Cassie woke up once more at around eleven. But it wasn’t the light that woke her up. She felt something gentle move across her face and brush her hair back behind her ears. She opened her eyes to see Ben just inches from her face and staring at her with those kind, icy blue eyes. He smiled at her and said in his sexy morning voice, “Good morning…again.” They both chuckled and she said, “Good morning.” There was a pause before Ben said, “Thank you for staying with me.” Cassie smiled and stroked his cheek, saying, “Of course. Especially after last night, it’s the least I could do.” Ben chuckled, “So you enjoyed yourself, then, did you?” “Oh, very much.” Ben leaned in and placed and gentle kiss in her lips. “It was my pleasure,” he told her. “Literally.” They both broke out into a fit of laughter, like they always do, and Ben gathered her in his arms and nuzzled her face. She giggled and tried to playfully push him away, but he wasn’t having any of it. After a few minutes of holding each other in silence, Cassie said slowly, “So…I really should probably be getting to work.” Ben grunted and held her tighter. She laughed, “Ben, I’m serious!” Again, he grunted, but his grip on her loosened, until she could get free. She propped up on her elbow and looked down at him and asked, “Can I use your shower?” He smiled and rubbed her bare back, while saying, “Of course. Towels are on the rack.” She leaned down, kiss him, and said, “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” He kissed her once more before completely letting her get away from him. He bit his bottom lip as he watched her and all her naked glory walk into the en-suite. As soon as the door closed, he mumbled to himself, “Good God.”
Ben was just about finished making breakfast when he heard feet padding down the hall. He smiled to himself and dished up the plates. When he turned around, he nearly dropped the food. Cassie was standing there, digging through her purse in nothing but his white button down shirt from last night. He didn't know if she had any undergarments, but he really didn't care. Before he could almost drop the plates a second time, when she bent down, he set them down on the table. He made his way over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “That looks much better on you,” he told her in her ear. She lightly laughed and said, “Sorry. My clothes are kind of…scattered.” “No, no, it’s fine. I quite like it. You. Wearing my clothes.” He kissed behind her ear, making her gasp. He chuckled and moved back, while saying, “Breakfast is on the table.” She turned to see the gourmet breakfast he had made. There were eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. “Ben,” she cooed, “you didn’t have to. I would’ve gotten something at the bakery.” “I wanted to,” he said, while pulling out a chair for her. She gratefully took the seat and started eating as soon as she did. Ben came back to the table with juice and laughed at her appetite. She blushed scarlet red and apologized. “You worked me up an appetite last night,” she explained. “It’s perfectly fine,” he chuckled. “I love a girl with and appetite. Maybe now I have someone to share my junk food with?” He asked with hope. She nodded, “Oh most definitely! You should see the crap in my house. You’d think I’d have diabetes by now.” “That’s so strange because you really don’t look like you eat that much. Fast metabolism perhaps?” “Doubt it,” she mumbled. “I look how I eat.” Ben looked at her curiously and asked, “And how’s that?” She grumbled, almost too low to hear,“Fat and sugary.” Ben practically threw down his fork and sighed, “Cassie, that is absurd! No, you do not!” He visibly saw her shoulders sag and face fall. She really doesn’t know. He sighed and reached across the table, enveloping her hand in his. “Honey, I know how you see yourself, but you have to understand that that is not you. You are so much more than you make yourself out to be. How can I help you see that?” Ben could almost see the glimmering tears in her eyes. He stroked her fingers with his thumb for comfort. Cassie cleared her throat and shakily said, “It’s not only me that sees myself this way.” Ben’s grip tightened a bit. He could only figure that she meant other people were calling her “fat and sugary” or something completely worse. Through gritted teeth, he asked, “Who else?” “…my high school bullies. The only people that could make me feel like a worthless piece of shit.” Though he was relieved that no one else was calling her things now, he still could help but feel strings tugging at his heart. She was traumatized. “Baby, come here,” he told her softly. Cassie got up and slowly made her way to him. He pulled her down into his lap and wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks with his thumbs. “Oh, how I wish I could tell them off in the worst way,” he absentmindedly told her. “And please don’t take this as any sort of insult, but how old are you?” “Twenty-six.” “Ugh,” he playfully grunted. “I remember those days.” “How old are you?” “…thirty-six.” Cassie shrugged, “That’s not so bad.” He chuckled and started to rub his hand up and down her leg. “My point for asking,” he continued, “was so I could find out how long ago that was. It was…ten years ago? Eleven?” “Eleven,” she confirmed. “See, that’s a long time ago. Those people probably don’t even remember you by now, no offense.” She breathed out a laugh, but then her face fell again. “Ben…there’s something you don't know about me, but hardly anyone knows. If I tell you, can you…can you promise me you won’t judge?” Ben looked almost offended that she would even have to ask him that, but nevertheless, he said, “Of course.” “Okay.” She took a deep, deep breath. “A few years ago, when Jess and I first moved here, I…I checked myself into a depression rehab. And the reason for that is is because of my bullies. I mean, the entire class would tease me. They were relentless. I didn’t see any problems with myself, until they came along and pointed out that I had chunky thighs, a chubby stomach, and all my other flaws.” Ben was trying his dammed hardest to not purchase a plane ticket and give those assholes a piece of his mind…and his fist. Cassie continued, “I was depressed all throughout high school. I got bad grades, but still managed to barely make it to graduation. After graduation, Jess and I started our baking company, and things were good, but…being in that town wasn’t. They’d come around to the bakery everyday just to harass me. This went on for years. Finally, I had enough and ran away. Jess came with me because she didn’t trust me.” Ben was afraid to ask, but he did. “Why didn’t she trust you?” Cassie looked down at her hands and said quietly, “Because I tried to kill myself four times, before that.” Ben didn’t notice the tears running down his face, but he painfully noticed his aching heart. Cassie continued, “So, she made me check into rehab. And I did. And now, here I am, sort of good as new.” Ben let out a shaky breath and cupped her face. “Oh, my girl,” he cooed. “What can I do? Hm? What can I do to help you through this? I will do anything I can.” “But why?” She asked a little more quickly and harshly than she intended. Ben was brought back by her question. Do I tell her? She has to see. She has to see that I love her. All of her. “Because, I—…I, um…” Tell her! “…I care for you. Very, very much.” Smooth. He noted the bit of disappointment he saw in her eyes. Did she want to her it? Does she love me, too? Cassie simply nodded, then got up off his lap. “I’m going to call Jess,” she announced. “I should be getting there soon.” Ben nodded and she disappeared into the bedroom.