NICK
Ilook at the gym again, making sure we have what we need. The wrestling ring, the punching bags, resistance bands, a mat, gloves, ropes, and everything else to keep a body in shape. And how lucky am I that I manage to get some time with Sophia alone?
I had my doubts before about her, but damn, Gunner didn’t oversell. Not based on how she was dressed at the office, even if she looked stressed beyond belief. First days will do that to anyone.
She comes into the gym and proves my point.
The leggings hug her delicious curves, and the tank top does favors for every bit of me. I feel alive, humming with vitality just by looking at her. Her pony bounces as she walks over to me.
“I’m ready.”
“Let’s see some punches and kicks first, and we’ll go from there.”
I have to stow my cock … for now. Her safety is more important. I tell myself that as I watch her body move into the punch, which lands solidly against the bag. Her kick is just as good. She goes robotically like she’s done this a hundred times.
When I arch my eyebrow, she shrugs. “Kickboxing.”
I nod. Then I motion for her to come at me. She bites her lip, and I roll my eyes. “I’m older, not old. You won’t kill me.”
Oh, if she had any idea of the trouble I get into, she’d know there’s no chance of her hurting me. But while I’m busy making sure my stance is good and trying to keep hers in mind, she manages to hit me square in the jaw.
I stumble, and she gasps. “I’m sorry! Oh my god. I’m not even wearing gloves.”
“It’s okay,” I say, rubbing what I know will be a bruise. “That’s a good hit.”
“Now what?”
“I’m going to be an assailant. Turn around.” I motion with my finger.
She turns around, staring at the wall. She’s far too trusting. And with her figure, her sweetness, her looks alone, there is no reason she should trust anyone. Especially not a man. Any man. Especially not Neal.
I come up behind her and lock my arms around her, one over her mouth, one around her middle, pinning her arms. It’s an easy hold to escape from, and I want to see what she’ll do to better gauge where she’s at.
She doesn’t move. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m not me. I’m some pervert on the street.”
“Nick.”
My hand covers her mouth more forcefully. She tries to talk, but I pull her tighter against me. She fits against my body so perfectly. Every curve filling exactly where I need her. And even though I’m supposed to be focused on training her, I can tell my cock isn’t.
It’s been a while since we had Bella. Since I’ve been able to trust a woman enough to take her to bed.
Just as I’m determined to test her further, Sophia steps on my foot hard and then takes out my leg. We fall together in a tangle that she quickly fixes with a sharp shoulder to my side. I groan and let her go. She gets up, then pretends to reach into her purse.
“Then I taze.”
I chuckle from the ground and lie flat on my back. “You’re resourceful.”
She grins and bounces on her toes. “College defense classes.”
“Then what is there for me to teach you?”
“How to do it better.” She nods.
We spend the next hour sparring. Miles would be proud of her. She throws punches like he does, with no hesitation, but she calculates each. She doesn’t miss when I give her a place to hit. I adjust her arm a few times.
We keep going until she’s panting, and I’m definitely not thinking with my head anymore. Because this time, when I tackle her and challenge her to get me off, I don’t want to let go. I grab her wrist when she tries to punch me and hold it down above her head.
The other hand is a surprise, but I get that down too. When she tries to use a leg, I pin her with a knee, making sure she can’t get at me. She swallows and squirms, wiggles, attempts to throw weight she doesn’t have around.
“Fuck!” She growls.
Her cheeks are flushed, a few strands of hair dragging across her forehead, and I swear my head isn’t on straight because I feel like I’m about to explode. Her body under mine, pressing tightly, is … delicious.
“Nick.”
My eyes go to hers as she exhales slowly, trying to calm herself. “How do I get out of this?”
“Don’t get into this,” I whisper.
“Okay, but I’m in, so how do I-”
“You can’t,” I emphasize. “You can’t let yourself get into this position because you can’t escape.”
“I don’t believe that.” She continues to pant. “There’s always a way.”
“Remember when you’re fighting with someone on the street. If you’re trying to get away, if it’s a stranger, or if you're in danger, you cannot be nice. There’s no such thing as fighting dirty when your life and safety are on the line.”
She nods, then leans towards me, her nose brushing mine. I swallow and draw back. Miles’ daughter. She’s Miles’ daughter. I can’t. I won’t. But she licks across my bottom lip, and the need is too much.
I lean in and devour her. Her mouth is so sweet and delicious, addictive. I need more after just one kiss. My hand tightens around one wrist while I release her other to stroke her thigh, cupping the back of her knee because I need her wrapped around me.
I groan in her mouth as she deepens the kiss.
Then all at once, I’m on my back. She’s on top of me, one knee buried in my thigh, one hand on my chest, my hand still around her wrist. I blink a few times, and she smirks. “Taser in my hand means I am free, right?”
She kissed me just to win?
“Yeah.” I agree.
She smirks and sits up entirely. Her weight on my cock shifts, sending pleasure through me. I steady her hips and fight another groan. “Sophia.”
She looks at our position and blushes fiercely. I swallow. When she moves her hips, I can’t stop the moan. Sophia feels good, warm. The light sheen of sweat on her skin, the nervous look in her eyes, and the way she bites her lip.
I sit up, pull her closer and kiss her again, softly, just sucking her bottom lip. She strokes down my arm, then I remember. Fuck! My best friend’s daughter. I draw back and nod. “Lessons are over for today. Good job.”
“Thanks.” She jumps off me and quickly makes her getaway.
What’s with this temporary insanity? I know better. Never shit where you eat, and I eat here. I eat with her father. I know better. It’s base respect. It’s the most basic way to respect another man to protect, not seduce his daughter.
I get through a shower but have to face the fact that my cock still wants her. Even if I know better, the morals haven’t reached my dick. They need to catch up fast like now. Gunner’s an idiot.
She’s attractive, and it’s a sin itself.
I can’t be the only one who’s noticed, and now I’ve kissed her, and the instant I licked into her mouth, I was fucked. Because she’s addictive. And I’m screwed because I want another taste.
I let myself come, thinking of her on top of me, her sweet mouth on mine, and it’s easy. It takes all of two minutes. I pant in the shower and shake my head. I have to collect myself before dinner.
Miles said we were all having dinner tonight as a real welcome/ you did it for Sophia. And she did it all right. And so did I.
We have pizza and beer for dinner, and Sophia is wearing something that I shouldn’t find attractive. It’s a nice outfit, not provocative, but I can’t help but remember her on top of me. She doesn’t seem affected at all, which makes it worse.
She meets my eyes, everyone’s eyes without a problem. And there’s no talk of war or business. Only about games, about what she’d like to do to settle in, what she wants to see in New York if jogging in Central Park is safe.
It seems like a usual dinner. Holden is quieter than normal, and Roman is more invested than usual, but other than that, things are easy. Until talk switches to Matthew.
“So, Bella and I were able to move forward. There was a cancellation for three months from now, and we’re taking it.”
“That’s great!” Miles says and claps Matthew on the back.
“And she knows, right?” Sophia asks.
Matthew gives her a look, then sets his slice down. “Yeah, we talked about it after work. Why?”
“She’s so swamped with teaching me, and I know she’s making a lot of choices about things, and it’s stressing her out.” She chews her bottom lip, and my cock leaps to life.
I see Gunner adjust himself and wonder what’s on his mind and why I care. I shouldn’t care. He can feel whatever he wants about her. That doesn’t mean he gets her. Hell, I kissed her, and that doesn’t mean I get her.
“It will be a challenge she can handle,” Roman says simply.
“Of course.” Sophia agrees.
“I’ll call her.” Matthew gets up, and I know we’ve seen the last of him for tonight, but I don’t mind.
After a bit more conversation, Sophia yawns. She stands and apologizes. “I should get ready for tomorrow and get to bed.”
“Thanks for dinner, baby doll,” Miles says, holding her hand with a father’s glow of approval. “You’re doing well, and you’re going to do even better tomorrow.”
Once she’s upstairs, he drops the smile and faces us. “Keep Neal under watch.”
“Of course.” I nod.
“Neal?” Holden snorts. “Bastard.”
We all know Neal and his slimy aggressive reputation with women. He loves to be seen with models and high-class, gorgeous women, but we also know what he does once they put out. Neal doesn’t do the same woman more than once. He likes to sample the world.
And he likes to brag about it to everyone. Roman interrupted him earlier today, but I was lucky enough to put an end to his attempt to ask her out. Employees never get together to celebrate one new person. Not with the number of people we’ve been bringing on to assist with the growth.
I knew it was just going to be the two of them. If Neal gets her alone outside of the office, there will either be sirens for him because she’ll kick his ass or … sirens for Miles because he’s going to kill him.
It will end in blood. I’m sure of it.
“We’ll keep an eye out,” Roman reassures us. “They won’t leave the office.”
“Why don’t we fire the prick?” Gunner huffs. “He’s not worth the fucking headache.”
“We have no cause,” Miles says evenly. “No H.R. reports, nothing of weight. And I don’t plan on my daughter being the cause for that.”
His words weigh heavy on my shoulders, and I finish my beer quickly. This guilt is going to devour me. I just need to … steer clear except for at work. I’ll follow the rules for Neal, and it will be fine. I’ll get some action and feel better.
Sophia is a phase that will pass. Nothing more. And since I know that’s a shit thing to say, I just need to get under someone else and get it out of my system. It’s better than ruining everything because I’m weak.
So I won’t be weak.