Copyright Lexi Ander
Part Eight: Leap of Faith
Ben listened intently as
David explained what each bundle contained, initialing and signing where
indicated. He lost count of how many packets he signed off on. The door jingled
and Ben ignored the newcomer, knowing that Dawson would handle the walk-in. He
signed the last page, feeling like he'd cut off the last of the dead weight
from his past.
"Where is he?"
Ben froze. He knew that
voice even if he hadn't heard it in a long time. There were some things you
never forgot.
David moved away from
Ben. "Sam, what are you doing here?"
"I tailed you,
David. Javier said today was the day of the sale and I knew you would meet with
Ben. He doesn't go to your office and so I followed you. I know he's here
somewhere. Is he hiding in the back? He can't run from me forever."
"Sam, do you know
how wrong it is to shadow me?" The anger in David's voice was audible. "You
can't make Ben see or talk to you if he doesn't want to."
Ben turned to see David
had stepped in front of him, blocking Sam's view. Dawson stood off to the side,
arms crossed as he scowled. Ben hadn't wanted to talk to Sam. There was nothing
Sam could say that would mend their relationship. He'd thought Sam would move
on. Obviously he was wrong.
"He didn't give
us—me a chance to explain. You don't throw away a lifetime for nothing."
That's
rich.
"I'm pretty sure it
wasn't for nothing, Sam," Ben bit out.
He was acutely aware that
he hadn't put his shirt back on. The way Sam's eyes slid down his body made him
uncomfortable. Had Sam always gazed at me
with naked desire?
"Ben?" Sam
stepped completely around David, eyes rounding as he scanned Ben's muscular
frame. "What happened to you?"
He considered Sam's
artfully disheveled appearance and knew his ratty blue jeans and hiking boots
were a far cry from what Sam had normally seen him wear in the past. The small
changes Ben made to his appearance had to be shocking to his former friend.
Ignoring Sam's questions,
Ben approached Dawson. "Can you hand over my shirt? My first client will
be here in fifteen."
"Dammit, Ben! Don't
ignore me. Wait, are you wearing eyeliner? When did you start that? Holy shit,
what is with the earrings? Not that it's bad, you're fucking hot, but this isn't
you." Sam's hands waved in the air at Ben.
He presented his back to
Dawson and gave Sam a hard stare. "What would you know about that?"
"If you hadn't cut
me out of your life, I would know…" He waved a hand at Ben again.
Ben shook his head at Sam's
words. "That's not my fault."
His former friend ran a
hand through his hair, glancing around and scrutinizing the shop. "So
you—what—work here now. You sold your interest in the firm for this place? You
could do much better—you know that—come back home. You can't be happy in this
dump."
He felt Dawson stiffen
behind him. "I'm part owner of this dump," Ben snapped. "You don't
get to judge me or my friends. Your opinion isn't needed or wanted."
Sam's face flushed a
bright red. "What? Are you screwing another one of your business partners?"
Dawson's hands held
firmly onto Ben's hips, derailing Ben's thought of knocking Sam out. The man's
touch reminded him where he was, who he was. "No, that would be you
screwing my partner, Sam. What I'm doing now is none of your damn affair,"
he spat back.
Sam's voice softened, the
anger leaching out of the tone. "Look, Ben, that's not what I meant. I'm
angry and jealous. I've been searching for you for months and you've changed
everything about yourself to get back at us. I get it. I really do, but it's
time to come home. You gotta know that we love you. Dammit, I love you and you
can't leave us—leave me like that. We were going to talk to you about it, and
there didn't seem to be a good time, then we were afraid you wouldn't be open
to a three-way relationship. You didn't give us a chance to explain. It could
work, but you walked away like we meant nothing to you. How could you? You were
supposed to love us or was that a lie too?"
Ben studied Sam. What was
he supposed to say to all that? Where would he even start?
Dawson stepped from
behind Ben, his large hand falling onto the nape of Ben's neck.
"Sam," Dawson
said, drawing the man's attention. "I don't imagine you'd recall who I am,
but I most certainly remember you." Dawson turned his arresting blue eyes
to Ben. "You blew it, pal. Friends don't do what you did, and just so you
know, Ben's not interested in what you have to offer now, any more than he was back
then." Dawson's eyes flicked down to Ben's lips. "I'll take that kiss
now," he said softly.
Ben gave a startled laugh
as Dawson pulled him in. He expected a heated crush of lips and was surprised by
the gentle brush of Dawson's mouth over his. A hand cupped the back of his head
and the other palmed his ass, drawing his body flush with Dawson's. The hard
line of Dawson's erection against his hip had him opening his mouth in a moan
that was quickly swallowed by Dawson's masterful kiss. Ben slipped his arms
around Dawson's waist and he wished their clothes were gone. He ached to feel
Dawson's skin next to his.
A tongue swiped across
his and he opened wider, slanting his head as he chased Dawson's taste. The
slow exploration turned to hot panting and muffled groans as the desire bounced
between the two of them. Reluctantly, they parted to gasp for air.
"Ben, Dawson,"
David said from the doorway. "It's been a pleasure to see you."
Dawson licked and sucked
on Ben's chin before kissing his way down the column of Ben's neck.
David chuckled, his free
hand grasping Sam's elbow. "I'll tell your parents something came up and
you won't make dinner. I don't think that I have to warn you to be prepared for
Annie's visit tomorrow."
Ben barely registered
David leaving, dragging a protesting Sam with him. He didn't care. Dawson was
driving him crazy with his kisses. Dawson pulled away, his hair a little wild,
pupils swallowed by lust.
"Your appointment
will arrive any minute," Dawson reminded him.
Ben glanced around and
pulled in a couple of calming breaths. "You expect me to work after that?"
He'd much rather go into the back room and beg Dawson to fuck him.
Dawson smirked as if he
could read Ben's thoughts. "David did us a favor and gave us the evening
together. Life doesn't stop simply because you're horny."
The door chimed. Ben shot
a glare at Dawson's sly smile before pulling on his T-shirt. Glancing at the
clock, he mentally counted down the time to close. His body hummed with new
excitement.
The past year had been
hard but it hadn't broken him. As hurt and distraught as he'd been the night he'd
met Dawson, he'd still had the ability to take a leap of faith that had changed
his life for the better.
He peeked at Dawson who
diligently cleaned his station. Dawson had renewed his faith in people and
friends. And hopefully, later on that night, they'd take their friendship one
step further. Ben was excited to see where it would lead.
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