Page 21 of Need Him
“It’s not that. I do want this, but I’m viewing some properties tomorrow.”
Gareth sat forward, grasping Ben’s hand. “That’s great news!”
“I’m scared,” Ben whispered.
Gareth squeezed his hand. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“You’ll be sleeping.”
That wasn’t a no. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. I don’t want to force my presence on you, though.”
Ben exhaled heavily. “I would love you to be there. Thank you. I’ve arranged them from three o’clock because I have meetings all morning.”
“Perfect. I’ll still get some sleep. Text me the addresses, and I can meet you. Or I can pick you up if you’d like?”
Ben shook his head. “No. I’ll meet you there. No point in coming here and going away again.”
“All right.” Gareth checked his watch. “I need to get to work.” He didn’t make a move to leave. He cupped Ben’s jaw. “You’re stunning,” he whispered.
Ben’s bottom lip disappeared, and Gareth used his thumb to pull it from between his teeth. He leaned closer, sipping that lip between his own and soothing it, and fitted their mouths together in a soft kiss. It didn’t last long because Gareth didn’t trust himself not to get carried away the moment he got his hands on Ben. When he pulled away, Ben’s eyelids fluttered open, his hand flexing against the fabric of Gareth’s shirt.
Gareth kept his voice low, not wanting to break the spell they were under just yet. “What I want you to do tonight is rest, but also think about what you would or would not want from a relationship. We need to be on the same page. Depending on how much time we have between or after the viewings tomorrow, we can talk in more detail.”
“All right.” Ben rested his head against Gareth’s chest and inhaled, relaxing against him. And Gareth didn’t want to move, but he refused to be late again. That was one way to get the rumour mills started if they weren’t already.
He brushed a hand down Ben’s back and gently pulled back. He cupped his face. “I’ll see you later.” He pecked his lips and stood, making sure Ben was taking his own weight first. “Finish your milk, then get to work.” He winked. “Not for too long, though.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t forget to eat.”
Ben smiled. “I won’t.”
Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed him again before pivoting and striding out of the office before he did something they’d regret. He jogged down the stairs and clocked in before heading straight onto the shop floor. Throwing himself into his work, he barely felt the hours passing him by. The only time it registered was when Ben walked past his aisle and smiled at him. After that, he concentrated on the stock rotation he had to do and not much else.
When his break arrived, Felix had to come and remind him to take it.
“Sorry. I’m a little out of it tonight.” Gareth chuckled, rubbing a hand over his face.
Felix chuckled. “I can see that. Everything okay?”
Gareth nodded. “Yeah. I’m good.”
Felix slapped his back. “Go on with you. Fifteen minutes for a cuppa might do you some good.”
Gareth grinned and left his work where it was and grabbed a cup of tea, sitting by the window and staring out into the night sky. He tried his hardest not to think about Ben and their situation, but it was forefront in his mind every minute of the day. To try to distract himself, he checked his phone and saw a message from Preston sent not long ago, and he took a chance and rang him, hoping he wasn’t waking him.
“Hey,” Preston said.
“Hey. How are you doing?” They’d had a few conversations since the previous weekend but hadn’t seen each other in person.
Preston snorted in his ear. “I’m perfect.” The sarcastic tone was not lost on Gareth.
“What happened?”
“Nothing. That’s the problem. Not a single thing has changed, except that he’s not talking to me about anything but work. He refuses to answer any questions I ask him, and it’s driving me insane. I’m thinking of leaving.”
“What! No, Preston. Don’t let him do that to you. You’ve earned everything you have in that company. You’ve been with them for years.”
