Sofia’s throat went dry.
This was the moment. And she wasn’t going to overthink it. Alejandra’s spirit pushed her to give a break to this man who, not too mysteriously, had been pining over her from day one.
She got up slowly, barefoot on the carpet, and crossed the room without a word. Stopping just inches from him, she clenched her jaw, her voice steady.
“I’m so done pretending.”
Then she grabbed his face and kissed him.
He stumbled back slightly, caught off guard, his hips bumping the desk, but his hands found her hips instantly, gripping tight like he never wanted to let her go. The kiss was nothing like before. No hesitation, no need to keep up appearances. Just raw, aching need. He kissed her like he’d been starving for her. And she kissed back like she’d been holding back everything.
His hand slid into her hair, fisting it gently as he tilted her face and deepened the kiss, tongues meeting, breathing each other in. It was a claim. A crash.
And when they broke apart, gasping for air, their foreheads touched, eyes locked, hearts racing.
“Tell me this is real,” Ilias murmured, his voice ragged. “Please.”
“It is,” she whispered. “No more faking. Ilias… you made it really hard not to fall in love with you.”
A slow, crooked smile curved his lips. “You had me thinking you weren’t capable of it.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, chest rising and falling fast. “I—”
“You needed to heal,” he said, brushing her cheek. “I would’ve waited longer. I was waiting. But I’m glad you came around.”
“Are you?” she breathed.
“It’s no mystery I fell for you the moment I saw you at that beach clean-up.”
“How were you so sure?”
“Because you’re everything I ever wanted. And more. You’re worth the wait.”
She leaned in to kiss him again, but he held her back, eyes darkening.
“Are we stopping at kissing?” he asked, his voice low and laced with heat.
“No,” she answered immediately, breathless. “I want everything. The whole thing. You. I need you.”
The confession slipped out like a dam breaking, and the way Ilias lit up was pure hunger.
His voice dipped. “Then tell me. How do you want me? I need words.”
Sofia swallowed hard. Her body pulsed. “I want you to do every single thing you’ve imagined doing to me. You have full permission.”
“Permission to punish you,” he chuckled darkly, mouth brushing her neck, “for making me wait this long?”
His lips found her throat—biting, sucking, licking—and she whimpered. Her mind blanked.
“Mmmh? Too distracted to answer?” he teased, voice against her skin.
She nodded helplessly, already falling apart.
“You need a shower,” he whispered, hands sliding under her thighs. In one fluid motion, he lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist. He kissed her again, rougher this time, squeezing her ass as he carried her to the bathroom.
As he set her down, his gaze flicked over her body, sharp and intense.
“I need those clothes off. Now.”
