"I believe forgiveness is the best form of love in any relationship. It takes a strong person to say they're sorry and an even stronger person to forgive."

-Yolanda Hadid

Waking up in Ben's arms is more satisfying than I ever envisioned, and even though this may only be the 3rd time I know it's where I want to be. When Ben's lips touched mine on the beach four days ago I felt this discharge of anger I'd been bottling up and once if diffused all that remained was the unwavering fact that I love him. Whether he knows it or not, he was the best thing that has ever befell me.

Ben wraps his arms around me a little tighter and nuzzles the back of my neck causing a giggle to escape through my lips. "That tickles." I laugh, trying to squirm away.

His chuckle sends warm vibrations through my body. "Your laugh is adorable though." He points out.

I shook my head as I rolled my eyes, trying not to completely disregard his claim. If he believed it who was I to argue with him. Instead, I decided to speak something else I'm thinking.

"And yours makes me feel safe."

Ben is quiet for a moment, almost long enough for me to think maybe I shouldn't have said what I did. Sliding away from me he gives me enough room to roll onto my back, his face coming into view along with his lazy smirk. Our eyes meet in a sizzling gaze until I cock an eyebrow at him prompting him to speak.

"May I kiss you?" He asks his voice heavy with yearning and anticipation.

I can't help the laugh that I let out at his question. "You know you don't have to ask right?"

I hadn't thought his gaze could become more intense than it already was but as the simmer knob is cranked I feel my heartbeat slowly increase.

"Never hurts to double-check." He notes with certainty.

A tsunami of emotions hit me as our eyes held on to one another. An intense desire was washing over me, seeping into every cell of my being. I wanted him on a level I had never experienced in my life. Like there was a magnetic pull between us, drawing us closer until we were too close to resist its draw. It must have been what he felt the night he kissed me because before I can stop myself my lips are on his and unlike last time, no one resists.

For the first time, I entangle my fingers in his thick mane, the satin waves gliding along my skin in an electrifying sensation, as our lips engage in a fevered battle of wills. Storming the gate we have a long thirst to breach for several seasons now. I never want to kiss another set of lips as long as I live.

Ben pulls away and brushes a strand of hair off my face, his fingers lingering on my skin.

"You can't be real." I sigh, my head slowly coming down from whichever cloud I was just on.

"As real as it gets and yours. If you still want.."

I press my lips to his once again, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Always. But you have to tell me everything. No secrets anymore." I state, pulling back and making eye contact with him once again.

"Promise."

A happy sigh escapes my lips as I hold his eyes captive with mine. All these years and he's been right there in front of me.

"How about some breakfast?"

Ben's brow raises in contemplation. "We talking cereal or something better?" He inquires, his curiosity piqued.

"Pancakes?" I offer, hoping they aren't too lame of a suggestion. For all I know, he could be an omelet kind of guy.

His eyes lite up as one of his dazzling smiles overtakes his face. "I haven't had good pancakes in months."

I pat his chest and climb off the bed. "Lucky for you cooking pancakes is my specialty," I wink at him.

Ben laughs. "Very lucky."

We head down to the kitchen and I begin breakfast, setting out my ingredients and combining them into a mixing bowl.

"So Mr. Secretive, what else don't I know?"

Ben sat at the island and leaned back in his chair. His eyes watch me as I mixed up the batter. "See, I promised no secrets but I'm a bit worried you'll be mad about some of them."

I turn around and raise an eyebrow at him. "How bad could it be? And you promised, " I remind him up pointing my spatula at him. "No more secrets."

Ben chuckles. "Pretty bad. It's about Lolits."

"What about him?" I asked.

"It's Presley."

I froze mid pancake flip from shock. "What?"

Ben gives a light chuckle but doesn't say anything. What else could he? I'm in absolute shock from the information.

"I can't believe he kept that from me. How did I miss that? Presley has been with us for years." I ask in disbelief from behind the stove as I wait for the pancakes to he ready.

Ben laughs, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the counter. "You miss a lot when you don't want to see it." He points out, popping a blueberry in his mouth.

I scrunch my brow and raise an eyebrow at him, even though I know he's accurate. "Hush you." I quip with a small smile. How I could go from being irritated at him being right to finding it endearing I may never know. The feeling could stay though, I wanted it to stay.

"The team misses you." He says, his attention down at his phone now.

The scoff on reflex sneaks out as I turn my attention back to my pan. "I doubt that. It wouldn't surprise me if they all hated me." I mutter under my breath.

"We don't hate you!" A higher-pitched voice calls out from where Ben stands.

My head snaps up to meet his cocky smirk as he watches me realize what he's just done.

"Speak for yourself Kat! She abandoned us. A wound like that just doesn't heal overnight." I recognize the obnoxious whine as my former frost mage Biebs. I wince at the sound, unable to mask my annoyance.

Across the kitchen isle, Ben bursts into a fit of deep laugher his eyes never leaving mine. "Wow, is that the face you always make when he talks?"

"Ben!" I exclaim, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that he logged onto discord in my kitchen.

"Wait, what face is she making?" Biebs whines through the phone.

"I just can't believe yall are in the same room," Mcqueen says

"Honey he isn't holding you against your will is he?" Kat jokes.

"Enough with the twenty questions." Ben chuckles, sitting down in one of the bar stools.

I can't help but take him in as he lounges in my kitchen while I make us breakfast after him spending the night. If you had told me four months ago I would be standing here looking at this I wouldn't have believed it.

"Sooo...does this mean Ella's coming back?" Biebs asks seeming confused with the situation.

That made at least two of us. Was this an ambush or an intervention? I couldn't tell if this was supposed to be good or bad. My mind was screaming to end the call and then rip Ben a new one, but my heart didn't want to yell.

Liam strolls into the kitchen at that moment, his eyes dancing between the two of us and the phone in Ben's hand. "I didn't think you'd actually do it." He laughs seating himself next to Ben.

"Okay, who forgot to send the invitations to this party?" Mcqueen asks throwing out his accusation. "Because I for one feel extremely left out right now."

Kat lets out an aggravated sigh. "Ben at Ella's house and her brother Liam just joined them. Keep up, Kevin."

"I am so confused." Biebs groans.

I nod my head, concentrating on the pancakes in my pan. I couldn't stay silent for much longer, eventually, I would have to speak. The only problem was I had no idea what I was going to say. Warm, firm hands brush my waist causing me to look up and find Ben standing next to me, his arm weaving around me.

Without a thought I lean into him, a feeling of security and love enveloping me. "I hate you." I breathe letting my temple rest against his chest.

"Pretty sure that translates to I love you," Kat states with a light chuckle.

"Ben and Ella sitting in a tree..." Beibs starts to sing but I tune him out as Ben gives me a soft squeeze.

Glancing up he gives me one of his lazy smiles and sets his phone on the counters as the bickering between my guildmates continues. Even though he isn't speaking I can tell what he's thinking, his eyes are telling me everything I need to know.

Rising to my toes I place a long, drawn-out kiss on his perfectly desirable lips before leaning down towards his phone.

"Actually it's Kindra."

|Author's Note|

She did it! She is finally making friends with the people she has been holding at a distance for far too long. The book is coming to a close and I can't even begin to express how giddy it makes me that you are almost at the end and have enjoyed enough to keep reading <3 Truly it means a lot! As always I want to hear those opinions of yours. What did you like or dislike? Did Ben do a good thing? What about those guildmates? Let me know what you thought!

Peace and Love