Pencil, Paper, and Passion.

Chapter Eleven: Touch.

        Saturday morning came with torrents of rain.  I sat in the middle of my bed and stared glumly out the window, thinking that the weather had really become dreadful in the last month.  Just like your life, I thought sulkily, then frowned.  No, that wasn't true.  It hadn't been all terrible, but it had certainly taken several daytime TV drama worthy twists and turns.  Namely, my relationship with Ben.  Then there was the fight with my mother, and her escape to the Hamptons.  Lastly, this thing with Ryan Laski, which I was still concerned about as I hadn't heard a peep from him since my tires were slashed and I waited uneasily for the other shoe to drop.  

Still pouting at the downpour outside, I glanced at my bedside clock and groaned.  It was eleven o' clock and I hadn't even gotten out of bed yet.  Instead, I'd been sitting here worrying about every little thing, which was completely unnecessary as there wasn't a thing I could do to change any of it.  And, I thought as my mood lifted, there was one worry I didn't want to go away... and he'd be here in an hour.  Grinning, I climbed from my bed and headed straight to my shower, wondering what Ben would think if he knew I thought of him as worrisome.  

I took a quick, ten minute shower, spent thirty minutes on my hair and makeup, and then the rest of my hour went to searching for the right clothes.  I was just pulling a sapphire cashmere sweater over my head when the doorbell rang out.  Swearing, I snatched my cell phone from its charger and shoved it into the pocket of my white, calf-length skirt.  I grabbed my purse and a pair of silver flats from my closet before exiting my room and hurrying barefoot down the stairs.  I reached the door just as the bell pealed again.  Chuckling, I threw open the door.  "Impatient, are we?"

Ben grinned down at me as rain dripped from his hair and down his face.  "Little bit."  And with that he cupped my elbows, lifted me off my feet and claimed my lips.  This kiss was just as devastating as the first one and I immediately dropped the shoes and purse I still held in my hands so I could twist my fingers through his wet hair and participate fully.  I could taste the rain on his lips and gained a new appreciation for the weather.  All too soon, however, he pulled his mouth away and sat me back on my feet.  He kept his hands on my elbows and I opened my eyes to see him smiling sensually down at me.  There was a flush high on his cheekbones and his pupils had dilated so only a thin ring of violet showed of his irises.  So, this is what desire looks like, I thought, knowing full well I had the same aroused-and-not-quite-satisfied look upon my face that was on Ben's.  

I gazed up at him, trying to get a hold on my thoughts.  "Hm.  Well, hm.  Hello."

The smile widened and his dimples winked out.  "Hello.  I wouldn't have been able to have a decent conversation with you if I hadn't gotten that out."  He tilted his head inquiringly when I made no response,  "Are you going to invite me in?  It's a bit damp out here."

"Oh, right," I said dumbly and stepped back to let him inside, shutting the door at his back as he looked around the foyer.  Shaking my head, I finally reined in my thoughts and gestured him into the sitting room, then slipped the silver flats onto my feet before following him.  I figured the fancy room would be neutral enough ground for us to talk about the aspects of our relationship.  I motioned for him to sit on the sofa and took the dainty chair that sat across from it.  I laced my fingers together and met his eyes over the coffee table between us.  "Ben-"

He cut me off.  "Don't, Elizabeth."

"You don't even know what I'm going to say."  I frowned at him.  

"You're going to say that we need to talk about the consequences a romantic relationship between the two of us could bring.  I don't want to talk about it."

"But it's important that we do!  If anybody were to find out-"

"They won't."  Ben said flatly, interrupting me once again and leaving no room for an argument.