"A Beautiful Web".
Ben's POV.
I watched Leila Castor walk towards me. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about it and, in any circumstances, it wouldn't have been such a hardship to marry her. But that was not what I wanted from Leila.
No. She was a means to an end, and when the time came for that to end I'd do so.
" You're an idiot" my cousin Adam muttered beside me. I scoffed. Unlike Josie and Trey, Adam understood the Castor-Maloney feud better than anyone.
" I prefer the term crazy idiot", I replied and sipped my drink.
" It suits you way better" he huffed and I laughed. I could understand Adam's reservations, the bad blood between my family and the Castor's was legendary. To them, we were nothing more than hillbillies from the north who'd somehow gotten their hands on a title. Generations of men had then gone on to fight for their legacy and standing in their community. I wasn't interested in any of that, I was going for the neck by the time I was done with them. Let's just say the Castor's wouldn't be all that much.
" You can't honestly think this will end well" Adam asked, his brows furrowed. I shrugged.
" Let's see how it goes."
Leila reached our table
" Are you okay?" I asked, dragging her to my side.
" I'm fine" she hummed and leaned into me. I kissed her
" You both are disgusting" Trey grimaced and I laughed.
" Go get your own girl" he wrinkled his nose,
" Oh leave them alone, they're cute" Josie cooed and Leila blushed, tucked her face into his arm.
" Don't mind them" I huffed, and she nodded, giving me a small smile.
She really was cute, it was a shame keeping her was not an option.
"Leila's POV".
I was so dead!!!
If my parents caught me sneaking out my window at this time of the night. I was very dead, but I really wanted to see Ben, and he'd convinced me to come meet him at the nightclub downtown. I didn't go to nightclubs, like boyfriends. There was a no-go on my list. My mother would argue that being with Ben had made me rebellious, and maybe he was.
I opened the window, slowly, and looked outside. It wasn't a far jump. I could definitely make it.
I steeled myself for possible pain and took a slight breath, I jumped. I landed on my side and winced at the slight pain. I huffed I was never doing this again.
I grimaced, rising from the ground. I looked over to my window and shuddered. I wasn't sure how I was going to get back in, but I'd figure that out later. I ran out of the compound and flagged for a taxi as I got on the road.
" Crimson" I said sharply to the driver, who nodded.
It took us thirty minutes to get to the club. I got out and glanced around and smiled when I saw him waiting outside. He was leaning against the wall, so I waved
" Hello baby" he called to me, arms spread. I blushed when half the eyes in the line turned to him and then to me as I strolled towards him.
" Hey", he pulled me in and pressed a kiss on my cheek
" Let's go in, I have a few friends inside" he said softly, leading me in.
" How do you know this place? I heard it's the hottest club", I asked as we walked in. The bouncer nodded to Ben, letting them through.
" I know the manager" he said softly. He led me to a table in a corner. There were three people already at the table drinking. Leila didn't really drink alcohol, but she was willing to try.
" I'm back" Ben greeted me, turning to me.
" This is Josie Harris and her brother Trey , and this man over here is my cousin Adam". he introduced
" Hello" I whispered in return,
" Hi Leila. " Josie muttered
"You're so pretty, why are you here with this oaf " she asked and pulled me in for a hug. I smiled softly.
" He's good to me "
" Well, that's our Ben", Trey muttered, and I smiled.
" If he gives you any trouble you let us know" Josie replied.
" Do your parents know you're here", Adam the cousin asked, and I froze, feeling uncomfortable and worried because my parents were unaware of where I was and would be angry if they knew.
" I thought as much" he muttered. Ben laughed, cutting off the awkward silence.
" Let's try not to scare my future wife away" he grumbled and pulled at my arm.
" Let's dance" he urged as he dragged me to the dance floor. It was awkward at first, but soon we were moving to the beat.
The music and the thrumming bass all around them blocked everything out, so it seemed like we were the only ones here, my hands on Ben's shoulders and his palm on my waist, sometimes dragged dangerously downward.
I flushed, my face burned a bright pink, and I was grateful for the dim lights.
" Loosen up, you're fine" he muttered, leading me every often. They danced for a long while, leaving me flushed and feeling a sliver of arousal.
I leaned into him.
" I need to use the washingroom" I whispered.
" Can you find it " he asked, and I nodded.
" I'll wait at the table then" he said, and I nodded in return. I strode left, watching for a door. A darkly lit corridor seemed likely, so I followed it, bumping into a large chest.
" I'm sorry" I muttered, pulling away.
" It's fine " the person replied. I glanced into his face, giving a small smile as thanks. His blue eyes seemed so familiar, yet different. He nodded.
" Watch where you're going next time" and I nodded my head
" Thank you"
" Yo Alex, someone called ". The man smiled at me and turned away, leaving me there.
Ben led me to his apartment later that evening, his hand twined with mine, it was late, and I knew I was slightly tipsy, but it felt good to be there with him.
He opened the door, facing her with a grin.
" I was hoping we could come here, " he whispered. I stepped into the room, gasping softly.
" This is–" I paused, overcome. The room was beautiful, but it was the roses that were on the floor, and the bed that made me even nostalgic.
He kissed me, first on my head, then my cheeks, then on my lips, almost seeming to savor the moment. He was my first kiss, my first kiss, and my lover.
I let him control the kiss, his tongue pushing into my mouth. Is that what it was supposed to feel like, it didn't feel bad, just not fireworks like I'd read in all those novels, but maybe that was my misconception. He pulled away and dragged me further into the room, settling me into the bed, following me down. He kissed me, taking apart the buttons of my dress, one by one, opening me like a gift. I lay naked, trying to quell the nerves that were rising. All of a sudden, he kissed me, and then he took me, thrusting inside me. I bit at my lips to keep from hissing at the pain. He moved over me again and again. The pain lessened but didn't improve much. Soon he stiffened and stopped moving. He kissed me deeply, then my forehead.
" I love you Jules, I want us to do this in life and in death" he muttered softly. I gulped as his face bent towards mine, his lips hovering just a little distance from my face.
" I love you too, " I replied.
" But my family" I huffed, and he sighed, tucking me closer into his arms.
" I want you to promise me this, " he paused, lifting my face towards his. Everything faded into the distance. All I could see was Ben.
" We'll be together forever, even if we have to die to be together"
Looking into his blue eyes, all I could do was succumb
" Yes"
It was very late or very early depending on how one looked at it, although I knew quite well how my parents would see this. I looked up at my window and shuddered.
How had I made that jump?
I walked to the door, it would soon be dawn. My father woke at six every morning, so I had to be very careful. I walked up the corridor and bent down to the flower pot and lifted it smiling when I found the key. I picked it up, pushing it into the lock slowly, hoping to make the least sound, once it was in.
I turned it twice, then paused, turned the knob, I pushed it open and walked in, closing the door behind me, then closed it again with two soft clicks, sighed deeply, I turned around and squeaked, when I saw a shadow– two shadows actually, standing arms crossed in the corridor where my parents.
" Good morning" I muttered.