Page 31 of Benji

Sparks danced down my spine, warmth pooling in my balls.

This boy—this man—was sent to test me, I was sure of it.

I went inside, only breathing after I’d dumped the plates in the sink and was sitting behind the shield of my laptop. I put my headphones back on and ignored the invisible pull of Benji outside on my balcony. I ignored the pull in my body, the burning want that now seared my veins.

I was pretty sure it was only going to end one way—with him getting what he wanted from me, being face down on my bed—but I had to be strong.

Even if he was offering... and he certainly wasn’t being shy about it.

Would it complicate things?

Probably.

But he was only here a week.

I should just enjoy it while I could. And by god, I bet his tiny little arse was sweeter than honey...

My phone buzzed, startling me and snapping my thoughts back out of the gutter like an elastic band.

Damn.

It was Perla from the office, and she was sending through some files that needed my attention before close of business.

Perfect.

Distraction and data. Just what I needed.

I had more emails too. More files, more information, more cataloguing and registering.

And, as if Benji sensed I had actual work to do, he left me alone.

Mostly.

He swept the floor, he tidied the kitchen. The smell of lemon disinfectant down the hall told me he even cleaned the bathroom. He read some more of his book. A Stephen King novel, I noticed.

His reading selection pleased me. I wasn’t entirely sure why.

He pottered around the kitchen, used the blender,chopped something, washed something, all while humming and dancing.

He looked so carefree. So happy.

He also looked like sin personified in those too-low sweatpants and his too-short tee shirt. His pale body underneath, his hip bones...

He needed to eat more.

I wanted to feed him.

Christ.

I cleared my throat and made myself focus on my screen. Benji appeared at my side with a glass of water and a coaster. “Is your throat okay? You coughed a bit.”

He brought me a glass of water . . .

I took my headphones off and slid them onto the table. “I’m fine, but thank you.”

“Dinner won’t be long. It’s five-thirty already.”

I double-checked the time on my laptop screen. Shoot. It was that late already?