Stuffed Animals and a Little Something Else || Ben & Alex

TAGGING → Ben Booker and Alex March.

TIME FRAME → Saturday, April 15, 2017.

LOCATION → Rockford County Fair.

GENERAL NOTES → Ben and Alex go on their first official date, and much adorableness ensues, including one very important milestone in their relationship.

Ben: Ben wasn’t quite sure how they had ended up here at the Rockford County Fair when Alex was the furthest from the carnival type, but here they were, walking side by side through the fair. He was far too nervous to hold her hand, although he really did want to. They had already played a handful of games, neither one of them really winning anything that big. And that’s when Ben spotted it. “Hey, look! It’s that one game with the guns and the balloons.” He had a glint in his eye as he turned to Alex. “Are you ready to go down, champ? Cause I’m a pro at this.” He walked over to the booth, motioning for Alex to follow suit, and plopped down on one of the red stools, forking over a dollar bill to the attendant. “I’m so ready for this.”

Alex: While she was one to usually find events like a carnival silly, Alex had really been enjoying herself. It was just some simple fun, and with Ben she had found herself laughing, and smiling the whole day. While the nerves were always there, there was an ease with being with him. The heaviness she sometimes felt seemed to disappear, as she got lost in the fun of the games, and just being in his presence. When they reached the desired booth, she pressed her lips together, as a smile pulled at them, finding the boyish look on his face as he mentioned the game, amusing. She sat down next to him, her hands gripping the gun. “Be prepared to eat your words, Booker.”

Ben: While he was usually a gentleman, there was no way in hell he was going to let Alex beat him. Call it his manly pride, or perhaps he just really wanted to win a tiny stuffed animal for her––the prizes for this game were never all that big––but he was intent on being the first one to pop his balloon. He watched as a few others settled into their places, and he could only grip his gun in anticipation. He looked over at Alex, who seemed as determined as ever to defeat him. Smiling, he chuckled and shook his head. “You look cute when you’re about to lose.” The attendant signaled that they were done accepting any more people before starting the count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… RINGGGG!!! And with such focus and precision, Ben shut his left eye, using his single right eye to skillfully aim the stream of water into the tiny hole in the distance.

Alex: Though her speech was confident, Alex had never in fact played this game. She wasn’t sure what her chances were of actually winning, but her competitive nature would never admit that to Ben. That grin on his face, and his sweet smack talk, was enough to urge her on. After all, how hard could it be to pop a balloon? She gave him a slight glare, a barely-there smile placed upon her lips, just before the bell rang. Concentrating on the game, Alex shot at the hole, frustration seeping in as she realized her aim was not as spot on as she hoped. She couldn’t help but look over at Ben, who looked like he was more at a shooting range and not just a carnival game. She laughed to herself, before putting her attention back to her shooting. Ben: Growing up in Iowa, he most certainly had had his fair share of experiences with guns. Granted, he wasn’t playing carnival games all the time. He was shooting more tin cans in an open field than water to pop balloons, but the concept was the same. He didn’t even have time to worry about what Alex was doing because he was far too focused on his own performance. He knew that he was in the lead, but some other guy was right on his tail, probably hoping to get a stuffed animal for his girlfriend. Ben’s balloon was getting bigger and bigger, and he could swear that in just a few more seconds, it was bound to pop. Alex: Alex had no hope of winning, she knew that for a fact, so she focused on not getting last place. For she couldn’t have Ben teasing her about letting the children competitors beat her. Focused on her balloon, she jumped in her stool as a loud pop sounded off, and she realized Ben had won. She put her gun down in defeat, taking a moment before looking at him. Swinging her body towards him, her lips pursed as she gave a slow nod. “Nice shooting there, Farm Boy.” Ben: Once the balloon finally popped, Ben felt a wave of accomplishment course through his body. Victory was sweet. He could see the other guy looking thoroughly disappointed, his girlfriend trying to cheer him up and telling him there were other games. He turned to Alex, grinning as he playfully joked, “Congrats, you didn’t finish last!” He stood up, happily taking the medium-sized teddy bear from the attendant as a token of his big win. He motioned for Alex to follow him out of the booth, stopping when he got to the middle of the road. He held the bear up. “Hmmm. What should we name him?”

Alex: “Shut up,” She leaned over, giving him a small push in the shoulder. “I’ll have you know, I’m pretty sure the game was fixed. There was totally something wrong with my gun.” Small bits of laughter left her lips, and she shook her head, unable to accept how poorly she had done. Standing up she followed close behind Ben, stopping as he did. Staring at the bear, she pretended to study it hard, looking deep in thought, before reaching Ben’s eyes with her own. “Teddy? Isn’t that like the rule of thumb?” Ben: Ben pretended that her little shove hurt him, a playful “ow” escaping his mouth as he rubbed his shoulder. “Oh, of course. Of course. They rigged it so that your gun squirted less water than everyone else’s.” He nodded his head, going along with joke. He was holding the bear up, wondering what sort of creative name Alex would give him, but only to laugh when she finally decided on the generic “Teddy.” He couldn’t help but shake his head, still snickering at her choice. “Now, Teddy. Isn’t that short for Theodore Marshall Roosevelt the Fifth?” Still chuckling, he held up the brown bear, right in front of his face. “Here, Teddy’s yours, but first, you gotta give him a kiss.”

Alex: “You noticed it too,” she put a hand up, the smile she was trying to hold back, forming onto her mouth. “I bet you paid the guy extra to make sure I got the faulty gun.” Her brow raised as she looked up at him playfully. A quiet chuckle escaped, and she shook her head, running a hand through her hair. “What can I say, I’m just really into history,” she laughed again. Alex crossed her arms, as he mentioned the needed payment for the bear. She looked down at the stuffed animal, then back up at Ben, her right eyebrow arched. “You have got to be kidding if you think I’m going to kiss a teddy bear out here, right now.” Ben: Ben nodded his head vigorously. “Oh, yes. I most definitely set you up so that you’d get the dysfunctional gun. Yes.” He was grinning from ear to ear now, thoroughly amused by all the excuses Alex was making to explain her dreadful loss. He watched as she folded her arms over her chest, refusing to give the necessary payment to claim her prize. “Oh, come on. I did the hard part. I won the bear, and now, all you have to do is kiss him.” Ben had a slight twinkle in his sapphire blue eyes. “It’s not like you’re going to make out with it. It’s just a little peck on the lips.” He continued to hold the bear right in front of his face, now talking in a cute little bear voice. “Kiss me, Alex. Kiss me!” Alex: A playful glare settled into her eyes, “I knew it.” She pointed at him, shaking her head at herself soon after. “No, I’m gonna look like such an idiot,” she tried to protest, but he was already wearing her down. What he was asking her to do seemed stupid and cheesy, but the girlish grin upon her face did nothing to discourage him. She looked around the carnival, before her eyes settled back on him and the bear. The way his eyes shone, sent a flutter in Alex’s stomach, and she couldn’t hold back the small giggle that escaped as he did the silly voice. “Oh my God, fine. I’ll do it if that means you’ll shut up.” Pushing up on her toes, she moved up towards the bear, laying a small kiss on the brim of it’s nose. Ben: Ben had a feeling that Alex wouldn’t be able to resist any longer. The bear was so freakin’ cute. With a goofy grin still plastered on his face and his eyes still shining brightly, he watched as Alex finally gave in, tiptoeing to plant a quick peck on Teddy’s nose. He wasn’t quite sure what possessed him to do it, but as her lips rested on the bear’s nose, he slowly pulled the bear aside to replace its nose with his own lips. He’d been wanting to do this for so long. Maybe it was his victory that had given him the courage to do it. He wasn’t really sure, but his lips were finally on Alex’s and that’s all that mattered right now. Alex: Just as she was about to pull away from the bear, Ben took her by surprise, as he moved it, and she found herself now kissing him instead. Her heart went a flutter as his lips made contact with hers, and she let her eyes close with ease. Her hand fell lightly upon his chest, as she pressed her lips firmly into his. She had imagined what it would be liked to be kissed by Ben. Wondered about the softness of his lips. The warmth of his mouth. This kiss, in this moment, didn’t compare to what she had only thought of. It was better. God, so much better. Ben: Using his free hand, the one not preoccupied with the teddy bear, Ben gently cupped Alex’s face, allowing him to deepen the kiss ever so slightly. This kiss had been a long time coming. He had waited for so long, and he was definitely happy he did. All the waiting leading up to this moment just made it that much better. Her lips were so soft, her mouth so warm. He allowed himself to get lost in the kiss for just a second, completely engrossed in her scent, her taste, her everything. Alex: She loved the feel of his hand upon her face. His touch so strong, yet gentle. He deepened the kiss, and she gripped on to his shirt, pulling her own body into his. The world around them was completely lost on Alex, as he became her only focus. Never had she experienced this. Never had she known a man to handle her with such care. Never had she known a kiss that could reach down inside her and make her heart race the way it was now. Kissing, for Alex, had always been just a physical act, but this… This was more, and it terrified and warmed her at the same time. Ben: It had been a long time since he’d felt something like this. After David, he’d shut out everyone else, fully convinced that his heart was no longer capable of feeling that kind of love anymore. And while he didn’t love Alex (yet), she did make him feel things, as if there was still hope for him to find someone in this crazy world and that even after getting his heart stomped upon, he could still care for someone. He didn’t want to pull away, but his lungs were sorely missing oxygen, so he slowly disconnected their lips. Immediately, the absence of her lips made him feel like something was missing. There was a silence between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He looked straight into her eyes and said in all seriousness, “I think Teddy’s jealous.” Alex: How could something so simple as him putting his lips against hers, put such a hold on her? What was it about this man that made her long for all the things she never knew before? All the waiting had been worth it for this kiss. She was glad for this moment. Glad to share it with him, like she had never done with anyone else before. Peeling his lips off of hers, she found herself yearning for the warmth that his mouth had brought. Her eyes were slow to open, and it wasn’t till he spoke up, that Alex’s mind was pulled back into reality. “Hmm?” Her brow raised, eyes big as she looked up at him. The teddy bear had been long forgotten until this moment. “Oh,” quiet laughter left her lips, as she remembered. “Yeah, I think so too,” her voice was quiet as she responded. “I could give him another kiss… to be fair,” A smile reached her brown eyes. Ben: He loved Alex’s smile, and he was happy to be the reason for it right now. The teddy bear, previously neglected, now had all the attention once again. Ben lifted the brown stuffed animal back up in front of his face, doing his best little bear voice once more. “Don’t forget about me, Alex! Kiss me!” He waved Teddy right in front of her face, snickering from behind the stuffed animal. Alex: A gentle laugh made it’s way through as she shook her head. “You are such a dork,” she looked away for only a moment, before snatching up the bear in her hand. Pushing up against him, Alex moved her hands, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You said I only had to kiss him once. So I did, and now he’s mine.” A playful expression from earlier returned to her face, as she stared up at Ben. Ben: Ben was mildly surprised when Alex took the teddy bear out of his hand. “Hey!” he laughed as he surrendered control of the stuffed animal to his date. Her hands were still draped around his neck, not that he minded. “That, I did,” he agreed. “And I’m a man of my word.” Still smiling, he looked down at Alex. “But I never said anything about you and me.” He wanted so badly to kiss her again, but at the same time, he wanted her to just grab him by the collar and plant one on his lips. Alex: She titled her head, a small smirk placed upon her mouth. The smile soon disappeared though, as that familiar feeling of yearning to feel his lips on hers returned. “And um,” she held his gaze, eyes wide. “How many kisses do you think that will that take?” Her mouth inched closer to his with every word she spoke. Ben: Ben watched as Alex’s face moved closer and closer to his, and he so badly wanted to kiss her. He returned her smirk with one of his own before managing to whisper, doing his best not to laugh, uttering in a most serious tone, “At least one every single day.” With that, he was unable to resist the urge any longer, and once again, for the second time that day, their lips collided. This kiss was slightly needier than the other one because Ben knew that both of them wanted this. There was no need to be timid anymore. Alex: With his answer, a sweet, small smile tugged at the corners of Alex’s mouth, but it was soon hidden, as Ben’s lips reached hers again. He kissed her with an urgency this time, and she kissed him back with a need that matched it. Her free hand ran up the back of his neck, fingers sliding into his hair. She had wanted this for so long now––ever since that dinner at his place where he cooked, and sang to her––and for some reason he seemed to want it back, though she had no understanding of why, but she was glad he did. Ben: Usually, he wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but something about being around Alex brought out another side of him, a more adventurous Ben that didn’t care so much about the audience. Now that both of his hands were free, he was able to let one rest on the small of her back, pulling her body closer to his so that there was no space between them, while the other one rested on her hip. All he could think about was how good it felt to kiss her, the amazing feel of her soft lips and her tongue grazing against his. It was heavenly. Alex: Her body pressed completely against his, and she loved the feeling of his hands on her. She felt cared for in his arms, not just lusted after. Though, the physical attraction was quite present as well. His tongue met hers, and Alex completely melted into the kiss. And she kissed him until she absolutely had to pull away. Resting her forehead against his she took a moment to catch her breath, and in that moment she realized for the first time, her nerves were completely gone. “I think I could handle doing this every single day.” There was a slight tone of humor to her voice, but Alex knew her words to be true. While she had never been kissed like this before, she knew now she didn’t want to go without it. Ben: Ben had been joking when he’d teased that they should kiss every day, but he really wouldn’t be opposed to doing this regularly. This time, she was the one who pulled away, so he smiled at her, thanking the heavens that he’d found the courage to ask her out on a date. “I have no problem with that,” he raised his hands, chuckling as he took her free hand into his, lacing their fingers together. “Come on. Let’s go win you an even bigger bear.” Alex: Feeling his hand encase hers, she felt unsure at first, but she relaxed her hand his. It didn’t seem like a big deal before, but Alex realized as she stared down at her hand in his, that no man had ever held her hand before. Not like this anyway. Never had a man walked side by side with her and entangled his fingers with hers. She stared up at Ben as they walked, almost in wonder of him. He was like a dream, as she had never met anyone like him. But without her even realizing it, he had been her dream, and somehow, just somehow, he was real.

Stuffed Animals and a Little Something Else || Ben & Alex

TAGGING → Ben Booker and Alex March.

TIME FRAME → Friday, February 14, 2014.

LOCATION → Lakemere carnival.

GENERAL NOTES → Ben and Alex go on their second official date, and much adorableness ensues, including one very important milestone in their relationship.

Alex: While she was one to usually find events like a Valentine's carnival silly, Alex had really been enjoying herself. It was just some simple fun, and with Ben she had found herself laughing, and smiling the whole night. While the nerves were always there, there was an ease with being with him. The heaviness she sometimes felt seemed to disappear, as she got lost in the fun of the games, and just being in his presence. When they reached the desired booth, she pressed her lips together, as a smile pulled at them, finding the boyish look on his face as he mentioned the game, amusing. She sat down next to him, her hands gripping the gun. "Be prepared to eat your words, Booker."

Ben: While he was usually a gentleman, there was no way in hell he was going to let Alex beat him. Call it his manly pride, or perhaps he just really wanted to win a tiny stuffed animal for her – the prizes for this game were never all that big – but he was intent on being the first one to pop his balloon. He watched as a few others settled into their places, and he could only grip his gun in anticipation. He looked over at Alex, who seemed as determined as ever to defeat him. Smiling, he chuckled and shook his head. "You look cute when you're about to lose." The attendant signaled that they were done accepting any more people before starting the count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... RINGGGG!!! And with such focus and precision, Ben shut his left eye, using his single right eye to skillfully aim the stream of water into the tiny hole in the distance.

Alex: Though her speech was confident, Alex had never in fact played this game. She wasn't sure what her chances were of actually winning, but her competetive nature would never admit that to Ben. That grin on his face, and his sweet smack talk, was enough to urge her on. After all, how hard could it be to pop a balloon? She gave him a slight glare, a barely-there smile placed upon her lips, just before the bell rang. Consentrating on the game, Alex shot at the hole, frustration seeping in as she realized her aim was not as spot on as she hoped. She couldn't help but look over at Ben, who looked like he was more at a shooting range and not just a carnival game. She laughed to herself, before putting her attention back to her shooting. Ben: Growing up in Iowa, he most certainly had had his fair share of experiences with guns. Granted, he wasn't playing carnival games all the time. He was shooting more tin cans in an open field than water to pop balloons, but the concept was the same. He didn't even have time to worry about what Alex was doing because he was far too focused on his own performance. He knew that he was in the lead, but some other guy was right on his tail, probably hoping to get a stuffed animal for his girlfriend. Ben's balloon was getting bigger and bigger, and he could swear that in just a few more seconds, it was bound to pop. Alex: Alex had no hope of winning, she knew that for a fact, so she focused on not getting last place. For, she couldn't have Ben teasing her about letting the children competitors beat her. Focused on her balloon, she jumped in her stool as a loud pop sounded off, and she realized Ben had won. She put her gun down in defeat, taking a moment before looking at him. Swinging her body towards him, her lips pursed as she gave a slow nod. "Nice shooting there, Farm Boy." Ben: Once the balloon finally popped, Ben felt a wave of accomplishment course through his body. Victory was sweet. He could see the other guy looking thoroughly disappointed, his girlfriend trying to cheer him up and telling him there were other games. He turned to Alex, grinning as he playfully joked, "Congrats, you didn't finish last!" He stood up, happily taking the medium-sized teddy bear from the attendant as a token of his big win. He motioned for Alex to follow him out of the booth, stopping when he got to the middle of the road. He held the bear up. "Hmmm. What should we name him?"

Alex: "Shut up," She leaned over, giving him a small push in the shoulder. "I'll have you know, I'm pretty sure the game was fixed. There was totally something wrong with my gun." Small bits of laughter left her lips, and she shook her head, unable to accept how poorly she had done. Standing up she followed close behind Ben, stopping as he did. Staring at the bear, she pretended to study it hard, looking deep in thought, before reaching Ben's eyes with her own. "Teddy? Isn't that like the rule of thumb?" Ben: Ben pretended that her little shove hurt him, a playful "ow" escaping his mouth as he rubbed his shoulder. "Oh, of course. Of course. They rigged it so that your gun squirted less water than everyone else's." He nodded his head, going along with joke. He was holding the bear up, wondering what sort of creative name Alex would give him, but only to laugh when she finally decided on the generic "Teddy." He couldn't help but shake his head, still snickering at her choice. "Now, Teddy. Isn't that short for Theodore Marshall Roosevelt the Fifth?" Still chuckling, he held up the brown bear, right in front of his face. "Here, Teddy's yours, but first, you gotta give him a kiss."

Alex: "You noticed it too," she put a hand up, the smile she was trying to hold back, forming onto her mouth. "I bet you paid the guy extra to make sure I got the faulty gun." Her brow raised as she looked up at him playfully. A quiet chuckle escaped, and she shook her head, running a hand through her hair. "What can I say, I'm just really into history," she laughed again. Alex crossed her arms, as he mentioned the needed payment for the bear. She looked down at the stuffed animal, then back up at Ben, her right eyebrow arched. "You have got to be kidding if you think I'm going to kiss a teddy bear out here, right now." Ben: Ben nodded his head vigorously. "Oh, yes. I most definitely set you up so that you'd get the dysfunctional gun. Yes." He was grinning from ear to ear now, thoroughly amused by all the excuses Alex was making to explain her dreadful loss. He watched as she folded her arms over her chest, refusing to give the necessary payment to claim her prize. "Oh, come on. I did the hard part. I won the bear, and now, all you have to do is kiss him." Ben had a slight twinkle in his sapphire blue eyes. "It's not like you're going to make out with it. It's just a little peck on the lips." He continued to hold the bear right in front of his face, now talking in a cute little bear voice. "Kiss me, Alex. Kiss me!" Alex: A playful glare settled into her eyes, "I knew it." She pointed at him, shaking her head at herself soon after. "No, I'm gonna look like such an idiot," she tried to protest, but he was already wearing her down. What he was asking her to do seemed stupid and cheesy, but the girlish grin upon her face did nothing to discourage him. She looked around the carnival, before her eyes settled back on him and the bear. The way his eyes shone, sent a flutter in Alex's stomach, and she couldn't hold back the small giggle that escaped as he did the silly voice. "Oh my God, fine. I'll do it if that means you'll shut up." Pushing up on her toes, she moved up towards the bear, laying a small kiss on the brim of it's nose. Ben: Ben had a feeling that Alex wouldn't be able to resist any longer. The bear was so freakin' cute, damn it. With a goofy grin still plastered on his face and his eyes still shining brightly, he watched as Alex finally gave in, tiptoeing to plant a quick peck on Teddy's nose. He wasn't quite sure what possessed him to do it, but as her lips rested on the bear's nose, he slowly pulled the bear aside to replace its nose with his own lips. He'd been wanting to do this for so long. Maybe it was his victory that had given him the courage to do it. He wasn't really sure, but his lips were finally on Alex's and that's all that mattered right now. Alex: Just as she was about to pull away from the bear, Ben took her by surprise, as he moved it, and she found herself now kissing him instead. Her heart went a flutter as his lips made contact with hers, and she let her eyes close with ease. Her hand fell lightly upon his chest, as she pressed her lips firmly into his. She had imagined what it would be liked to be kissed by Ben. Wondered about the softness of his lips. The warmth of his mouth. This kiss, in this moment, didn't compare to what she had only thought of. It was better. God, so much better. Ben: Using his free hand, the one not preoccupied with the teddy bear, Ben gently cupped Alex's face, allowing him to deepen the kiss ever so slightly. This kiss had been a long time coming. He had waited for so long, and he was definitely happy he did. All the waiting leading up to this moment just made it that much better. Her lips were so soft, her mouth so warm. He allowed himself to get lost in the kiss for just a second, oblivious to the fact that some teenage girl was snapping a photo of them and posting it on Instagram and tagging it as "#truelove." Happy Valentine's Day, indeed. Alex: She loved the feel of his hand upon her face. His touch so strong, yet gentle. He deepened the kiss, and she gripped on to his shirt, pulling her own body into his. The world around them was completely lost on Alex, as he became her only focus. Never had she experienced this. Never had she known a man to handle her with such care. Never had she known a kiss that could reach down inside her and make her heart race the way it was now. Kissing, for Alex, had always been just a physical act, but this... This was more, and it terrified and warmed her at the same time. Ben: It had been a long time since he'd felt something like this. After David, he'd shut out everyone else, fully convinced that his heart was no longer capable of feeling that kind of love anymore. And while he didn't love Alex (yet), she did make him feel things, as if there was still hope for him to find someone in this crazy world and that even after getting his heart stomped upon, he could still care for someone. He didn't want to pull away, but his lungs were sorely missing oxygen, so he slowly disconnected their lips. Immediately, the absence of her lips made him feel like something was missing. There was a silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. He looked straight into her eyes and said in all seriousness, "I think Teddy's jealous." Alex: How could something so simple as him putting his lips against hers, put such a hold on her? What was it about this man that made her long for all the things she never knew before? All the waiting had been worth it for this kiss. She was glad for this moment. Glad to share it with him, like she had never done with anyone else before. Peeling his lips off of hers, she found herself yearning for the warmth that his mouth had brought. Her eyes were slow to open, and it wasn't till he spoke up, that Alex's mind was pulled back into reality. "Hmm?" Her brow raised, eyes big as she looked up at him. The teddy bear had been long forgotten until this moment. "Oh," quiet laughter left her lips, as she remembered. "Yeah, I think so too," her voice was quiet as she responded. "I could give him another kiss... to be fair," A smile reached her brown eyes. Ben: He loved Alex's smile, and he was happy to be the reason for it right now. The teddy bear, previously neglected, now had all the attention once again. Ben lifted the brown stuffed animal back up in front of his face, doing his best little bear voice once more. "Don't forget about me, Alex! Kiss me!" He waved Teddy right in front of her face, snickering from behind the stuffed animal. Alex: A gentle laugh made it's way through as she shook her head. "You are such a dork," she looked away for only a moment, before snatching up the bear in her hand. Pushing up against him, Alex moved her hands, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You said I only had to kiss him once. So I did, and now he's mine." A playful expression from earlier returned to her face, as she stared up at Ben. Ben: Ben was mildly surprised when Alex took the teddy bear out of his hand. "Hey!" he laughed as he surrendered control of the stuffed animal to his date. Her hands were still draped around his neck, not that he minded. "That, I did," he agreed. "And I'm a man of my word." Still smiling, he looked down at Alex. "But I never said anything about you and me." He wanted so badly to kiss her again, but at the same time, he wanted her to just grab him by the collar and plant one on his lips. Alex: She titled her head, a small smirk placed upon her mouth. The smile soon disappeared though, as that familiar feeling of yearning to feel his lips on hers returned. "And um," she held his gaze, eyes wide. "How many kisses do you think that will that take?" Her mouth inched closer to his with every word she spoke. Ben: Ben watched as Alex's face moved closer and closer to his, and he so badly wanted to kiss her. He returned her smirk with one of his own before managing to whisper, doing his best not to laugh, uttering in a most serious tone, "At least one every single day." With that, he was unable to resist the urge any longer, and once again, for the second time that day, their lips collided. This kiss was slightly needier than the other one because Ben knew that both of them wanted this. There was no need to be timid anymore. Alex: With his answer, a sweet, small smile tugged at the corners of Alex's mouth, but it was soon hidden, as Ben's lips reached hers again. He kissed her with an urgency this time, and she kissed him back with a need that matched it. Her free hand ran up the back of his neck, fingers sliding into his hair. She had wanted this for so long now -Ever since that dinner at his place where he cooked, and sang to her.- and for some reason he seemed to want it back, though she had no understanding of why, but she was glad he did. Ben: Usually, he wasn't one for public displays of affection, but fuck it, it was Valentine's Day and grand romantic gestures were not uncommon. Now that both of his hands were free, he was able to let one rest on the small of her back, pulling her body closer to his so that there was no space between them, while the other one rested on her hip. All he could think about was how good it felt to kiss her, the amazing feel of her soft lips and her tongue grazing against his. It was heavenly. Alex: Her body pressed completely against his, and she loved the feeling of his hands on her. She felt cared for in his arms, not just lusted after. Though, the physical attraction was quite present as well. His tongue met hers, and Alex completely melted into the kiss. And she kissed him until she absolutely had to pull away. Resting her forehead against his she took a moment to catch her breath, and in that moment she realized for the first time, her nerves were completely gone. "I think I could handle doing this every single day." There was a slight tone of humor to her voice, but Alex knew her words to be true. While she had never been kissed like this before, she knew now she didn't want to go without it. Ben: Ben had been joking when he'd teased that they should kiss every day, but he really wouldn't be opposed to doing this regularly. This time, she was the one who pulled away, so he smiled at her, thanking the heavens that he'd found the courage to ask her out on a date. "I have no problem with that," he raised his hands, chuckling as he took her free hand into his, lacing their fingers together. "Come on. Let's go win you an even bigger bear." Alex: Feeling his hand encase hers, she felt unsure at first, but she relaxed her hand his. It didn't seem like a big deal before, but Alex realized as she stared down at her hand in his, that no man had ever held her hand before. Not like this anyway. Never had a man walked side by side with her and entangled his fingers with hers. She stared up at Ben as they walked, almost in wonder of him. He was like a dream, as she had never met anyone like him. But without her even realizing it, he had been her dream, and somehow, just somehow, he was real.