I couldn’t let her give up on this so easily. Not when I was a little too honest with her. Maybe there was barely anusto be concerned about, but it was the start of something that made me feel so fucking alive that I couldn’t just let it go.
Now I waited somewhat patiently—okay, not patiently at all—for Sophie to get to her mom’s house in Queens. Waited even longer for her to get settled when she did arrive. After an hour, I climbed out of my car with a bouquets of black peonies and marched straight up to the front door, knocking without hesitation. She’d likely be pissed that I was showing up here, probably for a multitude of reasons, but I was antsy to see the fire in her eyes.
I wanted to spank her for lashing that delicious tongue at me for crossing this line. Wanted to fuck her mouth and hold her close after. Wanted so many goddamn things.
I’d waited weeks and had been more than patient and respectful of her space. I played her game, and now I was taking matters back into my own hands.
The door swung open to reveal an older version of Sophie—her mother.
“Hello,” she greeted in a thick Spanish accent, a polite but confused smile on her face. Her dark brown eyes drifted over the flowers in my hand.
“Good evening, Mrs. Reyes. I’m looking for your daughter, Sophie. Is she here by any chance?”
Relief crossed her kind features. “Oh.Sí.Please, come in while I go get her for you.” She stepped aside to let me into her entry way. It was dim and cozy, with a rich brown side table andmirror. Just past the small room was a hallway that opened to the living room on the left. At the end of the hall was the kitchen, from where the sound of rustling drifted down the hallway.
Mrs. Reyes wandered down to the kitchen. I heard her say, “Sophie, querida, alguien está aquí para ti.” I knew enough of the language to know she was telling her daughter someone was here for her. It brought a smile to my face to know she was likely helping her mom clean after dinner.
Which was a family dynamic I’d never gotten to enjoy.
Sophie appeared in the doorway of the kitchen without looking up, wiping her hands on a towel. She paused about halfway to me, eyes widening as she saw me darkening her doorstep. “What the hell are you doing here?” she whisper-shouted.
I flashed her a wolfish grin. “I’m here to see you.” Her eyes landed on the flowers, brows furrowing in confusion. I held out the peonies. “And I brought these for you.”
She stepped tentatively toward me, her face softening as a bashful smile pulled on her lips. “Thank you,” she murmured before turning back toward the kitchen. “Mamá, ¿puedes traerme un jarrón, por favor?” I loved hearing her speak her family’s native language. It was captivating, and God she was making me weak. “I want to get these in water. Do you… um… was there a reason for your visit?”
“Sophia Emily Reyes Ruiz! Be nice to your handsome visitor,” her mother scolded as she appeared with a vase full of water, taking the flowers.
Sophie blushed, looking mortified. “Mamá!”
“Do not argue with me, young lady. Sir, would you like to come in and take a seat?”
God, I wanted to fuck with Sophie’s head so bad, but I refrained, simply pressing a hand to her lower back and walking us both into the living room while her mom fussed with theflowers. The room was decorated with an ornate floral couch, two green velvet armchairs, a leather chair, and a rich mahogany coffee table that matched the fireplace mantle, all accented with a dark green wall.
“I’ll be right back after I cut these stems,” she murmured, and Sophie grumbled as her mom left the room.
I sat casually, crossing an ankle over a knee while Sophie slowly lowered herself to the couch. “Hi.”
She cleared her throat. “Hi. Sorry I haven’t—”
“No, you’re not. I knew you wouldn’t.”
She stilled, her lips parting before pressing into a tight line, as if she wasn’t sure whether to believe me or call bullshit outright. She clasped her hands together in her lap, knuckles whitening. “How?”
I shrugged. “You were freaking the fuck out when you left. I gave you space, plenty of it actually, and now I’m done waiting.”
“Oh.” She licked her lips. My eyes tracked the movement as I remembered what her mouth felt like around my dick. “You really shouldn’t be here, Mav. I don’t want my mom to know about my involvement with you.”
It was the slap in the face I’d been expecting, but it still stung. “You should know that I’m nothing like my father, brothers, and all their goonies. I may be ruthless, but I’m not cruel.”
“My mother doesn’t know that.Please.”
Her mother emerged again with a bright smile on her face. “I apologize for my daughter, Mr…?” she trailed off.
I rose to my feet and shook her hand. “Maverick Mercer, ma’am.”
Sophie inhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders back and clenching her jaw. Clearly pissed.That’s it, baby.Be mad at me—be something,anything.Just be mine.
Words I wanted to say to her in private, but bit my tongue as her mother straightened, her smile faltering immediately.
