Talking about Krista and I makes me uncomfortable, plus I don’t want to get Sophie started again.
Krista Fairbanks is part of the reason why I swore off relationships, off attachment, and off love. We were embroiled in a passionate love affair our sophomore year at Harvard. I thought the sun rose and set around her. She represented everything that was perfect to me. But some other guy came along and stole her away from me. She dropped me so fast, my head spun. After that I swore I would never let a girl get that close to my heart again.
Fast forward ten years later and I meet Sophie Shawn. Normally, I wouldn’t give a girl like Sophie the time of day; I had learned my lesson about dipping into the office pool. Day in and day out, I grew to admire Sophie. I had come to genuinely love and respect the ball-busting Sophie Shawn. She was my equal in so many ways and really kept me on my toes. The fact that she didn’t press me for anything more than friends with benefits, made her a challenge I could not pass on. She had me wrapped around her finger from day one without even trying. She acted like she couldn’t care less if our arrangement continued or not. The thrill of the chase was it for me.
The time Krista and I spent reuniting in London was good, she was a nice physical distraction for a while, but my heart was still with Sophie. Krista had now become the one who wanted more. Her love life hadn’t turned out like she had planned for herself and she was hoping to rekindle the flame with me. At thirty-one, she wasn’t married with 2 kids and the white picket fence like I’m sure she had imagined she would be by now. Who could feel sorry for her, certainly not me?
The rest of the wedding party catches up with Kyle and I and we are all about to sit down to dine.
I look over at my Sophie, laughing with Lauren about something. She looks radiant in a Hawaiian print sundress she bought earlier today. She is breathtaking in its vibrant colors. Her eyes meet mine from across the room and she offers me a small smile. Oh how I have fallen in love this girl, hook, line and sinker. All she had to do was reel me in. I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her waist and pull her into me and press my lips to her softly.
“Where are we sitting?” she asks, looking up at me with those exotic almond eyes of hers.
“Let’s sit at the end near Lauren and Kyle.” We take our seats.
“You could pass for one of the island girls,” I tease Sophie.
“Really? I think some of them are so beautiful.”
“You’re just as beautiful. I love you,” I say smoothly. She looks contented until her eyes scan down the table and see Krista staring daggers at her.
“What is her problem? I know there is something more that you’re not telling me,” Sophie says accusingly.
“Babe, don’t let her get you.”
Sophie says nothing more while she peruses the menu.
Krista is not making this easy for me. Actually, she is going out of her way to make it rough for me. She is purposely trying to make Sophie jealous, or drive a wedge between us. I’m going to have to tell her in no uncertain terms that we are through and to knock it off.
I excuse myself to go to the gent’s room.
When I come out, Krista is lying in wait for me in the corridor.
“Marcus, you can’t tell me little Sophie is satisfying all of your needs like I can,” Krista says seductively, rubbing her hand up and down my thigh.
“Krista, stop,” I say, grabbing her hand.
“Don’t be such a prude Marcus, it doesn’t suit you.”
“What is up with you Krista? We’re done, through, finito. I am marrying Sophie. I told you that the last time we spoke on the phone.”
“I still find it hard to believe you’re actually settling down,” she says, leaning into me.
Just then Sophie walks by us on the way to the Ladies room and she is seething.
“Don’t let me interrupt you two. You really should get a room,” Sophie spats out at us and walks into the Ladies room.
Fuck.
“Krista, stay away from me,” I growl, extricating myself from her and heading back to the table.
I’m going to have to explain myself out of this one tonight and it’s not going to be easy.
Chapter 10
Sophie
Jealousy isn’t an emotion I usual do. I don’t like the way it makes me feel, out of control with my feelings. I like to be calm, cool and collected, but I do have a hard time keeping it together when it comes to Marcus and his endless string of other women.
I should’ve known better than to go for and settle down with a player.
Caught him in a somewhat compromising situation earlier tonight.
I saw them in the corridor and I could’ve turned around and high tailed it out of there. But I had to use the ladies room and I wasn’t going to let them stop me.
Plus, I wanted him to know I caught him getting cozy with her again. Made me sick. He is sleeping in his own room tonight, that much I know.
When I return to our table, I give him a cool stare as I take my seat next to him.
“Sophie, it wasn’t what you think. She was coming onto me.”
“I’m sure.”
“It’s true.”
“I know how irresistible you are Mr. Hunter, I believe you. However, you are sleeping alone tonight.”
“Babe, don’t be like that,” Marcus says, as he wraps his arm around me and kisses me on the cheek.
I glance in Krista’s direction and she’s staring at us with a scowl on her pretty little face. Girl looks like a freaking model, which bothers me even more. A tall, model thin blonde, Gisele Bundchen comes to mind.
Marcus’s scent makes me tingle between my thighs, as difficult as I want to make it for him tonight, I may not be able to resist my intoxicating fiancée.
“If you let Krista make you angry than she’s winning. Don’t let someone like her win.”
“Love your psychology, you clever, clever man. But it’s not going to work on me,” I reply.
“Let’s go for a walk along the beach tonight,” Marcus suggests as he stands and reaches for my hand. I can’t be rude in front of everyone so I place my hand is his and stand up.
“We’re going to call it a night, we’ll see you bright and early,” Marcus says to Kyle and we all say our goodnights.
We stroll through the lobby and hear the piano playing, on our way out the double doors to the lagoon where the dolphins swim.
It’s a beautiful night, warm with a tropical breeze blowing. You can see the stars and the swaying palm trees rustle from the wind.
“Sophie, do you know how much I love you?” Marcus says, pulling my hand up to his lips.
“Sometimes I’m uncertain about it all,” I say, giving him my most honest answer.
“What, uncertain about us?” Marcus says, stopping in his tracks and looking straight at me.
“Look, if you want to be with Krista again or have any doubts about our future together, I would appreciate you speaking up now rather than later. I’m a big girl, I can take it.”
“I don’t have a single doubt in my mind about spending the rest of my life with you.”
“Are you sure?” I whisper, hearing the vulnerability in my voice bothers me. Marcus has me wrapped around his finger, but I don’t want him to know that, although he probably does.
“Let’s go up to our room and I will show you how sure I am.”
“I told you that you are sleeping alone tonight. Didn’t I make myself clear earlier?” I try to say as firmly as I can.
“I’m going to wear down your defenses,” he breathes close to my ear, his warm breath enticing me, as his hand gently cups my breast through my thin silky dress. He lightly brushes his thumb over my hardening nipple.