Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Finn
Walking hand and hand toward the front entrance of Osaka, I ignore the way Sophie smiles at me from the side. I can see her watching me, knowing what she is thinking.
“Seriously?” she says with a laugh. “I had to practically force-feed you sushi but now here we are going into a sushi bar? And you are the one that planned it.”
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought. I enjoyed those crab rolls.” I shrug. “I may have had them a time or two since.”
“Are you serious?” She pinches my side and I grab her hand to keep her from tickling me. Spinning her around, I pin her hand behind her back and her chest is now firmly pressed to mine.
“What can I say.” I hold her stare and notice the way her lips part slightly. “You’ve got me doing and saying all kinds of things I never expected to.”
Then leaning in slowly I press a kiss to her lips and watch as her eyelids droop.
How this woman hasn’t snagged a man and managed to make him putty in his hands is something I will never understand.
Sophie has a sweet innocence about her but a sexiness too that manages to make my heart race.
With her it isn’t a show she’s putting on, an act to attract a man or turn him on.
She does it all without trying, it’s natural and alluring and it’s getting harder and harder to resist.
It’s what got me in a mess to begin with.
Because the more I get to know here, the harder it is to pretend I’m not getting all tangled up inside. She has me bounded in knots.
“Shall we?” I ask, slowly releasing her and watching as she opens her eyes. Her lips are red and swollen from our kiss.
“We shall,” she whispers hoarsely doing her best to play off the heated moment and I grin knowingly. “You need to stop with that smile.”
“This smile?” I say, pointing to my mouth and she narrows her eyes at me. “What’s wrong with this smile?”
“Nothing,” she sighs, “that is the problem.” She mumbles that last part as she walks past me and I check out her behind.
Have I mentioned how hot she looks tonight? Those pants, damn.
Following quickly behind I guide her toward the hostess and give my name. Once we are seated and they’ve taken our drink order, she grabs a menu and hands one to me.
“You get to choose,” I tell her, placing the menu back onto the table. “Surprise me.”
“So raw fish and parasites it is.” She smiles and looks down at the menu. I know she is taunting me and I don’t react.
When our waitress returns Sophie rambles off her choices before handing the menus back.
When they later place everything before us I glance at her and she smiles. “Are you ready?” she says with a waggle to her brows that triggers a laugh from me.
“Why not,” I say, picking up a pair of chopsticks and scanning over the different plates. “What is that?”
“Try it and see.” She chooses to give me nothing and I find her playful attitude cute.
“That’s how we’re playing this?” She only nods. “Okay then.” I pick up one roll off the closest plate and dip it in the sauce before tossing it in my mouth. Chewing slowly I look over at her and find her waiting patiently for my reaction.
“Tiger roll,” she offers. “Crab, shrimp, avocado, and cucumber.” I continue to chew as she goes from plate to plate telling me the different rolls.
When she points to the California roll she smiles as if remembering the day in my office when she brought me lunch.
“And your favorite,” she says, picking one up and holding it out for me.
“Yeah.” I look at her hand and lick my lower lip before leaning in a little closer, taking the roll from her hand and licking her fingertips as I pull back.
I watch her watch me, with her lips parted and her breathing a little heavier than before.
“I do love those,” I add with a grin. “They definitely taste good.”
“Are we still talking about California rolls?” she asks and all I do is offer a shrug. I wasn’t but I’ll keep that little secret to myself. After our little makeout session in my car last night I’ve had a difficult time keeping my thoughts clean.
The way she kissed me, while grinding on my lap, it fucked with my head. It would seem sweet quiet Sophie isn’t so innocent after all.
What I have noticed is we’ve taken away the pressure of the game. There is no longer the need to put on a show for anyone, it’s only her and me. And it’s like we’ve magically somehow relieved all the tension and instead we can enjoy the company of each other.
We can feel and act on those feelings without violating some rule we set about doing everything for show. This isn’t a show, not anymore.
The conversation now flows, the flirting it’s enjoyable.
The want, it’s thick and continues to grow with each passing second.
Seeing Sophie find herself, without the dark cloud of that asshole hanging over us, is incredible.
Who gives a shit what he thinks, who cares what anyone thinks, it’s just us.
“Thank you,” she says as I link my fingers with hers once we step outside the restaurant.
“For what?” I ask, confused.
“I know you came here for me, and that you’re not a fan of sushi, so thank you.”
Pausing, I step forward and spin around placing my body in front of hers. “True I did choose this for you, but you sorta broke me from my fear of parasites.” I chuckle when she rolls her eyes. “This is what a good boyfriend does for his girl.”
She looks up and her eyes widen a bit at the mention of me being her boyfriend.
“I don’t do things I don’t want to do, I never have. It’s how I am and it’s how I’ve always been. But for you Sophie, I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. Because I think it’s about time someone puts you first.”