Chapter 17

Andrew

Sunlight poured through the open curtains as my eyes blinked open. Sophie and I were both so distracted that we didn’t bother to close the curtains the night before. I wondered if anyone saw us as they walked by the room, but I shook the thought out of my head. It didn’t matter now. Besides, the night had been incredible. Nothing could have ruined it.

I ran my fingers through Sophie’s long brown hair and sighed. Her head was still resting on my bare chest, her eyes tightly closed against the morning light. My eyes fell closed again, and I tried to fall back asleep, but it was no use. My body was too accustomed to waking up early for work. Even being halfway around the world didn’t change my internal clock. I couldn’t stop my brain from kicking into overdrive, and soon, my eyes were wide open. My arm tingled from the weight of Sophie’s sleeping body.

I curled myself closer to her, not wanting the moment to end. While she was still asleep, I could let my emotions take control. I stroked her hair and naked back, lingering just above her hip bone. My dick twitched beneath the sheets as my eyes trailed down her body. I could still remember what it felt like to be inside of her. The memory was enough to rouse me completely. What little exhaustion I’d still felt upon waking vanished in an instant.

Sophie shifted slightly beside me, but she didn’t wake up. Part of me wanted to shake her so I could see her gorgeous green eyes lock on my face. Instead, I held her and enjoyed the moment. Soon, she would wake up and the day would begin. We would have to face the reality that waited for us outside of the hotel room, which was something I wanted to avoid at all costs.

My feelings for Sophie had suddenly become real. It wasn’t just the sex, though that had been earth-shattering. It was everything. Flying across the world together, spending the day at the dig site, getting jealous of her ex-boyfriend. The entire trip felt like it was designed to bring us together, like the universe was pushing us closer and closer until finally, we couldn’t ignore it any longer.

When we finally kissed, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from falling for her. Feeling her soft lips pressed against mine was enough to shake me to my core. And when she confessed her virginity to me, it was like she was a perfect gift waiting to be unwrapped. I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was terrified to reveal the truth. She thought I would hear those words and bolt. Instead, I found myself wanting her more than ever.

It was insane how quickly I’d grown attached to Sophie. We’d only just met, and yet, I never wanted her to leave my arms. After just one night together, I was hooked. All the anger I felt toward her father felt like something out of a different life. I still didn’t want Rick anywhere near me or my belongings, but he was suddenly separate from Sophie. She was so clearly her own person, her own unique soul. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. I hated myself for ever comparing her to her father.

“Good morning.” Her voice was muddy from sleep, but her eyes were wide open and bright.

“I didn’t know you were awake,” I said. She smiled at me, and I couldn’t resist. I pressed my lips to hers and groaned happily. My entire body reacted to the kiss with animalistic excitement.

“How’d you sleep?” Sophie asked when we pulled apart.

“Great,” I said. “You?”

“Better than I have in a week,” she said.

“You can’t sleep at the mansion?” I asked, my forehead furrowed.

“It’s not that,” Sophie said.

I waited silently, but she didn’t elaborate. She wiggled her body against mine and adjusted her position. The yawn that escaped her was wide and loud. I laughed at her innocent cuteness as she shook herself and sat up.

“Where are you going?” I asked. My eyes fell on the bare skin of her back. My throat tightened with desire. God, she was gorgeous.

“To get dressed and then to my room next door to get ready,” Sophie said. “We’re going to the dig site, aren’t we?”

“Actually,” I grinned and sat up beside her, “I had something else in mind for this morning.”

“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll explain later,” I said. “You go get ready. I need to call and make some arrangements.”

“You aren’t going to tell me anything?” she asked.

“Nope.”

Sophie sighed, but smiled. She pushed herself out of bed. We had adjoining rooms, so she opened the connecting door and disappeared into her bathroom. When I heard the shower run, I grabbed my cell and began making phone calls. There was a lot to set up and not very much time. I didn’t want Sophie to overhear a thing. This was going to be a surprise, one that would change her entire life.

As I made the final preparations, the shower turned off. I breathed a sigh of relief and tossed my cellphone onto the bed in front of me. In the little bit of time that I’d known Sophie, she talked about one thing more than any other: her sheltered life.

She wanted to see the world. She wanted to travel and have adventures. She hated the fact that she’d spent her entire life confined to Augusta, Maine. Now, for the first time, she was seeing something new. Not only did she finally leave the states, but she was in Africa, just miles away from a tiny village that would fill her with so much joy. I could already imagine the look on her face.

“All set?” Sophie asked when she stepped back into my room.

“I’m not even dressed yet.” I laughed. “Give me five minutes, and I’ll be ready.”

“Okay,” Sophie said. “I’m gonna step outside. Get some fresh air.”

“Don’t wander too far,” I said, worry creeping into my voice. “I’m not sure where the guards are.”

“I can always call Sam if I need some extra protection,” Sophie said, her eyes flashing mischievously.

“Ha. Ha.” I glared at her and got out of bed. Sophie’s eyes lingered on my naked body as I walked toward her. “That’s not funny.”

“No?” Sophie asked. “I thought so.”

“Sam is the last person I want to think about today,” I said. My voice was low as I wrapped my arms around her waist.

She was dressed, but I wasn’t. My body soon betrayed me. Sophie giggled as my dick began to press against her.

“We could always stay here,” Sophie said playfully.

“Don’t tempt me.”

Sophie’s answering grin was devilish. I groaned and kissed her, feeling myself grow harder by the second. If we didn’t get out of this hotel room soon, I would lose my mind.

“Go,” I said, wrenching myself away from her lips. “I need to shower.”

“I’ll meet you outside,” Sophie said. She grinned at me one last time before prancing across the room. I watched her go, my eyes glued to her perky ass until the door swung shut and blocked my view.