“I like you,” she admitted. “A lot, actually. And I know you don’t think I trust you, but I do. I can’t even explain it to myself. But I feel safe with you. I tell you things I don’t tell other people.”His smile broadened. “I’m very glad you feel safe with me, baby, because you are. Always. Absolutely. I will do anything and everything in my power to always keep you safe. Not just physically but emotionally as well. And I’m humbled by the fact that you’ve given me your trust. It’s a gift I don’t take lightly. I’ll do my best to ensure you never regret giving me that very precious gift.”She sighed and leaned back, her gaze still on him. She was absorbed in him. How quickly he’d become her security blanket. How easily she found herself sharing things with him she’d never share with anyone else.“I missed you while you were gone,” she admitted. “I was counting the hours and minutes until you got back. I wouldn’t let myself sleep after that first night. I was too afraid because I knew I
His statement of her being in absolute control intrigued her. It wasn’t something that had ever occurred to her and she was curious as to whether it would make her feel less panicky, or perhaps she could prevent the inevitable meltdown if she had complete control of the situation.She still wasn’t sure of how it would work exactly, but she planned to work up the courage to broach the subject with James. Soon. Because she wanted to take that next step. She wanted it badly. But she didn’t want a repeat of their last experience. One humiliating meltdown was enough. Another wouldn’t likely endear her to him. At some point his patience would wear thin. And the last thing she wanted was to be a tease. Get him hopeful and worked up only to yank the rug out from under him. Or herself for that matter.Maybe Karla and Sandra could give her some advice. That would certainly be something new. Her asking them for advice when it came to men and sex. They might never get over the shock of it!When s
Derrick shot him an inscrutable look. He made a V with his fingertips and rested his chin against them in a thoughtful manner.“And what does she think about all of this? You?” Derrick amended.“Are we talking personally or professionally here?” James asked coolly.“Personally. We’re all very protective of Sophia. I don’t want to see her get hurt. You are precisely the kind of man she doesn’t need.”“I disagree. She’s mine,” James repeated. “That’s all you need to know. She’s currently staying with me after working herself into the ground last week while I was gone. She collapsed in the office and I took her home so I could take care of her. God knows someone needed to. But if you think I in any way forced her, you’re wrong. She’s there willingly. I have every intention of keeping her out of work the remainder of this week as well. She’s exhausted and she needs the break. And when she comes back, I want it to be in the capacity of more than our office manager. So that gives you a week
The pièce de résistance, however, were the heels. She was normally a flip-flop kind of girl and wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of heels. But she was feeling brave and a little sassy and so, on her way home from lunch, she’d stopped and bought a pair of spiked, blingy heels that she had to admit looked damn good on her. She just hoped like hell she didn’t make an ass of herself by face-planting when she tried to walk in them.“I wanted to look good for you,” she said hesitantly.He gathered her close again, careful to keep her from teetering on her heels. “Baby, you look good to me no matter what you’re wearing, but let me assure you. You look gorgeous. I’m a lucky bastard to be seen with you. Let me change into something besides my work clothes and then I’ll take you out. Think you can slow dance with those killer shoes?”She smiled, taking in his appreciative stare, it stroking her feminine ego. She hadn’t ever considered she had one until now.“If you hold me close enough I won’t
“Hell yes,” he muttered.He pulled out several bills from his wallet and tossed them on the table next to their plates. Then he rose, holding out his hand to her. She took it, allowing him to pull her up next to him, and the two hurried out to his car.The ride home was silent, but she found comfort in the thick tension between them. Their need was evident. Neither of them tried to hide it or make it something it wasn’t.When they pulled into his drive, she felt a moment’s uncertainty, but quickly tamped it down. She was going ahead with this. She had questions. She wanted a much clearer picture of what he’d promised her.As soon as they entered the house, she started toward the living room, leaving him to follow her lead. She reclined on the couch and then patted the spot beside her in silent invitation.When he settled beside her, she turned, swallowing back her fears. With this man she could be herself. And with this man, maybe she could finally be whole again. Not again. For the f
His gaze was serious. “We will, baby. We will. There’s no hurry and I don’t want you to ever feel pressured to give me something you can’t. I’ll wait because the end result is worth it. You’re worth it.”Her chest swelled, knotting with emotion. He made it sound so easy, and she supposed it was. Time. They had all they needed. He’d been very clear about wanting her and waiting for as long as it took. Did he realize the enormity of such a gift?She leaned down and pressed her lips to his belly, just an inch above where his cock rested. He flinched and let out a gasp, giving her courage to touch him intimately with her mouth.Carefully, she kissed the tip, just as she had his belly, but then grew bolder, flicking out her tongue to lick the head.“Jesus,” he choked out. “You’re killing me.”Feeling powerful, she took more control, sucking the tip into her mouth, holding him there for a long moment while she lapped at the precum seeping from the slit. Then she sucked him deep, enjoying hi
“Just hold me,” she whispered. “Please. I need you.”“I won’t let you go,” he vowed. “I’ll hold you as long as you want, Sophia. As long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”James lay awake, Sophia snuggled tightly against his body, content and as relaxed as he’d ever been. He knew the enormity of what had happened tonight and he couldn’t contain the thrill coursing through his veins. She was his. He didn’t fool himself into thinking this was a cure-all and that they didn’t have plenty of obstacles still to overcome. But for the first time, he was at peace, and hope was alive in his heart and mind.He stroked a hand down the length of her body, simply enjoying the feel of her in his arms. Naked, beautiful, warm and sated.“Thank you,” she whispered. “For what you gave me tonight. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you, for a man like you, I mean. But I’ll never forget this, James. I can’t even put into words what this meant to me.”His chest tightened and he struggled to find the
“Baby, this is a huge leap forward for us—you. There is no hurry and I don’t want you beating yourself up over this. I’m happy and you’re happy. Nothing else matters. In time you’ll trust me enough to let me make love to you. You’ll trust yourself. Until then, you’ll tie me to the bed each time until you feel confident enough to take the ultimate plunge.”Her lips turned down into a grimace. “I wish I were as confident as you.”“I have enough confidence for both of us,” he said gently. “We will get there, Sophia. Rome wasn’t built in a day. This will and should take time. It’s not something we can take too lightly. You have to absolutely feel safe with me, because if we jump the gun, we can do far more damage by trying to rush things. I’m perfectly content to leave things as they are until you’re ready to take that final step. You don’t have to apologize nor do you have to justify your fears. Not to me. Never to me. I love you and love is about doing whatever it takes to safeguard the