Sophie focused all her attention on Sam, leaning in and touching his arm. When she moved to shift closer, she realized Ashton had put his foot up on the bench between her and Sam. Sophie tried to push it away but he was unmoving. He didn’t flinch as Sophie reached up his pants and pinched his leg. When Sam leaned in and told her he was having a wonderful time, the guilt surfaced. She was leading him on and it was completely unfair. She smiled and then excused herself to go to the washroom.
Sophie stood in the bathroom for a few minutes to clear her head before she opened the door to return to the table. She was surprised to come face to face with Ashton in the hall, leaning against the wall. It was just the two of them standing in the dark narrow hallway. He pushed himself off the wall.
“What?” she asked angrily. “Bored with your date already?”
“Don’t sleep with him,” Ashton ordered.
“It’s none of your business who I sleep with,” Sophie bit back. “Go back to your date. It was your idea to play matchmaker, after all.”
“I told her I didn’t want to be with her and she stormed out.” Ashton shrugged his shoulders. “Tell Sam to go home, you don’t want to be with that stiff.”
“You have no right to tell me what I should do.” She stepped forward and stabbed her finger against his solid chest. “If I want to bring him back to my apartment and show him what a good ‘dancer’ I am, that’s my business.”
“Fuck no.” Ashton grabbed her finger. “He can’t have you because I want you.” He stepped forward, pinning her against the wall. Looking down at her, he slipped his arm around her waist. Sophie didn’t resist. I want you too!
“Ashton!” She pressed against his chest with her hands, trying to force space between them. He refused as he steeled himself against her attempt to escape. He brought his lips down toward hers, only a breath away. “Tell me you want me to kiss you,” he whispered against her lips. Everywhere his body touched hers, a tingling heat spread through her. Her body acted of its own accord, arching toward him. Ashton’s hands ran up the length of her body before cupping her face. “Tell me to kiss you…please. I need this,” Ashton pleaded against her lips. The scent of him was intoxicating, causing her instincts to take over, clouding her mind. How can I say no when every cell in my body is screaming yes?
Her hands reached up and grabbed the hem of his shirt, her fingers gliding over the rippled flesh of his stomach, and he took a deep ragged breath in response. “Kiss me,” she whispered. The words were barely past her lips when he claimed her mouth, pressing his body into hers. His tongue explored her mouth like she was the most delicious thing he had tasted and she lost herself in the passion, returning the fervor.
“Wait…” Sophie pulled back, breathless. “Sam…I need to talk to Sam.”
“No need.” Sam’s voice was angry. He was standing at the entrance of the hall, staring at them with a mixture of anger and disappointment. Sophie had never seen him look so devastated.
“Sam!” Sophie pushed away from Ashton. “I’m sorry, Sam…I—”
“Don’t bother. I think we can call it a night.” Sam turned on his heel and stalked away.
“Sam!” Sophie started after him but Ashton grabbed her arm.
“Let him go.”
“But I hurt him.” Sophie let her shoulders drop.
“He’s a big boy, he’ll get over it. Besides, he’s not your type anyway.”
“And you know what my type is?” Sophie raised her brow at him.
“Yes…me.” Ashton reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear.
“You’re impossible.” Sophie shook her head and took off after Sam. She felt horrible for what she had done to him. She couldn’t leave things like they were. She walked quickly toward the exit and out onto the sidewalk. She saw him walking down the street and she ran after him. When she neared him she called out his name. “Sam! Please, let me talk to you.”
He kept walking and said nothing, only glancing back at her. Sophie could see the pain in his eyes. “I never meant to hurt you. I don’t know what’s going on between Ashton and me. I’ve known him for years and he’d always hated me…he caught me off guard.”
“He doesn’t hate you now,” Sam said in a clipped tone but his pace slowed and it gave Sophie some relief knowing he was willing to hear her out.
“That’s just it. He’s just playing with me and I’m stupid enough to fall into his trap…I just need you to know that I care for you, Sam, but I can’t give you what you need from me. I should never have agreed to come out tonight. I can’t leave things like this between us. I value our friendship.”
Sam stopped and turned toward her. “I need to know if we could ever be more than friends.” Sam looked at her, his eyes full of emotion.
“Sam.” Sophie took a deep breath before she continued. “I have thought about what it would be like to be with you. You’re a wonderful man, with so many good qualities. You deserve to be loved and you need to know that I could never give you that. It would be selfish for me to enter a relationship with you knowing that there’s nothing for me to give. I gave my heart to someone a long time ago and it was broken beyond repair. I learned the hard way that love isn’t for me. Please understand.” Sophie couldn’t believe the confession she made to Sam. It came directly from her heart and it was a truth she had buried deep.
“I appreciate you telling me this. You will always have my friendship, Sophie, but I just need to clear my head. I have always hoped we could be more. I just need some time, okay?” His shoulders were drooped and he looked defeated, but the force of his anger had passed.
“Okay.” Sophie said softly. Sophie watched Sam continue walking down the street. She jumped when Ashton moved into view beside her.
“Oh my god.” Sophie put her hand against her chest. “You scared me.”
“Who was he?” Ashton asked, standing beside her.
“What are you talking about?” Sophie asked thoughtfully as she watched Sam turn the corner and leave her line of view.
“Who did you give your heart to?”
“You heard that? Do me a favor and forget it.” Sophie sighed and headed down the street. She wanted to be home.
Ashton easily kept up beside her. “Come on. I want to know.”
“You weren’t supposed to hear that and I don’t want to talk about it. In fact, I want to walk home and not talk at all.”
“Fine. We don’t have to talk.”
After Sophie realized he was going to keep walking with her she glowered at him. “Are you planning on following me all the way home?”
“I’m not following you. I just happen to be going in the same direction.” He smirked.
When Sophie turned onto her street she looked over at Ashton, who had an amused expression upon his face.
“You didn’t have to walk me home.”
“I figured I might as well since I’m going to the same place.” His deep blue eyes looked at her and she had to stop herself from being drawn closer to him, still her feet from wanting to move toward him. She had no control when it came to him. Why am I drawn to such an arrogant jerk who always takes whatever he wants with no consideration for the destruction he causes?
“You’re not coming to my place.”
“Yes, I am. We need to talk.”
“I don’t really feel like talking right now.” Sophie pushed open the front door and continued to her apartment.
“I know something else we can do then,” Ashton said suggestively as he followed her in spite of her protest. He pulled out his phone and pushed some buttons before holding it up to show the truth or dare screen. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” Sophie responded, turning around to stand in front of her door, her arms crossed.
“Let me in your apartment.” His lazy crooked smile was adorable and sexy and she knew there was no way that she was having a quiet night to herself.
Sophie unlocked her door and swung it open wide behind her as she walked in. Ashton followed and closed the door behind him. This won’t end well.