Fate || BENNIFER

Welcome Home

Jennifer's P.O.V

In the dim glow of the early morning light, I stood in front of the mirror, my eyes tracing the contours of my face. My fingers moved to my bottom lip, gently grazing my skin. A tingling sensation coursed through me, reminding me of Ben's electrifying bite from our passionate encounter the night before.

As my fingertips danced across my lips, I could still feel the residual heat. The memory played in my mind like a movie, the scene unfolding with vivid clarity, causing my heart to quicken and a soft smile to grace my lips. The mirror reflected back at me, revealing a reddened and slightly swollen bottom lip. It was a throbbing reminder of the intense pleasure we had indulged in.

Ben remained asleep as I crept back into the darkened room from the bathroom, his naked body sprawled across the mattress. For a moment, I just admired the powerful muscles of his back, his hair, mussed with sleep and the fingers I'd run through it while we made love just a few hours earlier.

A soft smile played on my lips as I approached the bed. I couldn't resist the urge to run my fingers gently through his hair, my touch as light as a feather. The sound of my footsteps brought a subtle shift in his expression, a flicker of awareness crossing his features.

As I settled myself on the edge of the bed, my presence became impossible to ignore. Ben's eyes fluttered open, and his lips curled into a contented smile.

"Good morning." He murmured in a voice still heavy with sleep.

"Good morning." I replied, my voice laced with affection.

I couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth as he pulled me closer, his arm wrapping around my waist. The touch of our naked bodies meeting under the covers sent shivers down my spine, igniting a familiar spark between us.

Breath held without thinking, the suspended air caught at the top of my throat like a minute grasped instead of recklessly spent. Our lips, ever-so lightly parted. A hint of pressure, then a soft, warm exhale ending in an almost imperceptible hum.

Reluctantly, Ben and I stepped out of the dreamy suite, our fingers interlaced as we closed the door behind us. The time had come to return to our family. As we made our way to the car, our footsteps seemed slower, as if our bodies resisted the inevitable separation.

We settled into our seats, and the engine roared to life, breaking the silence that enveloped us. As we drove, remnants of our passionate night clung to the air, electrifying the atmosphere within the confined space of the car. Our senses were overwhelmed, unable to ignore each other's lingering scent. Ben's hand found its way to my thigh, his touch gentle yet filled with longing. I shivered at his caress, my skin tingling in response, as our eyes met.

The car seemed to shrink around us as we leaned in closer, our bodies gravitating towards each other. Fingers entwined, we reveled in the touch, the warmth, the familiarity.

Our presence in our driveway was probably too obvious, because when the front door opened, there, standing at the threshold, were small figures that made our hearts swell with delight, our children. They had clearly been counting down the hours until our return, and their emotions spilled over as they rushed into our arms.

Their laughter filled the air, as they asked questions and eagerly told us about what they had been doing during our absence. We listened attentively. As the commotion subsided, another familiar figure emerged from the hallway, Ben's mother. The smile on her face mirrored the joy in the room as she hugged us tightly.

"Welcome home, my darlings." She said.

It had been Chris who had willingly agreed to stay overnight with the children, allowing Ben to surprise me.

"I'm so happy to see you." I hugged my mother-in-law, grateful for her presence.

"So am I!" She replied. "How was the date? Was Ben up to the task?" She asked playfully.

Ben, who had been momentarily engrossed in his phone, jerked his head up, his eyes wide with shock.

"Mom!" He exclaimed, mortified at his mother's audacity.

"Oh sweetheart, don't be so flustered!" Chris said, feigning innocence. "I mean your dinner date." She emphasized the last words with an exaggerated air of nonchalance.

Then she turned and winked at me. I couldn't help but burst into laughter at her humorous tactlessness.

"To answer your question, Ben was great... outstanding, as always." I held back my laughter.

Ben rolled his eyes, embarrassment evident on his face.

"Thanks, Jen. So glad you had a lovely time." He muttered, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

Chris, ever the joker, let out a hearty laugh, unable to contain her amusement.

"Well, it's always good to know my son continues to impress." She continued, a mischievous smile on her face. "But in all honesty, I'm glad you two had a wonderful evening together. You make a lovely couple, and I'm so happy he finally proposed."

I approached Ben, offering him my gentle touch to dissipate the lingering unease in his body. My hand cupped his cheek, as I leaned in closer, my lips brushing gently against his flustered face.