by Alexa Riley
“You must be new,” he says.
“She’s staying with Mr. Archer, Bryan. She’s new and doesn’t know anyone. You should show her around today.”
I feel my cheeks warm at Lily’s words.
A boyish smile spreads across Bryan’s face. “I’d love to…”
“Sophie,” I say, giving him my name.
“Sophie.” He rolls my name off his tongue, but it doesn’t give me the thrill like when Bruce does it. “Like I was saying, I’d love to show you around. I was just going to grab something to eat. Join me?”
“Okay,” I say. When the elevator dings, Bryan grabs my hand, pulling me out. Glancing over, I can’t help but see the knowing smirk on Lily’s face.
BRUCE
I’ve had one of the longest days that I can remember, but it’s not really that late in the evening. I walk into my building at six o’clock, but it feels like today just dragged. I was distracted by Sophie again today, and it felt like I couldn’t get any work accomplished. I decided, after I’d read the same document a dozen times, to call it a day and just go home.
As I walk through the lobby, I wave hello to the doorman and head to the elevator. I’m not paying attention to what I’m doing, so when I hear a familiar sweet giggle, I jerk my head up and look around for Sophie.
My heart stops as I see her in front of the elevator with a man. After a second I recognize him as Bryan, one of the tenants on the third floor. He’s nice enough, always says hello, but in this moment, I hate him.
She smiles up at him, and he leans in close to her. Too fucking close for me. I feel a rumble in my chest and I realize I’m growling at the sight. Fucking growling. I didn’t even know I could growl until Sophie entered my life. They aren’t touching, but something about seeing her smile at someone else makes my blood boil. My words from earlier play back in my head: go find yourself a nice young boy. I didn't think she would do it so fast, but who was I kidding? Innocent little Sophie will have all kinds of men chomping at the bit to get a taste of her. A taste that I turned down. Fuck, I should get a goddamn medal for that shit.
Suddenly, Sophie turns and sees me. It’s as if she senses I’m near. For a second she looks contrite, like she’s been caught doing something she knows she’s not supposed to. But it’s only for a moment and then it’s gone. She turns back to Bryan and laughs at whatever it is he says. As she laughs, she reaches out and touches his arm. Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m in motion, heading towards them.
“Mr. Archer, good to see you,” Bryan says as he extends his hand to me.
I take his hand in mine and squeeze much harder than I should. I see a pained look on his face, but I don’t let go.
“I see you’ve met my Sophie.”
He glances over at her and then back at me, trying to pull his arm back. I reluctantly let it go, and I see him spread his fingers out, as if trying to get the blood flow back.
“Yes, I was just showing her around the area a bit after lunch, and we got caught up talking.”
“So kind of you,” I say, letting it drip with sarcasm. I practically gave her to him on a fucking silver platter. I should have told her she was too young for anyone. What possessed me to tell her to go find someone her own age is beyond me. I had bitten the words out this morning, thinking it was for the best, but it’s clear I worded it wrong. While she is staying with me there will be no boys. I’m sure it will take her months to find a new place. Maybe, with time, these feelings I have for her will lessen, and it won’t bother me to see her talking to other men.
I turn to Sophie and take her by the arm. “We’re late for dinner.”
“But—”
“Good to see you again, Bryan,” I say, walking into the waiting elevator and pulling Sophie with me. Once inside, I hit the ‘close doors’ button, not allowing Bryan to join us. He just stands there with his mouth open a little but no one says a word. I give him a look that screams back the fuck off. I’m sure he understands.
When the doors close I punch in the code for the penthouse.
“That was so embarrassing.” She tries to pull away from the grip I still have on her arm, but I’m not letting go. I’m not sure I could if I tried. Her skin feels like silk against my fingers. No, it’s softer than silk. I’m not even sure there is a word for it.
“He was just trying to get in your pants. You’re lucky I interrupted you,” I tell her, trying to make it seem like I did her a favor. To be honest, Bryan is probably a great guy. I haven't seen him coming and going with random women, but I don’t care. She’s mine for the next week. My responsibility for the next week, I mentally correct myself. Maybe even longer if she can’t find her own place. Actually, after what happened downstairs it would be better if she stayed here longer. Maybe until she goes off to college. It might even be best if she just stayed here while she goes to school. It’s clear she needs me, I try to convince myself
“You’re kidding me, right? We had a nice time. He was fun.”
She says it in a tone that makes me think she’s trying to rub it in my face, or maybe I just think she is. Maybe I’m just letting my jealousy get the best of me. I don’t have a response that doesn’t make me sound like I want her for myself, so I just keep quiet.
“You’re the one who told me to go find someone my own age.” She throws this in my face like I need the reminder. It only makes me angrier that I put myself in this position.
“I didn’t say you should do that wearing barely any clothing and showing off your body for every man to see,” I say through gritted teeth, looking down at what she wearing. It’s actually not as revealing as I let on, but I don’t like that you can see every outline of her curvy body. The kind of body a man could grab onto as he thrust deep inside her virgin pussy.
“Well, some people might actually want to see what I’ve got under this and not get mad about it,” she snaps as the doors open, and I let go of her arm. If she knew what I was thinking moments ago she wouldn't be saying that. We walk into the house together and find Lily in the kitchen, having prepared dinner.
I usually eat alone in my office, but I thought it might be nice to come home and eat there for a change. I’ve felt bad about how the past few days have gone with Sophie, because it seems like we keep landing on the wrong foot when we come together. I thought if I came home early tonight, I could try to get us on track. I should be helping her and guiding her, but all I can seem to think about is what her pussy would taste like after I fucked her. Would her virgin pussy taste different? Would it be sweeter?
Lily and Sophie share a look and Lily winks at her. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like it. I heard Lily mention she helped raise Sophie, but I hadn't given it much thought before now. Lily has been here since I married Debra, but we never really talk much. I guess I don’t really talk to anyone unless it’s about work.
“I set the breakfast bar up for dinner thinking you two might like a casual night. It’s supposed to rain, might be a good night for a movie,” Lily says, breaking through my thoughts.
I swear I see her wink at Sophie again as she leaves, but it happens so fast I may have imagined it.
“Thank you, Lily,” I mumble, and she grabs her purse off the table and leaves.
I glance over at Sophie and give her a stern look. “Go change. That dress isn’t appropriate.” I look down at her breasts and see her nipples getting hard. She’s testing my patience and I’ve had enough. If I want to make it through dinner and try to get us on a better footing, she’s going to have to change.
“Fine.”
She stomps to her room, and I turn away, not watching her go. I know I’ll just look at her ass the whole time, and I’m finally getting my cock to cool down. I go into my bedroom and take off my suit, throwing it in the bin for Lily to have it dry cleaned. It’s summertime, so I usually go commando, and tonight is no different. After I’ve undressed I slip on some loose basketball shorts, the cool material feels so good against my cock. I know if
I get hard in these, it will be obscene, so maybe I’ll think better about controlling myself. I plan on eating dinner and just going to bed, so there’s no chance to get all worked up. I pull on a soft t-shirt and leave my feet bare as I walk out of my room and into the kitchen.
When I get there, I see Sophie’s bag discarded on the floor by the front entrance. I roll my eyes. I’ve noticed she just tosses her bag and everything else on the floor. She should put it on the table so things don’t fall out. I have half a thought to look inside and see if that Bryan prick gave him her number. I could take it and she would never know. I’m sure she loses stuff from her bag all the time with the way she just throws it around.
I go over and pick it up. As I do, some papers fall out. I reach down and pick them up, and then notice what they are, and I’m not sure if they are worse than if I would have found Bryan’s number.
“What the fuck?” I whisper to myself.
“What are you doing?”
I turn around with her bag in one hand and the real estate listings in the other, but I’m stunned into silence after seeing what she’s wearing.
She’s got on a loose tank top that hangs off one shoulder, making it clear she isn't wearing a bra. I look down and see tiny soft pink shorts that could qualify as underwear. Even with the shirt being a little baggy, I can still see all her curves. I’m starting to think nothing but maybe a bag could cover them. Her legs look like they go on forever, but it might be the tiny shorts she’s wearing giving them that illusion. Either way, images of them wrapped around me flash through my head. She's got those fucking knee-high socks on again. Never in my life would I have thought socks were fucking sexy as hell. I would die to see her in only them.
My dick loves the outfit. He’s instantly at full attention, and I curse myself for thinking that being around her for a second wouldn’t cause me to be rock hard. My ten-inch cock juts out of my loose shorts, and there’s not a single thing I can do to cover it up. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more in my life. Hell, if you asked me if I could win the Johnson case I've been working on for the past three years or fuck Sophie for a night without any repercussions, Sophie would be without her virginity on this floor in seconds.
“What the hell are you wearing, Sophie?” Doesn't she have, like, a zip-up adult onesie or something she can put on? I think to myself, but my cock seems to like the idea of that too.
She looks down at her body and blushes a little. “Pajamas.”
She’s utterly innocent at times, but so forward when she really wants something. I don’t think she’s trying to get a rise out of me but I’m not sure.
“Damn it, Sophie, you see what this does to me.” She looks at my cock, blushing more. “You can’t walk around here naked and not expect me to have a reaction. Or is that what you want?”
“Naked? Really?” She rolls her eyes at me. “I just wanted to be comfortable. Trust me, I heard you loud and clear this morning.”
“What are these?” I say, and shake the papers, trying to get my mind off what she looks like and how innocent she is at this moment. For some reason, that fact that she’s doing what I told her to do this morning isn't helping cool me down. As much as I hate her little stunts to get my attention, I was craving them.
“Listings for places I could buy. My mother left me a trust and I want to have a stable place while I figure out my next move. Real estate is a good investment,” she throws back at me while making a grab for the papers.
“You’re not going anywhere.” I don’t know where this came from, but when the words tumble out of my mouth, I know I shouldn’t have said them. “What I mean is, I’ll help you find a place, but not this second. You need to decide what you want to do first, and it’s better to do that here, and not buy a place you’re not sure you’ll need in a year.”
She slowly nods her head, and I can see she hasn’t thought that far in advance. I feel a little of the tension in my chest ease at her agreement. Once I’m sure she’s placated, I put her bag on the table and walk to the kitchen, adjusting my cock as I toss the listings into the trash.
I see some defeat in her as she follows me. I know I was harsh with what I said. I don’t want her to think I’m being too hard on her, so I try to offer up something to make her feel like she gained a victory.
“How about we eat dinner and watch a movie? I don’t really want to work tonight, and I can’t remember the last time I just relaxed at home.”
At my words, I see her face light up like Christmas morning.
“That sounds great!”
I feel a pang of sadness at how excited she is at just having dinner and watching a movie with me, something so simple.
Pulling out a chair, I motion for her to sit down and I follow suit.
“What are your plans Sophie?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest with you. I’d planned to come back and go to college, follow in my mother's footsteps, but I’m not so sure anymore.”
“Why not?” I ask, taking a bite of the pork Lily made. I couldn't see soft Sophie as a lawyer. Sure she was full of passion and life, but it would be wasted on something like law.
“I was only doing it to get close to my mom. I’m starting to think what I really wanted was a family, and I thought going into law would give me that.”
A bark of laughter escapes me at her words, but when I look up at her face, I see it. She’s lonely. I can't stop myself from reaching out and cupping her face with my hand, rubbing my thumb across her cheek. She leans into my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.
“Trust me, Sophie, going into the same field as your family doesn't make you closer to them. I should know.” I’d done the same thing. Where had it gotten me? Four states away from my family and I barely see them, even on holidays. I could go months without talking to them. My mother was always off doing whatever she wanted. She was too busy being selfish and couldn’t be bothered to raise me. I had so many nannies I can’t remember them all, and my father, well, he was me. He lived and breathed his job.
“I don’t want my life to be like hers. I didn't even know her. I know this is terrible to say, but I don’t think I miss her. I long for the idea of what could have been.”
“And I’m telling you, sweet Sophie, that idea you are longing for would’ve just made you into me—a person who tried to be what their parents wanted but ended up like them, not closer to them. In fact I’m probably farther apart.” I drop my hand from her cheek and go back to eating my dinner.
“I’m not going to be like her,” I hear her whisper.
“Your mother wasn't a terrible person, she just wasn't a mother. She didn't get close to people and it's probably why our arrangement worked so well. Everything was about work, nothing more. After I realized there was nothing I could do to make my parents want us to be closer, I got lost in my career. It’s my life now; I just won't make the same mistakes as them by dragging someone else into my life and ignoring them. I don’t want or need that.” Or I thought I didn't. Because since Sophie walked into my life, work doesn’t seem so important. In fact, I haven't worked much at all. It doesn't matter that I’m not with her at all times; she still fills my every thought. She’s like a breath of fresh sweet air.
“It’s not too late for you. You could change too.”
I can’t bring myself to respond. I don’t want to think about it. I’ve spent years building my career, pouring hours of my life into it, but the idea of walking away from it leaves a sweet taste in my mouth. Sophie and I have more in common than I would’ve ever thought. She makes me want things I shouldn't. She makes me see myself opening a small firm on my own, coming home to a wife and children every night. But even if that was what I wanted, Sophie couldn't be that person. She's too young for me, and I couldn't imagine what people would say if I started fucking my stepdaughter. I wouldn't have to quit my job; I would be thrown out on my ass.
We finish the rest of our meal in silence. Afterwards, Sophie pops s
ome popcorn and I go to the media room to set up a movie. I don’t want to give her any ideas. I just want to relax and try to have a normal step-dad/stepdaughter relationship with her. I know she’s lonely, but I can’t give her more than this no matter how much I want to. We could do something innocent like this on a regular basis to spend time together. Maybe fill in a little bit of that loneliness we both have. I pull out a movie from the ’80s I’ve seen a thousand times, and go to sit down. There’s a long couch in front of the screen and a single chair off to the side. I should probably sit in the single chair, but I want to stretch my legs out.
I decide to move the ottoman in front of the couch, and I take a seat off to the side, giving Sophie lots of room. I’ve been looking away from her, and I’ve gotten my cock finally under control, so I should be able to just sit here and watch the movie without any problems.
As she walks in, I look the other way, but I feel her sit a little too close to me.
“Sophie, you need to move down a little.”
“I just thought you might want some popcorn,” she says, and it sounds completely innocent. I would love nothing more than to pull her close, but we need to keep some distance. “Okay,” I say, and then I feel her scoot closer.
I feel the heat of her skin next to mine, but we aren’t touching. I feel my cock start to stir all over again. I need to get this shut down.
“I was thinking, your birthday is on Saturday and I have an event that night, but I thought I could take you to dinner and you could come with me. Meet some of the people your mother worked with?”
“That sounds really nice. I don’t know anyone here but Bryan and Lily.”
My jaw tightens at the mention of Bryan’s name. Maybe if she got some new friends she wouldn't want to hang out with him. “Well, you’ll need a dress. We can see about getting one tomorrow?” I offer.
“I would love that! I can see more of the city then.” Her face lights up again, making my chest go tight. Shit, when she smiles her whole face lights up. A small dimple even forms in her left cheek.
