Page 58 of The Longest Wait

It was romantic and they talked openly and quickly about somany topics. Sofia was in a fantasy world, living in the bubbleshe shared with Alex. All laughter aside, she patiently waited tolearn more about something he rarely spoke about. She desperatelywanted to support him in the one part of life he kept closed.

“Alex, do you want to talk about your last trip?”

His enchanted gaze turned sour. “Trip? That makes it soundlike I was on vacation.”

Okay, she needed to try again.

“You’re right. How about you tell me why you haven’t told meabout your last assignment, outside of the lack of sleep detail? Ifyou don’t want to talk about, I promise this will be the last time Iask. I just want you to know I am here for you.”

“You have no idea how much that means to me.” Herubbed his thumb idly over her palm. “I don’t know if I want totravel anymore.”

She gripped his hand, waiting for him to tell her more. Alexnot wanting to travel anymore for work was huge news. She wasdetermined to back him in any decision he made with his career,but she was surprised to hear he wanted to hang up his passport.

“When I was on assignment, it was like I was waiting for workto be over. Seeing all the disparity and pain, my thought wasn’t to

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take a picture to help the situation in Venezuela. This time around,

I wanted to be home to appreciate what I have.”

“Alex, that’s understandable.”

His brown eyes were vulnerable. “Is it though? I’m a professional, and at night I couldn’t sleep because I was afraid of beingattacked again. During the day, I felt the urge to help the localsout instead of doing my job. I wanted to put the camera down,not snap away pictures of the moment.”

The idea of Alex having to witness and handle the extremityof the situation his work put him in broke her heart. He had noone to talk to and she was going to fix that. She never wanted himto feel alone again.

Their check came and Sofia paid quickly before Alex couldobject. He remained stoic and Sofia didn’t push, supporting himwith a gentle caress on his back until they get back to her apartment. “If you don’t want to travel any more, what do you wantto do?”

Alex let out a deep breath. “I’m figuring that out. There areother photography options available, but I think it might be timefor me to do freelance. Take assignments that come my way; I getto pick where I go instead of someone telling me.”

Selfishly, she liked the way that sounded. It would mean moretime with Alex. “That gives you a chance to build some roots. Aftereverything you’ve seen, it has to be a nice change of pace.”

He flipped the switch and his eyes turned needy. “There areother reasons having roots is more alluring.”

“What reasons would they be?”

Alex scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom. “If you’reasking that, then I haven’t made myself clear on how much youmean to me.”

Sofia’s breath got stuck in her throat. Alex didn’t stop. “Letme show you.”

Very slowly, he undressed her, being tender with every move.His hands and his eyes appreciated every inch of her soft skin,goose bumps trailed his hands as he lingered over her.

Following his direction, she helped him out of his clothes too,and once they were both naked, they stood close to each other. Alexcupped her face and sweetly kissed her, for once, going slow. Sofiaeased herself on her bed and Alex followed her.

Their soft kisses never stopped when Alex gently pushed intoher, freezing for a moment when he put his forehead on hers. Sofiafelt it, down to her core, that this time, it was more than sex. Thiswas something she always craved with him.

Together, they rocked against each other, a slow burn buildingbetween them. Alex was always a pleaser in bed, and he rubbedbetween her legs as he picked up the pace. Sofia couldn’t hold backher release and cried out his name when she orgasmed. Alex cameright after her and then rolled to his side. Both of them pantingout of breath.

THE NEXT MORNING, Sofia was in the kitchen making breakfast when Alex walked in. She smiled. “Did I wake you, grandpa?”“Six years. I’m only six years older than you.” Alex glared ather with sleepy eyes.

Sofia was sassy even in the morning. “Doesn’t change the factthat I woke you up.”

Alex looked at her kitchen and was impressed. “I don’t knowwhy, but I always assumed that you weren’t the—”

Sofia gave a mischievous grin. “Domesticated?”

“The last time you were supposed to make dinner, you orderedpizza,” he pointed out.