Marx Girl

He nods, and pats the bed next to him. “Lie down and tell me everything he said, exactly.”

“Oh God, it was a disaster. He said he has evidence that you did it. Does he have any evidence, Ben? Did you do it?” I whisper.

“Of course, I didn’t; you know that.”

“He just seemed really convinced, and he said as soon as he knew who the other two fingerprints belonged to, he could make an arrest.” I sigh.

He shakes his head, and for the first time he seems interested.

I glance over at him. “This is really bad, Ben. I’m nervous about this.”

Ben goes up onto his elbow, and suddenly I am aware that I am lying on my back in his bed, and he is completely naked beneath the blankets. His eyes drop to my lips, as if having the same epiphany.

“I don’t want to talk about Eric right now,” he murmurs.

I feel the blood start to pump through my body as I look up at him. I get an image of his lips on mine, and I swallow the lump in my throat and look away.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said…” he continues.

I frown.

“Let’s try it,” he whispers.

I glance back at him. “Try what?”

“This friend thing.”

“You want to be friends now?” I ask, surprised.

“Well, I don’t want to fight with you.”

My eyes hold his, and for some stupid reason I feel a bit let down that he has given up on me so easily. “Did you go out last night?” I ask. I wonder if he and Cameron did their usual picking-up-women thing.

“Yeah, I did,” he whispers as the energy starts to swirl between us. He leans over, so he is right above me, and my heart starts to thump at his proximity.

“Did you have a fun night?” I breathe, distracted.

“It was okay, but it could have been a lot better.”

“Why is that?” I whisper.

His eyes drop to my lips and I have to physically clamp my legs together.

He’s so big and strong and leaning over me in a bed… Hell, this is the worst kind of torture.

“How could your night have been better?” I breathe.

Damn, I’m asking for trouble here, I just know it, but I can’t make myself stop.

His tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip. “Do you want the friend version or the true version?”

I watch his tongue slide across his lip, and my sex clenches.

I want the fuck version.

“Give me the friend version,” I whisper.

He smiles. “I was tired, and clubs aren’t really my scene anymore.”

His eyes drop down my torso and over my legs.

“And the true version?” I whisper. Why the hell am I playing this game with him?

He puts his hand onto my stomach and my breath catches. “The truth is I was thinking about you all night.”

Our eyes are locked.

“What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about having you in this bed.” He slides his hand down lower, resting it on top of my sex before he pats it. “Naked and beneath me.”

The air leaves my lungs.

He leans over and I look up at him. Time seems to stop as his lips hover over mine.

Knock, knock!

The door bursts open and we jump back from each other.

Joshua is standing at the end of the bed.

“Fuck, Stanton,” Ben growls.

Joshua’s eyes widen in shock before he holds his hands up. “Sorry to interrupt. Bad timing.” He winces.

Ben shakes his head, annoyed. I sit up, embarrassed. God, I’m a skanky hoe. What the hell was I doing?

“We’ve got a problem,” Joshua says.

“You think?” Ben asks, preoccupied.

“Eric’s here.”

My eyes widen. “What? Here?” I jump off the bed. “Where?”

“Downstairs with another cop. They’re here to see you, Ben.”

I start to flap my arms around in a panic. “Oh, my God. He’ll have seen my car in front of the house, and he told me not to come near either of you.”

“He did what?” Joshua snaps. “He told you not to come near me?” He points to Ben. “You, I understand!” he snaps. “But, why can’t you come near me?”

“Why do you understand about me?” Ben growls in a whisper as he gets out of bed.

Joshua gestures to him. “You’re kind of naked in bed with Bridget. I wouldn’t be too happy if she were my girlfriend.”

“Before I was rudely interrupted…” He shakes his head at Joshua as he looks for some clothes to put on.

I put both my hands on my head as I begin to perspire.

“This is so bad,” I whisper. “And he was not kind of naked with me. We were just talking,” I whisper in a panic. “What does Eric want?”

Joshua holds his hands out sarcastically. “I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure you being in Ben’s bed isn’t high up on his list.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Ben growls as he pulls his jeans up. “We’re just friends.”