“I’m sorry! I was just relaxing on the lounge when I heard a woman’s voice swearing. I noticed the hole in the panel and when I realized I could see you as well… it… it was mesmerizing! I haven’t witnessed anything like that… ever,” she finished with a gasp.
Ben’s face was hot with embarrassment. “That was… a very private moment!”
There was a pause. “You didn’t choose a very private place for it nor were you trying to be very quiet.”
Trish grinned at him and he begrudgingly had to acknowledge the truth in that.
“I didn’t mean to spy on you but I must admit I’m not sorry I did. That was one of the most erotic experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” Susan admitted.
Trish’s grin just got wider and Ben scowled. He was tired of getting this kind of attention from strangers. “I’m going in for a shower,” he said to the redhead. She stayed behind to speak with their neighbor.
As Ben rinsed his body under the spray his thoughts turned inwards once more. He just wanted to go back to the anonymity of his past but more and more that seemed like an impossibility.
He wasn’t sure if dining with the celebrities tonight was going to make matters better or worse.
Chapter 9
The Silver Moon restaurant was lovely and at the moment loud with the laughter and chatter from the arriving celebrities. Not all the patrons were happy about this.
Dream’s entourage had arrived and a large section of the dining area had been set aside for them. The men and women were dressed in their best tropical evening wear and once again plenty of gold chain and rings were on display.
Ben wore a black silk shirt over dark grey slacks and Trish wore an off the shoulder sleeveless red sheath dress which showed a lot of skin. This display made Ben’s grey slacks too tight in the groin area much to her delight.
Rochelle had been successful in finding a lovely gold dress in the boutique. It too showed a lot of cleavage and leg and she’d grinned when she saw Ben’s appreciative look. She’d given him a big hug and thanked him again. Trish just shook her head and watched Ben from behind her friend.
The moment the three of them entered the dining room Thomas stood and walked over to meet them. He gave Ben and Trish a smile and a hello but his eyes were drawn to Rochelle as hers were drawn to him. He led them back to the main table where they’d reserved some seats for them.
Thomas looked to Ben to see his reaction at Rochelle’s chair being next to himself. He relaxed when Ben simply moved to the chair he was offered, across from Dream. Trish sat across from La’Shia whose black shimmery dress clung to her toned body like a second skin. Her nipple piercings were immediately evident. Ben glanced at Dream after pulling his eyes from his fiancé and saw the man was smiling.
“Yes, she’s captivatingly beautiful isn’t she!” he boasted.
La’Shia smiled indulgently at her man and took his hand in hers.
“Truly lovely! You’re a lucky man!” Ben nodded and Dream’s smile widened.
“That’s a beautiful ring!” La’Shia said admiring the large ruby on Trish’s finger. The redhead beamed a smile and presented her hand for the other woman to get a better look. La’Shia’s slim eyebrows rose as she took in the quality and quantity of the stones.
“Ben chose it for me when he was in Paris,” she said with a smile.
“We just got back from doing a show there. Did you two enjoy Paris?” Dream asked.
“Oh, I wasn’t on that trip. I was working,” Trish admitted.
La’Shia smiled at Ben. “You have excellent taste in jewellery!”
Dream looked confused. He looked over at Rochelle. “Were you with Ben in Paris?”
“No, I was working as well. Ben went with a few other neighbors and Tina.”
Dream’s eyes swung back to Ben. “Who’s Tina?”
Ben paused. He could feel this conversation sliding off the rails but there was nothing he could do. “She’s the woman I live with. My fiancé.”
La’Shia released Trish’s hand quickly and leaned back in surprise. Dream’s eyes widened and Thomas looked a little upset.
Trish held up her hands. “Before everyone jumps to the wrong conclusion, Tina is aware of Ben’s relationship with the other women in his life. He is deeply in love with Tina as she is with him. He also loves me… and a few others.”
Thomas looked at Rochelle in confusion.
“Rochelle is a very dear friend of mine. That’s… the extent of our relationship.” Ben said uncomfortably but saw Thomas relax somewhat as Rochelle smiled tentatively at the man.
“I suppose I should have expected your status as a player considering the statue-” Dream grinned.
“I’m not a player and I wish I’d never posed for that damn statue,” Ben growled with a scowl.
Trish took Ben’s hand as Rochelle jumped to his defense. “It’s true Ben’s in a relationship with multiple women but he’s anything but a player. He’s in love with these women and each is fully aware of his relationships with the others. He respects them and is there for them when they need help. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt a woman.”
La’Shia was watching Ben’s expression and saw the truth written there. “Why did you pose for the statue?”
Ben looked at her in surprise and saw her curiosity. He could give her an answer. “The artist had recently experienced a… horrible and traumatic event and lost her desire to make art. She’s the cousin of Gabriella, one of the women I love. The artist is blind but she’s incredibly talented. Her previous sculptures were far more abstract. When I agreed to let her sculpt me it was to help her rekindle her love of art and I was really expecting it to be abstract, not such a freaking accurate copy of me! I mean, she’s blind!”
“You don’t like the sculpture?” La’Shia asked.
“As art goes, I suppose it’s good. But I hate what it’s done to my privacy! I want nothing to do with fame or notoriety yet I have the press chasing me and anyone associated with me.” Ben growled.
The table went quiet and Dream began to laugh. Ben looked at him in confusion.
“We couldn’t be further apart if we tried. Polar opposites! Black and white!” Dream blurted and the table erupted in laughter. Even Ben couldn’t keep the smile off his face at that one.
Ben nodded. “Ok, I get it. Your business is driven by public attention so any kind of attention can drive revenue. You can make it work for you. But I’m a mechanical engineer. My business doesn’t require fame and I didn’t get famous from my work.”
One of Dream’s group was standing by the table and leaned in towards Ben with a smile that showed off at least three gold teeth but didn’t seem to reach his cold eyes. Tall, with a well-muscled but lean frame, the dark skin of his bare arms was tattooed with black bands and swirls. He also had some facial tattoos which could have been warrior tats. “You’re fame began when you wasted the motherfucking slavers in Paris.”
Ben turned to face the man more directly and saw he was holding his hand out. Ben took a grip and shook it.
“Name’s Night and I’m a fan of your work. Iced six of the bastards to save the bitches.” the man said emotionlessly and Ben felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. He released the grip.
“There were only four slavers and I saved women, not bitches,” Ben replied as he held the man’s unwavering gaze. Finally Night shrugged and moved off but not until he’d taken a good look at Trish’s tits.
“OH MY GOD! That was you?!?” La’Shia gasped.
Ben turned his attention back to his dining companions and nodded reluctantly. Trish took his hand once more and he immediately felt himself relax. He glanced at her gratefully.
“Ben doesn’t like to talk about it. He did save three young girls who’d just been kidnapped and two who were in their twenties and had been slaves since they’d been kids themselves. He adopted the two older girls and is helping them get their lives back. They’re really sweet girls,” she said. The others looked back at Ben excitedly. He needed to change the subject.
“What’s Night’s story?” Ben asked Dream. The man shifted uneasily.
“He’s a creep-” La’Shia began but Dream gave her a sharp look.
“He’s one of my crew. We go way back. He’s had a harder time than the rest of us. Leave it at that,” he said gruffly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to start anything. If you don’t mind I’d love any advice you have on what I could do to protect my privacy. I’m sure you have to deal with that,” Ben asked.
Dream nodded, feeling more comfortable now that Ben was looking to him for advice. “I have a publicist who manages my exposure and lets me know when there are good opportunities to maintain my position in the public’s attention. We wanted a little privacy for this wedding so we chose this location. Off-season but still beautiful. Less people here to leak out the story.”
A short man with a close cropped beard walked over to their table. “Dream! Me and the boys are signing up for ATV riding tomorrow. You in?”
“Fuck yeah, I’m in!” He looked over to his brother but Thomas just shook his head with a smile and went back to talking with Rochelle. Dream looked across the table. “Ben? Care to join us?” he asked.
“Only if Trish is going. She’s ridden them before,” he replied.
Dream looked at her with raised eyebrows. She grinned.
“My husband and I used to do all of the outdoor sports, the riskier the better.”
“Husband?” La’Shia asked.
“Died in a plane crash almost a year ago,” Trish said. “Wait, what time would we be back? We have a spa session at 2PM.”
“It’s from 11 until 1,” the bearded man replied. ”
“That works. We’re in. Any other ladies along for the ride?” Trish looked across at La’Shia who laughed.
“No, I’m not going out to play with the boys,” she chuckled then paused. She turned her eyes to her fiancé. “Why don’t you take Boca?” she suggested, challenge in her eyes.
Dream’s eyes flashed to the beauty next to him. He saw the message in her eyes and nodded. Without looking away from her he spoke to his friend. “Style, tell Boca she’s coming with us tomorrow.”