Roses For Sophie

by Alyssa J. Montgomery

  Sensation swirled through her. There was only Logan and this incredible journey he was taking her on. Instead of shooting up into space and drifting back to earth, he kept her in orbit, seeing a whole new world. The journey was awesome. Even though she felt oxygen-depleted, everything from up here was brighter, more vivid. The trip seemed to last forever.

  How had she lived without this for so long?

  Her inner muscles clenched and released around his width and length firmly and rhythmically, drawing him in deeper. Eyelids opening, she watched the tendons in his neck tighten, saw the strain with which he held his own climax back while he gave her bliss beyond anything she’d ever experienced. So wonderful, but also exhausting. Surely, her body couldn’t withstand any more pleasure? She strained with him, concentrating on every sensation before she sobbed, ‘I can’t take much more.’

  Logan opened his eyes and searched her face. A few more deep thrusts and he was spilling himself, his big, powerful frame wracked by forceful shudders. And when he was spent, he withdrew slowly, and stroked her mound and inner thighs tenderly before he rolled over and carried her with him so she was snuggled in his arms.

  Time ticked by as she slowly returned to earth. Physically replete, she raised a hand and ran it through the smattering of crisp dark hair on his chest while one of his hands thread through her hair and the other sensuously traced the curve of her hip and the indentation of her waist.

  What they’d shared had been magic. Although it had been wonderful, it had been exhausting. A little smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she acknowledged Logan’s lovemaking was also addictive. Even while she basked in the languorous weight of her limbs and the sensitive hum of her inner flesh, she replayed all the sensations through her mind and her body began to ache for more of his possession.

  He shifted and she moved as he levered himself upright.

  ‘Bathroom?’ he asked, removing the protective sheath.

  ‘Through that door.’ She followed his pathway to the door she’d indicated to, unable to tear her eyes away from every well-defined muscle of his shoulders and back, tapered waist, and firm buttocks above athletic legs. Logan not only had a wonderful body, but he knew exactly how to use it.

  When he came back to bed, he arranged her so that she was lying half on top of him. Her cheek was pillowed against his chest again and she heard the steady rhythmical beat of his heart. She trailed one of her fingernails over his nipple, and up to the scar of the bullet wound.

  ‘I’m so glad you lived to tell the tale,’ she said quietly.

  His hand stroked through her hair. ‘Me too.’

  It was fabulous to slide her smooth leg so that it tangled with his hair-roughened one. The biceps of one of the strong arms that were wrapped around her, tightened.

  Nothing had ever felt more right. Their lovemaking had been intense. The light in his eyes as he’d surveyed her nakedness had been almost reverent. Half of her had expected to feel a little like a shameless hussy, jumping into bed so quickly with a man she’d only just met, but he’d made her feel precious. The burning need she’d witnessed in his expression had been unmistakable. Never had she felt so desirable or so utterly fulfilled. Her vision blurred. Warm tears filled her eyes, spilt and dampened the skin on his chest.

  ‘Hey? You’re crying?’ Logan’s voice was full of concern.

  She tried to pull herself together. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Sorry?’

  He sat up, pulling her with him, then straightened and shifted so he was sitting facing her. His hands pushed back the curtains of red hair that fell forward, and he framed her face with his large hands, tilting her head to encourage her to look at him.

  ‘Sophie?’ He frowned. ‘You’re not regretting what we’ve just shared?’

  ‘No.’ She felt like such a fool. Where was the modern woman she’d tried to be? What had happened to this being just about sex, and how could she have felt such an incredible emotional connection to him when all they’d shared was purely physical? Man, she had to toughen up or she’d be imagining there was something more than attraction between them.

  ‘I know it’s been a while. I didn’t hurt you, did I, babe?’

  Sweet emotion coalesced in her chest and she smiled tremulously at him as she saw his genuine concern. ‘No. You overwhelmed me. I’ve just…I’ve never…’

  His eyes widened fractionally and his lips parted. ‘Never?’

  ‘Well…yes…but…Never like that,’ she clarified, then bit down on her lip, embarrassed. ‘It’s never been quite so…’ She shrugged a little and gave him a watery smile. ‘It was…amazing. Incredible. I…’ Words failed her. ‘Thank you.’

  The stress of his concern vanished as his features relaxed. He kissed her. ‘Thank you. You were amazing. You are incredible.’

  ‘I’m misting up here like an idiot. I’m really sorry to go and spoil it.’

  ‘You haven’t spoilt anything.’ He planted another tantalising kiss on her lips but it was firmer this time. ‘Far from it. I’ve never moved a woman to tears before.’ He smiled. ‘As long as they’re tears of delight, you’re making me feel pretty awesome.’

  Feeling incredibly gauche, Sophie scrubbed away her tears and poked a finger at his chest. ‘I was supposed to be deflating your ego a bit, not increasing the size of it. I seriously don’t want you beating your chest doing a Tarzan impersonation.’

  He laughed, then grew serious. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I’ll confess. Making love has never been so completely earth-shattering for me before either.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Scout’s honour.’ He held up his fingers like a boy scout taking an oath. ‘And I was a boy scout in my youth for about two weeks before I proved too much of a handful for the scout leader.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  His eyes ran over her nakedness appreciatively. ‘You’re more than I’d dreamed you would be, sweetheart, and I had pretty high expectations.’

  This is just sex. She repeated the words over and over in her head like a mantra. ‘You were right about one thing.’ He gave her a questioning look and she smiled up at him. ‘I definitely don’t need a two-for-one deal. I’m exhausted!’

  A deep masculine laugh rumbled from his chest. ‘Too exhausted to go out for dinner?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Considering she hadn’t had sex for years, she would feel every inner muscle tomorrow.

  ‘Good.’ He leant toward her and let his teeth graze the delicate shell of her ear lobe. Pleasure speared straight through her. ‘I was hoping you’d say that, because there’s only one appetite I can think of satisfying at the moment.’

  ‘Again, so soon?’

  He laughed. ‘You, Miss Exhausted, get to lie back and enjoy this one.’

  She looked at him in mock-horror. ‘I can just see the coroner’s report: Cause of death — too many orgasms.’

  Grinning at her, he said, ‘Ah, sweetheart, but what a way to go.’

  Chapter 7

  The first rays of sunlight had long filtered into the bedroom and Sophie slept safe, secure and settled on Logan’s bare chest. Her steady breathing, with the occasional cutest little sigh, assured him there’d be no need for a coroner’s ruling this morning, despite the number of orgasms she’d had through their long night of lovemaking.

  Logan hadn’t awakened with a woman in his arms since Celine. He was used to kissing his lovers goodbye as dawn broke. Daybreak had come and gone and not only was he still in bed, but he was enjoying just lying with Sophie.

  Thankfully, he was officially on a three-week vacation — his first ever. He’d taken the leave to establish himself back in Australia and to prepare for the court case. Whilst there were still a few business matters he had to attend to, and his phone had already rung a couple of times for work, the next few weeks were going to be at a far more relaxed pace than his usual frenetic sprint through each long day.

  Even though it could be said that he both worked and played hard, somew
here along the way he’d forgotten how to truly unwind. Scott and Kathleen’s deaths had made him realise it was time to slow down. It would be necessary to hand over more of his corporate responsibilities once he had custody of Charlotte so he could make time for her. Being with Sophie made the thought of having more leisure time even more attractive.

  Although he was used to dating women who were both beautiful and smart, Sophie had qualities he just couldn’t define that drew him. Instinct urged him to treat this relationship differently. Sure, she was the woman he was trying to convince to become his wife — for Charlotte’s sake — but there was an elusive quality about her that captured his interest in a more intense way than he’d experienced before.

  Hell! No other woman had inspired him to search the Internet for the meaning of rose colours. Worse, he’d admitted it to her! What on earth had possessed him to do something that could be misconstrued as a romantic gesture? He was sure he didn’t possess a romantic bone in his body. Any that might have existed once had been crushed by Celine’s betrayal. God forbid that Sophie should start getting any romantic notions about their relationship because he didn’t want to mislead her into thinking he was capable of that type of emotion.

  If he thought logically, he decided he’d only done it because she’d erected some thick defensive barriers and something extra was called for to penetrate those walls. The concept of having to work hard to impress any woman was entirely new to him. At least, if her body’s reactions and sighs of pleasure had been anything to go by, he’d sure succeeded last night.

  But was it enough?

  Last night had been unique in many ways. Not only had the lovemaking been extraordinary, but they’d really talked. Sophie had said he got her to open up and speak about personal things she didn’t discuss with anyone else. That went both ways. Apart from the official reports he’d had to give to law enforcement following his capture, he’d never spoken to anyone except Melissa about his ordeal as a hostage. Even his sister had needed to wring the details out of him because he hadn’t wanted her to know the truth of all he’d endured during his capture. Sophie had a way about her, and he’d found that out as he spoke about being held captive, some of what he was voicing occurring to him for the first time.

  As well as the traumatic ordeal he’d faced, he’d told Sophie about his desire to help the African people and relayed his impressions of the people and harsh beauty of the land that had stayed with him long after his travels to the continent.

  A close bond was developing between them that he’d never shared with any of his other lovers and it was happening with the speed of a fire spreading through dry bushland.

  Waiting for Sophie to awaken and anticipating her slumberous eyes looking up at him through her lush eyelashes made him strangely replete. It came as no surprise to him that she’d shelved their dinner plans in favour of them becoming lovers — the sexual awareness between them was constantly buzzing and arcing. If he had to get married, Sophie would suit him very well.

  He knew she wasn’t after his money, their sexual compatibility had blown him beyond the stratosphere and he couldn’t see himself getting bored with her in bed any time soon. Apart from just the physical, she stimulated him in every way. Sophie was no pushover. She was a smart woman and they’d already proved just how well they could communicate together. She’d also understood Charlotte’s plight. No doubt about it, Sophie was the one for the role. Even Melissa had been ecstatic when she’d met him for a coffee and he’d told her about how the evening at Centrepoint had panned out. Melissa had told him firmly that the universe had made his decision for him, and that marrying Sophie Hamilton was his destiny.

  Madcap Melissa and all her talk about fate and destiny! Logan believed in making his own destiny. He wanted to marry Sophie, so they’d marry. It was really very simple. He’d make it happen despite her resistance because it was for their mutual benefit, and he was certain she’d come to appreciate that and they could both be happy with the arrangement.

  The silky softness of Sophie’s hair brushed erotically against his skin as she shifted, raising her head to look up at him. If anything, her eyes looked even greener this morning.

  ‘Hi.’ Her voice was a little deeper as she spoke through sleep-thickened vocal cords. Smiling, she levered herself up to plant a long, slow kiss against his lips.

  He could definitely get used to this.

  ‘Good morning, sweetheart.’ He kissed her again. ‘Do you feel as good as I do?’

  Her smile widened, and a deep dimple formed in each cheek. ‘My limbs are languid and there’s a little aching spot deep inside me that’s starting to pulse its own Morse code message.’

  God she was sexy, and her eyes sparkled with vivacity.

  His own voice was a little hoarse now as he asked, ‘Morse code? Hm. What does it say?’

  ‘That it wants to feel you there.’

  He was more than ready to oblige. ‘I’m so glad there are no morning-after regrets.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Are you kidding me? After so many years of celibacy, my body’s applauding my decision to live like a modern woman, and you,’ she trailed a finger down his chest, ‘were the perfect choice.’

  ‘Oh, you feed my ego, baby.’ He laughed.

  ‘Yeah, I can’t help it. Here I’m supposed to deflate it and I’m pumping it up.’

  ‘Are we still talking about my ego?’ he asked with a wicked smile.

  She laughed. ‘You’re bad, Logan Jackson. Handsome as sin and dynamite in bed. How did I get so lucky?’

  ‘Marry me, Sophie.’

  Instead of agreeing, she pulled away from him so she was sitting by his side.

  ‘I’m going to tell you something because I feel I can trust you enough to talk to you,’ she announced grudgingly.

  ‘You trust me and you like me.’

  She raised her hands in a gesture of defeat. ‘Yes. Even though you are very annoying and arrogant at times.’

  Logan smiled. ‘Trusting and liking are a pretty good start on such short acquaintance.’

  ‘Don’t think you can distract me with that sexy, enigmatic smile of yours, either.’

  She thought his smile was sexy. That was one more point in his favour. He deliberately gave her another smile, which made her roll her eyes.

  ‘There you go.’ He raised his hand and began ticking off his fingers. ‘You like me, you trust me and you’re attracted to me.’

  Her expression grew serious. ‘My engagement to my first fiancé, Peter, was based on attraction. It was ill-founded. I had the wool pulled over my eyes because, as I told you, he turned out to be a fortune hunter.’

  ‘You know I’m not a fortune hunter,’ he declared.

  ‘Obviously. Neither was Jake, but my marriage to him was based on friendship. Jake’s offer of marriage was set out in much the same terms as you’re offering now. An agreement, rather than a proposal.’

  For some inexplicable reason, Logan was very happy to hear that.

  ‘Jake and I were each other’s first lovers in our late teens. We were comfortable with each other.’

  Good. Comfortable was like an old pair of shoes. It was a lot less than he and Sophie had already shared.

  ‘That first youthful affair didn’t last but our friendship did,’ she continued. ‘Later, both of us were heartbroken over other relationships. Neither of us felt safe with love. We decided to give in to the pressure from our families and to settle for the friendship we had as a basis for marriage.’ Her hands rested on his chest. ‘I’m telling you that all the trust and respect we had for each other, and the friendship we’d had for years, wasn’t enough. Jake was still deeply in love with Amanda, the wonderful woman who is now his wife.’

  Sophie didn’t seem to be upset by her ex-husband’s marriage, he noted with satisfaction.

  ‘There’s another difference, then,’ he pronounced. ‘Jake married you while he was in love with someone else. I’m not some guy on the rebound, and I’m definitely
not carrying a torch for anyone.’

  ‘Jake and I realised we’d made a mistake almost before the ink had dried on the marriage certificate. Even though we’d been lovers, we’d both grown up. There was no passion in the marriage I had with Jake and it was hopelessly like being married to my brother.’

  Was that relief that flooded through his system?

  He smiled again. ‘As far as I’m concerned, all your arguments support my case. You know there’d be passion in our relationship. You can’t deny you feel it. What I shared with you all night was in no way brotherly.’

  She laughed.

  ‘How many times have you done that since we met?’ he probed.

  A furrow appeared between her eyebrows. ‘What?’

  ‘How many times have you smiled? How many times have you laughed?’ His voice was low and deep as he added, ‘How many times have you come?’

  Another delightful red flush stole over her chest and made its way all the way up to her cheeks.

  ‘I’ve also wanted to throttle you,’ she shot back.

  He laughed. ‘You see, you feel passionate when you’re with me.’

  ‘You really are incorrigible.’

  Serious again, Logan said, ‘Look at me and tell me you haven’t felt more alive since we met than you have in ages. I know I have.’

  ‘Okay, Logan.’ He watched the movement of her throat as she swallowed. ‘You know damned well I desire you like crazy. Last night was…’ She shook her head, closed her eyes briefly, then allowed all her pleasure to show in her expression and shine from her eyes. ‘…something I want to repeat over and over again.’

  ‘Then —’

  She raised one of her hands from his chest and gestured for him to stop and listen.

  He waited for her as she seemed to try to find the right words.

  ‘You have to understand that you’re also making me feel vulnerable, and all this talk of marriage is impossible. I can’t believe the personal details you’ve drawn out of me in such a short time. I’m normally so guarded, yet I’ve told you things I haven’t told anybody else and that…well…it simply makes me nervous.’