I turned her around to capture her lips. Her kiss was slow. Deliberately sensual as she clutched me around the neck. My body came alive from her touch. I wanted her so badly. To feel her. To touch her. To make her mine so that she’d never consider leaving.
My hands gripped her ass, cupping and molding until she groaned into my mouth. She had to feel my need to be inside her rising higher.
She broke us apart to slyly grin at me. “You want me?” She was trying to sound serious and failed. “Right now? In front of this painting?”
I tugged her closer until her sundress hiked up and her legs wrapped around my waist. “Oh, hell yes.”
But instead of pulling her dress over her head and bending her over the tiny table to take her hard and fast, my head dipped so that I could draw my lips across her pulse point. She shivered from my touch.
“Sophie,” I murmured. Her thick hair smelled so good.
Our lips met again, the sensation delicious and dizzying in intensity.
“Please…” she whispered against my lips. That familiar begging that drove me wild. I kissed her lips again, determined to stretch out her pleasure. She loved to wait and I was willing to give her what she needed.
I drew my tongue across her lips. They were lush and sweet. Her mouth opened and my tongue brushed against hers. The pleasure was intense.
“Feel good?” I asked.
Our gazes locked and I watched her beautiful shudder. “Xavier.”
Gently, I sat her down and we made quick work of discarding each other’s clothes. My shirt was tossed away to suck and flick at nipples. There were no gentle sucks from me this time. If she wouldn’t wear my cuffs, I’d mark my territory in other ways—by briefly sucking hard on the soft, sensitive skin below her nipple.
Next her panties. I ripped those off so that I could fall to my knees to worship what lay between her thighs. She squirmed against me, clutching my hair while I nibbled and sucked on her clit. When she got close to coming, I backed off, only to come back again to taste her.
“When can you come?” I asked her.
“When you let me,” she cried out.
A few hickeys on her inner thighs would be sore reminders in the morning that I was the one who did this.
I was the one who watched her back arch while she finally climaxed with my tongue spearing into her slick heat. She belonged to me and only me.
After I put on a condom, I was the one who shoved the champagne serving aside to bend her over the table. She gripped the table hard, looking back at me while I fucked her. The table shook with each thrust. Just watching her cry out was so hot. Awash in pleasure, all I could do was hold on to her while her pussy clenched my shaft. Sweet heaven, the pleasure was mind-numbing. A grumble formed in my chest, increasing in intensity as my balls hardened painfully.
“I’m coming, sweetheart,” I grunted. My body stiffened, every nerve ending in my cock exploding as I reached my climax. It took me a bit of time to find my senses, but once I did, I continued to hold her in my arms. Each breath she took calmed me and reassured me she was here and if I didn’t let her go she’d stay with me forever.
“You all right?” I asked her. She smiled at me and kissed my chin.
She looked at the champagne service on the floor and laughed. “That was…insane.”
I drew my hands into her messy hair, pulling it back and out of her face. Her features had softened and her lips were bright and pink.
“Damn, you’re so fucking beautiful,” I whispered.
Instead of making a joke to brush off my compliment, she averted her eyes and smiled.
Gently, I took her hand and kissed the palm, then the delectable skin at her pulse point. The skin thrummed there from her racing heart. Sato’s wrist cuffs were gone now, but a part of me wanted her to wear the ones I gave her. Whether she wore them or not, it was Sophie I wanted. It was her I cared about.
“I have to go to the bathroom to freshen up. I’ll be back.” She put on her dress and left the room.
I found my clothes and got dressed. When Sophie emerged from the bathroom, I followed her out to the lobby. Even though this outing had gone well, I sensed doubts swimming around that pretty head of hers.
My time was running out.
—
“Are you sure you want to tangle with a pro like me?” I asked Sophie.
It was Sunday. My last day to show her how much I wanted her to stay with me.
We stood outside the Carefree Cow Ice Cream Shop, a place I used to frequent as a student back in college at Arizona State University.
Back then, after every meet, I came here to face an adversary I never beat: the Fifteen-Scoop Challenge.
A few athletes joined me in my quest, but naturally, the coaching staff wasn’t aware of attempts to down a few days’ worth of calories in one shot.
At my side, Sophie’s eyes shined with glee. “You’re a pro at eating contests?”
“Not the contest, but the competition. I like to make wagers, too,” I said with grin. “If I win the challenge, you stay here with me, no questions asked—”
She gave a cute snort. “I stay if you win an eating contest? Is that the best you can do to convince me?”
Then she laughed, and I resisted the urge to kiss her lips, to pull her close to me. Like yesterday, she wore casual clothes, a pair of jeans that revealed every curve and a blouse with an opening near her breasts that tempted me every time she sat next to me.
The fact that this weekend would come to an end soon bothered me constantly. Would we still be able to be together—like this—after she found out what I had planned for her?
Sophie led the way into the ice cream shop with a wry grin. Did she know something I didn’t about the challenge? “Don’t think that just because we’re eating a heavy lunch I’ll carry you out of here.”
I chuckled as I took in the place. So many memories here with old college friends. The Carefree Cow, with its rustic-decor theme, had plenty of dark red seats for the busy crowds when students filled the nearby Tempe campus. At this time of the year, though, not as many students frequented campus so we could sit anywhere we wanted.
“Priceless paintings one day and an ice cream parlor the next. You’re a worldly man, Mr. Quinn,” she threw over her shoulder.
“There’s so much more I’d love to show you.” So many more things, sweetheart.
Sophie pointed to the far wall, where there was a bulletin board filled with Polaroid shots. “There’s the Wall of Shame where your picture will be.” She gestured to another wall with a board labeled VICTORY LANE. “And that’s where my lovely photo will be displayed for posterity. May the Ashton name live on.”
I held in a laugh. She had no idea that my photo was already there…“In infamy for overeating?”
She shoved my shoulder for good measure.
At the ordering counter, she asked for two helpings of the Fifteen-Scoop Challenge. Casually, I took her hand after she ordered. Her fingers intertwined with mine and the warmth from her palm spread through me. A man could get used to this pleasant feeling.
“Don’t think you can distract me from winning,” she whispered. “I have nerves made of Rocky Road.”
I took in the types of ice cream, sensing that she wasn’t facing me, yet our hands continued to stay connected. After the manager set everything up, we sat down at one of the tables.
“The rules are simple, folks,” the manager explained. “You get one hour to eat fifteen scoops of ice cream covered in whipped cream, nuts, and sauces.”
While the manager continued to speak, I patted my flat belly. Even back when I was in college, that huge bowl of ice cream had been intimidating, but one look at Sophie’s face and I knew a poker face was essential to winning this game. I’d show her how driven I was for her to stay.
“The winner gets a T-shirt and a free meal. The loser gets to pay for everything.”
We both nodded. Sophie pointed two fingers at her eyes and then gestured to mine
. She could watch me all she wanted. Cheating at this particular contest would be near to impossible unless I was hiding a refrigerated container somewhere.
The countdown started and then we were off. I tackled the ice cream first, ’cause I had a plan: eat the firmer ice cream and then inhale the whipped cream closer to the end. The cherries disappeared quickly, as well as the spoonfuls of nuts sprinkled on top. Not long into the challenge, I was close to dying from brain freeze.
“I can tell you’re getting full,” Sophie said through a mouthful of strawberry. “Just give up now and I’ll be merciful.”
As the end of the hour drew closer, our pace had slowed considerably. Her lack of enthusiasm concerned me.
“If you’re not having fun anymore, we should stop. Before you get sick,” I managed.
“Are you just looking for an out? If you’re feeling ill, I understand.” She was trying to be strong and all, but I could tell she was too full to eat more.
“I’m done.” I put the spoon down, my stomach heavy with food. “Come take my loser picture.”
Sophie cheered her victory, not an enthusiastic one, but a cheer nonetheless. “I’m going to fall over and get rolled out of here by the staff.”
I was rather full myself. Sophie continued to recover while I slowly stood and paid for the ice cream.
Instead of heading to the car, we kept walking along the sidewalk into campus, enjoying the cooler weather brought on by sunset.
“You want to keep going?” I asked her. Hopefully, she would say yes. There were a few things she needed to see.
“Yeah,” she murmured. “I need to walk this off.”
The Arizona State University campus extended for several miles, but our destination wasn’t too far from here. As we weaved around on the paths between buildings, she threw a questioning glance or two in my direction, but didn’t say anything until we reached the Cornerstone Business Research Facility.
“What’s this place?” she asked.
“An incubator for startups on campus. They provide facilities for businesses.”
She nodded. “So what are we doing here?”
I took her hand and drew her through the double doors. “You’ll see.”
The receptionist waiting behind a counter smiled at us. “Good afternoon, Mr. Quinn. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
I nodded her way and directed Sophie to the elevators.
“Seems like you’re important around here. The receptionist in my building at Cambridge doesn’t even acknowledge my presence half the time.”
I shrugged. “You could say I’m a recent donor.”
That made her go ah for a bit.
On the fifth floor, we headed down a narrow hallway with many closed doors. The signs had names of companies I’d never heard of, but the vibe was one that I was quite familiar with. Silver Sparrow Systems started out in a place like this. Just a bunch of people sitting in a small room pounding away at keyboards, hoping and praying venture capitalists would invest in the ideas we generated. I happened to be one of the lucky ones.
At the end of the hallway, we came to a set of double doors.
“There’s no sign,” Sophie remarked.
“I know.” I pulled a key card from my back pocket and brushed the card against the reader attached to the door. After an audible click, the door unlocked.
As she walked into the huge office suite, I waited for her smile—any type of reaction to show she was pleased, but I got silence.
She scanned from the modern lavender-colored couches near the door to the receptionist desk. From beyond there, she wandered into the private office in the back.
The silence was killing me. She walked into the private office bathroom, briefly flicking the light on and off.
At first, I expected her to ask what all this was, but Sophie was far sharper than the women I’d dated in the past.
“This was unexpected,” she began.
“Too much?” When I’d made the arrangements, I’d thought it was too little. Hiring for an assistant could begin as soon as Monday.
“This is the perfect place for you to start again. Many of the companies here will need insight and assistance from someone with your level of experience.” I kept going as she approached the windows, adding distance between us both physically and mentally. “I also began to make arrangements for you to meet with local CEOs—”
“Xavier…”
I outlined my plan until she grated out, “Just don’t.”
Silence stood between us, stealing the words I wanted to say. I wanted to tell her again I’d take care of her, but she didn’t want to hear that. Everything we’d done today—all the fun we’d had—and I couldn’t give her the one thing she truly wanted: success.
“I’m going to London,” she finally said.
Everything in me hardened and a familiar feeling came over me: utter disappointment.
“Why?” I hadn’t meant for my reply to come out so harshly, but it did. “I said I’d—”
“You said you’d take care of me. I don’t want that. I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen.” She looked at me briefly, but when I looked back at her with pain I couldn’t hide she turned away. “Just like you, I have aspirations. I have things I’m relentless about accomplishing in my career. I don’t want to start off at square one again.”
“You’d be starting fresh in London.”
“I would be working with Carlie’s clients and supporting her when she needs me.”
“Then I could get you clients.”
“I know you could, but I don’t want that.” I wanted to hold her hand against my heart. The heart that was breaking.
“Say I moved to London. Would we be happy if we lived like that? Seeing each other every couple of months?”
No, I wouldn’t be happy with that. I wanted her with me all the time. By my side. In my bed.
As I strode toward her, filling the gap she’d created, I wondered if something more was at play. When I reached her side, she still didn’t look at me. “Is it just your job? Or maybe you haven’t let Sato go. Have you opened up enough to accept being with me?”
She jerked back and showed her wrist. “I’ve already said my final goodbyes and moved on.”
Just seeing her bare skin burned me. What I wouldn’t give to see her wearing my cuffs. To know she had bound herself to me the way I was bound to her. “So why not wear mine, then?”
“Because…” she bit out. “I can’t tie myself to someone I have to let go.” She marched back the way we came.
“Don’t go like this.” I followed her and grabbed her arm. She wasn’t walking out on me yet. “Why can’t you give in on this one thing?” I growled. “We can make it work if you stop running away and love me like I love you.”
“I’m running to where I need to be. If we end it now, no one has to leave before things get serious.” She closed her eyes so tightly, as if in pain. “If we end it now, no one gets hurt.”
That stopped me cold. When someone you love leaves it always hurts, whether it’s sooner or later.
Briefly, she bit her lip as if she hadn’t meant to let those words slip out.
“I’d never leave you, Sophie,” I said firmly, meaning every word. “And I want you to stay with me.”
“You told me from the beginning you didn’t want a relationship. I heard you and I respected that.”
“Yeah, I used to feel that way, but not anymore.” Frustration made it harder for me to think.
“Look at your life and your accomplishments. What has ultimately made you happy?” she asked.
Every time I walked into my office at Silver Sparrow I answered that question: conquering whatever fell into my path. Every failure made my successes all the sweeter. Denying her happiness for my own selfish reasons was something I’d never do. Not in the way it had been done to me. I loved her too much to see her questioning her decision to stay.
When I finally spoke, it was a done deal. “If you want to go, I
won’t stand in your way. I’ll have the jet ready to take you back home.”
Chapter 25
Sophie
Packing, whether or not you want to go to the destination, still bites. Case in point, I couldn’t seem to pack my belongings back in Boston without breaking something. A beautiful tiger’s eye vase from Thailand ended up in enough pieces to create a mosaic. Four CDs—yep, I still had some—turned into scratched-up coasters when Lana accidentally stepped on them.
I packed away all my cookbooks. They were coming with me, but all my Japanese language–learning materials were shipped as a donation to a library in NYC. Holding on to them when I didn’t study anymore seemed wasteful.
My empty room seemed like a reminder of what I was letting go. In the spot where my bed had sat, Xavier had made love to me. In another corner, right next to my desk, he’d placed a beautiful red box in my hand. What I wouldn’t have given right now for him to be standing there.
But the room was empty and I had nothing but regrets to fill it.
Getting excited about spending time with Carlie wasn’t the same as it used to be.
What about the good days? Like the days we used what little money we had to enjoy ice cream cones at Eddies Sweet Shop?
I cracked a grin at the sunny feeling remembering such moments washed over me. Those had been good times. We had a few of them—but we were older now with our own aspirations.
Living in the U.K. with her would be different now.
You won’t have him, I reminded myself. In London I wouldn’t see Penny or Griffin as often either, but I’d have Carlie and I owed it to her.
Broken discs and all.
I heard the doorbell ring.
Immediately, my breath quickened with a single thought: had Xavier come back for me?
Before Lana had a chance to reach the door, I was there peeking through the peephole, ready to see his face.
I saw a familiar blonde with a smirk instead.
“Carlie?” I gasped.
I opened the door and she giggled when she saw my surprised face.
“Hey, Sophie.” She sneaked in a hug and then looked around for a place to sit. “I’m taking the red-eye next time.” She collapsed on the couch and Lana gave me a wave before she slinked back to her bedroom.
Bound to You Page 19
