Chapter 19

Andrew

I took off my suit and hung it carefully in the closet. Sophie was in her room. When her phone rang, she practically ran inside. I didn’t know who called, but whoever it was, they were obviously important.

I tried not to let my jealousy get the better of me. Sam was nowhere around today, which helped, but I knew we would see him again soon. The closer Sophie and I became, the more I wanted her all to myself.

Today had been all about proving to Sophie that I cared about her. We got off on the wrong foot back in the states. When she moved into my place to work, I hated her simply for being related to Rick. I took all my anger and resentment out on her. I assumed she was just like him, a thief and a liar. But I was wrong.

Sophie was anything but those things. She was kind and genuine. Her heart was huge and her compassion even larger. She wanted to know me, to really know me, and in turn, I wanted to know everything about her. I couldn’t stand that Sam, or any other man might know things about her that I didn’t. In so many ways, she already felt like mine. My Sophie. I just hoped she felt the same way.

Once I was dressed in more comfortable clothes, I grabbed a bottle of wine from my suitcase and waiting by the door connecting our rooms. Sophie wouldn’t be on the phone for much longer. When she was done, I would be waiting to take her up to the roof.

It was the best place in the hotel. I’d scoped it out earlier, and while the surrounding area wasn’t exactly beautiful or elegant, being on the roof made it feel that way. Sophie deserved to see everything this world had to offer. I knew I couldn’t show her every inch of every continent, but I was determined to start somewhere.

I glanced at the closed door. Her voice was faint on the other side. All I could hear were soft mumbles, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to listen in. I just wanted to see her again. Spending all day with her wasn’t enough.

Finally, the door creaked open, and she stepped into my room. The smile on her face was radiant and almost brought me to my knees. God, how could I have missed just how sexy she was? How did it take me so long to realize her beauty was everything?

I grinned back at her as she walked toward me. Her green eyes shimmered, and my stomach flipped nervously. No woman had ever affected me so deeply.

“Waiting for me?” Sophie asked.

“Of course.” I grinned and held up the bottle of wine. “What do you think?”

“Where did you get that?” Sophie asked. “I doubt there’s a liquor store around here.”

“I packed it.” I shrugged.

“Of course, you did.” Sophie smiled and shook her head.

“There’s a rooftop balcony,” I said, pointing up. “Care to join me?”

Sophie nodded and followed me toward the stairs in the hallway. We walked in silence until we reached the roof. I pushed open the door and let Sophie step out in front of me. Her eyes scanned the roof, a faint smile spreading across her face.

“It’s beautiful up here,” Sophie said. “The view is amazing.”

I nodded. “It really is. It’s so different from where we grew up.”

She smiled sadly. “I can’t believe my father got to see all of this, and I missed out.”

“Speaking of which, was that him on the phone?” I asked, keeping my tone nonchalant.

“My best friend,” Sophie said simply. “Kaddy.”

“Oh.” Relief flooded my body.

“She was just checking up on me,” Sophie said with a shrug. “Being in Africa can be a little dangerous, I guess.”

“Just a little.”

We both laughed and moved toward the railing. I leaned against the metal and peered down at the armored vehicles below us. Parker and one other SEAL were stationed with us. They wouldn’t leave until the morning shift arrived. I’d been a recipient of protection detail enough times to know how these things worked.

“I wonder where Sam is tonight,” Sophie said. She was speaking more to herself than to me. Still, my jealousy reared its ugly head. I felt my stomach clench and my throat tighten.

“He’ll probably be on our detail tomorrow,” I said. My voice was tense, despite my best efforts.

“I’d like to see him again before we leave,” Sophie said.

“I’m sure you will.”

Sophie glanced at my face and then sighed deeply. She took a step toward me and rested her head on my shoulder. All the tension drained from my body. Her touch was all the reassurance I needed.

“He’s just an old friend,” she said softly.

“I know,” I groaned and pulled away slightly. “I’m being ridiculous.”

“It’s cute,” Sophie said. She grinned wickedly and pulled me back to her.

“Jealousy is never cute,” I argued.

“Normally, I would agree with you,” Sophie said playfully. “But it works for you.”

“Does it?” I raised my eyebrows. Sophie laughed and kissed me.

My body reacted instantly. Sam was driven from my mind, and quite obviously from Sophie’s, as well. The kiss was short and gentle, but my skin felt like fire as Sophie pulled away with another grin.

“Wine?” I asked, holding up the bottle that was still clutched in my hand.

“Perfect.”

I poured each of us a glass and handed one to Sophie.

“To Africa?” I asked.

“To Africa.” She grinned and clinked her glass against mine.

We sipped our wine and talked about nothing. Every time we talked, it became easier and easier. When we first met, I could barely formulate sentences around her. My anger with Sophie’s father eclipsed everything else. Now, I could talk to Sophie for hours without once getting tongue tied.

“So,” Sophie said after an hour of mindless chit chat. “I guess we should probably talk about last night.”

It was late. Night had faded into early morning and our bottle of wine was dangerously close to empty. I could feel the alcohol coursing through my veins. When I looked in Sophie’s eyes, I saw that they were slightly blurred. She wasn’t entirely sober, either.

“We can talk about anything you want,” I said carefully.

“I just…” Sophie began. She trailed off, staring up at the sky without another word. Her cheeks were flushed pink. She was nervous.

“Are you okay?” I asked. “Because, if we moved too quickly, I understand.”

“No.” Sophie shook her head. “I don’t feel that way at all.”

“Then, what are you thinking?” I asked.

“I guess, I’m just embarrassed.” Sophie sighed. “I was a virgin, and I’m just worried that maybe I didn’t live up to your expectations.”

I had to fight the urge to laugh. Sophie’s worries were insane. Our night together had been incredible. I still couldn’t stop thinking about it. All I wanted was to go back downstairs and relive it over and over again. She more than lived up to my expectations, not that I’d had any. In the moment, I wasn’t expecting anything. I just let fate take its course.

“You were amazing,” I said. Sophie’s eyes met mine. She looked more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her. “It was incredible. At least, it was for me.”

“It was for me, too,” Sophie said quickly. “I just, I know you’re more experienced than me, and I would hate to think that I was a disappointment to you.”

“That would be impossible.”

Sophie smiled shyly. Her body relaxed slightly, but she still looked uncomfortable. I wanted to put her mind at ease, to somehow prove to her that her worries were unfounded. I knew there wasn’t anything I could say. The only way she would believe me was with time. The longer I stuck around, the more she would trust me. Instead of reassurance, I settled on asking a question that had been pulling at my brain all day.

“I am curious about something,” I said.

“What’s that?” Sophie asked.

“You’re twenty-six, right?” I asked. Sophie nodded. “Why did you wait until now? I mean, someone who looks like you must have had the opportunity long before you met me.”

Sophie sighed and shook her head. She seemed more relaxed now, but I wasn’t sure she would actually answer my question.

“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “That was way too personal. It’s the wine. Forgive me.”

“You can ask me anything,” Sophie said. “I was just thinking how best to answer.”

“Okay.”

“I told you before, I’ve never really had a serious relationship,” she said. “I dated guys in the past. But I was either too young, or the guys were too casual, you know?”

“What about Sam?” I asked, not sure I wanted to hear the answer. “How long were you two together?”

“A while,” Sophie said. “But it was high school. I didn’t want to have sex then. I was too young. Way too young. Honestly, the possibility never even occurred to me.”

“Do you ever regret waiting?” I asked.

“No.” Sophie shook her head. “I always wanted it to be special. I wanted it to mean something.”

“Did it?” I asked. “Mean something?”

My eyes were locked on Sophie’s. She stared back at me. Her face was full of unnamed emotions. A million thoughts flew through my mind, but the most prominent was how desperately I wanted to kiss her.

“You tell me,” Sophie said.

I took a step forward. It might have been the wine or just my insane desire for her. Whatever it was, I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her. My lips claimed hers with desperation, and I couldn’t tear myself away.

We lost ourselves in the feel of each other. Sophie’s back was pressed against the metal railing, and my hands flew all over her body. The curve of her hips drew me in further, making me groan and slide my tongue deep inside her mouth. She moaned against my lips and ran her fingers through my hair. I stepped forward, pressing my body harder against hers. She held onto me, and my head spun. I couldn’t catch my breath. I didn’t want to. All I wanted was her.

“Is that a yes?” Sophie asked breathlessly. She wrenched herself away from me to look up into my eyes.

“A yes?” I asked blankly. My head was still spinning from that kiss. I couldn’t make sense of her question.

“About last night,” Sophie said. “Did it mean something? Or, was it just a one-night thing?”

I grinned and kissed her softly. She sighed and sank into me. Her palms rested on my chest while our kiss grew harder, more intense. Within seconds, I was out of breath all over again.

“What do you think?” I asked, barely moving away from her.

“I think we should go downstairs,” Sophie said.

I nodded vigorously. Sophie laughed and took my hand. She stepped away from the railing and tugged me forward. We made our way downstairs, back toward our rooms. I’d been waiting all day for the chance to be alone with Sophie again, to kiss her endlessly, and see her naked body one more time.

“My room or yours?” I asked playfully.

“Mine. Yours. The hallway. The ice machine.” Sophie shrugged. “I don’t care.”

I laughed and grabbed her around the waist. She was giggling as I unlocked my door and pulled her roughly inside. We were barely over the threshold when my lips found hers. I kissed her long and hard. I wanted the moment to last forever. We had all night. I wasn’t in a hurry.

“You taste amazing,” I groaned against her lips. “God, I want you.”

“Prove it.” Sophie’s voice was low and seductive. My dick twitched in my pants. I growled and kissed her again, leading us both toward the bed.