“You’re unreal.” She drinks from her lemonade, staring at a booth where they sell beads to make jewelry.
Leyla walks toward it and Pierce follows right behind.
“I’m pretty real, babe.”
She pokes my chest. “Un-freaking-believable,” she repeats. “Yet you don’t care about the consequences.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know who does that? Heartless men who think they can own any woman in the world.”
“I’m pretty confused,” I complain. “What did I do now?”
“Flirt with a woman when you in fact are already taken. At least throw in a dating contract so I know the fine line.” She pokes me again, but this time I catch her wrist because I’m fucking done with this subject and being unable to discuss it with her.
“We have an emergency at The Lodge,” I announce. “We’ll meet you guys later.”
We walk against the current of people toward her house. I’m not interested in having anyone hear our business, and the walls at The Lodge are too thin.
“What are you doing?” Sophia growls.
“Taking you home to iron out our issues because I’m done,” I say, dragging her along Main Street.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Would you like me to discuss it right here?” I ask, coming to a halt. “We can air our problems right in the middle of the street if you prefer. One way or another we are getting this over with.”
She huffs, lifts her chin, and walks toward her house.
Once we’re inside she says, “I don’t see the point of this conversation. What is it? Some bullshit speech on how you have to marry her to preserve your powerful lineage. People like you don’t have a choice but to abide by tradition. My life is too complicated to hope for more, we could complement each other and never ask for more. No, maybe you’re going to try to convince me that I can be your happy while you endure the missus. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.”
I frown. “What do you mean you’ve been there?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not going into a relationship like that, not even with you.”
“May I speak or are there any more conspiracy theories you’d like to throw before I explain to you what’s happening?”
“You don’t need to explain anything,” she states. “It’s all the same to me. With the exception of, I am not sleeping with you, nor becoming your city girl.”
“Why would you think that? When have I done something like that, Sophia?”
“Your dates are really fuck toys that you disregard after you are bored,” she says. “It’s not like you’ve ever taken a woman seriously. Now that it’s time to get married you’re either trying to find a steady fuck or…who knows.”
“For your information, I haven’t fucked for over a year. Every time I go out on dates, things end up…bad,” I say lightly, instead of telling her that the women bored me to tears and I couldn't get away fast enough.
“Which is when I have to clean up your mess,” she says and crosses her arms. “Is she moving in with you? Because there’s a reservation at The Lodge under her name.”
“You did that,” I blame her. “I tried to reach out to her so we could cancel the agreement and instead, you gave her Pierce’s number. He had no idea what to do so he got her an appointment with me. Fitz is trying to fix that, but so far she hasn’t answered his calls.”
She narrows her gaze. “Why would you want to void your happy nuptials? She’s perfect for you.”
“She’s nobody. Stop searching for excuses to push me away.”
I step closer to her, she takes a step backward, I take two forward. We continue the same dance until she’s pressed against the wall with nowhere else to go. I’m not touching her, but our bodies are only inches apart, and I can feel the heat radiating from her body. Her mouth is so close, I can almost taste the sweetness. When our eyes meet, she exhales sharply.
“Please, Sophie, when are you going to let me in?”
“Henry,” she whispers my name, pushing herself on her tiptoes. I bend. Our mouths touch. An electrified spark surges from the top of my head to the tip of my toes as she parts her lips, allowing me entrance.
I move my hand to her waist, and fist her hair with the other, angling her head and dipping the kiss I so desperately craved for so fucking long. I try to fight the heat of my desire, but it’s hard not to devour her.
She moans, making me crave her even more. Not just her body, but her heart, her soul, and most of all, I crave to be a part of her dreams.
Her hand presses against my chest, and I groan when she pulls her mouth from mine. “We can’t do this.”
“Soph, I know you want me as much as I want you,” I state because there’s no fucking way she would kiss the way she kisses me if she wasn’t attracted to me.
“I’m tired of being with the wrong guy. You’re…we’re not suited for each other. I enjoy your kisses, and I’ve no doubt that we could burn the sheets if we let this lust take over,” she says. “I can’t get involved with you. Sure, I could surrender and just give in to the pleasure that you offer. But what comes next? I’m too old for this. At this point, I want more than to be wanted. I have to know that the guy I’m with is willing to hand me his heart and won’t shatter mine because I’m no longer convenient.”
I brush some strands away from her hair and kiss her forehead. “At this point, I’ve no idea what I can promise you because I’m new at letting myself believe that there can be more than what was planned for my future. All I know is that you’re the only woman who makes me want that, and I not only want you but need you.”
I grab her hands and place them on the left side of my chest. “You want my heart? It’s yours, Soph. You’re the bright light that came into my life to push away the darkness. It’s because of that light that I’m learning how the real world works. But I have to warn you, I’m still new to this art of love so don’t be surprised if I screw up, because I’m bound to do something stupid. I just need…”
She holds my face with both hands. Her big brown eyes capture my gaze. They’re bright and filled with emotions.
“What do you need?” she asks.
“A chance for us to find who we can be, and you know, I could use a little love sometimes,” I answer resting my forehead on her shoulder and hugging her hard.
I surrender to whatever is happening between us. She owns me, even if she doesn’t realize that yet. I lift her, pressing her to me, like she’s my lifeline and the only person who can save me from what I just did, beg for a crumb of love. I feel as if I literally gave her my heart, lowered all my shields, and I’m vulnerable and ready to be slaughtered.
Sophia
My heart breaks with his confession. He just needs a little love. It’s so easy to look at Henry for what he appears to be—a heartless hotel mogul. Not for who he is—a lonely man who has never had a loving family or a relationship forged out of friendship or love. He’s holding me tight as if he’s afraid to lose me, or he’s trying to absorb me so we could become one person.