“Can’t keep him in the bathtub though. Maybe a smaller one.” Todd winked at Alexander, who giggled.
Ben followed, breathing his baby in. “Love you.”
“Love you!” Alexander blew them kisses as they headed out to the car. And then he turned and went back to his toast.
* * *
Erin hated the airport. It was crowded and loud and the entire process was dehumanizing.
“Thank god I took that Xanax or I’d be really pissed I have to take my shoes off. I’m so unbelievably grossed out by what must be on these floors,” she muttered.
Ben put his belt back on as he grinned her way. But she saw the way he and Todd worked in unison to shield her, protect her from getting bumped and jostled. Ben’s smile was sweet, but she saw the concern in his eyes and resented it for just a few fleeting moments.
Not that they cared for her—she loved that part. But that they had to. That she was still broken all these years after the attack that she had to take a freaking pill just to navigate the airport.
“Stop it.” Todd took the bag from her hand and put an arm around her shoulders.
“Stop what?” But she knew he’d seen right through her.
He leaned in to speak in her ear. “Right this very moment you’re angry at yourself for needing us to protect you. You’re convincing yourself that you’re weak and broken. You’re not. You know I’m in charge and I’m telling you to stop.”
She would have argued, but it was an old argument and she knew, deep down, that he was right. But she missed the Erin she was before. Before everything changed.
Ben kissed her forehead. “I like it when you finally obey.”
“Oh, the double entendres are flying fast and furious around here.” But she smiled when she said it.
“Coffee. I need it.” Ben held his hand out and she took it, allowing them both to shield her and protect her. Because she needed it and because it made her feel better.
* * *
After what had seemed like three days of travel, they arrived at the resort. Individual cottages ranged along the shoreline, some on stilts out over the water, others set farther back. Todd felt the entire world of weight on his shoulders lift away as he breathed in deep and only found sand and salt. Cleansing, that sort of clean air.
He put his arm around Erin’s waist as she held Ben’s hand. She needed the contact. The tension in her muscles told him she was still processing the day’s stress, so he and Ben would help soothe her.
Luckily, their stress relief often involved sex. He didn’t have any arguments with that process.
What was extra nice was that no one had looked at them twice. It was a freedom they only rarely had, and usually only around close family and friends.
“Mr. Copeland, we’re so pleased to have you here as our guests.” The resort’s concierge greeted them with flowers and glasses of chilled juice.
“Your bags have been delivered to your bure. Mr. Keenan, Ms. Brown, let me escort you three.”
Instead of taking the little golf cart thing, Erin said she wanted to walk, which seemed to please Gregory, their escort. He pointed out the different things they passed. Little side paths that would lead to pools and gardens. The entire place seemed to burst with life. Trees, flowers, bushes, birds and other wildlife.
“This is breathtaking.” Erin looked around, a smile on her face.
Gregory matched that smile. “Thank you. We work hard to keep the natural balance here.”
After a few minutes more, they turned left down a path and ended up at their bure.
Ben had chosen well. It was the farthest from the main buildings of the resort. On stilts over the water, it also had a nice beach, a hot tub, and was surrounded by a stand of trees that hugged part of the property. Secluded. Quiet.
“We understand the needs of our celebrity clients. There are no paparazzi you have to worry about here. Just relax. Should you need anything, simply use the house phone to contact the concierge and we’ll take care of it.” He explained the meals and other services to expect, laid out their scheduled events like massages, and then with one last bow, Gregory left them alone with the sound of the water.
“Beautiful.” Erin slowly turned in a circle.
“Not as beautiful as you.” Ben moved to her, grabbing her hair and yanking it back, exposing her throat to his mouth. Todd leaned against the doorjamb and watched the two of them. Watched as her eyes fell halfway closed. Saw the moment when her muscles gave over entirely to Ben.
Watched as Ben brushed away the last bits of her anxiety and replaced that with their connection. Incredible that Todd shared that with them.
Ben’s gaze sought Todd’s and he nodded. “I think we should have some of this champagne and then head for the water.” Ben indicated the bucket waiting for them, already chilled.
It was best if they didn’t bring it up or ask her how she was feeling. It only frustrated her, made her feel less than whole.
Erin smiled, reaching her arms up to stretch, knowing they watched her. “Mmm, yes. After eleventy hours on planes and in airports, an ocean frolic sounds lovely.”
She’d shifted from all her other roles, to being theirs. Todd put her bag on the bed. It was a small bag and one she was capable of handling herself without a problem. But he liked doing the heavy lifting. Liked making her life easier in all the ways he could.
And he really liked that she allowed it.
For a long time he hid what he was. He was ashamed of what he liked. What he craved. The whole time it was Erin who was the key. Erin who kicked his self-imposed walls down.
Ben followed, breathing his baby in. “Love you.”
“Love you!” Alexander blew them kisses as they headed out to the car. And then he turned and went back to his toast.
* * *
Erin hated the airport. It was crowded and loud and the entire process was dehumanizing.
“Thank god I took that Xanax or I’d be really pissed I have to take my shoes off. I’m so unbelievably grossed out by what must be on these floors,” she muttered.
Ben put his belt back on as he grinned her way. But she saw the way he and Todd worked in unison to shield her, protect her from getting bumped and jostled. Ben’s smile was sweet, but she saw the concern in his eyes and resented it for just a few fleeting moments.
Not that they cared for her—she loved that part. But that they had to. That she was still broken all these years after the attack that she had to take a freaking pill just to navigate the airport.
“Stop it.” Todd took the bag from her hand and put an arm around her shoulders.
“Stop what?” But she knew he’d seen right through her.
He leaned in to speak in her ear. “Right this very moment you’re angry at yourself for needing us to protect you. You’re convincing yourself that you’re weak and broken. You’re not. You know I’m in charge and I’m telling you to stop.”
She would have argued, but it was an old argument and she knew, deep down, that he was right. But she missed the Erin she was before. Before everything changed.
Ben kissed her forehead. “I like it when you finally obey.”
“Oh, the double entendres are flying fast and furious around here.” But she smiled when she said it.
“Coffee. I need it.” Ben held his hand out and she took it, allowing them both to shield her and protect her. Because she needed it and because it made her feel better.
* * *
After what had seemed like three days of travel, they arrived at the resort. Individual cottages ranged along the shoreline, some on stilts out over the water, others set farther back. Todd felt the entire world of weight on his shoulders lift away as he breathed in deep and only found sand and salt. Cleansing, that sort of clean air.
He put his arm around Erin’s waist as she held Ben’s hand. She needed the contact. The tension in her muscles told him she was still processing the day’s stress, so he and Ben would help soothe her.
Luckily, their stress relief often involved sex. He didn’t have any arguments with that process.
What was extra nice was that no one had looked at them twice. It was a freedom they only rarely had, and usually only around close family and friends.
“Mr. Copeland, we’re so pleased to have you here as our guests.” The resort’s concierge greeted them with flowers and glasses of chilled juice.
“Your bags have been delivered to your bure. Mr. Keenan, Ms. Brown, let me escort you three.”
Instead of taking the little golf cart thing, Erin said she wanted to walk, which seemed to please Gregory, their escort. He pointed out the different things they passed. Little side paths that would lead to pools and gardens. The entire place seemed to burst with life. Trees, flowers, bushes, birds and other wildlife.
“This is breathtaking.” Erin looked around, a smile on her face.
Gregory matched that smile. “Thank you. We work hard to keep the natural balance here.”
After a few minutes more, they turned left down a path and ended up at their bure.
Ben had chosen well. It was the farthest from the main buildings of the resort. On stilts over the water, it also had a nice beach, a hot tub, and was surrounded by a stand of trees that hugged part of the property. Secluded. Quiet.
“We understand the needs of our celebrity clients. There are no paparazzi you have to worry about here. Just relax. Should you need anything, simply use the house phone to contact the concierge and we’ll take care of it.” He explained the meals and other services to expect, laid out their scheduled events like massages, and then with one last bow, Gregory left them alone with the sound of the water.
“Beautiful.” Erin slowly turned in a circle.
“Not as beautiful as you.” Ben moved to her, grabbing her hair and yanking it back, exposing her throat to his mouth. Todd leaned against the doorjamb and watched the two of them. Watched as her eyes fell halfway closed. Saw the moment when her muscles gave over entirely to Ben.
Watched as Ben brushed away the last bits of her anxiety and replaced that with their connection. Incredible that Todd shared that with them.
Ben’s gaze sought Todd’s and he nodded. “I think we should have some of this champagne and then head for the water.” Ben indicated the bucket waiting for them, already chilled.
It was best if they didn’t bring it up or ask her how she was feeling. It only frustrated her, made her feel less than whole.
Erin smiled, reaching her arms up to stretch, knowing they watched her. “Mmm, yes. After eleventy hours on planes and in airports, an ocean frolic sounds lovely.”
She’d shifted from all her other roles, to being theirs. Todd put her bag on the bed. It was a small bag and one she was capable of handling herself without a problem. But he liked doing the heavy lifting. Liked making her life easier in all the ways he could.
And he really liked that she allowed it.
For a long time he hid what he was. He was ashamed of what he liked. What he craved. The whole time it was Erin who was the key. Erin who kicked his self-imposed walls down.
