'
Ben was a light sleeper, you had to be in a war zone - you needed to be able to nap when you could snatch the time and able to wake up instantly and be ready to fight if needed.
With that in mind, he hadn't even bothered trying to sleep when Kylo disappeared upstairs. He found his headphones and settled down on the sofa with just the glow of the fire and beer for company.
It turned out, Rey was loud. She was so loud he could hear her over his headphones, and he wondered if Kylo had left their bedroom door open deliberately. If he turned his music up any louder he may perforate his eardrums so he took them out, undid his fly and took himself in hand.
He closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the sofa and started stroking himself to the sound of Rey's cries and the occasional slap which he assumed was spanking. In his mind, she was his, he already had a very good visual to work with, that lingerie had barely covered anything. He lost himself in pleasant fantasy until he came, it was surprisingly intense, considering it was just him and his hand, but he didn't question it, just cleaned himself up and returned to the sofa. Kylo still seemed to be going and Ben wouldn't be surprised if it was a while before he was done, so he put his headphones back in, settled down on the sofa and went to sleep. Now he'd come, it wasn't hard.
'
The smell of coffee awoke him and he opened his eyes to see a tousle haired Rey. She was silent on stockinged feet and he watched her as she moved to the window to stare out at the view, a steaming mug in her hand.
Sunlight haloed her, dressed in a silky lilac slip and those wooly yet somehow sexy long socks, waking up to that in the morning was his idea of heaven.
Ben stretched quietly, not wanting to interrupt her reverie then got up and went into the kitchen to get himself coffee.
It was just gone 7am, and he wondered if she were always an early riser. He took his coffee back into the living area, he had meant to be silent himself, but she turned, a light blush painting her cheeks.
Ben gave her a small smile, "Good morning, did you sleep well?" he had meant it as a banale greeting, then remembered the noises she had been making during the night. Shit.
Her blush increased and she ducked her eyes away from him, he felt rather guilty over it, he was fine with ribbing his brother, but he hadn't meant to embarrass her.
"I didn't even make it upstairs," he said into the awkward silence, "Crashed out on the sofa." he lifted his mug, "You make good coffee."
She gave him a shy smile and his heart melted a little, he could see how easy it would be to fall for her - there was something about her, that smile was dangerous.
"It's just the coffee that was in the cupboard," she said, "I just put it in the cafetiere."
Ben smiled back, "Good strength though, don't do yourself down. I'm going to hit the shower, see you later."
'
He took his coffee upstairs with him and jumped in the shower, contemplating asking Kylo if he could use the master bath later... or he could wait till they went out and just hop in then. Either way, he needed a shower now, he was fairly disgusting and when he had access to a luxury shower, he took them as often as he could.
It was good to see Kylo, even if the meeting had been machinated by their interfering mother. He missed him, though he would never tell him so. They had grown up in each other's pocket and had endured the same abuse and neglect. Shared fear and pain formed a bond, as if being twins wasn't enough. But he and Kylo had found healing in different ways and their paths had diverged, when they had met again it had always been fraught, and yet he missed him still.
Sure, he had his brothers in arms, his military family, but the connection between twins could not be replicated.
It was a pleasure to pull on clean clothes, he left his hair wet after finger combing it, then went down to the kitchen for something to eat.
He indulged in some brioche with butter and conserve and took it out to the living area with another mug of coffee.
Rey was at the window again, dressed this time in a white polo neck under a burgundy leather dress, long legs now covered in black tights. Ben wondered if she had packed any jeans for this trip.
He sat at the dining table to eat, after a few moments she joined him, more coffee in her hands, looking like it was laced with cream, damn, he should have done that himself.
"So, you two doing anything for Halloween?" he asked, to get the ball rolling.
She looked surprised, "No, I had forgotten it was tomorrow."
Ben shook his head, "We should get some pumpkins to carve, maybe make Kylo bob for apples." Her quiet laugh was musical and warm, and he found himself wanted to hear it again, as much as possible.
"I've never really done much for Halloween, never even carved a pumpkin," she admitted, a smile still curving her pink lips, moist from her coffee.
Ben didn't have to fake his shock, though he exaggerated it for comic effect, "That is horrifying, were your parents strict christians or something?"
Her smiled disappeared and she looked away, he felt guilty but couldn't say why, until she answered with a sigh, "I wouldn't know, I was abandoned as a kid, grew up in the foster system."
"Shit," Ben felt horrible, and kinda pissed off that Kylo hadn't told him, "Sorry."
She shrugged, giving him a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Don't worry about it."
Before he could think of something to say that would lift the mood, Kylo interrupted them, a designer bag in his hands.
"I forgot to say, these are for you," he handed the bag to Rey, who blushed a little, though Ben wasn't sure why, "Some jeans and boots for walking." Rey looked relieved and murmured she would go and change before disappearing upstairs.
"Didn't she know you were bringing her here?" Ben asked Kylo curiously.
Kylo's eyes flickered to the stairs then back, "No, it was a surprise. I don't think she's ever actually been to the countryside."
Kylo left to go to the kitchen and Ben sat back in his chair thinking about Rey, the little he knew seemed to point to a difficult and deprived childhood. It made him wonder all over again how she and Kylo had come together. The girls he remembered his brother being interested in, were vapid, rich, highly polished ones. Admittedly Rey was well dressed, but he was starting to wonder if perhaps that was due, in some part at least, to Kylo… no, wait, had Kylo brought a high class hooker to their grandmothers cabin?!
He snorted at himself, of course not, Rey was just too sweet, too soft to be a hooker.
'
When she came back down the stairs, she looked much more comfortable in tight blue jeans, a chunky cream jumper and walking boots.
She and Kylo went out soon after, and Ben took his hire car to the nearest store that sold pumpkins, this tradition at least, Rey could have a go at. Anything to see that smile again.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Rey was very grateful that Kylo had thought ahead. She found it a little easier to relax in the jeans he had bought her, and the walking boots were snug and comfy.
It was unusual for them to be spending so much time together, typically, they would spend an afternoon, evening and sometimes a night together. Kylo's job was demanding and it could be difficult getting time off hers too, even if it was just in a coffee shop. She liked working, and often covered for other people.
This weekend though, somehow they had both got four days off work, which meant they would be spending a lot of time together. That was one of the reasons she had assumed it would be a city break somewhere, with lots of things to do and new places to eat, perhaps catching a show and lots and lots of sex.
But he had brought her here, to this idyllic cabin in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but trees and sky and fresh air. He had broken pattern, and she couldn't help wondering what it meant as she stared out of the window in the living area.
This was a long period of time together
He had brought her to a place owned by his family, somewhere personal
He wanted to go for a walk
He had kissed her during sex last night
She didn't even want to think about the other tiny details that had been nagging at her... this was all just wishful thinkin- no! Not that, she didn't want that, it was just puzzling, that was it, out of character, anomalous.
'
They went out soon after she had changed, following an overgrown pathway through the trees surrounding the drive. For a moment it had seemed like he may take her hand, but then he didn't, just held a branch out of her way, even though it would barely have touched her,
They walked in silence, Rey ignoring her unsettling thought processes and concentrating on soaking up all the beauty that surrounded them.
The air was so pure it made her want to cry a little, the fiery coloured leaves her boots kicked up as she walked, rustled pleasantly, there was the sweet song of birds she had no names for. Every now and then she would pause to touch a large tree trunk, wondering how old it was and of what species. She felt a little shy showing her ignorance to Kylo, so she didn't ask… and he seemed to be brooding on something himself so she let him be, unsure what role she should be playing right now.
She hadn't paid attention to how long they had been walking when Kylo stopped, waiting for her to catch up with him, before he carried on.
Soon they left the trees, and Rey's feet stopped of their own accord, her lips a little parted as she stared with wide eyes at a waterfall feeding into a pond before disappearing into the trees as a bubbling stream. The pond was large, the trees and sky reflected at its edges where the water was still enough.
It was so peaceful, all she could hear were the birds, the leaves and the sound of water. Going home would be hard after this, if she could stay here forever she would be happy. She wondered what it would be like at other times of the year, tried imagining it with the trees bare and snow on the ground, a rime of ice around the edge of the pond perhaps? Or spring, when the trees were budding and the grass was green and wildflowers were springing up. Then summer, the grass surrounding the pond would be a meadow maybe, the leaves on the trees would be green and cast shade from the hot summer sun, the water of the pond would cool her feet as she sat in its edge.
She was certain her imagination didn't do it justice, but it would be something to take home with her, a place to go in her head when she needed an escape.
"Ben and I would swim here in the summer when we were children," Kylo's voice brought her out of her imagingings
When she turned to him he was at the edge of the pond, a far off look on his face, "It was always cold, but we would run around so much that it was a relief."
Rey moved to stand a few paces along from him, the water was clear and she wondered what it would taste like, drinking from the waterfall, "It's beautiful," she told him, unsure how else to respond to this side of him, and feeling a slight edge of jealousy over such a childhood.
He looked at her then, and she thought perhaps he had detected her undertone, his face softened minutely and she had to look away, lest she be swept into his dark eyes.
Sometimes she had found them a little dangerous, there was something turbulent about them, torrid, and she never held his gaze for long.
"It is," was his only reply.
Rey didn't know what to talk about, the parameters of their arrangement seemed to have gone out of the window and she didn't know if asking about his childhood, or the grandmother whose cabin this was, was overstepping or not.
She deliberated for a moment then asked, "Do you come here often?" and inwardly winced at how awkward that sounded.
But Kylo just shook his head, apparently okay with the question, "No. Not as much as I would like anyway… let's start back, it's almost lunch time."
Rey would have been happy to skip eating and just stay here, she slipped her phone out of her pocket and quickly took a few pictures before turning and followed Kylo back the way they had come.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Kylo realised now that it had been a mistake to come to the cabin, to bring Rey here. Rather than acting as a suitable finale, for want of a better word, to their arrangement, it was making him feel melancholy. Part of his mind kept asking the what if questions, what if he asked her for more than this arrangement? What if he asked her to stay with him for his sake, not his money?
But that was stupid and naïve. Rey was a great companion, but she was being paid to be so, she was almost ten years his junior and he held no illusions over her feelings for him, even if part of his mind, his heart, wished it were different.
It was better this way anyway, there was no risk that he would get hurt, he wasn't vulnerable… if he told himself that enough, perhaps it would be true.
'
Ben was out on the deck when they arrived back at the cabin, smoking a panatella. Oddly, there were pumpkins on the dining table, along with a bradawl, a keyhole saw, spoons, scalpel and steak knives… was his thirty two year old, decorated marine captain brother suggesting they carve pumpkins?
He shook his head and went into the kitchen, Rey was already there, plating up bread, cheese, smoked salmon, olives and grapes.
Kylo poured them both some wine, "Would you like to eat on the deck? It should be warm enough in the sun if you keep your jumper on."
He was rewarded with a smile, "That sounds lovely, are there any trays I can put this on?"
He fished out two trays from a drawer and placed them on the counter, then washed two apples and added them to the trays along with the wine and serviettes.
Eating on the deck would mean being near his brother, who he hadn't really talked to yet today, but Reys rapt look of unbridled wonder at the waterfall had made him remember this was all new to her, and he wanted her to be able to soak it up.
At least Ben was done smoking by the time they joined him at the small table on the deck.
"I'm sorry, Ben, would you like me to get you some lunch too?" Rey said, sounding guilty.
Ben shot Kylo a grin as he waved his hand, "I've already eaten thank you, Rey. Did you two have a nice walk? Where'd you take her, Kylo?"
Kylo frowned, "Solleu," he replied as he tore apart with his focaccia.
Ben just nodded, "The waterfall. What did you think, Rey?"
Rey smiled and shrugged, "It was beautiful… so quiet."
Ben gave her a smile and she met his gaze for a moment before looking away, a light blush on her cheeks.
"Glad you liked it, I popped out while you guys were gone and got some pumpkins," Kylo watched as Rey's eyes went back to look at his brother, who grinned, "So do you fancy carving your first jack-o'-lantern after lunch? We could bring them out here, less mess inside that way too."
Kylo dug his nails into the hand that had been resting on his knee, wondering how his brother had found that out and feeling jealousy over his easy going nature, which Rey seemed to be responding to… though perhaps that was unjust, Ben had his face, after all.
"I'd like that," she looked back at him, "Unless we have other plans?"
Kylo shook his head, not wanting to deny her this, there was excitement sparking in her eyes, even though she was trying to hide it, he could see it there. "We have no plans, I have a few phone calls to make anyway.
And there was that smile again, why was he noticing it more now? Was it because he knew he didn't have many more days of seeing it, or was she doing it more? He wasn't sure, all he knew was that he would miss it.
As a rule, they didn't take photos together or of each other, but perhaps she would allow him to take a few while they were here? Or he could always covertly snap a few while she wasn't looking, that way he wouldn't have to explain why.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Rey felt slightly guilty when Kylo took himself off to the small office after lunch. He seemed subdued and she didn't know why. Maybe it was being here? Perhaps there were some difficult memories here or… she shivered slightly as a sliver of icy doubt slipped down her spine, was he getting bored with her? Most other sugar babies she knew had told her than an arrangement that lasted more than six was unusual, she and Kylo had been seeing each other for almost a year… a wave of nausea hit her and she could feel her eyes begin to burn.
This was unacceptable. She needed to pull herself together. It wasn't like she was emotionally attached to him or anything. People left her, it was a fact of life, people let you down, hurt you and left you, but she would be fine, because this had not been a relationship, he was paying her to provide him a service, if he wished to take his business elsewhere that was his prerogative. She would find another sugar daddy… she may even move, perhaps a change of scene and society would be good for her.
She had saved quite a lot of the money Kylo paid her, still living carefully, saving for a rainy day. She smiled to herself over that, it appeared her subconscious was smarter than she was.
Rey jumped a little as Ben dropped the pumpkins onto the table, "Penny for your thoughts? They didn't look happy."
Rey smiled nervously and shook her head, "Just regretting that we are only here for a few days." Ben raised a disbelieving eyebrow at her and she hurried on, "So, what err, how do we do this?"
He gave her a look, an expression that was very Kylo, an I-know-you-are-deflecting-but-I'll leave-it-for-now look, but all he just explained to her what the various tools were for, then handed her a pen.
"But, um, well, what should I draw?" she felt foolish for asking, but didn't want to do it wrong.
Ben shrugged, "Most people draw silly or scary faces. Kylo used to cut out swear words until he got sick of our mother destroying them, so one year he just wrote Taxes."
Rey let out an unladylike snort of laughter as she imagined a miniature furious Kylo carving a pumpkin.
"That has to be the cutest snort I have ever heard," Ben said as he grinned at her and Rey blushed and looked away.
Ben's eyes were lighter than Kylo's, she thought they may have a little green in them, but wasn't about to stare long enough to check.
"So, how long have you been with Kylo?"
Rey shrugged, uncomfortable with the line of questioning, "About eleven months, give or take… what about you? Do you have someone?"
"Nah, I've never wanted to juggle a long term relationship with my career, not good for either partner. Some people make it work, have a family and everything, but I don't think I could." He had started carving the top off her pumpkin as he spoke, although his tone was easy, Rey detected loneliness underneath, it was a feeling she recognised well.
"That must be hard, though?" she hoped he didn't think she was prying.
He shot her that lopsided smile again, she felt something in her chest warm at the sight. "It can be… but there are plenty of women in the Armed Forces now, sometimes I get together with one for a mutually beneficial evening of no strings fun."
Rey nodded, that seemed sensible, she could imagine soldiers would need to have that sort of release once in a while.
"So what website did Kylo meet you on? I'm considering retiring in a few years time, and would love to meet a girl like you."
Rey blushed, from the compliment and the difficulty on how to answer his question, "Tinder?" Even she didn't believe herself.
Ben arched his eyebrow as he passed her the topless pumpkin, "You don't seem sure about that," Rey winced. "Okay, you need to scoop out the insides with the spoon," he handed her one and as she took it, his fingers brushed hers. They both jumped slightly, as a spark seemed to tingled up her arm from the contact.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Ben was becoming more and more curious as to what exactly Kylo and Rey's relationship was. He was now absolutely certain that it wasn't a typical relationship, Kylo was always cagey when he asked and Rey always looked nervous… not that it was any of his business of course, but Rey was so enchanting, there was an artlessness to her charm, an unstudied beauty that he found captivating. Even though he'd mostly planned to sleep and eat while he was at the cabin, he now wanted to make the most of the time she was here - he could always sleep when he was dead.
As they scooped out the innards of their pumpkins, he couldn't resist flicking a seed at her, immediately looking down again and concentrating on what he was doing.
Either she didn't notice it, or thought it was a mistake, so he did it again, only this time, he filled the spoon and used it as a catapult.
"Did you just-?" her face was incredulous and he just grinned at her, there were seeds over her chest, some in her hair, a steely glint lit in her eyes and she dug a hand into her pumpkin and threw a handful at him, pulp and all.
Ben let out an delighted laugh as he dodged, but he was met with another fistful that got him square in the chest, it appeared she didn't believe in pulling her punches. He loved it.
Following her example, he filled his fist and threw, she ducked behind the table, but was a little too late and the projectiles landed on her head. By this time she was giggling, not put out by the fact she now had seeds and orange goo in her hair.
From there it degenerated into what could sort of be called a food fight. Rey had cleverly snagged a tray and was using it as a shield as they circled the table, grabbing fistfuls when they could until there was none left.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Kylo was feeling a little irritable after he finished the calls he had needed to make and went in search of Rey with the hopes of luring her upstairs for a while.
He found she and Ben on the balcony, throwing handfuls of pumpkin innards at each other. Ben had always been good at turning anything into a game, it appeared that talent hadn't left him. Kylo paused as he watched them, both of them were covered in seeds and moist orange fibres… both were laughing, Ben grinning even as he threw another handful at Rey, and she was giggling so much she was almost breathless, eyes shining as she gave as good as she got.
Kylo had never heard her giggle before, he didn't normally like giggling women, but Rey's giggles were so carefree and happy that he couldn't stop the smile that twitched at the corners on his mouth or the warmth that spread within his chest at the sound.
Similarly, he hadn't seen Ben look that genuinely light hearted in a long time too, there was a wholly relaxed set to his shoulders as he laughed, ducking and dodging each volley Rey sent his way.
Kylo almost wished he could join them, but it was enough to watch them, a vicarious enjoyment.
Presently, their supply of ammunition ran out and Kylo felt it would be alright to interrupt them now.
Rey immediately blushed when she saw him, he felt his face soften at the sight and allowed the corners of his lips to turn up as he looked at her, "You may want to change before you start carving," he looked up at the sky, there were dark clouds rolling in from the east, "And you may want to do it inside."
Ben nodded still grinning, "We've done the messy part, at least. Before the weather turns, I'll go for a run, if you don't mind started on the carving later, Rey?"
Rey shook her head, "I think I need a shower anyway." She started to put the pumpkins and tools on a tray and Ben disappeared for his run.
Kylo waited till he was sure Ben was gone, then pulled her against his chest, "Do you fancy a bath? I could help get the pumpkin out of your hair?"
He felt her shiver slightly, "That would be nice, if you are finished working?"
He smiled against her hair, where she couldn't see him, "I am. If you wouldn't mind clearing away, I'll start the bath, it can take a while to fill."
He stepped away and went upstairs, turned on the two sets of taps and found some bath oil to pour in. The golden liquid produced a heady aroma, a rich mix of spices and honey cut with bergamot and a slightly sharp earthy smell he couldn't name.
He had already got in when Rey appeared, she paused in the bedroom doorway, for a moment he could have sworn there was more than desire in her eyes as she looked at him, but then she broke eye contact and closed the door behind her, quickly stepping out of her clothes and slipping into the bath with him.
She closed her eyes and sighed as she sat down, "What did you put in the water?"
Kylo shrugged, "Bath oil. I'll show you the bottle later, come here," he held out a hand and she took it, allowing him to slid her gently till her back was resting against his chest, his legs either side of her. He gathered her hair and twisted it a couple of times before trailing it down her front so he could reach her shoulder more easily.
The noise she made when he started to massage her shoulders went straight to his groin. The oil in the water made her skin easy to slide over and he kneaded her muscles in her neck as she hummed in appreciation.
"Shouldn't I be doing this for you, Kylo?"
Kylo smiled at her back, she was the only person that used his name, in his day to day life, when he wasn't with family. He loved how she made it sound, so natural, so simple. Her tone was languid, but he knew she would take over in a heartbeat.
"Would you like me to stop?" he asked lowly, then ran his lips up the curve of her neck.
She shivered a little, despite the heat of the water, "No," she said honestly, "But I could do you after?"
Kylo almost grinned at that, Ben was a bad influence on him, "I was rather hoping you would."
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
Ben couldn't help feeling jealous as he made his way upstairs for a shower, to hear soft moans and splashes coming from the master bedroom. They were using the bath, then. Damn it.
His run had been a good one, he had needed an outlet for the excitement his play fight with Rey had fired in him.
Throwing pumpkin guts at each other could hardly be counted as flirting, but by the time Kylo joined them, his frustration was crackling over his skin. He wanted her. He more than wanted her, he could see the fall coming, yet he seemed to be powerless to stop it. It was a good thing she and Kylo would only be here till Monday, he wasn't sure how long he'd last without betraying himself.
He tried telling himself that he was just horny, he just needed to get laid; Rey was pretty and sweet and her smile melted his insides a bit every time he saw it. It also didn't help he had first met her in nothing but lingerie and she had kissed him, but that was all it was. It had to be, the other possibility was too stupid and unrealistic to contemplate.
As he took to the shower, his body was humming again despite his run. At least with the water running over his head, he couldn't hear her… still, once again he had to take himself in hand. It was a very good thing she was only here for two more nights, a very good thing indeed.
'
When he arrived downstairs he found Rey alone, sitting at the table staring pensively at her pumpkin.
"Fancy a cup of tea?"
She started slightly as if she hadn't been aware of his entrance, "That would be lovely, if you are making one."
Ben smiled at her, "I am, I think I saw some cookies in the kitchen somewhere, can I tempt you?"
She smiled and nodded, "So long as they contain chocolate, I'm there."
'
When he returned bearing a mug of tea in each hand and a packet of cookies in his mouth he found that she had carefully laid out all the pumpkin tools between two of the three pumpkins. He had optimistically bought one for Kylo, just in case.
She shot him another smile as she saw him, reaching up to pull the packet out of his mouth.
"Thanks," he said as he sat and passed her her tea, "Where's Kylo?"
"He's napping, he works really hard and I think this is the first holiday he has taken in quite some time, so I left him to it."
Ben nodded, trying not to show his satisfaction over getting her all to himself again, "He got the work ethic from my mother, our dad was less diligent, more prone to wild goose chases."
He noticed she had begun to look uncomfortable and his curiosity rose up again, "Kylo mentioned you have a sort of casual no strings relationship? I'm guessing you two don't do much family talk?"
She looked a little embarrassed, "Something like that, yes. And no, we've tended to not talk about personal things, beyond the necessary."
Ben nodded and dropped it, wanting to see her relax and smile again. They looked through some designs on their phones, it took a while as the internet connection up here was spotty at best.
Rey chose to do the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and he chose to do a typical scary face, utilising the stalk as a nose.
The conversation came easily again, they stayed away from anything too personal, chatting about films and music. A couple of times Rey mentioned the coffee shop she worked at and he told her about the three legged dog he had rescued from starvation in Iraq, that now lived with his parents.
Her company was comforting and relaxing, even if some parts of his body would have liked to be engaging in other activities with her. This was what he could get and he planned to make the most of it.
At one point he noticed her trying to blow away a stray lock of hair from her face without using her pumpkiny hands. Without thinking, Ben wiped his own hands on his jeans and leaned over to tuck it behind her ear. Again that featherlight touch of her skin made his blood heat.
"Such beautiful skin," he said softly as he leaned back out of her space. They both blushed, he hadn't meant to say that outloud.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
'
It was proving difficult not to respond to Ben's easy manner and relaxed company. Each smile he flashed her made her skin flush and his little complimentary remarks were hard to not be affected by.
She knew Kylo liked how she looked, he wouldn't keep seeing her if he didn't, but he seldom said anything. Rey had never been particularly moved my people's flattery in the past, she saw them for what they were: currency to pay for the thing they wanted from her.
Yet with Ben, it was different, but she couldn't say why. It irked her, she liked understanding things, knowing the meaning behind words or actions, it meant you were able to protect yourself, guard your heart.
As they worked on their pumpkins, she had moved closer to where he sat, so he could easily show her how to do anything she was unsure of. She could feel the warmth of his body through her green silk blouse, the sensation was oddly dizzying.
Her jeans had been fine after a shake to get the pumpkin mess off them, her jumper would need more attention, so she'd put on the blouse and covered it with an apron from the kitchen before she had join Ben at the table.
Ben's hair was still damp from his shower, he was in another pair of scruffy jeans with an orange hoody on, partially unzipped giving her a glimpse of his tanned chest and dog tags. He smelled good too, sort of peppery… Rey bit her lip and concentrated on carefully cutting out the teeth for her design.
Rain began to patter outside, Ben looked up at the window and grimaced before standing, "I'll get the fire going. The air temperature here can suddenly take a dive."
Rey was alarmed to feel regret as he moved away from her. This was not good.
She stood as well, "Would you like some tea? Or coffee?"
He looked up from where he was on the floor, a log in each large hand, "Tea would be grand, thanks," he smiled at her before he looked back at the fireplace.
Rey went into the kitchen to try and talk herself into being sensible. Ben was being too nice, it was confusing… she was perhaps too attached to Kylo for her own good, Ben was so like him but with such a different manner, it was scrambling her mental facilities. She could not fall. For either of them... Of course she couldn't, she shouldn't even have to tell herself that.
She remembered her thoughts from earlier, the possibility that Kylo may end their arrangement. He had seemed fine when they were in the bath together, though a little more gentle than she was accustomed to… maybe he was worried it would upset her, their parting ways, and had wanted to let her down easy? Soften the blow?
She poured the tea, biting her lip as her mind jumped about collecting the data she needed to puzzle this out… Yes, everything he had done over the last few days fit together, this was ending. It shouldn't hurt her like this, but she only had herself to blame.
Still, she cleared her throat and stirred the tea, realising she had been staring at it too long, she would get over it, she always did. She would be fine. She would. She would.
'