Chapter 33
SOFIA
HO VOGLIA DI TE – Juli, Emma, Olly
Back in their room, packing for the flight to Margaret River the following day, Ilias headed for a shower, and Sofia lay sprawled across the bed, phone in hand, chatting with Alejandra.
Have you taken that poor guy out of his misery yet?
Eh?
Have you finally confessed you're in love with him?
??
It… may have slipped out while I was insulting Thomas
We didn’t really talk about it
Sofi.
Please.
Tell him how you feel!!!
I told you.
I’m scared.
What if he doesn’t feel the same?
I swear to Salacia
I’m going to kick you in the tits
Get a grip and TELL him!
If I do, there’s no going back.
And why the hell would you want to go back? ??
My last relationship was a disaster ??
He still tries to power play with me, and not in the hot way
That guy couldn’t even power play a Pokémon ????
Don’t compare Ilias to Thomas
Ilias cares about you
His balls are probably blue by now
I’m going to bed
Put him out of his fucking misery
I’ll see what I can do ??
Goodnight ??
She locked her phone and stared at the ceiling.
How did she even begin? Hey, I’ve been slowly falling in love with you, and now it’s getting ridiculous because I can’t hide it anymore, and I don’t even want to.
Today had been one of the best days of her life. Between the conference, the surf session, and the beachside dinner, she’d laughed harder and smiled more than she had in years. Ilias made everything easy. Natural. Real.
And maybe she didn’t deserve someone like that, but here he was.
“You can go,” his voice said, low and rough.
It pulled her straight out of her spiral.
He stood at his side of the room; a towel slung dangerously low on his hips. Wet curls clung to his forehead, beads of water trailing down his chest, disappearing into the V-cut that led below the towel. His stubble, his muscles, his everything—he looked like a fucking god.
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.”
Sofia didn’t hesitate. She peeled her shirt off, unbuttoned her pants, and let them fall to the floor. Now, standing naked in front of him, she let him see all of her.
His eyes darkened, raking over every inch of her like she was his next wave, something wild and worth conquering.
“That too,” she said, nodding to the towel somehow still wrapped around his waist.
He let it drop.
Sofia bit her lip hard. She shouldn’t compare—but porca troia—Thomas didn’t even come close. Ilias was thick, long, and perfect. Her thighs clenched involuntarily. She was already wet. Already aching.
And she couldn’t wait to ride him.