Those had been her final words after their sweet, lingering kiss. A sensual demand that he gave her some space to think.
It hadn’t been easy for Jared.
Resisting his every natural impulse was tantamount to resisting the urge to breathe—damn near impossible. For days, Jared had avoided his laptop, where he used to track Sophie’s emails and online exchanges. Technology, which had always been an ally, suddenly became his enemy, goading him from the corner of the room while he reran their interaction in his car over in his mind again and again.
“I want you.” Sophie’s voice had been breathy and hot, hardening his already desperate cock. “I want you to kiss me, please.”
That was all she had to say. Jared was right there, ready and willing to make her wish his command. The kiss had been unhurried and more sensual than he’d anticipated. He’d felt so highly strung and desperate for her, he’d half expected to devour Sophie right there and then, yet as their lips collided, it wasn’t like that. Sophie was his—his little girl—as she always had been. There was no reason to rush intimacy—no reason to smother it—and boy, had it been good. Even now, the power of the caress lingered, soaking into his subconscious as he slept as well as haunting his waking hours.
Of course, he could have cheated. Jared could have logged onto his laptop and checked on Sophie without her knowledge. There was no way she could ever find out, but he hadn’t. He checked his reflection quickly in the rear-view mirror as that thought resonated.
He hadn’t.
Why hadn’t he?
Because you don’t want to cheat her. The answer flew into his conscience with absurd clarity as he waited near the café where she’d chosen to meet.
Because you want to do this right. For once.
Jared sighed at his silent verdict, knowing it was accurate. He’d spent so long following Sophie online and in person, so long thinking about her, dreaming about her, longing for the one who got away, he was petrified at the prospect of losing her. If he overstepped the line, or if she even suspected as much, that was a real prospect.
Sophie had tried to run from him twice when she’d been his captive, and on the third occasion, she’d achieved it, leaving him for dead. He snorted at the idea as he glanced out of the window at the passing traffic. A part of him still couldn’t believe she had done that, although he could understand it. Jared had been a complete arsehole to Sophie back then. And he’d loved it.
They both had.
Then there was the fourth time she’d walked out on him—the final time he’d seen her before last week.
He blew out a breath. He and Sophie certainly had a long and volatile history to overcome if this was going to be anything more than lunch.
A tap on the passenger window broke his internal musing, and he turned quickly, expecting to find the antagonistic face of a traffic cop about to issue him a ticket. He was shocked to see Sophie’s expectant expression instead. She offered him a small smile, sucking her lower lip between her white teeth, the way she did when she was nervous.
Unlocking the door, he gestured for her to enter. He could see the conflict in her eyes as she considered the option, her hand eventually reaching for the lever and pulled the door open.
“I thought we were meeting in the café? Not that I mind you taking another ride with me first.” He grinned at her, and watched as a satisfying blush filled her cheeks,
“I just recognized the car,” she explained, “and noticed you were still inside.”
He nodded, checking the clock. There were still five minutes before they were due to meet, but he’d intended to be at a table in the café by now.
“I lost track of time.”
She smiled. “You’re not late.”
“Shall we go in together?” Jared arched an eyebrow at her. “Assuming you still want lunch.”
She sniggered as she leaned in through the open door. “Lunch is good, Jared. Thank you.”
Grabbing his wallet, he slid out of the vehicle and wandered around the car to greet Sophie properly. She rose to her full height at his approach, shutting the car door as he gazed down at her.
“Good to see you again.” He wanted to kiss her, grab her arse, and pull her into a hard embrace. “You look fantastic.” His gaze traveled up and down the length of her outfit, taking in the cut of her skirt just visible beneath her coat. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”
Her eyelids flickered at his admission. “Me too, but I’m on my lunch break, so I don’t have long.”
“Let’s get inside,” he murmured. “And out of the cold.”
It was March, but apparently, no one had told spring it was time to wake up, and the wind whipping around them still had a genuine chill.
“I’d like that.”
“Is it too soon to take your hand?” It killed him to have to ask, but it was what he’d promised to do—not push, take things at Sophie’s pace.
She glanced up at him with large eyes, and Jared swore he could sense the salacious need in them.
“It’s not too soon,” Sophie breathed the words up at him. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want more.”
Jared’s heart raced at her verdict, but he fought to compose himself as he offered her his palm. The same palm that had held her, colored her backside, and brought her to shuddering orgasms. Time protracted on the busy street as she slowly accepted it, his much larger hand enveloping hers.
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
He tugged her along the path in the direction of the café, feeling like a lovestruck teenager as he struggled to think of something to say.
“So, how has it gone?”
Ironic it was Sophie who broke the silence.
“How has what gone?” He held the door to the café open for her, waiting as she skipped passed him into the warmth of the bistro.
She glanced over her shoulder at him while they joined the queue to be served.
“The whole not surveying me plan?”
Jared smiled at the way she put that. “It wasn’t easy,” he confessed as his eyes scanned down the length of the specials board. “But it’s what you asked for, so…” He redirected his gaze to her chocolate brown eyes. If he thought hard, he swore he could still remember the way they looked when she climaxed, the memory doing nothing to calm his growing excitement. “So, that’s what I did.”
Sophie pressed her lips together as though she didn’t believe him. “You really didn’t try to follow me at all?”
“Not. At. All.” He met her stare head-on, knowing, for once, he was telling the truth and hoping his sincerity conveyed.
“I’m glad, Jared. Thank you.”
“What do you fancy?”
She blinked up at him. “Pardon?”
“To eat.” He bit back at the urge to laugh at her concerned expression. “We’re next to be served.”
“Oh.” Relief spread over her pretty features as her focus flitted to the board behind the counter. “Just turkey and salad on wheat, please. I’m trying to good.” Her mouth parted, hands flying reflexively to her lips as though she hadn’t meant to reveal the final piece of information, and Jared’s gaze narrowed.