Tempting Sophia

by Jessica Prince

  The son of a bitch wasn’t lying either. I could hear it in his voice. And if that wasn’t enough to make me comply, the fact that he’d done the very thing he’d just threatened more than once during our relationship would have.

  I let out an aggrieved huff and crossed my arms over my chest as we came to the doors. Dominic kept a hand firmly on my back as he swung one of them open and pushed me through. He followed behind me and closed us away from the rest of the partygoers. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he stood with his legs planted slightly apart between the glass doors and me like a goddamned security guard, making it impossible for me to get away.

  A shiver from the chilly night wind worked its way through my body as Dominic and I engaged in a sort of standoff with one another. Eventually, the way he regarded me with those deep amber eyes I’d once loved so much became too much to bear, and I had to look away. I focused on the stone facing of the wall just over his shoulder while I rubbed my arms to ward off the cold.

  “Why are you still here?” I finally found the courage to ask, even if I wasn’t strong enough to voice my question while looking at him. He’d come to Seattle to visit Lola, but his vacation didn’t seem to have an end date anywhere in sight. “Shouldn’t you be back in New York by now?”

  Dominic scratched at his stubble-covered jawline before moving to the railing and leaning down to rest his elbows on the metal surface. The move brought him closer to me and allowed the moonlight to highlight his stupidly handsome face. My heart rate kicked up as his square, solid features came into better view. Stupid heart.

  “I’ve been reevaluating my life lately,” he said in a quiet voice. “Figured it would be best if I stuck around while I worked through some things.”

  The ominous statement did little to alleviate my nerves. “Best for whom, exactly? Because I don’t think your sister’s going to be thrilled with having you crash at her place for an indefinite amount of time.”

  He stood tall and turned his head in my direction. Those intense eyes hit me once again, only this time the swirling storm of emotion inside of them stole my breath. “I’m not going back to Manhattan.”

  “What are you talking about?” I whispered as panic began twisting at my insides.

  “I’m staying here. In Seattle.”

  My head jerked back like I’d just been hit. “Are you kidding me?” I whispered venomously. Hadn’t he already caused me enough pain? He’d already broken my heart once before. It had taken me years and thousands of miles of distance to get myself back on my feet, and now he was telling me that I no longer had the comfort of a continent between us to keep me safe? “You’re such a bastard!” I snapped, dropping my arms to my sides. My entire body went rigid as I began to seethe. “This is my city, Dominic! Mine! Your life’s supposed to be on the other side of the country, far away from me!”

  “I’m staying for you!” he barked, moving close and getting in my face.

  I reared back on one heel, the spike teetering precariously as my eyes went round. “What?” I screeched incredulously. Then the shock quickly gave way to laughter of disbelief. “How can you possibly be staying for me? Oh my God, Dom! I don’t want you here! Don’t you get it? I stayed in Seattle to get the hell away from you!”

  “I fucked up,” he ground out, his tone so ragged it sounded like he’d swallowed glass. “I fucked up and I lost you.” He surprised me by reaching up and taking my face gently between both hands. I was so stunned by the action that I couldn’t move. “But I’ll make it right, butterfly—”

  “Don’t call me that,” I bit out, forcing down the swell of tears in my throat. “Don’t.” I tried to pull away but his fingers tangled in my hair, keeping me in place.

  “I’ll make it right,” he repeated. “I’m going to win you back if it’s the last fucking thing I do.”

  “Have you lost your mind?” I yelled into the quiet night. “There’s no making it right! I caught you fucking another woman, Dom! It’ll be a cold day in Hell before you win me back!”

  “You broke up with me!” he shouted, throwing his hands in the air.

  It was the exact same fight we’d had countless times after that night. And just like all those years ago, hearing him say that made me murderous. “It was a fight,” I growled, my teeth clenched painfully tight. “We got into a fight!”

  “Yeah, a fight that ended with you saying that maybe we shouldn’t be together before hanging up on me.”

  “Oh my God!” I breathed with a touch of hysteria as I ran my hands through my hair. “I’m not doing this. I’m not having this same fucking argument with you again. It didn’t matter ten years ago, and it matters even less today. This is over.”

  I moved to sidestep him and get the hell out of there when he clasped my elbow and jerked me back with such force I spun around and landed against his rock-solid chest. Before I could utter a word, his mouth came down on mine in a kiss so unexpected, so consuming that my body, heart, and mind had no choice but to reciprocate. By the time he pulled back, my lips felt swollen and bruised. I could barely catch my breath, and the ground seemed shaky beneath my feet.

  I couldn’t form a single coherent thought as he trailed his fingertips along my hairline down to my jaw.

  “That was just the beginning,” he said softly.

  Then, just like that, he disappeared back into the ballroom, leaving my world completely shaken and turned upside down.

  That motherfucker!

  I seethed as I tossed my vibrator to the side. My chest rose and fell with exertion, but despite the self-induced orgasm I’d just had, my body still wasn’t satisfied.

  And it was all that bastard’s fault!

  If he hadn’t kissed me like his life depended on it—like my life depended on it—I wouldn’t have been in such a state.

  “Ugh!” I shouted into the darkness of my bedroom. I balled my fists and gave my mattress a few punches for good measure, but it was pointless. I knew better. There was no cure for the frustration—sexual and otherwise—that was coursing in my blood. I called it the Dom Effect. It was what happened any time I was subjected to Dominic Abbatelli’s presence.

  Which was why I’d spent the better part of a decade far, far away from him.

  Knowing sleep was useless, I climbed from my bed, readjusted my PJs, and stomped to the kitchen for a much-needed glass of wine. When all else failed I could always count on getting stupid drunk.

  I’d just taken my first sip when my cell phone started to ring. I plunked my glass down and walked over to where I had it plugged in on the kitchen counter, glaring at the name on the screen.

  I accepted the call but didn’t get a word out before Lola started in. “On a scale from one to low-fat ice cream, how much do you hate me right now?”

  “My anger doesn’t even register on that scale,” I answered menacingly. “You’ve got a lot of nerve calling me after the stunt you pulled tonight.”

  “I’m sorry!” Lola cried through the line. “I’m so, so sorry, honey. I didn’t know he was going to be there until he showed up. I swear! Then Fiona wanted to talk and my dad showed and the auction,” she rambled. “It was just one big clusterfuck of an evening.”

  “Well it seemed to have ended well enough for you,” I deadpanned. “You got the man and I got blindsided.”

  She sighed heavily in my ear. “You’re right. None of that’s an excuse. I should’ve told you he was there.”

  That was the thing with my relationship with Lola—no matter what she did, I couldn’t stay mad at her. The woman didn’t have a conniving bone in her body when it came to her friends, so I knew she hadn’t truly meant any harm.

  I blew out a loud puff of air as I headed back to my wine. “I forgive you,” I grumbled sullenly. “But I’m still mad. Your brother is just the worst!”

  “I know,” Lola said in an appeasing, yet slightly sarcastic tone. “He’s terrible. We should totally stone him or key his car or something.”

  I let out a very unladylike
snort. “Don’t make me laugh when I’m mad at you.”

  “Sorry,” she replied, not sounding the least bit sorry. “So, are we good?”

  “We’re good.”

  I could hear the relief in her voice when she continued. “Good. And it’s just a while longer. Soon he’ll be back in New York and you can go back to pretending he doesn’t exist.”

  I paused with the wineglass halfway to my mouth. “But he said he’s moving here.”

  “What?” she shrieked so loud I had to pull the phone from my ear with a wince. “When the hell did he say that?”

  “He told me tonight.”

  “What else did he tell you?”

  I was suddenly bone-tired at the thought of relaying the events of the evening. I let out a weary sigh and sat my glass down, only half-finished. “Can we talk about this tomorrow? I really don’t want to get into it again tonight. And don’t you have a new hottie boyfriend you’re supposed to be riding like a cowgirl anyway?”

  She let out a loud laugh. “I’m calling between rounds. Grayson had to replenish his fluids.”

  “’Lalalalalala!” I shouted, twisting my face in disgust even though she couldn’t see me. “I don’t need to hear that!” Especially considering how my traitorous body had been behaving since that stupid kiss. “I’m hanging up now.”

  “All right, but we’re talking tomorrow. I want to know everything.”

  We said our goodbyes and I disconnected, setting the phone next to my discarded glass of wine and trudging back to my bedroom. Exhaustion from the night’s events had officially worn my body out. Unfortunately my mind refused to shut off, and I spent the next several hours tossing and turning.

  When I finally did drift to sleep, my dreams were plagued with all things Dominic.

  The man was like a virus—there was just no getting rid of him.

  Chapter Two

  Sophia

  Four months later

  There wasn’t enough champagne in the universe to make this evening bearable.

  I was standing in The Penthouse, a luxurious private dining suite in Canlis, one of Seattle’s finest restaurants, staring out at the breathtaking views the floor-to-ceiling glass walls offered of the Cascade Mountains and Lake Union. The din of conversation floated through the opulent space as I looked out at nature’s beauty. I was there to celebrate the engagement of one of my very best friends. Grayson had popped the question to my girl Lola a few days earlier, and all of her loved ones and friends were present to share in their bliss, but I couldn’t bring myself to focus on what was happening around me. Not when I knew he was in the same room.

  After the auction, things had gone back to normal—well, relatively. I’d had a few stress-free weeks where Dominic had returned to New York to get his affairs in order and prepare for his move to my city. But that had been short-lived, as he returned for good after only a month. The month after that, I’d been informed—cautiously—by Lola that Grayson had hired him on at Bandwidth Communications, the company that owned the radio station where I worked. That meant that not only was Dominic living in the same city, but he was also working in the same damn building as me. There was no escaping him no matter how hard I tried.

  “Sophia Renee Vaughn!” And the night just keeps getting better and better.

  I loved my friend dearly, and wanted all the happiness in the world for her, but I’d have given anything in that moment to be in my comfy sweats, cuddled up on my couch with a glass of wine, and watching all my DVRed episodes of Game of Thrones. At least I could always count on Jon Snow.

  Somehow I managed to paste on a smile before turning around to come face-to-face with the woman who’d been the only positive female role model I’d had growing up. Elise Abbatelli was Lola and Dominic’s mother. On the outside she looked sweet as pie, but inside laid a lion of a mother, ready to protect her young by ripping off the faces of anyone who meant them harm.

  Much to Lola’s dismay, what was supposed to have been a visit turned into a permanent move for Elise when she met and subsequently fell in love with Maury, the doorman in Lola’s old apartment building. It had been a whirlwind romance, and now the two were married and living happily in Lola’s old apartment.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’d always loved Lola’s mother, but the woman had a knack for laying on a guilt trip. Hell, she could make a nun feel shame. It was a gift, really. And even though her son and I had broken up long ago, she still considered me to be like another daughter, so I wasn’t immune to it.

  “Elise!” I cried with false excitement. “So great to see you.” It wasn’t a complete lie, but not the complete truth either.

  “So good to see you too, dear.” She gave me a warm embrace before placing a kiss on my cheek and pulling back. “Although, I’ve been here for months and this is the first time I’m laying eyes on your beautiful face.” She sighed and shook her head in disappointment. Ah, good old guilt. How I’ve missed you.

  “I’m sorry, Elise.” And I really was. I loved her, but the memories that bubbled to the surface every time I was in her company were just too hard to bear sometimes. “Things at work have been crazy lately.”

  “Oh, pfft.” She waved off my excuse. “I might have been born during the day, but it wasn’t yesterday, child. I know damn good and well it’s because of that son of mine.” A startled burst of laughter escaped my lips. Leave it to Elise Abbatelli to get right to the point. “Lola’s right. I’ve excused that boy for many things in his life, but I still hold a grudge for what he did to you. Just too much of his father in him.” Her face pinched in disgust. “Should’ve whooped that out of him earlier.”

  It took considerable strength to hold in my groan. I’d had this particular conversation with her countless times. In the beginning I would’ve burst into tears, but the pain of that heartbreak had healed somewhat. I no longer wanted to curl up in a fetal position and bawl my eyes out. Instead, I just wanted to drink my body weight in champagne.

  My eyes darted around the packed room in search of a rescue. They finally landed on Lola. She was standing in a small group with her fiancé Grayson, our other best friend Daphne, and a few other people. I breathed a sigh of relief that words weren’t needed to communicate with my BFF; we’d been able to have conversations using nothing but our eyes since we were teenagers.

  Save me, I pleaded, widening my eyes ever so slightly.

  No way in hell. If I go over there, she’ll start in about grandbabies!

  Get the fuck over here now or I’ll set fire to all your purses! Lola had an unhealthy obsession with high heels and handbags. They were her weakness. Replacing her collection would put a serious dent in her savings, which made it the perfect threat.

  Fine! But you owe me one. She finally disengaged from Grayson’s side and started in my direction, grabbing two full champagne flutes from a passing waiter on the way.

  Bless her.

  “Ma,” she called as soon as she reached us. “I hope you’re not causing trouble.”

  I snatched one of the glasses from her hand and downed the contents in two swallows as Elise let out an affronted harrumph. “Of course I’m not causing trouble. Unlike my ungrateful offspring, I know how to behave in public.”

  Lola snorted and grinned wickedly. “Well I’ll have to have a talk with Maury, then. You are newlyweds, after all. And there are some serious benefits to misbehaving publically.” She winked. “If you catch my drift.”

  “You will do no such thing!” Elise declared, but the way her cheeks flushed pink as she fanned her face led me to believe that she and her new husband might have already discovered the benefits of sex in public places. I didn’t know if I wanted to high-five her or throw up a little in my mouth.

  “Ewwww, Ma! You haven’t!” Lola cried, realizing her attempt to embarrass her mother had seriously backfired.

  I let out a low chuckle as I deposited my empty glass on the table beside me and grabbed for the other one in Lola’s hand, ignoring her glare as I chugged
that one as well.

  “Don’t act so scandalized,” Elise said. “I might be old but I’m not dead. And you come by your wild ways honestly, sweet pea.” She mimicked her daughter’s wink and added, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m suddenly curious to find where my husband’s wandered off to.”

  “Gross, gross, gross, gross,” Lola chanted, plugging her ears as Elise walked away, her faint laughter trailing behind her. “I think I’m scarred for life. That mental image is burned into my brain. You think Grayson will still want to marry me if he knows I’ll never be able to have sex again?”

  I laughed and shot a quick look at the man in question. “Something tells me he’ll be able to divert your attention,” I answered, turning back to my friend. “And it’s your fault for starting it. You know better than to go head-to-head with Mama Abbatelli.”

  “I’ll never learn,” she said in a flat tone as she waved over one of the waiters who were wandering through the crowd. “Just leave us the tray,” she told him once he got to us. At his incredulous look, she continued. “Trust me, if you don’t want tonight to end in bloodshed, tears, screaming, or all of the above, you’ll leave us the tray. It’s in everyone’s best interest that you keep me and my friend here liquored up.”

  The poor kid hesitated, so I took pity on him. “You do this and there’ll be a huge tip in it for you.”

  He plunked the tray down on the table and scurried away to Lola’s relieved words of “Bless you, my child.”

  I laughed and shook my head at her as Daphne wandered up to us. “Ooh, a whole tray!” She picked up a glass and began sipping as Lola and I each gulped ours in true ladylike fashion. Daphne’s eyes bugged out. “Wow. I see it’s going to be one of those nights.”

  “I love Grayson, I really do,” Lola started. “But what was he thinking, putting everyone we know in the same room together?”