After her heart rate returned to normal, she pushed herself to a sitting position on Ben’s stomach. “I don’t suppose this jet has laundry service.”
Ben chuckled, and Hannah gasped as she bounced slightly on his stomach. “No, but your luggage is up by the front galley, and there’s a shower behind that door if you wish to freshen up.” He pointed to the side of the room, her eyes following his finger to see the entrance to the bathroom.
“Could you bring me my suitcase while I shower?” she asked as she slipped off the bed and began to undress. He pushed himself up on his elbows.
“Now I get to see you naked?” he said in fake exasperation.
She gently snorted as she smiled and turned to enter the bathroom. “Oh! This is lovely!”
Ben wiped his stomach clean with the sheets then walked naked to the front of the plane to collect Hannah’s suitcase. He went back to the bedroom and closed the door once more. He sat on the edge to wait his turn in the shower.
A few minutes later Hannah opened the door and stepped out with a blissful smile on her face. “This kind of travel I could get used to!” she purred.
“It spoils you,” Ben cautioned with a gentle smile.
She sighed and nodded. “It really could.”
As Ben made his way past, he felt a slap on his bare ass, surprising him. He looked back at Hannah in shock and saw her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, but her eyes were twinkling with mischief. He slowly turned to pounce on her, but she rushed around the foot of the bed with a shriek and held out her hands to block his advance. “Speaking of being spoiled, you should forgive me that spank.
He stopped and looked at her with raised brows. “I should?”
She struggled not to smile as she nodded. “That’s what this weekend is all about, right? Being spoiled?”
Finally, a grin slipped onto his lips. “Oh, I think someone is well on her way!” He turned and went to take his shower and Hannah sighed in relief as she sat on the mattress as her legs gave out.
The spank had shocked her as well. Maybe she was on her way to being spoiled by the big man.
That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?
-=-
As Ben and Hannah walked into the terminal in New York, they spotted the Sergeant speaking with some airport Security people. Ben noted her relaxed body language, so he allowed himself to relax as well. Her eyes found his, and she waved to the guards as she made her way over to them.
“How was Washington?” he asked as she joined them.
“The Captain sends his regards,” she replied. Ben nodded with a smile. “Because of the evidence you provided to the FBI, he got a head’s up from Agent Montrose who said there’d been significant activity in the city between the senior crime syndicate families. She’s in town hunting Don Solerno. The man is in the wind. The other families are looking for him as well as he was doing a major deal with their money.”
“Is this going to be a problem?” Hannah asked in concern.
Evelyn smiled and shook her head. “The Captain is on it. We’ll have additional protection if we need it which is doubtful as the fact of Mr. Shep- Ben’s inheritance from Rainor Hahn is not widely known.”
Ben wondered what she meant by additional protection but didn’t ask as he could see it made Hannah nervous. “It’s a city with a population over eight and a half million? We’re just three, soon to be four, here to have a good time. Let’s do that!”
Hannah nodded with a smile and Evelyn grinned at him too.
They grabbed a taxi and Ben gave the driver the name of the hotel. Tina booked three rooms at the Plaza, next to Central Park. Two adjoining rooms tonight with a third added for Saturday night when Gabriella would be joining them.
Ben enjoyed the drive through the vast city with Hannah leaning up against his side. There was so much to see in the city!
The Sergeant was riding up front with the driver, keeping an eye on their surroundings and making the man nervous.
They arrived at their hotel after a short time. Ben checked them in, and they dropped their bags off in their rooms. Looking for a fun dining destination, they grabbed another cab and stood in line to get a table at Katz’s Diner. The other people waiting were delighted to have a celebrity patiently waiting with them. Ben enjoyed taking in the atmosphere until, eventually, they were led to a small table by the back wall. Their server was a young woman with dark skin, curly hair pulled back with a kerchief, and a brilliant smile as she recognized who she was serving. Once she had their orders she rushed off, and a few minutes later the manager made an appearance and got a picture with Ben for his wall of fame, much to Ben’s embarrassment.
Things settled down after that, and they got to enjoy their meals. Hannah was in great spirits, maybe even a little giddy and Ben enjoyed teasing her.
The waitress got her picture taken with Ben once they’d finished up and Evelyn grabbed them a taxi back to take them to Time Square to enjoy the lights. Hannah took selfies with Ben with the huge screens all about them as the Sergeant kept watch over them. They did a little sight-seeing then headed back to the hotel.
He enjoyed the plush amenities of the five-star hotel, but he recalled not that long ago finding a fold-out couch in a basic hotel to be a welcome respite for a night. He didn’t need the luxury, but the ladies certainly enjoyed it.
Evelyn gave him a wide-eyed look when she’d first entered the room he’d booked for her. It was as luxurious as the room in Beverly Hills, and she didn’t have to share it. Considering she slept on an army cot in the room he set her up in at home, she wasn’t used to such extravagance. He wondered if she’d be more comfortable going camping. He wanted to take the kids out to the woods once Sam and Gretchen were older.
Ben prepared for sleep and got in bed while Hannah took her turn. A short time later she exited from the bathroom in a gossamer nightie and purred as she slipped between the sheets to climb on Ben’s larger body. He smiled up at her.
“Thank you for a lovely evening Ben!” she sighed.
“It’s not over yet,” he chuckled as her eyes were telling him she wanted him again.
He could deny her nothing!
Gabriella met them at their table in The Palm Court restaurant for breakfast. She’d already left her bag with the reception desk clerks to be moved to her room when it was ready.
Ben stood and gave her a warm hug and kiss and Hannah pressed cheeks with her. The Sergeant nodded shyly to the gorgeous brunette and received a smile and nod in return. Gabriella took a seat next to Ben and requested tea from a waiter who appeared at her elbow.
“How went your meetings?” Ben asked.
Her smile widened. “Very well! I have a new chain of stores lined up to distribute the Brezza line as well as the accessories I’m importing.”
Ben’s smile grew as he looked at her proudly. She basked in his admiration.
“Did you have a good evening?” she asked coyly, and Hannah’s blush and smile told her everything she needed to know. She chuckled at Hannah’s attempt to hide the heat rising to her cheeks.
Hannah finally gave up and nodded. “We had a delicious meal at Katz’s Deli then saw the lights in Time Square. It was magical!”
“Today’s plan is to hit the shops?” Ben asked.
“Yes!” returned enthusiastically from the two ladies, who burst into giggles.
Ben smiled happily at them. It was good to see Hannah feeling at ease in Gabriella’s company.
They settled in to enjoy their breakfast.
A short time later Gabriella suddenly squeaked softly. “Oh! I forgot to mention! I received some invitations for tonight to a private showing at the Met- the Metropolitan Museum of Art! It’s a rather exclusive affair. Can we go?” She looked hopefully at Ben, her lush lower lip caught between her teeth.
He snorted as she was someone else he couldn’t refuse when she gave him that look. He nodded to her as Hannah started to laugh, so Ben turned his attention to her.
“Oh, Ben! It’s so easy to see your willing servitude to Gabriella’s desires. I- I meant her request!” she finished in an embarrassed rush.
Gabriella was chuckling too, but that didn’t stop the self-satisfied smile from slipping onto her lips. “That’s only because he loves me as I love him,” she insisted playfully.
“What are they showing at the Museum?” Ben asked to change the subject.
Gabriella dug in her purse and pulled out one of the tickets. She looked at the front. “It says there will be a new piece on temporary loan from the art collection of Rajeem and Prisha Singh and… a gallery of challenging, bold art from artists from India. So… yeah. That’s it.”
Ben could see the excitement in her eyes, so he nodded. “Who sent you the invites?”
“One of my suppliers is a fan of the Singh art collection. She was very excited about this and thought I might enjoy it too. I know nothing about the Singh’s.
“When in New York…” Ben said with a smile.
-=-
Gabriella knew all of the shops to visit, and she and Hannah were in Heaven! The two chattered away, completely relaxed with each other as they tried on outfit after outfit, in shop after shop. They both looked to Ben to get his impression of the clothes they were trying on, but he wasn’t sure what they were picking up from his comments as sometimes they listened, sometimes they didn’t.
He was gradually accumulating shopping bags as they both found clothes they liked.
The Sergeant was making the rounds, ever vigilant, and always close by. Not in-your-face close by any stretch of the imagination, but present.