~Savannah~

“What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told?” My sister-in-law, Callie, asks me. We’re sitting in my living room, sipping wine with Kate while the others are gathered in my dining room having their tarot cards read by Mallory’s best friend, Lena.

Kate thinks about it for a while and then shrugs. “I try not to lie. What about you, Van?”

“I’m okay,” I reply and offer them both a smile. “I used to say I’m okay a lot. I wasn’t okay.”

“I hope you plan to never say that again if it isn’t true,” Callie says, swirling her wine in her glass.

“I don’t have a reason to lie these days.” I smile as the importance of that statement begins to really sink in. “And that’s a pretty cool thing.”

“Coolest thing I’ve ever heard,” Kate says with a nod. “I’m happy for you. I was worried for you for a long time, and then I was relieved that you were able to get away from that jackass motherfucker forever, but now that I can see how at peace you are, I just couldn’t be happier.”

“Don’t make me cry,” I say, pointing at her. “I don’t want to cry this expensive mascara off.”

“Okay.” She holds her hands up in surrender. “I’m not going to say any more, except atta girl.”

“Oh my gosh, you guys,” Gabby says as she rushes into the room. “You’ll never guess what Lena just told me.”

“That you’re going to win the lottery?” I ask, unable to keep from laughing when Gabby glares at me, sighing because I’ve just stolen her thunder.

“Funny. No, she said that I’m going to embark on a new journey.”

“Did she use the word embark?” Kate asks and smirks into her wine glass.

“You guys are no fun,” Gabby replies and stomps back into the dining room, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

“I just like to flip her shit,” I say to Callie and Kate. “It’s pretty much my only job as a sister. This was fun. It’s been too long since we all hung out.”

“I had a great time,” Mallory says as she joins us. She flops into a chair, looking pleasantly exhausted. She’s already started glowing with her pregnancy. Her violet eyes are shining with happiness, and the small smile on her lips gives her the I have an awesome secret tilt to it.

Except, it’s no secret. And it’s more than awesome.

“How have you been feeling?” Kate asks.

“Not horrible,” she says. “I mean, I have moments of nausea, and I’m quite sure someone keeps punching my boobs because they hurt like crazy, but otherwise, I feel healthy.”

“I have to ask,” I say and bite my lip.

“You can ask whatever you like,” she says, and I can see that she means it, so I dive in.

“I’m just wondering, since you’re psychic, can you already tell the sex of the baby?”

She smiles softly and lays her hand over her belly. “Actually, yes, which is surprising because I can’t see the future. I haven’t told Beau that yet. I knew I was pregnant before I took a test.”

“You need to tell him, so you can tell us,” Callie says. “Because I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Boudreaux women like to buy baby stuff. It’s a good thing you and Beau have that huge new house to accommodate it all.”

Mallory tucks her long dark hair behind her ear. She recently colored it again.

“I love the new color,” I tell her.

“It’s actually my natural color. Since I can’t have my roots touched up while I’m pregnant I figured I’d go back to my natural color for a while.”

“I like it,” I say again.

“How are you and Ben doing?” Callie asks and all eyes turn to me.

“Hey!” Gabby calls to us. “We all need to be in on that conversation!”

“Well, then get your butts in here,” Kate calls back. Within minutes, Gabby, Charly, and Lena join us in the living room. Some share the couch, others sit on the floor.

It feels like a birthday party sleepover from when I was a teenager.

Except we have wine now, so there’s that.

“Okay,” Gabby says as she wiggles her bottom, getting comfortable on the floor. “Spill it.”

“Ben and I are good.” I leave it at that and take a sip of my wine.

“And?” Mallory says.

“Have you said the I love yous yet?” Charly asks.

“Yes.”

“WHAT?” Gabby exclaims, her eyes wide in horror. “And you didn’t call me?”

“Well, it was right before we were about to make love, and I didn’t think it was polite to ask him to hold on while I made a slew of phone calls.”

“That’s fair,” Kate says with a nod. “Keep going.”

“So not fair,” Gabby whispers.

“Yeah, keep going,” Callie adds. “How was the sex?”

“Come on, guys. It’s Ben. How do you think the sex is?”

“She has a point,” Mallory says with a nod.

“Seriously, Ben is hot,” Lena agrees. “Don’t worry, I understand he’s all yours, but I’m sorry, I’m a woman. I have seen him.”

“Don’t be sorry,” I reply, waving her off. “The man is ridiculously perfect physically.”

“As long as you don’t think he’s perfect perfect,” Charly says.

“He’s a human being, just like me, and he’s far from perfect. But he’s perfect for me.” I clear my throat, suddenly feeling emotional, which, despite feeling near the edge of tears over the past couple of weeks, is new to me. It’s been a long time since I let anything affect me to the point of tears, and I don’t know why I’m suddenly so weepy now. “I guess that I didn’t know how bad it was before until I discovered how good it can be, you know?”

“I totally understand,” Kate says with a nod and tears of her own.

“I know you do,” I reply and reach over to squeeze her hand. “And I feel stupid, like I should have known Ben was the one for me all along.”

“He wasn’t the one for you yet,” Mallory says quietly. “People fit differently in our lives at different times. You weren’t meant to be with him until now, because you weren’t the person you are until now.”

“I believe that,” I say slowly. “And I wonder if we’d dated a decade ago, if it would have stuck. We were both young, and like Mallory said, different people. The chemistry was always there, at least on my part. From what he’s told me, he felt it then, too. But would we have really fallen in love? I’m not so sure. And if we had fallen in love, the odds of it surviving through college are probably smaller.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Charly says and dabs at her eyes. “Watching what you went through was the greatest torture of my life.”

“I think it’s safe to say we all felt that way,” Gabby says and the others nod.

“Even though I didn’t meet you until after it all happened,” Callie says, “I knew that you’d been to hell and back. No one deserves that.”

“But everyone deserves to have an amazing person in their life,” Lena says and then smiles ruefully. “And now that I have Mason in my life, I actually believe it.”

“I told you that you wouldn’t be single forever,” Mal says, smiling at her friend.

“The important thing,” Lena says with a roll of the eyes, “is that Savannah is happy and safe.”

“Very happy and safe,” I reply with a satisfied grin. “And well sexed. I shouldn’t tell you guys this—”

“Now you have to tell,” Callie says.

“Absolutely. This is the cone of silence.” This is from Gabby, who nods solemnly.

“She’s cut off,” Callie says with a laugh.

“Seriously, talk,” Charly says.

“So, Ben has a piercing.”

There’s silence for a moment while they all stare at me, and then Callie gasps.

“No!”

“Yes.”

“What kind of piercing?” Kate asks, not catching on. “Certainly not his ears or his face. That’s not Ben’s style.”

“You’re right. Not on his face. He has a Prince Albert,” I blurt and then cover my mouth as if I can’t believe I just told them. But these are my sisters. I tell them everything.

“Holy shit,” Lena says.

“Does it do what they say?” Callie asks.

“Oh yeah.”

“Lucky bitch,” Charly says, but then shrugs it off. “Who am I kidding? Simon may not have his dick pierced, but he’s fucking amazing in the sack.”

“I’m so relieved to hear that, darling,” the man himself says as he walks into the room, followed by all of my brothers and Ben.

Ben, who is currently staring at me in disbelief.

“Oh, lord.”

“You told them?” he asks in disbelief.

“Well, I mean, maybe. But I didn’t tell them anything specific about the sex itself.”

“I think I’d rather you told them that,” he says and picks me up out of my seat, sits down and settles me in his lap while everyone looks on with a mixture of shock and swoon. “Hi, Angel.”

“Hi.”

“Which one of these assholes bloodied your lip?” I ask, immediately concerned at the cut on his lip, and the bruise along his jaw. “I’ll kick their ass and defend your honor.”

“No need,” he says and kisses my shoulder. “None of them did this. They can’t take me.”

“Standing right here, man,” Eli says with a smirk.

“I’ll tell you about it later,” Ben adds. “Did you miss me?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Charly mutters. “They’re in full-on mush mode.”

“You’re mushy,” Callie says to her. “Ever since you met Simon, your face goes all gooey when he walks in a room.”

“Is that true?” Simon asks Charly and pulls her to her feet so he can plant the kiss of the century on her.

“Well, maybe,” she admits. “Let’s go home.”

“Let’s. I have to remind you that I’m fucking amazing in the sack, despite my lack of metal.”

She waves as they leave. Over the next fifteen minutes, the rest of them leave, giving Mallory and Beau extra hugs of congratulations.

“You’re next,” Gabby says to me with a wink, but I just shrug. I tell my sisters everything, but I haven’t been strong enough to tell them that.

Mallory hugs me and pauses as her arms close around me. Finally, she whispers in my ear, “Some children are born from the heart, not the body. Remember that.”

I have to bite my lip to keep from crying as she steps away and lets Beau lead her out of the house.

When everyone is gone, I sit on the couch with a long, gusty sigh. “I love them all so much it hurts. But dear Moses, that’s a lot of strong personality in one room.”

“I’m always exhausted after family gatherings,” Ben says.

“Come sit with me and tell me what happened to your face.” I pat the seat next to mine, and he complies, pulling me against him and kissing my temple.

“It was just a weird mugging outside of the studio.”

“A what?” I frown up at him and can’t resist reaching up to touch the cut on his lip. “That looks painful.”

“It is a bit painful,” he admits. “I don’t know who they were. They didn’t try to mug me, they just wanted to beat me up. Got a few swings in before Ethan came outside and then they ran. I think it was plotted by an ex of one of the girls in Shelly’s class.”

I frown. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“It didn’t feel great either.”

“Not just that. Did you consider that the men who abused those women might come to take revenge on you?”

“Not until now.” He drags his finger under the hem of my shirt, touching my bare skin. “My main focus was getting you in a class, and helping other women who had been hurt as well.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Being there every week has done wonders for me.”

“And for others, too. I should have considered the possibility that I’d be pissing off some husbands and boyfriends.”

“I guess it’s just a part of the territory.”

He nods thoughtfully.

“Ethan suggested that we put in some security cameras outside, and I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

“Did you get some shots in on them too?”

“No, there were four of them.”

“What?” I sit up straight, staring at him in surprise. “Jesus, Ben, they could have killed you.”

“Now you’re just insulting me.” He cocks an eyebrow and I can’t help but chuckle.

“This isn’t funny. Don’t make me laugh.”

“I know, it isn’t funny.”

I lean back into him, and he winces. I lift the side of his shirt and suck in a breath at the sight of a big black bruise there. My eyes find his.

“Looks like one of them got in a good shot to my ribs.”

“I think you should soak in some Epsom salts,” I inform him. “I have some.”

“Only if you soak with me.”

“No distracting me with sex, mister. You’re hurt.”

“Trust me when I say, I’m never too hurt to want to be inside of you, Savannah.”

I blink rapidly, not sure how to reply to that, so I just stand and walk quickly up to my master bathroom. I turn on the hot water in the tub, dump in about a cup of the Epsom salts and turn to find Ben leaning against the doorjamb, his muscular arms crossed over his chest, watching me intently.

“See something you like?”

He nods twice.

“The bath?”

He shakes his head no.

“The Epsom salts?”

No again. Finally, he walks to me and turns me to face the mirror. He stands behind me and leans in to kiss my neck, sending a chain reaction of shivers through me.

“I loved the way you just leaned over the tub,” he whispers.

“Yep, you’re a man.”

His gaze finds mine in the mirror as he starts stripping me out of my clothes.

“You’re the one who’s supposed to be getting naked,” I inform him, but don’t try to stop him when he pulls my shirt over my head.

“It’s way more fun when we’re both naked, Angel.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

After quickly stripping out of his clothes, we both get into the bath, leaning against opposite corners and watching the other. He sinks down and closes his eyes, and I follow suit.

“This feels so good,” I whisper. “I don’t take enough baths.”

“I’ll run you one every night if you like,” he murmurs. I open my eyes to find him watching me lazily, but the intense look in his gaze makes my pussy pulse in attention.

“That sounds nice.”

His lips twitch and he reaches for my foot, digs his thumb into my arch, and makes me moan in pleasure.

“Speaking of nice things.”

“Moan like that again and I’ll fuck you here in the tub.”

My eyes snap open at his gruff, sexy tone. He’s watching his own hands rub up and down my calf, then back to my foot. His hands are just…magic. Pure sexy magic.

“So I called your tattoo guy.” I’m leaning back against the tub, my eyes closed, enjoying the hot water and Ben’s amazing fingers on my body.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.” Dear fucking hell, don’t stop rubbing my calf like that. “I rescheduled my appointment for tomorrow afternoon.”

He doesn’t say anything in response, so I open one eye so I can see him. There’s a crease between his eyebrows from concentrating on his task at hand.

“Did you hear me?”

“I did.”

“Will you go with me? Please?”

His eyes roam up my body, skimming over every curve, until they find mine.

“I thought you said that you didn’t want me to see you get it?”

“I did say that.” I sink down farther into the hot water. “But I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that.”

“Yes, ma’am. What time?”

“Two.”

He switches to my other foot, and part of me feels a little guilty. He’s the one who got beat up tonight, and I’m the one getting pampered.

“I can take you,” he says. “Would you like to go visit my mom with me before? I’d like to look in on her and see how Sally’s doing with her.”

“I would love that.”

“Deal.”

We’re quiet for a long while. Just the sound of the water fills the room as Ben continues to massage my foot and leg, until finally, I just can’t stand it anymore.

I need him.

Right now.

He’s surprised when I pull my foot away, and then his eyes heat up when I move over to him, not giving even one fuck that some water splashes over the rim of the tub, and straddle him. My hands roam up his arms and shoulders and I settle myself down, pressing against the length of his already hard cock.

“I hate that you were hurt tonight,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m trying to take care of you, but instead you’re sharing your bath with me and rubbing my feet.”

“No one’s keeping score, Angel.”

I lift my hips up and then slowly sink down onto him, taking him fully inside me, and then sit still while he kisses me senseless. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me to him, and then those amazing hands of his take a trip up my back, down my sides, and to my ass. He grips me, not gently, and guides me in a slow up and down rhythm, keeping us both teetering on the edge of sanity.

He’s staring into my eyes, breathing hard, as I ride him. Finally, I can’t stand it anymore. I push down and grind my clit on his pubic bone, leaning my forehead against his as the orgasm shudders through me. I’m still quivering when he stiffens and succumbs himself.

I push my fingers through his hair and kiss his cheeks, his nose, his forehead.

“You are the best part of my life,” he whispers.

“Same.” I smile. “Same.”