Chapter 3
I changed quickly into a pair of loose sleep pants and a t-shirt, trying to shake off the heat still burning through my veins.
The kiss on the balcony kept replaying in my head — the way Sophie had melted against me, the soft sounds she made, the way her body had fit so perfectly.
I told myself I was doing the right thing by stopping it.
I climbed into the big bed made of two doubles pushed together and stared at the ceiling, willing my body to calm down.
A few minutes later, the balcony door slid open. Sophie stepped inside, still in that lacy pink nightgown. She didn’t say anything at first. She just padded across the room and climbed onto the bed, jumping lightly onto the mattress like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Before I could protest, she cuddled right into my side, tucking herself against my chest. Her body was warm and soft, one leg sliding over mine as she nestled close. The lace of her nightgown brushed against my arm.
“It’s just cuddles, Uncle Alex,” she whispered sweetly, her voice innocent and reassuring. “I promise. It’s been a long day and I’m cold. This is totally innocent.”
I tensed, my arm automatically going around her. She felt too good pressed against me. Too right.
“Sophie…” I started, my voice low with warning.
She looked up at me with those big, wide Bambi eyes — sweet, guileless, and completely disarming. Her lower lip pushed out in the most adorable little pout.
“We’ve already kissed,” she said softly, almost like she was reasoning with me. “So it’s no big deal, right? Practically innocent. Just one more? Please?”
That pout. Those eyes. The way she was curled into me like she belonged there.
I knew I should say no. I should put space between us. Instead, I let out a low, defeated groan, my hand sliding up to cup the back of her neck.
“Come here, sweetheart,” I said, voice rough.
I pulled her up and kissed her again. This time slower, deeper, savoring the way she sighed into my mouth and melted against my chest. Her hand rested on my stomach, fingers tracing light circles as we kissed for a long, indulgent moment. It was still “just kissing,” but it felt like so much more.
When I finally pulled back, breathing hard, Sophie gave me a small, satisfied smile and tucked herself back against my side, her head on my chest.
“See?” she whispered, sounding pleased with herself. “Just innocent cuddles and one little kiss. Nothing wrong with that.”
I held her close, my hand resting possessively on her hip, knowing full well we were already playing with fire.
Sophie’s body was warm and soft against mine, her head on my chest, one leg draped over me.
The “just one more” kiss I’d given her should have been the end of it.
But she tilted her face up again, those big Bambi eyes looking at me with such sweet expectation that my resolve cracked almost instantly.
“Just one more?” she whispered again, her voice so innocent it should have been illegal.
“Fuck, Sophie,” I muttered.
I rolled us slightly so I was leaning over her and kissed her again — harder this time, deeper.
She made a soft, happy sound and kissed me back eagerly, her hands sliding up my chest to wrap around my neck.
We stayed like that for a long time, trading slow, heated kisses that grew more urgent with every passing minute.
My hand roamed down her side, squeezing her hip through the thin lace nightgown, pulling her tighter against me.
She arched into my touch, her leg hooking higher over my hip.
The kisses turned messier — tongues stroking, soft moans escaping her as I nipped at her lower lip.
I could feel her nipples hardening against my chest through the delicate fabric.
“You taste so good, sweetheart,” I growled against her mouth between kisses, my dominant side fully awake now. I slid one hand down to grip her ass, kneading the soft flesh as I held her close. She whimpered and rocked against me, the heat between her legs pressing against my thigh.
We kept going like that — deep, hungry kisses and wandering hands. I slipped my fingers under the hem of her nightgown, stroking the smooth skin of her thigh but stopping just short of going higher. Sophie trembled and pressed closer, clearly wanting more.
But I forced myself to pull back, breathing hard, my forehead resting against hers.
“We have to stop,” I said, voice rough with restraint. “This is already too far, sweetheart. You’re my wife’s niece. We can’t—”
Sophie looked up at me with flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips, her eyes dark with need but still carrying that sweet, innocent edge. She didn’t argue. She just nodded softly and tucked herself back against my chest, cuddling close like nothing had happened.
“Okay,” she whispered, pressing one last gentle kiss to my neck. “Just cuddles now. I promise.”
I held her tight, one hand possessively on her hip, my body still aching for her. The pushed-together beds suddenly felt far too small.
This week was going to test every ounce of control I had.