be unfair to enter into an arrangement that would disappoint them both.
Ben entered the ballroom at his side, and it felt right. It was only natural that Ben was here with him as he fulfilled his fantasies about the delectable Miss Welliston. His friendship was the most important thing in Dom’s life, and had been for some time. He knew that his relationship with Clari, should she accept a more intimate one with him, would supersede his and Ben’s. But he also knew that Ben would always be an integral part of any relationship he chose to pursue.
He saw her through the crowd, her presence calling to him as it had since that first night. His cock ached at the sight of her, at the knowledge of what he had planned. Dom walked toward her, making a circle around the room. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm, slowing him down. When he turned he was surprised to see it was Ben.
“Dom, a moment,” he murmured, and looking around he steered Dom towards an empty corner, behind some potted palms. The light was dim in the ballroom, and few would see or hear them there.
After pulling Dom behind a palm Ben let go of his arm and looked away, obviously gathering his thoughts. Dom felt his chest tighten in anxiety. Was Ben going to try to talk him out of this? He’d had nothing but praise for Clari after meeting her, both for her wit and intelligence and for her beauty. Like Dom, Ben was attracted to her uniqueness.
“What is it, Ben?” Dom’s voice was grave, and Ben looked up quickly.
“Oh, no, Dom, it’s nothing like that, nothing bad.” Dom breathed a sigh of relief. Ben smiled lopsidedly, a little abashed. “It’s just that I’m not sure how to say what I have to say.” He took a deep breath. “We’ve known each other a very long time, Dom. You are my best friend. You know me as no one else ever has, and I feel I can say the same of you.” He let out a shaky sigh and looked at the floor. When his eyes met Dom’s they were bright with emotion. “What I’m trying to say, and not doing a very good job of it, is thank you.”
Dom looked at Ben in surprise. Ben laughed self-consciously.
“I know what tonight means to you, Dom. The fact that you want me to be there…” He sighed again, and Dom knew he was fighting his emotions. “It means a great deal to me. I’ve seen the way you look at her, Dom. You really are in love. Part of me is jealous of you, but the bigger part is overjoyed that you have found your match.”
Dom stepped closer. “Ben, I never said anything about love. I desire her, but that is all.”
Ben looked at him askance. “If I truly believed that, I wouldn’t be here with you, Dom. I’ve never seen you react to a woman this way before.”
Dom felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach, the truth hit him so hard. He was in love with Clari. He reflected on his thoughts when he’d entered the ballroom. He enjoyed her conversation, he’d seen her be kind when she could have been cruel, and he’d seen how she chafed under society’s strictures. He longed to wile away his days talking with her, arguing politics and freeing her from the chains that bound her to propriety. He loved her, and his desire for her now was greater than when he’d only admired her unique beauty.
Even as he thought it, his heart knew it to be true. And of course Ben had seen it before he had. “Ben, you’ll grow to love her, too—”
Ben cut him off, shaking his head. “No, Dom, no I won’t. I do like her, and in time I’m sure I shall care for her very much, but I will never love her as you do, nor will she love me as she does you.”
Dom started to argue, but stopped as Ben shook his head again. “It’s all right, Dom. I think we both knew this day would come. If she won’t accept me in your bed, don’t make that a stipulation of the marriage. She may come ‘round later, but I know you. You’ll find satisfaction with her, with or without my help.” He smiled wolfishly. “I would very much like
Ben entered the ballroom at his side, and it felt right. It was only natural that Ben was here with him as he fulfilled his fantasies about the delectable Miss Welliston. His friendship was the most important thing in Dom’s life, and had been for some time. He knew that his relationship with Clari, should she accept a more intimate one with him, would supersede his and Ben’s. But he also knew that Ben would always be an integral part of any relationship he chose to pursue.
He saw her through the crowd, her presence calling to him as it had since that first night. His cock ached at the sight of her, at the knowledge of what he had planned. Dom walked toward her, making a circle around the room. Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm, slowing him down. When he turned he was surprised to see it was Ben.
“Dom, a moment,” he murmured, and looking around he steered Dom towards an empty corner, behind some potted palms. The light was dim in the ballroom, and few would see or hear them there.
After pulling Dom behind a palm Ben let go of his arm and looked away, obviously gathering his thoughts. Dom felt his chest tighten in anxiety. Was Ben going to try to talk him out of this? He’d had nothing but praise for Clari after meeting her, both for her wit and intelligence and for her beauty. Like Dom, Ben was attracted to her uniqueness.
“What is it, Ben?” Dom’s voice was grave, and Ben looked up quickly.
“Oh, no, Dom, it’s nothing like that, nothing bad.” Dom breathed a sigh of relief. Ben smiled lopsidedly, a little abashed. “It’s just that I’m not sure how to say what I have to say.” He took a deep breath. “We’ve known each other a very long time, Dom. You are my best friend. You know me as no one else ever has, and I feel I can say the same of you.” He let out a shaky sigh and looked at the floor. When his eyes met Dom’s they were bright with emotion. “What I’m trying to say, and not doing a very good job of it, is thank you.”
Dom looked at Ben in surprise. Ben laughed self-consciously.
“I know what tonight means to you, Dom. The fact that you want me to be there…” He sighed again, and Dom knew he was fighting his emotions. “It means a great deal to me. I’ve seen the way you look at her, Dom. You really are in love. Part of me is jealous of you, but the bigger part is overjoyed that you have found your match.”
Dom stepped closer. “Ben, I never said anything about love. I desire her, but that is all.”
Ben looked at him askance. “If I truly believed that, I wouldn’t be here with you, Dom. I’ve never seen you react to a woman this way before.”
Dom felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach, the truth hit him so hard. He was in love with Clari. He reflected on his thoughts when he’d entered the ballroom. He enjoyed her conversation, he’d seen her be kind when she could have been cruel, and he’d seen how she chafed under society’s strictures. He longed to wile away his days talking with her, arguing politics and freeing her from the chains that bound her to propriety. He loved her, and his desire for her now was greater than when he’d only admired her unique beauty.
Even as he thought it, his heart knew it to be true. And of course Ben had seen it before he had. “Ben, you’ll grow to love her, too—”
Ben cut him off, shaking his head. “No, Dom, no I won’t. I do like her, and in time I’m sure I shall care for her very much, but I will never love her as you do, nor will she love me as she does you.”
Dom started to argue, but stopped as Ben shook his head again. “It’s all right, Dom. I think we both knew this day would come. If she won’t accept me in your bed, don’t make that a stipulation of the marriage. She may come ‘round later, but I know you. You’ll find satisfaction with her, with or without my help.” He smiled wolfishly. “I would very much like
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