Page 77 of Elite Metal: Warriors

Ben.

Oh heavens. Ben.

Something warm and wonderful nested in her chest.

Because she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he’d just shared something with her. Something precious and real.

“Ben,” she said. “I like the taste of that.”

He threaded his fingers in her hair. Caressed her cheek with his thumb.

“Ben. Ben. Yes.” She nodded. “Much better than George.”

Much better than George, indeed.

Chapter Six

Morning came too quickly.

Of course, the fact that he’d kept her up most of the night could be to blame for his fatigue. Still, once Benedict awoke, he couldn’t go back to sleep. He wormed his way out from under her and settled her down on his pillow.

He stared at her as she grumbled and snuffled and nestled back in. His hands closed into fists to stop him from touching her. That was how strong the urge was within him. But if he touched her once, he wouldn’t stop and they’d be at it again.

How many times had they made love in the shadows of the night? He couldn’t recall. At some point, their wild trysts had all merged together into one. They had merged into one.

She’d drained him. With her mouth, her hand, her body. She’d drained him. But he was pretty sure he could rise to the occasion again, if he needed to.

With a chuckle, he yanked on his pants and turned toward the shelves where they’d stocked the food and pulled out the pancake mix. He hoped she liked pancakes. She needed to eat. Refuel her stores.

He didn’t know how much time they’d have together, but by God, he was taking advantage of every flipping minute. He caught himself grinning as he mixed up the batter. Funny how it didn’t surprise him so much anymore—that smile. Like a new pair of shoes becoming comfortable in the fit.

When he’d first met her, and she’d made him smile, made him laugh, it had thrown him for a loop. He’d never been what one could call a light-hearted man, but in the past years, with the weight he had to carry, he’d become almost…dour.

She did something to him. Lifted the blanket smothering him. Let in the light.

It was a wonderful feeling, and a terrifying one.

Because when a man had something he craved, he had something to lose. He was weakened. He was vulnerable.

If he was smart, he’d cut off these feelings at the knees. Negate them. Repudiate them.

But something within him would not allow that. Something within him required her brightness, her presence.

“What are you making?” Her scent curled around him as she came up behind him.

He smiled down at her. “Pancakes. Do you like them?”

“Right now I could eat shoe leather.”

“I have some of that.” He chuckled.

It was cute the way she smacked him. Hell, she was cute, wrapped in the blanket, and little else, her hair a tousled mess. “How long?”

“You are hungry, aren’t you?”

“Someone gave me a workout last night.” She turned away and dropped the blanket, rubbing her round ass with both hands.

When she shot a taunting glance over her shoulder, he growled at her. “Do you want to eat?”