Rhythm of Us: Book 2 Of The Fated Hearts Series (33 page)

Xavier scoffed. “Nine months max.” He turned and looked at me with such serious eyes. “Do you want kids?”

“Baby, I really want one of those,” Chase said softly. Xavier and I exchanged a smug smile. All joking aside, Gray and Chase were going to be amazing parents.

“I’ve never given much thought to kids, but then again I never imagined myself falling in love with someone either. What about you?”

“Same here.” Xavier reached over and placed his hand around the back of my neck. “Take me home, Ben.”

We said goodbye to everyone and left the hospital hand in hand until we reached his car. I pushed him against the driver side door and lowered my head until my mouth was just a hair’s breadth away from his lips. “My home is wherever you are, Xavier.” I kissed him like I had wanted to since I saw him sleeping in the chair. Our kiss turned insanely hot in a matter of seconds and I didn’t want to start something here that we couldn’t finish. “We need to find you a house with a garage so I can fuck you over Mistress’s hood like I wanted to the first night I saw her.”

“Okay,” Xavier said shakily.

That night I made love to Xavier slowly and completely, not letting him goad me into fucking him into the mattress. I loved fucking him into the mattress, but tonight I needed a more emotional connection with him. I never knew I was capable of making love until Xavier; and I needed that closer connection with him after being away for a few days. Especially, after he told me those three amazing words. The same words I made him say repeatedly before I let him come.

Later, after Xavier fell asleep in my arms, I laid in bed thinking about the changes I needed to make in my life. First, I needed to tell Bevan that I loved him. Although I didn’t feel that Xavier’s dream was an omen, I did feel that I needed to make sure that Bevan knew how I felt about him. He was my big brother, my dragon slayer, and my hero. It was past time he knew how much he meant to me, because there really were no guarantees in life.

Second, I decided that I would not try to reconnect with Beverly or Daniel. I had spoken the words to Beverly already, but knew I’d probably have to make myself clear again. My parents were never going to want the same type of relationship that I dreamed of having with them and it was a complete waste of emotion to get my hopes up, only to have them shit upon time and time again. I had Bevan, Xavier and his family, and I had friends that I loved as much as a family. For once, I would let that be enough.

Lastly, I decided to do everything in my power to hold on to the man lying in my arms. I wouldn’t repress him or behave like a possessive fool. I’d never abuse him or his precious trust. I wouldn’t try to hold him down with my hands or other types of restraints. I would love him with everything I had inside me and burrow myself so deep in his heart that he couldn’t remember a day without me in his life. Falling in love with Xavier was the scariest thing that ever happened to me, but I wouldn’t change a single thing.

“Love you,” Xavier whispered in his sleep and nestled closer. So fucking worth it.

MY MORNING STARTED
off great. Wright Creations had landed two more national campaigns and it was truly an exciting time for our company. I felt proud and blessed to have been there from the beginning when it was basically Gray, Preston, Ellie, Carman, Kayla, and myself. Gray announced that they would be looking to hire more staff at all levels and that was a true sign of a company’s prosperity.

My good mood soured quickly when I saw that Beverly had stopped in for another visit. It had been two months, or longer, since I left her gaping at my retreating back at the benefit. We hadn’t talked since then, not even by email or text, and I was looking to continue the silence between us. It just wasn’t my lucky day, but then again there was no time like the present to tell her how I felt.

“Listen here you little pissant,” Beverly snarled while leaning over Ian’s desk. “I know damn well that Bennett is in his office.”

“Actually, Beverly, I’m not in my office.” She turned around and at least had the good grace to look embarrassed; unfortunately it was because she was caught showing her true colors and not embarrassment at how horrible she spoke to Ian. “Apologize to Ian for the horrible way you spoke to him.”

“Do you know who this man is and how the sight of him humiliates me?”

“His name is Ian Kidd. He’s an excellent personal assistant and good friend. That’s who he is.” I gently grabbed her elbow and led her to my office. “Sit down,” I demanded once I shut the door so we could have a long overdue conversation.

“I do not like your tone of voice, Bennett. I am your mother and you will treat me with the respect owed to me.”

I laughed hysterically at her words. Ian was probably getting ready to call for the padded wagon if he was listening outside my door. “Oh, that’s rich, Beverly. Respect. Ha!” I paced a few times in my office until I got myself under control. What I had to say needed to be said in a calm and controlled voice or she would have just accused me of being overly emotional and completely disregard what I said. I knew that if I didn’t back up my words with actions, she would neglect to listen to what I was saying.

“Bennett, you discovered who
that boy
is and you didn’t fire him immediately? Have you no loyalty to your own mother?”

One, two, three . . .

“I want him gone, Bennett. I don’t want to see his face any longer. He constantly reminds me of your father’s philandering ways. I don’t need this abuse . . .”

“Stop!” My firm voice shut her up immediately. She blinked her large blue eyes at me in confusion. “I’m going to make your life a lot easier, Beverly. Today will be the last day you are ever allowed inside Wright Creations. Today is the last day that we will speak to each other. You’ve made it abundantly clear that I’ve been an unholy burden to you my entire life. I’m going to do us both a favor and sever all ties with you and Daniel.”
That felt unbelievably good.

Beverly stood there silently for a few minutes as if she couldn’t comprehend what I was saying to her. “Really! I have no idea what you’re talking about with this ‘unholy burden’ talk. I’ve never been anything other than a loving parent to you, even when you were at you’re most trying stages.”

“Are you speaking about my
fat stage
or my
gay stage
? You and dad were responsible for my
fat stage
, Beverly. At first I ate because I was miserable without Bevan and then I ate because it pissed you off. God made me gay and I’m thankful every day for that blessing.”
Especially now.
“My
gay stage
is what saved me from my
fat stage
.” I approached her and she backed up in self-preservation, which only made me realize just how little she knew me. I’d never strike or hurt a woman.

“Let’s address your ‘loving parent’ comment for a minute, if you’ll indulge me.”
Deep breath, Ben,
I told myself a few times. “Were you a loving parent when Daniel questioned my paternity and your only concern was that he insulted you? Were you a loving parent when Daniel drunkenly said I should have been aborted, because I’d never amount to anything and you did nothing to defend me?” Beverly gasped, obviously not aware that I’d overheard those things and that was only a few of the fights I’d witnessed. “The two of you weren’t very quiet when you were fighting over infidelity and the sorry state of your youngest son.”

“Bennett, I . . .”

“Enough. The time for you to be a parent was a long time ago. I really could have used you when I was a lonely, fat kid, but you were ashamed of me. I really could have used you when I was a confused gay kid, but you said it was just a phase I was going through, until it was convenient for Daniel to have a gay son to impress a potential client at his firm. That’s the kind of example you’ve set for me as a parent, Beverly. I’m an adult now and I make my own choices about who I allow in my life. I no longer feel obligated to include either you or Daniel in my life.”

“This is unbelievable.” She clearly wasn’t getting it. “I just don’t understand how you could treat me this way.” As always, everything was about Beverly. “You can expect a call from your father tonight.”

“I’ll tell him the exact same things I told you.” I gestured to the door with my arm. “I meant what I said. You’re not welcome here. I won’t hesitate to call security and have you removed it you don’t heed my warning. Goodbye, Beverly.”

I turned my back on her in dismissal and began looking at the picture boards on my design table. The slamming of the door let me know when she finally left my office. I felt lighter than a feather, nearly giddy, at the freedom I felt. I seriously doubted that Daniel would call me, but I was prepared if he did. The rest of the day passed by quickly, with several people commenting on my extra cheerful mood. I already sent a text to Xavier to let him know I was friskier than hell, to which he told me he had a sexy surprise for me. Needless to say, I left work early for once and shaved five minutes off my drive home.

“Honey, I’m home!” It was clichéd for some, but new and exciting for me. Xavier and I weren’t officially living together, but he was at my house more often than not. “I’m ready for my sexy surprise. Where we doing this, baby?” I started to loosen my tie, but froze when Xavier walked into my line of vision. He stopped midway on the stairs and it was all I could do to stay still and wait for him to descend them all the way. “Fuck.”

“We’ll get to that, but first I have a surprise for you.” Xavier came down the steps and did a slow turn in front of me. “Are these the black jeans you wanted to slowly peel off my body with your teeth?” I nodded my head. “Is this the black leather jacket you like so much? I believe you mentioned you wanted to fuck me while I wore nothing else.”

“Over the hood of Mistress,” I added, “but my garage isn’t big enough for Mistress, not with all my workout gear in there. How upset do you think the neighbors will be if we do it anyway?” I wiggled my eyebrows for emphasis.

“We’ll save that part of the fantasy for another time.” Xavier wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned in for a kiss. I think he meant for it to be a short kiss, but I had other ideas. I savored every part of his mouth until he pulled free with a teasing glint in his eye. “Are you ready to eat
dinner
?”

“Not at all. I want my dessert first.” I nibbled on his neck and began to tug the zipper down on his jacket. I wanted to see his beautiful caramel-colored skin and feel his lean muscles beneath my hands. Xavier stopped me when I got the zipper down to around his belly button. “I need you.”

“You have me, Ben.”

Xavier took my hand and led me into the living room where he gestured for me to sit on the couch. I noticed he moved the coffee table away from the couch and lit candles were placed all around the room. Xavier pulled the curtains closed and turned off the lights so that the only light in the room was the luminous glow from the candles. He sauntered over to the record player and moved the needle arm into position, but looked over his shoulder before he lowered it.

“What’s your other fantasy?”

“I have so many when it comes to you, Xavier. It’s a miracle I accomplish anything at work.”

Xavier gently placed the needle on the record and I heard the soulful cry of Led Zeppelin’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby” begin. He kept his back towards me and began to sway to the sexy, bluesy song and I knew I was about to experience the sexiest four minutes of my life. Xavier turned and walked to me, hips swaying, and singing the words of the song to me. My dick began to throb to the beat of the drums.

Xavier leaned over me to remove my tie, tossed it aside, and began to unbutton my shirt. His lower body kept perfect rhythm with the music and the words of the song were sang breathily in my ear. Xavier trailed his hands up and down my chest, teasing my flesh until I was nothing but a giant, quivering goose bump.

Xavier teased my lips with his tongue while he worked my belt loose and opened my pants. “He’s going to need some room to breathe,” he whispered in my ear. I was prepared to stand up and strip naked, but he stopped me with a firm hand on my chest and a shake of his head. “Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.”