Gentle Ben Novel Novels & Stories

Maybe we’ll wander over in a while, drink a cocktail, and have a listen. It feels as if we’ve made our peace. As we’re sitting there, Ben carefully extends his arm behind me, then bends it round as though to cradle my back, without actually touching. It’s like a ghost embrace. My skin prickles mildly in response, but I don’t mind. All my resentment has faded away; in fact, I can’t think why it was there at all. “Tomorrow,” he says. “No peanut oil. No butlers. No harps. Just us.”

“Sorry for sleeping with someone else? For doing it where I could hear? For using it like a punishment?” “All of it,” he said quietly. “I was… I was jealous. That guy—whoever he was—he looked at you like you were made of something rare. And it scared the hell out of me.” Her voice was steel. “You don’t get to be scared, Ben. You broke us.” “I know.” A long pause stretched between them. The hallway lights buzzed overhead. Serena’s silence spoke louder than anything else. Ben took something from his jacket pocket. A small, folded envelope. No seal. No name on the front.

They had their privacy, since the first class was reserved only for those who were willing to pay for it, which were not that many. On the cushion while watching some news on the TV. Raphael read a book to kill some time. He had brought his reading glasses which he had never showed her before. Clara who was munching on the snacks turned her head toward him, directing her gaze on him while trying to get unnoticed. It looked alien to her, but somehow Raphael looked a tad bit sexier with the them on. He looked more sophisticated and intelligent, he had a great posture to begin with, in fact she had never seen him slouch before, not even once. He possessed a calm demeanor when he remained still

As I was walking back to my bunk I stopped at the foot of Ben’s new bed and I could smell his aftershave, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I couldn’t figure out what it actually smelt like. It was really strange. When I heard everyone else coming towards the bunk house I sat on my bed and grabbed a book out and started reading it. “What’s that?” Ben asked, sitting on his bed. “It’s just an old book. I don’t even know where I got it from. I’ve just always had it.” I explained. So he leaned over and looked at the title. “Interview with a Vampire. That’s an interesting story for a Hunter to read.” He said.

“She was kind enough to show me the way out after I got lost.” “It's very nice to meet you, Lena.” Ben was pure professionalism and politeness as he extended his hand in greeting. His grip was just as strong as Aiden's but it didn't inspire the same breathless flutter in my chest. He released me and glared at Aiden. “We need to get going. We're going to be late.”

A murmur passed through the camp. I hated how quickly those words moved through people. War can end. Such a simple sentence. Such a cruel thing to offer starving hearts. Old Ben stood near the main fire with a hatchet in one hand and a strip of dried meat in the other. He was wrapped in three mismatched coats, his gray beard stiff with frost, his eyes narrowed under bushy brows. He had distrusted Damien the first time. I had convinced him not to. The memory made my stomach twist.

His lips trembled slightly, and across the room, he silently mouthed, "I'm sorry." Slowly, I took off my sunglasses, my eyes as calm as a mountain lake. I held his gaze and silently mouthed, "You don't deserve my forgiveness." Then, I curled my lips into a faint smile, turned around, and walked away, leaving behind a past fraught with blood, tears, and betrayal. … Months later, with Uncle Winston's help and care, I made a full recovery. Mom also began to heal from her grief. I legally changed Avery's last name to Monet, completely erasing all traces associated with the Sinclair family.

She's probably just waiting for me to go over and coax her. [Actually, it's nice and quiet this way. [Maybe she read one of those self-help books about "healthy distance in relationships"? Whatever.] I caught a sense of relief hidden between the fleeting thoughts. Fine. If peace and quiet were what he wanted, that was exactly what I would give him. On Wednesday evening, Genevieve visited again, but this time, she didn't come alone. She brought Danika with her. "Danika mentioned she's been craving your honey-glazed ribs," Genevieve enthusiastically announced as she stepped through the door. "So I thought… Why not have her join us for dinner?"

He focused on the book, on the hum of the refrigerator, on the steady rhythm of his own breathing. Minutes passed. The air beside him cooled, just a little. Not touching. Not invading. Just present. Ben felt something inside him loosen, a knot he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying since the moment she disappeared. They could do this. They could exist together. He turned a page, pretending his hands weren’t trembling. “This is nice,” he said quietly. “Right?” The silence felt softer. Later, when he stood to go to bed, he paused at the doorway and looked back at the couch. “I’m going to sleep,” he said. “You don’t have to leave. Just no touching tonight. Please.”

Ben observed my actions as I paced back and forth guarding the bed and eyeing each of them growling if anyone so much as moved. “Yup, he’s rabid,” Baine announced. Ben shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt him, Tom,” he said in a smooth tone. I hesitantly let him pbutt. “Hi, I’m Ben. What’s your name?” My mate didn’t reply. Didn’t say one word. He had taken his backpack off and it was laying on the bed. Ben eyed it and I knew he was going for it, so did my mate.