Chapter 25


    bsp; There it was. The reason she couldn’t fully enjoy her first sexual experience. Nigel didn’t even


    know her real name. Guilt and disappointment spiraled through her. She’d finally chosen to give herself


    to someone, and her pleasure had been robbed by her lies. She had nobody to me but herself.


    How could she let this go any further? Clearly Nigel cared for her on some level. He’d taken his time,


    he’d made love to her with his mouth, and now he looked as if he was perfectly content with nothing


    more.


    Why couldn’t she have met him before the deceit? Why couldn’t she just tell him who she was and why


    she was here?


    Because her brothers were counting on her and she couldn’t let them down. Miranda had no right to


    take ownership of a family legacy that meant nothing to her anyway.


    “I may be inexperienced,” she told him. “But I’m not naive or dumb. You’ve got to be...frustrated.”


    Again, he let out a throatyugh. “I’ll admit to being a trifle ufortable.”


    His smile slowly faded and those lingering eyes continued to hold her in ce. Another burst of arousal


    slid through her, coupled with fear of all the unknownponents that made up this warped


    rtionship.


    At some point, this was all going to blow up in her face and they were both going to end up hurt. The


    longer she stayed, the more involved they became, the more Sophie knew there would be no good way


    for this to end.


    Nigel sighed and came to his feet. He raked a hand over his mussed hair and stared down at her, then


    offered a soft smile.


    “You look good spread out over my couch,” he told her. “I’ve envisioned you several times, in several


    ways—spread across my bed, in my shower, on my desk.”


    Sophie adjusted her dress and stood, tugging the material down to cover her thighs. “You’ve been


    busy,” she joked, though her nerves were even more out of control than they’d been before he’d


    pleasured her.


    “I told you, I’ve never met a woman like you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and raked his


    thumb over her chin. “Nobody has been able to distract me from work before and nobody has ever


    made me want to put them first in everything. You’ve put some spell on me.”


    Sophie swallowed, unable to form words to follow his deration. This was getting too deep, too


    intimate... But she knew tonight was just a stepping stone for the future. She wasn’t innocent enough to


    think they’d just stop here.


    “I could say the same,” she replied, still recovering from his touch. “I just didn’t expect any of this.”


    She had to tell the truth where she could. Maybe he’d even turn out to be understanding. After all, he’d


    have to see that her attraction to Nigel had nothing at all to do with her n to reveal Miranda for the


    ruthless gold digger Sophie believed her to be.


    But what if he took it badly? What if he threw her out...and then called Miranda to tell her everything?


    She couldn’t bring herself to risk it.


    Owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Lying to his face made her miserable. She’d never felt so guilty, so ugly. But she’d already started this


    and she would see it through.


    “The new responsibilities I’ve given you have nothing at all to do with this attraction,” he told her. “I


    need you to know that. In a very short time, you’ve proven to be a worthy asset.”


    Sophie smiled. “I didn’t think you gave me an extra project to get in my pants. But I’m d to know you


    find my ideas of value.”


    At least she could be a little proud of the effort she’d put into this faux job. If she’d learned anything


    from her father, it was how to work hard no matter the upation.


    She just wished her father would’ve thought more of her and her brothers and shown some real care


    toward them—in his life or in his death. Money and assets aside, she didn’t know why he wouldn’t


    leave them a part of his legacy. Why he would throw it all at Miranda like she deserved more in her


    blingy, snobby life. The woman mainly stayed in New York with her friends and outgoing lifestyle. Her


    ce in Royal was just a getaway.


    Even though Sophie and her father had had a strained rtionship, having everything removed from


    her life where he was concerned seemed so final, so heartbreaking. Like she just had to sever any ties


    she had with him. He was her father, she still loved him and she had nothing of his to hold on to.


    “I’m d you decided to go to the ceremony with me tonight,” Nigel interrupted her thoughts, reaching


    for her hand andcing his fingers with hers. “You may not believe me, but I typically go alone.”


    Sophie tipped her head. “I do find that hard to believe.”


    Nigel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in closer to his solid, powerful body. “And I find it hard to


    believe no man has captured your attention or your heart yet.”


    She stilled. “Is that what you’re after? My heart?”


    Nigel slid his hands over her backside and squeezed. “I’m not looking to fall in love, not when I’m busy


    building an empire and a name for myself. But I wouldn’t mind somepanionship while you’re in


    town.”


    “A fling?” she asked.


    “That’s such a juvenile, crass term.”


    He slid his lips over hers, so softly she had to grip onto his shoulders to keep herself grounded in the


    face of the tenderness.