recognize / b.simmons

7

"what time is your roommate coming back?" ben asks amari between kisses. her hands were running up his chest, playing with the chain that he was wearing. she told him to leave it on when they had sex; she liked the way the coolness of the gold touched her back and chest, depending on the position, whenever he hit it.

amari pulls away briefly, but the kisses don't stop. ben plants soft kisses on her jaw and neck, pulling her closer by the waist. "we have an hour left," she answers, putting her hands on his chest to stop what he was doing. he looks up at her and licks his lips. something inside amari melts, but she ignores it and looks at ben. "we could go for round two?" she asks, a small smirk on her face. ben returns it and starts to kiss her, but halts halfway.

"let me ask you something first," amari narrows her eyes at him. what could he possibly want to know? and to ask right before they get it on? how is he being his own cock-block?

"depends on what it is," she says, running her hands down his chest. his eyes don't leave her face.

"why did you call me when you just went on a whole ass date?" amari stops her movements, her eyes locked on his sternum. that's what he wanted to know?

"why does that matter, you're here, he's not," she says and leans in, but ben stops her by putting his hand on her stomach.

"because i don't understand," he says, and amari frowns. why was he being like this all of a sudden.

"there's nothing to understand. i called you over here to fuck, not to discuss my life," amari snaps, moving away from ben. ben rolls his eyes.

"you said we could be friends with benefits. i'm trying to at least be friends, so i can understand who i'm fucking with," he retorts, standing up, staring at amari who was on the other side of the bed.

ben had a point, and amari knew it. it was understandable because she did say that, but tonight wasn't the night that she felt like disclosing personal information.

the two adults stare at each other for a few more seconds, and ben is the first to look away. "you know what? i'll just leave," he mumbles and starts picking up his clothes. amari bites her bottom lip. she didn't want him to go, this is not how tonight was planned in her head.

she watches him put his clothes on, and she decides to at least put a bra on. she quickly finds it, and puts it on, along with her underwear. ben was still looking for his shirt, which was on the floor next to her nightstand on her side of the bed. "have you seen my shirt?" he asks. amari scans her area, and her eyes land on the white material, and she bends over to pick it up, giving ben a view he'll never forget. he rubs the back of his neck, contemplating on whether he should really go or not.

amari holds it out to ben and he reaches across the bed to grab it, but his arms don't reach—shocker— so he walks around and amari meets him halfway. ben reaches for his shirt and amari snatches it back and puts it behind her back, childish, but it's to stall. ben sucks his teeth and looks down at her. "yo, quit playin, amari," he says. she looks up at him, her eyes cold.

"don't leave."

he was not expecting that to come out of her mouth. first she calls him, then she's begging him to stay? kyle must've been awful. "just give me back my shirt," he says, and reaches for it but she moves out of the way. ben sucks his teeth again and looks at her. "i'm not playing with you, amari," he mutters. she likes the way he says her name, it's different from the way kyle said it. maybe it's the accent, she doesn't know— she just knows that it's better when he says it.

"no. stay, please?" she asks, her voice softening at the end. she really did want him here, even if required answering his question. "look, i'm sorry for how i acted a few minutes ago." she tries and ben sighs, his head rolling to the side. a small smile was on his face and he takes a seat at the foot of the bed.

"aight," he says. amari smiles and walks over to him and stands between his legs, her arms wrapping around his neck. he settles his hands on her wait and looks up at her.

"to answer your question from earlier, i didn't go home with kyle because after what you said, i wanted to test the theory," amari answers, a sly smile on her face. ben licks his lips and returns the smile.

"is that right?" he asks, pulling her closer to him by the hips.

"yes," she says, leaning in and kissing him. this time, he doesn't stop her, and instead rests his hands on her ass.

amari sits down on his laps and places her legs on either side of his waist and ben runs his hands up her back and sides. his hands find her bra clasp and he unhooks her bra and helps he slide her arms out.

let round two begin.

-

amari lays on her side, her back pressing against bens chest and his arm slung over her waist. yes, they were spooning as the post-sex cuddle. bens thumb gently rubs the back of amaris palm, and she scooches closer to him.

it was nice, the two of them like this. it let both of their minds wander to what could be, but amari stops herself by repeating in her that, "it's just sex,". and it was, at least for her.

ben knows what he wants, and he wants amari. he wants to know her, wants to take her out. he wants to be able to see and kiss her when he pleases, though he can do that— kind of. but ben wants amari, and it's just a matter of whether she wants him like that, too.

both of their heart rates slow down, bens now at his resting heart rate. amari notices this, since she can feel his bare chest on her bare back. "are you asleep?" she asks quietly.

"no," ben answers, kissing the top of her head. amari rolls over, and snuggles into bens chest.

they stay like that for about 10 minutes, before ben glances at the clock on the nightstand behind amari. he taps her should and says, "i should get going,". amari sits up and looks at the clock and sighs. he was right— nia would be here any moment.

"alright," she says, sliding out of bed, ben doing the same. she finds her bra— which was under the bed— along with her other clothes. ben dresses quicker than she does, but waits for her to finish. "i'll walk you out." amari says, walking past ben, grabbing his hand, and out of her bedroom.

ben follows her by hand, his nerves going crazy at the contact. holding hands was the purest form of intimacy, and ben felt it.

they enter the living room and amari walks ben to the door. "well," she says awkwardly, and they both laugh. ben leans in to kiss her, and she lets him.

"i'll call you, aight?" he says, and she nods, opening the door for him. he steps out and amari gives him a quick wave and closes the door.

she sighs and leans against it and bites her lip. she almost wants to run down there and stop him, but she knows better.

with another sigh, the pushes off the door and trudges back to her room, wishing that when she walks in, he'll magically be there.

——

A/N: i hope u like this one!