Author's Notes:

'A Shepherd in France -- Ch. 1 and 2' is a continuation of 'The Shepherd of Ashburn Court -- Parts 1 through 5'. Minimal effort is made in this tale to explain the backstory so please read the other stories first.

All characters engaging in sexual relationships or activities are 18 years old or older.

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A Shepherd in France -- Ch. 2

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Chapter 9

Ben stood next to the vehicle he'd be driving on the next part of their vacation and felt a shiver trickle down his spine. Words to describe it? Brown...ish? Oddly shaped? A metal box with too much glass. Wait! He had it! A fish tank on wheels.

He never really pictured himself as a van person. Kidding aside, he liked the idea of ferrying kids to baseball games or even soccer but really saw himself doing that in a SUV.

He turned to look at Gabriella who was looking far too pleased with her selection. She looked at Ben and saw his dismay.

"Oh really Ben! It's just a car! A very practical car for the next section of our trip!"

"I think you'd call this a van, not a car. At least I think it's a van," he finished in a mumble as he looked once more at the hideous thing.

"It will hold most of the luggage plus four people while we drive to our destinations and once we're there we can all fit in it to do our day trips," she explained. When his expression didn't change she snorted and patted him on the arm. "Just wait! You'll fall in love with this car by the end of the trip." She walked back to the second vehicle they'd rented, a sporty little sedan, to speak with Catherine who would be driving that car with her daughters.

Ben walked over to the van and looked for the door handle. He located a recessed spot and discovered it was the handle. He sat in the driver's seat, which was pretty comfortable he had to admit, and made himself familiar with the controls. He spotted a few small differences but they'd be easy to get used to. It had a manual transmission which he had no issue with once he figured out where they hid the reverse gear.

As he waited for Gabriella to finish giving Catherine and Sophia directions to their first destination he sat back and wondered if Tina and Lucy were already on the plane. They'd almost been late as something had delayed Gabriella from joining them on the curb outside the hotel this morning. When he asked she just shook her head at him with a frustrated look so he let it go.

Tina had been good when they parted at customs. He'd been worried that she would have a relapse of her anxiety but she kissed him sweetly, told him to enjoy himself, and told him to be careful.

Lucy pressed her body against his and also gave him a sweet kiss. Then she walked with Tina into the security zone.

Gabriella pulled him back to the present as she hopped into the front passenger seat.

"OK, we're clear on our directions. We can keep in touch with our cell phones but if we get separated they know where we will meet up with them. Let's go!" She smiled a Ben. He looked back to the middle seat and saw big grins on the faces of Miriam and Daniel.

Ben got them out of the rental lot and away from the airport. Soon they were on the A series highways and made their way around Paris to the A6 south as their final stop of the day would be Beaune. For the first little while Daniel kept tabs on Catherine's car but she proved that she could easily keep the fish tank, as Ben had dubbed their van, in her sights.

As much as it pained him to admit it, the van drove really well. It was responsive and had power. It was a smooth and quiet ride. If only he didn't feel so much like a goldfish in it. He glanced over at Gabriella and she had a small satisfied smile on her lips.

Her phone chirped and she glanced at it. "Sophia is asking us to stop at the next gas station for a bathroom break," she said. Ben nodded.

Twenty minutes later he pulled off and guided the van into a mostly empty parking lot. He turned off the engine and got out to stretch. Three spots away was a very nice black SUV. He looked back at the fish tank with a frown then heard a bark of laughter.

"Yo! What the fuck is that?"

He looked over and saw a young man, maybe mid-twenties, dressed in the latest trendy casual wear with a big, expensive gold watch on his wrist. From the accent Ben pegged him as a New Yorker. He was standing, hands on hips next to the SUV staring back at the van with a huge grin on his face. He gestured to the others in the black vehicle to come out to take a look at the van. Three other similarly dressed men opened their doors and started to laugh. Loudly.

They saw Ben standing next to it and the first one held up his hands in surrender. "Sorry Bro but that's one butt-ugly car!" His friends all laughed harder and Ben just frowned. He couldn't argue with them but felt an odd compulsion to defend the van.

Gabriella walked around to his side and gave him a hug and pulled his face down to give him a kiss. That made him feel better. He smiled at her twinkling eyes and she walked away towards the building passing the SUV without so much as a glance in their direction. The men watched her pass and the laughter dimmed to chuckles. Miriam and Daniel raced by after her.

Catherine had parked on the far side of the van and walked around the front to stand by Ben. She gave him a deep kiss which lingered just a little. She grinned at him and followed Gabriella. The laughter stopped as the men watched the tall, beautiful blond walk past. Ben smiled as he watched the sway of her hips. She was putting on a little show for him.

He felt fingers gently turning his chin as Sophia leaned against him to give him a kiss. Short and sweet as was her smile and she followed her mother.

The bros gaped as Sophia elegantly walked past in silence.

Rachel stood before Ben looking at his lips hungrily. He smiled and leaned down to give her the sensual kiss she'd come to crave. She pulled back with eyes closed biting her lip and gave his chest a couple of gentle pats as tingles raced through her body. She turned and rushed after Sophia to catch up to her.

Megan gave Ben a kiss on the cheek and ran after her sisters.

The young men looked at Ben in silence as he leaned back against the van and gave it a happy little pat.

They all took a second look then climbed back into their big black SUV. They left the parking lot quietly.

A few minutes later Daniel raced back to Ben's side and handed him a bottle of cold water. He had one too.

"Thanks!" Ben said.

"So did Mom and the others put them in their place?" Daniel asked.

Ben grinned figuring it had to be something like that. "Yes, she sank their Battle Ships."

Daniel laughed and climbed back into the van.

Ben leaned back against the van with his eyes closed and let the morning rays of the sun sink into his skin to warm his body. He felt someone leaning against him and opened his eyes. Happy green eyes looked up at him. Gabriella felt good against him. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," she responded.

"Ready to go?"

"Get a room you two!" Catherine quipped as she walked by with her smiling daughters.

Ben kissed Gabriella's forehead as she pushed up from his chest. She smiled and went to her side of the van.

He got them back out onto the highway and they made their way towards the first stop on the journey, Fontenay Abbey which was near a town called Montbard. Daniel had his guide book out and read aloud that it was the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in Europe. He gave them a history lesson on it. The drive was long so they made a stop in Auxerre for lunch and Daniel took some pictures of a huge church rising up above the roof tops of the surrounding village. He informed them it was named Abbey of Saint-Germain d'Auxerre. They still had a little more than an hour to drive to get to Fontenay Abbey so they had to skip going inside the huge building much to Daniel's disappointment.

Once they pulled into the parking lot of Fontenay Abbey Daniel's enthusiasm was back. They took a guided tour and Daniel captured some amazing images. He took a series of portraits of Catherine and her daughters individually and as a group standing by one of the beautiful window wells. The ornate glass made a lovely backdrop and the soft light coming through lit them beautifully. The architecture was also delightful and he got many shots of the unique touches in the buildings as well.

Their next stop was just half an hour away. The small village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain was featured in the movie Chocolat and the McGovern sisters were adamant that they visit the place where one of their favorite Hollywood hunks once roamed. It was a very pretty old village and Ben enjoyed walking its streets but there wasn't much to see and the sisters had to squint to see its resemblance to the movie. Hollywood magic had done its work very well. Maybe too well. The ladies felt vaguely disappointed.

Miriam found a store that sold anise flavored candies which were once made by the monks who lived there. They all tried one and Ben was surprised to find a tiny anise seed in the center.

The day was getting away from them and they still had another hour to drive to get to the chateau they were staying in just outside of the small town of Beaune. They piled back into their vehicles and moved on.

Their accommodations for the night was a fully refurbished chateau. They had four rooms on the top floor. Gabriella would share a room with Ben for the night and the others would double up though Miriam and Daniel had a room with two single beds.

Once they got the bags loaded into the rooms they all got into the van and drove into Beaune to have dinner. They had reservations at a restaurant which used a beautifully converted wine cellar as its dining area. The atmosphere was lovely and the food was top notch. Ben and Daniel were the only ones who didn't partake of the wine and once dinner was over the group went for a little walk through the town. The road and sidewalks were smoothly polished stone so the rubber tires of passing cars squeaked and squealed. Daniel discovered he could make his running shoes squeak as well and teased his sister by making the noise around her. Gabriella finally had to intervene.

They went back to the chateau and then their rooms after the ladies got their kisses from Ben.

He and Gabriella retired to their lovely room and Ben dropped his weary bones back on the large bed. The driving took a lot out of him and it had been a long day.

Gabriella took her dress off and climbed up Ben's body as he grinned at her. She undid the buttons on his shirt and pulled it open. She smiled hungrily as she looked down at his broad chest. Then she leaned down to kiss his nipples. He jumped and gave her a hot look. She pushed back and undid his belt and pants, tugging them down as he lifted his hips. While she backed off the bed to pull off his pants and underwear Ben took his shirt the rest of the way off. Gabriella stood at the end of the bed looking at his naked body. She reached back and undid her bra and slipped it off. Ben's eyes were immediately drawn to her full breasts. Her nipples were stiff and standing at attention. She slid her panties down slowly keeping her eyes on him and his cock began to stiffen and grow. Her smile widened at her effect on him.

She crawled back onto the bed and slowly kissed her way up his legs. Each time she pressed her lips to his skin his cock surged. Ben was breathing heavy by the time she reached the top of this legs and he was fully erect. Gabriella marvelled at how big he was and how hard she'd made him. A thrill ran down her spine knowing this was for her.

She reached forward and lifted his heavy balls in her hand and Ben moaned. She dipped her head and kissed them, feeling the heat of him, feeling them move in her hand. She ran the tip of her tongue over them and Ben sucked in his breath. She felt his cock jump in reaction becoming harder still. Her face was flushing with her need for him. She sucked one of his balls into her mouth and Ben moaned once more and she ran her tongue across it. She switched to the other ball and Ben's hips lifted slightly as he whispered her name.

God, she wanted him so much right now. She could feel her wetness dripping down her inner thighs. Releasing his ball she ran her tongue up the underside of his cock and Ben gasped. She lifted his cock and pressed her lips to the thick head. She tasted his precum and felt the heat against her soft lips. Gabriella slipped her tongue out and ran it over the head. Ben's hands slid into her hair and she took him into her mouth as far as she could.

"AAAAAAHHH! Fuck! Oh my god, Gabriella!" Ben gasped.

She pumped him into her mouth a few more times running her tongue all over his hot skin. Ben was moaning her name over and over.

Gabriella only had one more condom left as she hadn't had a chance to pick up more or replace the ones she'd 'borrowed' from Rachel. She rolled it over the head of Ben's cock and used both hands to roll it down over his shaft.

She stretched her body over Ben's and looked up into his fevered eyes. "Fuck me, Ben! Fuck me hard!" His eyes instantly sharpened and he grinned fiercely. He rolled them over so he was on top and kissed her deeply. She sucked desperately at his tongue as she felt the pressure of his cock aligning with the entrance of her pussy. He pushed forward, sliding deep into her, making her cry out in pleasure. The sensations exploding through her body were intense and uncontrolled. He pulled back and thrust forward once more reaching her depths. Gabriella's eyes rolled back as her senses started to slip away from her. She clung to his back and Ben pulled back and rammed forward faster and faster, his pelvis slapping her clit again and again. Gabriella crested and squeezed her eyes shut, gasping as the wave of intense pleasure coursed through her nerves. Ben continued to drive himself into her. Her orgasm went on and on, growing in magnitude, and she lost muscle coordination. Ben finally reached his climax and drove himself deep one last time, grinding against her. Her body convulsed through one final enormous surge and she sank back to the mattress.

Ben's mind was spinning from the intensity of his own release. He gently pulled himself out of Gabriella and she moaned in protest as spikes of pleasure shot through her trembling pussy. When he was clear he carefully moved her outstretched arm and dropped down on the bed next to her.

They rested quietly, letting the glow slowly fade.

"Oh my god Ben! What you do to me!" Gabriella finally managed to say breathily.

"It's what you do to me as well!" he smiled.

She rolled her head over to look at him and saw his smiling face. "I must have done something right in my life to be so blessed," she sighed happily.

Ben rolled up on one elbow and looked down at her satiated expression. She looked truly lovely and he leaned down to gently kiss her full, plump lips. "I can't imagine how I ever deserved to be this happy."

Her smile was brilliant and tears beaded up in her eyes.

"Hey, no tears!" he gently scolded her with an exaggerated scowl.

"I love you so much!" she whispered.

The heartfelt confession knocked Ben off his emotional equilibrium and tears came to his eyes as well.

"I can't express how much I love you. There just aren't words," he said, his voice rough with emotion.

He kissed her and she kissed him in return until they were gasping. He saw she was exhausted so he pulled her against him and shut off the lights. He relaxed as he felt her soft breasts pressing against him. He was a lucky man and his inner voice could go fuck itself.

Chapter 10

The chateau served breakfast in a beautiful room on the main floor or you could have it outside at tables in the courtyard. Ben and Gabriella were the last ones to arrive from their group and found the others in a cluster of tables outside. Gabriella was moving a little gingerly this morning and Catherine struggled to keep the grin from her face. Ben quickly did the rounds then went inside to get some food for them both.

Catherine moved to sit next to her friend and leaned in. "You're glowing extra bright this morning but moving a little slow!"

Gabriella looked around embarrassed and shushed the blond. "We were a little too energetic and I'm just a little tender."

"Worth it?" Cat asked.

"GOD YES!" Gabriella gushed then went crimson as her outburst was much louder than intended. Sophia and Rachel looked over curiously and caught the meaning pretty quickly. Their grins were wide.

Cat stood up as Ben had returned with a tray. She helped place the contents on the table and then leaned in and gave him a sensual kiss. A few other guests looked at them curiously.

"Good morning!" he smiled as she took the tray from him. She smiled and walked back into the chateau.

Gabriella and Ben had their breakfast and everyone went back to their rooms to brush their teeth and bring the suitcases back to the cars. They checked out and were on the road early. They had a two and a half hour drive to get to Annecy to visit the Gorges du Fier which was reported to be stunning.

The drive was pleasant and Gabriella dozed as they drove.

Ben woke her as they pulled into the parking lot. Catherine drove in a minute later and they gathered at the entrance. Gabriella was smiling as Daniel was so excited and Miriam picked up on his excitement. Ben and the rest had no clue what to expect. They paid the entrance fee and made their way out onto a walkway bolted to the wall of a deep gorge. Water had carved its way between the stones and the platform they were viewing it from was high above the river below.

Daniel was in awe of the beautiful scenery and took shot after shot. He also got some pictures of the others cautiously making their way along the path. Miriam walked hand in hand with her mother as both were a little nervous of the height. Catherine, Rachel and Megan had no issues with the height but Sophia was in a bad way. She was not keen on heights and felt the platform bounced just a little too much. Ben held her hand and that seemed to calm her down.

They saw evidence of just how high the water reached in the gorge and that was a little frightening.

Daniel was gushing with excitement when they reached the end and asked if they could go through again. Sophia's face showed how little she thought of that idea. She thanked Ben for coming to her 'rescue' and kissed his cheek.

Their next stop was Chamonix which was in the French Alps and was only a little more than an hour away. The scenery was amazing and made the trip feel much shorter. They parked and discussed what they would like to do. From the parking lot they could see a cable car going up the mountain. Gabriella spoke with the woman selling tickets for the cable car and discovered the temperature up on the Aiguille du Midi, a multi terraced building at close to 4,000 metres high was pretty chilly and she recommended they wear long pants and fleece which could be purchased in the village.

They wandered into town and made their way into a few shops. Everyone got a fleece jacket or sweater and a nylon shell to keep the wind out. They carried their finds over to a restaurant and had lunch.

Ben noticed Sophia was quieter than usual and kept glancing up at the mountain as the cable cars made their way up and down.

"You don't have to do this if it makes you nervous," he said.

"No! I want to do this! I want to!" she said firmly and forced a smile on her face.

He looked at her seriously and she patted his hand. "Thank you Ben. I'll be fine."

After lunch they walked back to the cable car station and bought tickets. The cable car in the station was full but they were first in line for the next which they were told would be in twenty minutes. Ben kept his eye on Sophia and she seemed to be relaxing so he felt better about that.

Once the next one arrived they were ushered into the large car and moved to the back of it by the windows. This would give them the best view of the valley as they climbed. Daniel got up by the glass to take photos. Ben noticed Sophia was looking at her feet and he asked her again if she was ok. She nodded without looking at him. He glanced over at Rachel and she looked concerned.

Sophia squeaked when the car began to move but clamped down on her fear.

The car began to move quicker and settled into a steady pace which would take them to the top in twenty minutes. The car swayed gently as they passed the support columns and Sophia squeaked each time. The valley dropped away below them and the view was spectacular! Daniel was excitedly describing the heights and Ben caught a shudder passing through Sophia's frame.

Catherine leaned closer to her daughter and whispered something to her. Sophia shook her head tightly and continued to tremble with her eyes closed. Cat looked at Ben with a worried look.

Ben stepped closer to Sophia and suddenly she was clinging to his chest. His jacket and fleece were open and her hands were inside both and digging into his back. He glanced at Catherine in surprise and she gave him a nod after a pause. He wrapped his arms around the young woman and held her tightly.

Sophia's trembling began to slow and she tucked her face into his neck. Ben felt her breath on his skin and her soft lips pressed against him. Then he became conscious of her ever so slowly grinding against him. He cast Catherine another concerned look and she gave him a sympathetic smile and nod. She mouthed 'distract her' to him and he gently nodded.

Catherine leaned in and whispered in Gabriella's ear. She looked over at Sophia in sympathy then nodded to her friend. She positioned herself at Ben's back between him and her kids who only had eyes for the view out the window anyway. Catherine, Rachel and Megan took positions facing outwards at Sophia's back.

He was starting to get hard as she ground her pelvis against him. He felt her hot breath gusting out against his skin in little bursts as she began to pant quietly.

"Shhh... slow down, make it last," he whispered to her as he moved his hands down to her hips and controlled her movements.

Sophia made a noise somewhere between a moan and squeak when she felt his strong hands gripping her body. She listened to his advice and let him set the pace. That was hard to do as she was getting close to a release.

The car went past another support pillar and made its bumping noises and swayed. Sophia clung tighter to Ben.

"That was the last support pillar! From this point to the top we are completely supported by the connection at the top!" Daniel blurted excitedly to his mother.

Ben felt Sophia lock up so he tilted his face down to whisper to her that they would be alright. Suddenly her mouth was on his kissing him desperately. Once more he slowed her down. They still had a ways to go. He gently and sensually caressed her lips with his and felt her body relaxing. Her kisses lost their desperate intensity and became slow but passionate. She ground against him harder and gasped into his mouth as she felt the bulge of his thick hard cock pressing against her mound. Ben's hands moved once more and gripped her ass. He controlled her motions, slowing them but keeping the pressure on.

Ben paid close attention to her responses to keep her distracted as the car smoothly made its slow approach up to the terminus at the top. Each time she began to tense up he'd gently push her back to let the pressure wane. Then he'd begin again. Slowly.

Sophia was going insane. She'd never felt like this before. Ben had taken her to the edge so many times only to back away that she couldn't take any more. The incredible build-up had been stretched out to almost fifteen minutes and she was beginning to shake with the need for release. Her kisses became desperate once more. Ben realized he couldn't make her wait any longer and a quick glance up confirmed he didn't need to. He kissed her deeply and ground her hard against him as he squeezed her ass in his big hands. Her orgasm was immediate and explosive and he was only partially successful in muffling her cries. She pulled back from his kiss and buried her face in his shoulder as her nerves erupted again and again when he rocked her body tightly against his.

The car gently bumped against the terminus as it came to a stop. Ben slid his hands up to her back to continue to support her as her legs had turned to jelly. The other passengers slowly disembarked and he waited for her to get her equilibrium back. Once she nodded he carefully walked her off the car with Gabriella and her kids close behind. With the firm floor of the building under her feet Sophia felt less shaky. Ben kept his arm around her and walked her along with the group until they exited out onto an open terrace. They found themselves standing in a mist which suddenly cleared and there was the peak of Mont Blanc before them. Sophia whipped her head around and saw the retreating cloud they had been standing in moments before.

"Oh my god! We're standing in the sky!" she gasped in awe.

Ben smiled at her as she'd summed up his own impression. The view was incredible! They could see to the horizon and the mountain continued to rise up in front of them. They walked over to the railing and looked down at the glacier. Sophia didn't seem to be having any issues with the height.

There was a distant crack and boom and the group looked at each other.

"What was that?" Catherine asked.

"The glacier," Daniel said.

They all looked at him.

"It's really big, it's moving slowly, and it's made of ice. Sometimes it cracks and makes those noises," he explained.

They all looked back at the glacier. The idea that the enormous field of ice clinging to the side of the mountain was moving was a little unsettling.

The group split up to explore the different levels and take in the views.

Sophia looked up at Ben with a shy smile. "Thank you for distracting me from the cable car ride."

He smiled tenderly at her. "You seem a little better with heights up here which is surprising."

"We're standing in a building which is built into the mountain so we're on a solid base. We may be very high but it's like we're still standing on the ground. I don't feel it moving at all unlike the walkway over the gorge or the cable car." She shuddered and closed her eyes.

When she reopened her eyes they were a little troubled. "How am I going to get back down?"

"We don't have to think about that now. Let's just enjoy the view while we are here. Do you find the air a little thin?" Ben asked as he found himself taking deeper and deeper breaths.

"Yes, it is," she smiled as she caught him distracting her again. They joined Catherine and her sisters on one of the upper terraces. Rachel was fidgeting and staring at her older sister so the two of them casually broke away to check out a different view. Megan went in a different direction leaving Ben with Catherine.

"Thank you, Ben. I was really worried she was going to have a panic attack," Cat said to him quietly.

"Has she always had a fear of falling?" he asked.

"Since she was a little girl. She and Rachel were climbing the trees behind the house and she fell. The wind picked up and the tree started to sway and she lost her grip. She broke her arm and the fall scared her terribly. It's been years since we've been in a situations where she's been exposed to those feelings of uncontrolled movement. Except for flying but she takes tranquilizers to keep her calm. She doesn't have any on her. Are you ok with distracting her on the way back down if the need arises?" Catherine asked with a coy smile.

"It's a little public to be doing that but if there's no other option," he shrugged with a frown. They moved off to find a better view.

Rachel was so envious of Sophia. She didn't begrudge her the opportunity to get close to Ben like she had and understood the circumstances that led to it were less than optimal. She'd carried the guilt of Sophia's accident since she'd challenged her to a climbing race when they were just kids. While she hadn't pushed her sister out of the tree she still felt responsible for it and Sophia's subsequent fears. She hadn't even thought that the cable car ride might be frightening for her. When she heard Sophia having trouble breathing she drew her mother's attention to it immediately. Thank god Ben was there for her. He was the one thing solid enough to take her mind away from the fact that they were in a box dangling from a wire going up the side of a mountain.

"Are you ok?" she asked her sister.

Sophia nodded and looked down. "I feel better now that we are on the mountain itself."

"Good! So?"

Sophia looked at her and paused as she connected the dots in her scattered mind. "OH! It started off just as a panicked attempt to feel safe and being in his big arms is amazingly calming. But when we bumped past that last support, I lost it. I kissed him and started grinding on him in a panic trying to get my mind off the drop. He took control immediately and slowed it down, stretched it out. Oh my god! It was so intense! He kept me on the edge for the entire trip up to the summit! I thought I'd go out of my mind! Just when I couldn't take it any longer he took me forcefully and..." Sophia's eyes glazed over as she relived the moment. She lost her words for a bit then noticed Rachel's wide eyes. "It's never felt that good before. It went on and on and I was floating out of my body. I can't imagine how much better it must be to actually have sex with him!"

"Oh my god!" Rachel gasped.

"I wasn't too loud was I?" Sophia glanced around embarrassed but she hadn't paid any attention to the other passengers in the car so she couldn't recognize anyone.

"Well, there were some sounds that leaked out but most people weren't paying attention what with the incredible scenery. Listen are you going to be ok going back down?" Rachel said.

Sophia shook her head frantically and looked up at the mountain to distract herself. "I'm not thinking of that right now!"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it. Ben will be there for you, you know that, right?" Rachel asked.

Sophia's expression relaxed and softened. She smiled dreamily at her sister and nodded.

Rachel snorted. "Now I wish I'd fallen out of that stupid tree."

Ben and Catherine found Gabriella and her kids on the highest terrace. "Have you guys gotten your fill of walking in the clouds?" he asked.

Gabriella smiled and got nods from her kids.

"What's our next stop again?" he asked.

"Saint Pierre d'Albigny, a little mountainside village an hour's drive from here. We're staying at a B&B in a renovated chateau owned by my cousins, Stephanie and Alexis Murino and Alexis' wife Béatrice Renard. I attended their wedding six years ago and back then they were just talking about buying a place and setting up a business, catering to artists mostly. Stephanie is an amazing sculptor and Béatrice paints beautifully. Alexis is the business mind. I can't wait to see them again!" She grinned at her friends.

"Let's go then!" Ben grinned.

Daniel and Miriam led the way with Catherine right behind them keeping an eye out for her daughters. Ben felt a hand on his arm and saw Gabriella looking up at him.

"Sophia's going to have trouble getting back on that cable car. Can you take care of her again?" she asked.

"Maybe if I carried her she wouldn't feel the movement of the car and that might lessen her anxiety," he suggested.

"It's worth a try but can you hold her up for twenty minutes?" she asked.

"No, probably not. I'll suggest to her that I carry her on and we'll see how it goes," he admitted.

The group gathered once more and Ben gave Sophia his suggestion and she nodded nervously. They got in line and she clung to his arm as they waited. As they approached the empty car Ben scooped her into his arms and carried her forward. The operator held up his hand to stop them and said something in French but Ben glared at the man causing the scar to stand out in stark relief. The operator had a sudden change of heart and let them pass.

"This scar comes in handy sometimes," he whispered playfully to Sophia who grinned up at him.

"When we get moving I'm going to set you on my feet, like how you teach someone how to move their feet when they dance. Not that you need any lessons on how to dance!" he corrected with an exaggerated expression and she grinned at him again. "We'll dance a slow number all the way, alright?"

"That sounds wonderful!" she whispered to him. "Rachel, can you slip my shoes off?" she asked.

Rachel's eyes widened then she took her shoes.

The doors closed with a thump and Sophia tensed and squeaked when the car began to descend. When she nodded he moved her in his arms to set her down on his feet. She unzipped his jacket and fleece to slip her arms inside and around his back as she squeezed herself against him. She was trembling once more so he began to hum a tune as he swayed with her in his arms. She looked up and smiled when she recognized the tune. 'Only You' by the Platters. She snuggled into his arms and listened to him hum to her as they danced slowly. Catherine and Gabriella picked up the tune and began to hum along with him. Soon Megan and Rachel joined in and Gabriella's kids were grinning madly as Ben began to sing the words as the rest provided the musical accompaniment. Sophia was blushing madly and squeezed her face against his chest as Ben's singing became just a little more exaggerated. He wasn't half bad but he wasn't great either. As he reached the end of the song he glanced over at Gabriella and caught her attention. She stopped the others and Ben immediately segued into 'Teach Me Tonight'. Catherine and Gabriella began to laugh then they immediately started humming the tune for Ben. Megan and Rachel weren't familiar with this song so they could only grin and watch their sister dancing in Ben's arms. They saw the flush on Sophia's cheeks and they grinned harder.

Ben segued in 'Unforgettable' making Gabriella and Catherine clap and grin as his deep voice was a fair approximation of Nat King Cole's, though he wasn't quite as smooth.

When the car bumped to a stop at the ground terminus Sophia pulled back in surprise and saw they were down. She looked up at Ben with grateful tears in her eyes and kissed him.

"Thank you Ben!"

The other passengers were clapping and Rachel helped Sophia get her shoes on as Ben bowed to his fans. They left the cable car and terminus and made their way back to their cars.

"I didn't know you were such a crooner Ben!" Gabriella teased.

"I typically only sing in the shower but today I felt inspired by my muse," he grinned as he looked over at Sophia who blushed again but smiled back at him.

Chapter 11

The drive to Saint Pierre d'Albigny was beautiful and soon they were driving up the mountainside past lovely homes with breathtaking views of the valley below and the Alps beyond.

Gabriella was reading off directions and Ben guided the fish tank nimbly through the narrow roads until they made a final left and rolled into a wide gravel parking lot. Ben noticed the sign for the chateau was resting on the ground under the signpost where it should have been hanging. Two other cars were in the lot and the building was huge. He grinned at Gabriella and shut off the car. They stepped outside and heard angry yelling. One of the voices was deep, guttural and Ben couldn't tell what he was saying but it sounded nasty. Two other voices were female and both were angry but there was an undercurrent of fear.

"That sounds like Alexis and Béatrice. I don't recognize the male voice but he's making threats." Gabriella said looking at Ben.

He took off at a run and went around the side of the house to the front where he saw a large heavyset man with a large walking stick advancing on two women holding gardening clippers.

"HEY, FAT MAN! BACK OFF!" Ben yelled and the three froze.

The man's sunken eyes narrowed as he took in Ben's size and the nasty scar crossing his face. He snorted and turned to hobble away, as quickly as he could. He leaned heavily on the stick and once he reached the bottom of the property he went through the gate but left it open. The two women turned to Ben cautiously.

"Hi, I'm Ben Shepherd. Your Cousin Gabriella's neighbor?" he said with a smile. Their faces lit up with smiles and they relaxed.

Just then Gabriella turned the corner of the building and came rushing over to hug her cousin and her wife. "Are you two alright?" she asked. "We heard the yelling when we got here."

"It was that pig Arsene Dumond! He lives in the property down the hill and he is an evil man!" Béatrice snapped looking down the hill. She had a beautiful accent even though her words were sharp. Ben was entranced by how dark her skin was. She was almost ebony. She was maybe 5' 5" and if she topped 115 pounds he'd be amazed, she was so slim! She had a very expressive face, beautiful full lips and she wore her hair very short. He looked to Alexis as Gabriella did the introductions. Alexis had one of those faces that seemed to be meant for serene smiles. Long sandy blond hair currently tied back in a ponytail. Pale blue eyes and a light dusting of freckles across her slim nose. A wide mouth that seemed to have a quirk of a smile on it. She was at least three inches taller than her partner and had a stockier build with wider shoulders and hips. Her button down plaid shirt was having some trouble containing her heavy breasts.

"Ben, this is my cousin Alexis Murino and her beautiful wife Béatrice Renard."

"This is why Gabriella is my favorite of your cousins!" Béatrice gushed with a huge smile and hugged Gabriella.

Ben leaned forward and pressed his cheek to Alexis's and Béatrice's as he shook their hands.

Miriam and Daniel had been waiting by the entrance to the parking lot to flag down Catherine should she not notice the sign that was on the ground. Once Catherine was in the lot the kids came racing around the corner to see their aunt.

"Auntie Alexis!" Miriam squealed as she ran up to her and was enveloped in a hug. Daniel got one too and pulled back to stare at Béatrice. "Gosh, you're pretty!" he blurted and his face went red as he realized he'd said it out loud. Chuckles went through the group and Béatrice turned to Alexis.

"This is another reason why Gabriella is my favorite of your cousins!" she laughed and hugged Daniel much to his secret delight. She gave Miriam a hug as well and the young woman grinned widely.

Catherine and her daughters made their way around the corner of the house and introductions were made, cheeks kissed, and hands were shook.

Gabriella looked over to a lovely gazebo and noticed it was empty. She looked at Alexis. "Where is Stephanie? She's not in her favorite spot," she said with a smile which fell away when she saw a pained looked cross the faces of her cousin and her wife.

"Stephanie is in her room. She rarely comes out any more and she's been like this for over a month. It's terrible! She's lost her interest in her art!" Alexis said and looked to Béatrice who nodded. "She won't tell us what happened but we think Arsene may have molested her when she was outside by herself." Gabriella cried out in shock and dismay.

Ben's head snapped back and his eyes went cold. He started for the gate at the bottom of the property but stopped when Catherine and her daughters rushed forward and grabbed his arms. Catherine got in front of him and pulled his head down so he was looking in her eyes.

"Ben, it's ok. Come back to us. We'll take care of it. You just come back," she said softly. Rachel and Sophia leaned their faces against his arms and they clung to him and Megan hugged his back. Ben's eyes softened and he looked at the women surrounding him. "What..." he said quietly.

Alexis and Béatrice were looking at Ben with nervous expressions again.

Gabriella needed to put them at ease so she pulled them aside. "Ben had a rough time growing up and we don't really know the full extent of it yet. There must have been some abuse but it's locked deep in his mind. We shouldn't talk about that around him because he becomes extremely protective."

"So, he's not a danger to us?" Alexis whispered.

"God no! The man will walk through fire to protect a woman. His mind takes him someplace dark when he sees a woman being hurt or abused in any way. It's frightening and brutal what he's capable of but it's always in the defense of someone in danger. When he comes out of it he can't recall what happened. That's disturbing for him. He's seeing a doctor back home but he needs more treatment. We're recording the blackouts for his doctor.

"Would he have killed Arsene just on our say so?" Béatrice gasped.

"Killed him? No. Beaten him unconscious? Definitely. That's why we have to be careful what we say around him," Gabriella explained as she saw the appraising looked they were now giving the big man.

He walked back to them with the ladies accompanying him.

"Sorry about that," he mumbled looking at their hosts.

"It's quite alright," Alexis said with a smile and looked over to Gabriella.

"Can I go see Stephanie?" Gabriella asked.

"Why don't we get you and your friends situated in your rooms then I'll take you to see her." She paused for a second with a thoughtful expression. "I think you should bring Ben with you when you see her. Tell her he frightened away Arsene. That might help her," Alexis suggested.

Gabriella nodded and smiled at Ben. They went back to the vehicles and everyone grabbed their luggage. Ben was once more given the largest and most luxurious room on the top floor. The view from its windows was spectacular as it faced the valley below. The massive bed looked inviting and the private bath was nicely appointed. He immediately noted some beautiful sculptures of dancers. There was also a bright and colourful impressionistic painting of a dance studio on the wall.

"The room is gorgeous and these pieces are lovely!" Ben enthused gesturing to the art.

Béatrice beamed at him. "Thank you. It is one of my favourites as well. Stephanie did the sculptures and I did that painting about two years ago."

Ben moved closer to the painting. "I'm no expert but I love this! I can almost hear the music they are dancing to!" Béatrice smiled broadly at Gabriella.

They moved to the next room which had a more feminine feel to it. It had softer colors and lots of colourful throw pillows. This would be Catherine's room which she'd share with Sophia. Next was the flower room which Rachel and Megan would share. Gabriella and Miriam's room was furnished with French antiquities much like they saw in Versailles. The last and smallest room painted in oranges and yellows with rich, dark wood furniture went to Daniel and he was delighted.

"Are we the only guests? Gabriella asked her cousin.

Alexis looked a little embarrassed. "For now. We've been having trouble getting local tradesmen to come to the property to finish off the renovations. I think Arsene is frightening them off."

"What exactly is his problem with you?" Ben asked.

"We're gay. He's homophobic and has a particular hate for Lesbians," Béatrice growled. "He's also made a nuisance of himself to the owners of another chateau in town. Richard and Henry run a beautiful B&B not far from here and they've told us he's also shot holes in their sign."

"Is that why your sign isn't up? Did Arsene shoot your last sign?" Ben exclaimed.

"We can't prove it was him as he does it at night but we heard a loud boom and in the morning we saw our sign had a huge hole in the center. It happened the same way with Richard's sign."

"Have you reported him to the police?" Gabriella asked.

"The man in charge of this area is Arsene's cousin. He won't do anything to stop him. Arsene is a bully and has no friends in town but no one stands up to him," Alexis said.

Ben was getting that grim look in his eyes again so Gabriella hugged his arm and that distracted him. "You know, Ben is a master at renovations. Maybe he could take a look at what's left to do?" Gabriella suggested and Ben's eyes lit up.

"I wouldn't want to impose on you during your vacation!" Alexis protested.

Gabriella and Catherine snorted in unison as they saw Ben's eager expression then started to laugh. "Ben is something of a reno junkie. It's something he loves to do," Catherine explained to their puzzled hosts.

"Let's visit Stephanie first though," Gabriella insisted and Ben nodded.

"If you don't mind I will just bring in Gabriella and then Ben if she is up to it," Alexis said. They nodded and followed the cousin down to the main floor and through a door with a 'Private' sign on it. At the end of the hall was a door and Alexis gently knocked. She announced herself and entered. Moments later she brought both Gabriella and Ben into the room.

Stephanie sat in a chair by the window with her hands in her lap. She shared a lot of features with her older sister. She wasn't as stocky though and her chest was more modest than her sisters. She had long sandy blond hair worn loose and pale blue eyes which Ben immediately saw weren't tracking their movement in the room. He glanced at Alexis who nodded at him. Stephanie was blind.

"Stephanie? It's Gabriella!" she said as she took her cousin's hands and held them up to her face. She released them and Stephanie ever so gently ran her fingertips over the contours of Gabriella's features.

"Hello Gabriella. Beautiful as ever!" Stephanie said with a gentle but sad smile.

"I'd like to introduce you to my good friend and neighbour Ben Shepherd," Gabriella said and gestured for Ben to step forward.

"Hello," Ben said taking her delicate long fingered hands in his thick ones.

"Hell- oh! You're big!" the woman said in surprise as she ran her fingers over his hands and up his arms.

"Yes, he certainly is! He just scared Arsene into running away!" Alexis said.

Stephanie's hands froze when her sister mentioned Arsene and Ben felt her panic. "I don't like that man. I'm going to have to do something about him," Ben growled deep in his chest.

The blind woman's hands went immediately to his face and Ben held still while she mapped him in her mind. She gasped when she found the scar across his face and the small bandage on his chin. Her hands finished with his face and moved down his thick neck. Her brows furrowed and she concentrated hard as her mouth hung open as he grew in scale in her mind.

"Ben, take your shirt off. Let her feel what you've experienced," Gabriella said gently.

He looked at her questioningly then pulled off his shirt. Alexis gasped as she saw the scars over his chest. He reached for Stephanie's hands which were held out before her and guided them up to his shoulders as he knelt before her.

"Big," the woman breathed as she felt how wide he was. When she moved her hands down over his pecs she encountered a large scar. She traced it with her fingers then moved on and found the next one. She found each with her gentle fingers. She was careful with his stitches on the few she encountered.

When she felt the bullet hole scars she looked puzzled as their shape was different than the others. "Those are the oldest ones. Three bullets," he said gently.

"I have to sculpt you!" Stephanie suddenly blurted, her face was flush and she was wearing a huge grin.

Ben looked at her in surprise and looked over to Alexis who had tears in her eyes and was clutching her hands together by her mouth. She looked at Ben with profound gratitude.

"Uh, I've never been a model before," he mumbled, embarrassed. He stood up.

"Alexis! I need new clay! Lots of it! This will be the largest piece I've done. I need you to contact Richard and ask him to make me a wire armature based on male proportions but one hundred and twenty centimeters tall," Stephanie blurted excitedly

"One hundred and twenty! That's not going to fit in our kiln!" Alexis cried.

"It's not going into the kiln. I'll explain later! When can I start?" Stephanie asked.

"Can we at least feed them dinner first?" Alexis chuckled, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Yes, yes! Of course! Where are my manners! Ben, will you pose for me after dinner?" she asked.

"OK, sure. I'd be honoured," he replied.

She suddenly stood and stepped forward colliding with Ben who was looking at Gabriella in surprise at the time. He quickly caught Stephanie as she bounced back from his bare chest. Her hands went back to his skin and she smiled. "You are big!"

"Yes," he smiled.

"Excuse me," she said and Ben moved aside. She unerringly found the phone on her desk. "I'll call Richard myself. I need him to get started on it right away."

"See you at dinner Stephanie!" Gabriella said.

Stephanie immediately stopped and turned with open arms. Gabriella stepped into them and was given a firm hug. She whispered something in Gabriella's ear who chuckled and whispered back. Stephanie blushed and grinned for her cousin. Ben raised an eyebrow at the whispering as they left the room but she just shook her head at him with a mischievous smile. He tugged his shirt back on.

Once they were out in the vestibule of the chateau Catherine and the rest of the group descended the stairs and everyone moved into a large sitting area.

Alexis crushed herself against Ben's chest and gave him a firm hug. "Thank you so much for drawing her out of her shell! I haven't seen her this passionate about her work in years!"

"I didn't do anything!" Ben asserted.

"What didn't he do?" Béatrice asked as she came into the sitting room.

Alexis spun to see her partner. "Stephanie is out of her shell! She's going to make a sculpture of Ben. One hundred and twenty centimetres tall!"

"We need to get more clay!" Béatrice said excitedly with a brilliant smile.

"I'll go out tomorrow to get it," Alexis said.

"I was hoping to go into town" Béatrice said with a cute pout.

"Why don't you both go?" Ben asked.

They looked at him with a troubled look in their eyes. "We haven't done that since Stephanie was attacked."

"So he knew you were both out of the house when he... did that?" Ben said struggling with his rage.

Alexis nodded as she looked at Ben with wide eyes. "We have to drive past his house to get to town," Béatrice said.

"You should both go to town tomorrow. I'll stay behind to greet any unwanted visitors," Ben finished with a growl.

"We were planning on driving to Turin, Italy tomorrow," Gabriella said.

"I'll sit this one out if you don't mind," he said and she nodded. "I can do some of those renovations you've hinted at."

Alexis' eyes lit up again. "What can you do?"

"Framing, insulating, plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile work, painting... pretty much anything but don't ask me to wall paper. I hate that," he grinned.

Alexis' answering grin was wide. "Tomorrow morning we will do an inventory and we'll pick up whatever you need."

"Sounds good!" he replied.

"Speaking of good, our cook Marie would like to let you know we are having authentic Coq au Vin tonight with fresh baked bread," Béatrice informed them. "The vegetables are from our garden and the chicken was locally raised as well. Dessert is a wild berry medley and/or ice cream, also locally sourced."

The group made appreciative sounds.

"Dinner will be served in a little under an hour in the dining room which is just through that door," Béatrice said with a smile as she headed back to the kitchen.

Alexis turned to Gabriella. "We just got some mountain bikes and there are good trails nearby. Helmets are included and have those little movie cameras attached so you can film your ride. You have to offer those little perks to keep the tourists happy. Richard has horses and offers horseback riding. We can see if there is availability if you like."

"Actually I don't think we'll have time. I've packed our itinerary pretty full," Gabriella said. "We're only here for three nights and have two day trips, tomorrow to Turin and the day after to Lyon. Then we head for Cannes. We head out each day after breakfast and come back before dinner so we can spend the evenings with you. I'm imagining Ben will skip both day excursions since he has renovations to do," she said with a grin and he nodded.

"Ah Gabriella! Always the planner! You never change!" Alexis smiled fondly at her cousin. "Did she tell you the story of her Day of the Week panties yet?"

"Alexis! Don't you dare!" Gabriella shrieked.

Ben and Catherine perked up but Alexis just laughed at her cousin's flustered expression.

"We're going to look around the grounds," Rachel said with a grin and left with her sisters, Miriam and Daniel.

"Since we have time maybe you could show me what needs to be done, renovations wise?" Ben asked.

"Ah, we've lost him," Catherine quipped and Gabriella shared her grin.

"Would it be ok for me to steal him away for a second?" Alexis asked looking at the two friends. They raised their hands in surrender and Ben grinned eagerly as he followed Alexis from the room.

Stephanie entered from the opposite door using her white cane. "I heard voices so I followed them here."

Gabriella and Catherine stood up. "Stephanie, I'd like you to meet my best friend Catherine."

The two women shook hands then they all took seats.

"So you are neighbors... with Ben as well?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes. I live on Ben's north side and Gabriella lives on his south side. We've both known the man for years."

Stephanie tilted her head and a confused expression came over her face.

"What's wrong?" Gabriella asked.

"I'm not sure if I should say. I don't want to cause conflict between you two," Stephanie said quietly.

The two friends looked at each other in surprise. "Please tell me," Gabriella said.

She hesitated then spoke. "When you spoke of Ben earlier I could hear the love in your voice. Catherine has the same love in hers when she speaks of him," she said with a worried tone.

"Ah, that's all. It's true. I love Ben. So does Catherine. So does Tina and Trish," Gabriella said. "In fact, Tina lives with him, is having his child, and at our suggestion will be marrying him when we get back. Trish is another of our neighbors."

"Don't forget Lucy. I seriously believe the girl is infatuated with him!" Catherine added in.

"Yes, I think you're right," Gabriella nodded.

Stephanie's confusion just increased. "...but Tina's the one who's having sex with him?"

"No, we all are," Catherine said.

"Ben's a special case. Despite the damage done in his childhood he has a tremendous capacity for love. We're in love with him and he's in love with us. We share his time and sometimes his bed. He's not promiscuous. He needs an emotional context for sex. He's... a very physical man," Gabriella explained.

"Incredibly physical!" Catherine blurted.

Stephanie smiled at her outburst. "So, no jealousy?"

"No. There can't be. That's torture for Ben. A woman's emotional pain is something Ben can't endure, particularly when he's the cause. Besides, we know his love is genuine and he'd never hurt us so there's no need to be jealous."

Stephanie looked thoughtful.

"Did you arrange to get the armature made?" Gabriella changed the subject as she heard approaching footsteps.

"Yes, I convinced Richard that I needed it for tomorrow morning. He'll deliver it then," Stephanie said as Alexis rushed into the living room to hug Gabriella.

"What?" Gabriella said with a grin.

"Ben said he's going to be able to complete the work in the next two days so we'll just need to do the painting and decorating afterwards," Alexis gushed.

Ben followed her into the room and smiled at the grinning women. "Just a little plumbing, then some drywall with taping and mudding, and some tiling. No biggie."

"Five rooms! He says he can finish five rooms in the two days!" Alexis exclaimed as Béatrice rushed in to find out what the fuss was about. She looked at Ben in surprise.

"Well you still have to get me the supplies I listed so that's going to eat into the time. You've got some decent tools and there is stuff I can do tomorrow until you get back but I'll make real progress when you get back with the stuff. I'll need an assistant."

"Me!" Alexis yelped. "I want to learn how to do this kind of work so I can do my own repairs."

Ben grinned and nodded. Béatrice rushed over and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back with a smile.

She turned to her partner. "We'll be able to paint next week then get the furniture in and have the rooms decorated and ready for the beginning of the following week! I can update our website to list the new rooms and post some photos. So much to do!" She was grinning.

A short, plump woman wearing an apron over a flowered dress entered the sitting room and nodded to Béatrice.

"Ah! Dinner is ready! Everyone, this is Marie who is a master in the kitchen!" Béatrice said with a flourish and Marie smiled with a deep blush.

"Ben, could you look outside and see if the ladies are on their way back?" Catherine asked. He nodded and headed for the front door. Daniel was entering as he stepped outside.

Dusk was approaching and he noticed the gazebo was lit up with tiny white lights. The ornate structure was very large and was obviously designed after the famous one in the Sound of Music. He wandered over and spotted Sophia dancing in its center with her sisters and Miriam sitting on the benches watching with rapt attention.

He stopped at the open double doors to watch her graceful moves. He didn't want to break the magic of the moment but she noticed him standing there and paused her dance.

"Have you come to dance with me?" she said with hope in her voice.

"As delightful as that would be our dance will have to wait as our hosts have called us to dinner," Ben said. He held out his elbow and Sophia gracefully flowed over to him and took his arm. "Your dancing is exquisitely graceful!" he said.

"Thank you kind sir. I will hold you to your promise of a dance," Sophia said, keeping the spirit of the scene alive.

They elegantly walked back to the entrance of the main building with the others following with silly grins on their faces. When they got to the dining room they were shown to their chairs. Alexis was at the head of the table with Béatrice to her right and Stephanie to her left. Daniel looked very pleased to be seated next to Béatrice and Miriam sat next to him. Gabriella sat next to Stephanie and Ben sat between her and Catherine. Sophia was next to her mother and Rachel sat across from her. The end of the table opposite Alexis was for Marie who would join them once she and Alexis had delivered all of the food to the table.

Miriam grinned with pleasure at being seated across from Ben and he shared her joy. He pretended to fire something across the table at her with his spoon and Gabriella took it from his hand and put it back on the table as he stuck his bottom lip out in a big pout. Miriam giggled and Daniel joined in. When Ben sneakily reached for the spoon again Gabriella rolled her eyes and took it and Ben pouted once more causing more giggles from across the table.

Alexis and Béatrice watched the exchange with a twinkle in their eyes.

Marie came out of the kitchen carrying a huge antique serving tureen and set it in the table near Alexis. She left and returned with several baskets of cut bread still hot from the oven. There was fresh butter on the table and a huge bowl of garden salad tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.

Alexis lifted the lid of the tureen and the amazing scent of the coq au vin reached the noses of the hungry guests. Everyone smiled and made appreciative comments. Marie smiled shyly. Alexis began ladling servings onto plates and handed them around the table. Soon everyone was reaching for bread and salad and a look of bliss came over their faces as the tender coq au vin melted over their tongues.

Daniel buttered his bread but Ben used it to soak up the delicious sauces. He was assured that the alcohol was long evaporated in the coq au vin as it had been prepared the day before and slowly reheated over the afternoon to be prepared for dinner.

Conversation centered on their time in Paris, the things they saw and what shopping they did. Béatrice asked about the beautiful rings she saw the two women wearing and Gabriella asked Daniel to get his camera to play the movie of the ring ceremony for them. Ben made to protest but was overruled by everyone else. Daniel dashed upstairs and returned quickly with his tablet which he'd loaded the movie files onto. He queued it up and handed it to Alexis. Béatrice got up and went to Alexis' side to watch with her. Stephanie listened in as did everyone else at the table. Ben ate quietly trying to avoid the admiring eyes watching him.

When it finished playing Alexis and Béatrice were both in tears but were confused by his admission of love to three separate women. Especially since he asked one to marry him!

Stephanie was smiling as tears ran down her cheeks. "That was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard," she said softly and Gabriella leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Stephanie can explain it to you later," Gabriella said to Alexis as she looked questioningly at her cousin.

"Show them the dance!" Sophia called to Daniel. He grinned and took back the tablet to queue the file. He handed it back and the women watched Sophia and Ben glide effortlessly around the beautiful ballroom in Versailles.

"He does renovations and dances like this?" Alexis gasped incredulously. "Ben! You're staying with us in France!"

Protests immediately erupted from the group and everyone ended up laughing. Ben blushed in embarrassment.

They finished their meal and Marie brought out the dessert.

Finally Ben pushed back well satisfied. He turned to the cook. "Marie that was an absolutely fabulous meal! You are indeed a master chef!" There was a round of applause and the woman grinned and blushed.

Alexis and Béatrice helped Marie clean up and they shooed their guests out into the sitting room.

"Ben, will you pose for me now?" Stephanie asked shyly.

"Oh! Ok. Don't you need that armature thing and the clay?" he asked.

"For when I begin to work on the actual sculpture yes but right now I need to determine the pose I want to do," she explained.

"Alright. How do we do that?" he asked.

"We'll need privacy. I suggest we use your room."

Ben walked over to her side and placed her hand on his arm and led her to the stairs. They went up to the third floor and down the hall to his room. Once inside Ben dropped his hands to his side and looked at her helplessly. "I have no idea how this works."

She smiled. "First off you should just relax. This isn't difficult at all. I just need to map you in my mind so I can form a complete image. Then we will select a pose that you can hold comfortably for when I begin the final mapping. When I have an accurate image in my mind I can do the work without your involvement... aside from the occasional remapping should I need to refresh it."

"How do you do the mapping?" he asked curiously.

"By touch like I did with your face, shoulders and chest earlier," she said.

"Ah."

"You should get undressed."

"What?" he jolted.

"I can't map you through your clothes," she said reasonably.

"I have to be naked?" he asked uneasily.

"I'm making art. This isn't porn," she said frankly.

"Right. Uh, ok," Ben said and began to undress. It was a little unnerving as she was looking right at him. While he knew she couldn't see him that didn't detract from the odd sensation of getting naked in front of a woman he'd just met. He looked over at the beautiful figurines of the dancers she'd made and took strength from the example of her skill. Plus the faces of the dancers were minimal so it was going to be somewhat abstract. He was fine with that.

Once he was undressed he stood before her with his hands clasped before him. Then he realized that was dumb so he dropped his hands.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Oh, sorry, yes," Ben froze as he realized he was somehow expecting her to know he was naked.

"Relax. I have done this before. All you need to do is stand still," she said with a smile as she stepped forward with her hands outstretched. They landed on his chest so she moved them up. "I'm going to begin at the top and work my way down."

Ben held still and watched the intense look of concentration on her face as she gently ran her slender fingers over his scalp, around his ears, and onto his face. He closed his eyes for this part as she spent more time on his face than he expected. She seemed particularly interested with mapping out the extent of his scar.

When her fingertips reached his lips he opened his eyes and saw a wistfulness pass over her face so he playfully stuck his lips out in an exaggerated kissed. She smiled and moved on to discover the shape of his jaw. The intense concentration returned.

Once more she read the surface of his chest and memorized each scar, its shape and location. She stepped around him and moved her hands to the top of his shoulders and ran them over the muscles of his back.

"No scars here," she murmured.

"I've always faced my attackers," he responded and her hands paused then moved on.

She moved to his left side and ran her fingertips down his arm pausing at the scars and being careful of the stitches. She did his right arm then moved to kneel in front of him. She placed her fingers on his stomach and paused.

"Relax," she said and he realized he had been tensing up so he closed his eyes and willed his muscles to unclench.

He understood this was for art and wasn't supposed to be sexy but his body wasn't so cultured. It was only aware that a pretty woman was touching him very intimately. A specific part of him began to wake up.

"I'd prefer to map this area while it's at rest," she said with a grin as she touched his thick cock. Her expression changed as she realized his size.

"You're big!" she gasped.

"You say that a lot," he joked, trying to deflect his embarrassment.

She snorted and started to giggle. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the sound. "I suppose I do," she replied when she got control of herself.

By this point Ben's cock was reaching full rigidity so she moved her hands down and discovered the contours of his balls. Ben gasped.

"Sorry," she said and slid her hands over his thighs.

When she slid them around to his ass and lightly mapped out the musculature there she was leaning in so he felt her breath on his cock. It throbbed in reaction and he bit his lip to keep from moaning.

Her hands moved down his legs and she eventually played them over his feet. She sat back on her heels and he watched her forming the image in her mind.

"Ok, I'm done so I'm going to go back to my room and work on the design. Tomorrow morning I will need to get you to do the pose I choose and I'll do my final mapping to ensure it matches the image I have. Then I can begin," she explained.

"So I can get dressed now?" he asked.

She smiled. "Yes, for now."

He helped her stand and she made her way to his door. "Good night," she said.

"Good night."

She opened the door and stepped out. Ben realized he was standing in plain view of the doorway completely naked and Rachel was just coming out of her room with a sweater in her hand. Her eyes locked on his then dropped to his erection and widened in shock. Ben jumped forward and closed his door, cursing at himself for his carelessness. He pulled his clothes on and opened his door again but Rachel was gone. He went downstairs and followed the sound of voices until he found the group outside sitting in comfortable looking chairs positioned in a circle around a beautiful fire pit out on the lawn in front of the house. There was one open chair between Rachel and Sophia and both women were looking at him with knowing smiles.

The darkness hid Ben's deep blush as he took his seat. The chairs were close enough to each other that the armrests touched so when Ben sat down he was surprised to feel hands taking a gentle hold of his. He looked at Sophia who had a coy smile on her lips then over to Rachel who was looking back at him while she ran the tip of her tongue across her lower lip. He felt a spark shoot from her hand through his arm directly to his cock which hadn't calmed down yet. She smiled as she felt his involuntary twitch.

"How did the posing go?" Alexis said with a grin.

"What? Oh, ok I guess. It wasn't what I was expecting," Ben mumbled.

"But you rose to the challenge, right?" Rachel said with a sly grin.

Sophia snorted and looked away.

Ben blushed harder and was grateful for the firelight painting everything deep yellow and orange.

"I understand you will be gracing our gazebo with another dance with Sophia," Béatrice said with a smile.

Ben was grateful for the change of subject. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it. The gazebo is beautiful!"

"We built it for Stephanie. Sound of Music was her favorite movie. She knows all the songs and she used to dance..." Alexis began enthusiastically but ended with a sad look. Ben looked at Gabriella.

"Stephanie was an artist and a dancer when she was a child but by the time she reached her mid-teens she began to lose her sight. Retinitis Pigmentosa. She was completely blind by age twenty. She's thirty five now and seems very well adapted to her new life," she explained.

The group was quiet and Sophia broke the sad reflection when she stood up and reached her hand out to Ben. He smiled and took it as he stood up. Gabriella whispered to Alexis who looked surprised then nodded and moved off into the house. Daniel raced into the house ahead of her. The rest followed Sophia and Ben to the gazebo and sat on the benches at the edges while the two moved to the center of the floor.

Daniel ran up to the gazebo with his camera in his hand and began to record them. Rachel used her phone to queue up a music track, something classical. Sophia moved and he moved with her. She instantly smiled as she realized he was in perfect sync with her. The space for dancing in the gazebo wasn't close to the space they'd had at Versailles so they had to constrain their movements. Even so, it was still beautiful to see them step and spin to the music.

Sophia had a natural grace and Ben moved with a smooth power that made the watching ladies smile and squirm.

When the piece ended Ben bowed to Sophia and she curtseyed.

The rest applauded as Alexis arrived with Stephanie on her arm. Alexis was all smiles having seen the last minute or so of the dance but Stephanie looked tense. Ben walked over to her and took her hand.

"I understand the gazebo is yours. I think it's time you took it back. Will you dance with me?" he asked gently.

A look of surprise played over her face then a smile stretched across her mouth. She nodded and he led her to the middle of the floor. She leaned in and whispered to him and he made an agreeable sound. He held her close and they began to move. The movements were bold and sinuous, flowing around the limited space they had. He controlled their position in the space and she their moves. Ben wasn't familiar with the dance Stephanie was performing but his body reacted to her movements automatically and naturally. He had the oddest sensation of being detached from his body, like he was standing back and watching somebody else moving him.

Then he saw himself as an eleven year old dancing with a petite older woman who moved like smoke. Her motions were mesmerizing and her smile was a picture of bliss. They flowed together and swept around the room faster and faster as this was what she was meant for. Not to be the housewife of some crude machinist. She was meant for the stage!

"Ben?"

"BEN!"

"Huh? What?" He blinked and saw he was leaning over Stephanie in a deep dip. She was breathing fast and her eyes were wide. He lifted her back to her feet and she clung to his chest as she panted. He was surrounded by the others and Daniel was still filming.

They were standing on the grass on the front lawn, well outside of the gazebo.

"How did we get here?" he asked quietly.

Gabriella and Catherine shared a worried look. Stephanie leaned her forehead against Ben's chest and reached her arms around him to give him a big hug. He looked down and hugged her in return.

When she pulled back her face was glowing! "That was WONDERFUL!" she cried. "I haven't danced like that in years! It was so freeing! It felt like we were flying! Oh Ben, I'm going to sculpt the hell out of you!" she giggled, drunk on adrenaline.

Alexis and Béatrice looked at Gabriella and collected Stephanie from Ben. They walked her back to the house.

"Who taught you to dance, Ben?" Gabriella asked gently.

"Mrs. Cosburn."

"BEN!"

He looked up from his seated position on the grass at the frightened expressions of the women kneeling next to him.

"What happened?" he moaned as he held his head. He had a thumping headache.

"Does your head hurt?" Catherine asked.

"Yeah, a lot."

"I think that's enough excitement for tonight. Time for bed everyone," Gabriella said. She and Catherine helped Ben to his feet and held his arms as they led him back into the building and up to his floor. They took him into his room and closed the door. He brushed his teeth, took off this clothes and climbed into bed while they watched. He was still a bit dazed. Gabriella leaned over him and gave him a kiss then Catherine did the same. He closed his eyes and seemed to drift off.

The two friends stepped out into the hall. Daniel was standing there. "I got the entire thing on film mom. Maybe his doctor should see it."

"Good thinking! Can you send it to her somehow?" Gabriella asked.

"Yeah, I can render a smaller version then upload it to my cloud account and send her a link," he said then grinned at his mother's blank look. "Yes, if you give me her email address."

"You could have started with that," she scowled. "I'll send you her address." She looked at Catherine. "I think I'm going to give Hannah a call. She's probably still at her office. Let's go down to the living room to make the call." Catherine nodded and the others went to their rooms to prepare for bed.

Alexis and Béatrice met them at the base of the stairs. "Is Ben ok?" Alexis asked with a worried expression.

"He should be fine in the morning. He has some repressed memories which surfaced a few months back and they seemed to submerge again after he was stabbed. They seem to be leaking out again. We're going to call a friend of ours, another neighbor who is also the hospital administrator where Ben's doctor works," Gabriella said and they all walked into the living room.

Gabriella dialed the number and listened for Hannah to pick up.

"Hannah Cooper."

"Hannah? It's Gabriella. Can I put you on speaker?"

"Gabriella! Sure, wait! Aren't you still on vacation? Has there been some trouble?" Hannah blurted.

Putting the phone on the coffee table Gabriella turned on the speaker phone. "Can you hear me clearly?"

"Yes, now what's wrong? Is Ben ok?" Hannah insisted.

Alexis and Béatrice smiled hearing the concern in her voice and Catherine nodded.

"I have Catherine with me as well as my cousin Alexis and her wife Béatrice. Ben is fine but his repressed memories are beginning to resurface again," Gabriella explained.

"Hello everyone! How did it happen this time?" Hannah asked.

"He was dancing. He dances beautifully but he couldn't recall who taught him. Tonight he was dancing with my cousin Stephanie and his face went blank and he began to dance faster and faster and left the gazebo entirely to dance outside. We had to chase after them. When he surfaced from the trance he didn't know how he'd gotten outside and when I asked him again who taught him he said Mrs. Cosburn and dropped to the ground like a stone. Scared the hell out of us. He surfaced immediately with a bad headache so we brought him inside and put him to bed. He went out like a light. I'll get Daniel to send you and his doctor a link to the video he took of the event."

"You got it on video? Excellent!" Hannah said. "Any chance you can bring him back early?"

"I seriously doubt Ben would agree to that. We still have a week to go but he's going to stick close to the chateau for the next two days doing renovations and you know how therapeutic that is for him," Gabriella said and Alexis looked pleased.

"Yes, that will do him a world of good," Hannah agreed and Alexis' smile just got bigger and Béatrice held her hand.

"Please let Ben know that Trish picked up Tina and Lucy at the airport yesterday and all are good. We all met them at Ben's place last night. That's when she told us the news about their baby and getting engaged. The ring is stunning! Shocked the hell out of Trish! I've never seen her so stunned. Tina had a talk with her and afterwards there was a lot of happy tears. Rochelle also seemed a little upset but Tina set her straight as well. For a submissive she certainly can be a force to reckon with!"

"She's protecting Ben's heart. No one is as fierce as Tina when it comes to protecting Ben," Gabriella said with a smile.

"Listen, thanks for giving me a call. You know I was one of the people trying to get Ben to postpone the trip. I know he needs the distraction and relaxation but I'm still worried about his state of mind," Hannah said.

"We're keeping a close eye on him Hannah. We'll keep you in the loop if there are any other changes," Gabriella said and everyone said their goodbyes.

"I'm a little too wired to go to bed now," Catherine said.

"How about a drink? I have a delightful red wine that serves well as a nightcap," Béatrice suggested.

She got three smiles as her answer.

Chapter 12

Rachel was tossing in her bed. She was worried about Ben. As amazing as he looked naked, and erect, all she could think about was how the guy was being tormented by his childhood memories. His doctor had some ideas of what they were and maybe Hannah knew but they hadn't shared that with them so she felt powerless to help him.

She needed to talk to someone. She looked over at Megan who was snoring softly. Maybe Sophia was up. Rachel slipped out of bed and left her room, closing the door silently behind her. She padded down the hall and stopped when she heard something. Someone just cried out in fear. She moved forward and realized it came from Ben's room. She opened the door and stepped inside. He was sitting up in bed wide eyed, gasping for breath and shaking. Her heart went out to him.

"You ok, Ben?" she said gently. His head turned in her direction but he didn't say anything. She got closer to the bed and in the dim light saw his eyes were casting around like he was looking for the danger that awoke him. Then she noticed that he'd kicked his sheets down and he was naked again. Pulling her eyes away from that she moved closer and reached out to place her palm on his cheek. He immediately leaned against it and began to relax. Before she could move his arm swept out and pulled her onto the bed and tucked her up against the side of his body.

Rachel gasped as the heat of his body pressed against her. God he felt good! She looked up and his eyes were closed. She felt his trembling stop as his body relaxed.

She tried to extricate herself but his arm just tightened when she moved away. She glanced down and saw she'd left the door open. Hopefully her mom and Gabriella would be back soon and would look in on him. Then they could help her get loose.

She relaxed against him as she really had no other choice at the moment. He felt so good. She'd just rest her eyes until her mom found her. Sleep dragged her under quickly.

An hour later Gabriella and Catherine came upstairs feeling a little tipsy. The wine had been very good indeed. Gabriella kissed Catherine's cheek then wobbled off to her room and went to bed. Catherine headed for her room and noticed Ben's door was open. They must have forgotten to close it properly. She quietly pulled it closed then went to bed.

Rachel woke in the darkness with the most exquisite feeling of a tongue lovingly caressing her pussy lips. She couldn't feel her panties and her nightie was pushed up. The tongue dipped deeply into her and she slapped her hands over her mouth so she couldn't give her identity away. She didn't want Ben to stop what he was doing... ever. She writhed as he sent shocks of pleasure through her tender flesh. He thrust a thick finger inside her as he sucked on her clit and she trembled through a series of small orgasms. She was dripping with excitement and she heard him growl with need. She almost squeaked with excitement. He wanted to fuck!

Ben moved up on the bed and kissed her deeply. His tongue was so demanding.

Then she felt it. Thick, hot, and incredibly hard. His cock was pushing against her wet opening and her mouth opened in a silent scream as it forced its way inside her. He was SO FUCKING BIG! She'd had sex with a few boyfriends in the past but none had a cock like this. It stretched her wide and she almost fainted. It was on the borderline of pain but the tingling was so intense it blotted out all other sensations.

He finally reached bottom and bumped his pelvis against her clit with an explosion of sparks. He held himself there getting accustomed to her tightness and heat, grinding against her with delicious pressure. Then he pulled back and slammed it home slapping her clit. This time she couldn't stop the squeak. She heard an answering growl of satisfaction as he pulled back and thrust forward again. Slap! Pull. Slap!

Ben began to move faster and faster until he was pounding Rachel's pussy into the mattress. All she could do was hang on for dear life. Her orgasm started after the seventh impact and climbed higher and higher wiping her mind clear of everything outside of the sensation of his hard thick cock driving into her. He curled over her body and brought his mouth down beside her ear. He was growling constantly now and hammering away at her.

His body stiffened and Rachel had a moment of clarity as she realized he wasn't wearing a condom. Just as he pulled back for his last thrust she pulled her hips up then arched her ass down causing his cock to ride up and over her clit between their bellies. Ben's orgasm struck and his cum sprayed up between them. He groaned and kissed her neck sending a huge arc of electricity between there and her pussy. He ground against her and she rocked through aftershocks each time he slid his cock against her clit.

When their breathing returned to normal he kissed her tenderly. "Goodnight Catherine," he whispered and rolled over onto his back beside her.

Rachel lay on the bed feeling lightning race up and down her nerves as her pussy recovered from the intense pounding it had just received. She listened to Ben's breathing as it settled into a steady rhythm indicating he was asleep again.

It took her three attempts to be able to move to the edge of the bed. She gently slid off the bed onto her feet only to discover her legs were like jelly. She clung to the sheets until her legs returned to her. She couldn't see her panties anywhere and she had to hold her nightie up above her tits so it wouldn't touch the cum Ben splashed on her.

Rachel tiptoed out of Ben's room and snuck back into hers. As she headed for the bathroom the end table light went on next to Megan's bed. She looked at her sister.

"Why are you naked? What's that on your stomach?" Megan asked. Then her eyes went wide as Rachel's eyes held guilt in them. "What did you do?!?"

"Let me get cleaned up first," Rachel mumbled and rushed into the washroom. She cleaned her stomach with a damp facecloth then dried herself. She dropped the nightie into place and walked back out to face her younger sister.

"Spill it!"

Rachel looked at her stern expression and sighed. She knew this was going to complicate things.

Ben woke up feeling refreshed and stretched mightily on the bed. He felt an odd sensation on his stomach and looked down to see dried cum on his skin. He frowned then a hazy memory of his romp with Catherine came back to him. He looked over at the other side of the bed but she wasn't there which was a little odd. Maybe he slept in? Nope. The clock showed it was still early.

Something was tangled around his foot. He brought it up and discovered it was a pair of panties. Very feminine. He put them on the end table and walked into the washroom to have his shower. Luckily the cum didn't get on the sheets. That spared him a little embarrassment.

Catherine heard a knock on her door as she and Sophia were just waking up. "Who is it?"

"Megan and Rachel."

"Come in."

The two daughters entered and Catherine saw a guilty look on Rachel's face and a grim look on Megan's. "What's wrong?"

Megan just looked at Rachel with a raised eyebrow. She nodded and stepped forward. Carefully. Catherine knew that walk. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. Rachel held up her hand.

"It wasn't intentional."

"What the hell does that even mean?" Cat squeaked.

"I was going to speak with Sophia last night and I heard Ben scream in his sleep. I went into his room to see if he was ok. He looked frightened and his eyes were wide open but I don't think he was awake. He was sitting up and trembling so I touched his cheek. He pulled me onto the bed against him and went back to sleep. I couldn't free myself from his grip but I'd left the door open so I hoped you or Gabriella would notice and come help me. I guess I fell asleep." Then she blushed crimson.

"What happened?" Sophia asked.

"I woke up in the middle of the night feeling a mouth on me... down there. It was so good I didn't want to stop him. I know I should have but... it was so good! I had these wonderful orgasms and was coming down from that when he was on me... and in me. He's so big and he was so... aggressive!" Rachel gushed.

"You didn't have a condom!" Sophia gasped.

"I know so I made him pull out before he came. Considering his count the chances of getting pregnant are pretty much nil," Rachel explained. She looked at her mother. "He thought I was you. Afterwards he kissed me and said 'goodnight Catherine' so he didn't know, but my panties are still in his room."

Catherine looked at her guilty daughter with a conflicted expression. A small part of her wanted to screech 'MINE!' but she knew that wasn't the direction to go. She and Gabriella had already talked about this possibility. Still, Ben was a little fragile at the moment so springing this on him may not be the best thing. She needed to speak with Gabriella.

"Ok, this is what we are going to do for now. For today we let Ben think it was me. We won't lie to him but we will play along with his assumption. I will speak with Gabriella and we will work out when to tell him. Rachel, if you had told him it was you and he went ahead there would be no trouble. But in his current state we have to be careful of the shocks we give him," she scolded her daughter gently.

"I'm sorry mom!" Rachel looked miserable.

"Come here sweet pea!" she said opening her arms.

She hugged her daughter and wiped the tears from her eyes when she held her back. "A little sore?"

"God, yes!" Rachel winced.

"Worth it?" Sophia asked.

"God, yes!" Rachel smiled.

"Ok, everyone get showered and dressed. We have an early start and a two and a half hour drive to get to Turin. Let's get cracking!" Cat rallied her daughters. She looked at them fondly as they got moving. She pulled on her dressing gown, walked over to Ben's bedroom and knocked gently. She heard him call out to enter. She opened the door and stepped inside.

"Good morning Ben!" She saw he'd already showered and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt. Ready to renovate!

"Ah there you are! You left something behind," he said lifting the panties from the table.

She walked up and plucked them from his fingers and kissed him as she tucked the panties into her dressing gown pocket.

"We're all getting an early start today because we have a long drive. Why are you up so early?" she asked.

"Eager to get started. There are only two days and I have a lot of rooms to finish. They did the top floor first and got much of the second done before the workers were too intimidated. They're just older local tradesmen and that asshole down there made some pretty bad threats to them if they help the evil lesbians. I don't understand tiny little minds like his."

"Well, you keep an eye out for that asshole. He has a gun and I don't want any more bullet holes in you," she said as she rubbed herself against his chest and slipped her hand under his t-shirt to rub his bullet scars.

He growled his approval of her hand on his skin but she pushed herself away. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back. His mouth was on hers and he kissed her deeply as she moaned and whimpered. Finally she pushed her face back from him.

"Wait! I can't... I have to get moving! If we keep this up I'll hold up the group!" she gasped as she ground herself against his bulge.

"Fine, but I want you in my bed again tonight!" he said with a growl and a hot look.

"Yes!" she gasped and he released her. She staggered to the door and closed it behind her as she leaned against the door jamb, panting. Gabriella was standing in the hall looking at her with a wide smile.

"Had a good night?" she asked the blond.

"Actually, I need to talk to you about that. Follow me," Cat said and went into her room. Once Gabriella closed the door she explained what happened with Rachel.

"I didn't even see his door was open, I was so tipsy," Gabriella said with a frown.

"And I closed it. I should have looked in." Cat agreed.

"You're right, let's hold off on filling him in. How is Rachel?"

"Sore but dreamy eyed about her night just the same," Catherine smiled.

"Weren't we exactly the same?" Gabriella asked with a smirk.

Cat thought about that. "Yes, I guess we were."

Sophia came out of the bathroom with her towel wrapped around herself.

"When are you planning on making your move?" Catherine asked.

Sophia was wide eyed as she looked at her mother.

Gabriella just laughed. "I'll see you at breakfast."

Cat grabbed some new underwear, dropping Rachel's off on her bed with a raised eyebrow at Sophia, then went in to take her shower.

Gabriella met Alexis downstairs and gave her a hug and kiss.

"Sleep well?" Alexis asked as Béatrice walked up to join them and got her own hug from Gabriella.

"Yes, especially after that nightcap. Delicious but potent!" Gabriella smiled.

"When are you going out to get the clay?" Stephanie said as she pushed through the private door into the hallway.

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Now I remember what a nag you can be when your creativity is upon you!"

"Nag?!?" Stephanie squeaked. "I'll have you know I am the soul of patience... when I'm not under the control of my muse," she finished in a haughty tone.

The others chuckled. "Come on Artiste! Get some breakfast. Feed your body before you feed your soul," Alexis barked.

Daniel was already at the table with Miriam eating their breakfast. The others grabbed a plate and filled them from the heating trays on the sideboard. They took their seats and dug in. Ben came in and said his good mornings to everyone. He then kissed Gabriella, Catherine and Miriam, on the cheek.

He made his way to the sideboard but Marie intercepted him and directed him to sit. He raised his eyebrows but did as he was told. She went into the kitchen and returned with a large plate with steak and eggs on it. There was also some toasted baguette and little baby potatoes. Ben's grin was all the praise Marie needed but he kissed her hand before she could get away. She blushed and rushed back to the kitchen.

"Hey! No stealing our chef!" Béatrice grinned.

Ben breathed in the scent of his breakfast. "No promises!"

"Due to the amount of work we'll have you doing over the next days the least we can do is give you enough food to charge your batteries," Alexis explained.

"Much appreciated!" he grinned and started to eat. His look of bliss said it all.

Sophia arrived and went directly to Ben who dabbed his mouth with his napkin then leaned back to give her a kiss. Megan arrived and Ben kissed her cheek and Rachel was last and moving slowly. Ben frowned as he saw her wince.

"Are you ok Rachel?" he asked.

"Yeah, just slept... funny. Pulled something."

Sophia was at the sideboard with her back to the group but she snorted then apologized for the noise.

Rachel was heading in her direction but veered over to Ben and got a kiss first. Then she walked over and swatted her sister's arm behind Ben's back.

He ate for a bit then watched Rachel settle herself into her chair. "You know, if it's a pulled muscle I could massage it for you. Work out the kink."

Sophia was trying desperately to keep from laughing and doing a poor job of it. Ben glanced her way with a confused look and she pointedly looked away.

"No Ben. It's ok. I'll rest in the car and I'm sure it will go away. Thanks though," Rachel smiled.

"OW!" Sophia yelped and reached for her shin.

"Girls!" Catherine scolded and the two settled down to eat their breakfast.

Once breakfast was done Gabriella and Catherine loaded their kids in the van and with a wave they set off for Turin.

Alexis and Béatrice were right behind them. They were headed in the opposite direction and had the list of items Ben had written down for them. They were also driving a van but it was definitely more for cargo than passengers. Perfect for this trip.

Marie passed them with a smile as she headed out to do the grocery shopping. Then it was just Ben and Stephanie.

He walked back into the chateau with her. "When is that fellow Richard going to be here?" he asked.

"He said sometime this morning. Hopefully soon." She looked nervous. "Would you mind keeping me company? I don't like being alone. Now."

"Certainly."

They walked back to her room and took seats. Ben looked around the room at the sculptures lining the shelves. Dozens of dancers in a row in various poses. Obviously her love of dance had fed her art.

"Your sculptures are beautiful!"

"Thank you."

"Are they all dancers?"

"Most. Occasionally I try my hand at other subjects but they lack the passion," she frowned.

"But you're going to sculpt me?" he asked cautiously.

Her smile came back. "There is no lack of passion in you! I felt it in your body as I mapped you. The scars you carry both outside and in. Your love for the women in your life. So much passion! I'm vibrating with the energy I picked up from you and I must pass that into the sculpture as soon as possible. That's why it needs to be so much larger than my previous work. I can't contain this in a tiny figure!"

Ben smiled at her enthusiasm.

There was a gentle chime and he looked up. "What was that?"

"That's someone driving into our lane. It may be Richard or a potential new guest," she said.

Ben walked out to the front door with her and stood next to her. He saw a distinguished looking man carefully extracting a four foot tall wire figure from the back of his SUV and turn towards them. He spotted Stephanie and smiled then he looked at Ben and his smile froze. He looked back at the wire armature and Ben saw something pass across his face. He closed the car door and walked towards them.

"Good morning Stephanie! I have the armature you requested," he said, his voice was deep and hinted at his British origin.

"Good morning Richard! Thank you so much for making it so quickly and on such short notice! May I introduce my cousin's good friend and neighbor Ben Shepherd? Ben, this is my good friend and fellow sculptor Richard Garrison. Richard is a master with bronze and will be working with me on this piece. He and his partner Henry Desjardins own the B&B a short distance from ours further up the mountain."

Ben shook Richard's hand with a smile. His grip was firm and there was strength in his arm. The man had a close shaved beard and warm brown eyes. His neat brown hair was just starting to show some grey at the temples and Ben thought the man might be a little older than him. He looked fit and dressed impeccably which made Ben feel terribly underdressed in his shorts, t-shirt, and sandals.

"A collaboration? You're not making a clay sculpture?" he asked Stephanie.

"It starts with my clay sculpture but then we'll make a mold of that and Richard will make a bronze sculpture from that," she explained.

"Are you a model?" Richard asked carefully.

Ben snorted. "Sorry. No, I'm a semi-retired Mechanical Engineer."

"Semi-retired?" the man repeated.

"I like to keep my finger in the game so I do piece work now and then," he explained.

"If you don't mind me saying so I can see why Stephanie was so enthusiastic to sculpt you," Richard said with a smile and Ben blushed.

"Oh Richard! You have no idea!" Stephanie reached out and tapped at Ben's chest. "Ben, show him your chest."

"No that's quite alright," Richard began and Ben looked at the woman in surprise.

"Please Ben!" she begged.

His blush heating up his face Ben tugged his t-shirt up and off.

"Oh my lord!" Richard said as he took in the solid muscles... and the scars. "What- what happened to you? Are those stitches? Some of these are fresh?!?" His voice was starting to sound strained.

"A few months back I was stabbed repeatedly by..." His head began to hurt. "...an abusive husband after I stopped him from killing his wife. The fresh ones were from a fight I got into while we were in Paris. Turned out to be a serial killer. Ca- The police shot him before he got me." Ben massaged his temple to get the thumping to settle.

Richard was looking down at the three bullet scars. He pointed with wide eyes.

"Oh, yeah. A pedophile shot me as he tried to abduct Gabriella's daughter. I killed him," Ben said with a grim look and his facial scar flared.

Richard felt a chill run through him and suddenly he understood Stephanie's compulsion to begin. He reached out and took Stephanie's hand and she smiled broadly as she felt his hand trembling. She could tell he understood.

There was a sudden sharp sound of glass breaking behind them in the chateau. Ben's eyes went cold. He pulled his phone from his pocket and started the video app. He handed it to Richard.

"I thought he might do this. Please follow me and record this. Stephanie, please go back to your bedroom and lock the door. Call the police," Ben said with a cold voice and handed her his t-shirt.

He turned and walked back through the house quietly, Richard at his back holding the phone out in front of him.

Ben pushed into the hall leading up to the front door of the chateau. Standing in the vestibule was Arsene Dumond. He'd broken a pane of glass on the door and reached in to unlock it.

The man focused his deep set eyes on Ben and glanced at Richard behind him. Seeing Ben topless with the homosexual following him led him to believe Ben was gay as well. Equally deserving of his wrath. He felt sickened by the abominations before him.

"Arsene Dumond! You are guilty of breaking and entering. Were you coming back to sexually assault Stephanie again?" Ben called out clearly. He smelled the reek of body odor and alcohol pouring off the man.

Richard gasped behind him. Ben guessed that Alexis hadn't shared that particular detail with him.

Suddenly Arsene swung his heavy walking stick at Ben's head. For all his fat the man had muscle underneath. Ben ducked but the stick got a glancing blow off the side of his head.

But before Arsene could swing it again Ben leapt forward and plowed his fist into the man's bulbous nose. The impact took the heavy man right off his feet and he fell onto his back with a loud thump. Ben staggered and went down on one knee as reaction set in from the blow to his head. Arsene rolled over and scrambled out the door on hands and knees cutting himself on the broken glass in his haste. Blood was gushing from his flattened nose. He pushed himself up and hobbled away as quickly as he could.

Ben watched him go. He pushed himself to his feet then turned to Richard. "Did you get that?"

The man with the phone was wide eyed and shaking. He nodded and handed the phone back to Ben who saved the movie. He sent a copy to his online storage immediately.

While he was working on the phone Richard stepped closer. "You're bleeding!"

"What?" Ben asked.

"Your scalp. It's bleeding!" he explained.

"Badly?"

Richard looked closer. He pulled his phone from his pocket and made a quick call. He spoke rapid French to someone and hung up. "Henry is on his way with his suture kit. He was a doctor before he retired. Let's get that cleaned up."

"We have to let Stephanie know we're ok," Ben said.

"Right. You go sit in the kitchen while I get Stephanie," Richard instructed and Ben did as he was told. There was a small table for three against one wall and he pulled out a chair and noticed he had blood dripping down his chest. Probably from his scalp wound.

He heard an odd warbling sound and realized it was probably the police. Faster than he expected but that was a good thing.

Richard stepped back into the kitchen with Stephanie holding his arm.

"Ben?" she called out.

"Here."

She turned towards the sound of his voice and approached.

"Careful, I'm kinda covered in blood," he warned. She stopped and gasped.

"Arsene's?" she asked.

"No, mine. He clocked me on the head with his walking stick and cut me. Scalp wounds tend to bleed a lot," he explained calmly.

"Arsene's blood is all over your front hallway. Ben crushed the man's nose. I swear there was nothing left of it! I've never seen anyone get hit that hard!" Richard gushed.

"POLICE!" shouted a voice from the back door.

"In the kitchen to your left!" Stephanie called out.

The door opened and two men in uniforms came in and took one look at Ben and started shouting at him in French. Richard started barking back at them and they stopped to look at the man. The kitchen door pushed open once more and another well-dressed man carrying a doctor's bag stepped in.

"Ah! Henry, your patient is here!" Richard said pointing to Ben. Richard then spoke to the police in French and gave them his statement.

Ben looked up at the man standing before him. He looked like a blond version of Richard. Maybe just a little older. "Hello."

The man nodded and went into doctor mode. He moved to the sink and got some clean dishcloths. He filled a large bowl with water and brought it back to the kitchen table. He cleaned the wound and pursed his lips.

"Monsieur, you will need four stitches. I do not have any pain killers," Henry said apologetically.

"It's ok, go ahead," Ben said wearily.

Henry nodded briskly and efficiently began to stitch the wound closed. Ben gritted his teeth as the needle passed through his flesh but Henry was quick and it was soon over. He patted Ben's shoulder with a smile to indicate he was done.

"Thank you," Ben said.

"The police would like your statement," Richard said.

Instead Ben queued the video on his phone and played it for the police who watched wide eyed. When it was over one of the officers left to see the scene and returned with the walking stick in his hand. They spoke to Richard and Henry and the former looked over at Ben.

"They would like to take your phone as evidence. I told them this was not possible. Will you send them the file?" he asked.

"Of course. Just get the address and I'll send it," Ben said.

Henry wrote it down on a notepad he found on the counter. The police said something about 'Dumond' then left.

"They will now go to arrest Arsene. There is a clear case of break and entering as well as assault. The video is very convincing." Henry showed Ben the address and he emailed a link to the online version of the file to it.

Ben sat back and rested his throbbing head against the wall. Henry finally got a good look at his chest.

"You have been a soldier?" he asked Ben.

Ben looked at him in surprise and chuckled. He shook his head no. He looked to Richard to explain and the man did in French. Henry's eyes widened in surprise.

"He is a hero!" Henry said and Ben glared sharply at him then calmed himself.

"I see you do not like to be called that," Henry said quietly.

"My apologies but no," Ben replied.

Henry looked at Richard with raised eyebrows.

"He is the subject of your next piece?" he asked. Richard nodded quickly. "Good," he said and Richard smiled and gave him a kiss. They glanced nervously at Ben but he didn't react negatively so they relaxed.

Stephanie made her way over to Ben and reached out to feel his face. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Thank you for protecting me against Arsene. He is a monster! We may finally be free of him!"

"I hope so because he packs a mean wallop!" Ben said, wincing as he gingerly touched his scalp.

"Do not touch your stitches!" Henry scolded.

"Sorry Doc!" Ben said. Henry had the most surprised and genuinely pleased look on his face. Richard started to laugh with delight.

Ben looked at him curiously.

"Henry has waited his whole life for someone to call him that! Especially with an American accent!" the man chuckled and hugged his partner who blushed but still looked very satisfied.

Marie returned with her groceries and said hello to the two men. Then she took in the doctor's bag and the bowl and blood stained towels. She finally saw Ben sitting shirtless at the table with the stitched gash on his scalp. She squeaked in surprise and began to speak in very rapid French. Henry responded and afterwards she rushed over and gave Ben a kiss on his forehead. He grinned and thanked her.

"Where is my t-shirt?" he asked Stephanie.

"It is in my room," she said with a blush. "I'm afraid I may have gotten it wet with my tears as I was crying a bit."

"Oh, that's ok. I'll go upstairs and get a new t-shirt. I want to clean up that broken glass and maybe patch that door. You wouldn't happen to know of any good local glaziers would you?" he said to Richard and Henry.

"I'll make a call," Richard said with a smile.

"Thanks! Are you sticking around for a while?"

"No, we have to get back to our business. New guests are arriving this afternoon. It was very nice to meet you!" Richard said.

Ben shook his hand and Henry's.

"Thanks again Doc!" Ben said with a smile and Henry's face blossomed into a wide grin.

Richard rolled his eyes and ushered his partner outside.

With a nod at Marie, Ben headed up stairs and got himself a new shirt then went back to ask Stephanie where they kept the brooms, dustpans, mops and buckets.

He took some pictures of the damage before he began then he cleaned up the mess. The carpet would need to be washed as there was a significant amount of blood on it.

He was outside in the gravel parking lot hosing down the carpet when a small pickup rolled into the lot. A tiny, old gentleman stepped out of the car and walked over to Ben and started to speak to him in French. Ben held up his hand and shook his head then walked over to the back door and called for Marie. She came and spoke to the man then looked at Ben.

"He is here to fix the glass?" she said to Ben.

"Ah! Could you show him the front door? That's where the damage is," Ben replied.

She nodded and spoke to the man who smiled and waved at Ben. They walked away and Ben went back to the carpet.

Moments later Alexis and Béatrice drove in the parking lot and brought their van close to the back door. They got out and walked over to Ben who shut off the hose.

Béatrice looked down at the pink water and grinned at Ben. "That better not be my favorite wine you're washing out of our carpet."

"No, that's blood."

"WHAT!?!" both women yelped.

"Arsene's blood," he clarified taking his phone out of his pocket. He queued the video and played it for them.

They watched with shock as Ben confronted the big man and screamed when he hit Ben with his walking stick and again when Ben knocked him down. Once it was over they both tugged at his shoulders so he would bend down to show them where he'd been hit. They saw the four stitches and cried out again.

"Wait! Who was shooting the video? Not Stephanie!" Alexis barked.

"No, it was Richard. Stephanie was safe in her room calling the police. They've been here, saw the video and got the walking stick. Then they went to pick up Arsene," Ben explained.

"Oh my god Ben! I never thought you'd get hurt! I never would have agreed to go out today otherwise!" Alexis said.

"Hey! It's no big deal if it gets that creep out of your hair. Besides I've had bigger injuries than this little scratch. Let's see what you've brought me!" he said with a smile rubbing his hands together.

"You're still planning on doing the renovations?" Alexis gasped.

Ben blinked at her completely puzzled. "Why wouldn't I?"

Alexis blinked back at him and looked at Béatrice incredulously. The two women grabbed Ben in a tight hug which he returned as best he could from inside their grip. When they were slow in releasing him he pretended to try to escape their arms. "Must... get... to... renovation... supplies..." he gasped. They giggled and released him.

Alexis turned to go into the house. "I'm going to call the police to see if they have Arsene in custody. I'm going to insist they charge him with everything they can."

Ben and Béatrice nodded and she opened the back of the van for him. He started gathering up the bags and began moving everything into the house and up to a room on the second floor he was using as his staging area. Soon he had the van empty except for four large rectangular boxes.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Stephanie's clay. Would you carry it in for her?" Béatrice asked.

"Sure."

They were surprisingly heavy so Ben could only carry two at a time. He knocked on Stephanie's door and she opened it.

"Clay delivery for a Stephanie Murino?" he said in his best delivery person impression.

She clapped her hands together in delight and stepped back. "Please place it on the floor by the desk."

"There are two more to come," he continued in his silly voice as he set them down. He hustled outside and returned with the packages. "That's the last of them!"

"Thank you so much!" she cheered.

"What? No tip?" he sounded playfully outraged.

She reached up and touched his face. Then she pulled it down and gave him a peck on the lips.

"Wow! Wait 'til the boys back in the shop here about this delivery!" he gushed and she giggled. Stephanie immediately turned to her clay and began carefully opening one of the packages.

Having been dismissed Ben left and went upstairs. He began organizing the purchases based on the rooms he was to complete. He saw he had everything he needed to get started and smiled at Béatrice who stood in the doorway watching him get organized. His stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly. She giggled and walked over to tug him to his feet and down into the kitchen. She pushed him into a chair and turned to the cook.

"Marie, we have a hungry man who needs to be refueled," she said with a smile.

Marie raised her finger and went to the fridge. She brought out a plate with a large kaiser bun filled with chicken, tomato, lettuce and mustard. There was a side salad with a vinaigrette dressing and pickles. He had a glass of lemonade to go with it.

Ben thanked Marie and tucked into his meal. He made happy noises which made Marie smile as she turned back to preparing the evening meal.

"So you have everything you need?" Béatrice asked and he nodded. "Do you still think you'll be able to finish all of the work by tomorrow night?"

"Not a problem," he said between bites.

Béatrice's face lit up with a smile and she giggled with glee which made Ben smile. She said something about a website and rushed off after kissing Ben's cheek.

As soon as he was finished he swooped over to Marie and gave her a kiss on the cheek which made her squeak. He thanked her for the meal with a smile and she blushed furiously but she was smiling when he left to go upstairs.

Stephanie was waiting for him by the Private door. When she heard him she called out to him.

"Yes?" he answered.

"It's time."

He looked upstairs where the renovation work waited for him and sighed. He'd promised.

"How long will the posing take?"

"No more than fifteen to twenty minutes tops. I pose you. I map you in my mind. Then you are free. I may call on you for a few refreshers which would only take a minute."

"Ok, let's go."

Ben followed Stephanie back to her room. He entered and noticed her window blinds were drawn. She closed the door behind him.

"Ok, please take off your clothes," she said.

He grimaced and once more got naked in front of her. This time he knew what to do. "I'm ready," he said.

"Do you see the two boxes on the desk? Place one on the floor before your left foot. I know the pose I am going to sculpt you in but I need to figure out how high your left foot should be," she explained.

Ben moved the larger of the two boxes to the floor and put his left foot up on it. "Ok, my foot is on the higher one."

"I'd like you to stand comfortably. Hands at your sides relaxed. Look straight out and raise your right hand like you are going to shake someone's hand in a relaxed way."

"Done."

She moved forward and quickly ran her fingertips over his body then stood back. "Your leg is too high."

Ben switched the two boxes and put his foot on the shorter one. The position was more comfortable. He moved back into the pose. "Ready."

Once more Stephanie ran her fingers down his body but this time she smiled. "Yes. This feels right. I'm going to do the mapping now. Relax into the pose and hold it. Keep your eyes open this time. I promise not to poke you in the eye."

Ben took some deep breaths and allowed his muscles to relax. "Ready."

Stephanie reached up and ran her fingers over his forehead and he watched her fingers moved closer to his eyes. True to her word, her fingers passed around his eyes but did not enter them. He was fascinated by her process so this time he didn't get stimulated and remained relaxed. She reached his neck and he saw her intense concentration. Her fingertips played over his shoulders and she moved to the side to map out his right arm then she did his left. She moved to his back and ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back to just above his ass. She moved back to his front and felt his chest and paid especially close attention to each scar which made him wonder at the level of detail she needed for this sculpture.

He looked again at the shelf of dancers and took comfort in their grace and faceless anonymity.

Stephanie reached his pelvis but again, he wasn't thinking sexually so he remained relaxed. Once more her expression intensified and she spent considerable time mapping this area. She moved around to his back once more and began at his ass. She ran her fingers down over his right leg to his heel. She then did his left leg and moved around to do the fronts and map his feet. She sat back on her heels and remained quiet for a couple of minutes while he watched. She nodded.

"I'm ready. Please put the box back and dress. Close the door on your way out," she said, the intense look on her face never diminishing.

For some reason Ben felt an urgency to leave. He put the box back, tugged on his shorts and carried his other clothes out with him as he closed the door. He finished dressing in the hall then rushed upstairs.

He began the renovations with the largest room at the end of the hall and Alexis came to watch and help. He started with the plumbing and showed her how to install the sink and taps. While they worked he could see she wanted to ask something but seemed uncomfortable.

"You know if you want to ask me something you should just come out and say it. I promise not to let my sensitive male pride be offended," he grinned to take the bite out of his words.

"This morning at the breakfast table you kissed each of the women and aside from the two youngest those kisses were... intimate. From speaking with Gabriella I know she is more than just fond of you. But then Catherine behaves the same way and now Sophia and Rachel are kissing you like... lovers." She saw Ben was looking a little uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to pry."

"No it's ok. I'm in love with both Gabriella and Catherine as well as Tina and Trish back home. I love them all with every fiber of my being. It's only been since we arrived in Paris that Sophia and Rachel started to insist on being kissed on the lips. I was used to kissing them on the cheek like Megan. She, thankfully, is keeping our relationship simple. I love all of Catherine's girls but I think Sophia and Rachel might be after something more... physical."

"Would that be bad?"

Ben frowned. "I used to see them as the little girls I watched grow up but I can't see them like that anymore. They're adults now capable of making those decisions for themselves. What I just can't understand is why they'd want to be intimate with someone so much older. They have so much potential and so much time ahead of them. They should be out there finding someone their own age. Someone with so much more to offer than me!"

Alexis looked at Ben with surprise at his outburst. She hadn't realized he had such a low opinion of himself. "But Gabriella and Catherine and these other women love you. Doesn't that say you are worthy of love?"

Ben looked away for a minute. "Yes. You're right... it should." He gave himself a shake. "We'd better pick up the pace or we may not be done in time for my departure."

Alexis heard the request to change the subject quite clearly. She'd have to bring this up with Gabriella when they got back.

They turned their attention to the task at hand and quickly completed the plumbing work. They tested the water tightness of the system and moved on to the next room. Within a couple of hours they stood in the last room feeling a sense of accomplishment. The plumbing in every washroom on the second floor was operational. Sinks, toilets, showers, and tubs all functional and dry where they needed to be dry. The drains all drained quickly indicating good airflow which was a relief to Ben as fixing that could be costly and time consuming.

The electrical work had thankfully been completed and inspected and the wall insulation installed before Arsene scared off all the tradespeople. All Ben needed to do now was put up the drywall, tape it, mud it, install the ceramic tiles in each bathroom, and prep the walls for painting. Lastly some trim work to finish it off. So much for his sense of accomplishment.

He pulled Alexis with him to show her the magic of installing drywall. One room had sheets and sheets of the stuff stacked against the wall. He showed her how to measure, mark, score, and break the sheets as required. She caught on pretty quickly and they worked well as a team. They powered through the work, room after room, until hours later they plopped down on the floor of the last room looking up at the last wall they did, exhausted but happy.

"Taping and mudding is easy. We can finish that quickly once we get into a rhythm. Once we catch our wind," Ben breathed.

Alexis had a huge grin on her face. She leaned over and bumped shoulders with Ben who smiled back.

"You do good work! I'd definitely hire you on my contracting team," he said.

"If this is how fast you normally work I think I'll stick with my B&B," she gasped.

He grinned then nodded.

Once they'd finished the tape and mud stage they made their way downstairs. They left the windows open and propped all the doors open to assist with the drying process. A steady breeze blew through the second floor.

"Tonight I want to get started on the ceramic tiles in the bathrooms. The ones we have are pretty simple to install. Nothing fussy and not too many complicated cuts required so we should be able to motor through them. Tomorrow we finish the tiling, we grout the ones we'll do tonight so you'll know how to do the remaining ones and apply the finishing trim work in all the rooms. I'll show you how to prep the walls for painting.

They were standing at the bottom of the stairs when they heard the crunch of gravel as someone entered the parking lot. They walked outside and Ben saw it was the fish tank. He still thought it was butt ugly but it did get his loved ones from place to place safely.

They piled out of the van with excited voices and Daniel was talking a mile a minute about the amazing time they had in Turin! Gabriella and Catherine started to laugh and Ben and Alexis just looked at them.

"What?" Ben asked.

"Can't you see yourselves? You're coated in dust or chalk or something. You look like ghosts!" Gabriella giggled.

Ben and Alexis looked down at themselves and each other and smiled. This was dirt well deserved.

"You go take a look at the second floor and tell me it wasn't worth it!" Alexis grinned.

Béatrice came running out of the house. "Oh my god! I just saw what you've already done! I can't believe it!" Alexis beamed at her partner.

Daniel was trying to show Ben some photos he'd taken but Gabriella told him he'd have to wait until dinner. She told the boy and Miriam to head inside and get cleaned up.

Catherine walked up to Ben and saw he had dust all through his hair so she ran her hand through it to shake it loose. She knocked his stitches and Ben yanked his head back with a hiss.

"What happened to your head?" Catherine yelped and Gabriella was right there instantly pulling at Ben to bend down. Sophia, Rachel, and Megan clustered around to see as well.

He showed them his new stitches and the large gash they closed.

"OHMIGOD, BEN! WHAT HAPPENED?" Gabriella yelled and the others cried out in dismay as well.

Ben looked at Alexis. "Show them the video," she said.

He pulled his phone out and played the video for them. More cries of dismay and afterwards he had several women clinging to him.

"I'm OK! And now you're all dusty!" he exclaimed.

"We don't care! You could have been killed!" Gabriella yelped.

"He had a walking stick not a gun! Calm down, please!" Ben protested. "I have to get cleaned up for dinner!"

Finally they released him and Alexis looked terribly guilty for his injury once more. He pulled her into a tight hug. "It wasn't your fault! He is a creep and a drunk and a very bad man. Now he's behind bars."

Alexis looked a little distraught. "What is it?" Ben asked.

"Arsene drove away before the police got to him. They couldn't find him. They'll keep a patrol car at his house and one here tonight but they think he's left the area," she explained. "He had a beat up old land rover so he may have driven off to his place in the woods. They are looking into it."

"Damn. I should have gone after him!" Ben growled.

Gabriella grabbed his arms. "NO! You just had your head struck with a club! It's a good thing you didn't go after him! We saw you fall in the video!" she argued. Ben sighed and nodded. "Go inside and get cleaned up," she said to him as she looked down at her clothes which were covered in dust.

"I think we all need to get cleaned up," Catherine said looking at the mess on her as well.

They all headed inside but stopped on their way to their room to admire the work done on the second floor.

"We're tiling at least three of the bathrooms tonight after dinner," Ben insisted. Alexis looked at him with trepidation. "We can do it!" he grinned.

Alex went downstairs to take a shower and everyone else went upstairs to get cleaned up.

Ben had a few painful moments in the shower washing his hair but felt refreshed afterwards. He dressed a little nicer for dinner but would put his dirty clothes back on to do the tile work.

Dinner was boeuf bourguignon and everyone was blown away by how the tender meat melted in their mouths. There was much clapping and cheering for the chef and once more fresh baguette was served with the meal.

Stephanie didn't join them but once Ben indicated she'd begun work on the sculpture Alexis raised her hand.

"We won't see her again until she's done. She'll work on it until she's exhausted. She'll sleep then when she awakes she'll start again. I'll make sure she has food and water in her room but she can't be interrupted. It's how she works. Your being immortalized, Ben." She smiled at him.

Ben smiled then felt a hand land on his right leg and saw Gabriella was touching him. She looked over at him with an oddly anxious expression.

A hand landed on his left leg and he saw the same anxious expression on Catherine's face.

He put down his cutlery and took their hands in his and gave them a squeeze. He raised Gabriella's to his lips and gave it a tender kiss and did the same to Catherine's. Both were looking at him hungrily. Alexis and Béatrice were looking at them oddly. He released their hands and went back to eating his delicious meal. After a moment the two women did as well.

"Can I show you my pictures now?" Daniel asked.

"Let him eat, pest!" Miriam chastised her brother.

"Mom said I could show him the pictures at dinner!" Daniel retorted.

"It's fine Miriam, I'll see them now," Ben said and Daniel stuck his tongue out at his sister who just rolled her eyes. "And if I might say, that is an absolutely lovely outfit you are wearing this evening! Very chic! Be careful you don't make your friends at home too jealous!" Ben continued with a smile.

Miriam bloomed under his praise and shook her head. "Karlene is the same size as me so we can share my new outfits. I always keep an eye out for what would look nice on her as well when I shop," she replied.

Ben's smile widened as did her mother's. "Beauty AND a good heart! Your mother has reason to be proud!" That got a blush from the girl and the mother.

It was Daniel's turn to roll his eyes as he showed up at Ben's elbow with his camera. Ben watched with rapt attention as Daniel took him through the shots he'd taken. Once more Ben was amazed by the attention to detail and the quality of the composition. Daniel had the eye. There were a few close misses but even Daniel spotted those and was quick to delete them. He praised the young man's work and suggested he set up a website to display them. He beamed at that idea as he went back to his seat.

They finished up dinner and at Ben's goading Alexis joined in in attacking the tile work in the bathrooms. As promised Ben showed her exactly how to do it and soon they were operating like a well-oiled machine. They got through three of the five bathrooms before their cut off time of eleven pm. Alexis and Béatrice, who came to tell them it was time to stop, gave Ben a big hug and looks of glee.

"Tomorrow I'll show you how to grout the tiles and you'll be able to finish that job on the last two yourself after we leave. You can take pride in the work you've done. You really have an aptitude for it and it's looking really professional!" Ben complimented Alexis who beamed.

"I never could have done this without your help! Tomorrow you have to promise me you will take a little time to relax and have some fun!" Alexis insisted.

"This IS fun!" he protested but she and Béatrice scowled at him. "Ok! I'll... go for a bike ride. If you have a bike that fits me!" he finally agreed with a smirk.

"We do!" Béatrice clapped her hands. "An extra-large mountain bike! It's brand new. And you'll wear one of our helmets so we can watch the route you took afterwards. This will be an inaugural ride so you can help us by telling us afterwards if you think it's something the tourists will enjoy. I'm told there is a lovely single track trail down in the valley by the river!"

Ben actually thought that sounded like fun so he nodded with a smile. Béatrice clapped her hands and gave him another hug. Then she noticed how dusty her clothes had gotten and looked down at herself with dismay.

"Come on you! Let me get you out of those dusty clothes," Alexis said and bounced her eyebrows at her wife who glanced at Ben and grinned when she saw his smile. She took Alexis' hand and they rushed downstairs.

Ben stretched and popped the knots he'd developed in his back as he worked on the tiles. He looked at the room in satisfaction then marched upstairs to his room and tugged off his dusty clothes. He'd wear them again tomorrow to finish. He climbed into the shower and soaked under the hot spray. He started when he felt hands running up his back and looked over his shoulder to see Catherine washing his back.

"Did you forget you ordered me to be in your bed tonight?" she said looking up through her lashes.

He turned to face her letting the hot water run down his back. She washed his chest and arms then down his stomach. When her hands reached his cock it was already standing at attention and she trembled at the hungry look he gave her. He dipped his head and took her mouth in a deep kiss. She gasped as his big hands slid down her back to cup her ass and pull her against him roughly. She was whimpering and moaning with need as he kneaded her flesh and rubbed his hard cock against her clit.

"Oh fuck Ben! Take me!" she gasped.

He suddenly lifted her against his body and she squealed. He held her in place as his other hand ran the thick head of his cock back and forth across the wet lips of her pussy. He lowered her until the head forced its way inside.

"FFFFUUUUCCCKKK! OH GOD BEN YES!" she groaned as she felt him forcing her walls open. Her body was flooding with sparks and her legs wrapped around him to cling to his ass pulling him deeper. He had her pinned to the wall and drove his cock deeply into her willing pussy as he sucked on her tongue. When he moved a hand up to squeeze her modest breast and gently tug on her nipple she cried out with bliss as the sparks became lightning.

He began to thrust his cock deeply into her, grinding against her clit at the top of every stroke. It was almost too much sensation for Catherine. "Geezus! Oh FUCK! Oh god! Ben! Yes!" she cried as their bodies slapped together.

"I'M GONNA CUM! BEN! I'M GOING- OH FUCK! I'M CUMMING!" she wailed as her orgasm ripped through her body. Her nerves were exploding with the brutal intensity of her release. He sped up his thrusts and she bit down on his shoulder to stifle her screams.

Ben gasped out as the shock of her bite triggered his orgasm and he rode it out clinging to Catherine's trembling body.

She finally relaxed her mouth and rolled her head against his. "Oh my god Ben!" she breathed. "That was almost too intense!"

"Am I bleeding?" he asked.

She pulled her head back groggily. "What?" Then she looked down and saw the teeth marks on his shoulder. There actually was some blood as her teeth had cut him in several places. The imprint of the bite was very clear on his skin. "OH BEN! I'm so sorry! I bit you!"

"Yes, you did," he said and lifted her up and off his softening cock.

She whimpered as sparks shot through her and she kissed his shoulder in sympathy. He hissed a little.

"That still smarts. Let's leave that shoulder alone for now ok?" he told her.

"I'm sorry Ben! I didn't realize I was doing that!" she moaned.

"It's ok. Throes of passion and all," he chuckled and she smiled shyly.

"God, what you do to me Ben!" she groaned as he set her gently on her feet.

They finished the shower and dried off. He climbed into bed and moments later Catherine slipped in next to him. She cuddled up against his side and he turned out the light.

About five minutes later as he was just about to slip into sleep he heard his door open.

"Ben?"

He blinked. He heard the door close.

"Ben? I can't sleep. I keep thinking about the attack today. It's really shaken me."

He turned the light on and saw it was Gabriella in her nightie.

Catherine stirred and looked up from her pillow.

"Oh! Catherine! I'm so sorry! I'll leave," Gabriella said with a trembling voice.

"NO!" Catherine called out. "This bed is huge. Take his other side. I understand completely how you're feeling right now as I felt the same way earlier. Get in here." She moved over a little so Ben could move to the center of the bed.

"Are you sure?" Gabriella said timidly.

"Come to bed Gabriella," Ben said firmly and she wasted no more time. She slipped under the covers and pressed her trembling body against him. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly and she melted against his body. He felt her relaxing. Catherine cuddled in on his other side. They sighed contentedly in unison then began to chuckle. Ben turned out the light.

Chapter 13

The giggles were the first sign of trouble.

Ben blinked his eyes open and it was almost too dark to see anything. He paused, wondering what had awakened him.

Then he felt it. Tongues on his cock. Tongues in the plural sense.

"Wha-" he began then overlapping fingers from two hands pressed against his lips to quiet him.

He felt it again. From base to head. Two tongues pressing against opposite sides of his cock sliding upwards. Leaving him slick and tingling madly.

"Oh My God!" he gasped and the giggles returned. Dual giggles.

Lips descended over the throbbing head of his cock and he gasped again. At the same time one of his balls was sucked into a warm mouth and a tongue was stroking all over it. The dual assault made his body spasm in pleasure and he groaned.

Ben tried to turn on the light but realized his wrists were being held on both sides. While he could break free the message was clear. They wanted to be in control.

He rested back and concentrated on not going mad from the overwhelming pleasure they were sending through his body. He moaned and squirmed as Gabriella's talented tongue slid sinuously around his balls and he felt her breath gust out on him as she smiled at his reaction.

Catherine surged downwards taking his cock deeper than she ever had. The wind left Ben's lungs as his muscles contracted in response. She slowly pulled Ben's cock from her throat as he gasped for breath. She pumped her hands over his slick flesh and Ben heard a quiet 'He's ready.'

Gabriella's mouth pulled back from his balls and there was movement on the bed as positions changed. He could still only see faint outlines. Arms pulled him further down the bed, though he had to help, and his pillow was tugged away. He felt a weight settle across his waist and wetness rubbing up and down his shaft which was trapped against his body. He moaned in pleasure then his cock was lifted and pressed against that wetness. He slipped inside its velvety slick heat and went deeper and deeper. He heard Gabriella moan.

The mattress up by his head compressed as Ben found a pussy descending on his mouth. Before it settled he ran the flat of his tongue strongly across the surface, top to bottom. She cried out. This told him Catherine was facing Gabriella.

Two pairs of hands rested on his torso as the two women began to ride him. Gabriella raised herself up slowly but drove him inside her quickly with a grind at the end.

Catherine was rocking her hips as Ben's tongue explored her depths and stroked across her clit. Each stroke caused Cat to gasp and made her movements a little more frantic afterwards.

The reality of what he was doing suddenly reared up and kicked him in the head. He was making love to two beautiful women he was deeply in love with AT THE SAME TIME! He smiled a big stupid grin and Catherine yelped at the sensation so he got his mind back in the game.

Ben's hearing from between Catherine's thighs was limited but he occasionally caught Gabriella's moaning and Catherine's higher pitched whimpers. Both were quickly reaching their release. Gabriella was slamming down on his cock and Catherine's hips were undulating frantically.

He reached his right hand down his body until he reached Gabriella's stomach. He slid his hand down until his thumb encountered her clit which he began to rub firmly in circles. He heard her cry out and her motions became more aggressive.

Ben slid his left over Catherine's hip and down into the cleft of her ass. Her juices were coating Ben's face and had spread to her ass so he stroked his thumb over her rosebud. Ben felt her immediate reaction as her thighs clamped down on his head then spread wide as she groaned loudly. He faintly heard her words.

"Oh GOD that's so good! Yes, Ben! Do it!"

He pressed his thumb, now slick with her juices, against the trembling orifice and felt it slip inside. Catherine cried out so Ben sucked her clit into his mouth and thrashed it with his tongue making her body begin to quake.

He rapidly stroked Gabriella's clit and felt her thrusting pause. He lifted his hips to pound up into her.

Catherine's hands left his chest and he felt her leaning forward. He heard Gabriella squeal then moan as her movements became languid. Ben felt her trembling against his cock as she rode out a colossal orgasm. Catherine was crashing through her own release and ground her ass back against Ben's hand.

God! He wished he could see what was happening!

When Catherine woke in the darkness she could just make out Gabriella's head over Ben's wide chest. Her friend reached over and tapped her again. Catherine lifted her head and saw her friend gesture to move lower on the bed. They did and moved their heads closer together.

"Cat, Ben's body feels so good and I'm so horny!" Gabriella whispered and Cat slapped a hand over her own mouth to stifle the burst of laughter that threatened to waken the sleeping man.

"It's not funny! He really worried me with being attacked and now I want him so much!" her friend pouted.

"Then let's have some fun!" Cat immediately said.

Gabriella looked at her friend then grinned. Each took a side of the blanket and slipped it down Ben's body, careful not to tickle him. Soon his dormant cock was exposed, sleeping peacefully against his leg.

"How do we do this?" Gabriella whispered.

Cat reached over and held Ben's cock upright with her fingers on the head. "You lick that side and I will lick this side. That should make it happy. Once it's really happy you get to ride it!"

Gabriella grinned again.

Cat could already feel the flesh between her fingers begin to stir. She leaned forward as did Gabriella and they ran their tongues up the side of his heavy cock. Each stroke sent more life into it and Cat felt his pulse in the fattening head.

Gabriella and Cat shared a look across Ben's body and Catherine was taken by how lovely and primal her friend looked. So damn sexy!

They continued to stroke his cock with their tongues and Cat moved her hand to grip the base so they could give the head some serious tongue and lip loving.

While both ladies were trying to kiss the head Cat moved Ben's cock away and her lips planted right on Gabriella's for a quick kiss. Electricity shot through Cat's body and her nipples became so stiff she was worried Gabriella might notice and stop their little playtime.

They giggled a little too loudly and Ben stirred. When he tried to speak they both reached out and touched his lips. Actually Gabriella touched Cat's fingers on Ben's lips and a shock went through the blonde's pussy this time. They returned to licking his shaft and he cried out causing more giggling. Time to kick it up a notch.

Catherine went up to suck the thick cock into her mouth and Gabriella went down to suck on his balls. Seeing Gabriella sucking like that was turning Cat on tremendously.

Cat took him into her mouth several times as she watched Gabriella loving Ben's balls. They both had a grip on his wrists so he was at their mercy and that felt so empowering! Cat's excitement was so intense she surged down over Ben's cock and felt him reach all the way to her throat. Ben gasped loudly as she stifled her gag response and took him into her throat. She slowly eased back and felt the iron stiffness of his cock.

"He's ready," she said to Gabriella and her friend wasted no time in straddling the man and sinking that hot flesh into her wetness.

That's when Cat noticed Gabriella was naked too. She had entered the bed in her nightie but must have taken it off. God she had a sexy body! So curvy! And a beautiful face with those lips! Catherine was quickly becoming wet watching the lovely brunette riding Ben so she swung her leg over Ben's face and felt his tongue begin its magic. God he was so good at that!

Cat quickly found herself getting closer to her orgasm and part of that was from watching Gabriella. Her large breasts were swaying in front of Cat and her lips were parted in bliss as she rode Ben's hard cock.

When Ben slid his thumb down over her anus Cat thought she'd go mad. This is what she wanted! It was too much! It wasn't enough! When he slid his thumb deep inside Cat's nerves exploded and she felt like she was leaving her body. She reached out to take Gabriella's heavy tits in her hands and squeezed them and their stiff nipples as she covered Gabriella's full lips with her own. Her tongue darted into the brunette's mouth and she felt her squeak in surprise then Gabriella was kissing her back and time went into slow motion for Cat. Every surface of her body was being shocked with current and the largest bolt was travelling from Ben's cock, up to and through Gabriella's tongue into hers then down through her body to Ben's tongue which was strumming paradise into her clit.

Gabriella stilled Ben's hand on her body and he felt the two women pull back from each other. Catherine gently pulled Ben's hand free from her, her thighs quivering in the process. She dismounted his face carefully. Gabriella was gently rocking on Ben's hard cock enjoying the last pulses of her release.

When Catherine was clear, Gabriella leaned forward over Ben's chest to kiss him but halted before contact as she noticed his face was still wet from being ridden on. He saw she looked distinctly embarrassed as she glanced over at Catherine with a smile. Cat slipped from the bed and dashed into the washroom. Ben heard the water run for a few seconds then she was back washing his face and hands with a facecloth.

"Thank you Cat," Gabriella said.

"I'm so sorry I grabbed your breasts and kissed you Gabriella! Ben was driving me wild and you looked so sexy and beautiful and I love you so much I couldn't help myself!" Catherine blurted, a little panicked.

"It's ok. It was... actually really nice. It just caught be by surprise. And I love you too," she responded.

Ben throbbed mightily thinking about the two beautiful women he loved sharing a kiss.

"Oooh! Someone thinks that was sexy," Gabriella moaned in reaction.

Cat brought her face in close and Ben saw she was grinning. "Men! So predictable! Wait! Does that mean he's still hard?"

"Like steel!" Gabriella moaned. "But I'm done. He's worn me out!" She carefully slid up Ben's body pulling his cock from her twitching pussy. When her tits reached his face Ben couldn't resist. He squeezed them together and sucked her nipples into his mouth.

"AHH! BEN! Oh FUCK!" she wailed as her body shook through a sudden after quake and clamped down on his cock which he thrust deeply one more time. He released her nipples from between his lips and she pulled free quickly and flopped down on the bed opposite Cat, gasping. She slapped his leg and it was his turn to chuckle.

Catherine took hold of his rigid cock in her hand.

"Ben, do you remember Jacqueline Forrester from the charity dinner I hosted?" Cat asked him as she leaned her face close to his.

He looked into her eyes and tried to guess where she was going with this. He nodded.

"Do you remember what she wanted you to do to her?" she asked quietly.

He went still and looked closer at her. "Yes."

"I haven't been able to get that out of my head since she begged you for it," Cat gasped.

"Catherine, there's a big difference between what we just did and what you're thinking of! I really don't think it's a good idea," he said hesitantly.

She crawled up on his chest and kissed him deeply as she ground against him. She pulled back from the kiss and Ben was panting with need. "Please Ben! You're the only one I would trust to do this with me!"

"But- but I'm not exactly built for that!" he tried to explain.

"Oh good lord! What the hell are you both talking about?" Gabriella gasped in frustration from her side of the bed.

"I want... I want Ben's cock in my ass," Catherine said in a small voice.

"What!?! Catherine! He's too big!" Gabriella pushed herself up on one elbow.

"Is this because Jacqueline said you'd never be able to do it?" he asked.

"NO! She just got me to thinking about it and how much she craved it! She needed it! The more I thought about that the hotter it seemed to me so I tried it with a toy and I discovered I like it too. A lot." She looked over at Gabriella's embarrassed expression. "Sorry, too much information again."

Gabriella shook her head but still looked at her friend with concern. "This toy wasn't Ben's size though, was it?"

Cat shook her head. "No, but it wasn't too much smaller than Ben and I managed it. But I'm sure toys won't compare to the real thing." She looked into Ben's concerned eyes. "I need to try this Ben! Please!"

He growled with frustration but gave in. "Get the lube."

Cat squealed and jumped from the bed to get the jar from the bathroom.

"Maybe I should leave," Gabriella said.

"No, I'd really like you to stay if you would. I'm not going to be able to tell if Catherine is really ok or not. Could you keep an eye on her?" Ben asked. She looked at his worried expression then nodded.

Cat rushed back in and jumped on the bed with the jar in her hand. "God, I'm trembling!" she gushed.

"Excitement or fear?" Ben asked grimly.

"Mostly excitement!" she replied immediately, oblivious to his point. "How will we do this?" she said with a grin.

"Well, you could lie on your back with your ass elevated or I could take you from behind," he suggested.

"Ohhh god, I want you to take me from behind!" she moaned in a low voice and bit her lip. Ben felt a shock go right to his cock.

He looked to Gabriella who moved to sit with her back to the headboard. Catherine moved to face her on her hands and knees. They smiled awkwardly at each other and Cat began to giggle.

"Sorry, nerves," she explained.

"We don't have to do this!" Ben exclaimed.

"No! Please Ben I really want this!" she looked back at him.

He looked at her pleading eyes and nodded. "We'll have to prepare you."

She nodded quickly and her grin returned.

Ben leaned forward and slid his tongue across the orifice in question.

"AAHHH! Oh fuck, that's good!" she cried out.

Ben stroked and gently probed her rosebud with the tip of his tongue and Catherine's eyes closed and her head went back as she gasped open mouthed. He forced his tongue inside her and her back arched.

"FFFFFUUUUUUCCCKKK!!!!! YYEEESSSS!!!!" she groaned loudly.

Gabriella's face was definitely heating up as she watched her friend in the throes of ecstasy.

Ben added lube to a finger and gently slid it into her ass all the way up to the last knuckle.

"OH! FUCK! MMMMMmmm!" Cat moaned and widened her knees.

He pumped the slick digit in and out of her orifice and after a short time slipped a second lubed digit inside to accompany the first. He slowly pumped the two fingers in her ass and Cat's face dropped to the bed as her ass remained up and pounding back against his hand. She still felt incredibly tight but there was no way he could comfortably get his third finger involved. She was taking the two fingers without complaint so it was time to make his attempt.

"As silly as this sounds Catherine, I need you to relax. We'll take it slow, really slow," he instructed.

He applied a generous amount of lube to his cock which was throbbing in anticipation of being inside the beautiful and eager woman. She pushed herself back up onto her hands.

"Ready?" he asked and both Gabriella and Cat nodded. He wasn't sure which one looked more worried.

He placed the thick head of his cock against the tight opening of her ass.

"OH!" she gasped.

"I haven't started yet," he grumbled and she began to giggle.

"Relax."

Gabriella was biting her lip and she watched Catherine's mouth open and her eyes widen as Ben's cock pushed forward. Her eyes began to flutter then the fat head popped inside, past the tight ring of muscle.

"OHFUCKOHFUCKOHFUCKOHFUCKOHFUCK!" she chanted with her eyes tightly closed.

Ben felt her bearing down on his cock which was threatening to pop back out. "I don't think you're ready for me Catherine. Your body wants me out. You aren't relaxing." He began to pull but she reached back frantically to grab his arm.

"Wait! I can do this! It feels too good to stop! Please!" she gasped. She breathed evenly and slowly and soon her muscles stopped locking up on her. He felt the pressure slowly decrease. Eventually she nodded.

Ben pushed forward again and he couldn't get over the pressure. He went incredibly slowly and when he'd feel the slightest twinge from her he'd stop and wait for her to nod again.

Cat was panting. She lifted her head to look at her friend. "Gabriella, he's so big! He feels enormous in my ass! I'm so incredibly full! Is he all the way in yet?" The brunette looked at Ben and he looked down to see he'd actually reached half way. His eyebrows went up. He mouthed 'half' to Gabriella and her eyes widened as well. She leaned her face down to Catherine and whispered gently to her. "You've reached half way. Is that enough?"

The shudder when through the blonde's body. "Oooooooooo! Fuuuuuuuuccccckkkk!" Cat began to moan and convulse. Ben's eyes showed his worry. He started to pull out.

"OH! OH! FUCK! YES!" Catherine cried out so Ben stopped before he was all the way out. He reversed direction and slowly pushed himself in again. She whimpered gently the entire time he was pushing his fat cock into her hot tight ass. He reached the midpoint again and pushed a little harder. He slid deeper and she yelped so he froze and waited for her to relax. He repeated this four more times and each time managed to go a little deeper. He was buried deep inside Catherine's ass and she was no longer able to make intelligible sounds.

"Honey, are you ok?" Gabriella said to her friend whose eyes didn't seem to be able to focus. "Ben, I think you'd better pull out now. She seems to be losing consciousness."

"No!" Cat whispered coarsely. "Fuck. Me... Please."

Gabriella looked at her in shock and looked up at Ben who didn't know what to do. She nodded. "Fuck her," she said and Ben jolted hearing the words from Gabriella's lips.

He pulled out to the head and glanced quickly at Gabriella then slammed his cock forward. Catherine's eyes rolled back and she began to shake. Ben tried to set a steady pace of thrusting but she was so tight and trembling so hard he was constrained to slow pulls and fast thrusts. Each thrust made Catherine gasp and shake harder and Ben's cock was being squeezed so tight his release was imminent. He finally grabbed her hips and made a series of rapid, shallow thrusts to bring him to his peak. Catherine reached out and grabbed Gabriella to pull her close. Her face was pressed between Gabriella's breasts and her mouth was moving but no sound came out. Gabriella reached under Catherine and pinched the blonde's stiff nipples. Cat's head snapped up and she looked into Gabriella's eyes with love.

"Cumming!" Ben growled and fired jet after jet into Catherine's ass. Gabriella clung to her friend who slowly went limp in her arms.

Ben slumped back and pulled free of Catherine, panting hard. He looked at Gabriella's concerned face. "Is she ok?" he gasped.

The brunette was looking intently at her friend's face then relaxed. "She just seems to have passed out. I hope she's not in too much pain tomorrow."

Ben got fresh facecloths and cleaned himself and Catherine. Gabriella cleaned herself. They carefully laid Catherine down on her side of the bed and Ben got between them once more. He gave Gabriella a sweet kiss and kissed Catherine's forehead.

"No more surprises tonight please," Ben said and Gabriella chuckled.

"I promise."

Chapter 14

Ben watched the fish tank drive out of the parking lot and waved at Daniel, Miriam, and Megan who were frantically waving at him out the back window. He couldn't help the grin that slipped across his lips. He really love those kids.

Their day trip to Lyon almost didn't happen as Gabriella and Catherine still held on to some of the anxiety from the previous day's attack. The police had informed Alexis first thing that they hadn't seen Arsene anywhere and he hadn't gone to his cabin in the woods. This made Gabriella worried that he might come back but Ben really didn't feel too concerned about that and insisted they not change their plans on the basis of what might possibly happen but probably wouldn't.

Catherine was sore this morning but she hid it well. She was the first to wake and slipped back to her bed before the others woke up. Gabriella slipped away to her room shortly afterwards and Ben woke to an empty bed which, after the activities of the previous night, made him feel a little out of sorts.

When he met Catherine in the hall downstairs he pulled her aside into the living room to question the situation.

"How are you this morning?" he asked.

"Wonderful! A little sore maybe but otherwise wonderful!" she grinned.

"You snuck away this morning. Is everything ok? Between us? Between you and Gabriella?" he asked nervously.

She blinked at him. "Of course! Silly man! I love you! I love Gabriella!"

He relaxed and she hugged him tightly which he returned.

Gabriella was passing the doorway. "Gabriella! Come in here and hug this silly man!" Cat said and her friend wasted no time in joining the group hug.

"What brought this on?" Gabriella asked as they pulled back.

"I woke up alone and it made me a little anxious that last night's activities might have... changed our relationships in some way," Ben mumbled.

"Oh Ben! You are a silly man! We love you!" Gabriella scolded him gently.

"See I told you!" Cat grinned.

Gabriella turned to her friend. "How are you doing?"

"I was telling Ben, I'm a little sore but the benefits far outweigh this temporary discomfort," Catherine said with a dreamy smile.

"Benefits?" Gabriella asked.

"I was right! The real thing was profoundly better than toys. The experience was... transcendent! I feel like a different woman!" she gushed and pressed her body against Ben's as she looked up at him in awe.

Ben felt uncomfortable with her reverence and Gabriella picked up on that right away. "It was sex, Cat," she said trying to bring her friend back to ground.

"Yes, but it's like I've discovered something really important about myself I was in the dark about my whole life! I love sex and sex with Ben is the best I've ever experienced but last night..." Catherine's face held an expression of joy and raw hunger. "...it was a whole new higher level for me. I now understand Jacqueline's craving. To feel like that again..." Her hands were gripping his t-shirt as she looked into his eyes and bit her lip. Her eyelids fluttered as she felt his cock begin to swell and press against her.

"Catherine!"

The blonde blinked and looked at Gabriella who was staring at her in concern. "You sound like an addict!"

Catherine blinked again then began to giggle. "I guess I do but really, can you blame me?" she said gesturing at Ben.

Gabriella smirked at her friend and tugged her away. "Come on people, let's get breakfast. We have to get the day started."

Conversation at breakfast had been cheery and Daniel was very enthused about their day trip into Lyon though the shopping the ladies hoped to do didn't interest him in the slightest.

Stephanie hadn't joined them as she'd apparently worked all night and was sleeping. Alexis checked on her and she was fine.

The group finished up their meals then rushed to get ready and hustled out to the van. Ben had to give multiple kisses and assurances before he was able to get them to go.

Ben rubbed his hands together. He had a lot of work to do on the renovations and was eager to begin. He turned back to the door and saw Alexis and Béatrice barring his entrance with smiles on their faces.

"You promised you would have some fun so you are going to do it now," Béatrice insisted and handed Ben a bicycle helmet. He saw they weren't going to accept any arguments. Inside the helmet were some extra-large gloves so he pulled them on. He flipped the helmet over and saw two mini cameras mounted back to back, front and back angles he supposed. He looked at the two women and raised his eyebrows.

"We'll be reviewing this footage to make sure you actually went for a ride!" Alexis teased.

He strapped the helmet on and bent over so Béatrice could activate the cameras. "Do I look like an alien with my antenna?" he quipped and they just pushed him along to the garage. Inside was a bunch of new mountain bikes. Alexis picked out the largest one and Ben swung his leg over the bike. The seat was a little low so they adjusted that. He examined the controls which were relatively straight forward and took it for a spin in the parking lot. He got the hang of the brakes and smiled at the ladies who were grinning at him. They waved and off he went.

He turned left at the end of the lane then headed uphill. He rode for about 7 minutes at a steady if slow pace when he came across Richard outside tending to the grounds of another B&B. He stopped and chatted for a few minutes then decided to check out the river trail Alexis mentioned.

He turned back downhill and coasted along the narrow lane until he passed Alexis & Béatrice's B&B. He vowed he'd put the sign up before he left. Now that Arsene was in the wind. He moved on and rolled down the road to stop in front of the creep's old house. It certainly looked deserted.

The lane he was riding in was just a little wider than one car, was walled on both sides, was one way downhill, and he was on a curve so he released the brakes and began to roll downhill again.

He was just passing a large derelict barn one property down from Arsene's when there was a loud boom.

Ben felt something scorch across his back and looked to his right. Standing in the doorway to the barn was the fat fuck himself with his gun in his arms. His face was a horrifying sight! As Richard had exclaimed the man's nose was destroyed and his face was coated in dried blood and mucus. Dark bruises covered his face which was badly swollen. How he saw at all out of the slits where his eyes should be was a mystery. He seemed to be fumbling to reload the gun so Ben hammered on the pedals and surged forward. He heard a curse behind him then moments later the loud roar of an old engine. Ben was racing downhill by this point, shooting through the narrow lane looking for an escape route. Fields flashed by on either side of the road. The walls kept him trapped on the road and the flat fields offered no shelter from the crazed man's shotgun. Far down the road he saw the lane he was in ended at a T intersection with the main road which had far more traffic on it. If he could get to it Arsene might be spooked off by the witnesses. It wasn't much but it was all he had. He pedaled harder.

The roar of the engine behind him grew closer and he spared a quick glance over his shoulder. The rusty old truck was gaining on him rapidly as Arsene brought the truck up to a reckless speed.

Ben came to the sick realization that he wasn't going to be able to reach the main road before Arsene got to him. Close but not good enough. He hammered the pedals but it wouldn't matter. He looked back again in desperation and saw the grin on the man's face suddenly twenty feet away.

He stood as high as he could on the pedals thinking maybe he'd roll onto the hood and avoid going under the wheels. Then he spotted a branch overhanging the road from an old tree growing on the field side of the wall.

He reached out and grabbed it with both hands just before the truck slammed into the bike's back wheel. Ben screamed as he felt his shoulders being pulled painfully. He swung up and over the sidewall and lost his grip on the branch. He was flung into the field just on the opposite side of the wall. Ben landed on his back with a thump and slid downhill through the dirt as the air was knocked from his lungs.

Arsene screamed in rage as his quarry escaped from the road. The large bicycle shot forward under the impact to fall on its side and went under the truck. There was a horrible screeching sound and the steering wheel jumped under Arsene's grip and snapped his thumb back. He screamed in agony and fought the wheel. He slammed his foot on the brake but something was wrong. The pedal was spongy and he wasn't slowing fast enough. He glanced forward and saw the intersection racing towards him. He engaged the parking brake and began to slow but it wasn't enough.

The old land rover shot across the main road at fifty miles an hour to slam into the old stone wall a split second before a speeding delivery truck on the main road slammed into Arsene's door, crushing him.

Ben lay in the dirt trying to get his breath back. He must have blacked out for a time. He heard screaming and the voices sounded familiar. He sat up and took inventory. His shoulders ached like crazy, but he was intact. Fingers and toes moved as expected. His back felt like it was on fire but he couldn't see that so he tried to ignore it. He got himself to his feet and looked down the road. He was maybe thirty yards from the intersection and could see smoke and what looked like a traffic accident. Head spinning, he walked along the field side of the wall to see what happened. As he approached he could see Alexis' van and she and Béatrice holding each other and crying as they stood across the road from the burning vehicles. The remains of the bicycle could still be seen under the burning truck. Arsene's corpse was on fire.

Suddenly Alexis spotted Ben staring at her and screamed. He raised his hands and the two women came running.

"BEN! OH MY GOD! THANK GOD YOU'RE ALIVE!" Alexis screamed as she reached across the wall to grab at his arms.

Béatrice tried hugging him but Ben hissed when she touched his back. He turned around so they could see the damage and they screamed again. His torn t-shirt was covered in blood and dirt.

"OH MY GOD! You need medical attention!" Béatrice yelled. Ben saw a firetruck approach followed by an ambulance. Ben took off his helmet and handed it to the women. Béatrice saw the cameras were still recording and looked at Alexis excitedly. She shut them off and disconnected them from the helmet. The cameras went into her pocket.

They helped Ben over the wall and held his arms as the trio made their way closer to the road. The police arrived shortly after the firemen were dousing the blaze.

The driver of the delivery truck was badly injured and needed more immediate care so the paramedics saw to him first. One took a quick look at Ben's back and said he'd be back to clean that up.

Ben recognized one of the policemen as he approached. Béatrice acted as his interpreter as he gave the man his statement. They were still talking when the ambulance packed up their patient and raced away. Alexis shouted after the vehicle but they had a critical patient to deal with.

Béatrice told the policeman something and the man nodded. Then she and Alexis turned Ben around and led him to their van. He went into the back and Alexis backed the vehicle all the way up the lane to Arsene's driveway where she turned and drove forward the wrong way on the road back to her property. Béatrice was on her cell and told Ben that Henry and Richard were on their way.

They helped Ben into the chateau and led him into the living room calling out to Marie to quickly bring a clean sheet. Alexis threw the couch cushions onto the long coffee table and Marie arrived with the sheet and squeaked when she saw Ben's back. Alexis took the sheet from her and sent her to get a basin of water, facecloths and towels. The woman scurried away. The sheet went over the couch cushions and they had Ben lie on his stomach over this. He sighed heavily as he finally relaxed his screaming muscles.

Béatrice rushed away and returned with scissors to cut the shirt off. Once the basin of water arrived with the towels the three women began carefully cleaning Ben's back. The blood had dried and bonded the t-shirt fabric to his wounds so that needed to be softened with the water and peeled away. Béatrice snipped the loosened shirt away from his body until they could fully expose his back. They then cleaned him as best they could until they could see the damage done. The once smooth skin now had scratches and abrasions from his fall. Some looked quite deep.

Henry and Richard rushed into the building calling out and Alexis yelled for then to join them in the living room which they did quickly.

Henry immediately knelt down and examined Ben's back as Richard gasped.

"What happened to Ben?" he asked.

Béatrice suddenly recalled the cameras in her pocket. She rushed away and returned with her tablet. She extracted the memory stick from the camera and inserted it into the tablet's card reader. She found the file and started playing the movie. She scrolled ahead and saw Richard talking with Ben. She scrolled a little further forward and there was some jerky motion.

"Go back!" Richard barked.

Béatrice glared at the man who apologized, embarrassed by his excited outburst. She scrolled back and saw Ben stop at Arsene's place then roll forward. The boom of the shotgun could be heard and Ben's grunt. They froze the movie.

"He was shot!" Béatrice yelled.

Henry nodded. "Yes, there are several pellets under his skin. I have to remove them. Ben, I have no pain killers. Would you like some whisky?"

"No thanks Doc. I'm on the wagon," Ben mumbled from his face down position.

"Removing the pellets will hurt. Are you sure?" Henry said.

"Do it," Ben replied with a sigh.

Henry looked at Alexis with trepidation. She raised her eyebrows. The retired doctor took out his tools and selected a scalpel. He made a neat cut above the bump of one of the pellets and Ben hissed. Then he used tweezers to spread open the cut to get to the pellet. Ben growled deeply as the tool dug into him then the pellet was out and Ben sagged with relief, panting.

"Ben, there are four more and one is deep. Are you sure you don't want something?" Henry asked.

"No. Just do it," Ben growled.

Henry moved quickly and efficiently but the pain was still unbearable. Once he had the last one out, the deepest, Ben was unconscious.

"A small mercy," Henry said after checking Ben's pulse. He proceeded to clean and stitch the larger gashes on Ben's back closed. None needed more than two.

"Keep playing the video," Richard asked.

Béatrice nodded and they all watched Ben's harrowing escape. She extracted the memory card and put in the one from the back facing camera. That view clearly showed Arsene's face as he attempted to run down Ben with his truck.

"Please make copies of those movies and send them to the police," Alexis asked her partner who nodded and left to go to their office.

Alexis looked at the sleeping man on her table and suddenly broke down in tears. He'd almost been killed! Twice!

"Alexis! Calm yourself, everything is good. Ben's injuries are not serious. He will have a few more scars for his collection but nothing else is permanent," Henry said.

"I insisted he go for that bicycle ride! It's my fault!"

"Alexis..."

She looked down at Ben.

"Alexis please..."

She knelt down to see his eyes were open. Glassy with pain but open.

"You are not at fault... If he had come after me... when I was with the kids... this way... was safest for everyone." Ben's eyes closed and he was out.

Alexis was suddenly angry with Ben. She wanted to strike him for not thinking of his own safety.

Henry saw her face and pulled her to her feet and walked her out of the room as Richard and Marie followed with puzzled expressions. Once everyone was back in the kitchen Henry faced her.

"Why does he think he is not important? Why does he not see how much people love him? What is wrong with that man?" Alexis' voice was rising with each question until Béatrice arrived and pulled her into a hug. Both women burst into tears and shook with reaction to the near tragedy. Marie watched with tears in her eyes and her hand on her mouth.

Stephanie wobbled into the kitchen. "What happened?" she asked nervously.

Alexis pulled back from her partner and turned to her sister. She wiped the tears from her eyes. "Ben was in an accident but he's ok!" she finished in a rush as she saw her sister's shock. "It was a very close call and he could have been killed. Ben was riding one of the new bicycles when Arsene shot at him and tried to drive him down with his truck. Somehow Ben got away but Arsene crashed his truck and died."

"Arsene's dead?" Richard, Henry, and Stephanie all gasped in unison.

Alexis looked at the men and nodded. "Yes, he died in the crash and burned when the trucks caught on fire."

Stephanie had a strange look on her face, somewhere between awe and satisfaction. Béatrice saw it and was confused. "What is it?" she asked.

"Ben said he was 'going to have to do something about him' and he certainly did," she smiled grimly.

Alexis frowned. "Steph! Ben didn't do this to kill Arsene! He was wearing cameras which showed he was surprised by Arsene's appearance and had to flee for his life! Arsene's death was an accident!"

"I can't watch the video so I will believe what I want to believe. He is my hero! Where is he? I want to give him a hero's kiss!" Stephanie said stubbornly.

"Ben was injured in the attack. Henry had to dig five shotgun pellets from his back then the fall from the bicycle inflicted more damage to his skin," Alexis explained.

"More scars?" Stephanie gasped, looking shaken. "Take me to him!"

The group looked at the woman in surprise then her sister guided her to the living room. "Ben is resting on the coffee table on the couch cushions," the older sister whispered. "Don't wake him."

"Guide my hands to his back. I'll be gentle," Stephanie whispered back.

Alexis frowned at her sister then lifted her hands up to the top of Ben's broad shoulders. Stephanie nodded when she knew where her hands were. She concentrated hard and feather light she moved her hands down his back. She got the locations and sizes of the cuts and once she reached his waist she pulled her hands back and fixed the image in her mind.

"I need to go back to my room please," she said to her sister. Alexis led her away as the rest stayed and watched Ben sleep.

"He couldn't have planned that, could he?" Richard asked his partner who was frowning at Ben. The words sunk in and Henry scowled at his lover, shaking his head in disappointment. He turned and left as Richard hustled after him apologizing. Marie went back to the kitchen so Béatrice sat down on the couch to keep an eye on the big man.

About an hour later Ben's eyes twitched and slowly opened. He saw Béatrice resting on the couch and he tried to move. All be managed to do was moan. Béatrice's eyes flew open and she leaned forward.

"Ben! You are awake?"

"Yes, but now I wish I wasn't. Can you get me some painkillers?" he moaned.

"Right away. One or two?"

"Three, please."

"They are very strong!" she warned.

"All the better."

She rushed away and returned with three pills and a glass of water. She found Ben sitting on the cushions. "What are you doing sitting up!" she cried.

"How else was I going to swallow the pills?" he asked.

Her mouth worked but she had no answer so she just gave him the medication and water. She watched him wince as he lifted his arm to drink.

"Where does it hurt?" she asked gently.

"I wrenched my shoulders when I grabbed that branch and my back feels like I was dragged through a cactus patch. Multiple times. While it was on fire," he grinned and she smiled back. Then her smile vanished.

"Ben, we very nearly lost you today. Alexis and I would never have forgiven ourselves for our part in taking the love of Gabriella's and Catherine's life away from them. It has shaken us up terribly. Please do not joke about this," Béatrice said seriously.

"Ok, but let's be REALLY clear on one very important thing. You and Alexis played NO part in the danger I was in today! You two bear NO responsibility for what that lunatic tried to do! Maybe he was intending to come up here with that gun and kill everyone! Maybe he would have come after me when I drove by with Gabriella and the kids! I certainly didn't want to be in that situation but considering he had a shotgun and a truck and all I had was a bicycle the fact that I walked away alive and he didn't tells me I did ok! I thank you both for that ride," Ben's voice boomed in the large room.

Béatrice looked at him with wide eyes as she trembled. "I want to hug you so hard but I think that would hurt," she said.

He nodded. "Yes, it would. A lot."

Suddenly her lips were pressed against his and his eyes were wide with surprise. She pulled back with a grin. "Not to worry, I still play for the other team."

He smiled back.

"First our cook and now you're going after my woman!?!" Alexis said in mock outrage.

"Tempted. Seriously tempted, but I hear she plays for the other team," Ben smiled and saw the look in Alexis' eye. "You heard me?"

"Everyone heard you!" Alexis exclaimed.

Ben pushed himself to his feet. And both women moved to stop him but he raised his hands. "It's time to show you how to grout tiles," he said.

"BEN! That's insane! You will NOT be grouting a bathroom after being shot!" Alexis yelled.

"I'm not going to do it. You are. I'm just there to instruct. I promised I would help you finish but my arms and back aren't going to let me do that. So what I can do is impart my knowledge to you. Really, you've shown me you can do everything I've shown you with professional results. Once you know how to grout you can finish on your own and you'll feel more pride in knowing you've done the work yourself," he explained.

Béatrice looked doubtful but saw the pride in Alexis' eyes so she caved.

They walked upstairs with Ben and he began his lesson.

Chapter 15

Gabriella's and Catherine's reaction to his being shot and almost run over by a truck was significantly stronger than their reaction to the clubbing. Like the bomb at Hiroshima was stronger than a hand grenade.

Ben endured their clinging to his arms and waist and crying on him for over an hour upon their return.

He was unable to disguise the fact that his back was a raw mess and his movements showed the aches and pains he was in.

Béatrice had edited the videos she'd taken from his cameras and had put copies onto a memory stick for him to take with him. They watched the edited versions and this started the tears once more. The scene where Ben walked down the hill to see Alexis and Béatrice crying over his apparent demise hit those two particularly hard and they were in tears as well. Daniel and Miriam cried and Ben felt no shame in his own tears as he hugged them until their tears stopped.

He finally had to say enough when the group attempted to watch the videos for a third time. He told them it was over and he was alive and just slightly worse for wear but would heal. He wanted the tears to stop and to hear about the adventures they'd had in Lyon.

Daniel showed him some pictures but after a short time everyone could tell the mood was wrong. They'd have to come back to this later. No one felt like eating and Gabriella suggested everyone go to bed as they were supposed to be on their way in the morning.

Ben went to the kitchen as he actually was hungry having missed lunch. Marie made him a wonderful meal with leftovers and he kissed the back of both of her hands making her blush fiercely. She surprised him by kissing his forehead before she headed home. Alexis and Béatrice were sitting with him and watched their cook with wide eyes as she left.

Gabriella and Catherine joined them in the kitchen and crowded around the kitchen table to be near Ben as he ate. Both began to pick off his plate until he glared at them and Alexis brought out the rest of the leftovers and made some plates for her other guests. Sophia, Rachel and Megan arrived and everyone moved to the dining room as the kitchen table couldn't fit that many people. Gabriella's kids were next and made sandwiches from baguettes and sliced meat.

Stephanie made a rare appearance. She had clay smeared on her arms and hands and on her face as well. Alexis cleaned her up at the sink and made her some food.

The informal dinner was nice and the mood had finally lightened. Once they were done everyone helped clean up then the group gave their hosts hugs and kisses.

Ben watched Stephanie's satisfied expression. "How's it going with the clay sculpture?" he asked.

"It's done," she said with a deep smile.

Everyone perked up asking to see it.

"Tomorrow morning before you leave I will have a showing before Richard arrives to take it for his bronze casting process," she said.

Alexis rolled her eyes.

"She's rolling her eyes, isn't she," Stephanie said and chuckles erupted.

Their group made their way upstairs and Ben hugged Daniel and gave Miriam a hug and kiss before sending them off to their beds. Megan kissed him and pressed herself fondly against his chest afraid to touch his back.

Sophia's kiss was a little desperate and he held her face gently as he slowed their kiss and felt her calm down. He kissed her tenderly and she smiled at him dreamily as she went into her room.

Rachel had tears beginning to pool again so he kissed her hard and left her gasping with a smile and a spinning head.

Gabriella and Catherine made it clear that they fully intended to sleep in his bed with him tonight. He didn't argue and they all brushed their teeth together. Afterwards he crawled into the middle of the bed and gently laid down on his stomach. He wasn't to sleep on his back tonight and no hanky panky but the women understood and were well behaved. They snuggled in beside him and soon they were all asleep.

Ben had a bad moment in the middle of the night as he relived the race down the road only this time the branch broke and he went under the wheels. He woke screaming and Gabriella and Catherine were there to calm him down. Sophia and Rachel, who were sharing the room next to his, burst in to see if he was ok.

He was under the covers and the room was pretty dark so he was only mildly embarrassed. He realized they were still just anxious. He sat up and tucked the sheet around his waist as he offered to hug them. Rachel was immediately on the bed and pressed herself against him. As she pulled back from the hug she stopped to look at his mouth then kissed him quickly. Catherine gave her daughter a gentle spank on the butt as the young woman slipped off the bed.

Sophia was much more timid in her approach. She knelt on the bed before Ben and carefully leaned towards him. Ben had to lean forward to hug her and didn't notice his sheet slip down. Sophia glanced down as they moved together and saw his heavy cock swaying between his legs. He hugged her against his chest and she trembled. He pulled back surprised and she blushed and slipped from the bed. The two women said their good nights then closed the door behind themselves.

Ben was tingling from the adrenalin and the kiss as he tried to get back to sleep. He wasn't a stomach sleeper and found it uncomfortable. Memory of the nightmare made his mind shy from sleep. It turned into a very long night for him.

Morning found Ben groggy and sore. Cranky too if he was being honest. He tried to lighten up but exhaustion weighed him down.

Gabriella said his back was looking better than the night before so he took a careful shower with two assistants and afterwards they dried him off gently. Even his overly enthusiastic libido was too subdued to be excited about showering with the two beauties and they picked up on that.

Breakfast was quiet and Gabriella filled her cousin in on Ben's condition. Marie served him a king sized breakfast which earned her a warm smile from Ben.

Stephanie, as promised, offered to let them see the sculpture after breakfast and whispered something into Gabriella's ear who then announced that she, Ben, and Catherine would be going first.

The others looked disappointed and curious.

Ben surprised Marie once more after breakfast by giving her a bear hug and she was told to move her hands down to avoid his back. The small quiet woman surprised Ben by grabbing two handfuls of his ass during the hug. Her face was crimson as she rushed back to the kitchen.

Stephanie led the trio into her office and had them line up. There was a table in the middle of the floor with a thin sheet covering the statue. None of them knew what to expect as this piece of art was so much larger than anything Stephanie had ever created. They tried to prepare themselves but when she carefully uncovered it all three froze.

It was Ben.

Four feet tall but an almost perfect replica of the man himself.

"Oh my god," Gabriella breathed.

"It's incredible!" Catherine gushed.

"IT'S ME!" Ben barked, horrified.

Stephanie heard Ben's tone and frowned in worry. "You don't like it?"

All three women were looking at Ben in surprise as he took in the excruciatingly accurate detail. Every scar, wrinkle, dimple, and bulge was there. The expression on its face was open and daring. His eyes dropped to the penis which again was rendered in perfect detail and scale. He walked around to the back and the new scars were there too.

"How did you get the new injuries?" he gasped.

"I mapped them while you were unconscious yesterday," Stephanie said in a quiet voice.

He looked back at the sculpture and walked back to stare closely at its face again. "It's me!" he said quietly.

"Yes Ben, it's you. It's a perfect match and it's gorgeous!" Gabriella said carefully. "What's your point?"

"My point?" he gasped as he stared at the woman. "People are going to see this! People are going to see me naked! Everything! I don't want to be naked for everyone! I saw Stephanie's dancers and took comfort in the anonymity of their faces. This isn't anonymous! It's ME!"

Stephanie had tears in her eyes as she sank to the floor. Her masterpiece, the art she'd poured her very soul into. He hated it! Gabriella and Catherine were immediately at her side glaring at his uncharacteristic insensitivity. He saw the woman's pain and it wrenched something inside his heart.

He slowly knelt down and took Stephanie's hands in his. "Please understand. You've done an amazing job of capturing the external aspects of who I am. It's exactly what people would see... if I walked around naked. For that I think it is exquisite and I am in awe of your skill. Truly I am. What's really upsetting me is the fact that the piece doesn't capture who I am on the inside. I have a terrible shyness. I don't like being in the spotlight. I'm a very private person. This art is bold, powerful, passionate and raw!"

"That's who you really are Ben!" Catherine exclaimed.

"No, that's how I am with you in private. I- I can be that... but only in those intimate moments with someone I love." He looked at the sculpture again. "Maybe that's what frightens me the most. You have captured something from inside me but it's something I don't share with anyone I'm not in love with," he said quietly.

Stephanie was listening carefully and her smile was back. "Then I wasn't wrong about you."

Ben looked at her and sighed. "No... you weren't wrong. But I'm not in an emotional state to be rational about this art. It's too intimate."

"Ben, this needed to be created! And it needs to be seen! It's one of the most powerful pieces I have ever laid eyes on and I've been in many of the world's best museums and art galleries," Gabriella said earnestly.

He looked in her eyes and she saw the conflict and pain in his. Finally he dropped his eyes and nodded.

"Thank you Ben," she said quietly. Stephanie's face lit up.

"If you don't mind, I don't want to know who's seen this. I'm going upstairs to pack," Ben mumbled.

"Of course."

Gabriella and Cat lifted Stephanie to her feet then went out to speak to the others about the art. Gabriella carefully described the sculpture to her kids and explained that Ben would be uncomfortable knowing they'd seen it so they accepted that and went upstairs to do their own packing.

Catherine's girls were in awe and gushed to Stephanie about how moved they were. Finally Cat had to get them moving to go pack.

Gabriella found Ben in his bedroom. He was too distracted and Gabriella had to help him complete his packing. She told him she would drive while he relaxed in the van as best he could.

When they got back downstairs Richard and Henry were coming out the Private door and both froze when they saw Ben.

"Hello Richard! Hi Doc!" Ben smiled. Then their expressions registered on Ben's dulled wits and he grimaced. His facial scar surfaced and the men looked away.

Richard regrouped. "Hello Ben! You're off?"

Ben was grateful for the distraction. "Yes, we're heading down to Cannes."

Henry stepped up. "Before you go would you mind if I took a look at your injuries? I want to make sure there isn't any infection."

Ben nodded and lifted his shirt off. Both men stared at his scarred chest then he turned around and Henry examined his back.

"Thank you Ben, you can put your shirt on. The wounds look like they are beginning to heal well. You're going to have additional scarring though. Stephanie was amazingly accurate in capturing the new injuries as well as the older ones," Henry said with a pleasant smile.

Ben's expression was pained.

"Wha- you don't like it? It's one of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen!" Richard gushed and Ben's eyes shot to him to see what he meant. Richard began to stammer. "-OF ART! Pieces of art!"

Henry rolled his eyes as Ben relaxed.

"It's too accurate a likeness for me to be comfortable about people seeing it. I thought it would be more stylized, abstract, or otherwise distorted," Ben grumbled.

Richard and Henry's eyebrows began to climb up their foreheads so Ben grabbed his suitcase with a scowl and went to load it in the van. The men turned to Gabriella who just smiled and nodded then moved to follow Ben. Richard and Henry went back for another look.

Once the van and car were loaded they said their farewells. Tears were shed and hugs and kisses were exchanged. As they made their way back to the vehicles Ben saw a few older tradesmen installing the chateau's sign as it was now safe to do so. They waved at Ben and he waved back.

He climbed into the passenger seat, Gabriella took the wheel and they were off.

They made their way to Avignon and stopped for lunch and to take a look around. There was some kind of theatre festival happening and Daniel took a lot of fun shots as the McGovern ladies and Miriam hammed it up with the actors. Once they'd had their fun they piled back into the vehicles and headed off to Cannes to check into their hotel.

Gabriella guided them to their hotel in Cannes and Ben was feeling better when he saw the beautiful ocean front building. Very posh! It reminded him of their lovely time in Paris. The beach also looked inviting. They handed the vehicles over to the valets and checked in. They had multiple rooms on the top floor.

They were about to turn away from the counter when the front desk clerk handed him an envelope.

"What's this?" Ben asked.

"Your traveling companion checked in two days ago and asked us to deliver this to you when you arrived," the man said and was called away before Ben could find out who he meant.

Ben looked at Gabriella and raised his eyebrows as he opened the envelope. He pulled a sheet of paper out and a puzzled expression appeared on his face.

"What's it say Ben?" Gabriella asked.

He handed her the paper. "How did she know we'd be here? Now?"

Gabriella read the brief note. It was a dinner invitation to a very exclusive restaurant. For Ben from Margaux De la Cruz. A sudden guilty look passed over her face and she looked at Ben.

"What?" he asked.

"After I checked us out of the hotel in Paris Margaux caught me leaving the lobby. She was insistent about talking with you again. I told her it wasn't possible as we were leaving for the airport to drop Tina off and then we'd be heading south. I may have told her we'd be here. I did tell her she needed to follow your suggestions... and until she did she was dangerous to you."

Ben scowled. He couldn't really argue with Gabriella as she was likely right about Margaux but he felt a little indignant she'd kept this from him.

Gabriella looked at him nervously. "You know I was only trying to protect you, right? It wasn't jealousy."

"I know you look out for me Gabriella but I don't like secrets. Especially when I'm being kept in the dark about something. That makes me feel... like I'm being manipulated." He held up his hand to stop Gabriella's protest. "I know that wasn't the intent but it's how I feel. Margaux needed to speak with me, obviously enough to track us all the way down here. I think I should at least hear what she has to say."

Gabriella didn't look happy but she nodded.

When the clerk returned Ben caught his attention. "How do I go about contacting my friend? There is nothing on the note to indicate which hotel she is staying in."

"She is staying with us, monsieur. On your floor. Room 507," he replied.

Ben smiled at the man. "Ah, excellent. Thank you." The clerk nodded and moved on as Ben and Gabriella returned to their group and handed out the room keys.

"We have a surprise guest all the way from Paris. Margaux De la Cruz," he said to them and several faces dropped. Catherine looked nervously at Gabriella. Ben scowled. "Were you all in on the fact that she was trying to contact me?" From their surprised expressions he saw that wasn't the case. "Margaux tried to speak with me before we left the hotel in Paris and followed us down here so she could talk with me. I'm going to hear her out," he gave the women a straight look and they nodded if somewhat reluctantly. "Let's get to our rooms."

Once more Ben had a beautiful palatial hotel room with a huge bed. He looked at it longingly but his stomach rumbled to tell him it was time for food not sleep. He picked up the phone and dialed room 507 but no one answered. He left a message with the front desk to let Margaux know he had arrived and had called.

There was a knock on the door and when he opened it Gabriella quickly stepped inside and hugged him tightly being careful not to squeeze his wounds.

"I'm so sorry Ben. I never meant to make you feel like you were being handled," she gushed.

He put his arms around her and basked in the warmth of her embrace. "I know. And I know you were just trying to protect me and I appreciate that."

Ben's stomach chose that moment to growl loudly and they both chuckled.

"I think I better feed that monster!" she teased.

"What are our dinner plans?" he asked eagerly drawing a wide smile from the brunette.

"I made reservations for the entire group at a lovely restaurant that serves traditional Provencal cuisine. I think you'll love it! We should get moving," she replied.

They collected up the others and walked through the busy streets to the small restaurant in one of the smaller side streets. Gabriella was greeted with a big smile and kisses on both cheeks by an older plump woman who met them at the door. Introductions were made and they were led to their table.

"Do you know everyone in France?" Daniel asked his mother causing her to laugh.

"No, I met Giselle on a business trip to Milan. I came down to Nice to meet another distributor and they brought me to this restaurant. We had an amazing meal and I struck up a conversation with the owner. Giselle and I keep in touch as we are both very driven women." She smiled at her son.

The meals were delicious and Giselle stayed close to ensure they were satisfied. She spoke with Gabriella for a time and Ben could see there was a shared respect and admiration there.

Once the meal was done everyone had the glow of deep satisfaction though some were also glowing from the good wine so it was time to walk back to the hotel. Ben paid for the meal with a generous tip and gathered his group out on the street. The McGovern ladies were trying to convince Ben to go dancing with them but Catherine saw Ben was too tired and her daughters were a little too tipsy to be on their own safely. She nixed the dancing idea completely insisting they had an early start the next day and maybe there could be dancing tomorrow night.

There was a little grumbling but Ben gave them some hugs and that seemed to lighten their mood. They made it back to the hotel and Ben was flagged down by the front desk clerk as they entered. He was informed that his 'travelling companion was in the bar'. Gabriella and Catherine gave him worried looks but he held his hand up and said he would be fine and would see them at breakfast in the morning. He gave them kisses and turned to head to the bar when a slightly drunk Sophia stepped in front of him and gave him a wet kiss. He had to pry her from his chest and she giggled on the way to the elevator. Rachel was next and she was equally tipsy and amorous. The woman had quite the active tongue. Megan and Miriam got their kiss on the cheek and he was finally free to head into the bar.

As he stepped into the intimate atmosphere of the cocktail lounge his eyes were immediately drawn to the back of Margaux as she sat at the bar. Even from behind he was struck with her poise and presence. Her thick wavy mahogany hair fell softly down her back and her legs were gracefully crossed. Ben headed in her direction. She was shaking her head at a man who was trying to speak to her. He looked frustrated and said something coarse then went to move away but stumbled to a stop when Ben was in his way. The man's eyes looked up at Ben's scowling face and blanched. He said something in a trembling voice and slipped around Ben to scurry away.

Ben moved to the chair next to Margaux and smiled.

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine," he said with his best Bogart impression.

"Oh that was terrible!" Margaux smiled as she turned to him. Ben shrugged his shoulders and gestured to the chair.

"May I sit?" he asked and she nodded.

As he took his seat Ben could have sworn he heard a disappointed groan from behind him but he put that out of his mind.

"I was surprised to find you here. I didn't know you wanted to speak with me again. Especially considering your state of mind at our last meeting," he said gently.

Her beautiful lips turned up in a soft smile. "Yes, I shed a few tears at our last encounter. You spoke words of truth that shook me and made me examine my life in a harsh light. I spent the next two days evaluating what I truly considered important to me and what I could and should discard." The bartender came by and Ben ordered a bottle of still spring water.

"You don't want something stronger?" Margaux asked once Ben was served.

"I don't drink anymore. I lost myself in a bottle for too many years after my wife left me," he said with a frown.

"I know the danger in that as well but I've managed to stay in control." She chuckled to herself. "That is one of my issues. Control. I must always have control. Of my business. Of my life. Of my relationships." Her beautiful dark brown eyes sought and held his. "You asked me to take ownership of the things that led to the dissolution of my marriage. My need for control, fed by my jealousy, contributed greatly. I didn't feel safe giving my heart to that man. Even on my wedding day he flirted with the women at the reception."

Ben listened and heard the pain in her voice. He struggled to keep his hands where they were on the bar holding his glass.

"I believe I learned a great deal about myself in those initial days after we met and in the days that followed. I know my work is very important to me. I have put so much energy into my career and I am very proud of my accomplishments. I love my lifestyle. I have two beautiful homes in the most beautiful cities in the world. I have friends and colleagues to call upon to go out to dinner or see a play. Lovers are not difficult to find should I need to release a little sexual energy." She smiled at Ben's blush. "My life is very full. My free time is very limited with the demands of my career. I travel a lot. These things also contributed to the demise of my marriage. Honestly, I made more effort on my career than my marriage as that was safer for my heart. We were not honest with each other. I knew, from the beginning that he would betray me. Then I drove him to do it."

A tear rolled down her cheek and stopped at Ben's finger. Her lovely eyes found his again and her bottom lips trembled. "But you can't betray a heart can you."

Ben was trembling. She was so damaged and needy. His warning bells were ringing loudly yet he couldn't move. She pressed her cheek to his fingers then pulled herself away with effort.

"Gabriella warned me that I was dangerous for you. I can see from your eyes that she was right. Your heart is too open and mine is too obsessive." She dabbed her eyes and gave him a tremulous smile. "I know I have no right to ask this of you but I would like you to consider a proposal of mine. I have very little time to devote to a relationship and with my history I would not subject someone to a full time partnership. That said, my life needs this missing part. I need to love and be loved. I obviously have trust issues. If I could feel secure that my love was completely safe I could open my heart to that person. Someone who could share moments of my life when they could be arranged. They would not be frequent as my life is very full. I would like you to consider being that person. Please don't say anything now. Just think about it. I must return to Paris in three days. When are you leaving?"

Ben had to clear his throat as his throat had seized with his tension. "In five days."

"May I see you again before I leave?" she asked.

"Yes, of course."

"We can have that dinner I promised?" she caught his eyes with hers.

"That sounds nice." Ben smiled.

She leaned in to kiss his cheek but he turned and their lips met and lingered. She pulled back, her eyes looking deeply into his, and quickly left.

Ben remained at the bar as he needed to wait for certain parts of his anatomy to relax.

Eventually he made his way to his room and got ready for bed.

Sleep was slow to take him that night.

Chapter 16

Ben sat at a table on the patio soaking in the morning sunlight as the party enjoyed their breakfast. They were watching the traffic drive by and the busy movement of people passing by on the sidewalk. Truth be told the four blondes sitting at the table next to the railing were drawing their share of observers as well. Ben was sitting with Gabriella and her kids. He'd wolfed down his breakfast and was now just relaxing and letting the food settle.

Gabriella and Catherine were desperately curious about his meeting with Margaux but they didn't want to push him and there hadn't been an opportunity for him to speak privately anyway.

"BEN! It's him!" Catherine hissed.

His eyes snapped open and he looked to where she was discretely pointing. He spotted the small man they had the altercation with in the Louvre. He was sitting in the back of a convertible with a tall woman with an enormous mane of blonde hair and huge sunglasses. Driving the convertible was the little man's bodyguard. He stood to watch it move down the block. The last he saw it was turning into the next street.

Gabriella had memorized the plate and entered it into her phone's email.

"Weren't the police looking for him?" Catherine asked.

"Yes! I still have his address so I'm going to send a note off to Chief Inspector Boucher with the license plate. He can forward that along to the local police or whoever is looking for him. What was the man's name again?"

The McGovern ladies conferred for a second. "He said his name was Rachid Shakir."

Gabriella added that to the note then hit send.

"Is everyone done? Are we ready to go?" Ben asked and received nods.

The plan for the day was to drive to a mountain top walled village called St. Paul de Vence. Gabriella was driving so they all got into the fish tank, Ben squeezing himself into the rear most seat between the delighted duo of Miriam and Daniel. They giggled constantly as Ben teased Sophia, Rachel, and Megan from the back seat by tugging on their hair. Gabriella and Catherine finally had to tell everyone to behave and look out the window to enjoy the scenery. Ben made an unhappy face and the kids burst into giggles again.

"Ben!" Gabriella growled playfully.

The scenery was very interesting so soon the van was quiet. Ben noticed Rachel was rolling her neck stiffly. He reached over the seat and began massaging her shoulders.

"Oh god, yes! That feels so good!" Rachel groaned and all eyes went to her.

"What's going on back there?" Catherine asked.

"Ben's just massaging Rachel's shoulders and neck," Sophia said with an envious tone.

He worked his thumbs into her stiff trapezius muscles and felt them begin to loosen. Once she was relaxed he ran his thumbs down the sides of her neck and he felt something odd on the left side. There was a small 'v' shaped scar there. He gently ran his thumb over the spot and he felt her begin to squirm as tingles rushed through her body. He pulled his hands back in confusion.

He had a flash of memory. His lips kissing a neck, his tongue gently stroking the skin there and feeling the raised texture of a scar. A 'v' shape.

"Catherine?" he called out and she looked around the passenger seat to see him.

"Yes?"

He looked at her neck and it was smooth. No scar. "Nothing... nevermind." He sat back, stunned. What the hell?

He spent the next little while in silence, looking at nothing as the dots connected in his mind. The behavior of the sisters the next morning. Catherine's behavior and Gabriella's. He felt his world start to slip out from under him. The trust he had in these women was seriously strained and he began to feel ill.

"Gabriella. I need to stop please. Right now," he said, fighting to keep the bile down.

She swung the car into a fast food restaurant parking lot and people scrambled out of the van to let Ben get out. He made a bee line to the restaurant and rushed into the washroom.

Daniel followed him in to make sure he was ok. He heard Ben throwing up and went back out to tell Catherine. She looked worried. No one else was feeling ill and they had all eaten breakfast together. Minutes later Ben walked from the washroom. His face was wet from splashing his face in the sink. Catherine walked up to him but he passed her and went to the counter. He bought himself a couple of bottles of water. He drank one immediately then looked over at Catherine.

"I need to speak with you and Gabriella please." He looked over at the empty booth in the corner and pointed to it.

Catherine blinked at his tone then went outside to get Gabriella to come inside.

Ben dropped himself in the booth with his back to the wall. He ran his hands through his hair and tried to calm his mind. Gabriella and Catherine came in and sat across from him. He glanced out the window and saw the others standing by the van watching them through the window.

"Ben, what's wrong?" Gabriella asked, worried.

"How did Rachel get the scar on her neck?" he asked Catherine.

"What? Uh, she was in a small accident in school when she was in her teens. It's been there for years. Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"You don't have a scar that shape on the side of your throat," he growled.

Comprehension flashed in Gabriella's eyes and Ben saw it. "Ben, wait! There is a good explanation for what happened that night!" That lit the lights in Catherine's eyes and she suddenly looked guilty.

"You are supposed to tell me the truth! That's the foundation of our relationships! Honesty! Keeping me in the dark is the same thing as lying!" Ben exclaimed.

"Yes, Ben but you weren't stable that night! You'd had a mental break," Gabriella asserted quietly.

Ben rocked back. He wasn't stable. Was that how they saw him?

Gabriella immediately saw Ben had taken her words harder than she'd intended but knew retracting them would be worse. "You had a couple of episodes of memory loss. You collapsed. We put you to bed and you were still a little shaky. Rachel was passing your room later and heard you scream. She went into your room to see if you were ok. She touched you and you pulled her onto the bed. You went back to sleep holding her but she couldn't get loose. She waited for us to come upstairs to help her but she fell asleep too. When we came upstairs your door was open but we closed it instead of looking inside."

Ben's jaw was flexing as he stared at the table surface and digested her words. He couldn't argue with them as he had no memory of the event but it sounded like his previous behavior.

"Why didn't she tell me it was her?" he ground out.

Catherine leaned forward and spoke gently. "She said you'd already started when she woke up and it felt too good to stop. She wasn't prepared for you to have sex with her but honestly both she and Sophia were praying you'd take them to bed. It wasn't until afterwards when you called her Catherine that Rachel realized she might have created a problem for you. She immediately spoke with Megan then they came to speak with me and Sophia. I spoke with Gabriella and we were worried that the additional stress might be dangerous after your episode the night before. We're sorry Ben! There was never any intent to hurt you! We love you!"

Ben sat quietly trying to get his equilibrium back. He looked out the window and saw Rachel was crying. He put his head in his hands and groaned as a spike of pain went through it.

When he looked up again his eyes were red and glassy. Gabriella and Catherine had tears pooling in their eyes too.

"I'm sorry I'm such a mess. I will check in with my shrink the moment I get home to deal with this. But I need you both to stop keeping things from me. That is far more destructive to my mental balance than the truth, however messy it may be. My trust in you must be absolute. I can't function otherwise. My world falls apart. Can you promise me that?"

Gabriella and Catherine both nodded and they all slid out of the booth. He hugged them both tightly to his body. He felt them trembling but he was trembling too. They made their way back out to the van and Rachel looked at him with bleary eyes. He held his arms open and she ran into them, crushing her body against him as she cried.

"I- I'm s-s-so sorry!" she wailed against his chest. He made hushing sounds and kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back until she calmed down.

"I'm not mad at you. I was upset that the secret was kept from me and that hurt. A lot. I don't like secrets. No more secrets. Okay?" he whispered to her. She nodded vigorously. He tilted her chin up and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. He reached over and pulled Sophia close as she had tears in her eyes too. He addressed them both quietly. "No more mistaken identities if I find one of you in my bed. My eyesight in the dark isn't that good. You announce who you are. Understood?"

Sophia caught the implication immediately and a smile blossomed on her face and she nodded.

"Clear it with your mother and Gabriella first," he said looking them in the eyes and they nodded again, excitement coming back into their eyes. He turned to the group. "Let's get back on our way. Sorry about the delay."

Gabriella drove them the rest of the way up the mountain and they managed to get one of the coveted parking spots around the walled town. As they were walking towards the gates Daniel was giving them the history of the town from his guidebook.

The town still had a fair number of residents but it was also home to many unique shops offering everything from art to fashion to furniture to wine. There was also a number of excellent restaurants. They spent the rest of the morning mooching in the shops with Daniel and Ben exploring and taking pictures. Ben bought Daniel some glass art he fell in love with and had them ship it to his address.

They met up for lunch at a restaurant with tables in the square under some trees and took in the view of the valley below. The meal was exquisite and Ben's spirits were gradually returning to his regular levels. The boy's enthusiasm was a definite antidote for his blues.

Ben sat back in his chair and just soaked in the ambiance of the surroundings. He was sitting in a patio of a restaurant in a walled village in France with people he loved and who loved him back. A wonderful breeze was blowing up the hill cooling them as did the shade they were in. He smelled pine and the wonderful food around him. He felt a sense of peace settle over him and he closed his eyes to listen to the gentle sounds of people conversing quietly, the wind passing through the needles of the pine trees, the clink of cutlery and glasses, and the warble of the swallows flying above. He heard a click and opened his eyes. Daniel was smiling at him across the table. He turned his camera around and showed Ben the image.

Daniel had captured the peace Ben was feeling at that moment. He looked completely tranquil. "Thank you Daniel. That image will always remind me of this day and will bring me back to the tranquility and perfection of this moment." Daniel grinned widely at his praise.

Gabriella had tears in her eyes as she looked at Ben interacting with her son. This was what her husband should have been doing instead of chasing after his lust for more money!

Catherine took her friend's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. Gabriella squeezed back.

After lunch they returned to mooching and Ben and Daniel stuck close to them and poked in a few stores themselves. Ben was mostly interested in the architecture of the buildings. It was late afternoon when they decided to head back. They loaded their purchases in the back of the van and Gabriella sat in the middle seat with her kids while Catherine drove and Ben rode shotgun. Catherine's girls sat in the back and showed each other the clothing they'd purchased.

The drive back to the hotel passed quickly as they discussed plans for the following day. Shopping in Nice! Ben begged off as two days of shopping was too much for him. Daniel asked his mom if he could stay behind as well and Ben said he'd appreciate the company so it was settled. It was going to be a girls-only shopping extravaganza. The ladies cheered while Daniel rolled his eyes and Ben chuckled.

They left the van with the valet after they gathered their purchases. The group made their way back to their rooms and as Ben was going out on a date with Gabriella the others said their goodnights on their floor. Catherine and her daughters all got their kisses and left with happy smiles carrying their bags of finds. Ben arranged with Gabriella to meet her in the lobby and went to freshen up and dress up. He put on his black dress shirt and black dress slacks and dress shoes. As he waited in the lobby he attracted attention from the other guests as he looked rather intimidating dressed in black. He was just about to go back upstairs to change when Gabriella showed up in a gorgeous dark green dress. The neckline was daringly low and Ben froze when he saw her.

"Is it too much?" she asked biting her lip.

"GOD NO! I mean- you look incredible!" Ben hastened to say.

She smiled at him and took his arm. Ben felt the attention swing from him to her and he was ok with that.

"Where are we going for dinner tonight?" he asked.

"I read some stellar reviews of a Lebanese restaurant a few blocks away. We'll have to take a taxi but we can walk back if you'd like," she suggested.

"Sounds good! Let's go!"

The taxi ride was relatively short but the roads twisted and turned so Ben was quickly lost. Gabriella had the taxi drop them off at the entrance to a side street so they could enjoy the walk up the street to the restaurant which was in a cluster of older buildings. Ben saw most were small shops and restaurants but a few seemed to be residential. Odd zoning, he thought.

The Lebanese restaurant was small and simply decorated but they got a nice table facing the street so they could see the people come and go. Gabriella ordered for both of them.

"Ben, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am to have upset you so badly this morning. The instinct to protect our loved ones is very strong and we tend to smother you a little I think," she said sincerely.

"Thank you! You understand how that kind of protection doesn't work for me though, right?" he asked.

"Yes, I think the message finally sunk in today," she admitted.

"Then we move forward," he said with a smile and pressed his lips to her fingers.

The food began arriving and Gabriella explained what each dish was. Ben gamely tried everything and found most of it was to his liking. They ordered a little extra of the falafel as Ben found them to be delicious.

They took their time and lingered over the meal. They decided to find a gelato place for dessert on their walk back. Ben paid the bill and told Gabriella he had to use the washroom before they left. He left her sipping the last of her wine at the table as he made his way back to the washroom. He descended a staircase and saw a number of doors with symbols on them. The middle one looked familiar so he went through. Beyond the door was a hallway and an arrow sticker on the wall pointing down the hall. He followed the arrow and went through another door into another hallway lined with doors. None opened. He turned the corner and finally found a washroom but it seemed to double as a storage room which he thought was odd and slightly gross.

He did his business and headed back. When he reached the first door it wouldn't open as it seemed to be locked on his side. He pounded on the door but no one down here but him. He looked up at the arrow and followed it to the end of the corridor. He pushed through a door and stumbled down and out into a laneway behind the building. He looked in both directions and wondered which way would take him back to the front of the restaurant. He had no idea so he decided to try the door in the hallway again. Maybe it was just jammed, not locked. He turned back and saw two identical doors. He didn't know which one he'd stumbled out from. He tried the one on the right but it was locked. The other was not so he hoped it was the right one. The interior hall was the same dull color so he walked back. He tried to keep the cardinal directions straight in his head as he moved forward. He rounded a corner and came face to face with a fat, bald man standing in front of a door.

Ben was scowling in frustration and the man took one look at the scar flaring across his face and a look of recognition passed over his florid features as he muttered 'Rapava'. He immediately stepped aside and opened the door for Ben.

Annoyed at being once more confused for the serial killer, Ben stepped past him into the room and the door closed behind him.

This wasn't the restaurant.

In the split second before all hell broke loose Ben noted three girls kneeling side by side on the floor to his right with black bags over their heads. They seemed to be clinging to each other's hands. There was a glass topped coffee table in front of him with a gun on it, a bag of white powder, and a straw. There was a skinny unshaven man slumped back against the couch behind the table blinking stupidly at him. To Ben's left was a heavy set man leaning back on the rear legs of a chair. He heard the girls whimpering in fear and Ben's eyes went cold.

He saw the man in the tilted chair pulling his gun with his left hand so he reached out and grabbed his hair, yanking him back and down to slam his skull against the concrete floor. The gun was clear of his jacket and went off with a huge boom as Ben cracked his skull open on the floor. The bullet grazed Ben and punched a hole in the door and the man guarding its other side.

Skinny guy on the couch was suddenly aware that something was seriously wrong. He stared into the cold eyes of the man dressed in black then tried going for his gun.

Ben grabbed the bag of white powder and slammed it into skinny's face, crushing him back against the sofa cushions. He held it over his nose and mouth until the man's eyes rolled back and he went still.

He heard the sound of running feet and quickly stepped to the side of the door on the other side of the room. The first one through the door got a fist to the throat and dropped his gun as he clutched at his crushed windpipe. The second man slammed to a halt back at the bottom of the stairs and opened fire. The bullets hit the body of the man Ben was holding as a shield.

The sound of sirens approaching could be heard. The man in the hall swore then turned and ran back up the stairs. Ben closed the door and dropped the body behind it.

He looked around and saw the carnage. The three hooded girls had crawled to the corner of the room and were huddled together. Ben heard crying from behind another door in the room and saw there was a lock on it. He opened the lock quietly and yanked the door open. He was greeted with shrieks from the two women inside the room. They were wearing simple, white nighties. He recognized the blonde by her large mane of hair. She was the one in the convertible with that Shakir guy he saw at breakfast this morning. The memory of having breakfast with his loved ones pulled Ben back into the here and now and he looked at the two women clinging to each other in fear.

"Are you ladies alright?" he asked. They blinked at him. He looked at the lock on the door. "Were you locked in this room?" The two slid off the bed and rushed up to his side. They peered out into the room and saw the three dead men and squeaked in fear. Ben made reassuring sounds and sat the two down on a small couch. The sirens were much closer now. "Just wait here for the police. They'll be here any minute. I have to go see if the girls are ok."

Ben looked into the frightened light blue eyes of the blonde and the hazel eyes of her brunette companion and smiled reassuringly to them. "Everything will be ok now." He gently pried their hands from his shirt sleeves.

He heard crying and turned around. The three girls with hoods on their heads were huddled in the corner. Ben walked over to them. They shrieked when he touched them.

"Shhh! It's ok, the police have arrived. We will get you home." They froze when he said that. He saw their hands were zip tied and had nothing to cut them loose with. The hoods just had string ties so he was able to undo those and pull the hoods off. They blinked in the bright light of the room and looked up into his kind eyes. They threw themselves against him and cried. One was speaking French but the other two were speaking a language Ben didn't recognize at all. They looked alike so maybe they were sisters.

The police busted into the room, pushing the corpse to the side and started yelling... something. Ben raised his hands and two burly men grabbed him and pulled him back from the young women. Ben continued to reassure the young frightened girls. The police cuffed him and left him on his stomach on the floor. He sighed. The two ladies from the bedroom were screaming something to the police and crying. The officers looked at him and one knelt down by his head.

"You are American?"

Ben relaxed. "Yes."

"What is your name?"

"Ben Shepherd."

"What were you doing here?"

"I was having dinner in a nice Lebanese restaurant. I went to use the washroom and got locked out. I ended up in an alley. The only door that opened brought me to this room. I- I don't remember much between that and finding the two ladies in the bedroom. My friend is still in the restaurant. A beautiful brunette woman in a gorgeous green dress. Her name is Gabriella Wallace."

"We will check your story. Did you kill these men?" the officer asked.

"I... I don't know. I have... holes in my memory," he explained.

"Convenient."

"Not really. It's frightening, actually," Ben sighed.

The officer barked something and the two larger men helped Ben to his feet and led him out. Once he was out on the street he saw he was in the building next to the restaurant. He spotted Gabriella behind the police barricade and the officer who questioned him went over to speak with her. They pushed Ben into the back of a police car. Someone rushed up and took a picture of Ben looking out the window. He leaned back and closed his eyes.

Great. That was just what he needed.

Chapter 17

It was six the following morning when Gabriella and Ben were dropped off at the hotel. It had taken a concerted effort of Gabriella, Chief Inspector Boucher, and a statement from Ben's psychologist to clear up his involvement in the incident. As he was going to be staying in Cannes for the next few days they were assured he wasn't going to leave immediately. He was cleared of any criminal charges as he had been unarmed, his hands had no traces of gunpowder residue, and he'd been in a life or death situation. It had clearly been self defense.

There was also the matter that he'd become something of an instant media celebrity and hero as he'd saved the girls from a horrible fate. The slightly out of focus shot of Ben looking sad in the back seat of the police car was sold to a number of media outlets who scrambled to get the story out first. It hit the Internet in record time.

Two of the girls rescued had come from a prominent Russian family. The police weren't sure if the twins were being held for ransom or were destined for the sex trade as slaves. The French girl had just been a tourist visiting with her family. The families were immediately reunited with their children and were overjoyed. At the pleading of the twins the Russian father immediately added pressure to see their liberator freed. The police were shocked by the speed at which the politicians became involved.

When Ben and Gabriella arrived on the floor they headed straight for his room. They closed the blinds, got undressed, and climbed under the covers. They were asleep in seconds.

Catherine knocked on Gabriella's door at 8AM to head down for breakfast. She heard Miriam's voice asking who it was so she announced herself and Miriam opened the door. Both Daniel and Miriam were ready to go to breakfast so down they went. They were soon joined by her daughters but there was no sign of Ben or Gabriella.

Rachel smiled knowingly at her mother and she smiled back.

It was Daniel, returning from the washroom through the restaurant, who saw the TV displaying the image of Ben sitting in the police cruiser. He froze in shock then went racing out to the tables to tell Catherine that Ben was on TV.

The entire party rushed inside and asked for the sound on the TV to be turned up. Catherine and her daughters listened carefully then relaxed as they heard he wasn't under arrest but was actually being called a hero for rescuing some girls from captivity. Catherine sent everyone back to the tables to finish breakfast then went upstairs to see if they had returned to the room.

She used her key to Ben's room and went in. She pulled one of the drapes open slightly to let a little light in and saw Ben and Catherine both asleep. She closed the drape and left the room heading back down to the restaurant.

She let the family know that both Ben and Gabriella were upstairs sleeping. The plan for the day had changed.

It was noon when Ben woke up. Gabriella stirred and reached out to hug Ben. He caressed her arm over his chest and kissed the top of her head. She tilted her head up and he kissed her lips tenderly.

"Sorry for messing up your date night," Ben said.

"Oh Ben, no one can say a date with you is dull!" she smiled.

He looked at the clock and sighed. "You're missing your Nice shopping trip."

"There's always tomorrow," she replied with a stretch.

The phone rang and Ben picked it up. "Hello?"

"Hello, am I speaking with Benjamin Shepherd?" a weary voice said.

"Ben Shepherd, yes. Who is this?"

"Ah, this is Chief Inspector Gilles Favreau. I am leading the investigation of Rachid Shakir and the two witnesses you liberated for us are refusing to say anything unless you are present. They are most adamant. Would it be possible for you to return to the station as soon as possible?"

"I just woke up and I haven't eaten anything since dinner last night so can you give me an hour?" Ben asked.

"Of course! We will pick you up in front of the hotel in one hour. Thank you Mr. Shepherd," the Chief Inspector said and hung up.

Ben groaned and slid out of bed.

"Who was that?" Gabriella asked.

"Chief Inspector Gilles Favreau. He needs me to come back to the Police Station as the two women I found in the room won't give a statement unless I'm there. Don't ask me why." He scratched tiredly at his scalp and went to take his shower.

Once he moved under the spray he hissed in pain as the water ran down his body. Gabriella rushed into the room to see what was wrong and saw him looking at a red gash across his left side. It was crusted with dried blood.

"Oh my god, Ben. You were shot! How did you not notice this?" she shrieked.

"It's just a flesh wound," he insisted in a bad British accent and gave her a silly grin.

She looked at him angrily.

"Really? You didn't get that Black Knight reference?" Ben frowned unhappily. "It was the perfect opportunity to use it!"

"Ben! Be serious! You were shot!" she scolded him.

"It looks like it just grazed me. That will need a big bandage," he said examining the wound. It wasn't deep but it was about six inches long. He had been lucky.

He gave himself a shake. He was running out of time and still needed to eat. Gabriella helped wash him and Ben dried himself off while she took her shower.

He smiled at their comfort with doing these domestic activities together. She caught his happy smile and smiled back.

Gabriella taped some gauze over his new wound when she got out of the shower. Ben dressed and gave her a kiss as he hustled downstairs to get some food. He took a table in the far corner of the restaurant, ordered a beef stew dish and asked them to hurry as he had to leave in thirty minutes.

He looked across the room at the television just as his face appeared on the screen. His jaw dropped in dismay as he saw the heading 'Mystery Hero' printed underneath.

Ben noticed two well-dressed young women staring in his direction. He pretended to be looking at something on his phone but that didn't deter them from getting up and walking over to his table.

The taller of the two said something to him in French and he made an apologetic gesture. Her friend slapped her arm. "American!" she growled. She took over speaking for them.

"That is you on TV, yes? You are the hero!" the woman gushed.

"Yes, that's me but I'm not a hero. Just in the wrong place at the right time," he growled and they grinned excitedly.

"May we take our picture with you?" the tall one asked.

Seeing they would not leave unless he agreed he nodded. The short one plunked herself down on the bench next to him and he hissed as his side stung from the movement. She looked down and saw some spots of blood on his shirt. Her eyes shot wide and she began to chatter to her friend in French almost too fast to discern individual words. She looked back at Ben in shock. "You were shot?"

"It's just a flesh wound," he said with his poor British accent.

The young woman just blinked at him and Ben shrugged. It was worth another try.

Her friend took pictures then they swapped places. They left gushing about the encounter and kept looking back.

Ben's food arrived and he ate quickly. It was a shame because the meal was delicious and should have been enjoyed slowly.

As he was leaving the restaurant the shorter woman rushed up to him with a marker in her hand. She looked up at him with an oddly desperate expression. "Monsieur! Would you- would you autograph my breast?" She bit her lip as she pulled back her blouse to expose the top of one large and smooth orb of flesh. Ben's eyes widened and his jaw dropped a little in surprise. He collected himself.

"Miss, it would be a crime to deface such a lovely breast. Keep it just as it is. I have to go. Those officers are here for me as they need my help. Goodbye," Ben said and slipped away from the strange young woman his face aflame with embarrassment and walked over to the two policemen. They nodded to him and led him to their cruiser.

Twenty minutes later they entered the station and Ben was led to the Chief Inspector's office. The man greeted him and gestured for him to sit. Ben noticed the bruises around the man's eyes from lack of sleep.

The Chief got right to the point. "They are still refusing to speak until they see you. They haven't asked for legal representation. Just you. Are you a lawyer?" the man asked.

"No, I'm a Mechanical Engineer. I have no idea why these women want to see me. I just met them last night and I barely said more than a dozen words to them," Ben exclaimed.

"I should warn you sir, these women are not completely... there. There is a simplicity to their speech patterns and a vacancy in their gaze. They can spend hours just looking off into space. We suspect that they have been captives of Shakir for a very long time. Perhaps since they were only children. Both have undergone extensive cosmetic surgery to alter their look so we don't know what they originally looked like. They've also been cosmetically... exaggerated. Large, almost grotesque breast augmentation and lip injections. We believe they were the personal playthings of Shakir. They may know where he is hiding. We must get them to tell us everything they know about him."

Ben was shaken. He couldn't recall the details of the women that clearly. The thought of someone using people as toys was vile and his stomach lurched. He got control over himself again and nodded to the Chief Inspector. They both stood up and walked down a hallway to some doors. They entered the observation room first. Ben recalled being in a room on the other side of the mirrored glass. It filled him with unease.

"We have separated them but they have stopped speaking entirely," Favreau said.

"They need each other. If they've been constant companions during their captivity it might make them more comfortable speaking if you bring them together before I speak to them," Ben said looking at the blonde woman slumped over the table in the room.

The Chief Inspector looked at Ben for a bit then nodded briefly. He stepped outside and spoke to an officer. Moments later the brunette was led into the interrogation room. She squealed and made a bee line to the blonde who held open her arms to hug the other woman. Tears flowed and the officer in the room pushed a chair behind the brunette who sat clinging to her friend.

"Shall we?" Favreau said to Ben who nodded nervously.

The moment Ben stepped into the room behind the Chief Inspector the two women squealed and jumped up to rush to Ben's side. They clung to him and cried. It was a little overwhelming and Ben looked to Favreau who just stared back in surprise.

Ben made shushing noises and held the two against his chest. They went silent almost too quickly and stared up at him. Both were quite tall, easily six feet. Considering how short Shakir was it made a sick kind of sense for the bastard to keep tall women as pets. Ben's stomach lurched once more.

He now saw what the Chief Inspector had mentioned about their alterations. Their features were too symmetrical to be natural and their lips were far too plump. Their breasts were currently pressing against him so he knew how large and firm they were. Definitely not natural. Their brightly colored nails extended at least half an inch beyond their fingertips.

He walked them back to their chairs and tried to get them to sit but they wouldn't let go of him. The Chief inspector made to bring a third chair around so Ben sat and the brunette took the second chair and leaned against Ben's shoulder clinging to his arm. The blonde suddenly sat across Ben's lap which brought her large breasts against his face. He blushed and looked desperately at Favreau. The man looked away and placed the third chair next to Ben. When Ben told the woman to move from his lap to the chair she did immediately but clung to his other arm.

"We have brought you Mr. Shepherd as you requested. Might we begin with learning your names?" the Chief Inspector said.

Ben saw both women were staring into his eyes. He felt terribly uncomfortable with the desperate need in their stares. "Please answer the Chief Inspector's questions. He's here to protect you... as I will," he said and felt the two women relax. It seems this was what they were waiting to hear.

The blonde spoke first. Ben got the impression that of the two she was more dominant. "I am Sharmuta and this is Zebala," she said with a quiet, soft voice.

Favreau froze and looked at the two women. Ben wondered at his reaction to their names. He thought they just sounded exotic.

Favreau collected himself. "Do you remember the names you originally had before you began to live with Mr. Shakir?"

Sharmuta shook her head but Zebala nodded after a moment. "My name was Penny and hers was Karen." The blonde stared wide eyed at the brunette and began to cry. This triggered the other to cry as well. They reached across Ben to hold hands.

Ben made his calming sounds again and the two women settled in tighter against his sides. He began to worry how he was going to extract himself from this situation.

"May I use your original names?" Favreau asked and the ladies nodded.

"Do you know where Mr. Shakir is now?" he asked.

They shook their heads.

"Do you know where he might be?"

Karen looked over at Penny. They seemed to confer. "The ship?" Karen finally said.

"Mr. Shakir has a boat?" the Chief Inspector said quickly. He received nods.

"What kind of boat?" Favreau asked.

"A white one," Karen said and the Inspector looked like his wits were fraying.

"Was there a name printed on the back of the boat?" Ben asked.

"Wings of Change" Penny said quickly. "We live there."

"A private yacht!" Favreau beamed.

"Then why were you locked in the room of that house?" Ben asked confused.

"The ship is being fixed," Karen replied.

"To carry more people," Penny offered.

The Chief Inspector gave Ben an ominous look. Ben realized these 'people' wouldn't likely be getting a cabin to stay in. Most likely it would be a small, hidden smuggling compartment.

Favreau went to the door and spoke to an officer outside. Then he sat once more and proceeded to ask a long series of questions regarding the places Mr. Shakir took the women, restaurants, clubs, hotels, and different cities.

Ben found himself growing sleepy pressed between the warm softness of the two women and after the stressful day before he began to nod off.

"MR. SHEPHERD!"

Ben's head snapped up and he blinked the sleep from his eyes. He looked across at the Chief inspector. "Sorry, what?" he asked and saw the two women looking angrily at Favreau.

"You fell asleep and they stopped talking so as not to wake you," the man growled.

"Sorry, it was a really busy day yesterday that didn't end for me until six this morning. I'm a little wiped. Did you get the information you needed?" Ben asked as he yawned.

"Most but I still have more questions."

Ben yawned again. He really was exhausted.

"That's enough for today. He's tired and needs to rest!" Karen said emboldened by Ben's presence.

Ben looked at Karen with a little surprised smile on his lips. She looked at him and seemed to bloom under his admiring look. He smiled at Penny and she also beamed a smile at him.

"They're right. I'm fried. If you have any critical questions that might help you catch the sick bastard sooner please ask them now. If not, I'd like to go back to my hotel," Ben said and immediately felt the two women cling to him tighter. "Uh, where are the ladies going to be staying?"

"They are important witnesses so we will keep them under police protection in a secure location," Favreau said tersely.

The ladies began to whimper and looked to Ben desperately. He felt trapped. He looked to the Chief Inspector. "Could you put them up at the hotel I'm staying at? Put guards on them there?"

"What kind of budget do you think we have, Mr. Shepherd?" Favreau growled.

Ben took a deep breath as his temper was flaring as much as the exhausted officer's was. "I'll put them up in my room if you place guards on it. It won't cost you anything. My room is a suite which has a comfortable couch for me as well. Does that work for you?"

The man glared at Ben then seemed to realize his exhaustion was getting the best of him. He relaxed and nodded. "Yes, that would actually be helpful. Thank you."

He looked at the two ladies. "Is that ok with you?"

They both nodded happily.

The Chief Inspector left to make the arrangements.

Ben looked at the coveralls the two women were wearing. Supplied by the police to cover the lack of clothes they came in with. "Do you have any clothes?" he asked then realized it was a stupid question as everything they had was likely still on the ship. They shook their heads sadly. "I'll get something for you at the hotel." That earned him some smiles. He yawned once more.

Ben felt himself slipping back into his sleepy state. He gently untangled himself from the ladies who were feeling a little more at ease as they knew they were going with him to the hotel. He stood up and stretched which caused him to wince as his new injury made its presence known.

He walked over to the mirrored window and lifted his shirt to look at the bandage which was showing some spots of blood. Nothing major.

Karen was next to him in an instant. "Were you shot?"

"It's just a flesh wound," he tried one last time and they erupted into giggles. Ben felt absurdly pleased and blushed.

Penny was standing at his back and lifted his shirt higher. "You have a lot of 'flesh wounds'!" She saw the stitches and looked at him with wide eyes.

"Yes, uh, my vacation has been a little more... exciting than I hoped it would be," he shrugged.

Karen lifted the front of his shirt and saw the older scars. "These aren't new." She ran her fingers over the rough tissue. Ben squirmed with the sensations.

"No, those happened earlier this year."

Penny came around to his front to see the scars and reached out to touch his bullet scars which were much lower on his torso. Tingles shot through Ben's body and he stepped back to find himself against the mirror. He looked at their faces but saw only innocent curiosity. He relaxed a little. "Those are from years ago."

He pulled his shirt down and moved to sit on the edge of the table. The two women moved closer to each other and held hands. He saw it was an unconscious thing, drawing comfort from each other. They shouldn't have been separated.

"How long have you been with Shakir?" he asked gently.

The two ladies looked at each other and frowned.

"Do you recall how young you were? Teenagers, younger?"

"Teens. Young teens. I think," Karen said.

"Do you know how old you are now?"

"We're twenty four," Penny said decisively. Karen looked at her with wide eyes. "I heard Mr. Shakir telling someone that when we turned twenty five next year we would be retired and he would find young blood."

Ben's stomach lurched once more. God he wanted so badly to get his hands around the throat of that monster. He'd had these girls for almost half their lives. Twisted them into something he would enjoy. Playthings! The man didn't deserve to live. Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the rage down deep.

He opened his eyes to see the two women looking at him. "Penny, I'm really impressed you managed to retain your names. That must have taken a lot of guts and effort! Can you recall anything else from before?"

The two frowned and concentrated but soon looked sadly at him and shook their heads.

"That's ok. There is some information at least. We know your first names, your ages, and roughly when you were taken. Maybe the authorities can find your families and get you back to your homes."

The two looked at each other then back to him. "We don't want to go home," Karen said. "We want to go with you!" Penny added.

Ben rocked back and looked at them in shock. They began to look nervous.

"But- you don't even know me!" Ben said.

"You saved us!" they said in unison.

Favreau opened the door and stared at the three for a few seconds. "Are you ready?" he finally said.

Ben nodded. How the HELL was he going to explain this one to Gabriella and Catherine?

Chapter 18

It turned out to be surprisingly easy to explain. He didn't even get to say anything. The moment Ben returned to the hotel with his tag-alongs Gabriella and Catherine met them in the lobby and just shook their heads. They took the young women in tow, with their police escort, into the clothing shop to get them something to wear. Ben followed them in and sat with Gabriella.

"When you said to me this morning that the two women wouldn't speak to the police without seeing you I guessed something like this might happen. I saw the two women in question last night. I saw how... lost they were. You must have made an impression when you rescued them," Gabriella smiled and patted his thigh. "You can't keep bringing strays home though."

"I know. I had no intention of bringing these ones. They kind of latched onto me when I got to the station and wouldn't let go." Ben was silent for a bit. "The monster changed them. Erased their past. Did god knows what to them. They lost half of their life so far to that bastard. I want to hurt him so much."

Gabriella reached up and took Ben's face between her hands. She looked deeply in his eyes and didn't see what she was expecting. It wasn't rage there. It was fear, sadness, and loss. She wanted to know where that came from. What had happened to Ben to torment him like this?

There was a sudden flurry of giggles and the ladies burst from the change rooms wearing the most beautiful sun dresses. They might have been straining a little on top to contain the bounty they carried but they were smart and sophisticated and very stylish. Karen and Penny were beaming and giggling and Ben couldn't help but show the delight he felt for their happiness.

"You two look lovely!" he gushed and their giggles increased. Catherine stood behind them with a huge smile on her face.

"Very chic!" he said. "We'll definitely take those!"

They rushed over and kissed his cheeks then Catherine gathered them up and brought them back to the change rooms.

Ben looked at Gabriella. "They're just kids. They may be twenty four years old physically but they stopped developing mentally in their early teens. They need counselling. Probably therapy and maybe for years." His face fell.

"You can't save everyone Ben. Maybe you can give these two a happy, comfortable place to live and get them the help they need but what about the next damaged souls you meet. You are such a good man but you are going to have to protect your heart as you are stretching yourself too thin. We need to get you home."

Ben nodded then braced himself as he heard the giggles returning. Flattering silk blouses and sophisticated slacks with reasonably high heeled shoes. They were used to the extreme stilettos of five or six inches so these felt a little odd to them but they couldn't deny they liked the new look. Ben stood up and collected two pairs of shades. He walked over and slipped them on their faces. He turned back to Gabriella and smiled.

"Very stylish. A mysterious and classic look!" Gabriella said with a smile. She bore the next burst of kisses and Ben got his share as the ladies followed Catherine back. Cat was laughing at Ben's and Gabriella's flustered looks.

"If you don't mind, I'm exhausted and I really just want to go to bed for a little nap. Do you think it would be alright for me to head back to my room? Could I ask you to watch them for a time?" Ben asked plaintively.

"Not a problem. You need an hour? Two?" she replied.

"An hour would be lovely!" He gave Gabriella a tender kiss. "They'll need swimsuits, sleep wear, underwear..." he suddenly felt overwhelmed by the list of things they'd need. Worse, they had no identification papers!

Gabriella saw his distraught look. She patted his arm and gave him a gentle push. "Go get some sleep!"

Ben walked out of the shop and went up to his room. He closed the drapes and went into the bathroom. He changed the bandage on his side and walked back into the bedroom to drop onto the bed. Sleep took him quickly.

Catherine crossed the street to collect her daughters from the beach. The shopping day had been postponed but the kids still got to play on the beach so they weren't too disappointed. It was approaching the dinner hour so it was time to come back and get cleaned up for dinner. She spotted Daniel first and his face was grim. He relaxed when he saw her.

"What's wrong kiddo?" Cat said.

"That big man from the Louvre that Ben knocked out has been watching us for the last two hours," he said quietly. Catherine spun around and looked back up at the sidewalk.

"He left when you arrived," Daniel said.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" she gasped turning back to him.

"I thought... I thought if I could keep an eye on him if he moved I could get to the others in time to warn them. I didn't want to lose track of where he was. But he just stood there. So I sat here and kept an eye on him too," Daniel replied and Catherine saw he was exhausted so she gathered him up in her arms and held him tight.

"Sophia! Get your sisters and Miriam! We're going NOW!" she yelled.

Sophia picked up her frantic tone and rushed to get the others.

A dark haired beauty was lying on the beach soaking in the sun. She had successfully ignored the pathetic pick-up lines of the beach trolls and was beginning to finally relax. It was exactly what her doctor ordered.

Then she heard a voice calling out in a panic. There was something too familiar about that voice to ignore. She pushed herself up to a seated position and looked up the beach.

It was her and she looked frightened!

Catherine was clinging to a young boy and waving at her daughters to hurry.

Chanel Babineaux gathered her things and hustled up the beach to reach the group before they left. She saw Catherine turn her head suddenly in her direction then turn completely to face her with her mouth open, speechless.

"Catherine? Is everything alright?" she asked the gorgeous blonde as she felt her heart ache.

"Oh! Oh, thank god! Chanel! Yes! No! I mean there was a man, a bad man, watching the kids. It was that bodyguard of Rachid Shakir, the one Ben knocked out in the Louvre. Ben got in more trouble last night and there are some bad people on the loose. I think he might be one of them!" she gasped.

"Let's get you inside. Which hotel are you staying in?"

Catherine pointed across the street and Chanel's eyebrows rose. In comparison her hotel five blocks inland was a dump.

"You, ah, might want to put your top back on," Cat said somewhat mesmerized by Chanel's perfect breasts.

The detective gave her a coy smile and pulled the bikini top from her bag and tied it on. The small triangles barely covered anything and Catherine bit her lip as she watched Chanel make minute adjustments.

Having had her fun Chanel gestured for Catherine to lead. The detective immediately began to scan the crowd on the sidewalk for any suspicious attention. They crossed the street and made it through the lobby and up to their floor. They went to the far end of the hall to a door guarded by two police officers. Chanel looked at Catherine questioningly then showed the officers her badge but their eyes spent more time on her tits. Catherine gave her eldest a key card and the young woman went to a different room. Catherine then vouched for the remaining kids and they entered the room which proved to be a corner one bedroom suite.

Inside Chanel saw Gabriella and two... party girls? Well-dressed party girls but silicone doesn't lie.

"Gabriella! Daniel told me that bodyguard of Rachid Shakir was watching our kids on the beach for hours today! Daniel kept an eye on him and the man left when I got there." Catherine turned back to Chanel. "Oh, and I met Detective Babineaux on the beach."

"Hello Detective," Gabriella said.

"Chanel, please! I'm actually off duty for the next ten days." She looked at the two young women and Gabriella caught the look.

"Chanel, may I introduce Karen and Penny. Ben helped them escape Shakir's captivity last night," Gabriella gestured to the two ladies who nodded politely.

"How did Ben find them?" Chanel asked.

"Purely by accident. He got lost coming back from the washroom in the restaurant we were at and went in the wrong door. When he saw three young girls being held captive he... took matters into his own hands. I think you're aware of how he can get." Chanel nodded. "Four men died and a fifth escaped. We think it may have been this bodyguard. After he left Ben found these two ladies locked in a bedroom."

"So Ben brought them back to the hotel?" Chanel snorted.

Gabriella smiled. "Not initially. The police I'd called when I heard the gunshot arrived and collected Karen, Penny, Ben, and the three young girls who went back to their families. They cleared Ben, self defense, but held the ladies for questioning. I understand they held out on answering any questions until Ben was brought back to the precinct. That's when he brought them back to the hotel," she said with a smile at the two young women who gave her brilliant smiles in return.

Chanel looked incredulously at Catherine who smiled and shrugged. Chanel gave her head a shake and frowned.

"Back to this man who is watching the group. Do the police here have a description of him?" she asked.

"I have a picture of him," Daniel piped up. Everyone turned to look at him. He rushed over to his suitcase and pulled out his tablet. He started it up and opened up his photo album. He flicked the pages of images by until he got to the images he took at the Louvre. He handed the tablet to the detective.

Chanel was surprised to see a series of pictures of the altercation between the bodyguard and Ben. There was a very clear shot of the body guard's face. The next shot was blurry as Ben was punching the man in the temple. Then a picture of Catherine's eldest daughter striking Shakir in the head with a kick. She looked at the young boy with wide eyes. "These are excellent! You are very good!" He smiled at her compliment as did his mother. "This one should be sent to the local police when you report his activities today." She looked at Daniel. "Let's speak to the officers at the door and get them to give us a name and address to send this to." The boy nodded with a big grin and followed her out.

They spoke to the officers who radioed in and got the information they needed. Then they went back into the room and composed a message to Chief Inspector Favreau. Daniel wrote a description of how he noticed the man watching them, how he recognised him, and how he kept a watch on him. Chanel read his words as he wrote them and looked at the young man with new respect. He was very level headed for someone so young! She looked over at Gabriella and saw the pride and love in her expression.

Chanel reviewed the note once more and they sent it off with the picture attached.

Catherine was looking at her with her lovely blue eyes and once more Chanel's heart jumped.

"Can you join us for dinner tonight?" the blonde asked her and Chanel found herself nodding with a smile.

"I should go back to my hotel to change into something more appropriate if we're going out to eat," Chanel said.

"You're about the same size as me. I have a dress that would look lovely on you!" Catherine said with a grin.

Chanel looked at the woman and smiled. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all! Come on." Catherine walked past but hooked a finger around Chanel's fingers and tugged her along. A thrill shot through her body as she felt the soft finger crossing hers.

They went to Catherine's room and she immediately went to the closet and pulled a sleek, shimmering black sheath dress out. It was sleeveless and dipped low in the front and daringly low in the back.

"Where is the rest of the dress?" Chanel asked.

"Very funny! You would look fabulous in this!" Catherine gushed.

Chanel eyed it skeptically. It was very feminine and she did her best to avoid that but the eager look in Catherine's eyes melted her resistance. With an uncertain look she took the dress from the blonde's hands. The fabric was very soft and thin and the dress would be very tight. She had another thought.

"It's lovely but I can't wear my bikini bottoms under this and it's much too short to go without."

Catherine pulled a matching dress in white from the closet. "I will if you will," she said with a spark of challenge in her eyes.

Chanel desperately wanted to kiss Catherine at that moment. She also realized that she was no longer thinking of her as Isabelle. She couldn't. Catherine might look and even sound like Isabelle but she behaved completely different from Chanel's former lover. She grinned and nodded. The two immediately began stripping and it became a race to see who could squeeze themselves into the tight dress first. Chanel had the advantage of having less on. The bikini top and bottom were off in a flash but Catherine cheated by seizing the black dress and tossing it to the opposite side of the room. She burst into laughter as she scrambled to undress while Chanel went after her dress.

They both managed to squeeze into their dresses at the same time and both laughed at the silliness.

Catherine looked at her with that spark in her eyes again. "I was right! You look amazing!"

Chanel blushed and took in how sexy the blonde looked in her dress. Knowing she wasn't wearing panties in a dress that barely went lower than her lovely tight ass sent tingles through Chanel's intimate places. "You look pretty amazing yourself!" She watched the woman blush under her appraising look.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Catherine yelped and turned to pull two pairs of shoes from the closet. One white pair and one black pair. "Do these fit you?"

Chanel's eyebrows rose. High heels. She had avoided them for years but now she felt herself wanting to wear them. For her. She stepped forward and slipped her foot into the black shoe and it fit. Catherine smiled.

"We're a good match!" she said in delight. Chanel caught her eyes as the words reverberated in their minds.

"We- we should get back to the others," Catherine said to break a delicious tension building between them. Chanel admired how Catherine's ass moved under the fabric and had to struggle to keep her hands back.

It was going to be an interesting dinner.

Ben lay in bed wondering when his current 'fame' would fade and the public's attention deficit disorder and desperate need for novelty would drive it to latch onto some other poor schmuck. He shuddered when he recalled the look in that young woman's eyes when she approached him to... autograph her body. She and her friend treated him like he already owed them his attention. Was that the true nature of fame? A tacit approval for anyone to invade your personal space and consume your time?

He would need advice from Gabriella on how to downplay the whole 'hero' shit. He didn't want it. He didn't need it. It was bullshit and that was that!

He felt an ache from long ago echo through his soul and squeezed his eyes shut to prevent the images from returning.

Ben forced his mind to think about something else and the first thing that came to mind was Margaux. He owed her an answer. He wanted to speak with Gabriella but he was definitely leaning in the direction of saying yes.

He sighed. He could hear Gabriella's words to him in the dress shop in the hotel lobby. He couldn't protect everyone. She wanted him to protect his heart. Protect himself. The words triggered his mind to flash an image at him. He thrashed to escape it and squeezed his eyes shut tight, a moan escaping his lips.

There was a soft beep of his door unlocking and quiet footsteps leading up to the bed. It might be Gabriella or Catherine. They both had a key to his door.

There was a shift on the bed as someone crawled up the bed towards him.

"Ben? Are you awake? It's me, Sophia."

He smiled, incredibly grateful for her sudden appearance. "Hello Sophia," he rumbled.

"They said I could come wake you up for dinner. We're going back to that restaurant we went to the first night."

Ben saw she was on her hands and knees next to him so he reached out and drew her down over his chest. He heard her sigh happily then her lips were on his.

Sophia's mouth was soft and yielding, her tongue timid. So much different from her sister. He focused on the beautiful soft woman pressing him to the bed.

He stroked his lips across hers and she sighed. He gently sucked her lower lip between his and the tip of her tongue slid across his lips. Ben felt the spark from that shoot through his body and his hands slid down her back. As they approached her ass he felt Sophia's body tremble in anticipation. Her cheeks filled his palms and he squeezed them firmly bringing a coo from her lips. She pressed herself down against his growing erection and gasped as she felt it throb in response.

Sophia's hands tugged at his shirt and he arched his back to make it easier for her to pull it up. A little maneuvering later the shirt was off and her hands were running over the thick muscles of this chest as her breath came out in gulps. She was getting a little too excited. He needed to take the edge off for her.

Ben rolled over and she was under him with a squeak. She was wearing a dress so he slipped down and pushed it up until he could see her lovely white lace panties. He pressed his lips to her mound through the panties and she made a delightful yip sound as her hips rose from the bed. He slipped his fingers around the panties at her hips and tugged them down quickly causing her to gasp once more and raise her head to see his hungry eyes looking up at her. She shivered with desire and cried out when his tongue stroked across her wet pussy. She almost came from his first touch she was so charged up but Ben eased her into her pleasure and soon had her writhing under his tongue. He could tell she was very close so he slid his finger into her as he took her clit between his lips and gently sucked on it.

Sophia's thighs snapped shut pinning Ben's mouth to her as she cried out her bliss. Her body spasmed and Ben held on as best he could as she shook through a huge release. Her fingers were tangled in his hair as she held him tight against her.

When her body finally stopped twitching her thighs released Ben's head and he pulled back. He sucked his finger clean of her juices and moved up the bed to lie beside her. He pulled her back onto his chest and she rested her cheek on his chest as she came down from her high. She felt a heat against her thigh and pleasantly wondered what that was. Then she realized it was Ben's cock! He'd finished undressing as he'd pleasured her with his mouth! She felt an immediate tingle pass through the reddened flesh of her sex.

"I- I didn't bring a condom," she said when she realized her mistake.

"That's ok, we don't need to do any more," he said gently.

"I want to!" she said and kissed his chest. "Could you pull out? Like you did with Rachel?" she asked hesitantly.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Sophia ground against his body and felt the heat pressing between her thighs. "Oh god, yes!"

"You may want to remove that dress," he suggested.

She sat up on his body and froze as she felt the thick head of his cock trapped between his body and the spread open lips of her pussy. "Oooohhhh my, that feels so good!" she sighed. She tugged her dress up and over her head and dropped it to the side. She gasped and dropped her hands to his chest to brace herself as her movements rubbed his cock across her sensitive flesh.

Once she recovered from that she smiled down at him and reached back to unclasp her bra. She timidly slid it off her shoulders watching his face. He smiled up at her and gently moved her arms away to expose her pretty breasts. She was a little over conscious of them as of the four McGovern women she had been the one gifted with the largest breasts. They weren't full like Gabriella's but they were definitely larger than her mother's. Ben reached up and held them in the palms of his hands and Sophia sighed with happiness then moaned as she stroked herself along the length of his hard cock. Her eyes closed and she bit her lip as she rolled her hips and continued to stroke his cock against her.

When she could no longer wait she reached under herself and pointed his cock upwards to press against her opening. She pushed back and yelped as the slick head popped inside. Her legs trembled and she sank a few more inches before Ben grabbed her hips and slowed her descent.

"Thanks," she croaked as she adjusted to his girth.

He slowly lifted her up and she mewled sweetly. When he reached the top he reversed direction and just a slowly she took his thickness back inside her.

"Ohmy... ohmy... ohmy..." she chanted as the heat of his cock went deeper and deeper into her velvety softness.

Ben was struggling to maintain the slow pace when his body was demanding that he speed up. His hips wanted to drive upwards as she felt so incredibly good. He knew she wasn't ready for that so he kept the pace slow and deliberate and felt her trembling. He stopped and reversed direction again.

"BEN! Oh geez! Ohhhh my! Mmmmmmnnnnggg!" Sophia chirped as sparks exploded through her pussy.

Once more he began to push inwards and this time he let himself go a little faster.

"Oh yes oh yes oh yes oh DAMN oh please oh now oh NOW MMMmmmmnnnNNNGGGHH!" Sophia couldn't take the slow pace anymore so she slammed her ass downwards and felt Ben hit bottom. She collapsed onto his chest as he filled her completely. Her pussy throbbed from the sudden invasion but she just rode out the waves as her body tingled madly from the solid and hot intruder so deep inside her. Ben lifted his head and kissed her deeply. She moaned into his mouth as sparks flew from his tongue to his cock through her body. She trembled then began to move. He grabbed her ass and pulled her roughly up and down on his cock, his need beginning to drive him.

Sophia was in heaven. He was so strong and she felt so... right in his powerful arms. His need was overpowering and she felt her own need rise to join his. She thrust her tongue into his mouth and he sucked on it drawing another moan from her. Her pleasure was beginning to spike and she couldn't hold back.

"I'm going to cum! Ben! I'm going to cum! Ohhhhh!" she wailed as the first waves crashed over her. Ben continued to thrust and pull, dragging her clit back and forth across him, stretching out her orgasm.

Finally she was almost raw from the continuous stimulation and she felt Ben tense up. He pulled his cock from her pussy and she surprised him by quickly slipping down his body to take his cock into her mouth.

"FUCK!" Ben yelled as his orgasm struck sending surge after surge of cum into Sophia's hot mouth. Her tongue was stroking the underside of its head causing his orgasm to spike again and again. He gritted his teeth and shook as she milked the last of his cum from him. Finally she released his cock and he flopped back on the bed, completely spent. She climbed back up his body and he wrapped her in his arms. She laid her cheek on his chest and he kissed the top of her head.

"That was lovely," she murmured to him and he rumbled his agreement.

She glanced at the clock. They had ten minutes to get ready for dinner. She sighed as she wanted to lie there on Ben's chest all night. But duty called so she gently pushed herself up and smiled down at him.

"You have ten minutes to get cleaned up, dressed and be presentable in the hallway for dinner," she stated.

He groaned. "Couldn't we just order in?"

"Don't tempt me!" she grinned and rolled off of him. She quickly leaned back and planted a kiss on his shaft causing him to jump.

"Hey!" he barked.

Giggling Sophia pulled her dress back on and rushed from his room with her panties in her hand. "Nine minutes!" she called as she left. He heard a loud squeak from the hall just before the door closed.

Ben rolled out of bed slowly. He had nine minutes after all.

Catherine bumped into Sophia as she went to step out of her room causing her daughter to squeak and drop something. She looked down and saw it was a pair of panties. She bent at the waist and picked up the dropped lingerie knowing full well that Chanel was getting a show from behind her in the room's entranceway. She stood up and tugged her hem down once more and handed the panties to Sophia.

"Have a little fun did we?" Cat grinned at her daughter's blush. She stepped out of the room followed by the detective and Sophia got a good look at her and Chanel's outfits. Her jaw dropped.

"You both look gorgeous!" she gushed.

"Thank you sweetie!" Cat smiled at her daughter then the young woman rushed into the room to get changed as well.

Chanel stood close to Catherine. Smouldering dark brown eyes locked on her blue ones. "You play a dangerous game Catherine McGovern," the raven haired beauty whispered to her. Cat swallowed and couldn't look away. Chanel pulled back and a small smile slipped across her lips as she turned away to look at her cell. Catherine was trembling and recalled they had an audience. The two police officers standing guard outside Gabriella's door were watching them with interest. The door opened behind them and Gabriella stepped out in a lovely royal blue dress that clung to her curves which definitely distracted the officers. Miriam and Daniel were right behind her.

Cat smiled at Miriam who was looking so mature in her new Parisian fashions... until she smiled as she was doing now. Then her youth came shining through and it made Cat's heart ache knowing they grew up so quickly. Daniel was looking smart in his suit and had his ever present camera hanging at his hip.

Megan and Rachel joined them and everyone commented on how amazing Chanel and she looked in the matching black and white.

Ben stepped from his room and Catherine's heart fluttered. He was such a gorgeous man! Dark grey dress shirt open at the neck and tight black dress pants with black leather dress shoes. His dark hair and that thrilling scar made her weak in the knees.

When he turned and caught sight of the group a huge smile spread across his face. Then he realized they had a new member in their group.

"Detective Babineaux? How? What?" he stumbled with his words.

"Please call me Chanel. I'm here on the advice of a smart man and woman who said I should go relax on a beach. I just happened to bump into Catherine on that beach so she invited me along."

"That's wonderful!" he smiled then noticed the absence of their new companions. "Where are Karen and Penny? Aren't they coming?"

"Chief Inspector Favreau informed me that this would not be possible, for tonight anyway," Gabriella reported.

"They can at least order room service. Can they move to my room? I told them they would be there. I can sleep on the couch," Ben said. Gabriella and Catherine looked at each other then Gabriella nodded.

Ben turned to the officers. "We're going to move them to my room, number 501." The men nodded as Ben went inside to speak with the ladies. A few minutes later they came out of Gabriella's room, each carrying a few large shopping bags. They waved at their new friends then went into Ben's room with him. He came back out a minute later.

"They're going to order some dinner and go to bed as they're both exhausted," Ben explained. Sophia joined them and they went downstairs.

Catherine leaned over to Ben. "That Shakir guy's bodyguard was watching the kids on the beach for a couple of hours today. Daniel kept an eye on him in return." Ben looked at her in shock. They stopped in the lobby.

"Why are we going out tonight? This lunatic could be out there!" he exclaimed.

"That's why we are going out as a group. No one walks alone. We can't hide in our hotel for the rest of the trip," Gabriella said.

"Besides, you have an armed police escort," Chanel said with a small smile on her lips. Ben gawked at her.

"What? You thought I was carrying this purse because it matches my shoes?" Chanel quipped.

Catherine felt a tingle shoot through her and she grinned at Ben. "Isn't she hot?"

He smiled and nodded but there was still a little unease in his stance.

They headed out to the restaurant. Once they were on the street Catherine slipped her arm through Chanel's who looked at her in surprise and caught Cat's little self-satisfied smirk. The woman chuckled.

It was going to be an interesting dinner.

Ben walked at the front of the group with Gabriella and kept his voice low as he spoke. He let her know about his meeting with Margaux and what her proposal was. When he was finished Gabriella's face wore a frown as she considered the woman's idea. Then she looked up at Ben.

"The idea would work if her lifestyle doesn't change. But if she were to find that these infrequent visits weren't enough for her and needed to increase them, how well would she deal with not having control over your time. If she can get over her fear, if she sees it work, maybe. But if she can't it will mean a great deal of pain for you Ben. That worries me. You know how we can get when we're trying to protect you from that pain. Understand, my answers to you now are all filtered through that need to protect you."

He smiled at her concerned look. "That's exactly the kind of honesty that protects me the most. Thank you Gabriella. I'll have to think more on this and I'll bring up your points when I have dinner with her tomorrow night." He leaned over and gave her a kiss.

"Get a room!" Catherine called out from the back and Gabriella chuckled.

Chanel looked over at Catherine. "So it doesn't bother you when your man kisses other women?"

Catherine smiled at her. "For starters he isn't 'my man' exclusively just as I'm not 'his woman' exclusively. I love Ben. He loves me. That hasn't changed. When I'm with Ben it's just him and me... except for that one time with Gabriella," she murmured then looked up in dismay for having spoken aloud.

Chanel grinned at Catherine for her admission but Sophia and Rachel were looking back at their mother wide eyed.

"What? I love Gabriella!" Catherine said a little defensively. Her daughters smiled and looked forward once more.

She looked at Chanel with a guilty expression. "I speak out of turn... a lot."

"But you are very cute when you do it so that makes up for it," Chanel said and delighted in the blonde's blush.

They made it to the restaurant without issue and Gabriella was greeted once more by Giselle with a big hug and kisses to both cheeks. Ben also got the same treatment as Giselle was so impressed with his heroism. She'd seen the stories on the news and asked if she could take a picture with him to put on her wall of fame. Near the entrance was a wall of picture frames each showing Giselle standing with the celebrities who had visited her restaurant. Ben argued that he wasn't a celebrity and didn't belong next to these famous people. Giselle insisted he was more worthy of being honored than most of the people who adorned the wall. It was Gabriella's request to do it for her friend that finally made Ben agree. He stood next to the grinning woman with his arm over her shoulder while one of her staff took the picture.

The service was extremely attentive and as they were on their first visit their meals were delicious.

Ben noticed Catherine flirting with Chanel who was giving as good as she got. He had to hide his grin because from the flush on both their faces he could see how effective the teasing was. He shared a smile with Gabriella who had also picked up on their friend's activities.

Sophia and Rachel seemed to be in deep conversation. Then the two women smiled at him and he suddenly caught on to what they were talking about. He blushed and looked back to his plate to see if he'd missed anything.

The hour grew late and they finally ate the last morsels of their desserts. With a round of kisses and hugs they left the restaurant. They saw there were very few people walking on the streets in the neighborhood. Feeling a little uneasy they walked in a tighter group than they had been on the way there. When they reached the middle of the block they heard a loud voice.

"That's far enough!"

The group stopped and gathered a little tighter together. A large man stepped out of the shadows pointing a small nasty looking machine gun in their direction. It was the bodyguard.

"Please, nobody move or I will be forced to start shooting and there are children present. This would be... very bad," the man stated.

"So you aren't here to kill us?" Ben said, hoping to ease the fears of Daniel and Miriam at least.

"Mr. Shepherd. Let me get straight to the point. My employer is very upset with you. You cost him a lot of money. The twins were worth millions in ransom and twins are in high demand in our market. His ship has been seized and he really liked that ship. But the worst thing you did was take his property from him. It is a matter of principle. No one steals from him."

"I didn't take anything-"

"Sharmuta and Zebala."

Ben rocked back then his face contorted into rage. "They're people not property!" Ben growled and Gabriella gripped his arm to hold him back.

"Move again and I will put a bullet through the pretty head of the smart lady holding your arm," the bodyguard said with a cold voice.

Ben glared at him. "What do you want?" he growled.

"It is simple. You and only you will walk back to the hotel with me and I will retrieve my employer's property. You will then buy us a lovely new yacht which we will use to leave. Once we are at sea I will shoot you dead."

Several voices were raised in protest. "Quiet!" barked the man with the gun.

"I'm not that keen on that idea either. What if I don't?" Ben said.

"Then I kill you all here and take a hit team into the hotel and kill as many women and children as I have to on my way to get his property. I think a hero like you will choose the first plan."

Ben stared at the man and realized he had no options. "The police guards-"

"Will be the first to go and just so you don't get any stupid ideas about being a hero again your women will stay here. If they move or try to alert the authorities my employer will see this and he will make a simple phone call. Each one of them will be dead within the week as our hired killers take their lives one by one. You won't see them coming."

"So Shakir is here," Ben said.

The bodyguard seeing defeat in Ben's eyes raised his fist and a small figure stepped out of an unlit doorway well down the street. He had to be at least 30 yards away. Ben frowned in puzzlement.

"Why the hell is he so far away?" Ben asked.

"You have proven to be a very violent man. Mr. Shakir wisely does not wish to take any chances."

Ben felt something cold pressing along his side between his torso and elbow. Ah. He wondered if it would hurt.

"Ok. I'll go. The women will be safe?" Ben asked.

The man snorted. "Women are no threat," he sneered and turned slightly to give a signal to his boss.

Chanel's shot struck him on the temple. The far side of his head blew out taking most of the grey matter with it. His legs were folding before the brains splashed to the sidewalk. Chanel and Catherine stepped out from behind Ben and Gabriella. They watched as Shakir spun and began to run away.

"Fuck! I can't hit him from here," Chanel grimaced.

"Give it!" Catherine held out her hand and Chanel gave her the pistol. Catherine aimed, froze and two seconds later there was a loud crack. Rachid pitched forward face first to the sidewalk beside a car but out of sight. The two women kicked off their shoes and ran forward as fast as they could on the street to make sure the bastard didn't get away to make that call.

As they approached Chanel held out her hand and Catherine handed the gun back. They heard an odd gasping noise on the other side of the car and Chanel ducked around it gun extended. The man was weakly clawing at the sidewalk to crawl forward. A large pool of blood was forming under his body. His arms were extended out and his cell was on the sidewalk three feet ahead.

Rachid turned his head and the women grimaced. A portion of his throat was gone as well as half of his jaw. Pain filled eyes stared up at them. They tracked Catherine as she slowly walked past and picked up the phone. She looked down at the dying man and realized she felt nothing at all for taking his life. He had ruined the lives of so many others, Penny and Karen included, that he didn't deserve to live.

Sirens could be heard in the distance. A lot of sirens.

"If he lives we're always in danger," Catherine said. Chanel nodded and stepped on the back of the man's neck. He tried to move but the hole in his throat began to gush. He wheezed and went still as the life went out of his eyes. She stepped back.

"Go back to your family. Remember, I did the shooting. Tell them," Chanel said. Catherine nodded then grinned. "What?"

"Your pussy's showing," Catherine snorted.

Chanel looked down and saw her dress had ridden up when she ran. She grinned back at the blonde. "I wasn't going to tell you as I was admiring the view but so is yours." They both pulled their dresses back down to cover themselves and grinned at each other. As Catherine headed back she pulled the dress up to show her ass and smiled cheekily over her shoulder. Chanel just shook her head.

Catherine went back to the group as quickly as she could, keeping her dress from rising as it did before. She lost her smile when she saw Ben sitting on the ground. Gabriella was kneeling beside him holding the pocket square from Daniel's jacket pocket against Ben's right side. He was wincing in pain.

"What happened?" Catherine barked.

"Chanel's aim around Ben wasn't so good. It hit him too!" Gabriella growled. Flashing lights approached.

"It's... just a flesh... wound," the man hissed. Daniel giggled then looked immediately sorry but Ben gave him a big smile and mouthed 'Thank you' to him. Daniel smiled nervously back.

"Remember everyone, Chanel did all the shooting!" Catherine said looking into their eyes and received nods. Daniel looked troubled.

"What's wrong?" Cat asked him.

"Should I delete the movie I shot?" he asked.

"You caught that on video?" she gaped. He nodded.

"Hell no! I want to show that to my father! He'll be so proud," she grinned. "But give the memory stick to your sister in case the police want to see your camera." He smiled and moved to Miriam.

"Is Shakir dead?" Ben asked.

"Very," Cat responded.

"Good."

The police arrived and soon ambulances were brought in. The paramedics looked after Ben and he'd just been grazed on his right side half way down his torso. Stung like a bitch and it would scar but definitely not life threatening. They treated the wound and put a proper bandage on it. The paramedic peeled back the bandage on his left side and looked at Ben in surprise. Then he saw the multitude of scars including the three old bullet scars.

"Are you a soldier?" the man asked as he put a new bandage on Ben's left side.

"No, just unlucky. But I compensate by being lucky in love." He tilted his head towards the open doors of the ambulance. Standing outside were seven worried looking people all staring in at Ben. The man smiled.

"May I go?" Ben asked. The paramedic nodded and had him sign the release form. Ben climbed gingerly out of the ambulance and was gathered into the embrace of his family.

"Not the result I was hoping for but it will have to do," came a voice behind them. Chief Inspector Favreau was standing next to the ambulance with Chanel who was looking relaxed. She smiled at Catherine who smiled back.

"What were you hoping to get? A confession?" Ben growled. The pain was making him a little testy.

The Chief Inspector frowned. "No, but a list of his clients would have been helpful."

Catherine suddenly remembered she was holding the cell phone. "Maybe it's on his phone," she said as she moved forward to hand it to the man.

"This is Rachid Shakir's phone? How did you get it?" the man asked.

"Catherine ran over after the shooting to see if I got him. She must have picked it up then," Chanel said.

Cat nodded with wide eyes. "He was dead. It was horrible!"

"Yes, sorry you had to see that," Favreau said, missing the byplay between the two women.

"I have to get this back to the techs. Thank you! I hope your vacation goes a little more smoothly from this point on," the Chief Inspector said as he prepared to leave.

"Does this mean Karen and Penny are no longer needed as witnesses?" Ben asked.

Favreau paused. "I still have some questions for them. They may have witnessed Shakir performing transactions with customers. They may be able to identify them. With Shakir's death they no longer require police protection but I will need to speak with them." He hustled away.

Catherine handed the black heels to Chanel who sighed looking at them then slipped them back on. Then she took her purse back. "I have to go to the station and fill out some reports. Firing my weapon within city limits. Killing two suspects. Paperwork! Bah." She smiled at Catherine. "I still have to get this dress back to you. Can I see you tomorrow?"

"You'd better!" Catherine growled playfully.

Chanel quickly glanced around but saw they were being ignored. She stepped forward and planted a sensual kiss right on the blonde's lips drawing a moan from her. She pulled back and smiled at the dazed and dreamy look on Cat's face. "Until tomorrow." She strode away in the annoying shoes but she was walking on clouds.

Ben and Gabriella walked up behind Catherine. "Hey, get a room," Gabriella teased.

Cat squeaked as she became aware of her surroundings once more. She blushed at her friends and they gathered her between them and the group made their way back to the hotel. They'd had quite enough excitement for the night.

Chapter 19

It was decided at breakfast the next morning that this day would make up for the missed shopping trip to Nice. The women in his party plus Chanel would leave shortly after breakfast. The new members of their party, Karen and Penny, had to stick around Cannes as they might be called upon by the police to identify Shakir's customers though both claimed he locked them in their room when he did his business dealings. As they heard Ben was going to relax up on the rooftop pool deck they were delighted to join him. Daniel also wanted to play in the pool so he was staying behind as well.

As she wasn't in her room when he called Ben left an invitation with the front desk for Margaux to join him. He booked a cabana next to the pool and two extra lounge chairs so the ladies could get some sun.

He saw the group off on their shopping extravaganza from the lobby and Chanel formally apologized for the injury she'd caused him the previous night. He assured her he wasn't upset and wished them all luck. He grinned seeing the excitement on Catherine's face. She rushed back and gave him another kiss before she skipped after her group. He and Daniel headed for the roof.

Ben settled himself on the large queen sized lounge bed in the cabana but left his shirt on to avoid the stares his scars drew. Daniel made straight for the pool. He had the young man in his line of sight and there was a lifeguard on duty so he felt comfortable resting his eyes occasionally. It was during one of these restful moments when he heard a lull in the normal background conversation level from the other guests. Curious, he opened his eyes and saw Karen and Penny walking towards the cabana in their new swimsuits. They had their new 'Hollywood' shades on and their bikinis were straining to contain their ample breasts. Each had a colorful and sheer wrap over their bikini bottoms and he saw their shoes had heels that were still a little higher than might be practical for beachwear. From their smiles he could tell that they were both happy so he just smiled back at them.

"Are these for us?" Karen asked, pointing to the two lounge chairs before the cabana. Ben nodded and they set their stuff down between the chairs. Ben wondered where they'd got the beach bag but knew the resourcefulness of the ladies he was traveling with had likely taken care of it.

Ben relaxed once more and let the soothing sounds of the pool area take his tensions away. The last major worry he'd had was getting identification for both Karen and Penny. He'd contacted his lawyer back in the states and left him a long detailed message on beginning an identity search, discretely, and to get started on establishing some identification for both. He authorized the man to bring in any resources he deemed required. That taken care of he hoped he could just enjoy the rest of his vacation.

A waiter came by and Ben ordered some pineapple juice. The waiter spent far more time with the two ladies and he finally left with their orders.

Ben was beginning to nod off when he heard a noise.

"Bennnnnnnnnnnnn," said two voices, almost in harmony. It was the almost part that was jarring. He opened his eyes and looked at Karen and Penny who were both smiling at him.

"Yes?"

"Could you put sun tan lotion on us?" Karen asked while Penny had a coy smile.

"No."

Both ladies froze in surprise. That wasn't the answer they were expecting.

"No? Why not?" Karen asked with a pout.

Ben sat up and looked at the two ladies to ensure he had their attention. "Because I'm defining our relationship in terms of what you need not what you want. You are both beautiful young women but you've had half of your lives stolen from you by a... very bad man. I'm willing to help you regain what was taken from you but if you accept my help we will do it on my terms. Unlike how Shakir treated you, from me you will only receive honesty and respect. I expect the same from you. You aren't pets. You have far more potential than that. If you accept my help you will have a say in all matters that concern you. My role in your lives will not be that of lover. You won't flirt with me. You could think of me like... an uncle-"

"Father," Penny blurted, her eyes welling with tears.

Ben smiled gently. "Sure. Father works too. I will protect you, guide you, and support you until you are able to take your lives under your own control. But like I said it's your choice." He looked at the two ladies and saw Karen was having more difficulty with the idea than Penny who seemed completely onboard.

"Something you need to say Karen? You can say anything you want to me," he said gently.

"I- I liked it. Just the being taken care of part. Not having to make decisions!" her voice was a little shrill from fear.

"Come here," Ben said and Karen rushed to crawl up the lounge bed and press herself against his chest. She was trembling.

"I'm not throwing you into the deep end to see if you will sink or swim. We will do this together, work out how much autonomy you can deal with every day until you are comfortable with taking charge of the important things in your life. When you have control over that, well, that would be the optimal time to find a boyfriend. He'll have to endure a grilling from me but if he survives my interrogation then he may be worthy of you."

Both women were grinning by that point and Penny rushed up onto the bed to hug him.

"Am I interrupting something?" said a frosty voice.

Ben looked up to see Margaux standing rigidly at the end of the lounge bed. He sighed. "Karen, Penny, this is Margaux De la Cruz. Please tell her what I just told you."

Karen looked a little confused but she spoke first. "He won't rub suntan lotion on us and won't be our lover."

Penny seemed to get the message a little clearer. "Ben will help us get our lives back but as a father would." She beamed him a loving smile.

"Thank you. Now I think you can put on your own lotion and help each other do your backs." Ben shooed them off the bed. The two ladies grinned and moved quickly back to their lounge chairs.

Ben looked at Margaux who was struggling to regain her composure. She frowned and her bottom lip started to tremble. "Come here, please," Ben said.

The woman gracefully sat on the edge of the bed. "Closer." She slid forward a few inches. Ben sighed and leaned back against the inclined cushions and lifted his left arm across the top of the pillows. "Climb up here and tuck yourself against me so we can talk. You'll feel better."

Dark brown eyes looked deeply into his then she moved closer and slowly lowered herself to the cushions and his side. Once her head was resting against his chest he felt her exhale and begin to relax.

"It's beautiful up here. I was just lying here listening to the sounds of the breeze and the water lapping in the pool, the kids playing and the happy murmur of the other guests talking and... I felt at peace. I've had a few moments like that on this vacation. I treasure those as I've had so many moments in my life that were the direct opposite of them. I'm learning to cherish the important moments." He moved his left arm down and cuddled Margaux a little tighter against him. "This feels like one of those moments too."

"You've just seen the ugly monster that lives within me. It is so eager to destroy every chance at happiness. How can you say you want me to be with you when you've seen its evil?" she said quietly, her voice trembling.

"You think you are the only one carrying monsters inside? We all have them to some degree. The trick is to recognize them as separate from who you are. Don't be defined by their actions and impulses. Own them, understand them but deny them their ability to make life decisions. To truly love someone is to accept them, monsters and all."

Margaux pressed her face against his chest and breathed in deeply. Her body was relaxing.

They lay on the lounge bed together for a time, neither speaking, both enjoying the simple comfort of human contact. The waiter returned with the drinks and Margaux ordered one for herself. Once more the waiter tried to flirt with the ladies but both glanced at Ben and saw his raised eyebrow. They turned back to the waiter and politely denied his request to meet them later. Dejectedly the man moved off.

Margaux chuckled. "You are doing it again!"

"What?" he asked with a smile.

"Unconscious Dom behavior," she looked up at him with a knowing smile.

"Not this time. That was a 'you're not ready for dating and he's not worthy of you' look. Dad stuff," he rumbled.

Margaux pushed herself up on one elbow to stare into Ben's eyes with surprise. "You're serious! You're really going to treat these women like your daughters?"

"It's what they need most right now. The stuff they've gone through? They didn't deserve. The stuff they missed out on? I can help with that."

"How? How can you afford to do all this? You told me you were a semi-retired mechanic?" she asked incredulously.

Ben snorted and began to laugh. Once he got control of that he smiled at her confusion. "Mechanical Engineer. I make stuff. Solve engineering issues. Invent things to make other things work or work better. I get patents on the things I make. I get royalties for those I license others to manufacture and sometimes I sell the design outright."

"You're rich?" she said with a quiet intense voice.

Ben looked around. "I do alright."

"So you're not after my money," Margaux smiled as she rested her chin on his chest to look up at his face.

He grinned. "No. I'm not."

"You're some kind of millionaire playboy?" she teased.

Ben snorted. "Definitely not!"

"Good!"

The waiter arrived with a wireless phone. "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt but you have a call."

Ben and Margaux sat up and he took the phone. "Ben Shepherd."

"Ah, Mr. Shepherd. This is Marcus from the front desk. You have visitors. The Noskov family? They say you rescued their twin daughters. Shall I send them up?"

"To the rooftop patio?" Ben asked.

"Yes sir, they could meet you in the restaurant," Marcus indicated.

"Uh, sure, ok."

"Very good sir. They will be right up." The phone went dead. He handed it back to the waiter who nodded and left.

"Uh, I have to go greet the family of the twins I... found the other night. Could you give me a moment?" he asked. She nodded with a smile and Ben walked over to the elevator doors.

When they opened four people were inside. First was a shorter man, maybe 5' 4" but broad in the shoulders and fit. His hair was either prematurely greying or he was slightly older than Ben. He had a square jaw and sharp blue eyes which took in the surroundings before he stepped out and allowed his family to follow.

His wife was tall and slim. A good twenty years younger than her husband and at least four inches on him. She was lovely and had lips made for smiling though she looked a little strained and tired now. Then came the two lovely girls, blond like their mother and likely to inherit her height and looks. Their eyes were currently scanning everywhere but stopped when they spotted him. The two began to chatter immediately and point excitedly towards him.

Ben stepped forward awkwardly and smiled. "Hello, I'm Ben Shepherd." He held his hand out.

The man stopped and looked up at him. Something passed across his face and the man's jaw flexed. He shook Ben's hand then he pulled him into a fierce hug which caught Ben by surprise. Then the wife joined the hug and the kids right after. Ben was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed. The man was the first to recover and pulled back. He dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief. His wife stepped back and Ben patted the two girl's heads then with a word from their father they joined their mother.

"I am Nikolai Noskov. This is my wife Galena and our girls Mika and Roza. They are our miracle children and more precious to us than anything in the world. We had almost lost hope of ever finding them again. I cannot express the gratitude we feel for your rescuing them and bring them back to us."

Ben was squirming under their admiring looks so he tried to deflect. "It was the police who really rescued them and brought them to you. They deserve your praise more than me."

"Your modesty proves your quality of character!" Nikolai gushed. "It is almost lunch time, please let me buy you lunch!"

"Oh! Uh, sure but I should bring my companions if we are going to have lunch," Ben said.

"Please bring them!" the man said with a smile. They walked to the entrance of the restaurant and Ben asked for a large table. The host nodded and led the Noskov family to the table while Ben went to gather his people. He got Daniel out of the pool and let the two ladies know it was lunch time.

"Margaux, would you please join us for lunch. This family is very nice and wants to show their gratitude by buying lunch. They invited all of us," Ben asked.

She saw the need in his eyes so she nodded and he relaxed. She wondered what caused his discomfort.

The group followed Ben to the restaurant and over to the table. Nikolai and Galena stood and tried not to gawk at Karen and Penny and everyone shook hands and said their hellos as introductions were made.

Ben leaned forward to address the parents. "Karen and Penny were captives of Rachid Shakir since their early teens. I found them locked in a bedroom off the room your children were kept in." Nikolai's and Galena's faces went white. They were looking at the potential, eventual end result of their children's abduction.

Karen looked upset. "Why are they looking at us like that?"

"They don't mean to upset you, it's just that the idea of losing your children for such a long time is horrifying to a parent. I should have found a better way to make that introduction. My apologies." Ben felt terrible for making everyone feel bad.

"Mr. Shepherd is right. We would have missed our daughters very much and are so grateful this was prevented!" Galena said diplomatically. Karen felt better but Ben saw worry in Penny's eyes.

Talk quickly made its way to occupations and Ben learned that Nikolai's company, which he ran with his brother Andrei, touched on a lot of different industries. Ben realized that he'd done work with the Noskovs before.

"I designed a new drill bit for one of your mining companies. Reduced the creation of dust which meant less water needed to control the dust, less pollution, less energy consumption for pumping, less cost." Ben smiled.

"That was you?" Nikolai said incredulously.

"Yes! I saw the request on the engineering boards and thought it looked like a good challenge!" Ben beamed and Margaux finally, truly got what Ben did for a living.

They ate lunch and talked about travel, Ben having only France to mention but Margaux and the Noskovs had travelled far more extensively.

When lunch was done everyone stood to say their goodbyes and Ben noticed Nikolai was still nervously scanning the room.

"Sorry, I can't help noticing you seem to be looking for someone to jump out at you," Ben said to Nikolai who nodded.

"I have made a pest of myself with the police so they no longer will speak to me. I understand they have yet to catch that monster. They may make another attempt to take my children," the man said quietly only for Ben to hear.

Ben looked at the man. "They didn't tell you?"

"What?"

"He's dead. Last night, both he and his bodyguard were shot dead," Ben said and Nicholai grabbed his arm.

"Is this true? Where did you hear this?" Nikolai gasped and Galena moved closer to hear, a hopeful look on her face.

Seeing the desperation in their eyes Ben made a decision. He looked over at the boy. "Daniel, did you transfer the files from last night?"

Daniel looked at him seriously and nodded.

"Can you go get your tablet?"

Daniel nodded again and raced away.

"This isn't to go beyond us. Is that understood? It could cause a lot of grief for a police officer that put her career on the line for us," Ben said sternly and the couple nodded. A minute later Daniel returned with the tablet, the video queued for viewing.

"On our way back from dinner last night our group was stopped by Shakir and his bodyguard. Daniel had his camera and filmed the encounter." Nikolai and Galena were wide eyed with shock as they looked between Ben and Daniel.

Ben handed Nikolai the tablet and he and his wife leaned close and watched the video. It was shot around the legs of someone so the picture wasn't always on target but it was sharp and pretty clear. The audio was perfect.

Nikolai and Galena both jumped when the bodyguard was shot and they watched in shock as Shakir was sent to the ground with a single bullet. Nikolai handed the tablet back with trembling hands.

"Shakir fell but was he killed?" Nikolai growled.

"Yes. The bullet hit him in the neck and destroyed his jaw. He bled out in minutes," Ben explained.

"Minutes?" the man said hopefully.

"He had time to suffer and look into the eyes of the woman who killed him. I take great pleasure in that fact." Ben had a grim but satisfied expression. The father shared that smile.

Nikolai looked at his wife. "You heard what that man said on the video. Even if we had paid the ransom they had no intension of returning them as they could sell the twins. Truly, these were evil men."

Galena stepped forward and kissed Ben on the cheek. "You will always be welcome in our home. You may call upon the Noskov's should you ever need our help." Nikolai nodded, sharing his wife's conviction. He shook Ben's hand one more time.

The twins came over and each took one of Ben's hands. They pulled him down to their level then kissed his cheeks. He grinned at them.

With a final wave they left. Ben gestured for his group to head back to the pool. Daniel made a quick trip to his room to take his tablet back first.

Once everyone was back in the places they'd been before the call Margaux looked up at Ben. "Do you make friends and enemies everywhere you travel?"

"I hope I can skip the enemies part on my next trip! If they let me take one, that is! You know how protective women can be!" Ben joked.

"You have many protective woman already around you. Why haven't any of them tried to marry you to keep you to themselves? Wouldn't that be the ultimate protection?" she asked with a coy smile.

"Actually I am engaged to one. Tina. She's pregnant," Ben said.

Margaux's face registered a number of unpleasant expressions finishing with rage. "Why didn't you tell me this from the beginning?" she exploded.

"The marriage is for the child and security for Tina. Protection against our society's issues with unwed mothers and fatherless children. It doesn't nullify my love for Gabriella, Catherine, or Trish nor does Tina want me to change who I am. The pregnancy was a miracle, beating almost impossible odds. I cherish that." Margaux still looked skeptical and was breathing hard.

"Gabriella and Catherine suggested the marriage. Basically told me I should do it as it made sense. They also told me that they weren't giving me up. Our relationship has been stronger since that day."

Margaux now looked confused.

"Are you reconsidering your proposal? Was there a hidden or eventual exclusivity clause in there?" Ben asked.

Her pretty brows furrowed. "No! No, I never intended to ask for an exclusive relationship. As I explained the infrequency of my visits precludes that."

"What if you find that you want or need to increase the frequency? Your schedule will likely take precedence when it's infrequent but if that changes there may be conflicts. How will you deal with that?" Ben asked gently. "It's something you need to think about."

Her beautiful dark eyes looked troubled but she shook her head. "If it works at all I would learn to accept the others."

"So, how does my name on a piece of paper change things for you?" Ben asked.

"Won't you be taking an oath with Tina?" she asked.

"Yes, to love, honor and cherish her forever. There will be no clause in that oath that demands exclusivity," Ben explained.

She seemed to reach an epiphany that the circumstances hadn't really changed. "This brings me back to my proposal-"

"Yes!" he smiled.

"Be serious!" she scolded, looking uncertain.

"I am. Completely. I really like you and I think you're breathtakingly beautiful. Will this turn into love? Maybe. We'll have to get to know each other better. Maybe you'll discover I'm a muscle bound fool. Maybe I won't be able to get past how you hog all the sheets in bed. The future is full of maybes but I'd like to find out. But you should know one thing before you capture my heart."

She tilted her head up to hear this thing. "I don't fall out of love. I go full commitment when I fall in love. I'm still in love with my wife who ultimately betrayed and left me and I'm still carrying that pain. Does that make me a muscle bound fool? Maybe. But that's my secret. That's why Gabriella and Catherine both feel comfortable being in love with me. They know I love them and it's permanent... for me. If you don't feel you can make such a commitment please let me know before I fall in love. Spare me carrying that pain too."

"I want permanent love as well. Let us see if love develops between us. In the spirit of honesty, I am fine with the muscle bound part but not so much the fool," she teased and he smiled.

Margaux tilted her head to look at him. "We will have our romantic dinner tonight?"

"Sounds lovely." Ben smiled. "Now, if you don't mind I need to do a cannonball in the pool next to Daniel."

Margaux laughed at the joyful look on Ben's face as he rushed to the side of the pool and made a mighty splash next to the young man who shrieked with laughter. He hadn't even taken his shirt off! Ben played with Daniel in the pool for an hour until they both got tuckered out. They got out and dried off and Ben flopped down on the lounge bed. He smiled at Daniel's back as he sat cross legged at the end of the bed staring out over the pool. He looked over at Margaux and she dipped her head down and captured his mouth with hers. Sparks shot through his body as her sensual lips caressed his. She pulled back and smiled down at him.

"I think I will enjoy getting to know you better. Meet me at my room at 8PM tonight?" she asked.

"I'll be there!" Ben smiled.

She got up and said goodbye to Daniel and the ladies. She walked away as Ben watched. She knew his eyes were on her and that gave her a tingle in a good place.

Ben rested his head back and the next thing he felt was someone running their fingers gently through his hair. He opened his eyes slowly and saw Gabriella sitting on the edge of the bed looking down at him with love in her eyes.

"Hey beautiful!" he whispered. Then he noticed Daniel curled up against him asleep. He smiled and felt Gabriella's lips against his temple.

"I love you Ben," she whispered.

"I love you too Gabriella," he whispered back.

"How did it go with Margaux?" she asked.

"She's a woman of strong emotions but she's intelligent and is coming around. Telling her about Tina set her temper off but she stayed to listen as I explained. We're going to dinner tonight so we can work out some final details. God, I make it sound like we are negotiating a business deal. We're going to try. If we are compatible then maybe it will work. I asked her your question about issues that might arise if she needs to increase the frequency of her visits. She said that if it works at all for her with infrequent visits she will have gotten over the idea of there being others. I also asked her not to try if she wasn't willing to make the effort to commit. I won't do anything that would jeopardize what we have."

"Thank you Ben," Gabriella said.

"Please, none of this would have been possible without you. I would have self-destructed months ago without your guidance and love. You are the foundation upon which my life and love grows!" Ben took her hand and held it to his cheek and kissed her palm. "I will always love you Gabriella. Know that!"

"I do," she smiled with tears of joy welling in her eyes. She looked at her son, sleeping so peacefully against Ben. Her heart felt like it might burst with happiness. It was time to wake him up so he could get ready for dinner.

She leaned over Ben and whispered in Daniel's ear.

A smile slowly spread across the boy's face though his eyes remained closed. "Hi mom," he murmured and stretched. "Hi dad-" His eyes snapped open as he looked at Ben in embarrassment. Ben and Gabriella were looking at him with surprised smiles. "Sorry Ben."

"No, that's alright. I should be so lucky," Ben said and Daniel blushed with a pleased smile struggling to come out.

"Let's go sleepyhead. You need to get cleaned up for dinner. We are going out for Chinese food tonight," Gabriella teased her son whose eyes lit up at the mention of one of his favorite kinds of food.

Ben got up as well and looked to Karen and Penny who had somehow procured a deck of cards and were playing some kind of game. They glanced over at Ben and saw he was getting up. They packed up their stuff and were ready to leave when he was. They all shared the elevator to go back to their rooms but when they got off the elevator Karen snagged Gabriella's sleeve.

"Could we speak with you and Ben in private?" Penny asked.

Gabriella nodded and sent Daniel on ahead to get ready. The rest went to Ben's room. Ben and Gabriella sat on the couch and the two ladies took the chairs facing them.

"Ben told us today that he will take care of us, help us make lives but we can't flirt or have sex with him," Penny said bluntly and Ben blushed while Gabriella smiled at him.

Penny continued. "When we had lunch with the nice Russian family with the twins Ben rescued they looked at us like we were hideous. Are we ugly?"

Karen's lower lip was trembling and her eyes were glassy.

Gabriella leaned forward. "No! Not at all! You are both very beautiful!"

"Then why did they look at us like that!" Karen wailed and began to cry.

Ben realized they hadn't completely accepted the answer he and Galena had given them. The couple's reaction to their physical appearance had been too obvious.

Gabriella reached out and Karen crossed over to be held by the woman. Gabriella made soothing noises and looked at Penny who also looked upset. Ben opened his arms and Penny went to him. She was trembling as he held her. Gabriella sent him a sad look.

"Let me be very clear. You're both very beautiful. Certain aspects of your beauty have been emphasized and the Noskovs were just envisioning their daughters being changed in the similar way by Shakir. They're just children! No parent wants to see their children grow up. Did Shakir ask you if you wanted to have these medical procedures?" Ben explained.

Both women shook their heads.

"Was it painful?" Gabriella asked.

Both nodded emphatically. Gabriella and Ben gave them firm hugs.

"No parent wishes for their children to experience that," Gabriella said gently.

"Men look at us differently than they do at you or Catherine... or Margaux," Penny said to Gabriella. "You're all beautiful but their faces don't look the same as they do when they look at us."

Ben looked at Gabriella with a concerned expression. He wasn't sure how to deal with that without hurting their feelings. She smiled at him.

"Men are drawn to beauty. They can't help it. Women are too, to be fair, but for men there's a drive to mate. Your beauty was emphasized with these operations and some of the changes send a very strong mating message. A message you're not intending to send but it's there. That message can be toned down but it would mean another operation. You'll still be beautiful and men will still desire you. That's just a burden we have to bear." She grinned at them and got them to smile as well.

"Whatever you choose to do I will support your decision," Ben said.

They nodded and smiled at him.

"Now, it's time to get ready for dinner. Do you like Chinese food?" Gabriella asked.

The two women looked at each other. "We've never had it."

"Then you're in for a treat!" Ben said and everyone smiled.

Gabriella left after getting hugs from the ladies and a kiss from Ben. Karen and Penny closed the bedroom door to shower and change.

Ben had time before his dinner date so he opened his laptop and did some banking, transferring funds to pay off credit card charges and checking on a few other outstanding items. Most of his payments were automatic withdrawals so they didn't need managing but he tracked them anyway.

He checked his email and saw a note from his lawyer informing him that the background check was proceeding but it might take some time as records were not so good. He was also looking into the legal procedures for establishing new identification records. Ben would have to talk to Karen and Penny about that.

Then he spotted an email from his neighbor, Barry Walker. The old gentleman Ben helped with his leaves and snow shovelling. He lived next to Daphne and the twins and Ben rarely saw him and his wife Phoebe. He didn't know the man even had a computer. He read the message.

"Dear Mr. Shepherd,

I hope this note finds you well and recovered from your recent injuries. I also hope you don't mind but I got your address from Daphne McKellan. When I spoke with her she said it would be ok.

It is my understanding that you have purchased a number of the houses in our neighborhood. As you have been a good neighbor to Phoebe and I for so many years I would like to offer you the opportunity to purchase our home before we put it on the market. Phoebe's sister has finally been convinced to move to Florida so we will be moving to our condo there permanently in a few weeks.

Please let me know if you are interested at your earliest convenience so we may discuss the details.

Your neighbors,

Barry and Phoebe Walker."

Ben read the date on the message and saw it was two days ago. He immediately wrote a response thanking him, indicated he was definitely interested, that he would be home in a few days, and to contact Shelly Spencer to work out the details in the meantime. Ben knew Trish's cousin would ensure the Walkers would get a reasonable price for their home. He CC'd Shelly on the message so Barry would have the email address and the woman would be in the loop. He sent a separate note to Shelly letting her know roughly how much he was willing to go and to inform him if that wasn't accepted.

Feeling upbeat from this delightful news he was grinning broadly when Karen and Penny exited from the bedroom. "Wow! You two look great!"

Brightly colored tops over tight black leggings and their customary high heeled shoes... but not quite as high. The design and pattern on the tops subtly de-emphasized the size of their breasts so they both looked a little nervous as it was not their typical style. Ben stood and walked over to look at their new outfits appreciatively.

"Truly! This is a smart look for you both. Very stylish and lovely," Ben said honestly.

They gave him happy hugs and a kiss on the cheek then headed out. It was time for Ben to get ready for his date.

Chapter 20

Catherine had so much fun shopping in Nice and had found some really beautiful outfits she was looking forward to wearing at work.

What made the day that much better was Chanel. The woman did something to her. Something only Ben and Gabriella did. It was like being supercharged! There was an energy in her that wasn't present when she was with anyone but those three. Catherine had experimented a little in University but she'd never really experienced sexual attraction to a female until that night with Ben and Gabriella. Something had changed for her. A new door had opened.

Chanel had worn a simple black tank top and a pair of white short shorts which showed off her long tanned legs. Classic black and white low rise sneakers completed her outfit. Catherine was impressed with how strong Chanel's arms looked and the woman had caught her staring a few times. The brunette's eyes had been hidden behind dark shades but Catherine could feel them on her and it was electric!

Catherine wore a short sleeved red button down blouse over blue shorts and white sandals. Her bra wasn't doing a good job of hiding how excited Chanel was making her. While they shopped Chanel would occasionally pass her in the aisles and accidentally brush up against her, or touch her arm, hip, or shoulder and each touch sent shocks through her body. She had gasped aloud on more than one occasion and blushed furiously when eyes would turn in her direction. Chanel walked away in each instance with a little smile of satisfaction.

Sitting across from Chanel during lunch at a sidewalk café Catherine got her revenge. A large flower planter next to the table hid Cat's foot as it slipped up the inside of the brunette's leg. She teased the sensitive skin on the inside of her thighs while Chanel did her best to hide her reaction to the stroking. It quickly became apparent that the woman was equally affected by Catherine. Her face flushed and she gripped the side of the table until her knuckles went white. Catherine finally pressed her big toe to the tender spot between Chanel's legs and her legs snapped together trapping her foot. The brunette went very still as she squeezed her eyes shut and rode out the waves of an intense release. Eventually Catherine was able to pull her foot back. Chanel slipped her sunglasses down her nose and the look she gave Cat promised of sweet retaliation. Sparks shot through the blonde's body once more.

After they were all exhausted from shopping they headed back to the van and discussed dinner plans. Chanel asked Catherine if the two of them might go to a restaurant she'd always wanted to try and she agreed. The others were going for Chinese then out dancing afterwards. The plans were set.

Now Catherine was getting dressed for her 'date' and she was feeling strangely nervous. A good nervous but still. She looked over at Sophia who was also dressing.

"You don't think less of me because I'm going out on a date with another woman do you?" she blurted with an anxious expression.

Sophia's eyebrows went up. "What made you think that?"

"I caught the looks you three were giving me all day and I'm worried you disapprove!"

"We were giving you looks because we saw how close you two were to tearing each other's clothes off in the middle of the shop! We had a bet going that you'd disappear into one of the change rooms with her. We can see you're happy and we'd never do anything to keep you from that. We're just worried about how this affects you and Ben. What about him?" Sophia asked.

"I'm not giving Ben up. I love him too much. He and Gabriella know I'm attracted to Chanel. She makes me feel amazing! It's a lot like I feel when I'm with Ben... but different. I can't really explain it."

"You don't need to. As long as you're happy and Ben's happy then we're all happy. Go have fun tonight. We like Chanel. She's really cool! And her arms are serious!"

"I KNOW!" Catherine gushed and hugged her daughter tight.

Sophia left to join the others and the moment she left Catherine slipped her panties off. She was wearing the white dress again as Chanel had promised to wear the black one. They were completing the date that had been interrupted by Shakir.

Slipping her shoes on, she rushed down to the lobby and saw Chanel talking with Gabriella though the rest of the group was exiting the front door. Gabriella waved at Cat then followed her family out.

"You look lovely!" Chanel said to Catherine who did a double take when she got closer to the brunette.

"You're wearing make-up? For me?" Catherine said in surprise and smiled as a thrill went through her.

Chanel blushed and looked away then looked back and nodded with an anxious smile. "Is it too much? I don't wear it... ever."

"No! It's perfect! You're gorgeous!" Cat grinned.

Chanel relaxed and found herself getting lost in those amazing blue eyes. She tore her gaze away. "Shall we go?"

Catherine looped her arm through Chanel's and they walked out to the street and caught a taxi. The ride to the restaurant was short but neither was wearing shoes meant for long walks. The restaurant was on the top floor of a small high rise building facing a marina. They were led to their table overlooking the yachts. Candle light lit the tables and glittered off their dresses.

Chanel was suddenly nervous. She hadn't been on a date in years. She'd pushed all thoughts of romance from her head. She didn't know what to say.

"Have you always wanted to be a cop?" Catherine began, seeing Chanel begin to lock up. The woman smiled and relaxed.

"No, but I knew I didn't want to be a model like my mother wished for me. She was very... insistent. I think her tenacity is what makes me a good detective. I love a good mystery. It is a puzzle to be solved. You just have to find all the pieces."

She looked at Catherine with chagrin. "Unfortunately, you have not seen me at my best. My grief blinded me from everything but Ben's superficial resemblance to the description we had of Rapava. My first exposure to him showed his intense and violent side. It was enough to convince me."

Cat looked at the candle on the table and asked her next question delicately. "Speaking of your grief, are you still seeing Isabelle when you look at me?"

"No! Not anymore. You do look like her and sound like her but you don't behave like her at all. I can't see her in you anymore. Your personality is so explosively energetic! There so much joy in you! It takes my breath away!" Chanel stopped when she realized she was gushing. Her face burned with embarrassment.

Cat was looking at her across the small table. Her eyes glittered in the candle light. "I was trying to figure out why you make me feel the way you do. I've never been attracted to a woman before. Well... besides Gabriella who's a special case as the woman is... the goddess of love. I love her dearly! But with you, I feel like a giddy schoolgirl all over again. I just realized why." She looked at the brunette in wonder.

"Are you going to make me guess?" Chanel chuckled nervously, feeling a little giddy herself.

"It's how you look at me. Your eyes look at me but I can tell you're seeing me wake up next to you in the morning, walking arm in arm along the beach, picking vegetables in a market together, folding bedsheets only to end up rolling in them, making love..." Chanel was lost in the blue again.

The waiter arrived and Catherine silently cursed his crappy timing.

They ordered some wine and both chose a salad, neither wanting to be weighted down with a heavy meal.

"Where were we?" Chanel said once they were alone again and Catherine smiled.

"I think I was saying something about the weather," she teased.

Chanel smiled and shook her head at the blonde.

"Seriously, I'd like to get to know you a little better before we get too caught up in the moment. I can be a little too impulsive I'm told," Cat said with a wince.

"I'd like that too."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" Catherine asked.

"No, it was just my mother and I. No other relatives at all. My mother was banished from her family when she became pregnant with me. She and they cut all ties. She changed her name and while she felt the need to let me know there was a family out there who despised her and by association me, she never told me her original name so I don't know who they are. My mother took that secret to her grave. She said they didn't deserve to know me. That was just one of the things that drove me away from her." She shook her head with the old painful memories. Catherine put her hand on Chanel's and she felt a little better. "How about you?"

"I had a brother. John. Followed in my dad's footsteps and joined the army. Died in a stupid accident. I miss him. My dad was the one who taught me to shoot. We had a falling out when I got married and it's only recently that we've begun speaking again."

Chanel started. "You're married?"

"Widow. My father hated the man I chose to marry. He was smarter than I was about Ashraf. Saw him for what he really was. He died in a plane crash with a bunch of young prostitutes. Proving my father right again."

There was a moment of silence until Chanel got the nerve to speak again.

"I feel awkward asking this but how did you meet Ben?" Chanel asked cautiously.

Catherine smiled at the memory. "Ben was living in the house next to us when we moved in. He got married and brought his wife and her sick mother to his home. We didn't see too much of them as we were all so focused on our own lives. When his wife left him Ben... fell apart. He began to drink and sat on a lawn chair in his driveway everyday watching the road like she'd come driving back to him. His beard and hair grew out and with his size he looked like some kind of crazed mountain man. But he was just sad."

The wine arrived and they toasted each other.

Catherine continued. "Then there was the awful day a man drove into the neighborhood and tried to abduct Miriam. Ben was outside and prevented him from driving away. He pulled the man from his van and was shot three times in the abdomen. Gabriella got Miriam out of the van then Ben broke the man's neck with his bare hands. He collapsed and was in the hospital for months. Gabriella was in love with him from that time on. When he got home he cleaned himself up and stopped drinking. Got his muscles back into shape. He was so hot! Still is! He was also so shy and such a nice man. Always helping out in the neighborhood but quiet and still sad. I was smitten with him but I knew Gabriella was as well and we were both married anyway. When the accident happened and so many of our husbands died on that plane it was our turn to fall apart. Ben was there for us. Just being a decent man. Protective. Supportive. Generous to a fault and selfless. The best neighbor!"

Chanel was frozen. "Your husbands all died on the same plane. With prostitutes."

Catherine sighed. "Yes, you probably saw it on TV. The Ashburn Court Tragedy."

"Even in Europe that story made the rounds. I'm sorry for the pain you went through," Chanel said squeezing the blonde's hand and received a smile in return.

"We got through it. Together. Ben brought us all together. Got us talking to each other, supporting each other, caring about each other. It made a huge difference."

"He sounds pretty amazing! I am terribly jealous of him though!" Chanel said with a pout.

"Why?"

"Because he has your heart!"

Catherine grinned. "Silly woman! Love isn't finite or exclusive! It grows and includes! Gabriella taught me that! I love Ben with all my heart and I love Gabriella with all my heart too. It just works that way."

"So there is hope?"

Catherine smiled. "There is always hope!"

They were served their dinner and made small talk while they enjoyed the food, the wine, the view, and especially the company.

The caveat of drinking a bottle of wine and only having salad to eat was the wine hit them harder than expected. When they left the restaurant Catherine was especially tipsy so they decided to get a little fresh air before heading back. They walked arm in arm along the sidewalk overlooking the beach. It was a beautiful night for a walk and the sidewalk had a number of couples enjoying the night air.

They stopped at one particularly scenic spot and just enjoyed the breeze and the sound of the surf. Catherine linked her fingers through Chanel's and brought her hand up to her lips. She gently kissed each knuckle while looking into the brunette's eyes.

Chanel held her breath as Catherine's soft lips caressed her fingers. Each touch sent sparks shooting through her. It felt like her hair was standing on end.

The taxi ride to Chanel's hotel took fifteen agonizing minutes but soon they were inside her small room. It was the standard box with a bed design but neither woman had eyes for the décor.

Chanel pressed Catherine against the wall with her body, relishing the feel of the blonde's svelte, firm muscles. She carefully ground herself against the other and drew moans from both.

Catherine's beautiful blue eyes were wide and locked on her brown ones as she slowly moved her lips towards Cat's who leaned into the kiss. Wanting to prolong the intensity they slowly explored each other's mouths and caressed the other's lips, their breathing coming in gasps as their bodies twitched from the sparks passing between them.

Her slightly larger breasts were squeezing Catherine's modest ones and the sensation was delicious but she needed more. She pushed back from the wall and tugged Cat's hand to make her follow further into the room until they stood at the end of the bed. She dragged off the comforter and turned back to the blonde who was gently swaying and watching her mouth.

She turned Catherine around and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to her feet. She gasped as she took in the blonde's perfectly smooth skin. No bra or panties obstructed her view of the beauty before her. She pressed herself against Cat's back and slid her hands around her torso, over the taught muscles of her stomach and up to cup her breasts in her palms. Kissing the gasping woman's neck she gently squeezed and rolled her stiff nipples between her fingers and felt Cat grinding her ass back against her mound.

"Oh please!" Catherine moaned as she tried to turn in Chanel's arms but the brunette held her securely and drove the woman's passions higher. Finally she gave in and Cat's mouth was on hers as her clever fingers found the zipper of the black dress, unzipping it and pushing it down to the floor. Naked breasts pressed together, nipple rubbing against nipple, surges of pleasure coursing through their bodies as their tongues caressed.

They pulled back from each other, eyes wide and intense. Catherine's head was spinning.

"I- I've only done this once before, a long time ago and I don't think I was very good at it," she said trembling.

"I can be a good teacher if the student is willing," Chanel smiled, drawing one from Cat.

They kicked off their shoes and made their way onto the bed to lie on their sides facing each other. Chanel took in how beautiful and vulnerable Catherine looked at this moment and felt her heart open. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to Cat's and ran her hand gently down her chest to cup her small breast. She had such sensitive nipples. Catherine gasped and kissed her more aggressively.

Chanel pushed Catherine over onto her back as she slid her body on top. Her tongue dipped deeply into the blonde's mouth and she felt the woman sucking it. She pushed her knee between Catherine's and spread her legs enough to apply pressure to the woman's mound with her hip while she straddled a leg to grind her own against Catherine. The blonde whimpered under her and slid her hands down the grab Chanel's ass to pull her tighter. Cat had strong hands and the feel of them on Chanel's ass sent a rush through her body.

They were desperately kissing and gasping for breath as their pleasure and need drove them on. They couldn't get enough of each other as their releases raced up on them.

Chanel pulled back from the kiss to gaze into Catherine's eyes as the intensity of the pleasure began to tip her over the edge. She saw Cat was right there with her. The blonde moved a hand up to cup Chanel's tit and gently tugged on the nipple and she was lost.

"Oh Catherine! Oh fuck! Oh!" Chanel gasped as her head dropped down beside the blonde's and she ground herself harder. Catherine suddenly clutched her tighter as her own release rocked through her body. She bit down gently on Chanel's shoulder as the waves of bliss rushed through her. The bite triggered Chanel's pleasure to spike once more and she returned the favor.

"Oh god! Oh oh oh Geezus!" Catherine yelped as she felt the teeth on her skin.

Finally the waves ebbed and Chanel slid her body off to the side but rested her knee on Catherine's while she traced circles on the woman's firm stomach with a finger. She kissed Cat's cheek and smiled.

"Oh my, that was wonderful!" Catherine sighed. She turned her face towards the beauty at her side with a wide smile. "I didn't bite you too hard did I?"

Chanel shivered at the memory. "No, it was a delicious sensation. Perfect!"

Cat grinned and pushed Chanel onto her back as she leaned over the woman. "Perfect describes these breasts! It should be illegal to hide these!" she teased as she wrapped her fingers around each and gently squeezed. Chanel gasped softly then cooed as Catherine's soft lips began kissing the flesh in her grip, circling the sensitive nipples but not touching them.

"Oh Catherine!" Chanel sighed.

"I wish I had nipples as perfect as these!" Cat said quietly as she caressed one with her lips. Chanel gasped and arched her back to push it deeper into the blonde's mouth but she just pulled back and continued her caresses.

"Fuck! You're such a tease!" the brunette said in a sexy growl.

Catherine gently pinched the nipple between her teeth.

"FUCK! YES! OH God!" the woman cried at the intense burst of tingles. She clawed at the sheets.

Cat enclosed the tender bud in her lips and sucked more of the tit into her mouth as her tongue stroked in circles.

"AHHH! Fuck!" Chanel shook with the sensations pouring through her tit and grabbed the blonde's head to pull it tighter against her. Catherine complied by forcing more of the flesh into her mouth and gently scraping her teeth across the sensitive skin.

"OMIGOD! MMMmmmmmmahhhhhh! FUCK!" she exclaimed as Catherine suddenly released the tit from her mouth. Chanel lay there panting, watching the blue eyes looking up at her, twinkling with mischief. When Catherine began again on the other nipple Chanel felt like she was going to lose her mind. She cried out in bliss when Cat released her second nipple with a pop. She squirmed under the blonde's body as her mind floated on the tingling waves.

She felt those amazing lips kissing their way downwards across her ribs, stomach, to finally reach the small patch of hair just above her clit.

Chanel looked down and saw Catherine's hesitation. "It's alright if you don't want to do that," she whispered to her lover.

"I want to do it! I just don't want to do it wrong," Catherine said with an anxious voice.

Chanel started to giggle. "Wrong? Silly girl- OHFUCK!" she cried out as Catherine stroked her pussy from bottom to top with one move. Chanel looked back at the grinning woman and growled at her.

"So that was doing it right?" Catherine said with an impish tone and gently blew on the wetness. Chanel's hips lifted and Cat's tongue went back to work.

Chanel was convinced now that she was losing her mind. It was too intense, it felt too good, there seemed to be no end to the rising flood of pleasure. It spiked again when Catherine slid one then two fingers into her as she licked and slurped at the pussy grinding up against her mouth. Her orgasm felt like an avalanche rushing up at her, an undeniable force.

The brunette could tell Cat was inexperienced but she actually found that more exciting as it proved how much the woman wanted to be with her. There was no hesitation in her touch just an abundance of enthusiasm. Not always correctly applied but so deliciously genuine!

That thought triggered Chanel's orgasm. "CATHERINE! FUCK! I'M CUMMING! OMIGOD!" she cried out as her hips lifted off the mattress. It went on and on as Cat kept her mouth on the brunette's pulsing opening, fingers deep inside. Finally she had to push Catherine's head away as the intensity became too much and she slumped back, panting and shaking through the aftershocks.

Catherine smiled wickedly and slowly crawled back up the bed. She lowered her face over Chanel's and kissed her, deeply.

Chanel froze as she realized she was tasting herself on Cat's mouth and she melted into the kiss. It had been a long time since she'd had a kiss like this.

When Catherine pulled back both women were panting.

"Fuck! You are so sexy!" Chanel said, gazing up in wonder at the blue eyes twinkling above her.

"And you are so beautiful! Inside and out!" Catherine said sincerely.

Chanel pulled her down for a slow, sensual kiss and Cat whimpered into her mouth as the brunette's hands found and caressed her breasts. They rolled over and once more Chanel was on top. She moved her mouth down to Cat's throat and gently bit her drawing a gasp from her. She kissed her way to her beautiful compact tits with their sensitive pink nipples. She locked her dark eyes on Catherine's and felt a shiver run through the blonde's body. She grinned wickedly and extended her tongue to stroke the stiff little pink buds.

"Ohgeez- ohfuck- ohgeez- ohgod- You're such a teeeaasse!" Catherine gasped as she writhed under Chanel's delicate touches. The brunette chuckled then sucked the nipple into her mouth.

"OHHHHH CHANEL!" she cried as she grabbed the woman's head and arched her back. The brunette released the nipple and looked up at Cat.

"Are you trying to suffocate me?" she grinned. Before Catherine could answer Chanel pounced on the other nipple and received a squeal from the blonde as her reward.

"Chanel! Chanel! Chanel! Chanel! Chanel!" Cat whimpered under the assault of the woman's talented mouth.

The brunette pulled back and smiled at the panting blonde. "I love when you say my name like that!" she whispered.

She kissed her way across and around Catherine's trembling stomach causing the woman to grab at the sheets and squirm as tingles raced across her stomach.

When Chanel gently kissed the tender flesh of Catherine's wet pussy the blonde's body convulsed and her mouth opened but no sound came out. The brunette lapped and stroked her tongue into the pussy's hot depths. Catherine's hands flew to her lover's head but quickly pulled away and grabbed at the sheets again.

"Oh GOD Chanel! That's so- FUUUUUCCKK!" Cat's body arched off the bed as Chanel slipped two fingers into the wet opening as her mouth fastened onto her stiff clit. She pumped her fingers into the woman as she sucked and licked and felt Catherine's body begin to tense up in preparation for her release.

As a final trigger Chanel rubbed her wet thumb across Cat's slick rosebud.

"YES! FUCK YES! OH CHANEL! OOooooh!" Catherine's eyes rolled back as her mind whited out with the overload of sensations. Her body twitched and convulsed then she pushed at Chanel as she couldn't take any more. She flopped down on the bed and gasped for breath as her nerves continued to explode like little fireworks.

Chanel looked up at the sated expression on Catherine's face. She crawled up the bed and surprised her with a deep kiss to return the favor. Cat squeaked then moaned at how sexy the kiss was.

The brunette rested on her elbow next to Cat and gazed down at her lover with a tender smile. "I think we should take a quick shower together to freshen up. Will -- will you stay tonight?" she asked biting her lip.

"You aren't kicking me out after that! Besides I want to see your beautiful face when I wake up tomorrow," Catherine said with a smile.

They kissed sweetly then went into the small bathroom and took a quick shower. While they touched each other it was simply to get clean and to embrace under the hot spray. They dried off and made their way back to the bed.

Catherine picked up her phone and sent a quick text to Sophia to let her know where she was and that she'd return in the morning. She slipped under the sheets.

Chanel got in behind her and spooned her body. She felt Catherine sigh with contentment and hug her lover's arm to her chest. Chanel sighed in response and in each other's arms sweet sleep took them into its embrace.

Chapter 21

Ben knocked on Margaux's door and the ravishing Spaniard opened it and smiled at Ben's crisply tailored suit.

"My, you look very handsome!" she smiled appreciatively as she stepped into the hall.

Ben was drinking in her dark beauty. The cocktail dress which left her arms bare and clung to her curves like a second skin was the deepest blue, bordering on black. The low neckline was lace and tantalisingly hinted at the treasures within. The hem reached mid-thigh with lace accents and she wore tall heels in an attempt to diminish their difference in height. At 5' 6", the three inch heels still only brought her to within 6" of Ben's height.

Her thick, soft mahogany hair cascaded down over her shoulders and her dark eyes looked very pleased with his appreciative attention.

"You look... spectacular! Truly breathtaking," he said with a delighted smile.

"We'd better get moving if we are going to make our reservation," she said with a satisfied smile.

The taxi ride took them a few miles outside of Cannes to a large manor home on a well treed property. They entered the front door and the host greeted Margaux like royalty while giving Ben a nervous glance and nod. He led them to their intimate table on a wide patio behind the building. Tables were spread wide apart allowing privacy for each group of diners and most were couples like Ben and Margaux though he did spot one younger couple with a well behaved child.

Having scoped the location Ben turned his eyes once more to his lovely dining companion.

"This place is beautiful but a little out of the way. How did you find it?" he exclaimed.

"A... colleague suggested it," she said with a little hesitation.

"What was that?" Ben asked with a smile.

"What?"

"You looked a little uncomfortable about describing the person like you weren't sure how I'd react," Ben explained.

Her eyes locked on his.

"You shouldn't feel uncomfortable saying anything to me," he smiled.

"He was... also a lover. It was nothing but a casual affair and it did not last," she dismissed the event. Then she looked cautiously at him again and saw he was just looking at her with a smile.

"What?"

"I'm not threatened by the fact that you've had lovers in the past. I'd find it incredible if you hadn't considering your beauty and grace," he said honestly. That drew a smile from the woman.

"I'm not used to men being nonchalant about my... past relationships. Most have been possessive and jealous," she said as she watched his expression.

"Their possessiveness made you feel desired, safe?" he asked.

She hesitated then nodded.

"I still feel jealousy. It can't be completely eradicated but I know it's not healthy and just comes from a place of fear and insecurity so I set it aside. Desire tainted by possessiveness is selfish and destructive. Desire supported by admiration, love, and trust is a much stronger bond," he said with a smile.

They turned to their menus but Ben was quickly lost. He looked at Margaux and she saw his confusion.

"Not to worry. I will order you something you will like."

The waiter arrived and Ben let Margaux do the talking. Soon they were alone again.

"If I were to have a lover now, would that not make you jealous?" Margaux pressed.

"Well, if you had your lover at our table I think it would make for a very awkward meal," he grinned then raised his hand when she looked cross at him. "Sorry, just teasing. It all depends on the intent. If you took a lover because you were lonely and he made you feel better why would I want to deny you that comfort? Just so it might make ME feel better? That would be selfish of me and honestly it wouldn't really make me feel any better at all. My peace of mind cannot come at the cost of someone else's. If you took a lover to punish me for something then you'd be doing a disservice to all three of us. An honest conversation would be able to clear up the issue far better than the affair. It comes back to honesty. You need to feel free to speak your mind to me with complete honesty. I will certainly do that for you."

"These are powerful words but will they work in our real lives?" Margaux asked him frankly.

"Tonight, it's my understanding that Catherine is out on a date. A date with someone she's strongly attracted to and knowing Catherine as I do, I'm sure the night will end with sex," Ben said looking into Margaux's shocked eyes.

"How can you say that so calmly?" the dark beauty whispered.

"Catherine loves me. I love her. I know she's attracted to her date. She's been completely honest and did nothing to hide it from me. I know it doesn't threaten our love. She has the chance of sharing some special moments with this person. She might even fall in love. I wouldn't deny her that. Besides, she and Gabriella know I'm out on a date with you and they know I'm strongly attracted to you. Aside from their concern that your jealousy might harm me they aren't denying me the chance to get to know you," Ben said gently.

Margaux sat back and regarded Ben. "It will take me some time to get used to the idea that the man I am dating has committed his heart to others."

Ben had no response to that so he just nodded.

The food arrived and Ben was surprised to see how beautifully arranged it was on the plates... and how little of it there was. Margaux watched him with a smile as he moved his fork around the food without touching it.

"It looks more like art than food," Ben rumbled.

"It's art to be eaten. A delicate blending of flavors and textures to be appreciated with the tongue as well as the eyes. Do what I do," she said and carefully cut small portions of each of the items on her plate. When she had a mix on her fork she placed it in her mouth and closed her eyes as she savored the experience of the flavors blending.

Ben did as he was told and it was interesting. Not filling but he guessed that wasn't the point. He experimented by changing the mixtures until he identified the ingredients that were best left on his plate.

Margaux watched the big man trying his best to work out how to appreciate the experience and she smiled to herself. That was more effort than her ex-husband had made when they went places that only she wanted to try. She watched his face light up when the waiters brought them the entrée which was a broiled and seasoned fillet of grouper surrounded by fresh green beans and three baby potatoes.

"Did you expect the appetizer to be the full meal?" she asked with a smile and he grinned sheepishly at her and nodded.

"Not afraid to admit his mistakes," she thought with a smile.

The fish was tender and delicious. Ben did his best to eat slowly as he paced Margaux.

"You said you have condos in Barcelona and Paris and travel between them. Are these the places you primarily travel between for work?" he asked.

"Yes, our head office is in Barcelona and I travel there for many meetings and conferences. This consumes quite a bit of time so it made sense to purchase a place of my own. Plus, Spain is in my blood and having a place of my own there feels right. My main office is in Paris and I spend most of my time there. I also travel extensively throughout Europe and Asia. There have been a few trips to Australia as head office is thinking of setting up a branch there. I might be asked to spend a year in the new office to get that operation off the ground," she explained.

"Which brings us to the discussion of how we might arrange to meet in the future and the frequency you think you can manage. I'm certainly willing to travel. Now that I've had a taste of it I'd like to do more," Ben said with a smile.

"I think our first meeting may be in the United States. I will be flying to New York in a couple of months to attend a conference with some investment houses there. I could spend a few extra days to come visit you then continue on to our Hong Kong office," she said with a smile.

"That would be amazing!" Ben exclaimed. "I'd love to show you where I live and our neighborhood. It's no Paris but it has its own charms."

She smiled at his enthusiasm.

Dessert was a light puff pastry and some field berries with a sweet cream. Margaux enjoyed Ben's delight as he scooped up the last of the cream with the last bite of pastry. He leaned back with a happy look on this face and gazed back at her.

"That was wonderful! I was a little nervous at first with the art piece but even that was good! Dessert was delicious! I'm going to have to hit the gym tomorrow morning as I've really fallen behind. My wounds should be sufficiently healed for me to work out again."

"Wounds?" she asked with a concerned look.

"Uh yeah. I suppose I should warn you I have some scars on my body. You can see the ones on my face. Some are very old. A dozen or so were from earlier this year. Eight more were from Paris and my back is still healing from being shot at with a shotgun and being knocked off my bicycle by a crazed motorist when were in Saint Pierre d'Albigny. If you find them hideous I'll understand," he said quietly.

"You were shot?!?" Margaux exclaimed a little too loudly in her shock and the people at the next table looked over at them with interest. Ben raised his palms to Margaux as a gesture to calm herself.

"Shot at. Only some of the pellets struck my back. There was a retired doctor nearby and he removed them and stitched me up. I heal well."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man from the next table, big with a barrel chest and a larger gut get up and head in their direction. Ben turned to look and the man's face split into a huge grin.

"I knew it! You're that fella I saw on TV! The one who killed those white slavers and freed the girls! A gen-you-wine hee-row!" The man stretched out the words with his thick Texan accent and clapped his hands together once. He turned to his wife. "Dotty! Get over here with that camera!"

Ben was about to protest when he felt a soft hand land on his. He looked to Margaux and saw her eyes were twinkling with delight. She was enjoying this. He sighed.

The woman sprung to her feet and rushed over to join her husband. She was pleasantly plump and grinning from ear to ear as well. Her big head of brown hair seemed to be defying gravity as it formed a perfect bell shape around the back of her head. "It IS you! This is SUCH an honor! To come all the way to France to celebrate our anniversary and to bump into a celebrity at dinner! It's a dream come true!" she gushed and Ben did his best to smile.

"Why, he's a one man Seal Team 6 from what the newsies are sayin'!" her husband joined in on the gushing.

Ben was starting to get really uncomfortable. "It wasn't that dramatic! It was an accident that I ended up in the room and there was only two men when I walked in." This was the extent of Ben's recollection until he had freed the ladies in the bedroom.

"What were you carryin'?" the big man asked with a grin.

"Carrying?" Ben blinked at him.

"Your piece! Your shooter! Your gun!" the man rattled off.

"I- I don't have a gun," Ben said.

The man's eyes widened. "You went into a white slaver's den unarmed, left four of the bastards dead, and freed the five captives! HO-LEE SHIT!"

"RENNY! Language! There are ladies present!" Dotty scolded him.

The man was looking at Ben like he was witnessing the second coming and Ben's agitation rose. "You said something about a picture?"

"Yes sir! Uh, if you don't mind that is." Renny was suddenly conscious of his intrusion.

"A picture is fine." Ben stood up and posed next to the man with his arm over his shoulder. Renny's head only reached Ben's shoulder and the man's wife was shorter still.

Dotty handed her camera to Margaux and pointed out which button to press then scurried over to stand on Ben's other side. She put her arm around his back and clutched his side.

Ben flinched. "Uh Dotty, could you move your hand down a little? You're tugging on my gunshot wound." He sighed as her hand moved lower. "Thanks!" He glanced at her and discovered it was her turn to look awestruck. "Everyone smile at the camera!" Ben said and they did.

Margaux took the picture and Ben moved his arms away from the couple's shoulders. Dotty was a little slow in releasing his waist and Renny still looked a little dazzled.

"You two have a great evening and happy anniversary!" Ben said and they gushed their thanks as they walked back to their table looking at the picture Margaux had taken.

Once everyone had taken their seats the waiter came back and Ben asked for the bill.

"As we met in a dance club would you like to go dancing?" Ben asked and Margaux smiled but shook her head.

"I feel so old next to all those pretty young things," the Spanish beauty said quietly.

"Are you kidding me? You put those little girls to shame with your grace and beauty! I'd love to dance with you! You do like to dance, right?"

She smiled at Ben as she looked up at him through her thick lashes. She nodded.

Ben smiled and paid the bill. "The night is young and so are we! Let's dance!" He stood and held out his hand to her. She took it and joined him. They waved at the couple they'd met then made their way to the front. A taxi was waiting so they asked the driver to take them to the most popular dance club. The man smiled and got them on the road.

They'd only gone a few blocks when the driver began to look back in the mirror at Ben. They stopped at a light and he turned to face Ben. "Excuse me but are you the man on TV who freed the girls from the slavers?"

Ben sighed and nodded.

"It is such an honor to have you in my taxi sir!"

"Thank you. That's very nice of you to say," Ben said and squirmed.

Margaux was watching his reaction and her curiosity was piqued by his discomfort at being praised. She very much wanted to know why he resisted it so much when it was so deserved.

"Have you ever had a home cooked Iranian meal?" the driver asked.

"Uh... no," Ben said.

"I would very much like to welcome you into my home for some of the finest Persian cooking you will ever have. My wife and her mother are masters and can prepare a meal for you that will open your eyes to the wonderful flavors my ancestors perfected."

Ben was stunned by this stranger's willingness to take him into his home. "That's exceptionally generous of you but I'm leaving for home soon and won't have the opportunity to take you up on that offer. Thank you though!"

Cars were honking at them because the light had changed and they hadn't moved. The driver smiled and nodded and got them moving again. He kept the conversation going about his family and how thrilled they would be to meet such a heroic man and Ben grew increasingly uncomfortable. Margaux began to worry.

They arrived at the club and Margaux suggested that she could take a photo of the man and Ben by the taxi so he could show that to his family. The driver was very excited with that idea.

They all got out and once more Margaux was the photographer. Ben endured the man's hug as the shot was taken and shook his hand. The driver would not accept money for the fare as it had been such an honor. Ben shook his hand for a solid minute until Margaux was able to pry him away.

The club had an enormous line waiting to get in but the doorman took one look at Ben and Margaux and ushered them straight in as he spoke rapidly into the tiny mic on his earpiece. They were met by a young woman who also had an earpiece and a tablet. She seemed to be some kind of floor manager or host as she guided them to a table near the dancefloor that had been roped off as reserved. Ben was confused as he hadn't reserved anything. He tried to tell the woman but she just smiled and waved as she spoke rapidly into the mic on her earpiece. Margaux was all smiles as she pulled Ben down to sit next to her.

"Ben, enjoy your new found celebrity status tonight. It's delightful to be so well treated!" she laughed.

Ben looked at her and saw how happy she was so he smiled at her and struggled to reign in his growing discomfort.

Another young woman showed up at their table with a tray and a bottle of champagne in a wine bucket with two glasses.

"Complements of the house!" the woman said as she opened the champagne. Ben had no time to protest before the bottle was opened. She poured two glasses then turned and slipped back into the crowd.

Ben and Margaux toasted each other but only she drank.

"Oh my! This is very good champagne!" Margaux smiled in appreciation. He nodded and smiled once more. She grinned at him. "Come on you, let's go dance away that frown!"

As they left their table a man in a suit took up station to keep the table reserved. He nodded to them as they moved to the dancefloor.

Ben put all of this over the top service out of his mind as he led the sexy woman to the dancefloor. Once he was there and gazing into her beautiful smiling eyes he felt himself relax as the beat soaked into his body and they began to move. Margaux had a sinuous grace to her movements and Ben was entranced. Her eyes twinkled in joy at seeing his rapt attention. They let the beat take them and Ben felt his cares slipping away.

They danced through several sets until Margaux touched his hand to let him know she needed to sit. He followed her off the dancefloor and their table guard nodded and slipped away as they sat. Margaux sipped at the champagne and Ben was delighted to find a second wine bucket with a chilled bottle of water in it. He poured his champagne into the bucket and helped himself to a glass of water.

"I was right! It is wonderful to dance with you!" Ben grinned.

"And you were right, this is a lovely way to celebrate our first meeting. I never got to dance with you the first time. You are a very good dancer!"

"I had an excellent teacher!" Ben smiled as the image of an older woman surfaced in his memory. Then darkness.

"BEN! BEN!"

"What? Sorry, what?" he shook his head as a spike of pain shot from temple to temple. He brought his hands up to rubbed the pain away as he grimaced.

"What happened? You fainted! Just for a moment but you were gone! Should we go to the hospital?" Margaux asked with a panicked voice.

Ben looked at the frightened look on the woman's face and shook his head. He tried to recall what they were talking about but found another hole. He frowned. "No, but I think it's time to call it a night."

"Ben, people don't faint without a reason! You should see a doctor!" she clutched at his arm.

He put his hand over hers and looked into her worried eyes. "I am seeing a doctor. It's not physical. It's psychological. Something about suppressed memories. I'd rather not discuss it now... here," he said looking around.

She seemed to relax but she nodded and tugged at his arm to get him to leave the table with her. They made it to the front door where they walked into an explosion of light. Flashes were popping and voices yelled out his name. Ben's headache spiked once more. The man who was guarding their table came to the door and started issuing orders. Several other large men poured through the door and drove a wedge in the crowd of paparazzi allowing Ben and Margaux to exit the club all the way to the rear door of a waiting taxi. As Ben closed the door behind himself he saw the driver was their friend who brought them here. He smiled gratefully at the grinning man who, with the help of the bouncers, managed to pull away from the curb and get them on their way.

"What the HELL was that?" Ben growled.

"The price of fame my friend!" the cabbie grinned.

"Fame I can do without! That was horrible!" Ben shuddered.

Margaux clung to his arm and that helped calm him. He gave the cabbie the name of their hotel and it wasn't long before they pulled up to the door. Ben paid the man generously and had to insist he take the money, claiming how the man had saved them from the crowd. After much back and forth the man finally gave in with a huge smile and Ben helped Margaux from the taxi. They quickly made for the elevators but aside from a few admiring glances they were not confronted again.

They walked up to Margaux's room and she turned to face him with her back against the door.

"I would very much like to invite you in," she said with her eyes locked on his, looking for signs of his earlier disturbance.

"I would very much like to be invited in," he smiled in return.

Margaux tilted her face up and Ben leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She purred with the sensual pleasure of his mouth on hers. She pulled back, opened her door and pulled him inside. As the door closed they heard the sound of loud giggling and shushing coming from the elevators. The ladies were returning from dancing and the sounds were happy so Ben put it from his mind and focused on the beauty before him.

He took off his jacket as they walked past the bathroom towards the bedroom and draped it over a chair. He recalled the conversation they had earlier in the evening.

"Remember I said I had some scars?" he said.

Margaux stopped and turned to look at him. "Do I seem like someone who would be frightened by a few scars?" she said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

He smiled back. "That's good. Hold that thought."

Ben undid the buttons on his shirt and pulled it free from his pants. He pulled it open, slipped it off his shoulders and tossed it over his jacket. He looked back at Margaux who was staring wide eyed at his chest. She stepped close to run her fingers over them and he relaxed.

"How..." she whispered.

"How did it happen?" he asked.

"No. How did you survive?" she gasped as she saw how close one of the larger scars was to his heart.

"Well, I'm told I died a few times on the table but I always came back," he said trying to keep his tone light.

Her eyes held a frightened look so he lifted her into his arms and held her tight against his chest. Her lips found his and she kissed him frantically. He slipped a hand into her hair to take a grip to slow her movements and she moaned. The kisses became slow and sensual, both losing themselves in the pleasure of caressing lips and stroking tongues.

Margaux was breathing heavily when she pulled back from his mouth. Dark eyes looked deeply into his as Ben's fingers found the zipper on her dress and pulled it down her back. He slid a finger along her skin as the zipper descended sending tingles down her spine.

Ben set her back on her feet and gently pulled the dress off of her shoulders as she made quick work of undoing his belt and pants which dropped to his feet once they got past his muscular thighs.

She took the dress from Ben's fingers and stepped out of it. His eyes widened in appreciation as she stood before him in her very sexy lingerie. Black lace which exposed a daring amount of skin. Her eyes sparkled with delight at his hungry look. She looked down at his boxers and froze. He was beginning to tent the fabric and he was... big!

"Another surprise for me?" she said with a coy smile.

Ben moaned as her fingers slid over the tight fabric of his boxers. She gripped his thick cock drawing another moan from him.

"Mmmm... I'm going to like this surprise!" she purred.

Margaux gripped the waistband of his boxers on each side and slid them down as she slowly kneeled before him. His cock bounced free and she gazed at it appreciatively. She dropped the boxers and moved her hands to hold him. She shivered with excitement as she felt how hot and thick it was. She gently dragged the nails of one hand across the underside of his heavy balls and Ben gasped.

"AAHHH! Geezus!"

Margaux smiled slyly up at Ben's wide eyed gaze as she felt his erection surge to full rigidity. She loved the control she had over the big man. Wrapping her fingers around the base of his cock she squeezed the hard flesh and Ben moaned. She kept her eyes on his as she slowly leaned forward and pressed her lips to the sensitive skin on the underside of his shaft where it met the head.

"Oohhhhh Margaux!" he moaned bringing another smile to her lips.

She moved her lips to the tip and kissed it. Then she kissed her way around the thick head, each bringing a moan from him and shivers through his body.

When she stroked her tongue from the bottom of the shaft to the trembling tip she felt his knees tremble.

"Oh Margaux! Fuck!"

She stood and guided him back to lie down on the bed. He moved up the bed and she crawled up his body until her face was next to his cock once more. She looked up at his flushed face and felt a thrill run through her body. He was hers to play with as she wished and that was empowering.

Margaux gripped his cock once more and flicked her tongue teasingly around the head. She felt his hips rising off the mattress and pulled back a little then surged forward and took him deep into her mouth.

"FFFFUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKK!!!!" Ben cried out and threw his head back against the pillows as her hot, wet mouth sucked at his cock. He was so deep and she was struggling to take more. Finally, she pulled back and gasped for breath. Her eyes were glassy with tears from her attempt to swallow him down to the base. She just couldn't do it as her mouth wasn't wide enough. She looked at Ben and saw he was gasping for breath as well which made her efforts worthwhile.

She took him into her mouth again and pumped his cock fast and deep. She got into a rhythm and her hand followed her mouth up and down his hard shaft.

"Geezus! Oh fuck! Margaux! Ohhhhh... so good!" Ben moaned as his release raced up on him. Suddenly he was there. "Oh! Fuck Margaux, you're gonna make me cum!" he cried but that just spurred her to go faster.

She felt his big muscles tensing and his hips lifted right off the mattress.

"GGAAAAAAAHHHHHDDD!!!!" he roared as streams of cum jetted into her mouth. She swallowed as quickly as she could as she continued to pump his cock with her hand.

When his body stopped convulsing she pulled her mouth off of his cock with a pop. She looked up at him gasping on the pillows and smiled to herself. She'd proven she could bring him great pleasure. He would remember that.

She slipped her panties off and undid her bra. He looked up as she began to crawl further up his body. His eyes roved over her body showing his appetite for her hadn't been quench yet. A satisfied smile slipped onto her lips.

Margaux paused when her pussy was above his cock and rubbed herself against him. She was surprised to feel how hard he still was and it must have shown on her face as he smiled and lifted his hips off the mattress taking her with him.

She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes as sparks shot through her body centering on her clit which was pressed tight against his hot flesh.

"Down boy," she whispered and he dropped them both to the mattress sending bolts of pleasure through her body. She momentarily lost muscle control and dropped to his chest. His arms went around her and he gripped her ass and pulled her against him.

"Oh Ben! Oh god!" she cried out as he slowly slid her body up and down against his. Still wet from her mouth, his cock rubbed against her clit and across the lips of her pussy. He felt her wetness adding to the lubrication.

"Wait! Wait!" she gasped and pushed against his chest to rise up to a seated position. That just felt better for both of them. Ben watched her bite her full lower lip between her white teeth as her thick eyelashes fluttered from the sensations roaring through her.

She suddenly moved herself forward onto his chest and gasped at the loss of the intense pleasure. She looked down at him and her eyes flashed with hunger. "Slide down," she growled with a sexy smile.

Ben knew what she wanted so he moved his body down the bed under her until his head was positioned between her legs. She smiled down at him enjoying his seemingly subservient position. Ben raised an eyebrow and tipped his head up to stroke her wet lips firmly with his tongue.

"Ahhhhh!" she cried and threw her head back while clinging to his. She pulled his face against her wet opening and Ben drove his tongue deep inside her. He moved his hands up her body to cup her large tits and gently rolled her surprisingly thick nipples between his fingers.

"OH! OH BEN! YES! LIKE THAT! YES!" Margaux screamed as he worked his tongue feverishly over her clit and tugged at her stiff nipples.

She ground her pussy against his face and leaned against his hands as her body shook and trembled through a sudden release. "Oh god, oh god, oh Ben..." she sighed.

When she calmed Ben moved his hands to her hips and lifted her down his body. She leaned forward bringing her nipples within reach of his mouth and he sucked one between his lips.

"OHHHHH!" she cried and fell forward pressing her tit more firmly against Ben's mouth.

She pushed herself down his body to move her nipples out of his reach but came up against his stiff cock. The head was pressing against her dripping opening so Ben gripped her hips and pushed her further down his body, sinking his thick cock into the velvet grip of her depths.

"OOOooo! Ben!" she cooed as she sank down on him. He didn't stop pushing until his cock was buried to its base. "So full! Oh my god Ben! You're so big!"

"You feel incredible!" he moaned as tingles raced up and down his cock.

"Just- just let... me get accustomed... to this beast!" she said with her eyes closed and an intense look of concentration on her face.

Ben tried to hold still but his hips had another idea and began a minute circular rocking movement. Almost imperceptible unless you were stuffed with a thick cock.

"Ben! What are you doing? Oh god!" she gasped as her body responded with movements of her own. Her hips began to rock which thrust his cock in and out just a little faster.

"Oh! That feels so good!" he moaned and his hips picked up speed.

The chain reaction continued as they clung to each other until Ben was slamming his cock up into Margaux's wet depths as she ground down on him.

Her mouth was open but she wasn't making any sounds as their bodies slapped together. An enormous orgasm ripped through her senses as she clung to him with all her strength. She felt her mind slipping away as the bliss overloaded her.

Ben's pleasure crested and he drove himself deep one last time and rocked through his own orgasm.

They gasped and panted as they clung to each other.

She felt him finally shrinking inside her and she tingled madly as he pulled himself free from her.

When she recuperated enough she pushed herself up on his chest and looked down at him with a weary smile. "I think we're sexually compatible at least."

Ben began to chuckle and the bouncing made Margaux's overly sensitive body throb.

"No more, please!" she moaned with a pained smile and rolled off his chest.

"Sorry, your comment just caught me by surprise," he grinned at her.

She smiled back at him then her face went serious. "Tomorrow I leave for Paris. Can you stay with me tonight?"

"How else will I find out if you hog all the sheets in bed?" he said with a straight face.

She grinned and playfully slapped his shoulder.

Ben tucked her against his side and they let sleep take them under.

Chapter 22

Ben walked into his hotel room and dropped his jacket on the couch. He'd seen Margaux off, giving her a sweet kiss before she climbed into her taxi to make her early flight. They would meet again in a couple of months and he'd exchanged contact numbers with her so they could arrange the meeting.

It was still early so the ladies were still asleep in the bedroom. They'd forgotten to close the door so he gently closed it.

He opened his laptop and checked his email. There was a response from Barry Walker. He thanked Ben for responding and indicated that he'd spoken with Shelly Spencer and they had worked out a mutually agreeable price. Ben grinned. It looked like he had another house to renovate. This one would be a challenge as it was so outdated. He rubbed his hands together with glee.

"Ben? Is that you?"

He looked up and Penny wobbled into the living room with her eyes half closed. Her nightie was hanging off her left shoulder and one of her large tits was completely exposed.

"Penny, go put a dressing gown on and cover yourself up please," Ben said sternly.

She glanced down and pulled the strap and fabric up to cover herself. She hustled back into the bedroom and came back out a short time later with the thick robe wrapped around her.

"Sorry Ben," she said with a timid look.

"It's ok. Just try to be a little more careful in the future," he said looking at his email. There was a message from his lawyer. They'd hit a dead end looking into the history of the two ladies. There was no evidence of the abduction of a Karen or Penny in the timeframe given. There was a good chance that they'd been run-aways or street kids.

Penny sat on the couch next to Ben. "What are you doing?"

"Reading an email from my lawyer. He said he wasn't able to find you're previous identities. Can you recall anything else that might help? Do you remember where you were when you were abducted? The city? Country?"

Penny shook her head sadly. "We were moved around so much. It's all a blur now."

"That's ok. We'll figure out what to do. My lawyer is still working on getting you new identity papers. I have a question I wanted to ask you and Karen. If we can't find your old identity would you mind if I legally adopted you so we could build you new identities based on that?"

Penny's eyes lit up and she had a big grin on her face. "That would be wonderful!" she gushed.

"What would be wonderful?" Karen mumbled as she walked from the bedroom rubbing at her eyes. She was completely naked.

Ben looked away and sighed making Penny giggle. She leapt to her feet and rushed over to Karen, turned her around and pushed the grumbling girl back into the bedroom. Moments later a contrite young blonde returned wearing a dressing gown cinched tight around her. Penny followed her out.

"Sorry Ben," Karen mumbled.

"Like I said to Penny, be more careful in the future," Ben said. She nodded.

"Now what would be wonderful?"

"Ben is going to adopt us!" Penny gushed.

Karen's eyes popped fully open and her jaw dropped.

"I was saying the lawyer can't find information about your past so we may need to build you new identities. I would like to adopt you two so they could use that for the identities," he explained to them.

Karen squealed and rushed over to the couch and jumped on Ben. "Papa! Papa! Papa!" she cried and Penny giggled madly and joined the pile.

There was a beep and the door to Ben's room opened. Gabriella entered and took in the pile of giggling females trying to kiss Ben's face.

"Hello?"

Two happy faces popped up over the back of the sofa and they scrambled off Ben to rush to hug Gabriella giggling all the way.

Ben sat up and tried to collect his wits.

"Ben is going to adopt us!" Penny gushed.

Gabriella looked at Ben in surprise.

"My lawyer can't find their original identities so we may have to build them new ones. They'll need a sponsor," he explained and Gabriella smiled at him shaking her head.

She turned to the ladies. "We're going to the beach today. You two should get ready for breakfast. I need to speak with 'Papa'," she grinned.

"Yes Mama!" Penny giggled at her shocked look and rushed back into the bedroom with an equally giggly Karen. They closed the door and Ben was alone with Gabriella.

"Come sit with me, Mama," Ben grinned.

"Don't you start!" she growled, but she was struggling not to smile.

She sat and Ben gave her a kiss.

"How did it go with Margaux last night?" Gabriella said, getting right to the point.

"Dinner was very nice and we had a good talk. She's going to be in the States for a conference in a couple of months and will visit then. She seems to be coming around but I guess we'll see how it goes," he shrugged. Then he frowned. "I had another memory loss event last night when we went dancing. You'll have to ask Margaux what we were talking about when it happened."

Gabriella took his hand in hers.

"And something worse happened," he growled.

She looked very worried.

"I'm famous!" Ben barked.

Gabriella's expression froze. "What?"

"A couple at dinner recognized me and had to have their picture taken with me before they'd go back to their table. Then the taxi driver invited me to his home so his wife could cook a traditional Persian meal for me. When we went dancing they gave us a reserved table, free champagne, and we were swarmed by paparazzi when we left! It was horrible!" Ben exclaimed.

Gabriella understood where this was coming from. The notoriety and hero worship must have really agitated Ben's subconscious issues. "We're going home tomorrow so things will hopefully get back to normal then," she said and patted his hand.

"I did get some good news today!" Ben smiled and Gabriella brightened up.

"Barry Walker is selling me his house. He's moving to his condo in Florida permanently with Phoebe. They wanted to offer it to me first before it went on the market. I had Trish's cousin take care of it. I'll sign the papers when I get home," he said with a grin.

"Let me guess, it needs renovations," Gabriella grinned and chuckled at the glee on his face.

"Listen, as today is our last day the plan was to go to the beach. Considering your 'fame' situation maybe we should just go up to the pool," she suggested.

"No, I don't want this to take over my life. We'll go to the beach," he said with a stubborn look.

"Ok, but if you do attract unwanted attention we'll come back to the pool," she replied and he nodded.

The door beeped once more and Catherine walked in. She smiled at them and plopped herself on the sofa and reclined back across Ben's and Gabriella's laps with a tired grin.

Gabriella snorted. "So I take it the date went well?"

Cat just grinned and nodded then yawned.

"Didn't get much sleep last night?" Ben teased.

"Chanel had to get an early flight back to Paris this morning... and yes, we were up late too," she answered.

"She's probably on the same flight as Margaux," Ben said.

"Oh! She's left?" Cat asked.

"You'll see her again in a couple of months when she visits," Ben replied. "What about Chanel? Are we going to be seeing her again sometime?"

Catherine smiled and looked at her friends with a blush. "We're working on it."

"Good! You two are so cute together!" Gabriella grinned and Catherine's smile showed how truly happy she was.

"Ben's going to adopt Karen and Penny," Gabriella said, bringing her friend up to speed with the morning's developments.

Catherine blinked. "Is that even possible? They're adults!"

"So my lawyer tells me. He's already working on the temporary visas from the US embassy required to bring the ladies home with us. The police have apparently been very supportive and have supplied their findings regarding their abduction and enslavement to the embassy. Fingers crossed they leave on the plane with us tomorrow. Otherwise they will come once the paperwork is finalized," Ben explained. "I'd better see about getting two more seats on the plane."

He turned back to his laptop after helping Catherine sit up on the couch.

Cat looked at her best friend and smiled sleepily. "What's the plan for today again?"

"We're going to the beach," Gabriella smiled.

"Ahhh... perfect. I'm going to go get ready. See you downstairs," the blonde said and dragged herself off the couch. She gave Ben and Gabriella a kiss on the cheek and left.

"Ben, I'll see you downstairs in 45 minutes, alright?" Gabriella said pulling his attention from the laptop.

"Sure," he smiled and gave her a kiss as she left.

He saw there was only two seats left in first class but he didn't have travel documentation for the two yet so he picked up his cell and called to make the reservation. Twenty minutes later he hung up feeling a little worn out from the hoops he'd had to leap through. He had the seats though so that was what mattered. The ladies came out of the bedroom in their bikinis with gossamer sarong wraps around them. Ben shut down his laptop and made his way into the bedroom to get ready.

His shower was quick and he dressed in the bathroom. When he came out in black board shorts, a tight white tank top, and black sandals he was greeted with whistles and cat calls. Surprised, he looked up and saw Sophia, Rachel, Megan, and Miriam, who was grinning with the others but blushing fiercely, sitting in the living room with Karen and Penny. He gave them a grin and they giggled.

"Let's go eat!" he said.

The concierge arranged for them to have a selection of lounge chairs reserved on the beach out in front of the hotel so after they'd enjoyed their breakfast and grabbed their beach stuff they made their way down to the beach. They had five of the ten sets of lounge chairs roped off. Ben and Daniel took the middle set and the ladies divided up the remaining ones.

Out came the lotion and everyone applied some as no one wanted to go home red as a lobster. Ben pulled his tank top off and applied sunblock to protect his scars. Gabriella and Catherine applied it to his back. The bandages had been removed and they were gentle as they applied the lotion to his sides. He pulled the tank top back on gratefully as his large scarred torso was starting to attract attention.

Daniel, Miriam, and Megan immediately headed for the water with Karen and Penny fast on their heels. Ben tilted his lounge chair up to keep an eye on them.

"Bennnnnn?"

He looked over at Catherine who was wiggling a bottle of sunscreen between her fingers as she smiled at him. He grinned and moved over to her. He squeezed lotion into his hands and made his way up her body from her toes, rubbing and massaging the lotion into her skin. By the time he reached her face she had relaxed completely and was sleeping peacefully. He swore he could hear her purring.

He turned and Gabriella was holding up her own bottle. He saw Sophia and Rachel also waiting for him with smiles on their faces. He sighed and smiled.

He dropped himself down on his chair once he'd finished massaging the four women into a blissful state. He watched the kids play in the water as the shore wasn't far from the chairs. They were laughing happily and he allowed himself to relax. He'd periodically crack an eyelid open to check on them.

He felt cold droplets of water splashing on him and he realized he'd dozed off. He looked over at Daniel who had his back to him and was vigorously drying himself off.

"Don't forget to put more lotion on," he said and Daniel nodded. Ben looked down at the shoreline and saw Karen and Penny talking with four young men who were blocking their way back to the chairs. Penny nervously glanced at him and he rolled to his feet. He saw the immediate relief in her eyes as he walked down the beach towards them. For added effect he pulled off his tank top and draped it over his shoulder.

"Something I can help you fellows with?" Ben rumbled.

The leader of the group turned and Ben saw the large gold watch on his wrist. An image of a black SUV with four well-dressed punks popped in his mind.

The man's annoyed expression was quickly replaced with an 'oh shit!' grimace as he took in Ben's size and the visible signs of intense violence. Then recognition. "You!"

His friends turned and each mirrored his expression.

"Don't you have enough women?" one of the men complained.

"These are my daughters. Do you think you could pass my dating suitability test?" Ben growled and stared each in the eye. None could hold his gaze for more than a second. "Didn't think so. Enjoy your day gentlemen," he said as an obvious dismissal. They moved away down the beach looking deflated. Karen and Penny rushed up and kissed Ben's cheeks.

"Thanks Papa!" they said in unison.

He snorted and followed them back to the chairs.

They had lunch on the beach and once more Ben was asked to apply lotion to their backs. Penny and Karen pouted until he finally gave in and did their backs as well. He noticed their muscles were knotted and wondered if that was due to the extra weight of their implants. He massaged the knots away and both sighed happily and thanked him when he was done.

The afternoon was relaxing and Ben spent hours playing in the water with Miriam, Daniel, Penny and Karen. Once they had dried themselves by basking in the late afternoon sun they made their way back to the hotel and got ready for dinner.

As a treat Gabriella had made reservations at an Italian restaurant which was famous for their pizza. There were other Italian dishes of course but she was sure the pizza was going to be a hit.

They were seated at a long table five to a side. They placed their orders then Gabriella got everyone's attention.

"As some of our party weren't with us in Paris I will explain what we are about to do. We have a little family tradition where we list our three favorite experiences from a vacation. We shared our top three experiences in Paris so tonight we are going to share our favorite three after Paris to today. As we did in Paris, Catherine, would you like to lead us off?"

Cat's eyes went dreamy as she recalled her night with Ben and Gabriella and her night with Chanel but she caught Gabriella's raised eyebrow so she tucked those memories away and selected some less steamy ones. "OK, well, number three was our shopping day in St. Paul de Vence, and number two was our shopping day in Nice!" She grinned as her daughters rolled their eyes. "Number one was singing with Gabriella on the cable car's return trip in Chamonix."

Sophia was obviously considering that day as well as a blush appeared on her cheeks. She was next and didn't realize it. When her mother poked her shoulder she jumped and looked around the table. "Oh! Sorry, uh, well, number three was the fun we had with the actors in Avignon. Number two was the cable car's ascent." Her face blushed a deep red and Ben blushed as well. Penny watched the interchange with interest. "Number one..." her eyes flicked to Ben once more then returned to the table surface. "There are too many good memories. Some frightening ones too but mostly they're good!"

"Rachel?" Catherine asked as the young woman looked distracted. She jumped. "Yes? Oh, the shopping in Nice, St. Paul de Vence, and Lyon," she mumbled. She looked at Ben then Sophia and shared a small smile with her sister.

"My list starts with dancing at the club last night. That was so much fun! Did anyone see who the celebrity was? We could barely get out of the club because of all the paparazzi!" Megan gushed as she looked over at her sisters who shook their heads. Ben scowled and Gabriella snorted. Megan continued. "Shopping in Nice was exciting and playing on the beach today with Ben was my number one!" She grinned at him and he smiled back.

Karen saw she was next. "Ben rescuing us from the house. Ben rescuing us from the police and bringing us to his hotel. Ben adopting us." She blinked at the gasps from Catherine's daughters. Miriam looked confused and a little worried so Gabriella whispered something in her ear and it calmed the girl.

Penny nodded and pointed to Karen. "That's my list too!"

"The adoption gives the lawyers something to build their new identities from. All we have is the police statement and, as of tonight, travel papers from the U.S. embassy so they can come home with us tomorrow," Ben explained. Karen and Penny shrieked with excitement and hugged each other. Karen turned to hug Megan and Penny squeezed Daniel to her chest. The boy blushed as he tried to hide the enormous smile struggling to escape.

Daniel sat up straight and looked at the group. "OK, it's my turn. Number three was Penny's hug just now." Laughter erupted and Penny kissed his temple as a reward. The blush continued. "Number two was the day Ben and I hung out at the pool." Gabriella's eyes teared up with joy as she beamed at her son. "Number one was playing in the water today but there really were so many awesome things about this holiday!"

Miriam looked down the table and smiled at her mother. "I loved shopping in Nice with the ladies. I had so much fun with the actors in Avignon." She looked at Ben. "Playing in the water today was best of all!"

Ben smiled back at the young woman.

It was Gabriella's turn and she beamed at her children. "I feel blessed for being able to share this incredible trip and all these wonderful memories with such wonderful people! Spending time with my cousins again. Seeing the joy on the faces of my children." She turned to Ben. "Thank you Ben for making this trip so much more special!"

The group began applauding and Ben took the praise graciously. He finally held up his hands and they quieted down.

"When Gabriella first invited me to join her on her family vacation, on Miriam's suggestion," he nodded to the young woman and saw her smile broadly for his remembering, "I had no idea what to expect. The furthest I'd traveled was down to Austin, Texas and that was just for a few days. France was a much bigger leap for me. I never would have done it without your guidance." This time he nodded to Gabriella and Catherine.

"The trip was... life changing in many ways, almost all of it for the better. I met some really special people, present company included. It's been an adventure... but I'm ready to go home." He lifted his glass of water.

"To HOME!" he called and they raised their glasses to cheer with him.

Chapter 23

Ben relaxed back in the first class seat as best he could. He was still a little too big to fit comfortably but the rest of his group looked very happy indeed. Especially Karen and Penny.

The process for getting them through customs and onto the plane had been an ordeal and he was informed that what he'd done in France paled in comparison to the hoops he'd have to jump through when they landed. His lawyer had arranged to have someone on hand at the airport to help them through the process. He put that from his mind.

Gabriella still wore the little self-satisfied smile on her lips from catching Ben sadly patting the fish tank goodbye in the rental returns lot at the airport. Daniel even took an incriminating photo of him doing it.

She had shipped all of their purchases home once more from the hotel under her import company's account so the luggage they came with contained the clothes they left with and a few items. Karen and Penny had their clothes with them as that's all they had.

After they'd boarded Catherine had indicated that once they were underway she wanted to speak with him privately, say, in the first class washroom but they were on a daytime flight so he had to deny her request for the discrete liaison. She pouted and whispered in his ear that her ass missed him. This made Ben's pants uncomfortably tight for a while.

Ben was really looking forward to being home so he could get back into his daily workout routine. Vacations wreaked havoc on his fitness regimen.

He also missed Tina and Trish and Rochelle. God, he wanted to give them all a hug!

Trying to distract himself he turned on the TV and put on his earphones. He switched to the news to catch up on world events. He watched the financial market news and made it through the sports when the anchor began talking about the mystery man who rescued the girls from the slave ring. There were a few bad photos taken by paparazzi but Ben saw how poor the photos were so be relaxed.

"In the world of art, we have an exclusive interview with a blind artist who sculpts based on touch. Sara Fenhall has more on this." Suddenly he saw a familiar face.

"Gabriella! Turn on your TV! Your cousin Stephanie is being interviewed!" Ben called to her. Everyone in the group quickly found the channel and put their earbuds in. Smiles popped up on their faces as they watched the interview.

Ben returned his attention to the program.

"...remarkable talent for a woman who relies exclusively on her sense of touch when she sculpts," the reporter said.

"I don't really see it as a disability. Especially since this last piece. It expanded my perceptions and honed my skills as never before," Stephanie replied.

"I understand this was your first collaboration with another local artist," the reporter stated.

"Yes, Richard Garrison cast a Bronze sculpture from my clay original."

"I believe it was Mr. Garrison who contacted us for this exclusive interview and unveiling of the new piece of work on the property of your family's hotel. A fitting tribute to a hero who saved those young women from a life of slavery!"

Ben's smile slowly dropped from his face. He glanced nervously around to see who else was watching the show. Every screen he could see in First Class had the program on. Gabriella looked over at Ben and saw his worried expression. She leaned over and asked Miriam and Daniel to change the channel. They protested until their mother explained why. They both looked over at Ben then shut their screens off. Ben looked back to his.

The camera panned over the front lawn at the chateau where some stone workers were packing up their tools. A small stone pedestal had been built on the lawn and something stood upon it under a sheet. A dozen or so photographers were preparing their cameras for the unveiling.

"Oh GOD NO!" Ben gasped. Faces turned in his direction.

The picture cut to a second camera facing the chateau and the pedestal. Alexis and Béatrice walked into the picture with Stephanie between them. They looked thrilled by the attention the chateau was getting. Richard and Henry came in next and took up a position on the opposite side of the stone base. With a few words to Alexis the camera didn't pick up, Richard reached out, took a grip on the sheet and gave it a tug.

There was a collective gasp in his earbuds from the people at the scene as well as from the passengers around him. The sound of cameras firing filled his ears and Ben tugged his earbuds out.

On the stone pedestal stood a four foot replica of Ben in burnished bronze.

Completely naked for the world to see.

Ben put his face in his hands and groaned.

"Oh my GOD! That's BEAUTIFUL!" Catherine gasped loudly then winced as she realized how loud she'd been. Karen and Penny looked back at him with wide eyes.

Ben lurched out of his seat and made for the washroom. He yanked open the door and dropped to his knees before the toilet as his breakfast made a hasty exit. His body kept heaving until there was nothing left to eject. Then it squeezed a few more times just for the pain. Ben slumped against the wall gasping and felt a cool damp towel wiping his mouth. He glanced up and saw Gabriella looking down at him in concern. Catherine was right behind her.

"I'm so sorry Ben! I should have insisted she keep it private!" Gabriella said sadly.

He could only nod.

"Sir, are you alright?"

Ben looked over his shoulder past Gabriella and saw the flight attendant looking in at him. Her eyes widened as she recognized him and Ben turned away to rest his forehead against the cool surface of the wall.

He rested for a minute then he let Gabriella and Catherine help him to his feet and back out to his seat. He tore into the First Class goodie bag and pulled out the sleep mask and earplugs. Gabriella got a blanket and tucked it around him and he just tried to block the world out for the rest of the flight home.

Chapter 24

Ben leaned back in the taxi's back seat wedged between Karen and Penny. He rested his eyes as they drove through the dark streets towards his neighborhood. The two ladies watched the scenery, taking in their new home.

Their arrival on US soil was almost as chaotic as Ben had worried it might be. Apparently the stories about him in France traveled faster than their flight did and the press was waiting for him when he arrived. Not a lot of them but enough to make airport security extra surly and the Immigration Services process just a little more hellish. Due to the security measures the airport imposed his lawyer's help wasn't allowed to enter the area and Ben was largely on his own through the process.

He'd convinced Gabriella and Catherine to head home with their families while he stayed behind with the two ladies. Finally, after hours of answering questions and waiting the final documents were stamped and he'd been allowed to leave with the two women. Ben was exhausted both mentally and physically. He sent a text to Tina to let her know that they were on their way. He saw the time was 9PM and at this time of night it wouldn't take long to get home from the airport.

His stomach growled loudly. Karen giggled and Penny patted his tummy. He smiled and hoped Tina had something to eat in the fridge.

Finally they pulled into Ashburn Court.

"We're here," Ben said softly. Penny was looking at the homes passing by on the right and Karen was looking to the left.

"Such big houses!" Karen gushed. Ben smiled and wondered what their reaction would be to his more modest home.

They pulled into his driveway and the ladies jumped out to get the luggage as Ben paid the driver.

The taxi pulled away as Ben stood looking at his home. His heart warmed with the familiarity of its cozy exterior. He slung his laptop case over his shoulder and pulled his suitcase behind him as he walked up to the front door. He carried all the suitcases up the stairs as the door opened. Tina stood in the doorway with a beautiful smile.

"Welcome back Ben!"

Ben set the bags down and gathered the small woman up in his arms and hugged her. God, he'd missed this!

"Set me down, silly man!" she chuckled after she hugged him back.

He put her back on her feet and she looked around him to the two young women standing on the steps. "You must be Karen and Penny! I am Tina. Please come in!" Tina said with a small bow. She stepped back into the house and Ben followed with his suitcase. The ladies grabbed theirs and followed him in.

Ben heard voices and stepped into the doorway to his living room.

Sitting in the living room was Gabriella, Catherine, Rochelle, Hannah, Trish, Daphne and her twins, and Lucy.

"A few friends dropped by to welcome you home and to greet your new family members. Everyone, this is Penny and Karen," Tina said with a sweet smile. Her eyes were twinkling with joy at having him home.

Everyone waved and said hello to the two young women and they smiled and waved back.

Gabriella and Catherine both came over and hugged Ben at the same time.

"Thank you for making our trip so special!" Gabriella said. "You look tired so you should head straight to bed. We'll talk in the morning." She gave him a kiss and headed home.

"Good night Ben!" Catherine said as she crushed her body to his, giving him a deep kiss. A familiar zing shot through his body and he shook his finger at her when she pulled back.

"Remember what I said about kisses like that at the end of the night!" Ben scolded her with a smile.

She grinned wickedly and headed out.

Rochelle walked up to him with a conflicted look. She was still a little hung up on the fact that Ben was marrying Tina. She knew what Tina said but maybe Ben's feelings for her had changed?

Before she could say anything Ben leaned down and kissed her. She squeaked then grabbed his shirt in her fists and kissed him back. When he pulled back she was swaying on her feet with a dreamy look in her eyes. She walked home floating in the clouds.

Hannah was grinning at Ben as she approached. "Welcome back Ben. You have an appointment with Dr. Granger tomorrow at 3PM. Tina promised me that she will make sure you get there."

Ben pulled her against him for a warm hug and he felt her soften in his arms. "Thank you for keeping an eye on me, Hannah," he whispered into her ear.

Tingles rushed down her spine and she gently pushed back. He kissed her cheek as she passed and she glanced at him with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Flirt," she whispered and walked back to her house with a spring in her step.

"Welcome back Ben! I heard a little about your trip but I understand Daniel is preparing a show for us. I look forward to that," Daphne smiled and gave him a hug. She greeted the ladies and went out the door.

Lisa and Lori stood in front of Ben and looked up at him. They were practically trembling with anticipation.

Ben knew what they wanted but he wasn't about to do anything now in front of his adopted daughters. "Have you been good?" Ben said in a deep rumble. Both nodded quickly, the gleam in their eyes giving away their excitement. "Then we'll get together this week for your reward," he said quietly. The redheads grinned eagerly and shook hands with Karen and Penny on their way out. His new daughters looked back at Ben but he avoided their look as his face heated up.

Tina and Lucy led Penny and Karen down the hall into the room they'd share that night. Ben would have to make alternate arrangements in the morning.

Finally it was just Trish and Ben standing by the front door. She looked up at him with a trembling smile.

"I missed you, big guy," she said quietly.

"I missed you too."

"Tina told me the news when she got home. Pretty amazing! Here I thought it was safe to have sex with you as you were shooting blanks!" she joked but Ben saw her shiver. He bent down to unzip his laptop case and pulled something out. When he turned back to her she gasped as he had a small red leather box in his hand. Her eyes shot up to his and her mouth worked silently.

"You know how I feel about you. You were one of the first women I was... intimate with since my wife left me. Sometimes you make me nuts and you push my buttons like no one else can but somehow that just makes me love you more. I know you've had a hard time with your trust issues and I'm not setting any deadlines for you. When you are ready I hope you know I will be there for you. As a gesture of my undying love and my gratitude for allowing me to share your life please accept this."

He opened the box and inside was a large circular cut ruby surrounded by diamonds with small diamonds on the top of the band.

"Oh... Oh my god... It's fucking GORGEOUS!" she shrieked. He grinned and slipped it on her ring finger. It was a perfect fit. He got one out of four right.

She crushed herself against him and kissed him deeply. When she finally pulled back she was panting and tears were running down her cheeks.

"I love you, you big dope! There! I said it! When I almost lost you to that bastard Sturn I realized just how much I loved you. It scared me, you know? I was afraid I'd lose you too!"

"I'm right here."

She clung to him and his stomach growled loudly. She began to laugh. "You should feed that thing before it claws its way free!" She grinned at him as she pulled back and wiped her eyes. She looked again in wonder at the brilliant red stone on her ring. "Holy fuck that's big!" she mumbled. She looked at him again. "Can I call on you tomorrow?"

"How about I drop in on my way back from the hospital," he suggested.

"That would be great!" she smiled.

"I still have some renovations I want to do on your house too!" he grinned.

She gave him another kiss then headed home. Ben closed the door and Tina appeared at his side.

"You are hungry?" she smiled up at him.

"Yes! Starving!" he grinned back.

She grabbed his hand, led him to the kitchen, and sat him in a chair. He pulled her to his lap and kissed her until she pushed back and wobbled away to get his food from the fridge.

When she came back her face was still flushed pink. She placed a plate on the table for him with two large roast beef sandwiches on it. She pulled the plastic wrap off and he dug into his meal. Tina got him a glass of milk and sat to watch him fondly.

"How are you feeling?" he asked between bites.

"I am better every day," she replied. "Your house is now full. Where are the women going to live?"

"I bought Barry Walkers place. I'll sign the papers tomorrow. I'm going to renovate it for them. Depending on when he's leaving I could put them up in there as I renovate it. Or I could ask Trish if they could stay temporarily with her. When Catherine's kids go off to University Karen and Penny might stay with her for a bit until I get Barry's house fixed up. I won't know until tomorrow."

Ben finished up his sandwiches, drank his milk and hid a massive yawn. Tina tidied up and took his hand once more. She pulled him down the hall to his bedroom and walked him into the bathroom. They brushed their teeth together, smiling at each other as they did it.

He was going to go say goodnight to the girls but Lucy stopped him at his bedroom door with a gentle touch on his chest.

"They are sound asleep, curled up together on the bed," she said with a smile. She walked Ben back into his bedroom and shut the door. Tina and Lucy began to undress Ben for bed. He made to protest that he was capable of doing that but Tina placed a finger across his lips. They quickly and efficiently stripped the clothes from his body and Lucy carried them into the washroom to put in the hamper.

Ben heard her brushing her teeth as Tina pulled back the sheets and he climbed into bed. Tina went into the washroom next and moments later they both came out completely naked.

The contrast in size and shape of the two women was delightful. Tina had long, straight raven black hair and her body was small with smooth skin without so much as a freckle. Lucy's chestnut brown hair fell in waves reaching to the middle of her back. She had large breasts on a trim body which was adorned with extensive Japanese themed tattoos and a number of piercings.

Each woman moved to opposite sides of the bed and slipped under the covers with him. They snuggled up against his sides and Ben sighed contentedly. He shut off the light and relaxed. Within a minute he was asleep.

He was on the island of Hawaii in his beautiful ocean side suite. He was resting in bed with his beautiful wife Wendy and they were so happy. She smiled at him and her eyes twinkled as they did when she was truly happy. She gave him a mischievous smile and slipped under the sheets. He felt her kissing her way down towards his cock which stiffened in anticipation.

The kisses separated and followed two distinct paths down his stomach. Tongues ran up the sides of his cock, around the ridge of its head then lapped across it, tangling over its tip where the lips came together. They parted and one set went down the side of his shaft while the other slowly opened over the thick head and sucked him inside her hot mouth. The sensation was incredible and odd because Wendy didn't have two mouths.

Jarred from the dream Ben's eyes popped open and in the dim light of the bedroom he saw two shapes moving under the covers. He threw the covers back and Lucy looked up at him with half of his cock deep in her mouth while Tina ran her tongue over his balls.

When he didn't stop her Lucy slid her mouth up towards the tip then plunged down taking him all the way into her throat. Tina had to move her head to avoid colliding with Lucy.

Ben gasped and pulled at Tina's hand. She immediately moved up the bed and he kissed her, his tongue dipping deeply into her mouth. When he pulled back both of them were panting with need.

Lucy popped his thick cock from her mouth and stroked the wet shaft. Ben moved farther down the bed and tugged Tina to get up and swing her leg over his face. Bracing her hands on his chest she slowly lowered her wet opening over his mouth and his tongue stroked her aggressively. She dropped down over his face with a cry and he continued to stroke, probe and caress her with his tongue.

Ben felt his cock being positioned then the velvety smooth grip of Lucy's pussy taking him inside. She was so wet! He slid all the way in and she ground against him once she reached the bottom.

Tina was making cute mewling sounds as her hips rocked over Ben's mouth. He moved an arm over his head and gripped her ass. He slid his thumb between her perfect butt cheeks and Tina yelped as he stroked over her slick rosebud.

"OH! Ben! Yes!" she gasped.

Lucy was slowly rising and dropping on his cock and her legs were getting tired. Ben moved his other hand to pull her up on her knees then he drove his hips up to slap against her ass, forcing his cock deep into her.

"FUCK!" she cried.

Ben set up a steady pace of pounding up into her and she struggled to keep from falling forward on his chest as the impacts were sending intense shots of bliss through her tender areas. He kept a grip on her ass to give her some stability.

"Ben! I'm so close!" Tina cried out so he gave her what she wanted. His thick thumb slipped deeply into her ass as he sucked her clit into his mouth and thrashed it with his tongue.

Tina screamed soundlessly as her body shook and quaked.

Ben sped up his thrusts and Lucy leaned forward against Tina and kissed the small woman deeply making her moan and grind against Ben's face frantically. He moved his hand from Lucy's ass to cup one of her lovely tits and gently rolled the nipple in his fingers.

Lucy gasped and pulled her mouth from Tina's. "FUCK! COMING SO HARRRRRDDDDD!!!" she finished with a growl as her orgasm washed over her. Ben felt the pulses ripple through the inner walls of Lucy's pussy. That was all Ben needed to reach his own peak.

He wanted to tell Lucy to move off but Tina was still pressing her throbbing pussy against his mouth. He tried pushing Lucy but she just ground herself back against his swelling cock, glorying in how it filled her to capacity.

He had no more time as an explosive release was suddenly upon him. He moaned against Tina's sensitive flesh causing her to squeeze her thighs around his head and he gripped Lucy's tit tighter making her moan and grind harder.

Tina was becoming too sensitive so she pulled away from Ben's face. He eased his thumb from her ass and she shivered with the delicious tingles he was sending through her body. She dropped to the bed beside Ben and took a few minutes to recuperate as she watched him with a euphoric smile.

Lucy laid across Ben's chest and felt his cock gradually relaxing within her. It was an amazing feeling and she knew she'd never get tired of it. He took her head between his hands and kissed her. She could taste Tina on his lips and tongue and she moaned at how sexy that was.

His cock finally slid free from the young woman and he gently rolled her off of him onto the bed. She sighed with contentment.

Tina had slipped away to the washroom and returned with a damp facecloth. She cleaned Ben's face, his thumb, and his dormant cock then she dropped the facecloth in the hamper in the bathroom. She slipped back into bed and cuddled up against Ben's side.

Ben thought back to the dream he'd been having before he was woken up so delightfully. The last time he'd had the Wendy in Hawaii dream was... he paused when he recalled it was the night Tina had first stayed overnight. It suddenly felt like that night began something which ultimately led to this moment. It was special. It didn't feel right that he was still associating Wendy with his happiness when he had such loving partners right next to him. Even if it was just a dream.

"I think for my next vacation I'd like to go to Hawaii," he said suddenly.

Lucy snorted and Tina pulled herself up onto his chest to look down into his eyes curiously.

"Why Hawaii?" she asked.

"I have a dream that needs updating," he said with a smile.