“I am not the kind of man you can manipulate.” Without another word, I rushed after my friend before he could do something stupid.
Although, if he punched Tommy out, it would save me the job. No one touched Sophia.
On that, both Gio and I agreed.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching her out of the corner of my eye and being ultra aware that Gio was watching me closely. The entire time, Sophia just went about her day, completely oblivious.
Sure, now and then she would smile, and she had said hello, but that had been it. When I edged closer, she moved away. It was almost like she didn’t want to be close to me and was actively avoiding me.
Which was exactly what I should be doing, only I couldn’t keep my eyes from her.
“I’m gonna go for a smoke.” Mumbling, I shuffled away, taking the wide wooden steps down off the lawn to the lower part of the sprawling garden. Down here, it was quieter, and I could take a second to catch my breath. Plus, I did need a smoke, and his parents didn’t like that.
Following the flagstone path along the length of the wall, I turned the corner and froze.
“Sophia?”
She looked up. She was sitting on one of the ornate stone benches with one foot in her hand. The position of her leg made her dress rise up her thighs so high that I could almost see her panties.
I stifled back a groan.
I’d come down here to be alone and gather my thoughts, and here she was.
“Matteo.” She jumped up, her hands smoothing down her skirt. I couldn’t help it. My eyes followed the movement and my mouth watered.
“What are you doing here?”
Cheeks flushed, she tried to smile and failed.
Yanking my cigarettes from my pocket, I tapped one out. “Probably the same thing as you.” I slipped it between my lips.
Sophia’s full lips curled up in disgust. “That’s not what I came here for. Smoking is disgusting. I would never…”
Lighter held in my hand, I stared at her. Without thinking, I pulled the cigarette from my lips and crushed it in my hand,
“That’s true, but you are down here to try and get away from everyone, right?” The corner of my mouth pulled up in a smile. “I know that feeling.”
Her eyes widened. “Do you? But I thought?” A blush crept up her cheeks. “I just mean I always thought you liked the parties,” she added in a rush. “You’re always so good at talking to people. They like you.”
“You looked like you were doing just fine yourself, Sophia.” Taking a seat on the bench, I motioned for her to sit next to me. “In fact, you seemed to have more than your fair share of admirers. Anyone catch your eye?”
She shook her head. “God no.” Teaching down, she began to rub her foot again. “Wait, is that why there are so many men here. Single men…are my parents trying to set me up?”
I pulled her bare foot into my lap, kneading it with my fingers before I knew what I was doing. She groaned low in her throat, and the sound hit me somewhere in the balls. My cock throbbed.
One little noise because I was touching her, and I could think of nothing but making her make those sounds in other ways.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” Leaning back on her hands, she closed her eyes. “I was hoping the first boy I kissed would be someone I chose.”
First boy she kissed. My eyes swept over her slack face. How was someone as stunning as her yet to be kissed?
Untouched.
“I think they are trying to find you more than a boyfriend, Sophia.” My fingers skimmed up her ankle.
The leg under my hand tensed. She sat up. The look of contentment was completely gone from her face.
“They are looking for my husband?”
