"Guys," Ben said as he shut the door behind him. "you remember Hannah."
The guys nodded at her and resumed their eating. She looked at Ben for direction but he just rolled his eyes and guided her to a corner seat on the couch.
"Hope you like pizza."
She honestly couldn’t remember. It had been so long since she had it she didn’t know but she didn’t want to raise a fuss. "That’s fine."
Ben continued into the kitchen and came back with a stack of plates. He handed her one and sat down and grabbed three slices for himself.
Hannah looked at her plate in her hands and the box of pizza which was almost gone. She couldn't remember the last time she used a plate either. She always used her hands. No time like the present. Hannah leaned over Ben and snatched the last slice of pizza just as Hound was reaching for it. He looked hurt she got it first even though he had already eaten several slices already and she had had none. She was lifting her plate up to him but Ben shoved it in her lap.
"He'll survive."
"Says you. I’m hungry." Hound whined.
“And she’s been a prisoner for the past year and a half and hasn't had a decent meal since before that I'm sure." It was sweet that Ben defended her but it wasn’t necessary. She had learned from personal experience she could survive on only bread and water for two months she could certainly survive without pizza.
All the guys sobered up and sat away from their pizza but looked at it long fully. She was sure they were hungry after rescuing her and making a fast getaway and long flights.
"It’s okay really. I’m not that hungry" her stomach chose that moment to disagree and gave a loud growl.
"Your stomach begs to differ." Ben chuckled.
The room became eerily quiet and all eyes fell on Hannah. She suddenly lost her appetite and set her plate down. She knew the circumstances in which she came from but to hear it spoken out loud felt different. More real.
“Hannah, I’m sorry.” Ben lost his gusto and his voice calmed immediately.
“I’ll get us some more pizza,” Hound stated and stood up. “Should have known four large pizzas wouldn’t be enough.”
“I didn’t mean to cause a problem,” Hannah said sliding as far back into the cushion as possible, trying to make herself appear smaller. It was a tactic that had worked for her in the past when she angered her owner. They liked defiance, not a simpering child.
“It’s not a promise.” Ben sat back and took her hand in his. “Hound was just being an ass. He should have known coming back from a mission we would need more than those few pizzas to sustain us.”
Hannah just nodded and brought her knees up to her chest. She felt the tension in the air and knew she had caused it. But she didn’t know how to make it better. “Where will I be staying?” She wanted to do nothing except escape the room and go hide under the blanket.
“I’ll show you later, but you’re not leaving until you eat something,” Ben told her firmly.
“I’m not a child.” She snapped at him. She didn’t need to babied. She had been living in a personal hell for a year and a half. She could do whatever she wanted to now. If she didn’t want to eat she wasn’t going to and there was nothing this man could do to change her mind.
“Please, Hannah.” He pleaded with her with his penetrating black eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself if you become sick because you didn’t eat something. I already failed you in the MP office; don’t let me add not feeding you to the list.” He seemed like he wanted to add to that statement but present company stayed him. Damn him for using guilt against her. Of course, she had to eat now.
Hannah growled at him and took a bite of pizza while watching him. She was about to say some snarky remark but the flavor of tomato sauce, basil, and sausage hit her tongue and she looked down at the pizza in awe. When had food ever tasted so good? She couldn’t remember nor did she care in that moment. With three bites she polished off the slice and looked down at the empty box and frowned. It was gone? Oh yeah, she took the last slice and Hound got upset with her.
“There is plenty more coming I promise.” Ben chuckled sensing her dilemma.
Hannah licked the grease off her bottom lip and paused when she saw the raw hunger in Ben’s eyes and watching her tongue swipe across her lip. She did it again to make sure she wasn’t imagining things. Nope, he was still watching it. That should have unnerved her but it did the opposite. She liked it. She remembered what those lips of his tasted like. Soft and demanding all at once. He had consumed her at the lake and no man had ever compared to him since.
“So why Midas?” She asked to recollect herself. She shouldn’t be lusting after the man. He had left her once when things seemed to heat up between them. He had broken her heart when he abandoned her. She wouldn’t allow him the opportunity to do it again. There was no future for them. Not that she wanted one. Now that she was free she wanted time to rediscover herself and find out what she wanted to do next. All her mother’s careful planning for Hannah was useless to her now. No man in their social circle would have her. Not that Hannah cared. She never wanted that life anyway but when Ben left her what choice did she have? Adam left right after Ben
