A Risky Dance

by Monika Summerville

  Sophie felt lost and confused. More bodies found and her father in an orange jumpsuit made her feel as though her life became a headline in the supermarket tabloids.

  “Riley.” She turned from the window to look at him. “Would you have”—she nodded at the driver—“I can’t remember his name, but could you have him drop me at my apartment? I need some time alone.”

  “Sweetheart, the condo’s yours. I can go into the office for a few hours.”

  “That’s sweet, but I want to be in my own space, Riley.”

  He looked at her with a concerned frown in his eyes.

  “Babe, you have no reason to worry. My father and his men are in jail. I should be safe,” she said.

  “I know. I’m sure Hejazi can have someone keep an eye on things. I’ll miss you.” He put his lips on the back of her hand. “Greg, you heard her. Let’s head to the apartment.”

  Riley walked her up to the front door while the car waited in the driveway. She opened the door and walked into what had been her home for the last ten years.

  He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Sophie, are you sure about this?”

  She wasn’t sure about anything, but thought the time alone would be good. She turned around and put her hands around his waist. She looked up at him. “Yeah, I just need a little time. Things have gone from crazy to crazier in such a short amount of time and I just need to see if I can get it sorted out in my head.”

  He put his lips down on hers and gave her a gentle kiss. “Call me, anytime. If you need anything, you know I’ll be here. Okay?”

  After he left, Sophie changed into a pair of shorts and a baggy T-shirt, poured a glass of wine, and sat on her bed with her cell phone. After a couple of sips, she stared. She could hear traffic on the road outside and remembered how silent the place her father had left her to die sounded.

  She hit a speed dial number on her phone and listened to it ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hey, you’re home early.”

  “Yeah, the courts move things along pretty efficiently.”

  “How’d it go?”

  “Father will be in jail for a while. He didn’t get bail, but the district attorney said the defense will probably appeal it. God, it sounds like an episode of Law and Order.” She drank a little more wine.

  “Sophie, you sound down in the dumps.”

  “I am a little or a lot. I’m just flustered. I’m not sure what direction to go in.” She looked at the wine glass and realized it burned her stomach. She set the glass on her nightstand. “Plus, I’m drinking wine and having a pity party alone.”

  “Aren’t you still seeing that good looking man?”

  “Riley? Yes, we’re still together.”

  “Why isn’t he taking you out to get your mind off all of this?” her mom asked.

  “I sent him to his own home. I’m by myself. He’s done so much for me. It didn’t seem fair to make him sit around while I wallowed.”

  “Sweetheart, that’s what a good man is for. When I was down there, after your father hurt you, that Riley seemed so dedicated to you. I think he’s a keeper. He sent Jeff and me...”

  Her mom’s voice tightened and Sophie felt the same. “I know, mom. Riley is a good man.”

  “It seems like you’re pushing him away.”

  Sophie hadn’t thought of that and hoped he didn’t think she didn’t want him anymore. “It’s weird, I’ve never been in a relationship and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  “Do you think Riley understands?”

  “God, I hope so. I just needed some space tonight. I was going to call him.”

  “Maybe you should have called him, instead of me?”

  “Mom, I’m going to be thirty in a few months. I feel like I should be old enough to figure it out.”

  “I know, but the nice thing about having a partner is you don’t have to do it alone. I learned that lesson after your father found out about my affair. I lived alone for a long time and it became exhausting to make all the decisions.”

  They talked for another forty-five minutes and when Sophie disconnected the call, she got off her bed and went into her office.

  She dug a legal pad out of a desk drawer and started making notes. She broke down what she wanted to do and what she didn’t want to do.

  She wrote and scribbled for hours and when she stopped it was after midnight. She’d filled over one-hundred pages front and back and when she started to read through them she made a startling discovery. Only two of the pages had anything to do with Pantagen.

  She sat back in her office chair and understood something she’d never admit to herself. She never wanted to work for Pantagen. She had business savvy, but manufacturing didn’t interest her all that much.

  The other ninety-eight pages told of business ideas for herself and she saw the word coffee shop many times. She knew it was a flight of fancy and not reality.

  She turned on her computer and, at one-thirty in the morning, completed an e-mail to the Pantagen board of directors and sent it out.

  After she turned off the computer, she started toward her bedroom. She stood in the middle of the room and looked at the bed. Her clock said two-fifty-five. She pulled a pair of jeans out of her closet and got dressed.

  She closed up her apartment, went down to the parking lot and got into her car. She drove to Riley’s and punched in the code for the garage and turned the key. The door slowly opened and she parked.

  When the elevator doors opened, the front room of his condo was dark. She could hear voices talking upstairs and saw a light flash in the hallway. He watched T.V.

  She rounded the corner and found Riley stretched out on his side on top of the covers. His back faced the door and he was buck naked. Sophie could hear him snore.

  She took her clothes off and crawled onto the bed. She curled up behind him and snaked her arm around his ribs. After a couple of seconds, the snoring stopped and Riley moved so he could see her.

  “Hey,” he said and rolled over all the way.

  “Hey,” she whispered.

  “How long have you been here?” He pulled her closer.

  “I just arrived. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “Riley, I know you’ve been concerned about me...things...us. Right here, right now I want you to know no matter what we’re good and you don’t need to worry anymore.” She moved her thumb over his lips and then cupped his cheek. “I’ve made a decision.”

  “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I sent the board of directors my notice. They have my assistance for the next six weeks and then I’m stepping down to be just a shareholder. I don’t think I ever really wanted to do manufacturing.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “You mean besides open a coffee shop?” She saw his eyebrows crease. “That’s a whim. I’m into marketing and finance. Maybe this is a good time to go work for a brokerage house.”

  “I have an idea, babe.” He pushed her flat and moved between her legs. “Come to work for me.”

  “Riley...”

  “I’m serious. I need someone who knows their way around spread sheets and who I can trust. I’ve seen you go through that stuff and there are days when I really don’t have the time for it. Your help would be appreciated and I can’t wait to thank you personally.”

  She moved her legs around his waist and pulled up to kiss him. “We’ll discuss it later.”

  His lips came down to hers and his tongue swept through her mouth. She sucked his lips and put her hands into his hair.

  “I can see I’ll have to tie you down to convince you to take my offer,” he said and bit her chin.

  “I’m not sure about being tied up right now, babe. I might freak.” She looked up at him and felt a slight twinge of fear.

  He put his hands on either side of her head and put his forehead on hers. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I w
asn’t thinking. We’ll work our way up to tying.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “How about we have a little vanilla sex right now and then get some rest?”

  “That would be nice. Maybe we could head over to Club Frek tonight. I’m really interested to see you in that solid gold cock ring.” She arched an eyebrow.

  “Why I ever thought you’d be a sub is beyond my brain. I must have been blinded. You won’t be happy until you put that ring on me will you?”

  She laughed and felt his cock twitch between her legs. “Keep talking dirty to me, baby. It’s making me hot.”

  Epilogue

  Where are you now?

  I’m waiting for you. I have on an emerald green dress and, of course, no panties. Oh, and by the way, Ben says hello.

  I’ll be there in ten minutes.

  After he received Sophie’s text message, Riley turned his XJ around and headed for Fellow’s Bar and Grill. Her hints weren’t very hard to figure out, and his cock already stood at attention. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.

  He walked into the bar and saw Sophie sitting on a stool. She laughed at something the bartender, Ben, said to her. Everything he wanted sat right there and he admired her, loved her, and wanted to devour her now.

  She sat up straight with her legs crossed. The back of her dress dipped down to her waist and her soft brown hair floated over her back. He walked up to her, put his hand on the middle of her back, and moved up to her ear.

  “You should know that how you look at this moment makes me think about either the women’s restroom in back or the apartment upstairs. My cock is so hard right now I think I could damage someone.” He bit her ear-lobe and moved his hand down to her ass.

  She turned and smiled. “Did you miss me?” she asked with a flirty tone and let her hand wander down to the front of his pants. “We’ll need to take care of this, won’t we?” She squeezed his cock through his pants and his breath caught in his throat.

  Ben chose that moment to bring a glass of Loch Lomand to him and it was all he could do to thank the bartender. Sophie’s hand was magic.

  “Thank you, Ben,” he choked out.

  As the bartender left them alone, Sophie moved closer to him. “You do know I want to suck your cock, right here, right now, in front of all these customers,” she whispered and continued to apply pressure to the front of his pants.

  “We’ll save that for the club. I think you should head back to the restroom. Lock the door and I’ll knock twice.”

  He picked up the glass of whiskey and downed it in one swallow while he watched her walk toward the back of the bar. Her hips moved from side to side with that easy sway. She was his and he would never let her go. He looked at the bartender and waved him over.

  “Ben, I think your women’s restroom will be unavailable for a little while. I heard there was a backup.” He arched his eyebrow.

  “I understand, Mr. Frost. It will be out of order until I can find a plumber,” Ben said and nodded.

  “Thank you.” Riley started toward the back of the bar.

  They were never apart. Sophie moved into Riley’s condo one month later and they were married in a civil ceremony exactly six months after they met. She went to work for Edward Martin’s law firm as an amateur forensic accountant. She loved finding cheaters.

  One year after the madness at Pantagen, her father’s trial for murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping began. Sophie testified and walked away. After Booth gave damning testimony, Mr. Pantagen was found guilty and sentenced to three life terms with no chance of parole. It was over.

  Sophie and Riley played hard and on their second wedding anniversary, decided to start a family. Ten months later, Sophie delivered twin boys—Ryan and Elliott—and they settled into marital bliss. Riley became a terrific father, he changed diapers, got thrown up on, and helped with the middle-of-the-night feedings. When the boys started to talk, she insisted they be called mommy and daddy. She didn’t want them saying mother or father, ever.

  After Sophie gave up breast feeding, they hired a nanny and would go to Club Frek once or twice a month. They decided to play there and be a loving couple at home, although Riley still tormented her with his toys from time to time. They were happy and the future looked bright.

  THE END

  MONIKASUMMERVILLEBOOKS.COM

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Monika Summerville is an avid reader, loves good tense movies, and works hard on her writing. She lives in Western Washington State with her four cats, Agamemnon, Tazmania, Jasper, and Jericho. A Risky Dance is her first book.

  For all titles by Monika Summerville, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/monika-summerville

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com