Darkness E. 8

Don't forget to Read E. 7.

  Ben reached around her to grab her cutlery. Arranging her in his lap, Mercy suppressed a giggle, he focused on artfully dissecting the baked chicken drumsticks on her plate.

Mercy's gaze followed his skilled fingers. She loved those fingers. Memories of how they had played her sensitive body like a clavier maestro all afternoon threatened to flood her restless mind but she clamped down on them. Now wasn't the time. She was more intent on getting answers to the puzzle plaguing her mind. Even the hunger pangs she had felt earlier had disappeared despite the unarguably mouthwatering meal Ben had painstakingly prepared for the night. 

Moving slightly in his lap, she continued; "I think it's weird." Her voice was flat.

Ben cleared his throat noisily. Her plate still held his rapt attention; 

"Well, I think it's probably because you've refused to keep your mind busy during this lock down. I mean, why wont you forget things when all you've ever done since we got stuck at home is; sleep, eat, chat on all those unproductive and mind crippling groups you belong to before finally smiling at your boss in the name of having an online meeting. I would even forget my name if I were to maintain your kinda routine." He snorted and stabbed at the chicken.

Ben's words hit her like a hard slap to the face and Mercy could not withhold the gasp that escaped her lips. Why was he being hurtful and mean to her? Unproductive and mind crippling groups? The two groups she belonged to were that of the national union of journalists and her office group. Smile at her boss? Who smiled at the most annoying boss in the history of mankind? The man was a  workaholic slash never-pleased slave driver slash irritatingly bald and Ben knew how she felt about working in his unit!

Resisting the urge to lash back at him, Mercy slipped off his lap and nervously tugged at her silk lacy nightie that clung to all her curves.

"I can't believe you just said that to me." Her voice quivered.

Ben suddenly dropped the cutlery and met her moist gaze;

"I'm sorry baby, you know I didn't mean it that way."

Mercy fought back the tears threatening to weigh down her lashes. Ben groaned;

"I am tired of this discussion and you are not helping me here. I just don't know why you've refused to believe that you were never involved in any car accident. Your car is safely parked outside the house, you saw it earlier when you first mentioned this issue. All I'm trying to say is that With the lock down we’ve been home for three weeks. Yes, you got a permit from the office but you've been having online meetings with your boss. You are practically home everyday." 

Mercy could hear the exasperation in his voice. She stared down at her feet encased in her pink foamy flip flops and refused to meet his gaze.

"Babe, I want, No. I need you to stop worrying about this. It's just your mind playing tricks.” 

He reached out to touch her but Mercy took a step backwards. She could not believe he had called her unproductive and lazy! Ben made a sound in his throat and sat back;

"The last thing I want is for you to get hurt."

Get hurt? Mercy's head snapped up;

"Ben I informed you of my worries because I've never felt this way before. How does helping me understand how I am feeling right now and showing a tiny bit of sympathy  translate to me getting hurt?"

Ben pushed away from the table and started clearing their plates briskly. His muscles rippled under the thin material of his night shirt. From experience, she knew his sudden movement and posture meant he was angry. Why was he sweet one minute and angry the next?  Mercy sighed, suddenly feeling tired and more confused. Ben paused in his task and turned towards her;

"So this is about sympathy?" He raised his hand and cut her off when she tried to respond. He continued while she bit down on her full lower lip.

"I never wanted to mention this because I wanted to protect you, but..." He hesitated. Mercy's breath caught in her throat;

"Mention wh..." 

An ear splitting ringtone suddenly startled them and they turned to glare at the phone ringing and vibrating on the table.

"That's for you..." With that Ben headed for the kitchen with the plates in his grasp.

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