a feeling you might not be in the mood to cook tonight.” He nods to the box.

“You’re a mind reader. Your place or mine?” Hopefully, he says mine because I want a shower. “Yours. I’m sure you want to get out of your scrubs.” He really is a mind reader. Or he still knows me so well.

“Did you walk?” His car isn’t parked in the practice’s car park.

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