Romance: Hard To Love 1 (Billionaire Romance Series) (Love Dies Hard) (4 page)

Chapter 7

Sophie

“Lunch today?” Tasha asks standing by the door of my office.

“Sure, but it will have to be quick, I’ve got a lot of work,” I say pulling my desk drawer out and grabbing my purse.

We decide to grab a quick bite at the deli downstairs.

“You’ve been holding out on me girl. How long have you and Marcus been going at it?”

“Must you be so crude Tasha? You sound like a guy,” I reply with distaste.

“I’m sorry, how long have you two been dating?” she tries to ask acting demure.

“Well, I wouldn’t call it dating,” I answer with a smirk.

“See, like I said,” Tasha says and we both laugh.

“You know Marcus, I can’t imagine he ever really ‘dates’ a girl for long. Let’s just say we have been seeing each other for a couple of months now,” I admit to Tasha.

“I thought you were dating John Devereaux, that hot shot attorney who wins all of those million dollar cases?”

“I still see him on occasion,” I reply.

“Does Marcus know?” Tasha asks intrigued by the circumstances of my love life.

“He did and he will.”

“What’s that supposed to mean exactly?”

“When we first started, you know…I was dating John. Then a month or so into it, Marcus said he wanted me to give up John, so I did. I still talk to John now and then. He invited me to see U2 this weekend and I said yes.”

“Do you think Marcus will care?”

“I have no idea.”

“So you guys aren’t exclusive or anything?”

“I vaguely remember Marcus using that same word, but come on, would you ever take a player like Marcus seriously?” I ask incredulously.

“He seemed pretty into you at Club Zero the other night,” Tasha observes.

“Really, after all of those drinks he had, who could tell?” I say with a shoulder shrug, feeling perturbed as my memory of him passing out in my bed that night comes to mind.

“Speak of the devil,” Tasha says looking over my shoulder. Marcus and Christopher just walked up to the counter to order.

“Let’s go, I need to get back to my office.” Tasha and I walk out and we say hello to Marcus and Christopher, but keep walking.

Chapter 8

Marcus

“You sly dog, I thought you usually don’t dip into the office pool?” Christopher asks me once we sit down for lunch.

“I know, I usually don’t. I don’t know what came over me,” I say.

“I bet I know
who
came all over you,” Christopher says, talking derogatorily about Sophie angers me.

“Hey, it’s not like that. Don’t talk about Sophie like that,” I say heatedly.

“Alright, I’m sorry man. I’ve never seen you like this about any girl before,” Christopher observes.

“Yeah, well, what can I say? She’s something special,” I remark a little more calmly now.

“She’s a nice girl and I like her. I just don’t know what she’s doing with you. Quite honestly, it surprises the hell out of me,” Christopher says practically scratching his head.

“Really, why is it such a surprise? I’m a nice guy,” I say with a sly smile. Even though I don’t blame Christopher for being surprised, I was surprised myself how easily I got her into bed, or should I say how easily she got me into bed.

“You are a nice guy, but you don’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to the female persuasion,” Christopher says in all seriousness.

“I know, I know. But it’s different this time, I feel like Sophie is my equal. There’s no bull shit, no head games and she has this smart and sassy attitude that I love about her,” I reflect.

“Hunter, you have it bad. Wow, I never thought I would see the day,” Christopher says with a chuckle. He’s right, I do have it bad for Sophie, and I didn’t see this one coming. I’m blindsided by these feelings I have for her. It was just supposed to be a fling, as the girls in my life usually are, but it has turned into something more. I find myself wanting more with her. Here’s the thing, she could care less about having more. I know she loves the sex with me, what can I say, I know I’m good. But the ironic thing is, the sex may be all it is for her. Nobody would ever believe me if I told them that she was the one using me, nobody. Christopher here would think I’ve been drinking the Kool Aid or something. Besides I wouldn’t admit that to anyone. They would have the best laugh at my expense, the player is being played at his own game by the first woman he actually cares about for once. It’s pure hypocrisy.

“What do you think of the new girl Cassie Long? She’s pretty hot,” Christopher remarks with a cocked eyebrow.

“She’s alright, Sophie is hotter in my opinion,” I answer.

“Cassie was flirting with you big time at the Club the other night. She asked me about you later.”

“Not interested,” I say flat out and I mean it.

“I can’t get over this change in you,” Christopher says with a shake of his head, “well, maybe I’ll ask her out.”

“Be my guest,” I say with a shrug.

I stop by Sophie’s office after lunch.

“Tonight?”

“Yes,”

“Let me take you to dinner tonight, where would you like to go?”

“How about The Ivy in Beverly Hills?” she asks sweetly.

“Perfect, I will go and make reservations,” I say standing up fighting the urge to kiss her. Marcus, Marcus, Marcus what am I going to do with you.

Chapter 9

Sophie

Marcus comes by my office at 6:30 so we can make our dinner reservations tonight at 7:00. As we are walking out together his father, Mr. Hunter to me, gets on the elevator with us. His father must know about us by now. We all ride the elevator down in an awkward silence. Then his Dad gives us a curious stare as we say our goodnights and walk off towards Marcus’ car together. I don’t say a word about it. I’m sure his father just figures I’m Marcus’ flavor of the week and I’m fine with that, because that is what I am.

“My Dad asked about you and me when I had dinner with my parents the other night,” Marcus says, bringing up what I didn’t need to talk about.

“Oh,” is all I say.

“Do you even care what he said?” Marcus asks as if he is irritated for some reason.

“Sure, what did he say?” I ask just to appease him.

“He warned me about getting involved with someone in the office.”

“Is he worried I will file a sexual harassment suit against you,” I tease with a smirk.

“I told him I was serious about you,” he says totally catching me off guard. I don’t even know how to respond. I look down at my plate.

“And what did he say?” is the best I can do.

“He scoffed at me, like he didn’t believe me.”

“Oh.”

“Do you believe me?” Marcus asks.

“I must say, I find it hard to believe,” I say with a heavy sigh. I just don’t want to go there right now.

“Well, over time you’ll see,” Marcus says cryptically. I want to change the subject.

“So how are things going with Mr. Neal Douglas?” I ask trying to change the subject.

“Nice change of subject,” he says with zero expression, “difficult as usual,” he sighs out.

“He is so demanding, I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore. At least he doesn’t undress you with his eyes,” I laugh.

After dinner we go back to my place and I can’t wait for sexy time with Marcus. I found myself lusting over him during dinner, he still fills me with this intense desire whenever I’m near him. I find myself focusing on those hands of his, remembering his touch alone makes me throb between my legs.

Once I tell him I’m seeing John this weekend, I don’t know what he will do, how he will react. I get in bed tonight with Marcus and I realize it may be my last night with him. I need to make the most of every touch, every feeling, every nuance, as if to burn it into my memory forever. So, I’m going to enjoy his body as if this is the last time. I suppose I’m being melodramatic, but I can’t help it, that’s how I feel.

I want to please him tonight as he sits down on the edge of my bed stripped bare for me. I kneel in front of him and take him in my mouth, loving his shaft with flicks of my tongue around his crown and then up and down along its ridges. He just looks down at me with the most pleased look on his face, I love giving him pleasure. Love the taste of him on my tongue. I rake my free hand up and down his smooth chest and along his sinful six pack abs. All of these emotions are running through my mind. I never enjoy doing this, but with Marcus I don’t think twice about pleasing him this way. That’s how I know I have these strong feelings for him that scare me. He could break me so easily, but I won’t give him the chance to. This has to end, so I will give him this last night of pleasure.

Hours later and we’re both fully satiated. It’s now two in the morning and he’s holding me so close in his arms, warm, safe and sound after our slow and tender lovemaking. So much about it was different tonight.

“I want to take you to the symphony tomorrow night, the firm has tickets we can use,” he offers.

“I have plans tomorrow night, I’m sorry,” I whisper, as I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing myself for the wrath that’s sure to follow.

“Oh, what are you doing?” he asks cautiously.

“I’m going to the U2 concert,” I reply.

“I didn’t know you like U2. Who are you going with?” he inquires gently. Suddenly, I’m afraid to tell him. My heart starts racing and I wish I never agreed to go. I involuntarily hug Marcus closer to me to bury my face in his chest and breathe him in.

“John,” I finally answer in a whisper and my insides tighten. Marcus doesn’t say a word for the longest time and my entire being is aching inside. Why did I do this to us? I’m not ready to let him go. He starts to pull away from me and I hold him tighter.

“Sophie, let go,” he says in a voice I barely recognize.

“When were you going to tell me?” he asks, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

“I’m telling you now.” He rakes his hands though his hair in exasperation. I don’t flinch.

“I’m not happy about it,” he says. I say nothing. “Do you care? Sophie you are…” he stops, not finishing his sentence.

“I’m what?” I finally ask. You wonder why I said yes to John. I said yes because I know secretly deep down inside I’m falling for Marcus. I’m not good at just sleeping with someone outside of a committed relationship. I thought it would be easy to do with someone like Marcus, but when you do something as intimate as what we do together, I can’t stop these feelings from surfacing. As hard as I try to ignore them, they are there staring me in the face every single time we make love. They are real. I can sense Marcus feels them too, I know he does and I bet it scares the living daylights out of him. I know it scares me and we’re similar. So, to explain my actions, going out with John this weekend is a defense mechanism. A way of protecting my heart. Deep down I’m hoping this will cause Marcus to stop seeing me, then we will be forced to end this. It’s not good for us. Well, it is good for us, but you know what I mean…

He pulls himself out of my warm bed and slowly drags his dress shirt on. He’s leaving, he never leaves after our lovemaking. I’m afraid that’s what this has become for us, lovemaking. I wasn’t supposed to feel love towards someone like Marcus. We both agreed, we don’t do love.

I watch him in my moonlit bedroom as he slowly buttons his shirt. I can make out the scowl on his face. One by one he buttons his shirt with his masculine, strong hands working the tiny buttons with his dexterous fingertips that I love to have brushing over my body, tantalizing me. I know with the decision I’ve made I may never have those hands touching me again and my heart is already aching at the thought, but I remain quiet. He pulls on his slacks and then buckles his belt. He glances over at me snuggled under the blankets as I watch him expectantly, with a heavy heart.

He sits on the edge of the bed and leans down and gives me a slow and tender kiss that just about unravels me. It’s meant to be our last kiss.

“Goodbye, Sophie,” he whispers out into my darkened room. I hear a voice in my head yelling “don’t go”, but the words don’t pass my lips. I don’t want him to leave, my whole body aches and I swallow back my tears that are threatening to roll down my cheeks. Stop him Sophie, but I don’t. I can hear the voices in my head, willing me to stop him, but I keep my lips closed tightly together. I’m going to let him make the choice, leave our destiny in his hands. He trails his hand slowly down my body as if to commit it to memory. I know that’s what he’s doing. Then he stands up still looking at me, waiting for me to stop him, to say something. But all I can do is hold back my tears until he leaves and remind myself that this is for the best. Go now Marcus; I don’t want you to see me shed a single tear.

He turns on his heel and walks out of my bedroom and I hear my front door open and close as he leaves my apartment never looking back.

~to be continued~

~Playlist~

Happy – Surface

So Amazing – Luther Vandross

Heartbreak Warfare – John Mayer

I’m About to Come Alive - Train

It Was Always You – Maroon 5

Without You Here – Goo Goo Dolls