The minute she puts her key in the lock, the dogs start to bark. “They always do that. It can get pretty loud in here, so I hope you’re prepared.”
“I love animals. I don’t mind the noise.”
Sophia leads me down the hall to the kennels, bypassing the cat room.
“We’ll come back to them soon. It’s always difficult to pick just one to cuddle, so I try and divide my time equally. I don’t want the other animals to get jealous,” she says with a smile.
Leo
I know what she means. I’m sure Sophia cuddles are the best cuddles. She just has that comforting sense about her.
“I like to start at one end and make my way to the cat room. It looks like Lia only has four dogs right now, so that’s good. Do you see one you’d like to cuddle first?” she asks as she surveys the kennels.
I take a quick scan of what we’re wearing. I don’t care about getting dog hair on me, but I can’t believe she doesn’t mind getting her dress dirty.
“Um, we aren’t really dressed for this,” I say, trying not to sound like a dick.
“Don’t worry, Leo. Lia has clean blankets we can use. I like to put one on the floor and one on my lap.”
“So, this really helps you relax?”
She’s staring at the first kennel. The dog inside looks to be some sort of collie mix. Turning to me, her face lights up. “These dogs need and give so much love at the same time. It’s exactly what I need after a terrible day at work. Come on, I’ll show you what to do.”
Sophia unlocks the first kennel. The dog inside starts to wiggle its butt while the other dogs ramp up their barking.
The collie mix comes right out of the kennel and sits at Sophia’s feet.
I get it, dude. I’d do the same thing.
“There’s a playroom right across the hall. I usually set up in there so the other dogs don’t get jealous.”
Sophia leads me and the dog into the room. She lays a blanket down on the floor, sits down, and puts another blanket in her lap.
“Come here, Allen,” she says to the dog.
“Allen?”
“Yeah, I like to give them names. This one looks like an Allen.” She smiles.
Her new friend, Allen, doesn’t hesitate. He climbs into her lap and snuggles in.
“See? They love to be loved. Why don’t you go pick one and bring it in here with me and Allen?”
I chuckle at her use of a human name. But I have to admit, she’s right. The dog does look like an Allen.
Sophia and I spend the next hour cuddling the four dogs and trying to cuddle the cats. Most of the six cats were less receptive than the dogs.
“You look a little more relaxed,” Sophia says as we get back into my car.
She’s right. Spending an hour with the animals did calm me down from the night’s events. I’m actually hungry now.
“It did help me take my mind off what happened in the restaurant. And my appetite is back. Are you ready to get something to eat?”
“I’m starving, actually.” She laughs. “I’m surprised you didn’t hear my stomach growl when we were in there,” she says, tilting her head back toward the shelter.
“It was difficult to hear anything with all the barking.”
We both laugh. This is one thing I love about Sophia. She’s just easygoing and seems to find joy in simple things. It’s nice to spend time with a woman who isn’t all about herself.
While she’s been focused on helping me get through the stress of tonight, I’ve been focused on her. I tried to memorize every move she made, every sound that came from her.
This woman has me mesmerized. In fact, I haven’t even noticed my fractured foot much tonight.
Sophia clears her throat and I realize we’re still just sitting in my car in the parking lot.
“Do you know what you’d like to eat?” she asks.
Yes, you. Right here in the car. I’d like to take you in the backseat, wrap your legs around my shoulders, and go straight to dessert.
“Do you like corndogs?”
“I love corndogs. That sounds perfect,” she says, setting her hand on mine.
“Great! I know a street vendor downtown. He’s open late.”
Sophia
I’m so happy I was able to get Leo to relax this evening. He seemed to really enjoy hanging out with the dogs.
I looked over at him several times throughout the hour and almost every time, I caught him staring at me. Not in a creepy way, but in a way I’ve never been looked at before.
Our conversation was easy, even over corndogs. I was so hungry I ate two while Leo devoured four.
As relaxing as the evening turned, the serious part of the night is becoming apparent as Leo drives me home.
I want him to kiss me goodnight, but I’m so nervous.
I’m staring out the window when I feel his hand on mine. “Everything OK?”
I nod.
“Are you nervous about me wanting to kiss you goodnight?” He smirks.
I nod again, but this time, I smile. I can’t help it. Every time I look at this man, I feel content.
When Leo rubs my thumb with his, that thing in my lower pelvic area happens again. It’s a tightness…it feels good. I mean, I’m a nurse, I know what it is.
“We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for, Sophia. The last thing I want to do is push you further than you want to go.”
“That’s just it, Leo. I’m afraid that once I let you kiss me, I won’t want to stop.”
It’s true. Leo is the first man who has made me want to do more than just kiss.
Leo rests his arm over the steering wheel as he checks for traffic while turning onto my street.
“I won’t lie, Sophia, I do want to kiss you. I want to kiss you a lot, but only when you’re ready.”
I’m so ready, I think to myself.
We pull up to my place and I look at my door, not wanting the night to end.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your door.
No expectations.”
Gah! I feel like such a baby.
Leo opens my car door and holds his hand out to me. I take it and he leads me to my doorstep.
“It was quite a first date, wasn’t it?” he asks with a laugh.
“It sure was crazy, but I’m glad we were at the restaurant when Jenna needed me. I’m not sure anyone else knew what to do.”
Leo steps closer to me and I shiver; it’s anything but cold out.
He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I’m in awe of what you did tonight. You saved that young girl’s life. You really are amazing.”
I shrug. “It’s what I’ve been trained to do.”
Leo tips my face to meet his. “I’m going to kiss you goodnight, Sophia. On the cheek, OK?”
I shake my head. “My lips,” I whisper.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Please kiss me, Leo. I want to taste you.”
I’m not sure, but I think Leo growls. He moves in a little closer, taking my face in his hands.
My heart is racing with anticipation.
Leo leans down and his lips gently land on mine. His mouth is soft yet strong, and it makes me open up to him. His tongue begins to tease mine and I feel as if I’m going to lose control. My hands move to the back of Leo’s head, pulling him deeper.
I’m not sure who has taken over my body right now, but she is not shy Sophia.
Leo’s hands move down my face, to my shoulders, and finally rest on my hips. He pulls me closer, and I whimper at the feel of him against me.
“Is this OK,” he whispers against my lips.
I can’t even breathe let alone answer him with words. So, I let him know it’s perfect in another way.
Leo
The second my mouth touches Sophia’s, any thought of going slow escapes my mind. In fact, the only thought I have is that I need more of her.
“Is this OK?” I ask her.
Her answer comes when she moves her ha
nds to my hips, pulling me closer to her. I’m sure she can feel how hard I am and to be honest, I’m a little embarrassed.
Sophia isn’t like the women who me and my teammates typically encounter. In fact, she’s the opposite of her.
Jackie. My ex-fiancée.
Sophia pulls away slightly. She looks up at me with her big, beautiful blue eyes. “Do you want to come in?”
Her question brings me back to the present.
Of course I want to come in. I want to come in, strip you out of that dress, and fuck you until neither of us can move.
Clearing my throat, I decide I need to leave before I ruin this night.
“I’d really like to, Sophia, but I think I should go for now.”
The second it comes out of my mouth, I see the confusion on her face, and I could kick myself for it.
I reach for her, holding her face so she’s forced to look at me. “I really want to come in, but I told you earlier that I wouldn’t push you and I meant it. If I come in, and we keep kissing…well, it’ll be harder for me to leave.”
Sophia searches my face as if she thinks I’m lying. I can tell she believes I’m not attracted to her because she’s a virgin.
“Stop overthinking it, sweetheart. I know you felt how turned on I was from kissing you just now. Please don’t think that I want to leave because I’m not interested. Trust me, if you could read my mind right now, you’d want me to leave,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.
Sophia giggles and it lightens the mood.
“Leo, I’m new at this, yes, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it too. In fact, I’m sure I’ll be replaying that kiss in my mind for a long time.”
I can’t help but smile at the thought.
“How about we make plans for date number two?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Sophia and I make plans to go out Wednesday night. It’s the only evening she has off next week.
With one last kiss, I start to head home.
Leaving her was damn hard. I’m not sure how far she would’ve wanted things to go tonight, but I know how far I did. And I know she’s not ready for that.
It’s 11:30 and I’m wide awake, so I drive by Lancaster’s Sports Bar. The parking lot is almost full but I spot Chris’s car, so I pull in.
Before I get out of my car, I text Sophia.
Me: Just wanted to say goodnight and I’m looking forward to Wednesday.
I wait a minute to see if she responds, which she does almost immediately.
Sophia: Thank you for a great evening. I’ll see you Wednesday.
A Love Like Nun Other: Book One in the Game Winner Duet Page 5