Broken Record

Chapter 32: Benton and Stevie

Benton set his glass of whiskey down, his brows pulling together at Stevie's text response. Certainly not what he had expected to hear. Selfishly, he wanted to get more information on their weekend plans because his hands were itching to tie Stevie up again, and the idea of having to wait until next week before he could be with her again was killing him.

Benton West @ 7:26 PM: I'm sorry to hear that. She deserves better, as any woman does. P.S. If any five foot three woman could take a grown man's head off, it's you. Be careful.

Benton set his phone down, sifting mindlessly through the channels on his TV. It was Friday night and he was alone in his penthouse condo, his mind consumed by Stevie. He still couldn't believe he'd gone over to her temporary apartment, but the need that had filled him when she didn't show up at The Den was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He didn't just want Stevie, he had to have her. And he no longer wanted their time together to be relegated to Tuesday and Thursday appointments.

He let the amber liquid burn the back of his throat, dulling the stress and annoyance of Mary's outburst today. A woman that was unstable had no business falling in love with a man like him. She didn't even know him. Benton needed a woman who was his match, his equal. Fiery, determined, stubborn, wild.

Stevie @ 7:29 PM: You worried I might get myself into trouble?

Benton sat up straighter at Stevie's reply. She was clearly baiting him. Benton let out a dark laugh, not sure how in the hell he'd gone from stone cold to gushing over a text exchange with a twenty-four year old in only two months time.

Benton @ 7:31 PM: Yes. I may need to tie those fists down before you go hurting anybody.

Benton saw three dots flash before her texting stopped. He had the urge to call her, to hear her voice, but he didn't want to disrupt her time with her sister, who apparently was going through some pretty fucked up shit. Before he could decide whether to call her or not, he felt his phone vibrate. Stevie.

"Uh, hi, can you talk?" Stevie's voice was breathy, the streets of downtown LA in the background.

"I can."

"I need your help."

"Go on."
"Do you think Cortland knows any divorce attorneys? Like good ones willing to do him a favor?"

Benton stood from the couch, taking his whiskey with him. He smiled at the protectiveness in Stevie's voice.

"Of course."

"Okay cool, because I don't think she has the guts to do it herself even though I know she wants to leave him, I mean, who wouldn't? I knew that piece of shit was too good to be true." Benton let out a small chuckle and Stevie paused before speaking again.

"What?"

"You're cute."

"I am not cute."

"Beg to differ."

"Benton."

"Stevie?" She didn't say anything for a moment, the silence over the line hanging between them.

"I'm worried about her. She's off, you know? I think she's in denial but still knows it's over. I don't know. I'm terrible with relationship shit."

"Relationship shit?"

"Yeah, you know, talking about feelings and trusting people and I think I have commitment issues."

"Commitment issues?" Benton's interest was piqued as he leaned his hip against his fancy quartz countertop, the banter with Stevie already making him hard for her.