“That was sweet. I’m glad to finally meet her. Why didn’t you ever bring her to one of the company picnics?” Sofia tucked her hair behind her ear, and deliberately kept the small talk rolling as she wandered down his hallway. Her nerves were nipping at her heels, and she was afraid to slow down in case they caught up with her and ruined everything.

“I would have had to drag her.”

“Wow. Are the picnics that bad?”

“No.” He chuckled. “She hasn’t left the house in years. Even her doctor comes to her.”

That caught her attention, and she turned back to face him. “So when you said stealing her might be the only way to get her out…”

“Yeah, I meant it. She’s terrified of the outside world. Ever since Dad…”

Wow. What would it feel like to be afraid of the outside world? Her mother had reacted to losing Gabe by chasing life. What if she’d chosen to hide instead? Sofia had a hard time picturing her mother hiding from anything, but wasn’t that exactly what she’d done herself? She could tell herself that she’d stepped into the office to help out and gotten stuck, but she hadn’t done anything to get unstuck either, before this whole TV thing. She’d spent three years hiding from life. It had been safe, but safe wasn’t enough anymore.

“I get that. The world seemed like a pretty scary place after Gabe died, too.”

She turned away again, afraid of sharing too much, opening too many dark closets. Instead she opened the door in front of her. His bedroom. Seeing his large bed covered by a smooth expanse of navy blue comforter, just begging to be messed up, took her mind down a much more pleasurable path. She slammed the door shut before she got herself lost in the forest. Didn’t the story with the wolf warn of straying from the path? But oh how she longed to step into temptation and let herself be taken…

His voice in her ear startled her.

“You seemed to handle it pretty well.”

Handle what well? What had they been talking about? Gabe. Right. That pulled her back into harsh reality fast enough. She moved back toward the safety of the living room.

“Did I? I’m glad it looked that way from the outside. Inside, it’s been a bit of a dumpster fire for the last three years.”

“Hey, didn’t you want to shower?” He stood poised on the threshold of the bathroom she’d skipped.

She froze. Should she? Shouldn’t she? She absolutely wanted to wash off the layers of product she was covered in. She peeked inside the doorway and saw the most tempting shower she’d ever seen, but the idea of getting naked anywhere near Adrian made her gut clench. “Um, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.”

“Your choice. I need to take one quick, because I’m filthy. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable on the couch, and I’ll be right out.”

Sofia took her beer and sat on the couch, which conveniently left her with a view of the bathroom door. She would like to say that she didn’t picture Adrian naked in the shower, hot water sluicing over his fine body. She would love to claim that she didn’t think of all the ways she’d like to get him filthy, before she helped him get clean. But she wouldn’t lie, especially not to herself. She might not know how she felt about his interest in her, but her own interests were shockingly clear. When he emerged from the shower with a skimpy white towel wrapped around his waist, she nearly swallowed her tongue. Drops of water still clung to his bare arms and shoulders, and she was dying of thirst.

Needing a minute to pull herself together, she ducked into the bathroom he’d just left. His scent in the steam filled her head and made her dizzy. Her reaction to him was potent, but it wasn’t her reaction she was worried about. She borrowed his shower soap and scrubbed her face clean. It took some effort to get the thick makeup off.

When she’d succeeded and her own pink face stared back at her in the mirror she almost wished she hadn’t. The woman staring back at her looked far too vulnerable, but she didn’t want to hide behind a pretty mask anymore. If she was going to take a chance on him, he needed to see the real her. No makeup was a good first step. If he backed away now, it would hurt but she’d be able to recover.

When she came back out, she found him in the kitchen. He was wearing those damn gray sweatpants that made her mouth water, and a white T-shirt. He was bent over, pulling a foil-wrapped package out of the freezer, and she tried and failed to not stare at his ass. He unwrapped the foil and tossed the contents on a plate and into the microwave.

“Tamales.”

“Huh?” She looked up to meet his smiling eyes.

“I’ve got tamales for dinner, if that’s okay.”

“Sounds great.”

“So besides the show making things crazy, how are things at work?”

Sofia sat down on the couch, and Adrian took the opposite end. It seemed he really was looking to get to know her better. She didn’t know what it said that she was a little disappointed by that. “It leaves much to be desired.”

“How so? You’ve done a great job taking over for your mom as office manager when she needed to step back. I think most days you are the glue holding that place together.”

“Yeah, but Gabe was supposed to be the glue. I took responsibility because there was no one else who could. I’m the oldest now…” Her voice thickened and cracked, but she bit back the tears. “I never wanted this. Three years of all work and no play. Between work and being sad, I haven’t managed to have much of a life.”

“No play?”

“Nothing beyond a few lackluster first dates. But that isn’t the worst part. I was doing all this so I’d have a chance to chase my dream. I miss design so much. It’s all been a dead-end. Finally, with this show I have a chance to get back to that. So even if I have to keep working crazy hours to hold it all together, I will.” She peeled the yellow paper label off her bottle, worrying it into little balls.

“I had no idea you hated the office side so much.”

“Looks like I’m better at hiding my feelings than I thought.”

“I’ll have to remember that.”

What was wrong with her that the cockiness in his voice made her grin? “Oh, you think I’ll have feelings for you that I’ll need to hide?”

“I think you already do. And if I’m doing this right, there will be more.” He slid closer to her on the couch and dropped an arm around her shoulders.

“Smooth.”

“As Skippy. So, what do you want to watch?”

“Listen, I know how this Netflix and chill is supposed to work, but I’m not… I mean… I’m still trying to figure out why I agreed to come over here tonight.”

“So you’re saying you weren’t driven out of your mind by lust over my hot body?” There was that confident humor again, the one that shook her and made her want to laugh at the same time.

“More like the idea of sanding more drywall was going to push me over the edge,” she teased.

“I am disappointed in your imagination. I’m definitely a better choice than drywalling.”

“We’ll see.” Sofia snuggled closer to his side, her actions at odds with her words.

“Listen, we can just watch a movie and relax. We’ll see where things go.”

“Yeah, it’s where we might go that’s tripping me up.”

“Pick a movie. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

“Okay. How about the original Fast and Furious? I haven’t watched that in ages.”

Adrian’s face blanked with shock, and she laughed as he reached for the remote.

“What? You expected me to say Pride and Prejudice or something? Actually, the version with the zombies was pretty funny. We could watch that instead.”

“Just when I think I have you figured out.”

At least I’m not the only one off-balance here…

* * *

Adrian settled back into the couch and started the movie, watching Sofia out of the corner of his eye. He’d gotten used to seeing her in her full makeup. She looked younger and more real without it. His protective and possessive instincts were battling for control, but he was determined to give her the space she needed. He clearly had some figuring out to do, too. He couldn’t believe he’d missed how much she hated her job. She definitely hid that well. What else was she hiding?

He rubbed his fingers over the shoulder of her super-soft sweater, and she snuggled closer. Okay, so shoulder strokes were okay. He tried to focus on the movie and go slow, but with her warmth pressed up against his side and her lovely breasts just a glance away, it was hard. So hard. He shifted slightly to readjust the pressure in his lap, and she took that opportunity to snuggle deeper.

Oh God. I’m going straight to hell.

His fingers gripped reflexively against her shoulder as he fought for control. Slow might kill him, but he’d honor his promise. He slid his hand farther down her arm, giving her time to decide if she wanted to settle into the side hug or retreat.

He felt a ridiculous leap of pride when she pulled her feet up beside her on the couch and leaned her head on his chest. She was blocking his view down her shirt now, but the scent of her hair flooded his senses and he forgot to care. Close enough to kiss. He hadn’t been this physically excited by a cuddle since high school. The wave of well-being that washed over him was completely new.

Slow. Down. Think glacial. He had a better understanding of the threat to the Arctic now. What chance did a glacier have of withstanding this persistent rise in heat?

About the time Paul Walker’s car blew up, she leaned forward to place her empty beer bottle on the floor.

His lap was momentarily filled with warm, beautiful Sofia. His mind flooded with wicked thoughts, and he couldn’t stop the groan and involuntary cock twitch. His sweats weren’t doing much to help hide his situation. She froze, and so did he, determined to make good on his promise.

She looked up at him over her shoulder and grinned. “You okay there?”

“Mmhmm.” The mumble was all he could muster. She put a hand on his thigh to push herself up, pulling the gray cotton taught over his erection. She tried to hide a gasp, and his quads spasmed in response. “Jesus, Sofia.”

She chuckled like a goddess confident in her power over her mere mortal man.

“Is there a problem?” She slid her hand farther up his thigh, and it was all Adrian could do to keep his hips from arching off the couch.

He nodded, unable to find words.

“What is it?”

He took her hand and removed it from his thigh so he could think again. Holding it loosely in his own hand, he leaned back to look her in the eye. “I promised I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t like.”

“Yes, you did. Is that a problem?”

He nodded. “I don’t know what you don’t like. Or if you’ll like what I think you’d like.”

She considered the problem carefully and he barely breathed. There was no way she was as turned on as he was, but he was hopeful that she was a little curious. Enough to give him a chance.

“Why don’t you tell me what you think I’d like, and we’ll see?”

He raised his other hand to her face, needing to see her eyes, to read her emotions as he laid his hopes and needs bare. “I’d like to kiss you.”

“I’d like that, too,” she answered quickly.

Adrian shook his head. “I’m not done.” He brushed his thumb over her bare lips. “I’d like to kiss you here and here.”

He moved his thumb with his words, tracing her cheek and down her neck, where her pulse beat madly beneath his fingers, despite her calm expression. So she was good at hiding her feelings.

“I’d like to take my kisses even lower.” He didn’t break eye contact as he moved his hand lower to toy with the edge of her sweater against her ample cleavage. He moved his thumb to the nipple he could feel hard as stone even through the layers and teased her, flicking back and forth. “I’d like to pull off your sweater, take off your bra, and kiss your gorgeous breasts.”

Her eyes flickered away at that. First barrier. He took his hand away, and she looked back, questions and unspoken uncertainty in her eyes.

“You didn’t like something about that, so I won’t.” He clarified his intentions, and moved his hand back to her cheek and safer ground.

“I liked most of that. I just… I don’t…”

“Whatever it is, tell me. I want to make this good for you.”

“I don’t want to take my clothes off.” She blurted it out. He could see the shame filling her eyes, and he hated it with a passion he didn’t fully understand. “I don’t want you to see me.”

How could she feel ashamed of any part of her beautiful body? Maybe if he could pull her back into the heat of her own response, she’d forget long enough to let him show her shame had no business between them. “So me kissing your breasts, licking you, squeezing you, teasing you, is okay if I leave your sweater on?” She nodded, and he resumed his verbal seduction. “Can I pull your sweater down for that? If I leave it on?” She nodded again.

He hooked a finger into the low neckline of the sweater that was keeping her hidden. God, she tempted him. He planted teasing kisses on her chest before continuing his verbal mission.

“And if I wanted to touch you here? Kiss you here? Could I?”

He slid his hands lower to her hips and the top of her thighs, letting his fingers tease the space where her thighs compressed tightly together.

“If I wanted to run my hands over your beautiful ass to pull you closer to me, would you like that?”

She lowered her lids, and he couldn’t tell if she was overwhelmed by the image or if she was hiding again. She hesitated to answer.

“If you’re not sure, would you let me try to convince you?” Her eyes snapped open, and the wariness was written all over her face. He had to erase it. “I’d like to show you how every inch of your body turns me on.”

“I’d like to see that, too.”

That approval was all he needed. Clothes stay on? No problem. He was up for the challenge. Literally. Straight up and throbbing. He went back to the beginning, taking her lips in a gentle kiss that he poured all of his longing into. He’d been waiting years for this. His kisses down her neck drew shivers of pleasure in response, and he tried to chase them with his tongue. When she sat up and reached behind her to undo her bra strap, he knew he’d won.

“Dios mio, querida. You are so…” He couldn’t help but gasp as he tugged her sweater and bra down low enough to expose one of her breasts.

“Big?” she supplied with a grimace.

“Gorgeous, beautiful, sexy. None of these words are enough.” He’d always admired her breasts, but now that he’d seen their natural magnificence, he was a confirmed fan. He wanted to rip the sweater off so he could see all of her at once, but she wasn’t ready for that. So he’d take what she’d allowed and adore it. She didn’t like the way her body looked, so he’d take the time up front to convince her to see things from his perspective. Which was that she was a smoking hot goddess who could slay him with a twitch of her hips or a bounce of her tits. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, holding her firmly with one hand. Using his tongue, he pulled all manner of delicious sounds from her lips. She was so lost, she barely hesitated when he reached his other hand around to her ass.

So far she hadn’t done anything but kiss him back, and he was already hard as a rock. When she slid her hands up into his hair to grip his head, he groaned and buried his face in her chest, enjoying the hell out of her willing touch.

He rolled and slid off the couch to kneel between her legs as she sat back on the couch. He tugged her sweater back up over her beautiful breast and was pleased by her obvious chagrin. But he didn’t let her linger in disappointment long, tugging the offending sweater back down on the opposite side, determined to be fair and impartial. Both of her breasts were magnificent and deserved to know it. His new position allowed her to tighten her grip on his head, and he let her lead the way, guiding him where she wanted more. It had the added benefit of aligning their pelvises perfectly. He found a small measure of relief, even through the layers of denim and cotton separating them, as he rocked forward to kiss her lips. She moaned and arched her hips against his, encouraging him.

Soothing her fears had made him feel strong before, but the way she was responding now made him feel damn near barbaric. He was tempted to toss her over his shoulder and haul her off into bed. But a firm voice in the back of his head warned him to keep his promise of control. Making out on the couch would have to do for tonight.

He hadn’t tried to make a girl come with her clothes on since high school. Same rules still applied. Follow her lead. Read her cues. Stop when she stops enjoying it. His father had been more open than most and had made the rules abundantly clear from an early age. He pulled back from Sofia’s wicked kiss to make sure he was on the right track.

“Do you like that?” He rolled his hips again, and her eyes rolled back in her head.

“Yes, Adrian. God, yes. That feels so good.”

It was as if she’d broken the seal on her resistance with that yes. She gripped his head and kissed him hard before guiding his head back to her chest.

“You do this to me, Sofia. I watch you walk through a job site barely contained in your tight sweaters, and I want to take you into the nearest dark corner and set you free.”

He needed little encouragement to match her frantic pace. Every lick, every tug, every pull of his lips drew him in closer to her fire. He took her hand and guided it to his hard length, and she gripped him firmly as he thrust into her hand.

“This is what you do to me. You sit behind that desk of yours like a queen, and I want to kneel at your feet and lick you here.” He moved his hand between her legs and almost got burned by the heat. She shifted hers back to his shoulder and held on tight. “I want to hear you come for me, before I lift you onto your desk and finish the job.”

Each sound he drew from her lips, each twitch of her body was driving him mad. The thought of how she’d feel beneath him, surrounding him, nearly pushed him over his edge.

“I want to slide my hand inside these jeans and see how wet you are for me.” He moved his hands to the button keeping him from heaven and waited.

When she nodded frantically, he leaned her back on the couch and slid the button free. His fingers slid along the bare skin of her hip and dipped below her cotton underwear. Searching for her hooded clit, he reached lower until he found the spot that made her hips twitch off his couch. He took her nipple back into his mouth while he slid even lower to discover that she was indeed dripping wet for him. Still kneeling, his hips moved of their own volition, sliding hard against the edge of the couch as he tried to hold on to his sanity.

“I want…” He panted, trying to find the breath to keep weaving his spell. “I want my fingers inside you, Sofia.”

He explored between her lower lips, tracing and teasing, until she tilted her hips, encouraging him inside. With every finger thrust, he pictured his cock enjoying the same exploration. He was seconds from coming without her.

“I need you, Sofia. Come for me.” He pressed his palm against her clit and pleasured her tight pussy with two fingers now. Her gasps were coming closer together, and he tugged her nipple hard with his lips in time to her labored breathing. A long, shattered wail emerged from her throat as everything clenched. Her hands on his head, her legs around his hand, her grip around his heart. He was flung into his own orgasm by the aftermath of her pleasure.

That was beyond anything he’d expected. Making out with Sofia was his new favorite pastime. Sorry, baseball. He laid his head against her chest to catch his breath and reveled in the rapid drumbeat of her heart.

Whatever this was, it was off to an excellent start.