Easy Nights (Boudreaux #6)

So hard, in fact, that he’s bleeding.

“Oh God.” I stare at him in horror as he covers his nose. “Oh, Ben, I’m so sorry.”

He looks…stunned.

“That’s much better,” he says. “Damn, that hurt.”

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s not the first time.”

And then, to my fascination, he whips his tank top off in the one-armed way that sexy men do, and presses it to his nose.

But now I can see almost all of him, and I swear, I just started to salivate.

“Wow,” I breathe, not able to hide the way my eyes eat him alive from head to toe.

He doesn’t just have sleeve tattoos. No, apparently that’s just not sexy enough. He has a tat on his ribs, and one on the opposite side, down by that sexy V that travels down under the waistband of his shorts.

“You distracted me,” he says. His voice is different now. Rough.

“I did?” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ben distracted.

“You flirted with me, and that hasn’t happened in a while.”

“Well, if the end result is you whipping your shirt off, I’ll do it all the time.”

He frowns, and I realize I’ve just crossed the line. He’s my brothers’ best friend, idiot.

I shake my head. “Sorry. Really. Won’t happen again.”

“It’s okay,” he says. “But I think I need to put some ice on this.”

“Come to my place,” I blurt out, not at all coy. “You can ice it and I’ll feed you. It’s the least I can do. I have gumbo in the slow cooker.”

He looks hesitant. I’m an idiot. I took it too far.

“Really, I’ll keep my hands to myself, and I won’t flirt.”

“Well, where’s the fun in that?” He winks at me. “I’ll follow you there.”

“Okay.” I grin and grab my things. Ben has been to my house before, but never by himself. He came a lot when we were in the throes of renovations to help out, which I loved. It makes me happy to know that the house I love was built by those I love.

The trip to my place is short. I live close to the studio, and not far from Ben. He pulls into my driveway behind me and joins me on the porch.

“It looks different from the last time I was here,” he says as I unlock the door.

“It’s finally finished,” I say with a smile. “Come on back to the kitchen so I can get you some ice. I’m so sorry that I hit you.”

“Don’t be,” he says. “You were supposed to hit me. And I was supposed to block you.”

“I can’t believe I beat up Ben the Badass.”

He cocks a brow as I pass him a bag of frozen peas.

“Who?”

I laugh and take the lid off of the gumbo to give it a stir. “You heard me. I’ve called you that for years.”

“Never to my face.”

“Well, no. That would be silly.” I smirk and turn to find him leaning against my kitchen counter, the peas pressed to his nose. He pulled on a T-shirt in his car, which is unfortunate because I wanted to look at him a bit more.

“What are you thinking?” he asks.

“That I’m hungry.”

“That’s a lie.” He checks the bag of peas and frowns at the blood. “I told you a long time ago how I feel about lying.”

“Well, it’s the only answer you’re going to get.” I reach for bowls and scoop us both up a healthy serving. “Here you go. Do you want to sit in the dining room?”

“I’m fine here.” He leans his hip against the counter and takes a bite, then groans in happiness. “I have always loved your gumbo.”

Dear sweet merciful God, that groan. I automatically clench my legs together as I enjoy the pure lust running through my veins. It feels so good to be sexual again! Even if I don’t get to have sex with Ben, at least I know that part of me didn’t die.

Although the thought of being touched by anyone else makes me break out into a cold sweat. I know Ben, and I trust him, but he’s not the right person for me. And that sucks, so maybe I’m not as healed as I thought.

“Stop thinking so hard,” he says and reaches out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “How do you feel?”

“Good. Things are really good these days.”

“Good.” He nods. His nose has stopped bleeding, but it still looks swollen and uncomfortable.

“Are you going to have a black eye?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “I’ll be good as new by morning.”

“Of course you will. You’re badass.”

“Exactly.”

I laugh as I take my empty bowl to the sink. I was damn hungry, but Krav always makes me hungry. I use a lot of calories during that class.

Also, my own shoulders and arms are looking pretty muscular. Not body-builder muscular, but toned enough that I like the looks of my shoulders in a tank top, and that’s kind of fun.

Ben joins me at the sink, and we begin to wash and dry our few dishes ourselves, rather than put them in the dishwasher.

“Thanks for dinner,” he says as he dries the last spoon.

“Like I said, it was the least I could do after I maimed you.”

He chuckles, and then before I know it, he’s laughing. Big, loud laughs coming from his belly, and I can’t help but join in. We both have tears as we struggle to compose ourselves.

“You’re a strong little thing,” he says as he catches his breath.

“Well, I hope so. I’ve been working out for almost two years. It better be doing something.”

“It’s working,” he replies and wipes his eyes. “The look of horror on your face was almost worth it.”

“Don’t make me hit you again.”

And just like that, he’s laughing again, holding on to the edge of the counter. I grin and cross my arms over my chest, watching avidly. Ben’s usually so laid back, so…calm, it’s rare to see him like this.

And I love it.

I rub his arm soothingly, secretly enjoying the way he feels against my hand. Finally, he takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly.

“I think we both needed that laugh,” I say.

“I guess so,” he replies and suddenly pulls me in for a hug. An incredible, tight hug, and then he lets go just as quickly. “I’m relieved to see you so happy.”

“I think the whole family is,” I reply with a nod. “And I get it. But I’m so much better, Ben. I feel better than I have in more years than I can count.”

“That’s all anyone wants.” He drags his knuckles down my cheek, sending an electrical current down my spine and arms. I bite my lip, watching his blue eyes as they travel over my face.

He’s quiet for a long moment, but finally says, “You’re so beautiful.”

I blink slowly, wondering if I just imagined that. He shakes his head, as if pulling himself out of a daydream and drops his hand. He walks to the table to retrieve his keys.

“I should go.”

“Oh. Okay.” I follow behind him as he marches to the front door.

“Thanks for dinner.”

He’s not looking me in the eyes now, and he’s moving quickly, like he can’t wait to be out of here.

I never should have tried to flirt with him. I made him uncomfortable, and now he probably feels sorry for me, and the whole fucking thing is just awkward. Which is the very last thing I want between Ben and me. He’s my friend. He’s practically a part of my family.