“Ah. I see.” I’ll make a contribution too. He searched her eyes, scrutinizing her guileless expression in search of something that would give her away.
“I’ll tell you all about it later. And your contract? Signed?”
“Aye,” he nodded, still looking for some sign that she could be hiding something.
“Well then, do you mind stepping outside so I can use the toilet?” she asked, raising an elegant eyebrow at him.
I mind. I want to take you right here. Right now. I want to take you home and ravish you so you will think of nothing else, but my love for you. His hand narrowed his grip on her nape. The velvet of her chocker reminded him to treat her gently and his arm around her waist loosened his hold on her as he heaved like a drowning man. I have to control these ridiculous feelings. They are poisoning me.
“Alistair Connor?”
His name, softly spoken, took him out of his delirious state. He shook his head hard, irritated with himself.
Sophia combed his hair back, enchanted by the silky feel against her fingers. Will I ever get enough of this man?
“Aye?”
“Is everything okay?”
He inhaled and exhaled loudly, resting his forehead on hers. “No, Sophia, it’s not.” I’m dying of lust, of jealousy. I want you now.
She looked down at his tenting fly. “Are you...? Can I... help?”
Aye, you can give me a blow job. “Nae, I’ll be okay,” he shook his head again and thinned his lips. I’m a fucking idiot. I have to control this lust. His iPhone vibrated again in his inner pocket and he took it out. His mouth dropped open when he saw the message on the screen.
3.30. Beauty: ‘I’m having a business lunch with Ethan. I wish it were with you.’
He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to think.
“Something wrong?”
He shoved his phone back into his pocket and shook his head at her. He couldn’t resist and embraced her fiercely, whispering on her ear, “I love you, you know?”
“Mmm,” she purred and lightly pushed him away. “Move, Alistair Connor. I need to use the toilet.”
“Come by my table on your way out, okay? I’m next to the column.” He bent and picked up her iPhone and purse, putting them on the small bench behind him.
“Okay. Incidentally,” she licked her swollen lips, “that was the best surprise of my life, Alistair Connor.”
He smirked at her, bent his head for a quick kiss and left the toilet with a light heart and a painful hard-on.
“Brother, you are incorrigible,” Tavish couldn’t contain his laughter anymore after Sophia left their table strolling through the restaurant with her head in the clouds.
Notwithstanding his arousal, Alistair was satisfied that Sophia had a dreamlike smile on her rosier face and that her eyes twinkled yellow diamond. He smiled smugly. “Tavish Uilleam, I couldn’t let her return to Ashford’s table without reminding her who is her man.”
Tavish threw his head back and laughed again. He wiped his eyes and looked at his older brother, not believing his ears. “Her man?” he chuckled. “Me, Tarzan. You, Jane. Pound your fists on your chest and roar, go on.”
Alistair grinned at his brother and said, “I can guarantee she liked it, Tavish Uilleam.”
“Alistair Connor, since Sophia entered your life, I’ve been having too much fun. I don’t know who is crazier: you or her.” Tavish shook his head slowly, flabbergasted.
“There’s no doubt, I win.” And he looked at the beautiful woman he called his and smiled devilishly, “But, she’s a fast learner. The way things are going, I can promise you she is going to be just as adventurous as I am.”
Tavish chuckled, “God help us then.”
Alistair grinned at his brother, “Amen.”
In the sky, over Northumberland County.
Friday, March 19th, 2010.
4.07 p.m.
Alistair looked down at the face of the woman beside him, and leaned over, kissing her soft and plump lips. “Sophia, love, wake up. We are almost there. I want you to see Ells Hall from above.”
“Mmm, I wasn’t sleeping,” she said, stretching her arms in front of her.
“I noticed.” He chuckled, “Your snores were-”
She slapped his thigh, “Hey. I don’t snore.”
Please, hit me again. “No, you don’t,” he shook his head, smiling. “But you talk. A lot.”
Sophia felt ice sift through her bones. “I. Talked. What did I say?”
Alistair studied Sophia’s suddenly pale face. What the fuck?
Distrust instantly elbowed his way into his mind. “Nothing intelligible. Why? Do you have something to hide?”
Oh. Thank God. Relief flooded her and she glanced out the helicopter windows. “Hide?” She let out a fake laugh. “Nothing. I have nothing to hide.”
He thinned his lips trying to control that surge of anger that filled him. More secrets, Sophia? “Why are you always hiding and lying, Sophia?”
She froze and peered at him through the corner of her eyes, her lashes lowered. Bad move. Bad move, Sophia. Her cold hand settled over his, but his strained expression didn’t soften. Sophia sighed. “Alistair, my dear. Please. Don’t be angry. There are things in my past that I still don’t understand and that scare the hell out of me. Things I’m sure I’d be better off not remembering.”
He inhaled and exhaled loudly. And his green eyes blistered her, “I don’t like secrets, Sophia. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts, the truth is always preferable.”
Oh, my dear, I can assure you, it’s not. My secrets are so dark they will drive you away.
He put his other hand over hers and said, “I’m not easily scared, Sophia. I’d rather know than stay in the dark. Sooner or later, I’ll know everything about you.” Even if you don’t tell me yourself. He pulled his hands away from hers and, crossing his arms over his chest, turned to look out the panoramic windows.
She enlaced her fingers and put her hands in her lap. “Please, Alistair, don’t be mad. It makes me feel so damaged not to remember everything.”
The soft confession deepened the frown on his brow. Fuck. I did it again. He stayed in silence for a few moments before saying, “Every time you retreat into one of your secrets, I feel excluded, lied to. I don’t like the feeling. I’ve been lied to too often in my life. Don’t ever lie to me, Sophia. Please.”
Maybe one day. Maybe one day I will find the courage to tell you everything. “I will never lie to you, Alistair Connor. That’s a promise.”
“Never lie...” he mused. And blurted, “But will you omit things, Sophia?”
How can he read me so well? “I don’t understand your fixation with my past.”
He closed his eyes for a brief second, “Heather had a very dark past, Sophia. Not that I’m saying you have one too. But I don’t do secrets. You can trust me.”
I’m not sure if I can trust myself. “Please, try to understand. I’m not hiding anything from you. I trust you, I told you that. But... I need a little more time... I need to... Before I tell you things, I need to fully understand them myself.”
“I see. So, let me be blunt.” Alistair’s face was taut and his eyes were dark as he loomed over Sophia. “I don’t give second chances. If I find out you’re lying or hiding something from me purposely, we’re done,” he slashed his hands in the air. “Kaput.”
Uh? Are you threatening me? “Alistair Connor. Don’t pressure me. You really have to work out these feelings. You should see a shrink.”