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THIRTEEN
Sofia
Our first night in Napa Valley, Bren and I stay up all night fucking. We take breaks between rounds to talk about anything and everything. The next day, I sleep in, missing most of it. I’m a little bummed I didn’t wake up early enough to enjoy the majestic place, but I was utterly exhausted.
When I realize how late it is, I reach over for Bren, but the cold emptiness of his side of the bed greets me instead. I sit up, looking around the room for him until my eyes land on a note on his pillow.
* * *
Went for a swim.You may want to get dressed.
You will have visitors when you get up.
— Bren
* * *
Visitors?Who the hell is he having over when it is supposed to be just us? I frown, but he is right. We have to stop picking stupid fights, so I won’t voice my protest. My rebellion, however, knows no bounds. Instead of listening to him and getting dressed, I walk over to the French doors that lead to the upper terrace outside our room and open them. It’s almost sunset, and the view of Mt. Elena and the sprawling hills of Napa Valley is spectacularly sun-kissed by the golden hour. I take a deep gulp of air. This must be what heaven is like—complete serenity surrounded by grapes and wine.
The sound of water turns my attention away from the spectacular view and downward. Bren’s massive back and muscular arms glide and slice through the water of the infinity-edge lap pool. I bite my lip at the sight of all those muscles glistening under the water. The lap pool looks inviting, and I think about having my own swim when he is done. A naked swim, maybe, to enjoy those spectacular vistas. That sounds amazing.
I am watching Bren swim, unbeknownst to him, when the sound of Andreas yelling pulls my attention away. “Whoa, whoa! What are you doing?”
I was so busy watching Bren, I didn’t notice when Andreas walked out of the pool house. He has a stack of towels in his arms and is now pulling the top one in front of his face to cover it. Confused, I look down and realize I’m naked. And he can see all of it through the iron railing. Shit. I cover my breasts with my hands.
Bren must have heard Andreas’s booming voice at the sight of me, and he shoots straight up out of the water, startled. He wipes water from his face and looks around. “What’s going on?” he snaps.
Andreas can only blindly point in my direction from behind the towel.
Bren’s gaze follows the direction Andreas indicates, and I try to take a step back, but I am too late. He sees me. Shit. I dash back into the room and close the terrace doors behind me. Shit. Shit. Shit. I grab my underwear from the floor and have started dressing when the thunderous steps of an angry Bren roar over the stairs, getting closer and closer.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he barks as he enters the bedroom. He holds a towel around his waist, and his rippling muscles are all taut from his anger. His jaw is set, his eyes black and murderous. “Sofia!” he snaps when I don’t answer, but his mouth is turning upward into a half-smirk. I know he is trying to hold back a smile because I am checking him out. An Angry Bren is sexy as all hell.
“I was just watching you swim,” I say and approach him slowly until I can press my palms to his chest. I draw my hands down his abs, and when I reach for the towel, he grabs my wrist and shakes his head.
“What am I going to do with you? Andreas saw you naked.”
“I’m sorry,” I say to appease him.
Bren’s eyes narrow. Water is still dripping from his hair down his face. “Are you?” he asks.
I bite my lip, unsure if he wants my honesty or not. But what do I want from him if not honesty? I can’t expect one thing and offer another, so I answer as truthfully as possible and shake my head. “No. Not really.”
“Scheisse!Sofia!”
“I’m sorry, Bren. I’m trying to be honest here. I don’t care if Andreas saw me naked. I don’t care if anyone sees me naked.”
His gaze turns murderous, and the smirk disappears into his setting jaw. “Sofia, no one knows about us yet, but as soon as it gets out, the paparazzi will go crazy over you. Do you want your naked body plastered on every tabloid in the world?”
In the world? I shift where I stand, uncomfortable, imagining a Mexican tabloid in the local store where my mother shops regularly. I shake my head. “No. I wouldn’t want public photos of me naked.” I don’t point out the estate is secluded, and there isn’t anyone around for miles because he is right. If there’s a chance of photos in the future, I need to start being more careful.
“Will you please be more careful?”
“I will. I promise.”
“Good. I’d hate to have to fire Andreas. He’s been with me a long time.”
I laugh, thinking he is joking, but stop when I see the wrinkle forming between his brows. “Sorry. Please don’t fire Andreas.”
