“Fuck, Sofia.” I grunted as she closed her eyes and made a sound, the same one she’d made the night under the stars. Her cunt squeezed around my cock, and I watched her face, saw it tighten, then soften, her eyes slowly blinking open, her fingernails breaking my skin.
Seeing her come pushed me over the edge, and with one final thrust, I stilled inside her. I watched her watch me as I emptied, blood and cum from her and me mixing, smearing together, taking everything from me until finally, I collapsed on top of her, holding her, my cock sliding out of her, soiling the perfectly smooth skin of her thigh and reddening my sheets.
I woke at my usual time, three o’clock in the morning, and lay listening to Sofia sleep, her naked body pressed against mine. I opened my hand wide on her belly, holding as much of her as I could.
Last night had been good. Better than I expected. The physical attraction between us was mutual, but there was more than that. I wanted to hold on to it, to that thing, whatever it was. I knew it was important.
And impermanent.
Because I couldn’t have that, and the reason I’d done this in the first place. It was one or the other.
The old man’s test only strengthened my resolve.
I couldn’t forget why I was doing this. Why she was here.
I wouldn’t.
Rolling over onto my back, I stared up at the sliver of moonlight that slipped between the split in the curtains and streaked the ceiling. Sofia made a sound, and for a moment I thought I’d woken her, but then she curled up against me, the top of her head burrowing into me, her body hugging into itself, little fists and knees close. Unmoving, I watched her until she stilled and then wrapped my arm around her again, holding her to me. I wondered if she would consciously do this, nuzzle against me, if she were awake.
Thing was, I thought she might.
Maybe that’s what made this so hard.
Marcus Guardia had used Sofia’s love for Lina to test me. To test my weakness. He’d probably been planning it all along. The bastard had read me like a fucking book, and I’d fallen right into his trap.
If for a single moment I thought he might feel some modicum of emotion for his granddaughter, the ease with which he’d sacrificed her body obliterated that notion. We were all pawns in his twisted game.
But I’d turned it around. Managed to use it to my advantage with Sofia.
I guess I too was a master manipulator.
Telling her about consummating the way I had had been cruel. But giving her the gift of her sister at the wedding, it had turned her back around. Probably confused the fuck out of her, but hell, this whole thing confused the fuck out of me.
Sick fucking bastard, her grandfather. I wondered if he thought I wouldn’t go through with it if she refused. Maybe that was his reason for asking it. Maybe he thought she’d cry rape. Put me in fucking prison again. Or maybe he truly just didn’t give a shit about her.
Last night happening the way it had, though, it changed everything. She’d given herself to me. I hadn’t had to look in the mirror this morning to find a monster more terrible than Marcus Guardia staring back.
But there was more. More that didn’t concern Sofia, not yet anyway. I’d hold on to it, use it when I needed to.
Marcus Guardia wanted five percent back. Lina could come and spend a few days with her sister if I agreed to forfeit five percent, receiving only forty-five percent of shares, not fifty. This way, he ensured they kept control of Guardia Winery.
He wasn’t a fool. He suspected I’d drive the company into the ground as soon as I could, as soon as I had the ability to. And I still would. I’d just do it differently than I imagined. He’d still pay. Hell, this way, he’d lose it all, not just half.
And I’d lose Sofia once it all came to pass.
But there was more to consider than Marcus Guardia. My meeting with Moriarty hadn’t gone well. I hadn’t realized how deep in debt my father had been. And Moriarty wasn’t about to forgive that debt just because my father was dead. He still had every intention of collecting.
I couldn’t give him what he wanted, though, because what he wanted was my mother’s legacy. This house. The land. All of it. He’d even pay me for it, at least the portion my father didn’t owe him.
Moriarty was a business developer. Well, that was the legitimate front. He had a way of getting what he wanted and didn’t have any problem using whatever means he needed to. When Damon had told me to call the police and let them handle it, he didn’t realize Moriarty had the police on his payroll. I’d have to deal with him, and I couldn’t have Sofia be a part of that.