Chapter 991 - The cost of freedom (6)

~ Los Angeles, Safe house owned by White family ~

Benjamin and Harriet (aka Penny) arrived at the large villa. Jeff arranged a driver to take them there from White corp. HQ in a car with tinted glass, so that they are not at risk of being spotted by Harriet's parents, if they have people watching the area.

When they arrived, staff informed them that the dinner will be at 7:30 PM.

Both Benjamin and Harriet were pleasantly surprised to see change of clothes and nightwear available. Bathroom had towels and toiletries. Everything was perfect.

Two of them had their dinner in a huge dining room. The maids silently moved while exchanging plates and serving dishes in front of them. The food was delicious and pleasing to the eye.

Benjamin observed Harriet. She is very elegant. Her hands move like they are dancing, and she is taking small bites while eating soundlessly. He concluded that she came from such an environment, because when she ate pizza in his apartment, she was so clumsy that she managed to get tomato sauce in her hair. At that time, he laughed while asking if that is her first time to eat a pizza while watching a movie on the sofa… and now that he looks at her, he believes that it was her first time.

He sighed while wondering if he will ever be able to provide her with such a luxury.

After dinner, they moved to the bedroom. Few minutes later, the phone Sarah gave to Benjamin rang. It was a call from JoAnna, for Harriet.

Benjamin went to shower first, to give Harriet privacy for the call. He noticed that her eyes shifted while looking for a place from where she can talk undisturbed.

Harriet listened to JoAnna's explanation which can be summarized with: Benjamin can't stay in touch with both Harriet and his daughter, but the good thing is that the separation should be no longer than five months.

Harriet sighed. "How much time we have to decide?"

"You should tell us as soon as possible, in case we need to create a new identity for Benjamin… and to stage his death. And if he will keep his current life, he should not delay going back to his place. If your parents notice that he is missing, they will start suspecting that something is off and even if they can't track you, they might hurt him while trying to get the information."

Harriet took a deep breath. No matter if he stays with her or not, they need to decide soon. And if he chooses his daughter, this is their last night together.

Harriet sighed while remembering how Benjamin told her last time that Becca and she are the only two persons who make him happy. How can she ask him to decide between his child and her?

"Harriet…", JoAnna's voice brought Harriet out from her thoughts. "If he does not stay with you, we can tell him about your whereabouts as soon as it's safe. But not before that."

"I understand. Thank you." Harriet ended the call and looked toward the bathroom.

She can hear Benjamin singing and whistling under the shower. Silly man… somehow, he manages to make her smile even when she is sad.

Harriet knows that Benjamin is in a good mood because two of them are together, safe, under the protection of the mighty Jeffrey White, and also… he got a job which is by any standards better than the one he lost on the previous day.

"Done with the call?", Benjamin asked when Harriet joined him in the shower.

She confirmed. "I came to wash your back."

"Oho!", he exclaimed happily and gave her a peck on the lips before turning around. "Wash me well, and I might return the favor…", he teased.

Harriet laughed. He was goofing around and swayed his hips, and she hoped to memorize every second… because she can't be sure if this is their last time together.

They washed each other while laughing.

Benjamin carried her to the bed and covered her body with kisses. He pulled the cover over his head and kissed the inside of her thighs gently. He teased her with his tongue until she begged him to move closer to her core. He hummed in approval when he felt how wet she is.

Harriet panted heavily when he moved up on the pillow and embraced her.

She reached to stroke his erection.

He moved away. "Be good."

Harriet looked at him in confusion. He is ready, she is willing… what is the problem?

Benjamin's eyes shifted nervously. "I didn't think that we will stay overnight, so I don't have any condoms on me." He kissed her forehead. "Sleep now. I will buy them tomorrow."

Harriet frowned while thinking, what if there is no tomorrow for two of them? Will she just let their last night go without lovemaking?

She moved closer to him. "It's OK."

He groaned when she straddled him, and her hips moved while she grinded on him.

"Are you sure? Is it safe?"

"Yeah…" She sealed his lips with hers while her hand reached lower and guided him inside her.

Their lustful sounds mixed when he got all the way in.

He grabbed her buttocks and lifted them slightly, just enough to pound himself inside her from below.

He enjoys the sight of her flushed face, and her firm breasts bouncing, and her sounds… His Penny is usually quiet like she is trying to hide her presence, but she makes wonderful sounds when she gives in to her lust, and he can distinguish smallest of changes which tell him that she is getting close to her climax. And he is getting close also... the raw feeling of her wet heat clutching him tightly is impossible to resist.

Harriet's moans morphed into cries and he was right behind her with last few trembling thrusts, each slower than the previous one, as he released himself inside her.

She laid on top of him, her breaths mixed with his. And they stayed like that for some time without a word.

She looked at him and smiled. "Ben… I love you."

His eyes opened in surprise and he embraced her. He knew that she has feelings for him, but love? He was not confident. And he thought that she will never say it… but she did.

He rolled them both over and ended up on top of her.

"Penny… I love you more.", he murmured.

He inched closer and kissed her smiling lips few times lightly before deepening the kiss.

They made love several times that night.

…

In the morning…

"I'm confident that you understand that this is the best solution…", Harriet told Benjamin when she ended her explanation.

When they woke up, they enjoyed morning cuddles and the breakfast, and then she called him to sit and asked him to listen and not to interrupt her until she is done… and she told him that they should separate.

Back to present…

Benjamin is staring at the carpet. He knows that Harriet is right. If he stays with her, Becca will think that he died, because his ex-wife will be all over the police as soon as the alimony does not arrive. And even if few months later he 'resurrects' in front of Becca, that will not change the fact that the child suffered when she found out that her father died. He also understands Harriet's point that if they stay together, he might put her in danger, because there is a chance that someone will recognize him. Over the years he made many friends in the city, can he avoid all of them? How will he know which ones of them are being watched by her parents?

But this does not make it any easier… Penny is his sunshine. And he thought that this time they can finally be together, and last night she told him that she loves him… and now this.

How can he pretend not to know her if they bump into each other by accident?

"Five months?", he asked dejectedly.

"At most.", Harriet responded. "When it's safe, Sarah will let you know where you can find me… I will be waiting."

…

Harriet stood at the window and hugged herself while watching through the tears which blurred her vision a black car with tinted windows driving away from the villa. Her Ben is inside. And no matter how much she is hurting, Harriet knows that this is for the best, because if anyone should pay the price for her freedom, that should be her.

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