Chapter 11
Dean
I had to walk away from Sophia out there on that street or else I just might have bent her over some bench or garbage can and had my wicked way with her. Seriously. No joke. I make a few calls, trying my best to calm an outraged Don Amato on the safety of his daughter, Bianca.
I’m not in Miami and cannot get a hold of anyone to find out anything.
My man, Stefan, hasn’t let me know whether or not he has Bianca. It should have been a simple job. Head down to Miami, lift Bianca from her penthouse apartment on South Beach and head to the location I picked out for him.
I check the weather situation where Stefan should have Bianca, and there are no storms or anything that would cause him not to call.
It has me worried. Something has gone wrong. I just know it.
I head back to my condo in the city, making sure I tell Don I have everyone out looking for his daughter. I call my team, telling them to find Stefan, and more importantly--find Bianca.
Once business is taken care of, I head into my room to get ready for tonight’s gala. Eddie Gallo should be at tonight’s event, and it’s my job to strike up a convo with him and find out where the fuck his friend, Bishop, is hiding.
If I’m successful, then we can stop the charade of pretending to be husband and wife.
The thought of ending the facade that Sophia’s my wife makes me pause. I like having Sophia on my arm. And I really like going to Humphrey’s parties with her.
Watching her eyes flare when she sees another couple kiss.
Feeling her body react when I touch her.
Having her moan my name.
I’m kind of thinking she likes it too.
Damn, the way she rode me last night. I groan just thinking about it.
I hop in the shower, letting the hot water relax my muscles as it pounds over me. My dick comes alive with thoughts of Sophia. God, last night was just too hot to handle. I don’t know how I’m going to survive playing this ruse with her.
I fist my growing cock in my hand, slowly pumping my hand up and down the shaft. I’m turned on, and images of Sophia flash through my mind at warp speeds.
Her on her knees.
Her touching me.
Her sweet mouth taking in all of me.
I groan out, stroking my dick faster now. I bite my bottom lip, bracing a hand against the cool tile wall of the shower. My dick grows even harder as I think about Sophia sucking me off. Her pouty pink lips. The way her eyes gaze into mine like she wants all of me.
Does she want me as bad as I want her?
“Fuck,” I say on a groan, running my thumb over the tip of my dick, smearing the precum all over.
Would she be able to handle my dick deep down her throat? Would she choke?
These thoughts have my body soaring to an ultimate high, and I try not to blow my load too quickly, wanting to enjoy each and every second of this. This is only a job. Only a mission.
I don’t let the thoughts sour my mood, and once again I’m hard and jerking my dick to fruition. I’m back to my cocoon of the shower, where Sophia’s on her knees, sucking my cock, taking in all of me. She plays with my balls. She sucks and sucks.
I stroke harder.
Faster.
Fuck.
I mutter a string of curse words as my body builds and builds. “Fuck me, Sophia,” I whisper into the steam.
I picture her bent over, my cock slamming into her from behind. She takes all of me, moaning out my name like she did the other night.
I’m transported to the club, her getting off. The sounds she made.
My dick is harder than life, and I feel my orgasm coming on strong. There’s no stopping it and I rub my hand over my cock faster. Harder.
And then, I’m coming, panting as I curse through my release. Fuck, I need this girl.
When I’ve calmed down, I finish my shower. Once I step out, I dry off and get ready. My tuxedo fits like a glove, and as I connect each cufflink, I picture Sophia and I tonight, acting like a real couple.
I head into the living room of my condo once I’m completely ready, waiting for Sophia.
I place a text to Leo, asking if everything is ok. He messages back they’re a few minutes away and Sophia is already ready for the gala.
I pace my living room, waiting until I hear the knock on my door. When I open the door, the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen in my life stands at the doorway in a long pink gown with golden sparkles highlighting her breasts. Her demure pink lips and pink-tipped nails have me grinding my teeth, trying desperately to gain control.
Control.
I need control.
Last night I almost ripped my pants off and fucked her. I can’t let my thoughts travel down that road again.
“Is everything ok?” she asks when I haven’t uttered a word.
“Just trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.”
Her cheeks blush the same shade of pink as her dress. “Are you ready?”
I grab my things off the table by the front door and step out into the hallway with her. “The question is, are you ready to charm the pants off of Humphrey Hollingsworth?”
She winks. “Absolutely, boss.”
We travel downtown in the back seat of my Range Rover, driven by Leo, and when we arrive the spotlights nearly light up the night sky. Sophia gawks at the mammoth building as we climb the stairs leading to the entrance.
“Now this is really ritzy.”
“Remember, get that man eating out of the palm of your hand.”
Sophia raises a brow. “You make sure you have the other guy eating out of yours, too.”
“Sure thing, wildcat.”
We head inside and blend with the ostentatious people trying to get closer to Humphrey. Women wearing their finest gowns and men in tuxedos eat butler-passed hors d'oeuvres while an orchestra serenades them with classical music.
“I think we should hang together for a bit, get a drink, mingle, then we can break off.”
Sophia agrees, and we glide through the guests in attendance to the bar.
As I order her drink, she stops me by placing a hand on mine. “Actually, I’m in the mood for a little bubbly tonight.”
I smile at the bartender. “You heard the beautiful lady; she’ll have a glass of champagne and I’ll have a bourbon neat.”
He heads off to make our drinks and we scan the room, looking for our targets. I nod toward Humphrey when I spot him across the room. Sophia takes her glass of champagne from the outstretched hand of the bartender and lifts the glass to her lips.
I watch the movement a little too closely, and almost forget where I’m at when someone slaps me on the shoulder.
“Dean Maddox, you son-of-a-bitch. What are you doing here tonight?” My best friend, Xavier fucking Stone, smiles at me. His wife, Rhiannon, looks at me and Sophia with her eyes full of curiosity.
“Dude, what the hell?” Last I knew, the two of them lived in a castle in the hills of Ireland.
I laugh, giving him a hug, and then I hug Rhiannon as well.
I’m so shocked at seeing Xavier here, I almost forget my manners.
“Xavier and Rhiannon, this is Sophia. She’s my uhh…”
Xavier shakes Sophia’s hand. “Oh, would you look at this.” He lifts her left hand, staring at the rings on her finger. “Playing around with another man’s wife? A tiger never changes its…”
“Well…” I can’t even figure out how to tell Xavier I had a wedding and never even mentioned to him I was getting married, much less didn’t invite him.
Rhiannon’s eyes widen. “Oh, my god. Are you two married?”
“Uh…” Pull it the fuck together.
“No, here’s a better question,” Xavier says, shaking his head. “Are you married and you didn’t invite us?”
I lean in, whispering into Xavier’s ear. “It’s a job. Keep it cool.”
Xavier pulls back. “Got it. Well, let me congratulate you both. A toast.” He raises his glass of whiskey. “To Sophia and Dean, the second hottest couple in the room tonight.”
Rhiannon clinks her glass with her husband’s and then with Sophia’s. “Tell me how you two met.”
“It’s an endless story,” Sopia says. “So, how long have you all known each other?”
“I’ve known Xavier and Dean since we were little,” Rhiannon says.
Sophia laughs. “Oh, I’m sure you have some great stories to tell.”
“No, it’s fine,” I cut in, trying to steer the conversation to safer grounds.
“She has tons of stories,” Xavier says, giving his wife a wink. His expression looking at Rhiannon says it all. With her red hair twisted on the top of her head, and her lithe body tucked away in a shimmery green dress, she looks like a million bucks but is worth far more to him than any wealth or item he could ever possess. And this odd feeling fills my chest again.
What the fuck is happening to me? Why does the idea of being married no longer repel me?
“I didn’t like Dean much growing up,” Rhiannon says. “He was always trying to impede on me and Xavier.”
I laugh, and so does Xavier. “That’s not true.”
“Is to,” Rhiannon says, parking a hand on her hip. “Dean is the ultimate bad boy. I’m happy he’s found someone like you.” Rhiannon doesn’t know our marriage is a sham, as Xavier hasn’t had the opportunity to tell her yet.
The orchestra plays a wistful song, and Xavier and Rhiannon stare at one another. “This brings back memories from the opera. Remember?” he says.
“As if I could ever forget,” Rhiannon says as if they are the only two people in the room.
Xavier asks his wife to dance, and they say their goodbyes, heading to the dance floor.
“Should we dance too?” I ask Sophia.
She smiles. “It wouldn’t be unheard of.”
I lead her to the dance floor, giving a nod to Humphrey Hollingsworth when our eyes meet across the room. “One dance and then we need to get to work.”
I take her into my arms, pulling her close and smelling the fresh scent of her hair. She feels right in my arms, like someone made our bodies to connect with each other. As I twirl her around the floor, men in the room ogle her beauty. It should make me proud, but it pisses me off. Maybe because she’s not mine. I’m just like every other man in this room wishing she belonged to me.
“Your friend seems nice. Maybe I picked the wrong friend?” Sophia smiles as she nods in Xavier’s direction.
I shake my head with a laugh. “No, no. You don’t want him.”
“No?”
“Definitely not.” I have a demanding edge to my tone. “You know his wife told me a secret.” I lean in, like I have something vital to tell her.
“Oooh, what’s this secret?”
“She says he’s not that much fun in bed.”
Sophia’s laugh is deep and refreshing. It’s a laugh I’d like to hear more often in my presence. “I doubt that’s true. Look at her,” she nods toward Rhiannon, “she looks totally smitten.”
I lean in again. “Well, she feels like she owes him.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because he saved her life.”
Sophia play-slaps me on the shoulder. “She looks like a woman madly in love.”
I glance over at my friends Xavier and Rhi. Sophia’s right, they both look completely in love with each other. “I guess they can be in love, but he’s still not much fun in the bedroom.”
Sophia knows I’m joking. “Oh, but you aren’t boring?”
I swallow. The thoughts running through my head right now are not of the boring type. Things I could do with Sophia. It would be very fun. I push the thoughts away and smirk. “I’m definitely fun in the bedroom.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second.” The way she says it, all breathy and such, makes my dick harden instantly.
“What are you doing to me, Sophia?”
She stares at me in silence as we make our way around the dance floor. Finally, when the song is over, she speaks, “I’m going to find Mr. Hollingsworth.”
“I already see Eddie across the room.” I kiss her cheek before whispering into her ear, “Be careful.”
“You too,” she says.
We go our separate ways and I head toward Eddie Gallo. He’s your typical playboy, coiffed dark hair and a poor excuse for a beard, already working the room, chatting it up to a couple of blondes. I step up next to him and order a drink at the bar.
“You’re Eddie Gallo?” I ask.
“In the flesh. Who’s asking?”
I extend my hand. “I’m Dean Maddox. We have a mutual friend, Xavier Stone.” Yes, it was Xavier who led me to this man.
“Ah, yes. How are you?” He shakes my hand, and at that exact moment, Xavier joins us.
As if the blondes know we want to talk business, they make themselves invisible and leave. Rhiannon is on the other side of the ballroom, talking to a few women. I scan the crowd, looking for Sophia, and am pleased to see her chatting away to an enamored Humphrey Hollingsworth.
“She’s too good for you,” Xavier says to me, and Eddie follows our eyes to the other side of the ballroom where Sophia is.
“She is,” I agree.
“She’s your wife?” Eddie asks, a look of appreciation crossing his features.
“She is.” I don’t know why this mad rush of pride is coursing through me. The fact that people know she’s mine makes me swim with satisfaction.
“I see you met my oldest friend, Dean. We go way back.” Xavier pats me on the back as he stares at Eddie.
“So, Dean, what do you do for a living?”
“I do a little bit of this, and a whole lot of that.” I laugh at my not very funny joke.
Xavier gives me a pitying look. “Well, gentlemen, that’s my cue to leave.”
Xavier and Eddie say their goodbyes, and I let Xavier know I’ll be in touch soon.
As soon as Xavier’s out of earshot, I smile. “So, what is it you do, Eddie?”
Eddie laughs, his gold chains knocking together around his neck. “Same. Little bit of this and that.”
“I heard you were into the trade market.”
Eddie leans back, resting his elbows on the bar. “I dabble in trading a few things. Anything you’re looking for?”
“What I’m looking for isn’t legal.” I’m not really looking for anything, but I want to see how dirty this man plays. If he really is in business with Bishop, then he should be as dirty as they come.
“Most things I deal with aren’t technically legal.”
“The item I want is rare as well.”
Eddie gives me a tight smile. “Here’s my card. I can find you anything. Now, excuse me,” he nods to the two blondes, “I have some pressing matters that need my attention.”
“Nice to meet you.”
He nods and rejoins the women he was speaking with earlier when I first approached him. I spot Sophia dancing with Humphrey on the dance floor, and my feet move involuntarily in that direction.
“Mind if I cut in with my wife?” I say to Humphrey.
He smiles a wide, genuine smile. “Of course.” He relinquishes his hold and hands her off to me. “You’re a very lucky man, Dean.”
I wrap an arm around Sophia’s waist. “Yes, I sure am.”
Humphrey smiles even wider, leaning close to Sophia’s ear. “Actually, sweetheart, you’re the lucky one. You know I am all about the peen.”
Sophia nearly chokes on her laughter, and I don’t really move at all. “You dirty old man.” Humphrey walks away in a cloud of laughter while Sophia continues to giggle.
“I see you two are a bunch of blushing divas.”
“Yes, he wants us to join him next Friday at his club for an exclusive party.”
“Very nice.” I move Sophia into my arms, bringing her close as the musicians play a slow ballad.
“What about your guy?”
“He’s definitely well connected. I may try to set something up with him at a later date.”
We’re silent as we sway together. I get lost in the feel of her, moving my hands slightly down her back.
I enjoy the way she trembles as I run my hand back up and slip it around her neck and into her hair.
She doesn’t say a word. Neither do I. Together we just enjoy the slow song, and this night, where we can pretend to be two people we aren’t. Before Sophia, I wasn’t dating. Dang, I wasn’t even looking. I was happy working and enjoying the occasional hook up here and there. But they weren’t meaningful. They weren’t anything to make me want to be a better man. They just were .
Something to do. Someone to keep me warm at night.
I’m not saying Sophia is special, but I can see the appeal.
The song ends and we walk to the bar for one last drink. “Do you want to get out of here after this?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes.”
We order our drinks and make our rounds, and after a good amount of time we say goodnight to all the important people.
Then, we head back to my place, to sleep… alone.