Doubt (The Connected Series Book 1) (14 page)

The journey to the
Dorchester
seems to whizz by and before I know it, my cab driver is telling me we are here. I pay him and thank him. Stepping out into the cold evening, I am welcomed by the doorman.

“Good evening Miss Bennett, how are you this evening?”

“Evening George, I’m very well, I trust you are too?” I smile.

“Very well, thank you. Mr Roberts is already inside.” he smiles opening the door.

“Thank you.” 

I step into the warmth and spot Doug instantly, my body knows him, and it reacts without prompting. Doug looks up at the sound of my heels clicking on the tile floor. 

“Sophie…” He breathes in relief. He makes his way over to me, excusing himself from the couple he was talking to, “I thought you weren’t coming.” He whispers, leaning in to kiss me.

I subtly move my head to the side, avoiding his mouth; he kisses my cheek, looking a little surprised at my reaction.

“I said I was coming, I wouldn’t miss this, you know that.” I remind him.

“I know I’m sorry.” he looks a little embarrassed and reaches down to take my hand.

“I need to visit the ladies.”

Removing my hand from his I walk to the ladies, relief washes over me as soon as I am out of his sight. Placing my clutch by the sink, I take a deep breath looking at myself in the mirror.
You can do this Sophie
I remind myself. I take a few moments; reapply my lip gloss and go to join everyone else. I spot Miley and Jonathan and walk over to them.

“Sophie.” Miley smiles and embraces me. “Where have you been?” 

“Just to the ladies” I reply, taking a glass of champagne from the waiter. 

“You look sensational tonight,” she grins squeezing my arm, “Doesn’t she Doug?” I look up into his piercing blue eyes, not realising he had joined our group.

“She does, but then she is always breathtaking.” he smiles at me. 

“Ladies and gentlemen. If you would like to make your way to the banquet room, more refreshments and canapés will be served.”

Looking up I see Doug gazing at me, trying to work out how best to deal with the situation perhaps? I’m not sure, but I put a stop to it by taking Miley by the elbow and steering her along with everyone else. The room is breathtaking, light and golden, each table set for ten, the centre pieces a huge display of red roses and candles twinkling at me. The sounds of
I
’
ve got you under my skin
playing. 

“You dressed to match I see.” Miley laughs, pointing to the red roses in the centre of the tables.

“I dressed to impress.” I smile taking a fresh glass of champagne from a passing waiter.

“Do you think we are sitting together?” she asks trying to look for a seating plan.

“I have no doubt that we are.”

A smooth, sexy voice, I would recognise anywhere replies. Warm hands slip around my waist making me tense. It’s almost like he has to touch me.

“We are on table six, just over there.”

His long fingered hand points to the direction of our table. He leans down, inhaling my hair, making goose bumps appear over my entire body. It seems to soothe him and I feel his body instantly relax. I wish I could say it didn’t soothe me too, but I would be lying. Doug has a wonderful ability to calm me, whatever is going on and I feel relaxed for the first time since this afternoon.
One night Sophie, enjoy tonight, face the battle tomorrow.

The evening as I originally thought it would be, is delightful. There is lots of laughing, fabulous food and company. I find myself even forgetting about this afternoon as I sit next to Doug, his hand in mine, laughing with our friends. As the evening progresses, and more champagne is consumed, I forget altogether
why
I’m supposed to be mad at Doug. When the band starts playing and Doug, pulls me from my seat and leads me to the dance floor. Pulling me into his arms, we begin to dance. I am lost in the wonderful feelings and the beautiful song, it seems, almost perfect. 

“Sophie...” Doug’s voice is like silk wrapped around me. 

“Yes...” I look up into his eyes, smouldering and filled with emotion.

“I...” he stops, taking a breath, like he can’t find the words.

“Not tonight Doug, not now, can we just enjoy this? We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” I whisper, desperately trying to stop the tears filling my eyes from falling. One tear escapes, rolling down my cheek. Reaching up, Doug wipes it away with his thumb. 

“Yes, not tonight.” he smiles weakly. “Nothing can spoil tonight.” 

We stay, joined together, dancing for what seems like hours, I can’t tell you what songs we dance to, or who else joins us, because to me, it’s just Doug and I. I rest my head on his chest, feeling the warmth from him and the beat of his heart. He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. 

“Come home with me?” he breathes. Hopeful.

“Yes.” he raises my chin to meet his eyes.

“I love you Miss Bennett, with all I am. “ He leans in and presses his lips to mine, softly, lovingly. 

“I love you too Mr. Roberts.” I whisper against his lips.

And I do, it is the truth, no matter what else I am feeling right now, I love Doug. Pretty soon, all the dancing and the heels are taking their toll on my feet and I need to sit down.

“Can we sit?” I wince “My feet are killing me.”

Doug leads me back to our table and I sit down grateful to be able to get off my feet.

“Do you want a drink?” Doug asks, leaning down to speak in my ear, shivers run down my spine.

“Just water will be great.” I reply, shaking my head to clear my brain a little. What that man does to me. I watch as he makes his way to the bar, stopping to chat to a couple of people. 

“You’re such a lightweight Soph, honestly!” Miley laughs, plopping down into a chair.

“What?”

“You’re feet are hurting aren’t they?” she smiles at me. “You can’t dance anymore can you..?” 

“Oh shut up, you’re just as bad.” I grin.

“Actually, I only came over here because I saw you come over, I’m fine.”

“Only because your shoes are already off!” I look down.

“You’ve had them off all night haven’t you?”

 “Maybe...” she smirks

“So who is the lightweight?” We are laughing together when Doug comes back with my water.

“Do you want to dance some more?”

“I think I’m done actually, I’m ready for bed.” 

“I bet you are.” Miley cackles, raising her eyebrows.

“To sleep.” I pout “Why is everything dirty to you.” I roll my eyes. She winks at me before kissing my cheek.

“Brunch, tomorrow? Jonathan isn’t due into work till late?” 

“I’ll let you know.” I kiss her cheek and watch her dance her way back to Jonathan who is standing chatting with a guy I don’t know.

“Are you ready?” Doug asks, holding his hand out. 

“Yes,” taking his hand we make our way out of the room and to the front desk.

“Mr. Roberts, I shall get your car bought round for you, Sir.” 

“Thank you.” he smiles polite as ever. 

As we step out into the dark London night, I shiver, my dad was right, it
is
cold. Rubbing my arms to try to warm up a bit, I hop from foot to foot.

“You’re cold, where is your jacket?” Doug asks, looking around as if he expects to see it, magically hanging in front of us. 

“I didn’t bring one.”

Doug’s
Bentley Continental GT
appears then and I run around and hop in. The cold leather makes me jump and squeal, jeez, its
freezing
in here. I turn the heater up and put the heated seat on to warm up. Doug jumps in and passes me his jacket. 

“Thank you.” I shrug it on quickly, absorbing his body heat and inhaling his sent. 

“You really should have bought a jacket with you.” he scolds me.

“I don’t have a jacket that goes with this dress, Doug.” I roll my eyes, men understand nothing. 

“You could have taken it off as soon as you got in there.” he is baffled. 

“People still would have seen, it would have spoilt the whole impact of the dress.” I grin, gesturing to my outfit.

He presses a button and
John Legends
soulful voice fills the car, humming along, placing his hand on my thigh. It isn’t long before his hand has found what he is looking for; I see his grin out of the corner of my eyes and smile to myself.
Bingo
. 

Doug drives us to his apartment listening to his choice of songs from his iPod. He is in a soppy mood, his choice of songs feel like he is trying to tell me something.
James 
Morrison’
s You give me something
fills the car and Doug takes my hand, bringing it to his mouth, placing the sweetest kiss on my hand. I look out of the window, unable to look at him, not wanting him to see the tears that are swimming in my eyes.

As we get closer to Doug’s apartment,
Jason Mraz starts to sing, Well, I won't give up on us. Even if the skies get rough, I'm giving you all my love I'm still looking up
... I know Doug. I know. I hope I can too.

Chapter Thirteen

Doug parks the car and switches off the engine. All of a sudden, the silence and the fact I’m here overwhelm me.
I shouldn
’
t be here, what am I doing?
We can’t just spend the night together like everything is okay when it isn’t. I’m so totally confused. The sound of our breathing is the only sound, it’s almost dark inside the car and neither of us has said anything since we got here. 

“Sophie, look at me.” Doug’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. I turn my head, meeting is cautious stare, “Come upstairs with me, just stay the night, let me hold you, I need to hold you.”

His voice is pleading, his eyes full of emotion. I don’t say anything; I clasp the handle of the door and get out. If I think about this, I’ll end up leaving, and I need him to hold me too. We walk in silence to the lift and press the call button, thankfully, the lift is already there and we step in, Doug pressing the button for the top floors. I look at my feet, feeling unsure for the first time ever since being with Doug, nothing about us has
ever
been unsure. I sneak a peek at him from under my eyelashes and he is looking straight ahead. He looks unsure too. The lift pings and the doors open. Doug holds his hand out, asking me silently, to go first.

I step out of the lift and walk the few steps to his door. Doug’s apartment occupies the top two floors of the Pan Peninsula West. It is a stunning apartment that is Doug to a tee. He unlocks the door and I step in stepping into the huge open lounge. I feel comfortable here,
I feel safe
. Doug switches on some lights and the view of Canary Wharf and the London skyline stretches out before me. It is beautiful, a view I will never get tired of. 

“Can I get you anything?” Doug asks, walking across the lounge and to the kitchen.

“No, I’m fine.”

My voice comes out in a whisper, I barely recognise it. I stand, rooted to the spot, just following his progress across the lounge. I snap myself out of it and reach down to remove my shoes; the wooden floor is cool on my feet. Doug walks back around the corner carrying two glasses of water. He meets my eyes and smiles.

“I’m so glad to have you here.” He places the glasses on the coffee table and sits down to remove his shoes. 

“Do you mind if I go on up?” I ask, I just want to get into bed, I am so tired, and the whole day has taken its toll on me. 

“Of course, I’ll be up in a second.”

I make my way up the stairs to the second floor, turning left into the main bedroom where I am so used to sleeping; it suddenly occurs to me, I’m not sure if I’m sleeping there tonight. I’m not even sure I want to or if I should. I walk across the bedroom, the plush carpet feeling soft under my stockinged feet and into the en-suite. Opening the cupboard by the sink I take out my facial wipes and begin removing all of my makeup. Wipe by wipe, my face slowly starts to become more my own. I finish up, apply my night-time moisturiser and brush my teeth. I see Doug come into the bedroom, removing his jacket and tie as he does. I rinse my mouth and make my way back into the bedroom. 

“I wasn’t sure if I was sleeping in here tonight or not, I can go next door if you’d rather...” I make a move to go past him into the spare bedroom when he reaches out to clasp my wrist.

“I want you in here, this is
our
room Sophie.” His fingers are making small circles on the inside of my wrist; it takes all my concentration not to melt into a heap on the carpet in front of him. 

“I’ll just get changed…”

“Sophie, I said I wanted to just hold you tonight, and I do, but spending the evening with you looking like that, knowing what you have on under there... it’s been driving me crazy. Don’t run away from me. Please.”

He reaches for me and pulls me closer to him. I can feel him against my tummy, thick, hot, ready. Just the feel of him makes my sex clench. He lowers his head and kisses me, heat floods my body and I whimper. I feel his hands reach behind me and unzip the back of my dress. Leaning into him, I press myself against every part I can touch. His hands run down my back, caressing the skin of my shoulders, then tracing the lacing that runs down the length of my spine.  He gasps when he finds the suspenders stretching over my behind, grasping one between his thumb and finger; he lifts it, snapping it against me. He growls into my neck, running his tongue down, tasting my skin.