He turned his face in to her hand, kissing her palm. “Ah, Sophia, I trust you absolutely. I trust you more than anyone else. I just don’t want to hurt you or bring back painful memories for you.”“You won’t,” she said solemnly. “Not tonight. Tonight I’m here to listen. To be strong for you like you’ve been strong for me.”God, but he loved this woman. The idea of not being with her ripped a hole in his heart. He never wanted to contemplate a life without her. Not now that he had her. She belonged to him, and he’d never willingly let her go.She touched his face again, lightly stroking the curve of his jaw.“I love you. Remember that. Nothing you say will ever change that.”He closed his eyes, wondering how he’d gotten so damn lucky. Who would have ever thought he’d meet his soul mate in a woman with whom sexual dominance wasn’t possible. But then she’d likely never pondered or entertained even for a moment becoming involved with a dominant man, so perhaps they were even.“I hope to he
Her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth as she shifted her weight up. She grasped the base of his dick and suddenly he was engulfed by her heat. Her silky softness was surrounding the head. He’d never felt anything so goddamn perfect in his life.“That’s it,” he encouraged. “Take more of me. Nice and slow.”She began lowering herself down, inch by exquisite inch, gliding like hot velvet, clutching at him like a fist. When she was halfway there, her eyes widened and she glanced down in consternation.“I’m not sure this is going to work,” she said shakily.He smiled, willing himself not to arch up into her. He wanted to bury himself as deeply as he could go, but he forced himself to breathe through the urge and remain still until she was able to accommodate him.“It will work. Touch yourself with your other hand. You need to be a little wetter. You’re so tight, baby. God, you feel so good.”She obeyed, kneeling up astride him as she began to stroke her clit. She made a humming soun
Sophia felt on top of the world Monday morning when she rode to work with James. Optimism, an alien concept to her until now, simmered in her mind.So she hadn’t been able to make love to him without him being tied to the bed. Yet. But they had made love! That was a huge step for her.She was . . . happy. When was the last time she could say that and really mean it? Her old version of happiness was merely a shell, a code word for simply existing. It wasn’t until she got involved with James that she realized just how much of her life was passing her by while she kept her head firmly in the sand.The weekend had been utter bliss. They hadn’t made love again since Friday night, and both seemed reluctant to push too hard and too fast, but the intimacy had grown around them to such an extent that she knew it wouldn’t be long before they took the plunge again.And maybe this time she’d pluck up the courage not to tie him up for the act.She’d been worried about him after he’d confided about
“I do miss him,” she said, a small ache in her chest. “But just like Sandra did, I have to let him go. I can’t stop living my life just because he lost his.”“I’m glad to hear you say that, honey. Clement would have wanted you to be happy first and foremost.”“I know,” she said quietly. “And I’m trying. I’ll get there eventually.”James stuck his head in the door, a slight frown on his face as his gaze swept over Derrick.“Am I missing something? What are you doing in Sophia’s office?”Derrick rolled his eyes. “We were talking. You know, having a conversation? Something coworkers frequently do on the job.”James looked suspiciously at him and Sophia grinned, thrilled with the possessiveness that shone in James’s eyes. It was absurd for him to get touchy over Derrick being in her office. The man was very happily married to her best friend. But still, she didn’t mind that James had obviously staked his claim.“I was telling her that Sandra wants you both to come over this Friday night,”
She really had to put a lid on her overactive imagination. Karla needed support. Not validation for her suspicions.With a grimace, Ken rose, glancing down the table at Derrick.“Can you run Karla home afterward?” he asked. “I don’t know how long this will take.”Sorrow swamped Karla’s eyes. How could Ken not see how much he was hurting her? Could he really be that oblivious? Everyone else saw it. Even James studied him with a frown, his gaze swinging back and forth between him and Karla. There was concern in James’s eyes for her and irritation for Ken.“Of course,” Derrick said, though he was frowning too. “Don’t worry. Sandra and I will see her home.”“Thanks, man,” Ken said. Then he leaned down and brushed his lips over Karla’s forehead. And lightly caressed one cheek with his hand. “Don’t wait up for me, darlin’.”Then he strode away leaving Karla staring down at her plate.The silence after his departure was pronounced and awkward. When Karla did look up, there was humiliation in
While her experience might be limited, she did know the difference between mindless sex and actually making love. It was silly of her to be having this argument, or rather, discussion with herself. The old her wasn’t into self-reflection or analysis and she certainly had never entertained the idea of making love.And yet that was absolutely the right description for the intimacy she and James had created. Sex was . . . Well, it was sex. Nothing more, nothing less. Making love involved so much more. Trust. Mutual respect. And well, love.“You’re quiet, baby.”She glanced over to see James give her a sideways glance as he turned into their neighborhood.“Anything wrong?” he asked.“Not at all,” she said with a wry smile. “I was pondering the differences between having sex and making love.”One of his eyebrows went up. “Do tell. This sounds like an interesting conversation you were having with yourself.”She laughed. “I’m being silly and philosophical all at the same time.”“And? Are you
“But the kind of revenge Clement wanted wasn’t the kind that would land you in jail on a manslaughter charge. He wouldn’t have risked his marriage to Sandra. He wanted to see if our father was living well because he wanted to ruin him. He wanted to take away everything he had, if he had anything at all. And he wanted our father to know who ruined him and why.”“I disagree that he shouldn’t have given you the information,” James murmured. “It was your right and you wouldn’t have done anything stupid. What Clement was negligent in realizing is that you might have gained some closure if you knew he wasn’t a threat to you any longer.”She frowned. “I hadn’t thought about it that way. I think it’s the uncertainty that gets to me sometimes. Like I’m afraid he’ll pop up out of the blue. He could be dead by now for all I know.”“I could find out for you if you ever truly wanted to know,” James said quietly.She froze, a curl of fear winding its way through her chest.“Maybe one day,” she hedg
Sophia rose shakily on her feet. She still wouldn’t look at him, something he was glad for. He had enough regret for both of them.He got into the driver’s seat as she slid in on the passenger side. The drive to her house was silent, the quiet oppressive and stifling. With every minute that ticked by his sorrow and self-loathing grew until he was certain he would be consumed with it.He finally pulled into Sophia’s driveway. He got out and headed to his trunk to retrieve all of her things. Stuff she’d brought to his house. Stuff he’d gotten used to being strewn all over his house.He set everything inside her door, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. When he turned to go back to his car he nearly collided with Sophia. He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her and she wrenched herself from his grasp.With a sigh, he headed toward his car, turning his back on her for good.“I would have never given up on us like you’re doing,” she called out.He stopped in his tr