Their noses were inches away from each other. Benson was taller, but Liam had the presence of a lion who had won every battle for dominance in his pride. Size didn’t matter. Benson was the first to know that confidence and experience often won out in the end.
And Liam had both in spades. Benson had never known a man more self-assured in his life.It’s always made me jealous.And in love.
“Because I don’t want to break your heart when I win.”
Benson had every intention of shoving Liam away from him.Save it for the bedroom.Where the three of them would inevitably end up again.So we can get more fucked up.
But he didn’t push his ex away. Nor did Liam extract himself.
“I’m sorry.”Were those the words Benson read in Liam’s eyes before they crashed together, reliving the best moments of their engagement?
It was inevitable. Since reuniting, they had been exchanging looks, dropping hints, and attempting to be “good” with each other, in the sense that they had moved on and had no desire to reignite the old passions that had brought them together.Despite the fact that we get along perfectly when I’m not such an asshole.And despite the fact that Benson had never kissed a man who made him feel as complete as this.
Most men were only in it for the brief connection they could share somewhere. A dark nightclub. The backseat of a Maserati. The damn coat closet or men’s restroom in a restaurant like this.The shit I’ve done in hot tubs…Benson rarely saw the same guy twice. That had been part of the appeal at first.
Then he met Liam. Who kissed likethis.Like he wanted to do it for the rest of his life.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!Yet the more Benson thought that, the more he leaned into it, as if pushing Liam up against the wall would prove a stupid point.
I’m better. I’m stronger. I’m going to win. You’ll see.Yet was it really winning if Benson had succumbed to his ex like this?
Was it winning if Liam flung his arms around Benson and kissed him with all his might?
“Ahem.” Benson ejected himself off Liam as if someone had thrown dynamite between them. Yet it was “just” Ken, who stood in the hallway linking the building to the parking garage with his travel coat over his arm. “My, my. Don’t stop on my account.”
Benson had barely caught his breath when he gestured toward Ken. “Don’t tell anyone.”
One manicured eyebrow went up Ken’s forehead. “Of course not. Except my wife.”
“Don’t tell your wife!”
“But she was so invested in you two. She’ll be happy to know that you’ve been caught sucking face again.”
Liam smacked his head against the wall and laughed. “Tell her whatever you want.”
Ken twiddled his fingers in goodbye. Benson swung on Liam as soon as the other man was gone.
“What?” Liam asked. “Gonna invite me over to your place?”
“Absolutely not.”
“I see.”
“I had to get that out of my system.”
“Isee.”
“Don’t tell Eden.”
“There is so much you never want me telling anyone.”
“Guess some things haven’t changed.”
Liam shrugged. “I guess not.”
He fixed his wrinkled jacket before heading in the other direction. Benson remained in the small alcove, eventually sinking into one of the chairs and covering his face with his hands.
He sat there for a long while, attempting to remember how to breathe.
