Truth or Dare Read online

  She placed her hand on top of Sam’s, tentatively testing the waters. “I really appreciate you taking me home.” She smiled. The feel of his skin was warm under hers. She could see him visibly relax with her gesture. When she touched Ashton, all sense dissipated and she was left with instinct that was driven with need. When she touched Sam, her conscience would not quiet, whispering words of uncertainty. Maybe if things were different she could have found happiness with Sam, but Ashton had stolen that from her. Her body mourned the heat, desire, and intensity that was missing with Sam. It wouldn’t be fair to him; he deserved better.

  “Nice house,” he said, looking up in admiration.

  “It’s actually my boss’s house. Well, my other boss. I’m staying here while my apartment is being rid of its rodent problem.” Sophie made a disgusted face.

  Sam laughed. “I’ll get your door.” He walked around and opened it for her, offering his hand to help her out. The air felt thick between them, making her uncomfortable. He stepped closer, looking into her eyes. Sophie was suddenly nervous he would kiss her. “I hope you feel better soon.” Sam tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Sam…I…” Sophie began tensely.

  “Don’t say anything right now. Just know that I want to get to know you, spend time with you. I’m a very patient man, Sophie.” Sam leaned in and kissed her forehead.

  Sophie relaxed and let a smile fade her nervous disposition. “Thank you, Sam.”

  “Good night, Sophie.”

  Sam didn’t drive away until Ashton swung the front door open. “I thought you were gonna call me when you were done working so I could pick you up.” He glared at the taillights of Sam’s car as he drove down the road.

  “Sam offered.” Sophie shrugged her shoulders. He was upset and raked his hands through his hair, making him look irresistible. The thought tried to dissipate her anger, but she held on tightly.

  A scowl formed on his face as he studied her. “Sophie—” Ashton began. Sophie cut him off. She was tired of his lies.

  “Goodnight, Ashton.” She turned and headed toward her room without another word. She did not want to start a fight in Margaret’s home, and the emotions swirling inside her threatened to burst though the seams. She didn’t know if she would be able to control herself if she let them slip. She adored Margaret too much and she didn’t want to cause any disrespect.

  Inside her room she threw herself on the bed and pulled her phone from her pocket as it vibrated against her hip.

  Jack: Sophie?

  She stared at the screen, blatantly aware that it was no longer Jack on the other side of their conversations. Her heart beat so loudly that she could feel it in her throat. She was angry. She wanted to show him that she was not going to be toyed with.

  Sophie: I’m here. What are you up to?

  Jack: Nothing. You?

  Sophie: Actually I’m glad I have you to talk to. I don’t think I can resist my attraction to Ashton anymore. All I think about is having him in my bed and running my tongue over his entire body. I get wet just thinking about his naked body.

  Sophie hit send and felt the evil grin play on her lips, but the realization that there were no lies in her words made her breathing deep and her fingers tremble. Ashton didn’t respond for a moment and she thought she would lose her nerve.

  Sophie: Seriously, if he were to come to my door right now I would not be able to control myself. I long for him to please my body in every imaginable way.

  She had power over him in one sense, anyway. She knew that he responded to her sexually before and she was going to see how far she could push him. She wanted to turn the tables. After a few long moments of silence she heard a gentle knock on her door. A victorious smile sprang to life upon her lips. She climbed off her bed, flipped her hair around, and pinched her cheeks before she walked toward the door. She looked down and decided to unbutton her work shirt, exposing her slinky camisole underneath. It plunged dangerously low, exposing the deep valley between her breasts.

  She opened the door slowly to Ashton’s tall frame filling the door. She tried to be as seductive as she could. “Yes?” she whispered. “Do you need something?” She had no idea where she was pulling this from. It was a part of her that she had never indulged before. She trailed her fingers along the soft flesh of her exposed cleavage.

  Ashton’s breathing was deep and his eyes dark as he watched her. “Do you want to come in?” She bit her lip playfully as she kept her gaze intently on him. He hesitated for a moment before he brushed past her, walking into her room.

  “Have a seat.” Sophie motioned toward her bed. “I am just getting changed, if you don’t mind?”

  “No.” His voice broke. “No, go ahead.” He sat down on the edge of her bed, his eyes following her with desperate need. She almost lost her nerve looking into his beautiful face. She wanted him with a fierceness that scared her, but she would never have him like she wanted. It was time she toyed with him to even the scales.

  Sophie unbuttoned her pants, turning around and letting them slide down the length of her legs, bending over seductively to discard them. A sharp intake of breath from Ashton reminded her that she was in charge of this situation, and having power over this sexy, powerful man thrilled her. When she stood up she could feel his body behind her. His hands slipped around her waist, greedily taking in her body with his keen hands.

  “What are you doing to me?” he whispered against her neck. The heat of his breath caused fervor to charge her body. Him? The question is what does he think he’s doing to me? She thought angrily. She knew she had to remain focused. She refused to fall under his spell again.

  She spun around, pushing him back toward the bed. He relinquished to her demand until he collapsed onto her bed onto his elbows. Sophie straddled his waist, pressing her body against his. Her hands explored him as she rocked her hips against his groin. He could not hide his excitement. Ashton’s breathing quickened as he let her have his way with him. She skimmed her lips along his jawline, gently nipping at his chin.

  “Say that you want me,” she whispered against his lips. His eyes were enchanting as they drank her in. He growled as she sucked his bottom lip in her mouth. She lost herself for a moment as their lips caressed in a beautiful dance of pleasure. Sophie pulled back for a breath, pushing him down until his back was pressed firm against the bed.

  Sophie lifted her camisole over her head. Her fingers lingered on the clasp of her bra. “Say that you want me,” she demanded in a heady whisper.

  “I want you…I want you.” He pulled her down against him. “I fucking want you,” he whispered against her skin. Reaching around, he flipped her over so her back was on the bed. He kissed the sensitive skin of her neck, slowly traveling down toward her chest.

  “What name do you want me to scream out when you take me?” Sophie asked soberly.

  He stilled, looking at her in confusion, his lips swollen from their kiss.

  “Ashton or…Jack?” She couldn’t help the pain that seeped into her words.

  Sophie watched Ashton’s face fall. “Fuck.” He pushed himself off the bed. She instantly missed his heat, the feel of him against her. She didn’t feel the satisfaction that she hoped she would. Instead she felt only pain. She was heartbroken.

  “I ran into Jack tonight at the restaurant. By the way his eyes were roaming my body, looked like he forgot he was gay,” Sophie bit off.

  “Sophie. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I was…” He seemed lost for words.

  “Sorry for what, Ashton? I don’t want to hear it. You have always tried to make me miserable from the moment we met. Well, congratulations, you succeeded once again.”

  “Sophie.” Ashton stepped closer.

  “Don’t.” Hot tears streamed down her face. “I hate you, Ashton!”

  “I never hated you…I don’t think it would even be possible,” he whispered quietly. Sophie stared at him through a veil of anger. There was nothing he could say in this moment
to lessen the hurt and pain that was suffocating her.

  “You need to leave now!”

  “Sophie, please let me…” Ashton pleaded, reaching for her. “I can’t think clearly around you. I made a mistake. I just wanted…”

  Sophie cringed away from him when he reached for her. “There is nothing you can say to me right now,” she snapped. “I have been on this stupid roller coaster for far too long. I want to get off. Leave.”

  Ashton turned on his heel and walked from the room. She locked her door. Sliding down to the floor, she let her tears fall. Why did she feel like it was the end of the world? Why did it feel like she would never catch her breath and that she was surrounded in darkness when the lights were still on?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sophie got up early the next morning and packed her things, regretfully leaving the new dresses hanging in the closet. Margaret had bought them for her, but she didn’t feel right taking them with her. When or if she would need them again she knew where to find them. She slipped down the hallway as quietly as she could.

  She stopped at a small table where Margaret displayed many framed pictures. There was one in particular she was looking for. She picked up the smooth black frame with the picture of Margaret and her late husband that displayed the intensity of their love by only the look in their eyes. The picture captured every year, every laugh, everything they built together in their marriage. This was her proof that love really did exist for some people. She could see it as plain as the people in the picture. It made her want to believe one day she could be so lucky.

  Leaving a note on the kitchen counter, she let Margaret know she had left to move her things back to her apartment and she would be back later in the day to take her to her doctor’s appointment. She didn’t think she could handle running into Ashton anytime soon. The pain was too raw and she needed to distance herself to begin the healing process. Mel had called last night, telling Sophie that they could move back in whenever they wanted because their apartments were officially vermin free. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

  Sophie barely managed to carry all her things to the bus stop. Luckily the bus driver was polite enough to help her lift them onto the bus. When she finally made it up to her apartment she collapsed from the weight of her things, exhausted. Her apartment was a welcome sight after days of being away. It was nowhere near the same level of finery as Margaret’s exquisite home, but it was all hers and she loved it. The comforting smell of her paints filled her senses. She took a deep breath—she was home. Her paintings covered her walls, surrounding her with bright, beautiful colors. Sophie collapsed on her bed, watching the intricate paper mobile she created that was suspended from the ceiling over her bed. It had taken her weeks to complete every paper bird that was wired to look like a flock of birds spiraling into the sky.

  She looked at the painting of Ashton, still half covered by the cloth she had thrown over it. She slipped off her bed and walked over, removing the cloth to reveal the painting in its entirety. A pain twisted in her chest looking at his handsome face. She remembered what it felt like to have her lips against his. To feel his rough unshaven face against her soft skin, his hands playing her like a beautiful song, making her want to scream out and sing along at the same time. Never again.

  Sophie’s phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. She went to retrieve it from her purse, knocking over a bolt of red fabric. “Hello?” Sophie didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello, Sophie…it’s Sam. I know it’s early but I just wanted to check to see if you’re feeling better. I noticed on your schedule you’re not in till Monday night, so I just wanted to call since I won’t see you till after the weekend.” Sam’s voice seemed nervous on the other line.

  “Yes, actually I am doing much better. I’m going to my mother’s this weekend to help her with wedding plans.”

  The conversation flowed easily with Sam once he warmed up. Sophie thanked him for calling, trying to keep the direction of their exchange as innocent as possible until she figured out if she could actually give Sam a fair chance. Could she date someone she worked for? It was probably against the rules, despite the fact that no one else seemed to abide by them with all the hook ups that happened at the restaurant. Sophie wondered if she actually cared for Sam enough to enter into a relationship with him. She had avoided relationships her whole life, should she give one a chance? She knew that deep down her main reason would be to distract her from Ashton. Ugh. Why does my IQ plummet when it comes to the male species?

  Hanging up her phone, she unconsciously began playing with the red fabric that she had bought weeks ago. A smile spread across her lips. She had no idea what she was going to do with Sam, and absolutely no idea how to forget about Ashton, who haunted her every waking thought, but at least she could always figure out what to do when it came to fabrics and paints. It was a language she knew how to speak fluently—she needed to create. She needed to purge the energy that had been building within her.

  Pulling the fabric from the bolt, she grabbed her scissors and set to work. She was inspired by the new intense emotions that she had discovered—she had met desire on an entirely new level and she wanted to give it form. Sophie worked away the rest of the morning.

  It was nearly noon when Mel came bursting into her apartment. “It’s so good to be home!” she bellowed. Sophie was in her kitchen eating a bowl of cereal, wearing dress pants and a sleeveless blouse with a very delicate pattern only appreciated on close inspection.

  “Where are you off to, hot stuff? Going to entice a well-to-do business man into leaving his family to run off with you?” Mel asked, wiggling her eyebrows. She grabbed a bowl and joined Sophie.

  “Close. I’m going to work and make my own fortune.” Sophie smiled.

  “Not as exciting and definitely not as fun,” Mel replied with an evil smirk.

  “Yeah, the funny thing is I have this thing called a conscience. It makes me do things that are morally right,” Sophie said with light sarcasm.

  “Conscience,” Mel drew out slowly, rolling the word around in her mouth. “Never heard of it. Anyway, if Joe talks to you tonight, make sure you say no to whatever he asks you.”

  “Who is Joe?” Sophie asked tentatively.

  “My boss. Just saying if he approaches you with anything, just say no. Like asking you to entertain certain guests, or I don’t know…get up on stage, join the payroll. Just make sure you say no,” Mel ordered.

  “Don’t worry. The only thing I plan on saying tonight is no,” Sophie assured her.

  “Good. I’ll keep an eye on you, but if at any point you want to leave, go ahead. I’ll make sure you still get paid.” Mel patted her arm. “Thanks for coming tonight.”

  “Sure. Did Corbin try to contact you?”

  “I learned from my last relationship to avoid telling them where I live.” Mel’s shoulders dropped.

  “Good. Hopefully that was the last of him.”

  “We both know that would be way too easy.” Mel looked up at Sophie. There was fear in her eyes, a fear that Sophie felt as well. “Let’s just hope that he won’t be sober enough any time soon to try and find me.”

  “What if he comes to your work?” Sophie asked nervously.

  “They’re used to dealing with crazy there. That’s where I’m probably the safest.”

  “What about the police? Can they do anything…?” Sophie let her words trail away with the glare that Mel gave her. “Nevermind.”

  Mel had told her before that she would never go to the police for help. When she was younger, she’d tried to file a complaint against someone at the police station. When she divulged the fact that she was a stripper, the officer made it seem like she deserved the trouble. She’d walked out and never looked back.

  Sophie took Margaret to the doctor again that afternoon. When Sophie asked about her appointment, Margaret dismissed any reason for concern, saying it was just for routine test results, putting Sophie’s mind at ease. Lu
ckily she didn’t run into Ashton while she was at the house. The longer she went without seeing him the better, allowing the memory of him on her skin to fade. She needed time.

  Standing in front of her mirror in her apartment that evening, Sophie pulled the red fabric over her head and slipped the dress that she made down over her curves. The material had just enough stretch to hug her body, stopping just above the knee. Her hair was curled in long, loose flowing waves, cascading over her shoulders. Her makeup darkened her eyes, making them smoky and sexy. Grabbing her red lipstick, she drew it over her lips, finishing the look. She felt devious, like she was breaking all the rules. She was unleashing the part of herself that came alive with Ashton’s touch. She wanted to be daring, strong, and take back her confidence.

  Picking up her phone, she erased all the messages from Ashton telling her not to go tonight. Her fingers lingered over the buttons before she decided to send him a message.

  Sophie: F**K OFF!

  Ashton: You can’t even swear in writing?

  Sophie: Go to hell.

  Ashton: I’m already there.

  Sophie: Good. Stay there.

  Ashton: Don’t go tonight.

  Anger fueled Sophie’s steps, throwing her phone into her clutch she shoved her feet into her heels before walking out her door. Mel was on her way down the stairs from her apartment when she met her.

  “Definitely say no to everything anyone says to you tonight,” Mel said with wide eyes. “Where has this girl been hiding? I like her.”

  “Too much?” Sophie questioned, suddenly unsure if she should have glammed herself up so much.

  “Hell no! I like this side of you, but I won’t be making any tips tonight because all eyes will be on you.” Mel beamed. “Let’s go.”