Page 60 of Final Temptation
She cut me off, “I like you, too, Myles.”
A smile grew across my face at her confession.
“I don’t know what this means for us. I just know I like you, and I want more of you,” I pointed to her heart, “here…and here,” my finger moved to her head, trailing down to where we were still connected, “and definitely here.” Sophie was the one laughing now. I tossed my body over hers, kissing her through each and every playful giggle vibrating through her chest.
“Myles…” She pulled her lips away, her eyes shifting from teasing to serious. “I don’t know what I’d do if I gave my heart to you and you broke it. Please be careful with me, that’s all I ask.” My jaw hardened, my Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as I swallowed.
The night of the bonfire came back to me, my brother’s words.
You’re an idiot if you think Sophie isn’t going to fall head over heels for you.
She’s a relationship girl.
You’ve never even tried to navigate that territory.
Friends with benefits is a recipe for disaster.
Being friends with benefits may have been a selfish proposal on my end, but I couldn’t stand the thought of her being with someone else. I wasn’t in the headspace to go all in. But this was me doing my best. Being vulnerable with her and trying my hardest every day to be good enough for her.
“I’ve never even uttered the words ‘I like you’ to anyone before. Trust me, I still have my own demons I’m working through. But I can’t resist you anymore, Soph.” My heart sped up, and as much as I wanted to look away from her at this moment, I gazed into her eyes so she’d know I wasn’t full of shit.
“There are always going to be temptations in life—some in the form ofloveand some in the form ofevil.” I didn’t miss the way her eyes went wide when I mentioned the wordlove.“I have some pretty fucked up shit I need to work on—the demons that haunt me every night when I fall asleep—but you? That’s a temptation I can’t say no to.”
I blinked for what felt like the first time in five minutes. I was so focused on looking her in the eyes, hoping she could see the truth behind them.
“I trust you, Myles,” she whispered, sealing her honesty with a gentle kiss to my lips.
I was going to do everything in my power to shove away the demons that dared to creep their way into the good things in my life. Sophie deserved the best, and I wanted to be the one to give that to her.
Most peoplewho visited Las Vegas were just now getting ready to go out for the night—Sophie and I had no interest in leaving this room after the things we’d done in it. There would be no chance of leaving until the morning, only when we desperately needed to refuel our bodies after a night of flipping this hotel room upside down.
And to meet back up with Paige and Declan, of course.
After we opened up to each other, realizing we were on the same page, I carried Sophie to the shower. As promised, I fucked her there too. Every surface of this room would be broken in by the time we left.
Minutes passed as her body slumped over mine in bed. She was spent, and I had to admit I could benefit from a break too. I ran hot water, taking full advantage of being in a space where the tub was big enough for both of us to fit. The large two-person bath was deep, equipped with jets that I couldn’t wait to have pound on my back. The edges were lined with soaps, salts, and everything you’d need to relax.
Each toiletry the hotel offered was a custom scent, made just for them. The soap and bath salts I added to the hot water sent smells of lavender and vanilla floating through the bathroom. With my eyes closed, breathing in thearomas, you’d easily mistake our hotel room for a spa. The tranquility of it all was exactly what I needed before passing out for the night.
The bathroom lights could be dimmed, setting a romantic mood with the glow from the Las Vegas strip reflecting off the open windows. I’d take a night like this in Las Vegas over any party or night out.
If there was one thing that helped distract my mind and put me at ease better than alcohol, it was sex. But with Sophie, it was different. It wasn’t just sex. My feelings were attached when it came to being physical with her. I wanted to sit in this bathtub with her by my side and talk about anything and everything.
I was desperate to know every little detail about her.
Even if it was every off-the-wall fact about her—like she had a parrot named Fred when she was a kid. I shook my head at the memory.
Sex wasn’t typically like this for me. It was a booty call to fill the void, then I’d send the girl on her way. Maybe I’d call her again if I was horny, maybe I wouldn’t. But emotions being involved was a new feeling for me.
“I’m on birth control, just so you know,” Sophie spoke, her voice cutting into the calming silence.
Clearing my throat, I answered, “That’s good to know.” I ran my hands around her stomach, relishing in the way she felt pressed up against me in the water.
“I’m just letting you know in case…you know, you might want to not use a condom next time. Or if you run out or whatever.” She had that shy voice about her again.
“I’ll be honest with you, Soph, I’ve nevernotused a condom. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a man, and I’d fucking love to go there with you. I’ve just never risked it withanyone before.” The thought of taking her bare, nothing between us, caused my cock to twitch under water.
“I think it would be beneficial for both of us if I get tested before I do that with you. Doesn’t hurt to have a clear mind.” I hated it had to come to that, but I’d been around more than her, and I knew it—she knew it. I wasn’t hiding anything. But the last thing I wanted to do was act careless with Sophie.
