Katherine nodded before following behind Ben, the two of them caught up in a laughter that encompassed all the joy and excitement they’d brought to each other. They had both been caught up in a hamster wheel of the seriousness they thought had to accompany adult responsibility, but being around each other was a reminder of something brighter.
Katherine gave Ben permission to be himself, forgetting all that he was responsible for, and all the many people who depended on him. Ben, on the other hand, allowed Katherine to relax and forget the fear that resided deep in her bones, no matter how far she ran from her troubles.
They each were everything the other needed, without any discomfort. They were unaware of what they needed, but their souls had sought each other out, providing the energy they needed to thrust forward.
Now, soaked from the rain, their clothes hung heavy as Ben hailed a cab, waiving aimlessly with heavy arms. Katherine laughed loudly as he slung his arm over her shoulder, howling with laughter. It was the most random experience of their lives, but somehow they were equally as amused as others stomped and grunted, upset to be caught in the rain.
It was a weird moment of clarity for Katherine as she saw for the first time how an experience as common as getting caught in the rain had the power to frustrate someone if they allowed it. On many other occasions, she would not have found it funny to laugh and play in the rain, but with Ben her outlook changed full circle.
Everything was an adventure with Ben, and she enjoyed every step of the way. Katherine didn’t care how wet her clothes got, or even if they were destroyed altogether. It was fun to run with him, watching as he struggled to protect her from the onslaught.
“Here! Here!” Ben called out to a cab through his chuckles.
“We can’t get a cab, you drove!” Katherine reminded him of his parked car at the top of the block. They had walked down from the restaurant, but they needed to go back to get his sports car.
“I’ll come back and get it,” he explained quickly, as if that was clear enough, but to Katherine it was absurd.
Why would he possibly want to take another car when his car was just up the street? She was racking her mind trying to understand when a taxi pulled to the curb. Holding the door open, Ben ushered her in, his body falling over hers as they rushed to pile into the backseat, still laughing.
“Get on in here. It’s coming down out there,” the driver remarked, turning to face Katherine and Ben.
She was half on the seat, half in his lap, her face blushing with happiness as Ben brushed his lips against her cheek. They were so close, the way they were pressed against each other felt intimate, and she wasn’t ready to let the night end.
The driver asked, again turning in his seat. “Where are you headed?”
It was the question they both knew needed to be answered, but one they weren’t sure how to solve. Ben kissed Katherine’s cheek with longing in his eyes before speaking.
“Should I take you to your building?”
Katherine knew what she wanted, but was still afraid to ask for it. She wanted to take things slow and get to know Ben, but that would be more difficult if they complicated their relationship any further. It was clear that he wanted to spend more time with her, just as she did with him, but would it be too much temptation if they were alone together?
Watching how they behaved in public parks and the backseat of taxis was enough evidence for her to know they would not be able to control themselves if left alone, but just like everything else, that adventure with Ben seemed alluring.
Tired of playing it safe, and constantly in fear of who would appear to destroy the life she had so delicately built, Katherine decided to act her age for once. She wanted to live, and continue to feel the chemistry that burned like a wildfire between herself and Ben.
“No. Take me to your place,” she finally answered, her eyes locked on Ben’s.
“We’re heading downtown,” Ben said to the driver, though his attention remained trained on Katherine.
Lifting her onto his lap, he pulled her lips down to his, cradling the nape of her neck in his hand. It was a silent act of agreement, letting her know that she had done just what he wanted. Katherine felt like gold in his hands, and she allowed her body to move freely, pressing against his hard body for the pressure she had been desperately craving.
The city passed them in a blur as the rain slowed. Ben barely noticed when they passed his car, but Katherine took note that they were leaving her neighborhood, and the comfort zone she had just created. She was going into new territory, and it was exciting.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ben
“THIS IS IT?” THE DRIVER asked Ben as they arrived at his estate.
Turning to face the guard in the small tower in front of his property, he made eye contact and a simple nod before the iron gate opened. He’d been in such a passionate embrace with Katherine that he didn’t even notice when they got close, let alone when they pulled into his home.
“Nice place,” the driver grunted under his breath as they pulled down the driveway.
Watching closely, he could sense Katherine’s confusion when they finally reached the front door. His home was grand, so over the top in fact that he often took women to hotels, just to manage expectations. He didn’t want to display such wealth unless he knew the woman could be trusted.
Katherine had passed all of those tests, and he wanted to invite her into a different part of his life. Ben’s home was his sanctuary, where he was able to be himself without judgment or ridicule. Only a handful of women had received an invitation, and now he was going to show his pride and joy to the first woman to make him see a future for himself in the house he thought would only be for his bachelor lifestyle.
“I thought you said you sold pet accessories,” Katherine mentioned, as she followed him to the front door.