Chapter-8

Benedict Henderson's POV

Her lips are heaven. Her scent is engulfing. Her gasp and moan are all so consuming. My hands reach her hips as I pull her closer and she moans into my mouth. Fuck! Heaven! It's only us two. I can try to make her see our future. I know the love we have for each other is still there. She tries to hide it, but it's there in her eyes. The attraction, the love and... the pain.

I kiss her hard and she tries to push me away. I don't let her go. Just if I kiss her a little longer, she will see we are meant to be together. See, My Little Star! It's still us! She then pushes me away with all her strength and I had to take a step back. We are standing so close to the pool that as she pushed me away, she took a step back herself and falls into the pool.

"Fuck!" I try to catch her, but she falls into the pool. She stands up in the pool. Her hands are on her hips, her brows are pulled together in anger and her eyes are spitting fire. I better run. My girl is so cute! She is all wet. Her cream top is sticking to her body and her white bra is so clearly visible. My my! Has she grown! Did I say cute?! Fuck it! She's hot!

She turns around and swims to the steps before stepping out of the pool. My eyes watch her like a hawk. Her walk, her style, her eyes, her fire... Everything about her is ever-so consuming. She walking towards me and I could her curves. Fuck! How can she get more beautiful?! She is like an Angel sent for my death!

"You need a towel-" I am cut off b her as she snatches the towel from my hands that's on the stand behind me.

"You listen to me." Her finger is in my face and her nostrils are nearly flaring. "I don't know what game you are playing, but you better stop it!" Seems like I really did piss her off. But I haven't even started yet. "And you kiss me one more time, I will..." She pauses not knowing what to say. "I... I... Urgh!" She screams in frustration. "Stop laughing! Asshole!" She yells and closes her laptop while drying her hair.

Was I laughing? Oh yes! I am clutching my stomach and laughing! She never got angry at me before. Not like this. This fuming mad woman in front of me is the cutest thing I have ever seen. I am so lost in enjoying her that I missed her packing her things and coming to me. Her finger is jabbing into my chest.

"Don't. Ever. Pull. Those. Moves. On. Me!" Her blue eyes are gazing sharply into mine. Where does she think she is going all wet?! I take the bag off her shoulder and throw it down. "What are you-" Now I cut her off. Grabbing the hand that's jabbing into my chest and twist it back before holding her around the waist and pulling her close. Her chest hits mine and a gasp leaves her. I smell her hair.

"Try. And. Stop. Me." I dare her and she goes stiff for a minute. Then she tries to break free.

"Let me go, Ben! Stop these games!" Her voice comes out frustrated.

"The more you try to free yourself, the more my tighter my grip gets, my Lyls." She stops struggling and is now breathing hard. She knows I don't just mean it physically.

"You don't sound romantic. You sound like a psychopath!" She retorts sarcastically and I see her rolling her eyes in the mirror in front of us. A smile breaks my lips and I turn her to me locking her arms in place. She gasps at my sudden move and our lips are inches close. Her eyes bore into mine. "You won't get me this time, Ben! I won't be a fool twice."

The amount of pain in her makes me feel like a knife just drove into my chest. Her eyes speak it all. How hurt she is, how she longed for me. She still does. How she craves my touch. How she is scared I will hurt me again.

"I won't let you hurt me this time."

"That is not my intention."

"Then stay away from me."

"I can't!" I physically can't anymore.

"Why?! You want to fuck my father's pride again?!" The disgust in her voice and the betrayal in her eyes makes me want to kneel at her feet and apologise for it. Would she come back if I do it? "Don't touch me!" She tries to break free from me, but my hold just gets tighter.

"I can't do that, My Little Star!" She stops struggling to get out of my arms and stares at me. Look at me! Look into my eyes and see the love I have for you!

"Hey Ben!" We both hear a voice shout and pull away immediately. She takes a step back and the person who called my names comes in. It's Max. Fuck! So, not the time Max! He stops and stares at us. "Hey Lyls! What are you doing here? Why are you wet?" He takes the towel that fell down when I pulled her to me and puts it around her.

"She fell down in the pool." I answer him staring at her. She looks up with that fire all burning.

"I have a mouth and I can answer for myself!" Spitfire! Max stares at us both and shakes his head.

"You two are at it again?" He asks rhetorically and she folds her hands near her chest. "How do you even deal with her every day?" He asks me and she gasps at her brother that just betrayed her.

"Really? Why don't you ask me how I am dealing with him?" She asks with genuine curiosity.

"I don't want to get in between you both." He nearly raises his hands like he gives up. "What happened ten years ago though?" He turns his head from her to me. Her eyes meet mine and I feel like such a fucker. We don't answer him and just shrug.

"Max, wait here." I tell him. "Come with me. There are clothes in my room. You can change into the dry ones." I take her hand and he quickly pulls away.

"No! I don't want your clothes. I will go home like this!" This stubborn little woman! Max gets a call and excuses himself turning away from us talking on this phone. I hold her wrist and pull her close before whispering in her ear.

"You could either come with me or I could throw you over my shoulder and take you in." She looks up at me. Though she is tall, her head only reaches my shoulder. She presses her lips together contemplating her options.

"Fine!!" She spits giving up.

"Good." I turn around and try to stop the smile that's breaking out, but that becomes uncontrollable. I pull her along into the house and we stop in front of my room. Her sharp eyes bore at me with annoyance. "The closet is to the right. The toilet is right beside it if you need it."

"Oh really? I will try not to get lost in your huge penthouse!" Sarcasm dripping her tone. It only makes me want to turn her around and smack her bum. The naughty thought tickles me and I nearly smile.

"There are women's clothes as well in the closet. They are your size. Don't mind snatching anything you like." I bought them all for you!

"I don't need your ex-girlfriend's clothes!" She fumes before turning around and walking inside.

"Call me if you need help putting on a dress!" I call out as she walks away.

"I won't!" She yells without turning around. My eyes are only on her bum. The way it sways...

You are going to be the death of me!

"Miranda told me everything." Max says as I take sip of my coffee.

"Good. You don't have to feel guilty about kissing your friend's girlfriend."

"So, it was all just an act? A contract?" He asks.

"People wanted a perfect image and I gave them that." He looks at me like he doesn't believe. I can't tell him the truth. Yes, Max. It was all an act just to convince you and your father that I am in a relationship so that you would think I am over your sister, when I in reality I am dying to get a wiff of her. Only if I play this card would you have allowed your sister to work as an intern in my company.

"So there were never any feelings involved?" His question makes me want to smile. Looks like he really likes her. I was surprised to find the picture of them kissing that day. I was thinking of ending the contract anyway now that Layla is working under me. It was a perfect time.

"Never. None. It beneficial to us both. She got more movie chances and I got to keep up the image of successful businessman that has everything." He nods his head at my answer. "She is a great friend though." He sucks in a breath. Mm! Possessive?! He fell hard this time it seems! Great job, Miranda!

"I can't believe you and Miranda were just acting this whole time. I have to give it to you both. You fooled us all into believing that you guys are really dating when you are just faking it." He shakes his head.

"WHAT?!!" We both turn our heads. I am nearly knocked out of my chair. There she is standing in all her elegance. The sunlight is directly hitting her face. My pants and shirt look so oversized on her. She tried to style them well. Her nearly dry hair is framing her face. Her eyes gauge at me in shock. She walks up to us. "You guys were just acting?"

"You didn't know?" Max asks her. She comes and sits in the chair between us. She shakes her head. I am so lost in enjoying how good she looks in her clothes. "It was all a contract. I still wonder how you can not be attracted to her in all these years though." Both of their eyes are on me. Stop staring at her, Ben! You are going to put doubts in Max's head! Even with all that thought I couldn't stop what I said.

"There is only one girl, Max." My eyes find hers. Fuck the whole world! Fuck the revenge! Can I just be with her? Her eyes are filled with hurt, pain, longing and... love? Don't know how long we have been staring at each other. Everything stopped for a few minutes. Max clears his throat and she breaks the eye contact. That is the longest she has looked at me without anger or disgust since she started working.

"Max, let's go." She gets up and grabs her things quickly like she wants to leave as soon as possible. I am so lost in looking at her that I nearly miss he look Max is giving me. I think the cat's a bit out of the bag. She turns around without a glance at me and walks out. My eyes couldn't seem to stop staring at her.

My Little Star! Tell me, why is it that even after climbing all these steps to be on the same level with you, you still so hard for me to grab?

"Let's talk soon." Max says and I know what he means. He knows I am hooked on his sister. I tried to hide it well all these years and just a wiff of her scent makes me lose control. I don't look at him as I give him a kurt nod.

"What is so urgent that we have to meet today?" I try to keep myself from sounding annoyed but I couldn't help it. I had a plan of visiting Layla's home. I know where she is living. I have been there once ten years ago. The Love Hut. I wanted to take her out and just be able to see her real face instead of the one on my phone or the one the magazines. Instead, here I am, with my Uncle. The Mastermind.

"I wanted to talk with you about the Hotel we are opening in two weeks." His face is stoic as he drinks his whiskey.

"You mean the hotel I am opening?" He looks up at me and I meet his gaze.

"I am not the enemy boy. Don't forget who is." He reminds. I grit my teeth. My revenge. The Duke. Father of the love of my life. "You seem to be getting too cozy with you ex-lover." He mentions Layla. The grip on my glass tightens. Don't show him that it effects you! I just want him to think that she is part of the plan. She is not. I won't let her be part of the plan. But he has to think she is.

"It is the plan." I try. He stares at me and then at his glass. "Nothing is more important that taking revenge for my father's death. All these years of hard work... Do you think I am going to let it all go to drain for a girl I used to love? I am taking the Duke down and his daughter is no exception." What nonsense do I have to say to get him convinced?! I want him away from Layla at any cost.

"Don't forget our goal."

"I won't. Any leads on Chris?" Chris is the guy we hired to be Layla's friend. The plan was for him to get her drunk. Not drugged! Just drunk! It is and will always be my biggest regret. The act was supposed to carry out under my supervision, but I was out of the country when Uncle Brad carried it out. I know he did it purposefully. I got so mad. The minute we get Chris, his blood will be on my hands.

"None." He seems too casual. "I have hired more people, but no leads. The last someone saw him was in Chicago."

"I want him caught as soon as possible! I don't care at what cost!"

"Why do you want him caught so much? It's almost like you are angry at him." He is gauging my reaction.

"So that he won't ruin everything we have been planning all these years. The Duke hired more people as well to catch Chris. Think of what happens once he is caught." I want Chris for the sole reason of drugging Layla and touching her. I saw the footage in the club. He touched her left breast. That motherfucker! I am going to RIP HIS ARM OFF HIS BODY!!

"Seems the girl is loved by everyone in the country. Even after the drug case, which most people do not seem to believe, her popularity only increased." He is poking me.

"You know her charity work. It is the effect of that." Sound as diplomatic as possible. Her beautiful heart, her kind soul and her breathtaking smile... Anyone would be charmed by her.

"Don't forget that she is just a part-"

"Why do you seem so interested in her? Did you forget she is only part of the plan? You seem to be devising a plan with her as the central piece. We are only going to pull the Duke down. Do not touch his family. It is out initial agreement and I still stand by it." Max is my true friend. His mother is the kindest woman I ever met. Layla is my life.

"I remember."

Layla! My Heart! The only plan I have for you is to make you mine!

There is only one thought in my mind as I fell asleep that night.

Protect My Little Star at all costs! Protect her from the evil in the world! Protect her from my plans! Protect her from my revenge!

If only I knew I was wrong!

A/N:

Hey my cute dumplings!

I am so sorry for the late update, but here it is. Hate is transitioning. Love is spiraling. Plans are brewing.

Would Ben be her Protector or Destroyer?

Tell me what you think.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.