Worthington Wives

Chapter Twenty One

“Mom, I can’t stand waiting much longer, I want to marry Reyanna right away,” Ben told Agnes as he sat with her in her room. Agnes nodded, “I agree, you two need to get married the way you pant after each other,” she teased. “We will plan for the second week in November, the first Saturday, that’s four weeks, how’s that?” She asked. Ben was happy to have a plan. Agnes would make all the arrangements with Reyanna. Agnes had to be involved in planning because this would be a big public event. The eldest Worthington son was getting married. Virginia’s most eligible billionaire bachelor was getting married. It was big news.

“I can only imagine how many girls will be devastated over this news, my handsome son,” Agnes told him, holding Bens chin and admiring him. “Oh Mom, you have to think I’m handsome, I’m your boy,” he said, giving her a sweet grin. Agnes kissed her son on the cheek. “Tabloids don’t lie, son,” she teased. “Thanks Mom, I love you,” he said. “I love you. Tell Reyanna we will get together tomorrow while physical therapy works with Avery,” she said. “You’re the best, Mom,” Ben said.

Ben knocked on Reyanna’s door. She pulled on a robe and was surprised to see Ben standing there beaming with excitement. He bent down and kissed her and she pulled him inside her room and shut the door so Agnes wouldn’t see them. “Marry me,” he said, looking at her intently. “I thought we already had this discussion,” she said, smiling at him with her hands around his neck.

Ben sat down on the loveseat and pulled her down on his lap. “Ben!” Your Mom could come in!” She warned. He kissed her passionately. Reyanna wanted more, but didn’t want things to get out of control, so she tried to get up, but he pulled her back down. “I told Mom I can’t wait much longer. I want you to be my wife right away. She suggested the second Saturday in November. Is that okay with you?” He asked. Reyanna’s big brown eyes sparkled at the thought. “Yes! I want to marry you too! I love you, my Honey Bear,” she said, kissing him softly as he held her close. “I love you too, Baby,” he said. Reyanna laid against his chest and just let Ben hold her in his big strong arms. He kissed her lovingly on the forehead. “Mom said you and her will start planning tomorrow while dad is having therapy,” Ben told her.

Reyanna wrapped her arms around Ben’s chest to get as close to him as she could. It felt good in his arms. “This is my favorite place in the whole world,” she mumbled against his neck. He stroked her soft silky hair that shined in the light and smiled contentedly. “This is where you belong, my love, right here in my arms,” he told her.

“Let me lay down with you tonight,” he suggested. “I promise I won’t do anything. I just want to fall asleep with you in my arms,” he explained. Reyanna knew she should say no, but she wanted with everything in her to lie beside him. She stared at him and swallowed hard before she nodded in agreement.

Ben took his shirt and belt off and pulled the comforter back, lying down beside his beloved Reyanna. She snuggled up against his bare chest. Before long, she fell asleep in his warm embrace. He kissed her forehead and caressed her face before falling asleep. “This is my favorite place in the world, My Love,” he whispered to her sleeping form.

Reyanna woke up at 5am still in Ben’s arms. “Ben! We slept all night together!” She shooed him out of her bed before anyone realized what had happened. “That was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had,” he admitted, kissing her softly. “We can’t do this, Ben,” she said, fretting. “What if someone catches you leaving my room?!” she asked. “Go on, get out of here!” She said, hurrying him out of her room. “One more kiss and I’ll go,” he said, smiling at her. Messy hair and all, she’s still beautiful, Ben thought.

“Go!” She said, shoving him out and shutting the door on him. Ben looked up to see Phillip standing against his door with his head c****d and arms folded, giving him a suspicious look. Ben just smiled and gave him a shrug of his shoulders, having no explanation for his brother. “Don’t tell Mom,” he whispered as he passed by Phillip. His brother just chuckled a little, having caught big brother being naughty. He would never tell Ben’s secret indiscretion. Brothers don’t do that, he thought.

That night, Ben knocked on Reyanna’s door, wanting to spend another night in her bed, but she refused to let him in. “I said no! Now, go to bed,” Reyanna said. Luckily she did refuse him, because Agnes opened her door and heard Reyanna refusing him entrance to her room. She smiled and was happy that atleast Reyanna had scruples whether her son did or not. She nodded proudly and went back in her room.

That was not the end of the conversation, though. Ben started kissing her with passion, and when she let her guard down and put her hands around his neck, he pushed her inside and shut the door behind him. Ben untied her robe and let it drop, revealing her very sexy satin gown that showed her every curve. He groaned a guttural sound and started kissing her neck, allowing his tongue to taste her lovely soft skin. “Ben…no,” she breathed out, but failed to resist him.

He undid his robe to reveal his bare chest with pajama pants. She tried to protest, but he covered her mouth with his. She was dazed with passion as he picked her up and carried her to bed. “Ben, no, I want to wait til we are married,” she pleaded. He was already leaning over her with heated passion when he realized what she was asking. “But you slept with Jared,” he accused, hurt that she didn’t allow him to be with her. “No, Ben, I’m a virgin. I had my own room,” she clarified. “I only shared an apartment…not my body,” she said honestly.

Ben let his head drop onto her chest in frustration. He wanted her so desperately, but if she was still a virgin, he would not pressure her. “I’m sorry, Baby. I didn’t know. I’ll leave,” he said, rolling off her. Tears ran down Reyanna’s cheeks. Ben sat up and looked away from her. “I’m really sorry. Please don’t cry. I feel terrible. I just assumed that you and Jared…” he said, holding his face in his hands. “I’ll back off, I promise,” he said, looking back at her.

“Stay with me,” she whispered. He stared at her eyes and nodded. “I won’t touch you, I swear,” he promised. “But you’ve gotta put your flannel pjs on, Reyanna,” he insisted. She nodded and went to the bathroom to change.

Before Ben went to work the next morning, Agnes asked him to come to the parlor and talk to her. “Mom, I gotta go,” he said. “Sit!” she commanded. Ben sat on the loveseat because he knew that tone of his mother’s. “Do you really think I don’t know what’s going on? And right under my roof! It’s a disgrace!” Agnes scolded.

“Mom….it’s not what you think. I swear I haven’t touched her. She’s still pure. We wear flannel pjs. All we do is sleep, I promise,” he said begging her to believe him. “I just need to be close to her,” he said, staring at his mother. Agnes knew her boys could never lie to her and look her in the eye. “Well, I don’t like it. But be discreet about it. I don’t want your brothers thinking I allow it,” she said in a quieter tone.

“You’re playing with fire, you know that don’t you?” She asked. “There’s still three and a half weeks until you are wed,” she warned. “I’ll take that chance, Mom,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “She loves you, Mom. She would be so embarrassed if she knew you knew. Please don’t say anything to her,” he begged. Agnes gave him a stern look. “Bye, Ice Queen, I love you,” he said, kissing her cheek and went to tell Reyanna goodbye.

Agnes did not know that he had actually stayed the night with Reyanna, but she suspected it when she heard their conversation in the hall and then heard both voices in her room later. She was glad to know that her daughter in laws were both still pure. That’s as it should be for a Worthington wife, she thought with a nod.