She's Captured my Love (Captured #4) Read online

  Straight away Sophie wants to dance, she grabs Libby’s hand and they both head to the dance floor. Libby couldn’t get away from the table quick enough. I watch Sophie as she walks to the dance floor, her hips swaying in time to the music as she does. I turn away from watching, not wanting the others to follow my gaze.

  I try to speak with Alex, which is an impossible task over the beat of the music. He seems a little . . . Off. But then again if he and Libby had words, he’s bound to be. His focus is on one person only . . . Libby. As I look toward the two on the dance floor, they both have so much energy.

  Libby has her back to the table, and as she moves I find myself wishing it was Sophie with her back to me. So I would have a perfect view of her shaking that ass. I turn away because I’m only torturing myself.

  Why now?

  Why start feeling now, Ethan?

  Kirsty makes conversation easy at the table; I get the feeling she is fully aware of what is bothering Alex and trying to lighten the mood. I find myself wishing Stephen had come out with us tonight, but he had plans with Sally. Although I am not sure he and Alex could be around each other for long periods of time.

  I know how much Stephen cares for Libby; he’s never tried to hide it. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, he will always be there for her, no matter what. But he has spent less time, outside of work, in her company.

  Like everyone else close to us, I thought when she and Jeff split up they would hook up. Especially after all the help he was to her, when I was so bloody useless. He was there for her, to deal with that piece of shit.

  I still get angry with myself for not being there for Libby when she needed me the most.

  I think Stephen knew then nothing would ever happen with the two of them. She only sees him as her second brother. My best friend. I’m glad he has Sally now; whether or not anything more will come of their relationship, we will have to wait and see.

  The girls make their way back to our table. Although from watching Sophie, she would much rather be on the dance floor. Libby slides into the seat beside Alex; he smiles and wraps his arm around her.

  Thank God, for that. I won’t interfere in their relationship, unless he hurts her, and Alex is well aware of what I will do to him if he hurts her again.

  “A toast,” I call over the music, grabbing everyone’s attention. “To beautiful new beginnings. New relationships, new friends, new family.”

  “To beautiful new beginnings.” My eyes fall on the gorgeous American in the sexy black dress. She smiles, but yet doesn’t turn away. She looks amazing. I didn’t take the time at the flat to truly appreciate how she looked tonight.

  The others all chat amongst themselves. Libby and Alex look to be making up. Sophie smiles as she watches the two.

  “Looks like we will just have to talk to each other,” I say to her as she turns back to me. Her eyes shift to Kirsty and Jay, who are otherwise engaged, snogging in the corner.

  “That might not be a bad thing,” she whispers. Me? I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

  “So, what do you want to talk about?” I ask her.

  “Let’s see.” Her voice lowers and her eyes follow my arm. At first I think she’s watching my beer. “What about your tattoo? Is that the only one you have?” I look at my shirt and it’s slightly visible through the material. Now I see where this is going. Although she would have seen this one last night when I had a t-shirt on.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I tease her, taking a long drink from my bottle of beer. Right now I’m wishing we were sitting in the booth part of our table and not these seats. Because I would lean back, with my arm draped along the top of the seating. Just close enough so she would feel me against her back.

  I need to lose these thoughts. Fuck, her brother is marrying my sister. I shouldn’t even be thinking about her in this way. I shouldn’t be thinking about any girl in this way.

  It’s far too soon.

  I look into her deep brown eyes and feel something unfamiliar in the pit of my stomach. Her smile screams sexy at me.

  This is wrong on so many levels. So why does it feel so right?

  She leans in toward my ear. That in itself is a complete distraction, but when her hand rest’s on my thigh and starts to move, I’m done for. “I really do want to see if that’s the only tattoo you have.” Now, is it the alcohol that is making her so forward, or is she normally like this?

  No. She can’t do this. I’m a man, I’m only human.

  Her hand moves slowly up my thigh. And I desperately need to do something before I’m obviously straining in my jeans.

  Think. Ethan. Think.

  But nothing comes to mind. All I want to do is strip her from that sexy dress and see what she’s wearing underneath.

  This girl is going to be my undoing.

  She removes her hand and giggles, in that really cute way girls do so well, and takes a drink.

  ‘What the hell am I doing?’ I think. You’re playing with fire here and going to end up in so much trouble. I don’t understand this at all. There is definitely an attraction between us and it’s not just one sided. I hope. I felt it last night, and now as my eyes fall on her, I feel it all over again.

  “If you play your cards right, you just might get to see it and find out if I have anymore!” Why the hell would I say that? Her eyes light up with my words. Words that I shouldn’t have said. But I did say them and I do mean them.

  My attention is grabbed with my sister leading Alex to the dance floor. I watch them as they start to move, slowly. I smile watching them; they are happy and very much in love, and boy do they move well together. I turn away from the floor show they are putting on. This I don’t need to see. But it does get me thinking; I wouldn’t mind being on the dance floor with Sophie.

  Our waiter comes back to the table and I order more drinks for everyone. Sophie and Kirsty fall into a giggly conversation. Jay and I talk football; it seems he’s just as big a Celtic fan as I am.

  Drinks flow quickly at our table as the night goes on. Kirsty and Jay decide to dance. ‘I hope I do get the chance to ask Sophie to dance,’ I think as I watch her heading back to the dance floor with Libby. Leaving me with Alex.

  “Let’s get this out the way, shall we?” Alex states.

  “What?”

  “You and my sister.” Oh fuck. “You don’t need to say anything. Just listen. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.” He sounds a little drunk.

  “Alex . . .”

  “Ethan, don’t. I don’t know what’s going on in your mind, but I do have an idea. If it’s anything like how I felt in the beginning with Libby, then you have to act on it.” Seriously, I don’t believe he’s saying this to me. Maybe Libby has said something to him.

  “I don’t know if I can.” I sigh heavily. “It’s way too soon.”

  “Look, I’m not one to give out advice, but if it feels right, can it be so wrong? But remember Sophie IS my sister.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Well, don’t say anything and I won’t say another word on the subject. Now, the tickets Libby got me for the Celtic versus Rangers game, are you going to join us?” I can’t believe I’ve just heard what he’s said to me about Sophie and then he does a quick conversation change. Christ, maybe the drink is playing mind games with us all tonight, because the Alex I know, wouldn’t be saying this to me.

  “You’re asking a stupid question.” We both laugh and all tension that I felt moments ago is lifted.

  The girls return to the table and again more drinks are ordered. Although I do notice Alex talks Libby into drinking some water. There is no way she will make a ten o’clock meeting with the priest in the morning to discuss wedding dates. I smirk at the thought. I’m sure Alex will need to drag her in the morning if he can get her out of her bed. I still can’t believe they got a meeting so quickly.

  Libby and hangovers don’t go well.

  “Let’s dance,” Sophie says, grabbing my attentio
n.

  “Yes,” is my short answer, as she takes my hand and leads me onto the dance floor. The others are still talking and don’t even notice us leaving the table. Her hips sway in time to the beat as she walks.

  Christ, it’s been so long since I’ve been dancing, what happens if I’ve forgotten how to do this? She stops, and I suddenly feel nervous about this. She spins around to face me and I know that look well. A look of desire in her eyes. Lust. I smile as I place my hands on her hips and we start to dance.

  She wraps her hands around me and slides them in my back pockets and pulls me closer.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  This girl has such an effect on me and from the smile on her face, she can feel the effect she has on me. There is no denying it. I want her. All of her. To taste, to tease and to be buried deep within.

  We move in time to the music and I can’t take my eyes from her. There is no one else here with us in this sea of people. She pulls out of my arms and I spin her around, trying to relieve the sexual tension that is building between us.

  I pull her back into my arms quickly, wanting to feel her close to me again. I need to feel her. I want my lips on her tasting, exploring.

  “I’m taking your sister home,” Alex says as he taps my shoulder. I look at Libby, who is more than just a little drunk.

  “Okay, take care of her,” I tell him.

  “You don’t need to tell me that. Your sister is my number one priority. Now, my other concern . . . is my sister, make sure she gets home? Okay?”

  “Understood.”

  I turn back to Sophie, who will now get my undivided attention. She turns her back to me, and that fine looking ass moves closer. Inching closer until there’s no space between us. She looks over her shoulder at me, with a wicked sexy grin on her face, as she pushes her ass into the one part of me that is looking for relief.

  Oh, she is such a tease. In a good way.

  I love hearing the noises she’s making right now. Not so sweet and innocent and definitely not shy.

  I’ve told Alex I would make sure she got home okay, but there is not a hope in hell of that happening.

  Sophie Mathews will be spending the night with me. Of that I’m sure. We both want this.

  CLOSING THE DOOR TO MY home, I press Sophie against the wall. My lips find hers with urgency as my hands run over her body. She responds quickly with the same passion and desire. I’ve wanted to kiss her like this since the start of the night, and now that I have her I’m not sure I will ever let her go. I was beginning to think this, our very first kiss would never happen.

  And boy, does she taste so much better than I had imagined.

  The taxi ride home with Kirsty and Jay was torture. The two of them couldn’t keep their hands off each other. I had to sit there and pretend I didn’t want to do the same thing with Sophie. Quite the show they put on; I think they had completely forgotten they weren’t alone.

  I feel my heart racing, deep within my chest, as her hands tug roughly on my hair. There is a charge of energy between us that has been lingering all night. The mild and not so mild flirting, on both our parts.

  I open my eyes and draw back slowly to take her in. Standing here in the shadows of the hall way, her figure looks amazing. I can also see the slight flush in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes.

  “Ethan . . .” There is something in the way my name rolls off her tongue that makes me feel weak. I stand watching her, looking for a clue that she might just have changed her mind about being here with me tonight.

  Fuck, if she has . . . I can’t go down that road. Can’t think like that.

  Her hand runs up my arm, pausing on my bicep, tracing the outlines of my tattoo through my shirt. Her touch is soft, but I don’t want soft. I need to feel her.

  All of her.

  “Ethan, are we staying here in the hall way all night?” she asks.

  “No,” I answer her breathlessly. Taking her hand, I walk toward the staircase. But I stop and change my mind and head to the kitchen instead. Nerves. Is that what it is? I lean against the table and shake my head.

  What the fuck am I playing at?

  “Why are we here?” she asks, wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning into my back. I close my eyes and try to think straight.

  The alcohol is playing tricks with me. Would I really have brought Sophie here if I had been sober? To the house I shared with my wife?

  What the fuck was I thinking? I’m not sure I can do this now that I’m here. It doesn’t feel right. All around me are memories of Lindsay.

  “Don’t think,” she whispers. “Just act.” I don’t think I can just act. I am such a fool.

  “Ethan . . .”

  I turn around and face her. Leaning forward, I press my lips to hers and don’t wait for her response. Her lips are perfect and taste divine. I moan softly as the warmth of her mouth moulds in response to mine. I taste fruit as her tongue invades my mouth; I now think of the many cocktails she’s been drinking all night. The palms of her hands run slowly up the front of my shirt stopping at the buttons.

  “Not, yet,” I say, pulling away from our kiss.

  I do want this. Would one night with Sophie be so bad? Would it make me a bad person?

  I hope not.

  “Ethan . . .” Her voice sounds pained. I’m not pulling back altogether; I just need to slow things down between us. I don’t want to rush this. I want to enjoy my time with her. God, it’s been so long since I’ve done this. “What’s wrong? I can leave if you want.”

  I look into her eyes at her words and see a sadness, disappointment. No! She thinks I’m rejecting her. She looks down at the floor.

  No!

  I tilt her chin so she can see and understand my next words. “You are going nowhere. I want you so much.” I watch as she takes in what I’ve just said. The corners of her mouth twitch and a slow smile spreads until it reaches those amazing eyes.

  “So, what exactly are you waiting for?” Her voice playfully teasing me.

  I lean forward until our lips are almost touching. I shift my hands from her chin until they frame her sexy face.

  “Nothing, I just want to make sure you want this as much as I do.”

  “If I didn’t want this, I wouldn’t be here. Effectively in a strange man’s house, alone.” She smirks.

  “So, I’m strange?” I whisper. She shivers.

  “Yes, you’re still very much a stranger to me.”

  “Is that right?” She nods. “Well, I certainly won’t be a stranger in the morning. I will be very well acquainted with every inch of your glorious body.” She moans and the sound sends chills all down my spine.

  I want this girl in my bed. Pulling away, I take her hand, and decide it’s time she was in my bed. We make our way back out into the hallway and this time I don’t hesitate at the staircase. Keeping her hand in mine, I find myself stroking it with the pad of my thumb.

  I stop walking and open the door to my room, inviting her in. This is harder than I thought it would be; it suddenly feels wrong. Disrespectful even. She walks in slowly in front of me, but stops when she realises I haven’t followed her in.

  I need to put all thoughts of Lindsay away.

  “Ethan, don’t think. I’ve already told you I want this.” Her words have the desired effect. I step toward her and grab hold of her.

  “So do I,” I whisper, as I lean in and place a soft kiss on her neck. She arches it to the side, giving me more access. Her skin tastes so sweet and addictive.

  One taste is never going to be enough.

  She pulls away and walks further into the room. Guilt floods me as I take in the many items belonging to Lindsay around the room. My eyes fall to the floor. I don’t think I’m capable of doing this yet.

  “Ethan . . .” I lift my head and our eyes lock as she pulls the zipper on the back of her dress. “I said I want you.” My eyes widen as she lets the dress fall to the floor.

  “Fuck.” She now stands before me wearin
g only a G-string and four-inch heels.

  “I thought that was the idea,”

  I take steps toward her, not removing my eyes from hers. Even though I want to do nothing more than enjoy running them all over her sexy body. Her eyes don’t wander from mine; they’re brimming with desire.

  Reaching her, I pull her body tight to me. Holding her close, feeling the soft skin of her back under my hands. It makes me realise I need to feel skin-on-skin. I need to taste her again. All of her.

  Her lips meet mine with lust. All thoughts and doubts I had leave me. Desire sky rockets through me. I can’t get enough of her.

  I guide her closer to the bed without breaking our contact until we stop at the edge. Her eyes fly open and her lips leave mine. Instantly I miss our connection. Her hands leave my back and work their way to the buttons on my shirt. I want her to hurry, but at the same time slow down. I want to enjoy every moment of our time together.

  She takes her time, drawing out this moment between us, as she unfastens the buttons on my shirt. I think about her teasing question in Blaze earlier tonight. Yes, she is about to find out if I have any more tattoos. Her giggling diverts my thoughts as she struggles with the final button.

  “Let me,” I say in amusement as I watch the concentration on her face. I loosen the button and shrug the shirt off.

  Her eyes widen as she takes in what’s on my skin.

  “So, it’s not the only one you have,” she says. Sophie reaches out with her hand and her fingers start tracing the tattoos, starting with the words. She then makes her way slowly to the largest one on my arm. This one has meaning to me, the others I have because I wanted them. They all meant something at the time, but this one is different. It’s a reminder. I hope she doesn’t question me about it because I’m not ready to discuss it.

  I run my hands across her shoulders and down onto her pert breasts. Her nipples hardening under my touch. Her nails scrape lightly against my skin as she moans.