Page 45 of Need Him
“Benjamin, who is this?”
He took a breath. “My boyfriend.” He strode for the suitcase and threw in the items he’d collected.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Benjamin. He’s not worthy of someone with your status.”
For the first time, Alice’s posh way of talking irritated Ben. He spoke similarly, but he tried not to sound like he was looking down his nose at people, unlike her.
“You’re wrong. It’s the other way around, but he’s willing to have me. I’m going.”
“Going? Going where?”
“I’m leaving. You can live without me from now on.”
The words were met by silence, then an almighty shriek sounded, and his mother glared at him, finger raised. “After everything we have done for you, this is how you repay us? You ungrateful brat!”
Gareth stepped forward, getting in her face. “I think you have that wrong, Mrs Mycroft. After everythinghehas done foryou.You need to realise what you’ve done. You’ve lost an amazing man because you’re spoilt and selfish. I will take care of him like he deserves to be taken care of.”
Gareth held out his hand, and Ben zipped up the suitcase, casting one more glance around to check he had what he needed, and linked their hands and followed his Daddy from the house.
****
Chapter 17
Gareth
Gareth was so proud of his boy. He didn’t waiver on his decision, and they exited the house with Ben’s mother screeching behind them. An older man met them at the bottom of the steps with raised eyebrows, looking as if he’d just arrived back, but he didn’t try to stop them despite what the woman shouted at him.
Gareth put Ben’s suitcase in the boot of the car and held the passenger door open for him. He gave Ben’s hand a final squeeze before he let go and closed the door, glaring at the couple near the house while he rounded the car and climbed in. Without pause, he drove away from those people, grateful to have Ben away from them. He reached across the space and covered Ben’s hands with his, unable to give him his full attention while he was driving but wanting to give him what he could. Was he overwhelmed? Did he want to talk about it or not? Why was Gareth suddenly second-guessing himself?
“Are you okay?” He glanced across at Ben, doing a double-take when he saw a wide smile on Ben’s face. “What?”
“I’m free.”
Gareth smiled himself at the sheer joy in Ben’s voice. “You are.”
He left Ben to his thoughts for the journey, knowing, no matter how happy he appeared, it would take some time for it to properly sink in that he only had himself to think about now. He was sure Ben wouldn’t be unduly affected by the change of circumstances, but he would monitor him. His heart rate increased when he remembered that Ben was staying with him for several days. He was looking forward to being able to take care of him. Well, when they saw each other, that was. For the first time, he wished he had a different job, but he enjoyed working at Market Foods. They’d make it work.
He parked the car in front of his house and grabbed Ben’s suitcase from the boot before Ben could. Ben’s eyes dropped to the ground when Gareth looked at him, and his lip disappeared.
Gareth pulled it free with his thumb. “I’m going to have to start punishing you whenever you bite that lip. Even though a red, swollen lip looks divine on you, you’re hurting yourself, and I won’t stand for it.”
Ben’s eyes were wide, and Gareth smirked. He held Ben’s hand and tugged him towards the front door. When the door closed behind them, Gareth led him towards the kitchen, leaving the suitcase at the bottom of the stairs when they passed it.
“I was thinking of an all-day breakfast for lunch. What do you think?” he asked, letting go of Ben after giving him a chaste kiss.
“Sounds good.”
“Why don’t you relax? Choose a film or something to watch while I cook?”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely. I’ll shout you when it’s ready.”
Ben wrung his hands together, staring at him for a long second, then pivoted and left the room. Gareth wanted to give him time to himself, and cooking for him would settle Gareth. He didn’t want to throw himself at Ben when he was still unsure about things, no matter what his body told him to do. The man needed time to let what had happened sink in.
While Gareth got the sausages, bacon, eggs and beans cooking, he tried to remember if there was anything he still had to explain to Ben about the lifestyle. They’d done a pretty good job of getting everything on track, and the rest would need to be discussed as they came up rather than pre-empting them. Things might move a little quicker now that Ben and he were under the same roof, and Gareth needed to make sure he didn’t push too hard.
He glanced at the clock. He had around six hours before he had to go to work, and Ben wouldn’t be working that night—if he tried, Gareth would have words with him because he needed time away. He felt awful having to leave Ben at the house by himself on his first night there, but he would have time to get used to being there.
