SOPHIA
Dinner is one of the most awkward experiences I’ve had in New York. My mom keeps trying to flirt with the guys, one at a time, as they start conversations. Holden’s soft voice and his hesitant answers seem to egg Mom on.
And I can’t even say anything. Where the hell is Gunner? He’d know what to do in this situation. Once the food comes, Mom is at least quiet for a little bit. Roman winks at me from across the table, and I decide focusing on my food is a better option.
By some miracle, we get through dinner, and by the time we get back, I see Gunner stretched across the couch. Nick says something about finally relaxing with a bath, and of course, my mom offers to help him with a massage.
I shake my head and offer Gunner my leftovers. He happily digs in. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing crazy,” Nick says.
“Apparently, Sophie used to hang lizards from her ears and bully the other kids in kindergarten,” Holden says as he puts his own food in the fridge.
“It’s not bullying if they said they loved me and gave me the money,” I grumble.
He winks at me. “I have to get back to work. Let me know if anything happens.”
Gunner sits up and glances around before stealing a quick kiss. He nibbles my bottom lip before letting go. I arch an eyebrow. “Why were you so late today?”
“Your father wanted to see me.”
“Oh?”
“Apparently, he thought I’d be the easiest one to get through to.”
“About?”
“Ah, Gunner! There you are!” My mom sashays in. Roman gives me a look from the other side of her shoulder and shakes his head once. Fuck. She’s drunk. She drapes herself in Gunner’s lap. “You might be more handsome than Miles.”
“Not the first time I heard that, Diana.” He winks at her.
“Why don’t you and I get to know each other better over some drinks?”
“I don’t know. I think you pre-gamed without me. I’m hurt.” He pats his chest. “And I wouldn’t dare start flirting after a woman started drinking.”
“You don’t want to take advantage of the situation.” My mom pouts. Actually pouts!
Oh my god. My mom is flirting with a guy I just slept with. Kill me now. I fight the urge to run to my room and instead get up and make myself a drink. I don’t even look at what I’m pouring into the shot glass.
Roman stands behind me and rubs my sides before gently kissing my neck. “Easy, Bambina.” He purrs in my ear.
“No. I need to be drunk to deal with this. Trust me on that.” I huff, downing the whole glass. Oh. It’s tequila. I recognize the way it burns my nose as it goes down. “Whooo.”
Gently pulling me back against him so I feel the familiar hardness of his body, Roman pushes my shot glass away. “Sophia, don’t you remember what I told you today in the office? About bending you over?”
“Once, I’m not worried about anything. Two more drinks, and we both get what we want.” I shrug.
“Oh no. I want you sober, so you remember each swat of my palm against your gorgeous ass, so you beg for my cock while I finger you, so you scream my name into your pillows when I fuck you hard.”
I shiver at the promise in his eyes and his dirty words. I lick across my bottom lip and glance up at where Mom is still trying to make a move on Gunner. “I don’t like her flirting with any of you at all.”
“Jealous?”
“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not … it’s not not jealousy, but it’s something else too. It feels wrong that my mom and I are interested in the exact same men. There are billions on the planet, but she just zeroed right in on you guys.”
“Push her back towards your father.” He purrs in my ear. “Love doesn’t fade easily.”
“They got divorced years ago, Roman.”