Innocent in New York (12 page)

Sophia watched him for a moment. She sighed. "I understand. I can wait." She hadn't told him hers either. His Illuminati secret could wait and so could her blackmail secret.

James smiled at her before lifting his glass of wine to his lips, finishing the last few drops. The sound of a buzzing phone made his face tense. He dug his hand into his pocket and withdrew his phone. "I'm sorry, Sophia, I have to take this."

"Don't worry about it," she said, and watched him get up.

"This is Archer," he answered the phone, his eyes on Sophia while he walked closer to her. He reached into his pocket and when he withdrew his hand, he held a silvery pen. Reaching Sophia, he put it on the table in front of her.
Archer
written on brushed steel twinkled back at her. Her gaze went to him, her mouth dropping open.

"No, I'm still here, sorry," he said, a smile to his lips as he turned away from her to walk outside. "I sent the McKinley contract over email, please check again…"

The second she was alone, Sophia's eyes shot straight at the pen. She wasn't going to tell him that she already had one.

Minutes passed, and Sophia took the opportunity to marvel at the view from his apartment, walking across the grand place to watch the twinkling city from his sky palace, as Agnes called it. She began clearing the table and put everything in the dishwasher. Finishing drying her hands, James walked back in.

"You really didn't have to do that," he said, sending a quick glance at the emptied table, walking toward her.

Sophia smiled. "No, it was the least I could do after that amazing dinner. And, you have delicious leftovers for tomorrow in the fridge." She beamed.

"Thank you." He dipped down and kissed her. "I didn't mean to be that long on the phone."

"Don't think about it. I hope everything's okay."

"You're too nice," he tipped her head and brushed his lips over her cheek, "I don't deserve it."

"Actually, you really don't." Sophia changed her mind. "In fact, there's something that I want from you."

He distanced a little to look at her. "What do you want?"

Two million dollars.
Sophia found his gaze penetrating hers, a genuine interest there. She reached up to touch the collar of his shirt and trailed a finger to his tie. He grabbed her hips and lifted her onto the counter. Stepping between her knees, he pinned them open for him, making Sophia shiver.

"What do you want, Sophia?" he questioned, trapping her chin between his thumb and forefinger and gently tipped her chin up.

"I want," she moistened her bottom lip, "something sweet." Her eyes flicked to his lips, to his eyes, and with a small tug of his tie, she drew him a little nearer, the low notes of his cologne reaching her, tempting her. She kept her cool. "I want," she murmured, words skimming his chin roughened by a hint of stubble that only made him even more appealing, "something that'll make me moan and beg for more."

The fingers of one hand moved to curl around her nape, while the other grasped her hip, bringing her closer to the edge of the counter. She braced her thighs on either side of his hips.

"I want," her breath shivered against his lips, and then she pushed back, "that delicious looking dessert in your fridge."

"Huh?" He blinked his eyes a couple of times, as if awakened from a dream. "Oh, you tease." He let go of her at once as if stung. "Where'd you learn that?"

"From you," she said, barely getting the words out from laughing. "I'm sorry." She pressed a few fingers to her lips, but couldn't quiet down. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, I can see that," he said, readjusting his tie, but she didn't miss the flicker of delight in his eyes. "Dessert, huh?"

She braced her hands on the countertop and nodded, still all smiles. "I love dessert."

"Obviously, after that display," he drawled, holding her gaze just a second longer. He sauntered over to the fridge, pulling out a chilled glass of dark chocolate mousse that had sprinkled chocolate shavings across the top. She spotted it earlier when she was cleaning up, and could barely resist the urge to take a tiny sample. She knew there was a second glass in there as well and it looked to be a part of their meal before the interruption.

She watched him dip a spoon into the delicious swirl of chocolate, lift the spoon up and Sophia thought he'd give it to her, but his course changed bringing it to his own mouth. He made a sound of content, like a small groan deep in his throat, and with eyes shut.

"Oh, no," Sophia said, seeing him dip his spoon into the glass again for more, "is this punishment?" He'd make her watch him eat that deliciousness?

"Punishment? Do you really think I'm that evil?" He scooped chocolate mousse onto his spoon again, making her mouth water, before he treated himself with another taste.

"I know your style, Mr. Archer."

"And I'm starting to discover yours." Dark eyes moved to her lips. "Open."

Sophia couldn't turn down chocolate, especially chocolate served by James. She parted her lips and let him feed her. Dark chocolate with a hint of blueberries swarmed her mouth, and her eyes shut involuntarily as she savored the rich taste. Everything he'd served just made her feel hot.

"Good?" he asked, making her eyes snap open. He watched her intently, taking in her quickened breath and tinted cheeks.

She nodded.

"More?"

"Please," she whispered, her fingers tightening their grip on the counter. It was decadently delicious, and she happily parted her lips for another taste and he kept the spoon there until she'd cleaned it. His eyes changed; there was a small shift to the already deep earthly brown that made them darker and decisively wicked. The sound of the spoon hitting the sink was barely noticeable because her attention was all on him, and next their lips met, his hand sinking into her hair. Heat crawled up her legs and torso, and she met him with equal want, parting her lips for him.

He scooped her up from the counter while she wrapped her legs around him and let him carry her upstairs.

Her feet touched the floor in his bedroom next to his bed, and James loosened her arms locked around his neck. His expression was hard. "Take your clothes off," his gaze lowered, "all of them."

Sophia reached her arms behind her back to pull the zipper down. She let the dress pool by her feet. Feeling him watching her, she slowly removed her underwear. Maybe it was the wine that made her feel so confident, or maybe it was just his hot gaze giving her a welcomed boost. Stripped to the skin, she stood before him and on her intake of air, her breasts brushed against his chest. He lifted his hand and sunk his long digits into her hair, scrunching her locks in his fist and pulled, forcing her chin up.

Her body, never having experienced real pleasure before she met him, began to hum; a slow, carnal crawl edging down her spine making her nerves stand on edge. Her knees turned weak. His bossiness turned her the hell on. The corner of his mouth lifted in a curl, as if he knew. He leaned closer, his cheek nearly touching hers, and he spoke lowly by her ear, "I'm going to spank you. A fair punishment to your little game, don't you think?"

A breath hitched in her throat. He hadn't done that since their first night. She recalled the pleasure he caused. "Yes, sir," her voice came out shivery. All the while watching her, he moved to loosen his tie. How could he make
that
into a mesmerizing thing? She loved his hands, whether they were on her skin or not.

"Bend over the bed."

She did what he said, almost surprised by her quick reaction to his command. The promise of pleasure got to her.

"How'd you feel when I tied you up, Sophia?"

She swallowed, keeping her eyes forward. The memory of Nova and its guests brushed through her mind, followed by James's introduction after taking her back Monroe. The blindfold, in addition to the restraints, showed her something brand new. Wasn't he there? Didn't he remember her relentless orgasms and her never-ending cries? Of course he did, he just wanted to hear her
say
it. "I've never felt anything like it. I wasn't aware it could be that… satisfying."

"Link your hands together behind your back."

She heard him walk, and upon returning, she felt soft silk caress her skin. He looped the ribbon around her wrists tightly, not giving her an ounce of space to move. She rested the side of her face on the mattress, her heart in her throat.

Sophia gasped, feeling his hand run up her thigh, closing in on her heat. He stopped, grabbed ahold of her thigh, and distanced her legs further apart.

"I want access to what's mine." Stroking her lower back and bottom, he said, "I'll give you ten. I want you to count them."

"Yes, sir," Sophia answered, her heart hammering faster. She was torn between being turned on and scared, her body tense, fingers grasping the smooth silk.

She jerked when his hand came in contact with her skin, hearing the sound fill the room. "One," she said, wincing. He smacked her again, a bit harder, the sting blossomed across her backside and her nails dug into the fabric of the silk, surely ruining it. He awaited her response for each whack, and if she delayed, he'd punish her a little more on the next.

"Five." It left her lips as a breath.

"Sorry?"

"
Five
," she spoke more clearly. "You heard me," she muttered under her breath.

"That remark will give you five more," he spoke, voice low, and she knew he wasn't kidding.

"Six!" she squealed as the burn of his hand flooded her skin. "Oh,
Jesus
."

"I heard that one," he murmured, and his hand soothed her positively aflame skin. Pleasure ensued, and she pushed her buttocks against his palm for more contact but he withdrew.

"Seven…"

Sophia's grip on the silk loosened, her body losing its tense pose, accepting her punishment and the heat permeating her skin. "Eight," she moaned. A finger slicked through her wetness, teasing her entrance before his touch disappeared.

"Don't come," he instructed as he rained more blows to her scorching skin, dividing them across both her sensitive cheeks.

"Nine…" her mind fogged, "two?" She lost count and mind; luckily, he didn't seem to care for her counting, and then she moaned into the sheets. Realization struck her: she
could
climax, her inner muscles clenching hard. She found the strength to keep it at bay somehow, biting her lip hard when his fingers snuck between her legs again. She quivered, whimpered, feeling him push two fingers into her dripping slit before pumping them inside her.

"Hold it, Sophia. You're not allowed to come."

She gasped when he delved inside further, pushing her sanity to the brink. "Please," she begged and clutched the material confining her. She'd loose her mind if she didn't follow the pull.

"No." The low sound of his rejection caressed her further, and she felt her spinning mind distancing, a fraction from plunging into freefall. She focused on her breathing, focused on stabilizing it. Tears pushed at her eyes because she did the exact opposite her body demanded of her.

"Good." He touched her ass, atop a spot that burnt in contact with his palm.

"You're cruel," she spoke, and, by God, she meant it.

"With good reason. You'll understand."

No, she couldn’t. Though angry, she sucked in a breath when his finger touched her where she needed it the most. She wriggled to further the friction on her clit, near desperate for something to give.

"Now, Sophia," he said, and thrust two fingers inside her again. She buckled, the pleasure too overwhelming for her and that sure thrust was all she needed. Her inner muscles tightened around his fingers, and she cried out with the rise of her orgasm. Seconds later, while she still tried to collect her shattered mind, his cock replaced his fingers in her pussy. He wrapped her ponytail about his fist and with a tug he made her follow him in order to avoid pain, lifting her from the bed and up on tiptoes. The back of her head touched his shoulder, her fingertips brushing his hard abdomen from her bound state.

He picked up her fading orgasm and rekindled it.

I can't, not so soon
…

"You will come again," he commanded, his hand on her waist constricting, dimpling her soft flesh. He must've read her somehow; he always did.

His pace quickened, filling her, possessing her. Sophia's lips parted, reaching for oxygen to feed her starving lungs.

His lips moved up her neck to her ear and caught her earlobe between his teeth. The soft sting of pain sent pleasure tumbling through her, making Sophia moan. His grip on her hair tightened.

"Tell me," his voice rumbled, "you enjoy being my dirty little slut."

Sophia blinked her eyes wide open, caught off guard by the thrill his words sent through her. He'd never called her anything like that, yet her skin heated and made her muscles clench around his cock deep inside her. He chuckled, easing out of her again before sinking inside painfully slowly. "Tell me, or I won't let you come. I can tell how wet that made you, so don't play the shy card. You're hugging me so damn tight."

"Oh, God," she whimpered, stars flashing behind her closed lids. A sharp slap to her ass made her recoil. "Yes," Sophia whispered abruptly, her fingertips digging into the tie holding her arms trapped behind her back. "I — I love being your slut!"