world apart.
As usual, I push the problem away to deal with another day. This is our day, mine and Sophia’s and now I need to show her how good it can be.
Sophia sighs and rolls to her side and says sadly, “Thanks, Maverick.”
Turning to face her, I lean on one elbow and play with her hair. “No thanks needed; I should be the one thanking you.”
Her lip trembles and once again the fear enters her eyes as she whispers, “I should go.”
“Where?”
She laughs a little self-consciously. “Maybe have a shower, grab some sleep, you know, the usual.”
“What’s wrong with doing that here?”
She looks surprised and I see a little of the fear lift from her eyes. “But I thought…”
“That it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, just business? Think again, darlin’ because I meant what I said back there. Things have changed and I want more.”
She smiles shyly and I watch in fascination as her whole face lights up. “Really?”
Leaning in, I kiss that heavenly mouth and whisper, “Forget what I said before, get your stuff, you’re moving in.”
“And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll do it for you. You see, when you make a deal with the devil, he kind of changes the rules as he goes along and you’re never free. Time to honor your agreement because I meant every word I said back there, you’re staying - end of conversation.”
Her eyes fill with tears and she smiles softly, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For caring enough to try. Nobody ever has and it means so much.”
She sits up and pulls the sheet to cover her breasts and says sadly, “I’ve always been alone. I was the pampered daughter of a Mafia Don. My two brothers made it impossible for me to mix with outsiders and I was guarded wherever I went. I met Carlos through school and we managed to keep it to ourselves for quite some time. Nobody else even tried to get close to me because it wasn’t worth the physical injury involved. When we lost our parents, Tobias became worse. I was by his side through the day and retreated to my room at night. If I went out, it was with the guards and none of them so much as looked at me in a different way because they knew the consequences if they did. So, you see, Maverick, nobody ever thought I was worth fighting for. I suppose when you grow up in those circumstances you start to believe it yourself. But you, you tried. You didn’t take no for an answer and the saddest thing of all, is that I’ve spoken more to you than anyone in the last five years. My brother wasn’t interested in what I did when I wasn’t with him. He was too busy getting screwed by his whores, or beating his enemies to a pulp. My only friend was our housekeeper, Mrs. Billings, and I don’t even call her by her first name. So, I’m sorry I was an easy lay and didn’t play hard to get like the women most men prefer. I’m sorry I gave it up like the many whores you’re used to, but you see, I never got many opportunities to play those games myself. If you think badly of me, then I’m sorry for that too, but I’m not sorry for what we just did. If it was the one and only time, I will not feel bad about that because finally I have seen first-hand what the fuss is all about.”
Sitting up to face her, I draw her lips to mine and taste the sweet lips of a woman I never thought I’d find. Yes, I’ve had many others before her, but none came close to stirring actual feelings inside me. That’s what makes her special and what makes her mine.
As I lower her down on the bed, once again I show her what that means to me, and by the time the night is over, I will have shown her over and over again.
5.30 am and I’m wide awake. Sophia is sleeping peacefully beside me and it seems a shame to wake her. She must be exhausted because I was intent on proving how much she meant to me all fucking night long. It was as if I couldn’t get enough. Any moment when part of me wasn’t in contact with her was immediately rectified and if anyone deserves to rest, it’s her. But I have other plans and gently shake her