AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It hadn’t even crossed my mind that Sophia might find the hidden door when I left her down here.
But even if she had, I would have been shocked if she used it.
She doesn’t want to go anywhere.
… But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t play it safe. Her well-being is at risk too.
Stepping onto the first floor, I call out for my princess.
“Sophia?”
No response. Still, I can hear other voices in the kitchen ahead.
Making my way there, I first spot Maeve. She’s surrounded by the caterers. All female, just as I requested.
“Mr. Barinov, you’re back,” Maeve nods, a soft smile lifting her thin lips.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“On the roof, wondering what’s happening.”
“You haven’t told her, have you?”
“No, sir. She doesn’t know, just as you requested. But I don’t know how much longer I can keep it that way. She’s an inquisitive girl.”
“Don’t I know it,” I nod. “Thank you, Maeve. That will be all for now. Can you come back in the morning?”
“You’d have to pay to keep me away.”
If Sophia wasn’t taking up most of the room in my mind, I might have time to wonder more about the maid.
She’s a peculiar one, that’s for sure. But I don’t care enough to stick around and get to know her better. Not when Sophia is upstairs.
I make short work of the trip to the winding staircase that leads onto the roof, passing by three more caterers before I step through the door.
“Leo!”
My eyes immediately rip towards that voice.
Sophia stands by a finely decorated dinner table, draped in a beautiful little sundress, standing on her tip-toes as if it’s the only way she can see me over everything else going on.
I go to her.
There’s nothing I can say that would tell her more than the starved kiss I plant on those succulent pink lips.
I fucking missed you, I want to growl. Instead, I let my body do the talking.
That is, until I realize what she just said.
“… You called me Leo?” I smirk, after our kiss has ended.
“I…” Sophia’s words seem to catch in her throat as she realizes what she did. Leo is so informal. Hardly something you’d call you’re captor—even if you were developing feelings for him. “In the dedication of the book you gave me…” she finally says, her chin dropping just enough that I’m tempted to kiss her forehead. “Your mom referred to you as Leo… sorry, I just haven’t been able to get that out of my mind.”
Giving into my weakness, I allow myself to kiss her on the forehead. “No, that’s alright. Call me Leo.”
Sophia tries to hide it, but I can’t miss the subtle smile that lifts her pretty cheeks.
“What’s happening?” she asks, as we both take a step back from each other. Already, I miss her body. But I didn’t set all of this up just because I miss her body. It’s that smile too. It’s that way she looks when I do something nice for her. It makes my heart jump. That’s what I missed most while I was out, secretly taking back what is hers. “Are you having a dinner party?”
