The Waiting Phase, Part 2

Ben Wade

Ben and the blonde sat and talked briefly, long enough for him to discover that her name was Linda. Not that he'd asked. Didn't really care about her name. He was just interested in occupying a little of his time on the next-to-last night before he went home. Trying to take his mind off missing Liana.

When she asked his name, he told her it was John. That was the name on the hotel registry anyway. After a few minutes of conversation in which he told her nothing about himself that was true (Ben figured that neither his name or his life were any of her business), the decision was made to go to her room.

As they headed in the direction of the main elevators, Ben's eye was caught by something new in the window of the gift shop--in the baby section. Small stuffed black ponies with blue and pink ribbons around their necks. The ponies themselves reminded him of his horse, Major, back in the Glen. The fact that they were with the baby things reminded him instantly of Liana and the baby she was carrying.

He stopped to stare at the ponies. "Just a minute, darlin'," he told the blonde, walking through the door of the shop.

Smiling, Linda followed him. Gifts already. She was used to this from men. It was why she liked these hotels frequented by businessmen. Her smile faded, though, when she saw what the clerk was putting into a bag for him, heard what they were saying to each other.

The clerk, however, had a very wide smile as she placed the two black ponies--one with blue ribbon, the other with pink--into a store bag. They were expensive toys.

"I'm sure your children will love these!" She beamed at the handsome, bearded man in black as he paid her.

Ben had a wide grin on his face. "No children yet, ma'am. My wife's expectin' our first. I hope SHE loves 'em." He was already seeing the delighted smile on Liana's face, picturing where she'd put these in the new nursery.

He brushed past Linda without even acknowledging her. Catching up with him, she said. "I've dated a married man before, but never one who picked up a gift for his wife when we were on our way upstairs to bed."

When they had stepped inside the door to her room, Ben placed his parcel on a chair and turned to face her. His eyes were colder than the ice in her mini-bar, Linda thought to herself.

"This ain't no 'date', darlin'," he told her, the smile on his face never reaching his eyes. "If you're thinkin' otherwise, you're sadly mistaken."

Nervous now, and trying to make small talk, Linda asked, "So the ponies are a gift for your wife?"

This man had begun to scare her. When she'd picked him out in the bar, she'd been strongly attracted to him. He practically dripped sexuality and that voice-- Now, though, she was sensing that he could be dangerous too. It frightened her and made her more excited at the same time.

Ben stepped closer, the glitter in his eyes and his demeanor intimidating enough to make her edge back against the wall. "Not one more word about my wife. Nothin', You understand that?"

Linda barely had time to nod before his lips covered hers. She wasn't sure whether to call it a kiss or not. His mouth on hers was harder and colder than the look in his eyes. But something about him turned her knees to water, and it wasn't just fear.

Ben raised his head, eyeing her disdainfully. Moving away from her, he began to unbutton his shirt. "Get undressed." It was not a request. It was an order.

Feeling helpless, Linda obeyed.