Page 37 of No Kind Words

When I get back indoors, I dry Hope and feed her. While she’s happily munching away, I get in the shower. As the water cascades over my head and neck, I run over the conversation with Jethro. He didn’t have a problem with my past relationship or the thought of potentially being stalked. I’d be freaking out. He’s right, though. We can solve it easily.

The rumble of his engine surprises me. I thought we were meeting at the pub. When I open the door and see Isla waiting patiently, I get why. Someone is planning a sleepover. Jethro walks in and kisses my neck, breathing in deeply. “God, I love how you smell.”

The pub is loud and busy, but we squeeze through the tables and the groups standing near the bar. I order a beer for Jethro and a gin and tonic for me. I’m not that much of a beer drinker or a drinker at all. Years of having to get up before dawn stop nights out and alcohol. I’d rather have this or a glass of wine.

We walk to the corner table where the usual gang is sitting. All the empty glasses show they’ve all been here a while. Jethro sits next to Melanie and leans close to speak to her. I take a seat opposite them, so I can’t hear the words, but with a little bit of lip-reading, I understand he’s asking about her visitor. She says something I don’t get. I risk looking through the photos on my phone. Have I saved any pictures of Jamie? I thought I’d dumped them, but I missed one. I bring it up and pass my phone to Jet.

I’m surprised when she shakes her head. I really thought it would be Jamie. When he hands me back my phone, I delete the picture, along with his number. Relief lifts off me like a heavy weight around my neck. I sit back and take a sip of my drink. After talking to Mel for a bit longer, Jethro comes over and sits next to me.

“Not him,” Jethro says. “It was a younger man, and he didn’t speak directly to Mel but to another staff member. So she couldn’t give me anything more than the description she was given. You can stop fretting over a long-gone ex. And get rid of the bloody photo, please.” That’s the only indication he gives me that he’s pissed off with it all.

“Already done, and I also blocked his number.” I peck his lips with a soft kiss. He smiles against my mouth, and all the butterflies in my stomach flutter their wings contentedly. Happy that any drama has been halted. “You’re not bothered who it is?”

“Nah, like I said, I’m not hiding from anyone. I’m not wanted by the police, no bank robberies or spy missions in my past. I’m clean as a whistle.”

“Really? That’s such a shame. I can see you as James Bond. Although I doubt he’s pierced quite as much as you and in the same places.” I grin. He knows how much of a fan I am of his dick ring.

“Did I hear piercings?” Stacey’s eyebrows shoot up as she nudges Maeve. “You must know about them. Spill.”

Maeve splutters over her drink. “No way, I don’t know what he’s sporting. Gross.”

Stacey turns to me. “Benny, come on. You’ll tell us, right?”

Jethro is laughing so much I’m almost tempted to tell them, but nope, that secret is just for us.

The remainder of the evening is fun. Of course Jethro has the piss taken out of him, but he remains tight-lipped, only his thumb running up and down the inseam of my jeans shows me he’s thinking about what we’re going to be getting up to in, say, about half an hour.

“You ready to go?” he whispers in my ear, his warm breath on my skin sending a happy shiver down my spine.

“Hmm, yes, more than ready.”

By the time we leave the pub, the weather has changed, and the rain is pouring down. “Oh, just great. We’re gonna have to run.” I grab Ben’s hand, and we leg it across the road and down the high street to the corner that leads down to Ben’s house. I’m grateful we’re staying here. It would’ve taken us longer to get to mine.

“Thank god,” Ben groans as he fishes his keys from his pocket. We stumble in through the door and shake the same way the dogs do. “That was not fun.”

“Why are you grinning, then?” I ask. The dogs wriggle by our legs, wanting some attention. I pet them both, then peel out of my soggy coat. Ben still hasn’t answered, and when I look at him, he’s smirking.

“Because I think we need to get naked and warmed up. A shower seems the best way to do that.” Ben waggles his eyebrows suggestively. “Don’t you think?”

“Sounds good to me. You get it started, and I’ll settle the dogs.”

He nods and goes upstairs while I try to get the dogs out for a last pee, but one look at the rain has them both turning away and going straight to their bed. They lie down together, snuggled in close. Friends for life, it seems.

As I climb the stairs, the shower is running. Ben will be naked by now, and I hate missing him strip. On the last step, I finish unbuttoning my shirt and let it drop soggily from my shoulders, catching it in my hand. Instead of turning to the bedroom, I head for the bathroom and push open the door. Steam billows around me. I was right. Ben is naked, leaning with his hands on the sink, looking into the soon-too-cloudy mirror.

“You okay?” I ask as he turns to face me.

“Yeah, tired. I’ve had a lot on my mind. Tonight helped, though. I had fun.” He smiles, moves away from the sink, and pulls the shower curtain back. “Are you joining me?”

“Yep.” I strip off the rest of my clothes and step in behind him. I press a kiss between his shoulders as I stroke down his ribs to his waist and hold him against me. “I love you,” I whisper, kissing up his neck to his chin. Stubble has bloomed over his jawline. I run my own over it, scratching and scraping, and slip my hands down lower to his arse. “I love your body.”

He scoffs, and I squeeze his bum hard. He groans. I dip my finger down the valley between his cheeks, slipping farther and farther to his hole. “I’m having this tonight.” I tap the pucker.

“Yes, here, now.” He shuffles his feet apart, giving me more access.

“No, I want you spread out in bed. I want to play tonight.” I’m in the mood for some teasing and edging. “You’ve been wound up too tight lately. It’s time to come apart.”

I grasp his dick and tug it firmly. He shudders and thickens even more. As I stroke him slowly, his cock throbs and pulses in my hand. “Y…yes, god, yes.”

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