Emily's eyes snapped open, heart pounding. Shit. She was late for work.Panic seized her as she fumbled for her phone, but found only rumpled sheets beside her. Where the hell was Lucas? Then she heard it - muffled voices and the clatter of dishes from the kitchen. Was that... Sophia? Emily groaned, dragging herself out of bed. Her muscles ached in places she'd forgotten existed. She tugged on Lucas' discarded t-shirt, inhaling his lingering scent as she stumbled towards the kitchen."Well, look who finally decided to join the land of the living," Lucas drawled as she appeared in the doorway. His eyes raked appreciatively over her bare legs. Emily flipped him off, collapsing into a chair. "Why didn't my alarm go off?”"Relax, sleeping beauty. I turned it off. You were out cold," Lucas said, sliding a steaming mug of coffee in front of her. "Figured you could use the rest."Heat crept up Emily's neck as memories flooded back. She took a long sip of coffee, avoiding his smirk."Morn
"I knew it!" Sophia crowed triumphantly. "God, the sexual tension between you two could power a small city."Emily laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "Christ, Soph. You're impossible.""That's why you love me," Sophia replied cheerfully. "Now, details. I want all the juicy bits."Emily huffed, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. "Fine, you nosy bitch. If you must know, I've never come so hard or so much in my entire life. Happy now?"Sophia squealed, clapping her hands together. "Ecstatic! But seriously, Em, I'm thrilled for you. It's about damn time you found someone who can keep up with you."A warmth bloomed in Emily's chest, mixing with the lingering satisfaction from the night before. "Yeah, well... it's not just the sex, you know? He's... different.""Different how?" Sophia pressed, her tone softening.Emily bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. "He's intense, yeah, but also... gentle? Like, he pushes me, but always checks in. And fuck, Soph, the way he
"Any other burning questions about my sex life?" Emily asked, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Might as well get it all out while we're stuck in traffic."Sophia laughed, then bit her lip thoughtfully. "Actually, yeah. Is it an all-the-time thing, or just sometimes? The power play stuff, I mean."Emily's eyes widened slightly. "Oh god, no. Not all the time. Just sometimes," she replied, shaking her head. "I don't think I could handle that 24/7. It's intense.""Yeah, I can imagine," Sophia mused."It's more like... a spice," Emily continued, gesturing vaguely with one hand. "Something to add flavour, not the whole damn meal. I need to feel like myself most of the time, to be in control of my own life. But occasionally..." She trailed off, a slight flush creeping up her neck.Sophia grinned. "Occasionally, you want to be thrown around a bit?"Emily snorted. "Something like that. It's about trust, really. Knowing I can let go completely and he'll take care of me. But I couldn't live in t
They pulled up to the Crown Hotel, its Victorian façade a stark contrast to the modern interior Emily knew awaited them. As they gathered more flyers, Sophia's questions continued."Have you ever used a safe word?"Emily nearly dropped the stack she was carrying. "Jesus, Soph! No, I haven't needed to. Lucas is... he's attentive. He reads me well."As they walked into the hotel lobby, Emily's mind wandered to Lucas, to his strong hands and piercing blue eyes. She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand."Look," she said, handing over a bundle of flyers to the concierge, "can we talk about something else? Anything else?"Sophia grinned, a wicked glint in her eye. "Not a chance in hell, Em. Not a fucking chance." Emily sighed, exasperated but unable to suppress a smile at her friend's relentless curiosity. They climbed back into the car, the scent of sea salt mingling with the leather interior."Fine," Emily conceded, starting the engine. "What else do you want to k
As they walked, Emily's mind drifted to Lucas' skilled ministrations, heat pooling in her core. She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand."Fuck, Em," Sophia breathed. "I need to find myself a Lucas."Emily laughed, linking arms with her friend. "There's only one Lucas, I'm afraid. But maybe we can find you a 'daddy', as you put it."Sophia snorted. "God, can you imagine? Me calling some guy 'daddy'? I'd probably burst out laughing.""Never say never," Emily teased, winking at her friend. "Now come on, we've got more flyers to deliver. And then maybe I'll tell you about the thing he does with his fingers."Two hours and countless flyer deliveries later, Emily's feet ached as she collapsed into a chair in a café. The scent of freshly ground coffee and warm pastries enveloped her, a welcome respite from the afternoon's exertions."Christ, I'm knackered," Sophia groaned, slumping across the table. "Remind me why we didn't just hire some uni students to do this shit?"Emily
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. Part of her couldn't believe she was having this conversation in the middle of a crowded café, but another part revelled in the openness, the raw honesty between friends.Sophia's eyes glinted mischievously. "Oh, I've got plenty more. Let's see... roleplay?" Emily felt her cheeks flush as she glanced around the bustling café. "Christ, Soph, you're relentless," she muttered, but there was no real annoyance in her tone. "No, not yet. Anyway."Sophia's grin widened, undeterred. "Ooh, 'not yet,' huh? Sounds like someone's been thinking about it."Emily kicked her friend's shin under the table, eliciting a yelp. "Focus, you perv. We've still got work to do."But Sophia was on a roll. She leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Okay, okay. How about... public stuff? Like, you know, risky business?"“No, again, not yet anyway.”Sophia’s eyebrows waggled."Next question," Emily cut her off, fighting a grin. "Before I di
Emily leaned back in her office chair, stretching her arms overhead as she stifled a yawn. The past week had been a whirlwind of passionate nights and cozy dinners with Lucas. Her body still hummed with the lingering effects of their latest tryst.Come Friday, she was sitting in her office, counting down until the end of the day when her phone buzzed on the desk.Daddy: Call when you can. Got news.Emily's heart quickened."Hey, baby girl," his deep voice rumbled through the phone."What's up?" Emily twirled a strand of hair around her finger."I found him. My son." Lucas' voice cracked slightly.Emily's breath caught. "Holy shit, Luke. That's incredible.""Yeah, I can hardly believe it." He let out a shaky laugh. "I'm meeting him this weekend. Hopefully going to, you know, get to know the kid."Emily's mind raced. This was huge for Lucas. "That's amazing news. How are you feeling?""Nervous as hell," Lucas admitted. "What if he hates me?""He won't," Emily said firmly. "You're fuckin
Emily's fingers lingered on Lucas' stubbled cheek as she leaned in for a final kiss. His lips were warm and familiar, tasting faintly of coffee and toothpaste."Good luck today," she murmured, pulling back to meet his piercing blue gaze. "I'm sure it'll go great with your son."Lucas gave a small smile, but Emily caught the flicker of nervousness in his eyes. She squeezed his hand reassuringly."Thanks, baby. I hope you're right." He cleared his throat. "Have fun with Sophia. Try not to talk about me too much," he added with a wink.Emily rolled her eyes, fighting a grin. "As if. We have way more interesting things to discuss."As she turned to leave, Lucas playfully swatted her ass. "Keep telling yourself that, sweethe
Emily leaned forward, her green eyes bright with conviction. "Soph, I'm going to tell you what you told me. You won't know if you don't try. There's nothing wrong with getting your freak on, and being conflicted is totally reasonable, but it doesn't mean the only option is pulling the plug."Sophia snorted, but a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Using my own words against me, huh? That's low, Carter.""Hey, if the advice fits," Emily shrugged, grinning. Her expression softened as she continued, "Look, maybe what you should be doing is figuring out what your boundaries are so you have time to get used to it before you need to tell Jake."Sophia's brow furrowed. "Boundaries? Like what, a safe word for my ego?"Emily rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Soph. What are you com
Emily leaned forward, her green eyes glinting with curiosity. "So, what exactly did you two get up to? Any juicy details you can share?"Sophia shifted in her seat, the wine glass cool against her fingers. "Oh, you know. Just basic 'do as you're told' stuff." She took a long sip, buying time. Fuck it, she thought. In for a penny... "And, uh, orgasm denial."Emily's eyebrows shot up. "Orgasm denial? Damn, girl. You jumped right into the deep end, didn't you?"Sophia felt her cheeks flush. "Yeah, well. It was... intense." She remembered Jake's fingers teasing her, bringing her to the edge over and over. Her thighs clenched involuntarily."I bet," Emily said with a knowing smirk. "How'd you handle that?"Sophia snorted. "It was
Lucas greeted them at the door, his quiet "Evening, ladies" a stark contrast to Emily's exuberance. Sophia felt herself relax a fraction as she stepped into the cozy living room, inhaling the mouthwatering aroma of whatever was simmering in the kitchen."Wine?" Lucas offered, already moving towards an open bottle on the counter."God, yes," Sophia replied fervently. She accepted the generously filled glass with a grateful nod, sinking into a chair at the dining table.Emily plopped down across from her, practically vibrating with poorly contained glee. Sophia braced herself for the inevitable interrogation."Sooooo," Emily sang, drawing out the word. "Were you texting Jake?"Sophia took a long sip of wine, buying hersel
Flopping onto the sofa, Sophia dug her spoon into the ice cream and flicked on the TV. Jeremy Kyle's voice filled the room as she curled her legs underneath her."You ARE the father!" Jeremy declared dramatically onscreen.Sophia snorted. "No shit, Sherlock. Look at those matching unibrows."As she shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, her mind drifted back to last night. Jake's hands exploring her body, his lips on her neck, the way he'd pinned her wrists..."Fuck," she groaned, squeezing her thighs together. Her eyes darted to her phone on the coffee table. Should she text him? It had been mind-blowing sex, but Sophia wasn't looking for anything serious. Maybe she could proposition him for a casual arrangement?"Get it together, Bennett," she chided herself. "You're not a lovesick teenager."But as she tried to focus on Jeremy Kyle's latest DNA test reveal, all she could think about was Jake's sculpted abs and the way he'd whispered "little one" in her ear.Sophia
Sophia's eyes fluttered open, consciousness creeping in along with a dull ache in her muscles. She rolled over, arm reaching out, but found only cold sheets beside her. "Jake?" she mumbled, voice rough with sleep. No response.She sat up, blinking in the harsh morning light streaming through the gap in the curtains. The room was empty, Jake's clothes no longer strewn across the floor where they'd been hastily discarded the night before. "Well, shit," Sophia muttered, running a hand through her tangled curls. A folded piece of paper on the pillow next to her caught her eye. She snatched it up, unfolding it with fingers that trembled slightly.A phone number was scrawled across the paper, along with the words "Text me later, little one."Sophia stared at the note, a mix of emotions swirling in her chest. Part of her wanted to crumple it up and toss it in the bin. Another part wanted to grab her phone and text him right that second."Get a grip, Soph," she told herself. "It was just a
"Lay down on your back, knees bent, legs open, hands above your head," Jake commanded, his voice low and gravelly.Sophia felt a shiver run through her body as she complied. "Yes, sir," she breathed, arranging herself on the plush hotel bed.Her heart raced as Jake knelt between her parted thighs. His blue eyes burned with intensity as they roamed over her exposed form. Sophia fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.Jake's lips lifted in a slight smirk as he lowered his head. He pressed a feather-light kiss to her ankle, then slowly made his way up her calf.'Fuck,' Sophia thought, her breath catching. 'How does he make this feel so good?'When Jake reached the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, Sophia couldn't contain a whimper. His stubble rasped deliciously against her flesh as he nipped and sucked marks onto her skin."Jake, please," she gasped, her hips lifting involuntarily.He chuckled darkly. "Patience, little one. I'm savouring you."Finally, finally, his mouth landed on he
ANYTHING FOR YOU, SOPHIA: Chapter TwoJake's strong hands caught Sophia's wrists, pinning them behind her back in one fluid motion. A thrill shot through her as he hooked his feet over her ankles, spreading her legs apart."Thought you could tease me, huh?" Jake's voice was low and husky in her ear.Sophia's breath hitched. "Maybe I like teasing you."His free hand danced up the inside of her thigh, leaving goosebumps in its wake. "And maybe I like putting you in your place."She squirmed against his grip, torn between wanting to break free and aching for his touch. "My place? And where exactly is that?"Jake's fingers finally reached her core, eliciting a gasp. "At my mercy.""Cocky bastard," Sophia muttered, even as her hips bucked involuntarily, the movement splashing water everywhere.His chuckle vibrated against her back. "You love it."She bit her lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction. But as his fingers began to move in maddening circles, coherent thought fled. All she cou
The night of the gallery opening...The breeze ruffled Sophia's auburn curls as she leaned into Jake's warm embrace. His fingers traced lazy patterns on her waist, sending delicious shivers up her spine."Bet you a tenner Lucas and Emily are plotting their bedroom antics right now," Sophia whispered, nodding towards the couple walking ahead.Jake's deep chuckle vibrated against her. "No bet. Those two are probably scheduling positions by the hour."Sophia snorted, her hazel eyes dancing with mischief.Jake grinned, his sun-bleached hair falling rakishly over one eye. He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "But then… I've got plans for you that'd make a sailor blush."Heat pooled in Sophia's belly. Damn, she’s known him mere hours and the man knew how to push her buttons. She forced herself to focus on the little shops and houses lining the street. Anything to distract from the growing ache between her thighs."You're all talk, Summers," she retorted, aiming for nonchalance and missi
As Lucas mixed batter and the bacon began to sizzle, Emily poured two steaming mugs of coffee. She breathed in the scent, savouring the moment.Fuck, when did domesticity start feeling so damn good? she wondered, watching Lucas flip a pancake with practiced ease. The sight of him, all tousled hair and relaxed muscles, stirred something warm in her chest."What're you thinking about?" Lucas asked, catching her stare.Emily sipped her coffee, buying time. "Just... how nice this is," she admitted softly.Lucas set down the spatula and walked over to her, his movements fluid and deliberate. He stood behind Emily, his warmth enveloping her as he pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder."It is nice, yes," he murmured agai