by S M Mala
‘Okay,’ he said, putting on a sad sigh. ‘And you’ll be awake, won’t you?’
‘You’re funny. Of course I’ll be awake, regardless of how late you are. I won’t see you for a few weeks.’
‘Good,’ he whispered. ‘Can’t you get some time off work and come with me, please?’
‘We’ll discuss it when you get home.’
Sophie hadn’t used up all her holiday allowance, wanting to come straight back in, as she needed the money. And there was also the focus of not wanting to think how badly her life had turned out, other than Amelia.
On the off chance, she decided to send a text to her boss asking if she could take a holiday, apologising for the late notice.
Sophie could dream but right now, reality was better as she was going to see Jonah later on, and spend the night with the man she loved.
‘You’re very difficult to get hold of.’
Harry was nursing a large scotch as they sat in a busy hotel bar. ‘I’ve not seen you for weeks. And Natalie is no help. She’s forever scuppering my calls.’
‘With the exhibition and planning for Sardinia, it has been full on. Anyway, we speak most days.’
‘Even Ross doesn’t know where you are half the time.’
‘Did you call him?’
‘I was worried.’
In the three weeks since he started seeing Sophie, Ross had helped fend people off regarding Jonah’s whereabouts. Even his manager didn’t know what he was up to. He hadn’t spent one night in his own bed, preferring to be under the duvet with Sophie.
‘Why did you want to see me?’ asked Harry, sitting back in the armchair and checking out some extremely young women before smirking. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘I broke up with Onya,’ he replied, sipping a vodka and tonic. ‘I had to get my head around a few things.’
‘She told me. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’
‘I don’t love her.’
‘I’m informed that you have fallen in love with someone else. Is that so?’ He started to laugh before a noticeable scowl crossed his face. ‘What is she? Some model, actress, aspiring artist? Tell me.’
‘I’ve known her for a while and I knew when I saw her again, not to let her go.’
All of a sudden, he remembered what she told him about Harry.
Jonah didn’t feel angry, just confused by his agent’s actions. Deep down he wanted to confront him but this wasn’t the right time, not just yet.
‘What else did Onya say?’ he asked, unable to take his eyes off Harry wondering who he really was behind the sparkle and shine.
‘She thinks you’re not thinking straight which I’m inclined to agree.’ He frowned. ‘Who is this woman to suddenly make you turn your back on Onya? If it weren't for her, we would have never met.’
‘Do you feel compromised?’
‘Never when it comes to business.’
Smiling at him, Jonah took another sip of his drink and checked the time.
‘Do you need to be somewhere?’ asked Harry, raising his eyebrows. ‘I can take a hint.’
‘I might need to take some time off after Sardinia,’ he said, clearing his throat and trying to remain calm. ‘A few weeks or so.’
‘We have important meetings lined up. I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘I want to spend time with my new lady. It’s really important to me. All this year I’ve been working non-stop and I need a break.’
‘I told you to take some time out in June,’ he replied, sounding pissed off. ‘Don’t you think you might be making a hasty decision with this new woman?’
‘It’s over between Onya and me but I was too weak to let her go.’
‘And finding someone who you won’t be with, in probably a few weeks, is that the way forward?’
‘I need to see if it will work,’ he replied and smiled at Harry, knowing if he ever found out it was Sophie, the man might not be so pleasant.
‘How sure are you that it will?’ Harry asked, looking unconvinced.
‘I’m one hundred percent certain.’
Five months later.
‘Mrs Bauer.’
Sophie looked up, realising she was called.
Nearly five months of being married and still she wasn’t used to it.
‘Yes,’ she replied, smiling at the woman standing in front of her.
‘Your husband arrived ten minutes ago. He’s putting his bag in the room. Do you want me to show you to the table or would you rather wait?’
‘I’ll wait.’
Anxiously she got to her feet and knew he would be down soon.
She hadn’t seen him for twelve days and managed to get Madison to babysit Amelia that night so that they could spend time alone in a hotel room.
Being without him had made her think things through. Without his usual exuberant enthusiasm, there was one idea she was unsure of.
One which would cause all amount of problems for them.
‘Soph!’ she heard him call and turned to see Jonah running forwards, then sweeping her up in his arms. ‘I love you!’
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she didn’t want to talk, just kiss.
Feeling his mouth against her lips, she wasn’t too sure if she could make it through dinner. All she wanted to do was be with him.
‘Can we skip food for now?’ she asked, kissing his face. He looked bronzed and healthy. ‘I can order room service?’
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
Placing her back on the ground, they couldn’t stop grinning, before she took the initiative and led him up the stairs to their room on the first floor.
As soon as they were behind closed doors, they stripped each other down and got into bed.
Twelve days of pent up passion was evident, as Jonah wanted to embrace all her body with his lips, and she did the same.
She went on top, gently riding him as his hands stroked her body. Looking at his perfect face, she smiled at the golden hairs on his skin and felt his hands hold onto her hips.
Riding him with pleasure, she flung her head back.
‘You look hot,’ he whispered and came very quickly.
But she continued to rock her body on him until she felt a wave of pleasure go through her and watched as the same happened to him. Afterwards, he wrapped his arms around her waist, sitting up as he kissed her shoulders.
‘I missed you,’ he said breathlessly.
Jonah pulled her back down and rolled on top of Sophie, kissing her breasts.
‘How’s my Milly? How’s the house? I felt bad about going away when the workmen were still-.’ She put her fingers to his lips.
‘All is good. The place is wonderful and I’m still getting used to it. Your studio isn’t going to be finished for weeks due to the electrics, but it’ll be amazing, like you. And Milly wants to see her daddy.’
He smiled.
‘I hate it when you go away,’ she said, seeing his smile fade. ‘I miss you so much. I know it’s part of your job, and that won’t change, but I worry you might not come back.’
‘Hey Soph,’ he said, after removing her fingers from his mouth. ‘We speak every day and I know it’s not ideal, but it’s my work.’
Looking up at Jonah, she was elated they were together again.
There was still a little fear that something might go wrong.
‘And Harry? He’s still not interested in knowing who you married after all these months?’ Sophie watched Jonah grimace, then shrug his shoulders. ‘That’s good then, isn’t it?’
‘Are you still worried?’
‘I worry for you.’ Gently kissing his nose she let out a little sigh. ‘Everything is good with work?’
‘Everything is truly wonderful,’ he replied, letting out a little laugh. ‘I’m lying on top of my wife, who I am madly in love with, and I have a beautiful daughter at home waiting for me.’
That was the topic of conversation she needed to discuss, so grinned before gently rol
ling him off.
‘Come and play in the bath,’ she said, trying to think how she was going to talk freely, without upsetting the man she loved. ‘After I’ve filled it with bubbles.’
Walking to the bathroom, she laughed at the size of the bath as it started to fill, frothing the foam with her hand. She turned to see Jonah lying on the bed, taking a nap.
She loved the man so much. She didn’t want to make him unhappy, ever.
But he wasn’t putting her in a good situation with his latest suggestion.
Sophie knew he was right, to request what he did, but she was aware how much trouble it would cause.
Going back into the bedroom, she pulled his arm as his eyes opened.
‘Your bath is ready.’
He got up and kissed her shoulder before going into the bathroom, and making the water splash over the sides. She joined him and laughed at the bubbles up to his chin. Then Sophie moved closer and lay in his arms, nestling her head against his chest.
‘Your face is covered in bubbles,’ he chuckled, wiping them away as she looked up. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘What makes you think there’s something wrong?’
‘I know you.’ He smiled and the world seemed to stop, seeing his face lit up.
‘Do you think when he finds out we’re married, he’s going to make you travel more?’
‘Soph.’
‘I’m not sure if you should tell him.’
‘I’ve kept quiet for nearly six months. Honestly, he’s not interested so I can deduce he won’t care.’
Her heart slumped with fear and pain, knowing that Harry wouldn’t play nicely.
‘You’re making him a lot of money. Kay says his agency is doing well and that’s down to you.’
‘And Harry,’ he tentatively replied.
Sophie knew, even now, Jonah wouldn’t bad mouth his agent, though Natalie would often make up for it in spades. She had a theory that Harry wanted Jonah to get another manager so that he could manipulate the man further.
Neither woman was going to let it happen.
‘I love you so much, do you know that?’ he whispered as she shut her eyes, listening closely. ‘We said in six months I would tell him. I want to adopt Milly legally. He’s going to find out then.’
Sitting up, she looked at him, unable to hold it in.
‘I’m scared he’s going to stop us from being happy. I know what he’s like. Why would he want you to be with me? That’s the last thing he would ever expect. He told me so many shitty things the night he lashed out. And…’ Sophie rubbed her face, trying not to get upset. ‘And I promised him something which I know when you find out, you’ll hate me for.’
‘Hey, hey,’ he said, sitting up and touching her face. ‘I could never hate you.’
‘Yes you could,’ she replied, knowing she was on the verge of bursting into tears. ‘I was protecting you. That’s all. Then I had to protect Milly, so I told him I wouldn’t say.’
Getting out the bath quickly, and nearly slipping, she went into the bedroom and put on a bathrobe, her hands shaking.
‘Something’s bugging you.’ Jonah walked out, wrapped in a towel and quickly went towards her. ‘Don’t you want me to adopt Milly?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Then what’s the problem?’ he asked, taking a deep breath. ‘Whatever it is, it’s winding you up.’
He escorted her to the sofa, and gently placed her down before going on his knees and looked up at her. She touched his two-day stubble and thought hard about what she needed to say.
‘Jonah, I have never lied to you about anything. I’ve been as honest as possible. The last thing I ever want you to think is that I tricked you.’
‘Tricked me?’ he said, with a wry smile. ‘You disappeared, refused to return my calls and changed your number then broke my heart. I don’t think trickery was involved.’
‘I never broke your heart.’
‘You did and will do so again if you don’t let me try to adopt Milly.’ Then he thought hard. ‘She calls me dada, not him.’
‘She calls me dada,’ smiled Sophie, watching him grin. ‘What if he doesn’t want to work for you after this? Where does that leave you? He could scupper all your plans.’
‘Do you still care for him? Is that the problem?’
He had never once asked her this since they got together, and she realised it was something he thought but never said.
‘I was falling out of love with him way before you turned up, I just didn’t see it. After the way he treated me when I was pregnant, and what he did confirmed it all. And certainly there was no love lost.’ She held her breath. ‘I think you and I are similar. We can’t see when people are behaving badly. Or we do see, but choose to do nothing about it because we simply don’t believe.’
‘I hope you don’t think I’d behave like him.’
‘I’d love for you to adopt Amelia. It would make me so happy. But if it stays as it is, then he has no involvement. Harry declared that in a statement and he can’t back track. We go for adoption. He could do all sorts of things to stop it. The man doesn’t play fair. He aims to win; losing doesn’t come into it. I don’t want him to ruin things between us.’
Startled by the kiss, she felt his lips against her own, pulling them into his face.
There was no holding back and she had to tell him everything she possibly could, within reason.
‘Sophie Bauer, will you tell me what’s going on?’ he whispered. ‘We’re wasting precious time when we should be making lots of love.’
‘I’m scared of Harry,’ she said, looking straight at him. ‘I don’t trust him to make this easy for us. And that frightens me the most.’
‘I’m ready for it.’
The happiness he felt was totally uncontrollable as they sat in their living room, and he looked at Amelia toddling around without a care in the world. ‘I want to be her dad and he can throw anything he likes at me.’ Jonah tried to hold onto his emotional tears. ‘It’s perfect!’
Right then, Amelia turned her head to smile. The little girl got up and toddled towards him, holding a stuffed toy in her hand.
‘Dada.’
‘I love you,’ Jonah said, lifting her up and giving the child a hug, which made her laugh.
‘And I love you,’ Sophie whispered into his neck. ‘I want to show you how.’
It was later on he watched her walk into the bedroom, throwing the dressing gown to the floor and lay next to him. Jonah admired the slightly damp woman coming out of the shower, and glistening with moisturiser she had slavered over her skin.
He propped himself up on his elbow.
‘I love your breasts.’ Bending down, he sucked on her nipple. ‘And I am going to suck the dear life out of them.’
‘Be gentle. They’re quite sensitive. I’m due on.’
‘Are you still sensitive all over?’
‘If that’s your way of asking if I’m going to come quickly, then yes. And I’m horny as hell.’ Sophie parted her thighs. ‘Just take a feel.’ He slid his hand between her legs and felt the hot, wet patch. ‘That’s just me thinking about having sex with you.’
‘Oh God, Soph,’ he gulped, starting to kiss her breasts. ‘You’re turning me on.’
‘Turn me on.’
And he did what he was told, quickly working his fingers on her lump, waiting for her to come. It was the wettest she had ever been and he wanted to screw her but knew to hold out. She always felt tighter after she had an orgasm, and softer.
He lay on top, still moving slowly then faster, knowing she was on the verge. Then he poked a little bit inside, making sure only his tip was feeling what was going on. She let out a small yelp in appreciation. In and out he went, still rubbing her nub, seeing she was going to come. And he looked at her groaning underneath, and felt her muscles contract, all the while shivering and shuddering.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he thrust in quickly, making her jump and groan at the same time, then he
fucked her within an inch of her life.
Her legs were up around his back and he could see she wanted him to go deeper, so he pushed her legs up higher, and went in. Knowing she loved the speed, he humped quickly, hearing her come and then he followed.
But he wanted to do something else, so pulled out slowly and French kissed her nub, smelling their intertwined juices.
Sophie screamed out, holding his hair as he squeezed her nipples, knowing he was truly tipping her over the edge.
Her panting betrayed the excitement.
‘Jonah, you’re an amazing fuck, do you know that? I’ve never experienced anything like it before.’
Kissing back up her body, and knowing to avoid her lips, he smiled and looked at her exhausted expression.
‘I love you,’ he said, then stroked her stomach gently. ‘And you’re not so bad yourself.’ Letting out a massive sigh, he rested his head on her breasts, hearing her fast heartbeat. ‘What was I doing with someone else when I could have been with you?’
‘You mean her?’
Something didn’t sit right with Sophie’s last sentence because he could hear the anger in her tone.
‘Did Onya do something to upset you?’
He watched her mull something over before grabbing his chin, and placing a soft kiss on his lips.
‘Yes she did, and for that, I will never forgive her.’
‘What did she do?’
‘Nothing that matters now.’
Jonah couldn’t figure out what she meant.
‘I’m not sure.’
Her solicitor, Dana, was sitting in the office looking increasingly concerned. ‘You don’t know how he’ll react.’
‘He doesn’t want his daughter and I don’t want his money. Jonah wants to adopt her and I have to tell Harry.’
‘About Jonah?’
‘I’d prefer to speak to him about Milly and if he consents to the adoption. Does he need to know who’s adopting her?’
‘He will have a right to know. You know Harry asked not to contribute if another man takes on the role of father.’
‘He’ll be out of his tiny mind with happiness,’ she replied, looking out of the window at the spring sunshine, dreading seeing Harry after all this time.