Trust (8 page)

So attentive, Ethan
. She gave him a small smile. “I prefer the port.”

“Tell me about the dream.” He handed her the crystal glass and sat beside her, an arm on her shoulder, pulling her to him.

She sipped her wine. “It wasn’t a dream.” She shook her head. “And I don’t talk about it.”

“How were you shot?” He tried again.

“Ethan, please, let it be. It’s a very sore issue.” For the first time, she looked around; taking in the stylish sitting room with its paintings and books gracing the walls.

She put her glass on the side table and rose from the sofa to examine the bookshelves. “We really do have similar tastes,” she smiled at him over her shoulder.

He finished his wine and approached her from behind and spoke in her ear. “I knew you were perfect for me from the minute I spotted you.” He bit her earlobe, his hand lifting the hem of the shirt to find her hip, stroking it. “Come to bed. I’ll make you forget your dream.”

Chapter 5

Saturday, January 16
^th
, 2010.

10 a.m.

Sophia opened her eyes to find Ethan seated on the edge of the bed looking at her, a mug in his hand, his hair damp from the shower, dressed in faded jeans and a blue turtleneck sweater that did wonders to his eyes.

“I could go for hours just looking at you.”

She stretched, raising her arms above her head and entwining them; the sheets moved, showing a breast. “Good morning,” she smiled at him.

Ethan put his mug on the bedside table. “Do that again and you’re not getting out of this bed, Ms. Santo.”

Sophia grinned wickedly and stretched again, this time writhing her body, sheets bunching at her waist.

“Vixen.” Ethan bent to kiss her but she rolled to the other side of the bed and jumped to the bathroom.

“Don’t move,” she ordered. “I’ll be right back.”

When she emerged from the bathroom, he was in the same place, an amused twist on his lips.

“Good boy.” She smiled and picked up his mug, smelling it. “Mmm!” She raised her brows to him and drank his coffee. He smiled at her impudent gesture. She tugged him from the bed by the sweater. “Take it off,” she commanded.

“You like to give orders, huh?”

“Sometimes,” she smiled and quirked an eyebrow. “Do you know how to obey?”

“Sometimes,” he replied and took off his sweater.

“Let’s see.” She perched on the end of the bed, tapping her index finger on her lips, admiring his muscles as he moved.

“Now what, Ms. Santo?”

She could see a bulge in his jeans, her lips twisted and curled unbidden. “Jeans. Off.”

He peeled off his jeans, amused, and threw them on the armchair.

“Briefs. Off!” Her eyes gleamed and she bit her lip.

He took off his briefs and stood proudly in front of her. He knew he had a great figure.

Sophia motioned, with her finger, for him to make a complete turn.

“Do you approve?” he asked huskily.

“Oh, yes, Mr. Ashford, I do!” she nodded.

Jesus! The woman is hot
.

Sophia rose from the bed and circled him, her fingers tracing his chest and his shoulder; she ran her hands over his arms and his buttocks, without touching his straining erection.

“A fine specimen, Mr. Ashford.” She pinched his chin lowering his head a bit, to better look at his azure eyes. He hadn’t touched her and she was already turned on. “A very fine specimen,” she murmured.

He let out a laugh. “I will tell my personal trainer that I made the grade.” He grabbed both of her wrists in his grip behind her back and pulled her flush onto his body.

“I wasn’t finished, Mr. Ashford,” she frowned at him.

“Seems I’m not that good at following orders, Ms. Santo.”

She smiled at the admission. “Ethan. I never thought you would be.” And pressed tighter to him, parting her lips.

They met halfway and he savaged her mouth, leaving Sophia with no ability to think. She barely noticed when he released her wrists and picked her up by the waist, lifting her higher on his body to deepen the kiss. Her legs wrapped around his waist involuntary and she put her hands on his shoulders for support.

“Sophia,” her name on his lips like a prayer. He impaled her on his erection and a low cry left Sophia’s mouth. “You feel so good,” he murmured and backed her on the wall, moving slowly, rocking in her. He kissed her neck and her shoulder.

Her hand grabbed his hair and yanked his head in an aggressive kiss, notching their passions higher. He shifted his hold on her thighs and his hand dipped between them, searching for her clitoris.

He tore his mouth from hers and ordered in his low baritone voice, “Come for me.” His blue eyes flamed with desire. She met his gaze for a split second before he took her mouth once more in a hungry kiss. He withdrew almost totally from her body and slammed back into her hard and deep, fingering her at the same time. She moaned in his mouth and he felt her body tense up. He pounded into her again and again.

She came apart in his arms. If he hadn’t been holding her, she would have dropped to the ground. In one more hard thrust, he shouted her name and spilled inside her, his forehead falling to her shoulder.

They stayed pressed onto the wall, heaving. Then, all of a sudden, he stiffened and slowly raised his head from her shoulder, staring intently at her.

“What?” Sophia breathed, her head on the curve of his neck.

“The condom. I forgot.” He scanned her eyes. “You’re on the pill, I take…”

“Hmm? Pill? No,” she murmured the words, still dazed.

His eyes widened. “JESUS!” he shouted, alarmed. “Plan B. Now.”

“Plan B?” She frowned, puzzled.
What the hell is his plan b?

“Morning-after pill.” He withdrew from her and slid her down his body until her feet were touching the floor. “The sooner you take it, the better.”

Oh! Pregnancy…
“Relax,” she assured him, smiling. “No chances of pregnancy. I’m not on the pill but I have an IUD.”

“An IUD?” He curled his fingers under her chin.

“Laser hair removal and IUDs with hormones are a woman’s best friends,” she smiled at him, admiring his wondrous azure eyes.

He chuckled, “And here I thought they were diamonds.”

“Well, those too.” Her laugh tinkled in the room. “I’m taking a shower. Then I have to go home.”

“Sophia,” he raked his hand through his hair, “what about… When was the last time you were tested?”

“Tested?” she frowned, stopping on the threshold of the bathroom and looking over her shoulder.

Jesus! Are you that stupid, Ashford?
“STD, HIV, you know.”

“I’m clean, don’t you worry.” Her frown increased, a line appearing between her elegant, black brows. “And
you
?”

“Fair question.” He stepped toward her and embraced her. “Last October. Last time I changed partners.” He nuzzled her neck. “I wish you could stay with me today.” He kissed her lips, tenderly. “You’re a hell of a woman, Ms. Santo,” he murmured on her lips and released her. “Go have your shower. You can use the white bathrobe. I’ve ordered some perfume and toiletries from Creed for you.”

She stood there frozen.

“What?” he murmured on her lips and kissed her again.

“How did you know I use Creed?” she whispered.

“I just know,” he answered with a mysterious smile on his lips.

11.25 a.m.

“Your clothes have arrived,” he informed from outside of the bathroom. “Come to the sitting room. I ordered breakfast. I’m dying to see if you like my choices.”

Hastily, Sophia dried herself and wrapped an enormous, fluffy towel turban style over her long hair. She donned the white bathrobe hanged behind the door.

“Oh. My. God!” She halted at the entrance of the sitting room. She looked around, baffled. He sat on the sofa, in front of the center table, laden with food.

He shrugged, carelessly. “I knew you liked fruit, bread, and cheese, so I ordered a selection from Marylebone Market. It’s just arrived.”

“Thank you, but it wasn’t the food that surprised me.” She shook her head and stared bewildered at the bags covering the floor. “You were quite extravagant on your shopping order to your secretary. I just needed a pair of jeans and a sweater.”

He rose from the sofa and putting his hands on her waist, regarded her intently. “Sophia, it is a pleasure to lavish you with gifts. I can and I will. Don’t expect less.” He picked up a half-dozen bags in each hand and brought them over to the sofa. “Sit and eat. I’ll unpack them for you.”

Sophia stood still in the same place, looking at him. He crooked his finger and ordered again, “Sit here by my side. Coffee or tea?”

“Coffee, thanks.” She chose a rye, raisin, and caraway bread slice and accepted the steaming mug. “What am I supposed to do with all these things?”

“Take what you want and leave the rest here.” He opened bag after bag and unwrapped tissue after tissue. Clothes began to pile up over the sofa and the armchairs: A dark red-and-brown wool jacket with chocolate trousers, a white silk vest with lace trim, and dark-red alligator leather high heels from Chanel; a cinnamon-color sweater from Prada; a caramel corset belt and a khaki knit dress from Alexander McQueen; an oversized orange merino-wool turtleneck, skinny light jeans, a brown belt and platform boots with knit cuffs from Gucci; a Hermès Kelly bag; a long caramel fox fur Fendi coat; a knitted plum top and a caramel high heel bootie with lamb fur lining from Nina Ricci; caramel deer gloves and chocolate felt hat from Celine; shawls and a pair of silver-metal sunglasses from Louis Vuitton.

He is crazy
. Sophia’s eyes widened even more when Ethan took out of the Valentino box a spectacular tawny long-sleeve lace dress, and wondrous cream lace high heels made by Philip Treacy, especially for the Italian designer.

He chuckled, “I knew you would like them.”

“How did you manage to get those, and in my size? I have been looking for them ever since I saw them in
Vogue
.” Sophia eyed the pair with longing. “They are jewels.”

“They will look great on your feet.” He kissed her lightly. “Give me your foot.” She rested her ankle in his hand and he put the shoe on her foot.

She caressed the shoe with reverence. “It’s… absolutely spectacular.” She turned her foot left and right, admiring the shoe as he kept taking things out of bags.

Fogal Pantyhose. From the finest transparent to opaque, shiny and matt, with lace or Swarovski crystals, various stockings and tights in all kinds of colors and touches.

“Now. The best part.” From a red bag without a logo, he removed a fragile looking lace and silk black baby doll and robe. And silk and tulle embroidered underwear: white-and-light pink; beige-and-brown; pink, green, and violet blue; plum-and-black; and silver. Luxurious and sexy lingerie from La Perla, Agent Provocateur, Kiss Me Deadly, and Made by Niki. He gave her a wicked smile. “I’m dying to peel these off you.”

“If I didn’t know better, I would say you’re gay!” She laughed out loud but the amount of push up and wireless bras with matching panties and thongs, bodies and garters he had bought took her aback. “The choices are perfect. You have built me a complete matching wardrobe. But these are too much-”

“No buts. Darling, you don’t know what women usually ask of me. The shops started to send me all their catalogs after they noticed I bought women’s clothes. My secretary is constantly receiving gifts because of her sudden shopping sprees.” He regarded her closely. “You’re the first one that I asked to stay with me and the first one who’s complaining I bought too much.”

Sophia froze and stared at him, openmouthed.
Bastard! I should have imagined. I’m just one more in the parade
. She stiffened. “So. You’re used to buying things for your women…” She let the annoyed hue in her voice linger.

He raised his eyebrow. “Jealous, baby?”

Jealous? Is he this insensitive?
“Jealous?” she derided.
If you think goods buy my affection, Ethan, you are so wrong. Clothes and jewelry given without affection and meaning have no value to me
. “Jealous of what?” The scorn dripped from her lips. “I have high self-esteem. I don’t need these things.” She dismissed the costly goods with a flick of her elegant hand and rose from her place on the sofa, tugging her bathrobe tighter around her body. “I’m not for sale.” She turned to exit the sitting room.
I want much more, Ethan. I want love, friendship and respect
.

“Sophia!” He jumped from the sofa, the lingerie tumbling onto the floor, and ran after her, firmly placing his hands on her shoulders. “Hey! I’m not trying to buy you. Nor am I equating you to other women. It was just a slip of the tongue.”

She didn’t move or say a word. She stood stiffly in the middle of his bedroom, head held high.

“Come on, baby, they’re just things. Please, accept them.” He fitted his body to hers, his arms snugging her waist and his head dropping to kiss her shoulder. “I wasn’t even finished.”

She scoffed, “I think you are.”

“Darling,
you
are invaluable to me. These are just things money can buy. Please?”

She sighed.
Maybe I have overreacted; don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, Sophia
. “All right. Let me get dressed.” She shook her head at him, smiling. “What do you want me to wear, you crazy man?”

“Hmm. The Gucci look with the skinny jeans. And these.” He selected a matching lace and silk plum and black push-up bra and thong from Agent Provocateur. He put everything in the Gucci bag and handed it to her.

Sophia materialized from the bathroom, clad in her new clothes. They fit her perfectly. “Do you like?” She pivoted for him to see.

His stretched his hand beckoning her to sit beside him. “I love it.”

Sophia bit her lip and his eyes followed the movement. “Don’t.” His thumb caressed and pressed at the center of her mouth. “Drives me crazy,” he murmured.

Oh, God!

“Want more coffee?” As she nodded, he filled her cup and motioned to the table. “Eat. You can’t start your day with only a slice of bread.” Ethan silently watched her eat. “You confound me,” he said quietly.

“I do? Why?” she asked.

“I don’t know what to make of you, baby. Sometimes you seem like a teenage girl and other times, a well lived woman. You act like a very rich person; in the next moment, you don’t care for expensive things. You keep things in the dark, but then again you’re so forthcoming and honest when we talk.” He stared at her. The numerous emotions speeding over her face captivated him. “Who are you? What are you hiding, Sophia? What are you afraid of?”