“Sofia, that’s no excuse to be verbally abusive. He doesn’t raise his hand to you, does he?”
“Oh no! He just needs me. Once he feels secure about his business, he’ll relax. I shouldn’t have said anything to worry you.” She paused. Realizing she had said too much, which might cause her father to investigate Nico, she added, “I mean…he’s not a gangster, you know.”
“I’m sorry about his mother, Sofia. Truly. I just don’t want to see you lose yourself getting wrapped up with someone who has emotional problems. You’re a beautiful and talented young woman, and could easily attract the kind of man who is controlling and manipulative. The kind who readily targets people who are compassionate…that they can take advantage of. How did you meet him?”
“Someone at work. She said he could cure me, and he did! Daddy, he’s a healer. He lived with shamans in Peru and in India teaching yoga. He’s very good at his profession.”
“Ah! And now you’re grateful to him. This is a classic pattern! You think you owe him. But you paid him, right?”
Sofia looked down. She could never lie to her father, and now she was scared to tell him the truth. “Of course I paid him.”
“How much did this guy cost you? Or should I say me.”
Unable to look him in the face, she whispered, “Ten thousand.”
She knew her father well enough to know he wouldn’t bat an eyelash—and would certainly never yell at her. He had remarkable self-control. He had to. If his clients sensed weakness or a lack of control, he wouldn’t last, literally.
“I see. Well…do you feel better?”
“Yes, Daddy. I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my life.”
“Good. I suppose he knows his job, then.” He was quiet while the waiter refilled their wine glasses. “I don’t like that he didn’t come tonight to meet me. It would have been the polite thing to do. Well, your mother and I will meet him when you come home for Christmas.”
“Yes, Daddy, of course! You’ll adore him.”
“In the meantime, Sofia, please go out more with your friends. You tend to immerse yourself too much in one thing—I suppose that’s why you’re a good writer. And, please don’t let him take advantage of you. Have some boundaries.”
They finished their entrees while making small talk about the characters on the show and about what her friends from New York were doing. Gerald insisted she order the caramelized date pudding, and she agreed only if he promised no one would sing happy birthday to her. He ordered the fine cheeses and two glasses of Cockburn’s vintage port from 1960. While they were sipping their port, he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. “I almost forgot. Mom said to give you this for your birthday.” He handed her a small gift box.
Opening the box, she exclaimed, “They’re gorgeous! Thank you, Daddy!” She picked up one of the earrings nestled inside.
“Don’t thank me. I would never know what to buy you,” he laughed. “What are they made of, anyway? They look like rocks.”
“They’re by Kimberly McDonald. She makes organic jewelry. They’re 18-karat blackened white gold, and those are reclaimed diamonds around an agate geode. Look…aren’t they beautiful?” she exclaimed, holding one out for him to examine while she put the other one in her ear.
As he studied it carefully, he kissed her cheek. “Not as beautiful as you are.”
It was past midnight when Sofia drove into the parking lot at Amaru. Bracing herself for Nico’s wrath, she went inside. For over an hour, he berated her, pacing back and forth as he rattled off a list of things she hadn’t done or had done wrong. She’d come to call that behavior “crazy time.” It’s what she expected would happen if she left him alone while she went out with her father. But there was no getting around it, since her Daddy had come all this way to see her on her birthday.
When Nico’s fury was finally spent, she curled up on the bed, holding him close. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll take care of everything first thing tomorrow. I’ll call the electric company. OK?”
He nodded sullenly. Sofia kissed him, first on the arm, then on his neck, then tickling his ear with her tongue until he turned to face her. Then she kissed his lips gently, her mouth slightly parted. At first he kept his lips tight, so she dragged her lips down and lightly sucked his lower lip into her mouth. Finally relaxing under her persuasion, he opened his mouth to receive her. Their tongues danced, licking around the inside of each other’s lips and twining around each other.
Sofia trailed one hand down the front of Nico’s body, stopping at the waistband of his jeans. Continuing to flick her tongue in his mouth, she unbuttoned his waistband, pulled his zipper down, and wriggled his jeans off. Slowly, she teased his cock through his boxer briefs until he got fully hard under her gentle touch. When he sighed and his hips lifted into her hand, she pulled his cock out. Breaking their kiss, she lowered herself down until her head was level with his crotch. She licked her lips and wrapped them tightly around his thick shaft. Looking up at him, she saw his eyes glowed. She flicked her tongue all around the tip, then dragged it up and down the length of his shaft, from the base to the tip. Taking one of his balls into her mouth, she sucked it very softly, enjoying the sound of his breathing becoming increasingly ragged. Raking her tongue along the length, she paused to lock eyes with him before gently dribbling some spittle on the slit of his engorged head.
After sliding him in and out of her mouth to get him nice and wet, she stroked roughly up and down the shaft. Using her hand to control the angle, she pressed the tip along the roof of her mouth. Tantalizingly, she pulled him nearly all the way out, running her thumb firmly along the underside while she traced her tongue around the head, before plunging him back into her mouth and sucking hard, taking him deep into the back of her throat.
Nico reached down, and grabbing fists full of her blonde hair, pulled her head down harder onto his cock. Listening to his breathing, shallow and rapid, she felt his balls tighten and retract slightly, signaling he was on the edge. Sucking hard, her mouth like a vacuum, she moaned softly and hummed, teasing his dick. Picking up the pace, his hips undulated rhythmically, hitting the back of her throat with each thrust as he fucked her mouth. His cock twitched, and his whole body shuddered as he came hard. “Oh fuck,” he growled, as he sprayed hot cream down her throat.
Swallowing quickly, she waited for the next jet of cum, and the next.
Nico groaned loudly with the last of his ejaculation, then fell back on the bed.
When he dozed off, he was still dressed except for his cock resting outside his boxer briefs. Sofia sighed with relief and snuggled up next to him, her head on his chest, listening contentedly to the sound of him snoring like a big cat. Smiling to herself, she was quite satisfied to have given him so much pleasure—and just as proud of her ability to deal with his mood swings. She had tamed the lion, and now he slumbered.
When she had first met Nico, his dark, masculine good looks captivated her, and his eyes revealed a pain and sorrow that wrenched her soul. She had fallen under his spell their first session, certain they had a karmic connection and believing she could take away the loneliness she sensed in him. She’d never felt so attached to anyone the way she did with Nico. She was certain destiny had brought them together, and because Nico had given her wings, she would reciprocate by being his angel.
Sofia got up and went to the kitchen for some water. She liked the studio and Nico’s cozy apartment in the back. Everything here was personal to him and told her something about him. Still, she suspected there was much she didn’t know and that Nico kept a secret—something troubling. She thought she had succeeded in the challenge of figuring out this enigmatic man far better than anyone else could, yet she could not ascertain the roots of his dark side.
The sound of Nico’s cell phone vibrating on the table drew her attention, so she glanced at the message that popped up—a text from Erin Whelan saying:
Thanks for the hot yoga, babe…it’s always steamy.
Sofia
stuck her tongue out at the cell phone. That Erin was really starting to piss her off.
Luna set the coffee table with Limoges luncheon plates she and Tyler had received as a wedding gift, sterling silver flatware, and Tiffany flutes, then put a bottle of Veuve Clicquot in a champagne bucket. Placing the cake on a silver tray, she found a pack of birthday candles in the kitchen drawer. Finally, she arranged the salmon on an antique Meisen platter with alternating asparagus spears and lemon wedges around it.
After much cajoling, she had gotten Nico to agree to come have lunch on her birthday. When one o’clock came and went, Luna was dejected. But at 1:30, Nico was at the door bearing a beautifully wrapped box and a big smile, proud of himself for remembering. As he often behaved during celebrations, he urged her like a little boy, “Open the box, Luna!”
Luna concluded Sofia had wrapped it, since it was done so perfectly. She took her time untying the ribbons and undid the paper carefully. Finally, the box was unwrapped and she peeked inside, seeing a buttery soft suede shoulder bag with long fringe—totally her bohemian style. She threw her arms around him. “I love it, Nico! It’s perfect, and it reminds me of a vest I had in college.”
“I knew you would love it. It reminded me of you.”
She saw a flash of something like recognition in his eyes. A flutter rose up inside, and she looked for a distraction. “Come on, let’s eat.”
They ate sitting on the floor at the coffee table, using oversized throw pillows as cushions. “This is delicious, and you made such a pretty arrangement. Happy birthday, bella.” He lifted his champagne glass in toast, and she clinked hers against his.
When they finished lunch, Luna brought out the chocolate cake with the candle on it. Nico lit the candle for her, but before she made her wish, he interrupted, “Wait. Let me take a picture.” He got the cell phone camera ready then told Luna to go ahead. She closed her eyes, wishing for a lifetime of days like this, then opened her eyes and blew out the candle. Nico’s timing was ideal. He got the shot at the perfect moment, just as the flame went out.
Looking at the photo, she laughed. “You’d better not say my age when you post that!”
He chortled. “Bella, you’re so beautiful. No one would ever believe it, anyway.”
Luna blushed a little, but inwardly she soaked up his attention like a parched sponge. Encouraging him to talk about himself, she asked how all his projects were progressing, and he began boasting how Erin was pitching him for a designer jeans campaign and hooking him up with a big movie agent.
Although the luncheon invitation had been innocently contrived to spend time with Nico, she began feeling slightly uncomfortable being alone in her apartment with him. During an awkward lull in the conversation, she asked how things were going with Sofia.
Turning serious, Nico confided, “Luna, I care for her, but only as a friend. I know she wants more, and I wish I felt passionately about her, but I just don’t feel that attraction—at least not like with Olivia. I am very close to Sofia, and she’s a great friend to me…” he trailed off.
Luna offered, “Sofia adores you! You know, passion wanes, but a strong friendship, with love and respect, lasts forever.”
He sniffed, “You’re wrong. Passion is everything! But what do you really know about it?”
Taken aback, Luna gaped.
Nico continued emphatically, “Let me explain to you. You and Tyler are just good friends. Of course you think that’s the best. But you don’t have hot sex any more, do you? So how great is that?”
Luna balked. “Right, Nico. Just wait until you’re married for as long as I’ve been, then you can talk to me about how great passion is for the long haul.” As Nico started to say something, she cut him off, “When Tyler and I first met we had plenty of passion. But a relationship evolves and deepens. At some point it’s not just hot sex anymore—like you had with Olivia in the back of the truck. It’s much better to build a relationship on trust, friendship, and common interests.”
Nico countered, “No, I don’t think this way at all. I believe in passion…and chemistry, it’s in the smell of a person’s skin. I loved Olivia’s smell, the way her pussy smelled, too. Sofia does not smell good to me. I don’t like fucking her. I try to like it.” Nico paused and winked at her, “She does give good blow jobs, though.”
Luna relaxed and finally giggled. “So, what do you say to her?”
He replied matter-of-factly, “I thank her, turn over, and go to sleep!”
She shook her head. “Nico, you’re impossible!”
Seeing an invitation to Erin’s company Christmas party, Sofia gave Nico her best wide-eyed ingénue look and asked, “What should I wear?”
Nico responded dismissively. “Don’t start, Sofia. You know I can’t bring you. It’s business.”
She countered saucily, “Really, Nico? Well, I’ve done a lot for your business. I’ve introduced you to tons of people, gotten you clients, and you won’t take me to Erin’s party?”
Narrowing his eyes, he snapped back, “Erin is a client. I have to go alone and use the opportunity to see people.”
Knowing she’d lost the argument, Sofia turned and walked out of the room.
Much to her surprise, Nico followed, and his tone softened. “You know you’re my girlfriend, Spyder. But Erin gets jealous. It wouldn’t be comfortable. It’s just business. Really.”
Sofia fumed, but when he came closer, she allowed him to kiss her and squeeze her breast. She decided to just let it go.
Nico ripped through his closet trying on several pairs of pants before settling on the black DSquared2 jeans and tight-fitting black dress shirt she’d bought him. Holding back her tears, she watched him slide his belt with the silver dragon buckle through the loops. Standing in front of the mirror running product through his hair with his fingers, he looked so hot it made her heart ache and her clit throb at the same time watching him.
Thinking to herself how those jeans and shirt had cost fifteen hundred of her hard-earned dollars, she felt debased, knowing how disappointed her father would be by her fawning behavior. Nico had been talking to her about nonsense, but she hadn’t heard a word of it. Wearing his old Schott Perfecto black motorcycle jacket, he picked up his gloves and the keys to the Ducati off the console by the front door. Sofia had bought him a new Burberry Brit leather biker jacket, but Nico insisted on always wearing his dad’s beat-up one from the ‘70s, saying it was good luck. She had to admit, he looked hot.
Looking down, hiding behind the veil of her cascading blonde hair so he wouldn’t see the pool of tears in her eyes, she choked up as she suggested, “Honey, please take the 911. I’d feel so much better.”
Nico laughed, then patting her on the head as if she were a dog, took on a patronizing tone, “Don’t worry, Sofia. I won’t be too late.”
Dozing off, Sofia woke up every hour, still seeing the bed empty next to her. If he wasn’t dead on the highway, she would surely kill him! Late in the morning, she heard the motorcycle pull into the driveway and went out onto the deck.
Exasperated, she asked, “What happened, Nico? Why didn’t you call me?”
He snapped at her, “My phone died.”
“Why didn’t you borrow a phone to call me? I was worried!”
Nico glared at her, brushing past and striding into the house.
She followed closely, asking, “Where did you sleep?” Her heart stuck in her throat. It was a stupid question, and she knew the answer. She just wanted him to say it.
“Erin’s. I drank, so I didn’t drive. Nothing happened.”
Sofia’s stomach sank into a knotted, hard pit in her abdomen. She snapped, “Yeah, right!”
His temper flared. “Look, Erin’s hooking me up with a lot of people. I met Alexa Morgan, a big studio head, who said I’m ‘star quality.’ And Erin booked me for the Armani jeans campaign. It’s huge. I’ll be on billboards and in all the top fashion magazines.”
“Right,” Sofia dripped sarcasm, “so she can get
into your jeans!” She knew full well he’d really been saying Erin had done so much more for him than she had—or could.
Dismissing her, he lowered his voice and said derisively, “Things are exploding for me and you’re asking me where I slept?”
“I’m sorry, Nico,” she backed down, feeling stupid for her petty jealously when he was making things happen.
“This is why I don’t take you with me. You would say something stupid.”
Sofia fought back tears. She wanted to scream that she knew he was turning it all around on her. Who wouldn’t be distraught about being left home alone, then worried he’d been in an accident, or jealous about him staying at Erin’s? He made sure no one knew he had a girlfriend. But instead of prolonging the argument, she walked away.
Nico quickly took one big step and pulled her by her ponytail back to him, causing her to yelp out of fear. “Don’t walk away from me!” Then he smiled devilishly and fixed his eyes on hers. “You know you’re my woman, Sofia. I don’t have to tell the world, just as long as you know it. When I make it big and I’m famous, you’ll be the one to share it with me. Now, look.” Digging in his backpack, he retrieved a small box and pushed it at her unceremoniously. “I know this is late, but I have your birthday present. I was going to wrap it, but you’ve made such a fuss…here.”
Sofia took the box, biting her lip so she wouldn’t say, “Yeah, two months late.” Still suspicious about his sudden change from surly to wooing, she opened the box. Her jaw dropped in awe. “Nico, oh my God! An Ippolita bangle! It’s beautiful.” Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him. “How did you know this is my favorite?” Gleefully, she put it on, admiring it, then threw her arms around his neck again. “Nico Romero, you always surprise me.”
Luna was at her desk when she heard the tippity-tap of high heels in the hallway. Looking up, she saw Sofia peeking in the door.
Intently scrolling the Santa Fe website, Luna waved for her to come in and sit down, then looked up to give her full attention. Sofia tossed her golden mane, causing it to cascade over half her face, and brandishing her wrist at Luna, announced, “Look what Nico gave me for my birthday!”
The Sleeping Serpent: Page 14