Chapter Seventeen: Thomas

“I’m glad you agreed to stay in Thomas. I am getting more and more freaked out by the camera guys following us everywhere. I think it’s part paranoia instilled by my mother and part this growing bean. I can stop calling her a bean now!”

Sophia is beside herself and she looks happier than she has in months. I hadn’t realized how much the cameras were bothering her until I saw them today. Something changed inside of me when I saw the fear in her eyes. I love this woman and I need to protect her at all cost. Those were the words rushing through me as I ran up to save her. I wanted to push all the paparazzi away and carry her from danger.

It’s a very strange feeling for me to be so territorial and so possessive. I was never that way with Rosa. If anything, I was a docile puppy. I shake my head thinking of that pathetic sap who followed her around on television.

I watch Sophia at the counter chopping the salad for lunch. Her hair is loose like a dark curtain and she’s making small cuts in the vegetables. I never thought I’d see a woman making food as something sexy but I could get used to this. We’ve shared meals before but fancy ones I’ve taken her out to, nothing she’s ever made for me and it feels different, more intimate maybe?

“You’re staring,” she says over her shoulder not looking at me, her cuts of the carrots precise and neat.

“How do you know, Soph?” I ask moving to stand behind her and rest my hands on her hips, my chin on her shoulder.

“Because I can see you in the reflection on the fridge.” She shrugs, and I glance at the stainless-steel appliances of our apartment and laugh. Of course, she can see me, but it doesn’t change why I’m staring.

I’m mesmerized by her.

My hands shift covering the swell of her small belly and I think about our baby and how much I’ll miss if I’m not around every day. I regret the stipulations of our contract at this moment because I want more with her.

“Put the knife down, sweetheart.” I pull her back against me and the utensil clatters to the counter as her hands reach up and around my neck.

“You want something, Thomas?” She smiles and I turn her around to lift her up on the counter. My hands rest on her thighs before running up her body.

“I want you.” I cup her face in my hands.

“You know the deed is pretty much done, right?” She snarks. I shake my head thinking how flippant she’s been lately, and I don’t know how I feel about that. I want more.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t keep practicing with you.” I kiss her neck sliding her dress over her shoulder to expose the curve and line of her collarbone.

“With me?” I lick her neck and bit her earlobe gently. How can she think I’d want anyone else?

“With only you.”

She moans twisting her neck and I use that as my advantage to slip my hands under her ass to move her to the bedroom. I want to have my way with her.

“Thomas!” She squeaks nearly strangling me on my way into the bedroom.

“You’re mine, Sophia.” I let her down on the bed and she scoots back. I pull out my belt and undo my zipper kicking my pants off. I’m eager and need to be inside her soon. I can’t wait.

I roll onto my back and pull her over me. I scrunch up her dress and tug off her panties. She obliges and shifts leaning down and sucking on my cock until I’m good and wet.

“Uh, baby, up here.” I tug on her hair and pull her up. She climbs back on top and lowers herself over me. Her sheath is more than ready for me and she takes me with ease. It’s still tight and she clenches on the way down but moves her hips until she’s settled.

“Thomas feels so good.” She moans, and I raise my hips to thrust up and deep inside her. I won’t last long having wanted her and thinking about her all day long. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly she can get me to come like this.

“You feel good, baby.” I reach between us and press on her with my thumb rubbing gentle circles until she’s breathless and bouncing up and down over me. I watch her lose herself as she comes, and I follow soon after releasing inside her. I love not having to use condoms and if she wasn’t pregnant before then I’m confident this coupling would have done it as well.

“What prompted all that? I thought you were hungry before?” She giggles rolling to her back legs and arms star-fished on the bed and out of breath.

I turn my head to look at her profile. Her face is serene, and cheeks flushed. She’s absolutely beautiful. I raise up on my elbow and brush her hair off her face. “I’m always hungry for you.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Hey, I’m serious.”

“Uh huh.” She moves to roll off the bed and stands away from me. The distance feels like miles instead of feet.

“Sophia?”

She turns back to look at me. “The salad will keep but the steaks won’t.”

I grab her hand and pull her back. “I’ve been thinking, I want more.”

Her brow furrows, “More?”

“I’d like to be more involved.”

“With the cooking? Grill the steak if you want.”

“No, Soph. I’m serious. I want to be in your life with the baby.”

“Oh.” She looks speechless as I feel, and I know it’s a lot to take in but, I think, I think I love this girl.

“Say something, please.” I hold my hand out to her and she kneels on the bed.

“I think you’re caught up in the moment, Thomas. This is all…” She looks around before finishing on a frown, “pretty intense.”

It is intense but that’s not why I want more with her and the baby. My baby.

“Maybe, but can’t we try?”

She crushes my hope after shaking her head no and I wonder how much she’s thought about this.

“Thomas it’ll be harder for when you leave. You won’t want this when it’s all over. It’ll get messy and complicated and I don’t think I could deal with that; you know?”

“Yeah, I guess.” But I don’t believe that for a moment.

“So, how about some dinner?” She smiles but it doesn’t feel like it fully reaches her whole face.

“I think I’ll move on to dessert instead.” I get up from the bed and stand in front of her to pull her dress off and continue having my way with her all over again. Maybe I can change her mind but, in the meantime, I want to be with her as much as possible.