Chapter13
The family breakfast had ended interestingly enough earlier that day. Ben had fun relatives who didn’t care for the color of her skin or her pedigree. They were more interested in knowing if she was the one. Sierra could feel their expectations emanate the moment they began asking her (Ben included) about their relationship.
Ben stayed mum, smiling and playing coy about it, sometimes toying with her hand and intertwining it in his own, much to the amusement and giddiness of his mother, his grandmother, his aunts, his uncles, and his cousins. Twenty-five people were watching their relationship blossom under the French sun, without anyone having any idea of their plans for three days from now.
Despite being initially shy, Sierra eventually warmed up to them, and Ben saw her act like her usual, happy self. He wanted it to stay that way. Sierra was best suited for smiles, with no drama involved. He was bracing himself for that day. Even while he’d pretended to sleep on the plane, he had thought about it. Was he ready for this deception? He saw his mother and grandmother enjoying Sierra’s presence. He saw his relatives accepting her without judgement.
Yet here he was, betraying their trust. It’s not a total lie, he insisted to himself as he and Sierra made use of their free time before dinner later on. It wasn’t a formal dinner, just a patio dinner under the stars, in a quiet, family-owned bistro that overlooked the sea a few miles down the hotel.
He saw the spring in her steps as she enjoyed soaking in the sights and sounds of Nice. It was a temperate afternoon as they walked down the streets. There were open markets where local wares and food were being sold. Sierra pointed to a bakery that sold delectable eclairs.
There was no shortage of amazement from her, and Ben began to enjoy the stroll as well, even if this was his fifth or sixth time to visit Nice. A little while later, they stopped to have crepes with fresh fruits. Sierra grabbed his hand, excited to see more of the place. She saw blue umbrellas popping up on the beach, and she loved how the colors matched the sea.
“Would you like a picture here?” he offered.
“Let’s have one together,” she said with a grin, forgetting that she had been annoyed earlier, forgetting that she only had three more days of a blissful French vacation.
She held up her phone, her head close to Ben’s, and took the photo. “You aren’t smiling,” she told him.
“I look bad in pictures.”
“You look bad because you look constipated from not smiling.” She laughed.
Ben smiled. “All right, let’s have another one.”
From afar, Grace saw them, and she called for her mother-in-law to see the unfolding scene. The two lovebirds were busy taking photos of themselves, talking animatedly by the bay walk.
“They’re laughing,” Ingrid said. “Ben’s never laughed like that with anyone he’s ever dated.”
“I think she’s the one,” Grace told her.
Ingrid nodded. “I hope she is. Seems like a nice girl. Although I feel something is off. But maybe it’s because she’s a bit shy.”
Ingrid eyed her grandson once more. It was true that Ben had never looked happier than today. All the girls he dated elicited smiles from him, but never laughter. She hoped this one would last. Then she’d finally have the grandchildren she’d wanted for quite some time. The two women ambled away, discussing Ben and Sierra and a potential engagement in the future, or maybe tonight.
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Ben asked her with a smile as they drank fresh juice in a café later on.
She nodded. “I never thought it would be this beautiful. I mean, I saw pictures, but they don’t do it justice. Everything here is just fantastic. Even the dessert.”
“You should try their seafood dishes.”
“We will tonight, won’t we?”
“That’s three nights straight for French-Mediterranean dishes.”
“That’s four days of exploration. I saw a vintage store a while ago. Can we check it out when we get back?”
He nodded. “Of course.” While we still have time, let’s enjoy this. While I still can be with you and see your face light up with every interesting thing you see.
They avoided anything that had to do with the contract. Sierra made it easy for him to forget about it. She was inquisitive about many things, like a child on her first museum trip. They made it in time for another family dinner, filled with the occasional song and laughter and wine, beside the hotel’s pool.
“All right,” Ben’s uncle said, slurring a bit. “It is an Eriksson tradition to demand the newest member of the family show off his or her talents.”
They all clapped and shouted, some laughed boisterously. Sierra realized everyone was looking at her. “Oh no, no, please no.” She was no new member to the family! They were all being misled!
“Ben, do something!” A cousin shrieked with laughter.
Ben smiled at Sierra as he sat comfortably on his chair. “Well, Sierra, any surprises up your sleeve? Make me proud,” he told her with a wink as his relatives egged her on to present a talent.
Sierra suddenly felt nervous, knowing she hadn’t sung in a long time. “Can someone play for me?” she asked the small crowd, pointing to the guitar. Ben’s male cousin stepped up, and she leaned in to ask if he could accompany her on one of her favorite songs.
He grinned and nodded.
Ben stopped in place, the glass of wine floating inches off the table. Was Sierra really singing? This was her voice. He didn’t know she could sing! Her voice was raw and shaky, understandably so from nervousness, but it was a honeyed voice that made him want to melt. She didn’t sing in French, but it was beautiful all the same.
He saw her take a breath with each phrase she sang. Even without the microphone, her voice was clear as day, and Ben saw his family was as enraptured as he was. He didn’t notice a few of the waiters stopping to listen to her.
His heart pounded, and the more he stared at her, the more he allowed the song she was singing to steal into him. Ben had this sudden urge to run to her and kiss her in front of everyone. He didn’t. He waited for her to finish the song.
The chorus swelled again as his cousin calmly plucked the guitar strings to match Sierra’s pace. It was a slow and heartfelt rendition when it ended, and Ben suddenly regretted not being able to record her singing. He wanted to hear it over and over again. He had never heard her sing before; she’d never attempted to sing in front of him.
As soon as she was done, his whole family erupted into applause, and he saw his normally-calm grandmother shed a tear. His mother, however, was bawling her eyes out while clapping her hands in delight.
“That was so beautiful,” Grace told her son as Sierra smiled at everyone before stepping down the small dais.
She’s so beautiful, Ben thought.
He saw the waiters marveling at Sierra’s singing, applauding as loudly as his relatives, as if they were part of the reunion. His relatives were nodding in agreement that Sierra was by far the best singer of the night, and one uncle and cousin clapped his shoulder.
“You’ve got a good one there, Ben,” his uncle said.
Ben couldn’t say anything. All he could do was stare at Sierra, who was surrounded by his relatives. He saw her smile, and he wanted to stay as far as possible away from her, just to keep looking at her like that. Up close with her, he was indifferent most of the time, but from afar, he saw who she really was. And she radiated beauty inside and out. No one could have been this beautiful.
She has her flaws, he reminded himself. But at that moment, they didn’t matter. She was perfect to him. Sierra walked up to him with a shy smile, a smile that wasn’t as broad as when she was surrounded by his family.
She stood in front of him in her yellow dress and didn’t say anything.
“You were… you were great tonight,” he stammered.
“Thanks,” she sounded uncertain. “Are you sure you think I did well tonight?”
“Uh, yeah. Of course.”
Ben looked into her eyes and mustered a smile. You have no idea how amazing you were tonight.
***
They had made sleeping arrangements two days before, and Ben slept on the couch, which wasn’t a bad couch. It was large and comfortable, and Sierra gave him the comforter while she used the thinner blanket which she folded twice to make it thicker.
They also made sure to lock the door, just in case people would suddenly pop in unannounced. It was strange at first to sleep in the same room. Ben hadn’t shown any signs of wanting to sleep beside her, or worse, sleep with her.
Ben didn’t snore too loudly, which was a good thing. She hoped she didn’t snore either.
The past two days had been blissful for Sierra and for Ben. They had truly enjoyed each other’s company without the need to remind themselves about the arrangement. Everyone had bid them good night; some of his cousins had gone off clubbing, and he and Sierra had just capped the night off with a good bottle of red.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go see the bars?”
“We saw them yesterday.”
Ben grinned, enjoying how he had won the drinking contest last night without passing out. His name would be forever immortalized on the wall of the pub. He had gone back to the hotel with barely a scratch, all the while leaning onto Sierra for support.
“All right, let’s make this an early night so we can enjoy the beach tomorrow,” he said as he turned off the main lights.
“Are we really having a formal dinner tomorrow?” Sierra quietly asked him after she had changed into sleeping clothes. “I thought we’d be having a sort of chill night.”
“It’s part of the itinerary.” He could sense Sierra’s dislike for it. He could sense her anxiety and his own anxiety that was growing.
Had three days really passed by already? Was it going to end tomorrow? He didn’t say anything else, but he saw her walk out onto the balcony and stare into the sea. There was a waning gibbous in the horizon, casting a light glow on the waters below them. He could hear the waves crashing onto the shore as he looked at her figure, leaning against the balcony railing.
Her slender legs were in full view as he finished brushing his teeth. He couldn’t stop staring at her legs. He felt his manhood harden. No, this wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to ignore all those carnal desires. They were breaking up in a day. He eyed her again, and she shifted her footing and walked back into the room.
He directed his eyes somewhere else, onto the TV that was on. He saw the goosebumps on her skin. The night air had been a bit cold. Her cotton spaghetti top didn’t do a good job of concealing her erect nipples. He took a breath as she shut the door to the balcony.
“You really were beautiful earlier, and you are even more beautiful now,” he suddenly said, his voice surprisingly thick with emotion.
She blinked before turning to face him. Did she hear him right? “So, aside from telling me I did great, you’re now telling me I look beautiful? When have I heard this before?”
“It certainly wasn’t from me before,” he replied, wondering who the lucky bastard was.
Sierra found herself shrugging. “I don’t really care.”
“I’m telling the truth,” he said, taking a step forward.
“Why are you doing this to me?” Sierra told him with a frown. “You’re acting all weird. Don’t confuse me and act like you’re the nicest guy this side of Nice—”
“I want to kiss you,” he interrupted her.
“What?”
“I said I want to kiss you. If you’ll let me.”
She didn’t say anything at first, weighing his words. He was screwing with her naiveté once more. Like he usually did. “I think this is a cruel joke. You know we’re ending it tomorrow.”
“It isn’t,” he told her, taking a step forward. He looked down into her eyes and saw them wide and confused. “Now,” he said in a low, husky tone, “will you allow me to kiss you? I’d like to kiss you. I’ll kiss you, and you pretend that tomorrow isn’t coming.”
She didn’t say anything, but she closed her eyes. He took that as a sign that it was all right to kiss her. So he did. It was a sweet kiss, a chaste one. He could smell her lotion, it smelled faintly of lavender. Her mouth was soft and full, and he slowly began parting her lips.
Sierra responded slowly at first and didn’t open her eyes for fear it was going to be a repeat of that one horny noon. Ben held onto her shoulders, his palm touching her skin which felt warm. The aroma emanating from her made blood rush to his manhood.
His fingers brushed against the strap of her top. He slowly slipped it off of her shoulder, and he gripped her closer to him, slipping off the other strap. She heard the rustling of her top as it fell down to her waist. Her nipples strained against his shirt. He crossed her arms behind her back and kissed her deeply, his body pressing hard against hers.
He gently pushed her to the bed. She fell onto it, and he immediately followed. Ben trailed kisses from her neck to her collarbone, and she gasped a little, shivering at how he could elicit that reaction from her. He bent his head once more, leaving kisses across her breasts, his ever-roaming hands cupping one breast gently. He grazed his thumb against one nipple, and she inhaled sharply.
“I want you,” he murmured in her ear. “I want you.”
Sierra felt his bulging erection straining against his jogging pants. She kissed him, a hot, open-mouthed kiss that he welcomed readily. There was no turning back now. Leave tomorrow to tomorrow, Sierra told herself.
There wasn’t an inch of her that he didn’t want to taste. Every movement they made dragged them closer to each other, body and soul. Her palm dragged down his back, and he took a deep breath before taking one breast in his mouth. She panted, the sensation heightening her desire.
There wasn’t an inch of him that she didn’t want to feel. She wanted him inside her. He took off his shirt, and then he slid off her pajamas completely, his manhood fully erect. She got on top of him, her hands touching his chest, stroking his taut stomach. Then her hands went further down to his pelvic bone, and he couldn’t help but groan. She leaned in to lick his nipple and he groaned again, his head dropping on the pillow to enjoy the sensation. She was taking control now, something she had never done. She licked and kissed, intertwining the two as she made her way down. She licked his pelvic bone, and his legs stiffened. Then her hands found their way to his hardness, and she began to stroke it in gentle motions while stroking the tip with a finger.
He moaned and did not waste time in pinning her down. He merged his tongue with hers, and his fingers began to caress the moistness in between her legs. He was gentle at first, and then his thrusts became firmer. She thrashed a little, and he enjoyed looking at her. She felt his penis brush against her leg, and she could actually feel the blood pumping. He was hot, and he wanted this badly.
She spread her legs open, feeling the head brushing against her cleft. She was swollen and he was eager to let himself in. But he wanted her wet first, he wanted her so wet she would beg for him. With his hands massaging her breasts, he began to lick her. She orgasmed hard, gave cries that she tried to keep down, but he wasn’t done with her yet.
His hands gripped her hips, and he slid his cock into her, into her glorious heat. He thrust into her again and again, and she held onto the edges of the pillow, caught up in the heavy lust, caught up in the emotions they couldn’t talk about.
The regrets would come in the morning.