Page 52 of Between Regrets and Promises (Between Us Trilogy #2)

The moment I enter the house, I hear a sweet melody coming from a violin. She’s taken on a new student, and I never get tired of hearing her play or seeing the way her face lights up when she’s talking about music.

I quietly walk into the living room, trying not to disturb them, but as soon as I round the corner, I trip on a pair of shoes and nearly tumble into the couch, making noise along the way.

“Shit, sorry.” I straighten myself.

Sophie’s eyes widen, and the little girl she’s teaching starts to giggle.

“ Crap . I meant crap. Sorry.” I hold up my hands, walking backward. “Sorry.”

“Is that your boyfriend?” the girl asks, and I notice the blush on Sophie’s cheeks.

“Uh…” Sophie stammers, blinking. “Why don’t we start from the top, okay? Your mom will be here soon.”

I arch a brow, smirking. She rolls her eyes at me, and I walk into the kitchen chuckling.

Twenty minutes later, Sophie wraps her arms around my waist from behind once her student leaves. “Any chance you’re cooking dinner for two? Because it smells good.”

“Hmm…that depends.” I place one hand over hers that are locked against my torso.

“Oh yeah? On what?” she asks.

I put the lid on the pan, then turn around to face her, keeping her arms wrapped around me. Tilting her chin, I smirk and look into her eyes. “On what your answer to her question was.”

Sophie’s eyes narrow. “Really? You’re gonna hold an eight-year-old’s question against me?”

“I mean, I’d rather be holding something else against you, but now that the question is out there…” I grin, wondering if she’ll dodge it or not. Though I’m only messing with her, I enjoy watching her squirm.

“Let’s see how good this meal is first. Can’t be locked into anything with someone who can’t cook.”

I laugh at her attempt to get out of answering. “Well, fuck am I glad I made one of my best dishes.”

Sophie steps back then grabs two plates and starts setting the table. “Am I setting one for Liam?”

“I only know how to cook for two, so that fucker is on his own from now on.”

She snickers, then swats my chest.

After we eat together and talk about our day, we settle on the couch for our nightly routine of Netflix. Sophie decides to read and rests her feet in my lap. Halfway through an episode of Lucifer , she wiggles her feet against my groin, purposely rubbing against my dick.

“You better stop that,” I warn.

She works her feet on either side of my cock, stroking it and teasing me. After a minute, I grab her ankle and squeeze. “Soph…you better not start something you don’t plan on finishing.”

Keeping her eyes on the pages, she sits up and inches next to me. With one hand on her book, she reaches into my lap and starts stroking me with the other.

My head falls back with a groan. “Are you seriously reading while touching me?” Her eyes are glued to her paperback.

“What? Never heard of multi-tasking before?” Then she one-handedly turns the page.

How the hell did she do that?

Her hand slides up my torso until she reaches the band of my shorts and dips her hand inside. With her palm over the fabric of my boxer briefs, she wraps her delicate fingers around my cock and moves her hand up and down my length.

“You aren’t playing fair,” I growl, throwing my hands behind my head. Sophie touching me is something I’ve been dreaming about since the moment I met her. “Sophie.”

“Hmm?”

Unable to take it any longer, I pull her hand out and leap on top of her, tossing her book aside in the process.

“Hey!” she says before I cover her mouth with mine.

I settle between her legs as she wraps her arms around me, and I cup her face. “Do you feel like reading now?” I ask, grinning and looking down at her.

“Well, I was at a really good part…”

I press my forehead to hers, groaning. “Why do you enjoy torturing me?” I ask, sliding my hand up her body and palming her breast.

She bites her bottom lip, releasing a groan. “After hearing Liam say that I should make you wait for putting me in the friend-zone, I was thinking it wasn’t such a bad plan.”

“Oh really?” I slide my lips down her jawline and latch onto her neck. “You’re taking advice from a self-proclaimed bachelor who’s never had a relationship longer than the length of a movie?”

Sophie snickers, wiggling her body beneath me. “But I bet he gets a lotta ass with that knowledge.”

“More ass than a pair of jeans,” I confirm.

Sophie’s head tilts back, giving me further access to her soft flesh. I suck and lick, grinding my body against hers.

“Maybe Liam’s theory isn’t as great as I thought…” She moans, arching her hips toward me.

“Christ, you’re killing me, woman.” I slide off her so we’re aligned on the couch, my hand roaming down her body until it cups her ass. She wraps one leg around my hip, feeling how aroused I am for her. I’m not sure if she’s testing me or not, but I want everything she’s giving me.

My fingers explore her stomach as my other hand stays wrapped around her head. Sophie kisses me with a hot fervor, and it’s like the past few nights where we get lost in each other’s mouths, though I’ve been careful knowing she doesn’t want us to rush.

“Touch me, Mason,” she whispers, then drags my hand between her legs.

Like an overeager teenager, I happily oblige and bring my fingers to the button of her shorts, undoing them as fast as I can. Sliding my hand in slowly, her breath hitches as I rub the pad of my thumb along the lace of her panties.

“Mmm…Sophie. Are you?—”

The ringing doorbell startles me, but I choose to ignore it. Slipping inside her underwear, I slide down her slit, her back arching as soon as I press into her. Her pussy coats my finger, and we moan in anticipation.

“Sweet, sweet Sophie. Jesus, you’re already wet for me.”

The doorbell rings again. Twice.

“I’m gonna punch whoever’s at the damn door,” I say, groaning when it rings again.

“You better answer it in case it’s an emergency,” she tells me, and we sit up. I grind my teeth together, annoyed and frustrated that whoever it is has given me severe blue balls.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I tell her with a kiss.

I adjust myself as I walk to the door, ready to curse whoever the hell it is. Once I open it, I’m nearly shocked and rooted to the spot when I see my father.

Motherfucker.

“What’re you doing here?” I deadpan.

“We need to talk.”

“It’s not a good time.” I hold my stance, arms crossed over my chest.

“Make time, Mason. It’s about your case.”

I narrow my eyes. “I thought it was over?”

“It is, but there’s more to it than that. You gonna let me in or not?”

I sigh a deep breath, shrugging and opening the door for him to come inside.

He follows me to the living room where Sophie is sitting, her cheeks still flushed from our hot make-out session.

“Dad, this is Sophie.” I wave my arm as she stands and steps closer. “Sophie, this is my dad,” I tell her slowly, feeling the awkward tension of this situation. Her hair is tousled from messing around, and he notices.

“Nice meeting you, Mr. Holt.”

“It’s a pleasure,” my father says, taking her hand in his.

“I’ll leave you two to some privacy,” she says quickly, and I feel awful that he’s cutting into our time.

I walk toward her, reaching out with an apology, but she smiles and shakes her head. “It’s okay. I should go to bed anyway.”

I’m not letting my dad make her feel uncomfortable, so I tell him to give me a minute and walk Sophie to her room.

“Sorry, I have no idea why he’s here,” I say as soon as I close her bedroom door behind us.

“Don’t be. It’s fine. Take your time.” She wraps her arms around my waist as I bend down to kiss her swollen lips.

Blowing out a slow breath, I try to prepare myself for whatever reason he’s here.

An hour later, he finally leaves, and I’m left with a million thoughts. I won’t be able to sleep, so I check if Sophie is passed out yet. She left her bedroom lamp on, and whether or not it was for me, I step inside her room and shut the door.

Sliding into bed behind her, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her against my chest. I bury my nose in her hair and inhale the scent of her sweet shampoo. Then I press a kiss below her ear and feel her shiver.

“Are you awake?” I whisper.

“No.”

I chuckle, pressing kisses along her jawline. “No? So I shouldn’t ask you out on a date for this Saturday?”

“Mmm…” she hums. “What kind of date?”

Smirking, I slide my hand into her sleep shorts and wait to see if she stops me or not. When she doesn’t, I explore further until I realize she’s not wearing panties.

“Did you lose an item of clothing?” I taunt, moving my hand down lower.

“Figured I’d help you out…”

I smile, bringing my lips over her ear as my finger slowly slides inside her, feeling how wet and smooth she is. “Goddamn, woman. You’ve been waiting for me?”

“Would it be cringy to say I’ve been waiting for the last three years?” She finally lifts her eyes and glances over her shoulder.

“Yes, but I’d love it just the same.” I slant my mouth over hers and lose myself for a moment. “So about that date. What do you say?”

Sophie’s breathing rapidly against me as I wait for her response. “I suppose I could squeeze you into my schedule.”

“Oh, well thank you,” I quip. “But I only take girlfriends on dates, so…”

“Really?” Her eyes widen as she bites down on her lower lip. I sink a second finger inside her, and she gasps. “You want to have this conversation right now?” Her head falls back against my shoulder as I increase my pace, rocking in and out of her tight pussy.

“I think I do,” I tell her matter-of-factly. “Unless you’d rather I’d introduce you in the same category as Liam? Even though you’re a much hotter roommate.”

“So what’re you saying? You want to make it official ?”

I chuckle at her condescending tone, sinking deeper inside her as I bring the pad of my thumb to her clit and rub circles.

“I’m saying, I want you to be mine , Sophie.

I know we’re taking things slow, but you’ve been the game changer in my life longer than I want to admit.

I might’ve taken a long ass time to finally get here, but fuck, baby.

I don’t want to let you go now. I want you all to myself and want the fucking world to know it. ”

Sophie’s pants while I bring her closer to the edge.

As she bites down on her lip, I listen to her uneven breaths as she rides out her climax.

Her lips part, eyes squeeze tight, and she moans through the pleasure.

After she’s come down from her high, Sophie turns toward me, and I slide my fingers between my lips.

“Still so goddamn sweet.”

Sophie plants her palms against my cheek and brings our mouths together for a searing kiss. When she pulls back, she stares at me. “You’re kind of a softy under all those layers of concrete.”

“I am not concrete,” I defend. “Wait, I’m not a softy either.”

She chuckles. “Yes. I’ll go on a date with you.”