Chapter 15

FIFTEEN

SOPHIE

If someone over the weekend asked Sophie what she’d be doing on Monday afternoon, she would’ve said she’d be elbow-deep in a web production-review meeting, drafting an email, or checking on an asset status. She would’ve never imagined she’d be naked in Ella’s room, her body aching, buzzing, and beyond excited for what they were about to do.

Hot tubbing.

Inside Ella’s all-white bathroom the size of Sophie’s living room, she slipped Ella’s swimsuit over her hips. Was it kind of weird to wear her co-worker’s swimsuit, that was once up against Ella’s most intimate parts? Sure, a little. But Sophie had been wearing thrift-store clothes almost her whole life, so it wasn’t as strange as it might be to others.

Ugh. The mirror confirmed she looked ridiculous. Ella had beautiful, incredible curves. A round butt. And according to that hookup site photo Sophie had peeked at too many times, Ella had boobs, too. Sophie by contrast was boxy, built like a prepubescent boy. No real hips, no real butt, and she could definitely go for an extra scoop of boob.

A knock sounded outside the door. “Did you find the towels?”

Sophie opened the linen closet near the half-standing wall and waterfall showerhead. Everything in the closet was at a Home-Edit level of organization. Various towels, cosmetics, and lotions were aligned by height, and there were so many products she thought she was at Sephora. Even her soaps looked to be in alphabetic order. “Yep. I’ll grab you one.”

She picked up two of the thickest, plushest towels and gripped the door handle when she paused. I’m standing half-naked in Ella’s room . Not only that, but seeing Ella’s bed was almost more intimate than wearing her suit. She’d have to fully process this bizarre moment later. Right now, there was a hot tub waiting.

Holy hell. Sophie’s gaze lingered, way more than it should have, before she forced herself to look away. She no longer had to ogle the dating site photo like a horny teen if she could retain this image of Ella, spilling out of the tankini in the most scrumptious way.

Nope. Stop . Unprofessional, not okay, must stop this train of thought immediately. She tossed the towel to Ella and wrapped hers around her waist as she crossed the room. Her gaze flickered to a canvas propped on an easel, with deep hues of magenta, violet, and orange, creating a warm sunrise over an ocean. “Wow… did you do this?”

She waved Sophie to the door. “Um, yes. It’s not finished at all. I just like to dabble. Not sure if I’ll keep going or?—”

“It’s beautiful.”

Ella’s pale cheeks flushed, and Sophie wanted to burn that image, this moment, into her memory.

Outside, the mist hit Sophie and goose bumps popped up on her arms. The covered area to the east-side courtyard provided little reprieve from the chill, and she wanted to dive headfirst into the tub. On the marble table next to the hot tub, she tossed her phone next to Ella’s glasses, water bottle, and nasal spray, and dropped her towel. A bleachy chlorine scent reached her nose, and she held back the urge to wrap her knees in her arms and cannonball off the table.

“Bubbles?” Ella’s fingers hovered over the levers.

“Um, is there any other way?” Sophie asked, but she didn’t actually know. If her body could salivate, that’d be what it was doing, the anticipation of soaking her limbs reaching a fevered pitch.

“I hate to state the obvious,” Ella said as she dipped her hand into the water, “but if I drop or go underwater, please scoop me out.”

She released a deflecting giggle, but Sophie knew her well enough that embarrassment laced her tone. “Is there anything else I should do?”

Ella shook her head. “My nasal spray is on the table, but not sure, logistically, how that would work. Don’t try to stop it from happening, by holding me down or something. Make sure my head is tilted and that I don’t crack my skull. And you know, make sure I don’t drown.”

The tone may have been jovial, but Sophie saw the vulnerability in Ella’s eyes. “Got it.”

Ella stepped in first, slowly, and scooted to the side. Sophie followed, tentatively dipping her toe to check the water before she slipped under the bubbles. Ahhhhh. The water did not disappoint. Her body melted in the heated oasis. Work stress—gone. Meeting agendas—gone. Deadlines and cranky designers—gone. She pushed herself lower until the water reached her shoulders. “This… is… heavenly.”

“Mmmm, sure is. Feels amazing.” A sigh escaped Ella as she lazed deeper, and Sophie would be lying if she said the sound didn’t do something a little jumpy to her insides. Ella lifted herself up and Sophie’s hungry gaze took in the way the water dripped between the deep plunge of her cleavage and the bright glow in her cheeks. Sophie knew she shouldn’t look, but tummy flipping and the desire to touch Ella negated any sober thoughts about maintaining a professional boundary.

Ella flicked at a bubble. “God, this is so much better than being in here with my dad.”

“I bet.” Sophie studied Ella’s long neck, the slope of her jaw, the wide brown eyes with eyelashes she could see from across the tub. “You look different without your glasses.”

Ella raised her eyebrow. “Better?”

She’s stunning either way . “Just different.” Sophie’s fingers skimmed the top of the water. Her whole life she’d wanted to go in a hot tub, but never had the chance. None of her friends had one, she’d never stayed at a hotel growing up, and the one hotel conference she attended last year had a hot tub, but hell if she’d take a dip with co-workers.

The irony of sitting here with Ella was not lost on her.

“I’ve never been in a hot tub.” She wanted to suck back in the words. Opening up was never a strong skill, and she braced herself for the inevitable pity look.

But Ella didn’t drop her mouth, tsk, or mumble something like “must be so hard to be disadvantaged…”

“Huh. Interesting.” That was Ella’s perfect response.

Sophie’s insides softened. “I’ve always wanted to, but our family trips usually involved camping.”

Ella grabbed a water bottle from the ledge and sipped. “I’ve never been camping, but I think it’d be fun. We have an outdoor fireplace, but it’s not the same. It doesn’t even use real wood. I want to smell actual wood burning, sleep in a tent, watch the stars.” She flashed a grin. “I bet you’ve had a lot more experiences than me.”

“I guess it depends on your definition of experiences.” Sophie twisted the lid from her bottle. “I’ve never been to Hawaii or to Europe. Or really anywhere besides the Pacific Northwest.”

A bubbling water misted Ella’s face and she splashed more against her cheeks. “I’ve never skydived, visited a houseboat, or drank beer. I’ve never even been to Pike Place without my parents.”

Sophie’s mouth dropped. Pike Place Market? The most iconic, most frequented place in the city? Flashes of the million times she went there as a kid with Maya to buy clam chowder, watch tourists gawk at the guys throwing fish, or browsing handmade gifts popped through her mind. “Aren’t you my age?”

A sad chuckle left Ella’s mouth. “I’m twenty-four, so yeah. But ever since my first seizure, my parents turned super controlling.”

“Overprotective?”

“Yes, but like to the highest degree. I’m rarely alone, and even when I’m alone, I’m not really alone. Thomas is around, or a staff member who not-so-coincidentally needs to clean a room near mine, or dust the office when I’m in the den. I’m in a Martha-Stewart-prison-like hell.”

Since Sophie was little, she had been independent. Partly due to life circumstances—with no siblings and parents who worked doubles, she’d been pitching in with laundry and cooking since she was eight. But another part was an inherent need to fly. Relying on herself was hard. But not being respected enough to think she could run solo would have been harder. “Besides never traveling, there’s a ton of things I’ve never done that you probably have.”

Ella propped her elbows against the tub lip. “Like what?”

“I’ve never been in a convertible. Or flew somewhere exotic for a vacation. I’ve never been to the ballet or symphony. I’ve… I don’t know… I’ve never tried caviar.”

Ella scrunched her nose. “It’s gross.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Think of jelly, but instead it’s salty and fishy. I seriously hate it.” Ella tossed a glance behind her shoulder. “But we probably have some if you want to try, or the chef can get some.”

Chef. Housekeeper. This world was so beyond foreign to Sophie that it wasn’t even the same galaxy. “Do you recognize how totally bizarre it is to have someone who does these things?”

Ella rolled her eyes. “I’m not nearly as obtuse as you think I am. Of course, I know this isn’t typical.” She flicked at a bubble, and a grin tugged at her lips. “But I mean, if you’re too scared to try it, you can just say so.”

“I don’t do scared.” Sophie smirked and spread her toes under the water, letting the water slip through them. “What is it you want?” She turned warm, thinking of the caption from the singles ad last month.

Ella’s legs floated to the surface, and she treaded at the water. Several moments passed before she stopped kicking at the suds and shifted a little closer. “So many things. I want to see the world without shackles. Go to a nightclub. Drive a car. Dance at a country bar. Go home with someone from the country bar.” She glanced shyly at Sophie as if to see if the words landed.

They landed.

“Sorry, is that too far?” Ella asked.

Yes. But not because it was too personal. More because being half-naked in the tub with Ella’s glistening shoulders and glimpses of her chest through the bubbles gave Sophie some seriously unholy thoughts. And now Ella brought up sex and all Sophie wanted to do was close her eyes and have a little alone time with her right hand to neutralize her heat waves.

Sophie wanted to inch closer, to look closer at Ella’s lips. Every day Ella wore a dark ruby red, but with the snacks and now the hot tub, her soft, natural pink lips shone. Sophie wanted to swipe her thumb across the outline. The nerves settled in her throat, and she cleared them away. “No. Not too far. I haven’t dated much for the last, you know, five, six years.” She pushed out a deflecting smile. “You?” She tried to keep her voice light, but it was anything but as she shamelessly dug for intel.

Ella’s fingertips skipped the top of the water. “I haven’t dated a lot, either. But I was with my ex, Jasmine, for a year.” She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. “Breaking up was the right choice, but it still hurt so much, you know? She cheated, and it kind of destroyed me.”

Sophie’s belly sunk. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine how hard that must’ve been.”

“Like, how do you go from saying you love me in one breath, then fucking some random woman next?”

Ella’s breath sputtered and Sophie paused, waiting to see if she’d continue.

“She told me it meant nothing. Said it was a heated, one-night thing. Like that was somehow so much better.” Her eyes focused on her fingers. “It took me forever to get over it. But the memory of how it gutted me… I don’t know if that will ever disappear.”

Screw the distance. Sophie moved closer until she was right next to Ella. This wasn’t a sexual advance, just an intrinsic need for Ella to know she was amazing. “I’m so sorry she made you feel anything less than the freaking rock star you are.” Sophie tapped her thigh against Ella’s underwater in a playful nudge.

At least, the intention was playful. But the moment she did it, Ella’s eyes locked with hers, her sprinkling of freckles above her nose prominent and fierce against the rosy cheeks. The jets clicked off and the bubbles evaporated, slowly exposing everything under the water.

Ella dipped her head, her dark hair framing her face. She tucked a lock behind her ear and glanced at Sophie. “You think I’m a rock star?”

“Absolutely.”

Ella’s lips curved. Several moments passed as the water turned tranquil. The mist danced on the rooftop, the sound mixed with the heated water making Sophie’s world buzzed and hazy.

What was happening here? Did Ella feel the same electricity? Her body was so warm in the hot tub, verging on overheating, but she didn’t want to leave. She was liquifying in the best way possible.

Ella draped her arm against the lip of the tub and rested her head against her bicep. “What else have you never done?”

Something filled Sophie’s chest. A truth serum, and sense of safety, of wanting to open up to someone besides Maya. Was that someone Ella? Everything felt inexplicably natural. “I’ve never been in love.” She swirled her arms in the water. “What was it like for you?”

All lightness in the air vanished, sucked in like a crater, filling the entire space with an electric heat.

“Like your heart is going to be ripped out at any minute, but the adrenaline rush makes you not worry about the inevitable pain,” Ella said. “It’s warm and gooey and amazing.”

Ella’s leg touched Sophie’s so softly it could have been a mistake. She drew it away and Sophie instantly wanted it back. The pink deepened in Ella’s cheeks, a glow highlighted by the steam, and Sophie’s insides sparked. Everything about her reaction triggered something deep and Sophie felt her leg floating higher, drawn towards Ella.

Yes, she’d been thinking of Ella more than she should. From the moment Ella stormed into her life like a Gucci-laden tornado, all hips and lips and sass, Sophie couldn’t get her out of her mind. Those devastating eyes, that full mouth, death-gripped Sophie and refused to let go.

Ugh, she shouldn’t do it. It was a bad idea, but just one touch was all she wanted, that would fulfill her. She let her pinkie fall, a whisper of a touch, and grazed the soft flesh of Ella’s lower leg. Ella pushed into the touch.

Sophie dropped her eyes to Ella’s full mouth. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, exacerbated by the heat of the water and the glazed look in Ella’s eyes. Sophie’s gaze fell, skimmed the top of Ella’s chest, and she licked her lower lip. This shouldn’t be happening. Right? Maybe? It wasn’t technically against the rules, but it was wrong. Or was it? The thoughts clamored, a tug of war between practical and animalistic. And then Ella dusted the back of her hand across Sophie’s leg, and the tingles flew to her scalp.

Dammit. She wanted to taste Ella’s mouth, to feel the dip between her collarbone, the roundness of her hips, the satin skin. But she shouldn’t. She couldn’t. Tomorrow, they needed to return to work and normality, which would be impossible if they did what Sophie wanted to do.

But maybe, this was just a little innocent flirtation. Maybe Ella was not having these same thoughts, and later Sophie could dismiss this moment as a blip in the office matrix, intoxicated with chlorine and a scary car crash.

A grin crept over Ella, and her lashes fluttered to her cheekbone. “I think you’re beautiful.” The voice was barely above a whisper, but it hit Sophie like Ella screamed it across the yard.

Oof. “Thank you.” Thank you? That was it? Sophie felt the same about Ella, but the words would fall flat. Ella was so much more than her sultry eyes and a full mouth. She was a damn warrior, wicked smart, and carried this devilish, delicious sense of humor.

How does Ella say something like that and allow this unbearable energy to fester? Sophie didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to do. Leave? Stay? Move closer. She froze, staring at the water, her pulse pounding in her ears.

And then… Ella moved. She inched closer and pressed her leg against Sophie, and everything in Sophie’s body tensed. Water droplets dangled from Ella’s straps, trailed her arms, her neck, her chest, and Sophie licked the corner of her lip ring.

Chlorine-laced steam, mist, and the smell of cherry blossoms collided. The pull toward Ella was so strong that Sophie didn’t know who moved first. But there she was, staring at Ella’s shoulders, the crook of her neck, the slope above her lips. Was Ella’s heart beating as fast as hers? Was her mind swirling between deep want, fear, and uncertainty? Time clicked by, with the only sounds of mist on pavement, the gentle gush of water lapping the sides of the hot tub, and increased breaths.

And then… holy shit… Ella lifted herself and straddled Sophie.

“Whoa.”

Ella paused, caught Sophie’s eyes, and held her gaze. When Sophie lifted her hips to press into her, Ella flattened her hands behind Sophie, gripping the end of the tub, caging Sophie. She hovered over Sophie’s lap, her eyes darting between Sophie’s eyes, like she wanted to read her soul.

Touching Ella was a hard no. They were co-workers. Never once had she mixed business with anything but business. But it had been so long , and Ella’s voluptuousness and curves were so perfectly right there . Her face was fearless. Shyness, awkwardness, evaporated. Ella was in full control.

Ella lowered herself more, her bottom settling on Sophie. Her chest rose and pressed against Sophie, and Sophie wanted to crumble. God, she smelled so good, like sand and beach and fresh flowers, and Sophie wanted to bury her face into her neck and consume her scent.

This felt good. Too good.

Warm lips grazed Sophie’s ear. “If you want me to stop, all you have to do is say it.”

Jesus Christ. Honey layered Ella’s whispery voice, and Sophie’s pulse nearly clouded her eyesight. She was useless, powerless, as her hands rose and she pressed her fingertips into Ella’s hips.

Did she want Ella? Did Ella want her? Sophie had seen the ad Ella posted, firmly stating she wanted a one-night stand only. Sophie wanted a lifetime. And this, no matter how amazing, would not help her meet that goal.

“Do you want me to stop?” Ella whispered again.

Sophie’s breath hitched. “No.” The words were breathless, fleeting, escaping her mouth like her willpower. The water was charged, dancing, and Ella’s legs tightened around hers. Sophie trailed her palms, reaching higher, holding Ella close.

Ella’s lips swept Sophie’s neck. One kiss, two kisses… higher. She pushed her body against Sophie’s, and Sophie’s legs trembled. Yes, she was scared. But it was more than fear. She dangled her fingertips in Ella’s hair, the sensation of Ella’s mouth on her skin nearly unbearable. This was complicated, yes. But right now, she didn’t want to worry about complications or conflicts, or anything but warm, wet skin pushing into hers and the feel of Ella’s lips as they moved from her neck, to her collarbone, to her shoulder.

She was collapsing, a useless, squishy entity that dissolved beneath skillful touches. Ella hooked her finger below Sophie’s strap and lowered, kissing her shoulder, behind her ear, the line of her jaw.

The feelings were too much, the need to taste Ella’s lips burned her mouth. Sophie gripped Ella behind the neck now, staring hard into those dark amber eyes, her pulse pounding so hard she was sure Ella could feel it through her veins. Ella sighed, staring at Sophie’s lips, looking at her like she was heaven, and leaned.

Sophie closed the gap, pushed her lips on Ella’s, and ahhh … her soft, pretty mouth was everything. Strong, full, smooth. Ella relaxed into the kiss, her tongue gently pushing against Sophie, and pressed her chest against Sophie’s. Fuuuu … God, this all felt so good. The missing piece in Sophie’s life. She explored Ella’s luxurious, velvet tongue and soon Sophie didn’t know whose breath was whose and she didn’t care.

Ella pulled back again, and stared at Sophie, her cheeks flushed. Was she thinking the same? Almost as if she could hear her thoughts, Ella pressed her mouth back against Sophie, her hands dragging against her shoulder, her fingertips gliding. She filled her mouth with Sophie’s lips, her tongue circling Sophie’s lip ring, her air coming out in spurts. Her fingertips swiped Sophie’s dip in her lower neck, and trailed lower. Sophie’s insides heated, her legs tensed.

So much time had passed since Sophie had been touched like this, with purpose, with strong, heated desire. She wanted Ella. Now. She tugged on Ella’s bikini top, loosening the strings as Ella’s fingers dipped even lower, her thumb grazing the sensitive skin on her side. A little lower, they slid more, so close…

“Ella! My God, are you in the hot tub alone?”

A screeching voice and the hard crack of heels against a wood deck slashed the moment. Sophie dropped her hand as quickly as Ella hopped from her lap. A flurried moment passed in embarrassed blushes and clearing throats.

“Mom, no,” Ella called out. “I’m here with a friend.”

Ella’s mom bolted down the stairs, all crisp blouse and crisp hair and crisp heels, and Sophie wanted to dive under the water and not come up. The heat in her body turned cooler, but still tingled, which Sophie decided was a terrible way to feel. She couldn’t look at Ella as she tried hard to act normal.

“Thank God!” Her mom clasped a hand over her heart. “I thought you were in there alone. I should know you’re more responsible than that.”

Sophie cringed at the probably well-intentioned, but terribly delivered words, as her libido officially shriveled.

“I’m good.” Ella’s voice had morphed from sex kitten to full-on irritated daughter. “Mom, Sophie. Sophie… meet my mother.”

This was not how she’d picture a meet-the-mom moment, nor meeting the CEO’s wife—with a lingering horny-charge.

Ella’s mom did a quick double take. “Sophie from the office?”

What did that mean? The delivery was not unkind, per se, just… unreadable. “Yes, that’s me.”

“Well, I’ve certainly heard about you.” Heels and all, Ella’s mom trampled through the grass to shake Sophie’s hand. “I’m Claire.”

Sophie shook her hand with a firm pump. “Nice to meet you.” Her voice displayed a nonexistent confidence. She’d never been comfortable around wealthy people, especially ones like Claire who looked like they stepped out of a high-end yacht magazine perched on the end of a Whole Foods aisle, with her blond bob coiffed to perfection, and her simple strand of pearls not actually that simple.

“Well, are you girls almost done? Want to come in for some food?” Claire asked. “Lydia is prepping some fresh fruit and snacks.” She made no movement to leave.

Claire might look bougie, but she had a kindness to her voice and worried eye crinkles.

Ella tossed a look at Sophie. “Yep. We were just about to get out.”

Why did those words hit like that, like lemon seeped into a paper cut? Obviously, the moment between them had shattered. But Sophie nearly flinched as Ella lifted herself from the tub, wrapped her towel, and gathered her items without another word.

The drive back to her apartment was the first reprieve Sophie had from the most quiet, awkward hour of her life. Ella had hardly spoken since leaving the tub, except to say Sophie could use the shower to wash off the chlorine, and to remind her to grab her charger still plugged into the wall. After getting dressed and gathering all her work items, Sophie wanted to bolt. She thanked Claire for the hospitality and Ella summoned Thomas to take her home.

Ella did not offer to come with.

When Thomas dropped her off, she dragged herself up the three flights to her room. After kicking shoes to the side, she dropped her bag near the door, and flopped onto the couch.

“What in the hell?” she said to her fake ficus tree. A lifetime had passed since the accident in the office this morning. How could everything have changed so quickly, so intensely? She glided a fingertip across her lip, savoring the leftover tingles from Ella’s mouth. The kiss had been more than any kiss she’d had before. Purposeful and full, soft but intense, passionate and sweet, filled with trembles and promises.

Her body squirmed, replaying every moment. She lowered her hands, resting them on top of her belly, picturing Ella’s neck, her arms that glistened with water, feeling her body on top of her. Ella was fearless, much more than Sophie thought.

Sophie sprung from the couch. She shoved boots into a closet, tugged off sweatshirts hanging on the chair, and put away dishes. Was Ella okay? She had definitely been the instigator, right? Okay, it was a mutual instigation, but maybe Ella just wanted to scratch an itch. Get one night in, quench the thirst, and move on. And here Sophie was entertaining visions of date nights, their times in the cafeteria, and how Ella’s tortoiseshell glasses highlighted the amber in her eyes.

Ella’s reaction after their kiss was… unexpected. Sophie couldn’t stop thinking about the way Ella’s body felt pressed against hers, the taste of her lips. But Ella was so dismissive, so casual, so utterly nonchalant.

Putting away dishes, scrubbing the countertop until her forearms ached, and asking Alexa to blare Amy Winehouse did nothing to dull the internal monologue. What if Ella was how she portrayed herself in the ad? Maybe she really did just want a hookup and Sophie was convenient.

Sophie needed more than convenience.

So now what? Go to work tomorrow and pretend it didn’t happen? The thought made her heart squeeze. After scraping off all her nail polish, folding laundry, and getting ready for bed, she blinked at the ceiling, willing it to provide her with clarification.

Fuck it.

She grabbed her phone and searched her contacts. She and Ella had exchanged numbers weeks ago for work-related purposes, and this was definitely not work related. But it would most likely not violate any HR rules. Technically speaking, she wasn’t Ella’s manager. She had seniority, sure, but Ella’s dad was the boss. This might be considered a bigger infraction for Ella than Sophie.

Now she was overthinking as her thumbs shook over the hovered screen. She should just not do anything, let it go, and chalk it up to an emotional day.

Perfect—decision made.

In a stunning betrayal of the mind/body connection, Sophie’s thumbs flew off a message before she could stop.

Sophie:

For the record, I REALLY didn’t want you to stop.