One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

“I can understand that,” she responded. In her eyes, he saw that she really did. Maybe more than he did. She had more money than anyone he knew, yet she had to be the loneliest person he’d ever met.

Cupping the back of her neck, he brought her closer to him. As their lips met, he told her, “We’ll work on that, together,” just as he claimed her mouth with his.

She hesitated at first, only taking what he offered, not giving anything herself. Until he nipped her lip, and she came alive.

Like a match to flame.

Thunder to lighting.

She exploded.

She soared as he explored her mouth. A blend of sweet champagne and spicy food. She was the perfect mix. When she moaned into his mouth, his other hand went to her thigh, rubbing softly up her satin-smooth skin with his fingertips as they kissed.

He didn’t push for more than she was ready to give, and she didn’t back away. They found a flawless harmony of give and take. Pulling his shirt over his head, a light touch on his chest alerted him to her soft, questioning contact. Her delicate fingers explored his hard muscles as his hand slid up her thigh, clutching her plump ass cheek and pulling her closer to him.

She smoothed her fingertips up his chest tentatively until she reached his jaw, cupping him the way he’d done so many times to her before. He groaned in delight as she rubbed her dainty digits through his stubble while she explored his features the way he wanted to explore her body.

Before long, they were laying side by side, eyes connected, fingers intertwined while the sun began to go down. When a shiver worked through her, he finally admitted it was time to take her home, no matter that he just wanted to lay there all night with her in his arms.

Distance isn’t an issue because, in the end, I have you.

The drive home was shrouded in intimate silence. Something Sophia never thought she’d experience. She’d read about those long, quiet silences in books, the ones filled with tension. A silence so deep neither time nor space could transcend the meaning of.

The silence of two people who could read the other like open books.

Familiar dread squeezed her heart and swallowed the happiness she’d been enjoying as they pulled up the driveway to her prison. She hated that house with every fiber of her being. It radiated with lies. Lies no one but the three people living there knew existed.

A curtain on the top floor of the east wing fluttered as Lennox turned the ignition off, and she just knew it was her mother. She could almost feel the animosity being shot at her.

“I had fun,” Lennox said, pulling her from thoughts of what was to come.

Mentally shaking her head, she plastered a smile on her face, telling him, “It was really nice. Those wildflowers were beautiful, too.”

“We could do it again,” he suggested, taking her off guard.

“I think I would like that,” she responded, smiling.

“Good. I’ll be back day after tomorrow.” The shock on her face was mirrored back at her as he climbed from the vehicle and she saw her reflection in the side window.

As he opened her door, she squeaked out, “So soon?”

“Can’t let you think too hard about me not coming back, now can I.” It wasn’t a question. She would doubt he’d want to return after everything she’d told him.

“Is this… Are we…?” She didn’t know how to ask.

“Dating?” he finished for her. Nodding her head, he told her, “No.” Disappointment slammed her like a ton of bricks. “Dating is for kids. We’re in a relationship, Sophia.”

“Relationship.” She repeated. “I thought that came after the dating?” She had no idea about any of those things. She was such a novice.

“For some, sure. I’m too old for that shit, Soph. I know what I want. And what I want, you’re not ready for, so compromising is what I’ll have to do.”

“This is a compromise?”

“Yup.” It was hard not to laugh at his smug smile.

Shrugging her shoulder, she would try and go with it. “Okay.”

Walking up the steps to her front door with his hand on her back, she felt cherished. A feeling she could definitely get used to.