“Have a seat.” Sophie motioned toward her bed. “I am just getting changed, if you don’t mind?”

“No.” His voice broke. “No, go ahead.” He sat down on the edge of her bed, his eyes following her with desperate need. She almost lost her nerve looking into his beautiful face. She wanted him with a fierceness that scared her, but she would never have him like she wanted. It was time she toyed with him to even the scales.

Sophie unbuttoned her pants, turning around and letting them slide down the length of her legs, bending over seductively to discard them. A sharp intake of breath from Ashton reminded her that she was in charge of this situation, and having power over this sexy, powerful man thrilled her. When she stood up she could feel his body behind her. His hands slipped around her waist, greedily taking in her body with his keen hands.

“What are you doing to me?” he whispered against her neck. The heat of his breath caused fervor to charge her body. Him? The question is what does he think he’s doing to me? She thought angrily. She knew she had to remain focused. She refused to fall under his spell again.

She spun around, pushing him back toward the bed. He relinquished to her demand until he collapsed onto her bed onto his elbows. Sophie straddled his waist, pressing her body against his. Her hands explored him as she rocked her hips against his groin. He could not hide his excitement. Ashton’s breathing quickened as he let her have his way with him. She skimmed her lips along his jawline, gently nipping at his chin.

“Say that you want me,” she whispered against his lips. His eyes were enchanting as they drank her in. He growled as she sucked his bottom lip in her mouth. She lost herself for a moment as their lips caressed in a beautiful dance of pleasure. Sophie pulled back for a breath, pushing him down until his back was pressed firm against the bed.

Sophie lifted her camisole over her head. Her fingers lingered on the clasp of her bra. “Say that you want me,” she demanded in a heady whisper.

“I want you…I want you.” He pulled her down against him. “I fucking want you,” he whispered against her skin. Reaching around, he flipped her over so her back was on the bed. He kissed the sensitive skin of her neck, slowly traveling down toward her chest.

“What name do you want me to scream out when you take me?” Sophie asked soberly.

He stilled, looking at her in confusion, his lips swollen from their kiss.

“Ashton or…Jack?” She couldn’t help the pain that seeped into her words.

Sophie watched Ashton’s face fall. “Fuck.” He pushed himself off the bed. She instantly missed his heat, the feel of him against her. She didn’t feel the satisfaction that she hoped she would. Instead she felt only pain. She was heartbroken.

“I ran into Jack tonight at the restaurant. By the way his eyes were roaming my body, looked like he forgot he was gay,” Sophie bit off.

“Sophie. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I was…” He seemed lost for words.

“Sorry for what, Ashton? I don’t want to hear it. You have always tried to make me miserable from the moment we met. Well, congratulations, you succeeded once again.”

“Sophie.” Ashton stepped closer.

“Don’t.” Hot tears streamed down her face. “I hate you, Ashton!”

“I never hated you…I don’t think it would even be possible,” he whispered quietly. Sophie stared at him through a veil of anger. There was nothing he could say in this moment to lessen the hurt and pain that was suffocating her.

“You need to leave now!”

“Sophie, please let me…” Ashton pleaded, reaching for her. “I can’t think clearly around you. I made a mistake. I just wanted…”

Sophie cringed away from him when he reached for her. “There is nothing you can say to me right now,” she snapped. “I have been on this stupid roller coaster for far too long. I want to get off. Leave.”

Ashton turned on his heel and walked from the room. She locked her door. Sliding down to the floor, she let her tears fall. Why did she feel like it was the end of the world? Why did it feel like she would never catch her breath and that she was surrounded in darkness when the lights were still on?

Chapter Fourteen

Sophie got up early the next morning and packed her things, regretfully leaving the new dresses hanging in the closet. Margaret had bought them for her, but she didn’t feel right taking them with her. When or if she would need them again she knew where to find them. She slipped down the hallway as quietly as she could.

She stopped at a small table where Margaret displayed many framed pictures. There was one in particular she was looking for. She picked up the smooth black frame with the picture of Margaret and her late husband that displayed the intensity of their love by only the look in their eyes. The picture captured every year, every laugh, everything they built together in their marriage. This was her proof that love really did exist for some people. She could see it as plain as the people in the picture. It made her want to believe one day she could be so lucky.

Leaving a note on the kitchen counter, she let Margaret know she had left to move her things back to her apartment and she would be back later in the day to take her to her doctor’s appointment. She didn’t think she could handle running into Ashton anytime soon. The pain was too raw and she needed to distance herself to begin the healing process. Mel had called last night, telling Sophie that they could move back in whenever they wanted because their apartments were officially vermin free. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Sophie barely managed to carry all her things to the bus stop. Luckily the bus driver was polite enough to help her lift them onto the bus. When she finally made it up to her apartment she collapsed from the weight of her things, exhausted. Her apartment was a welcome sight after days of being away. It was nowhere near the same level of finery as Margaret’s exquisite home, but it was all hers and she loved it. The comforting smell of her paints filled her senses. She took a deep breath—she was home. Her paintings covered her walls, surrounding her with bright, beautiful colors. Sophie collapsed on her bed, watching the intricate paper mobile she created that was suspended from the ceiling over her bed. It had taken her weeks to complete every paper bird that was wired to look like a flock of birds spiraling into the sky.

She looked at the painting of Ashton, still half covered by the cloth she had thrown over it. She slipped off her bed and walked over, removing the cloth to reveal the painting in its entirety. A pain twisted in her chest looking at his handsome face. She remembered what it felt like to have her lips against his. To feel his rough unshaven face against her soft skin, his hands playing her like a beautiful song, making her want to scream out and sing along at the same time. Never again.

Sophie’s phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. She went to retrieve it from her purse, knocking over a bolt of red fabric. “Hello?” Sophie didn’t recognize the number.

“Hello, Sophie…it’s Sam. I know it’s early but I just wanted to check to see if you’re feeling better. I noticed on your schedule you’re not in till Monday night, so I just wanted to call since I won’t see you till after the weekend.” Sam’s voice seemed nervous on the other line.

“Yes, actually I am doing much better. I’m going to my mother’s this weekend to help her with wedding plans.”

The conversation flowed easily with Sam once he warmed up. Sophie thanked him for calling, trying to keep the direction of their exchange as innocent as possible until she figured out if she could actually give Sam a fair chance. Could she date someone she worked for? It was probably against the rules, despite the fact that no one else seemed to abide by them with all the hook ups that happened at the restaurant. Sophie wondered if she actually cared for Sam enough to enter into a relationship with him. She had avoided relationships her whole life, should she give one a chance? She knew that deep down her main reason would be to distract her from Ashton. Ugh. Why does my IQ plummet when it comes to the male species?