His Chosen Mafia Queen

Chapter 12

Sophia’s pov

Now back at home and safe in my bed, it’s hard to

fall asleep. At work, our office training session got

cut short due to job duties. I got so tied up in being

that close to Valentino that I forgot I was at work.

Letting out a small laugh, I can’t help but think that

if I’m like that because he was close to me while

training. How oblivious to the world would I become

if we were close in other ways? I can’t allow that to

happen until this threat is gone.

Turning on my side, I let out a sigh…he sounded so

sexy when he got into his tough Mafia mode…I

know many find it intimidating, but it has the

opposite effect on me. The way his hands touched

me…this touch was controlled, but firm and yet

caressing on my skin. I thought his hands would feel

rough and aggressive, but it wasn’t…The way he

looked at me in a calculating way, it truly made me

feel as if I was his prey, but I really did like it. I

wouldn’t mind being his prey.Groaning, I pull my blanket around myself tighter. I

know I shouldn’t feel this way about him. I know I

should hate him for the past and my life being in

danger because of him. I know he has blood on his

hands…I know he’s a dangerous man and is

surrounded by violence, but when he’s with me

alone, I don’t see him as someone I should be

scared of. I see him as the same guy I was in love

with when we were younger, only now he’s hotter,

more dangerous, and mysterious. I feel safer around

him more now than I ever did, and that scares me,

but in a good kind of way.

Giving up on falling asleep, I walk into my bathroom

and wash my face. I barely recognize the woman I

see looking back at me. I can’t believe how much

I’ve changed in such a little bit of time. I was already

independent and tough; it was how I had to be to

get to where I am today, but I always avoided

confrontation. I gave off a sense of confidence, but I

didn’t feel confident at all. Thinking about it, maybe

that’s why I always ended up with assholes. Now

looking in the mirror, I still see an independent tough

woman, but I also see a woman who isn’t cowering

away from confrontation, and I feel more confident

with who I am and what I can handle. I wonder if V

being back in my life is bringing this version of meout, or if having someone after me ignited my fight

or flight response. I was living in survival mode. Now

I’m living in the don’t try me, or you’ll live to regret

mode, and I gotta admit..I like it. Living in survival

mode sucks, and I never want to go back to that.

My text alert sounds as I enter my room. As soon as

I grab it from my nightstand, I see it’s a text from V.

***Text feed***

V- You okay?

Me- yeah, why do you ask?

V- just making sure I didn’t scare you away.

Me- you didn't scare me.

V- Maybe you should be scared, so you can’t stop

your crazy idea of putting yourself in danger.

Me- I won’t be in danger, I’ll be trained, and you’ll

be there to make sure I’m safe.

V- exactly I’ll be there, so you don’t have to be.Me- I’m going to be there, stop trying to get me to

change my mind because it’s not going to work.

V- fine….you did well today.

Me- thank you. Why not just start with that?

V- because I had to try one last time.

Me- lol

V- So why are you up this late? I thought you would

have been tired out.

Me- yet you still texted me.

V- There was always a chance that you were awake,

and you were, so I’m glad I did.

Me- I would have been sleeping if it weren’t for my

mind racing with thoughts.

V- Oh, I’m sorry, what were your thoughts about?

Me- you.Speech bubbles keep coming and going a few

times until he finally sends his message.

V- What kind of thoughts?

Me- did it really take you that long to come up with

that question? Lol

V- I wasn’t sure how to respond.

Me- what was your other response before deciding

on this one?

V- You sure you want to know?

Curiosity wins, so against my best judgment, I

respond while settling into my bed.

Me- yes.

V- I was going to say naughty thoughts, I hope.

Me- what if I had said they were naughty thoughts?

V- As much as I would love to read those words, I

wouldn’t have believed you.

Me- why not?V- because your boundary was already set, and I

respect you.

Me- I appreciate that, this situation is just a lot, you

know.

V- I know.

Me- I don’t.

V- What do you mean?

Me- I don’t know what’s going on.

V- explain.

Me- I feel all of these different feelings all at once,

and it’s making me unsure what to do.

V- You don't have to figure anything out right now.

Me- I feel a heightened sense of…everything.

V- That sounds like adrenaline; it could be because

of the dangerous situation you're in.

Me- this isn't just about the violence.V- hmm, then what?

Me- us.

V- that makes sense.

Me- it does?

V- yeah of course, we have unfinished business.

Me- we do?

V- yes, Soph, we do…you know we do.

Me- but we can’t just pick up where we left off all of

those years ago.

V- of course we can’t. We’re both different people

and adults now. There’s nothing and no one is

holding us back from doing what we want.

Me- there is though.

V- who? I’ll kill ‘em.

Me- lol, we are holding ourselves back.V- Maybe we shouldn’t?

Me- maybe.

A couple of minutes pass before one of us texts

again.

V- hey Soph?

Me- Yeah, V?

V- get some rest, you’re going to need it for the day

I have planned tomorrow.

Me- I work tomorrow.

V- no you don’t, I already spoke with Javi, and

they’re fine running everything tomorrow.

Me- you had no right to do that.

V- I know, but I did, and now tomorrow you’re all

mine.

Me- oh?

V- Good night, Soph, sweet dreams.Me- good night, sweet dreams V.

***end of text feed***

How the hell am I supposed to sleep now? He said

I’m all his and I’ll admit I love the sound of that. I

know he meant training and, of course, protection,

but I can’t help thinking what it would be like to be

all his. Placing my phone back on the nightstand

and staring at the ceiling i let out a low sigh. This is

why I was trying so hard to have boundaries, to not

allow myself to have romantic feelings for him, and I

just can’t help it. Every discussion with him, every

inch of closeness, makes me hyper aware of him, of

his feelings for me, and of my feelings for him.

I half expect him to text me again. I actually

wouldn't mind talking to him all night long, but I

know he won’t text me again tonight.

Suddenly, the sound of my alarm on my phone jolts

me awake. I didn't even realize when I fell asleep.

One minute I was thinking about Valentino, and the

next I was turning off my alarm. Why did I even turn

on my alarm if I don’t have to go to work today? I

should take full advantage and go back to bed.

There’s no point in being awake this early.Moments later, I’m jolted from sleep again, this time

by a loud knock at my door. Ugh.

I begrudgingly get off the bed and make my way to

the door while yelling, “Carmen, I don’t work today,

you could go there without me.”

There’s another knock: “Carmen, I’m trying to sleep,

just go without me,” I state while unlocking the door

without looking at my ring’s live view.

The moment I open the door, I instantly regret it. My

hair is a mess, and I’m wearing a t-shirt and some

joggers. I look like a hot mess, and yet here he is

looking hot; the only thing messy is his hair, but that

looks intentional.

“Don’t say anything,” I warn once I see his eyes

roam my entire body.

He smiles in response: “I was just going to say good

morning, Soph.”

“Then why look at me like that?”

“Honestly, I was enjoying the view.”

“Bullshit.”He laughs: “True s**t, you look cute. You always

looked cute in your comfy pajamas, especially when

you’re caught off guard in them.”

“Why are you here so early?” I ask while crossing

my arms.

“I told you that you’re all mine today, so I’m making

sure I get as much time as I possibly can.”

“You could have texted me, so I could be ready.”

“And miss seeing you at your most comfortable and

authentic self? Not a chance…besides talking to

you in person is always better than in text.”

“Do you want to come in while I get ready?” I ask

after letting out a sigh.

“Sure, but first up is breakfast,” he responds before

lifting a Starbucks bag.

“Thank you,” I respond before grabbing the bag and

stepping aside for him to enter. Once he passes by

me, I can’t help but appreciate that he smells so

good before locking the door.He strides into the living room like he owns the

place….well, technically he does own the place lol. I

stand still debating on if i should sit next to him or

not. Before I could make my decision, Valentino

moved over on the sofa and then looked from me to

the seat, then back to me. I guess he decided for

me. Once I sit down, I place the bag on the coffee

table.

“It’s about time you sit down…I thought I was going

to have to bring you to the couch myself…you know

I won’t bite unless you want me to.” He states the

last part in a lower tone than the rest while removing

the items from the bag.

I can feel my cheeks flush, and it intensifies once he

looks at me and smiles. Now he definitely knows the

reaction he has on me.

“Would you like me to?”

“Hmm?”

“I asked, would you like me to?” He repeats while

scooting a bit closer.Is he asking me what I think he is? Am I ready for

this? I must look like a deer in headlights, because I

just stare at him in response.

“Soph, I’m asking if you would like me to?” With

every word, he moves closer and closer to me until

we’re close enough to kiss, which causes my breath

to hitch. He notices and looks down at my lips, then

licks his. I lick my lips in return, which draws his

eyes back to my lips. After a few seconds, he leans

in closer with our lips even closer. He then reaches

his arm out, grabs the tv remote, and moves back

into his regular seated position and wiggles the

remote in the air. “Would you like me to change the

channel?”

I huff in response, which causes him to chuckle. I

need to cool myself off, so I grab my cold frappe

and take some sips while rolling my eyes at

Valentino. That only makes his chuckle turn into

laughter.

“Don’t laugh at me. I don’t appreciate being

teased.”

“I’m sorry, Soph, I was just trying to have some fun,

teasing can be very fun.”“I know it can be, but that was cruel.”

“Wait, are you seriously mad at me?”

I don’t respond to his question, and instead I stand

up. He wants to play, okay, I’ll play. “I’m going to get

ready.”

I’m going to beat him at his own game. Now I know

this is going to be a fun day.

Once I shower, I purposely stay in my towel and

walk towards the kitchen. V looks at me right away

as I walk past him, then he follows me to the

kitchen.

“Is that what you’re wearing today?”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you?”

“I would, but we would be staying in all day if that

was your outfit of choice.”

“Who's to say you would be staying with me all

day?”

“If not me than who?” He responds seriously.I shrug in response while grabbing a bottle of water,

then I touch his arm as I walk past him, ignoring his

question when he repeats it once more.

This is already proving to be fun. Once I put on a

pair of form-fitting joggers, a t-shirt, and some

sneakers to match his outfit choice, I tie up my hair

in a messy bun.

As soon as I open my bedroom door, V is standing

there leaning against the wall.

“Who else, Soph?”

“Who else what?”

“Who else would you have here with you while

you’re wrapped in nothing but a towel?”

I shrug and begin to walk towards the living room,

but he grabs my hand to stop me.”

“Who else, Soph?”

Again, I shrug.

“Sophia, tell me what’s his name.”

“Why do you want to know Valentino?”“You know why.”

“What if I don’t know why?”

He looks so serious and dangerous right now, but

instead of it scaring me, it’s fueling me.

“Because of us…you can’t tell me you feel it,” he

states as he moves closer to me, and I move back

in return, until my back hits the wall. My heart now

racing, I decide not to keep this up.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

He raises an eyebrow in response. “You know

exactly what I mean…The sense of not feeling in

control, the battle to fight yourself because all you

really want to do is give in to your desires.”

He places his hand on my cheek and moves his

thumb by my lip, then locks his lips slowly. “Your

pulse quickening at the touch of our skin.” His face

is so close to mine, and I want nothing more than

for him to do it.

“Do you feel what I just described, Soph?”I nodded my head in reply while looking at his lips.

He responds with a slow smile: “Good…so there’s

no guy you want to parade around while wearing a

towel?

I shake my head yes, because I would be lying if I

said there wasn’t.

“Look me in the eyes and tell me there’s a guy

you’re into, Sophia, and I’ll believe you.”

Looking directly in his eyes, I reply with all sincerity:

“There’s a guy who has been driving me crazy in a

good way, and I just can’t help it anymore.”

He moves to walk away from me, but I pull his own

move on him and grab his hand to stop him.

“Sophia,” he states my name in a low, serious

warning tone, but he doesn’t intimidate or scare me

with it.

“Valentino,” I respond, and that causes him to

exhale and pass his free hand over his face while

groaning. “How are you causing me more feelings

than anyone has ever been able to get out of me

before?”“Because like you said, V, you love me.” That

causes him to slowly spin to look at me.

“I do, and that’s why I can’t be okay with another

guy being in the picture. Things are different now…

I’m no longer in the shadows…I finally told you how

I feel, and you said you felt the same…how is there

a guy if you felt the same way, Soph?… I won’t beg

you to choose me. I also can’t promise that I won’t

scare the bastard away.”

“That would be hard to do, V.”

He scoffs: “People don’t see the part of me I show

you, Soph…you’re my source of light in this dark

fucked life.”

“Then let me take light more of that darkness.”

“I didn’t peg you for the type of female that would

try to go after two guys at once.”

“Im not Valentino!” I respond louder than I intended.

“I’m not trying to offend you, Soph. It’s how you’re

coming off, one moment we’re confessing our

feelings and flirting, the next you say there’s a guyyou want to be around in nothing but a towel…if

that doesn’t say you’re into two guys at once, I

don’t know what does.”

“Oh my god, V, there is no other guy!”

“Then why say it?”

“I meant you, okay!…you’re the only guy I want to

be parading around in a towel in front of.” I blurted

out before I could stop myself.

“I know Soph.”

“What?” I ask, confused.

“I know there’s no other guy…I knew it the moment

you said it.”

“Then why V?”

“Because you thought you would get away with

trying to tease me back after what I did on the

sofa…I’ll admit the towel thing was a turn on and it

wasn’t easy to keep my cool, but I think I managed

really well and I got some revenge of my own.”“Oh my god, Valentino, I just want to slap you right

now!”

“And I just want to kiss you right now, but we don’t

always get what we want… come on, now that

you’re ready and we’re done messing around, let’s

go. We have some training to do.”