Page 14 of Nobody's Girl

Sofia had gone straight back to Desiree’s apartment. She had the day off and Desiree was at work, so she had time to process what had happened. She stripped off and stepped under a hot shower. Ivo was going to be a father. That’s what it looked like. So what, Sofia told herself, it’s not like you were with him, or that he cheated or anything. He is not yours, Amory. And he would make a fantastic father.

But she couldn’t help the painful lump that had settled in her chest. He’d been about to kiss her, she was sure, and, god, she had longed for that moment for weeks, but maybe this was the best. He would obviously reunite with the mother of his child and she, Sofia, could carry on being his friend, carry on working for Desiree, under the radar but settled, safe and building an independent life.

She dried her hair and dressed, then pulled out her sketch book. She had been working on a pencil portrait of Ivo, from memory, but now she turned the page to a fresh page. Thinking for a long moment, she began to draw an outline, a random building, one of the gorgeous apartment buildings she’d seen along the Seine. She focused in on the details she could visualize and got so into it she didn’t hear the soft knock at the door at first. Looking up as another knock came, she shoved her sketch pad under her pillow and went to answer the door. Her heart began to thump when she saw Ivo outside.

Ivo grinned at her, but his eyes gave away his wariness. “Hey you. You okay?”

She gave him a cheery smile, then realized how fake it looked. “I’m good. How was your friend?”

“Pregnant, but you knew that. Came I come in?”

Sofia shook herself. “Sorry, yes, of course.”

Ivo touched her cheek as he walked in. “Come sit with me, I need to talk to you.”

She followed him into the living room and he held out his hand and made her sit next to him. Sofia felt her face flame. “So…”

“So…yes, the baby is mine.”

Okay, rip the Band-Aid off. “Congratulations.”

Ivo smiled. “Thank you. Even though I was blindsided, I think I’m pretty excited about it.”

Seeing his joy made Sofia’s heart lighter. As long as he was happy, it was all she wanted for him. “I mean it, Ivo, you’ll make a wonderful dad. Believe me, I know about bad parenting.”

He stroked a finger down her face. “Sofia…Clemence and I are not getting back together. Neither of us want that. She’s moved on and is happy. I’ve moved on too.”

“But the baby?”

“I’ll be as involved as she’ll let me be. It’s a girl, by the way. Poesy, that’s what Clemence wants to call her.” He pulled the sonogram picture out and showed it to her. Sofia saw the happiness in his eyes and smiled.

“She’s beautiful.”

Ivo chuckled. “You’re sweet – I still can’t make out what’s what part of her.”

Sofia giggled and pointed. “That’s the head, doofus.”

“It is?” He put the sonogram down on the coffee table, then took Sofia’s hands. “Sofia, I think you know what I’m about to say. There’s no chance of Clem and I reuniting because I’m already crazy someone else and I don’t even think I need to tell you who it is, but I want to say the words. I want to be with you, Sofia Amory.”

Sofia felt her cheeks flame and she began to tremble. Ivo leaned in and finally, she felt his lips against hers. Ivo kissed her tenderly, his lips moving slowly against hers. Sweet sensations shivered through her body and then he was pulling her closer. Her fingers tangled in his hair as they drank each other in, panting for air. “You have made me feel so wanted, so cared for and I adore you, so, so, much,” she whispered and Ivo smiled, his beautiful green eyes filling with tears.

His hands slid under her t-shirt and she gasped at the feel of his hands on her skin. She had never wanted anyone so badly – and she had never done this before, but her hands seemed to have a mind of their own, roaming over his hard body.

He pushed her back gently on the couch, pushing her t-shirt up and pressing his lips to her belly. Sofia sighed with pleasure as his tongue circled her navel then dipped into it, his fingers at the buttons on her denim shorts. She felt no nervousness as he gently slid her shorts, then her underwear down her legs. She had imagined this moment with a guy a hundred times before, wondered if she’d be shy, cover her groin, be scared that he’d think she was ugly down there, but with this man, this man who had saved her life, who had given her a life, she wanted him to explore every inch of her. The moment his mouth found her clit, she gasped at the feeling of his tongue lashing around the sensitive nub, teasing it into a state of unbearable excitement.

“Ivo...”

He looked up and grinned, his eyes twinkling, alive with desire. “You’re so pretty, baby,” he whispered. She stroked his dark curls as he continued to pleasure her. He brought her to a shattering climax, before scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to her bedroom. Her lips found his chest as she pulled his t-shirt off, her own tongue flicking around his nipples. Ivo freed her breasts from her bra and caressed them, and Sofia impatiently went for his zipper. When she freed his cock from his underwear, it was already ramrod hard and pulsating in her hands. He was huge. Suddenly she was scared. How the hell am I going to be able to take him inside me?

“Ivo…I…” She couldn’t get the words out. Ivo kissed her then gazed back at her with concerned eyes.

“What is it, baby?”

Just say it. “I’m a virgin.” She waited for him to bolt up and looked shocked and uncomfortable. Instead he gave her a gentle smile.

“I figured. Sofia, we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”