7
1234 Words
Sophia ’s POV
Determined to get on his nerves tonight, I lay sprawled across the bed fully clothed, staring at the ceiling. The moment the shower shuts off, I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep, doing my best to mask the beat of my heart.
This is it. The first night, and I’m not going to let him pull me into his little mind games. There’s no way I’m going to let him sleep in the same bed. Sharing space? Not in a million years.
I love my privacy. I never needed to share a bed with anyone, except for Liam , and I certainly don’t plan to get cozy with Dante just because we signed a contract.
The rules are clear. We stay within the boundaries of the contract, and tonight, that means no sleeping together. Period.
My mind runs wild as I imagine him walking out of the bathroom, water dripping down his bare chest, his hair tousled, a towel wrapped around his waist. The image makes me scowl. He would walk over, and the first thing he’d do is glare at me. He’s probably already imagining how he’s going to make me cave.
But not tonight.
The silence in the room feels heavy, oppressive. Why isn’t he saying anything? I wait, heart pounding in my chest. It’s only a matter of time before he tries to invade my space.
I brace myself. He’s not going to get in my bed. Not tonight. Not ever.
Suddenly, I open my eyes slowly, and there he is. Dante. His face mere inches from mine, his piercing blue eyes staring at me like I’m some puzzle he’s dying to solve. My heart stutters in my chest, and I shoot upright, startled.
“So, you weren’t sleeping?” he mutters, his tone as smug as always, like he already knew the answer.
“I was,” I stammer, trying to salvage whatever dignity I have left. “I caught wind of your…” My words falter. Caught wind of his what? Cologne? No, wait. He’s not wearing any.
I feel like an i***t.
He just stares at me, like he’s already won, and then leans back, turning to dry his body. But wait—there’s no towel. Only a pair of shorts.
Oh, this just keeps getting better.
“Get off the bed, young lady,” he commands, his tone unnervingly calm. “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.”
I blink twice, just to make sure my ears aren’t betraying me.
“What?!” I exclaim, my voice rising in disbelief. “Did you just say I’m sleeping on the couch?”
“You heard me right,” he replies, unbothered.
The audacity. I stare at him in horror. Me? Sleeping on the couch?
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, my lips curling in contempt.
“I thought I didn’t,” he retorts, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
I narrow my eyes. “You’re not the boss of me. I’m not going anywhere.”
He seems to think this is some sort of joke. “I’m making the rules now, remember?” His voice is a mixture of amusement and something darker. He expects me to obey.
But I’m not like the others. He has no idea what he’s up against.
The tension between us is palpable. Neither one of us is willing to back down. I lean back against the pillows, sprawling out dramatically, my legs wide to claim every inch of the bed.
“You’re not getting in this bed tonight,” I mutter. “Not happening.”
Dante’s stance stiffens. His face darkens. “Don’t get me upset, woman!”
“Val,” I snap back, my voice as cold as I can manage. “Don’t call me ‘woman.’ My name is Sophia .”
He snorts, as if I’ve just told him a funny joke. “Special? You think your name is special?” His voice drips with mockery.
“Really?” My hand grabs the pillow next to me, holding it like a shield.
“Yeah, really.” He crosses his arms, his posture oozing arrogance. “Sophia . What kind of name is that? Sounds like something from a bad movie.”
“Funny,” I say flatly, as I throw the pillow in his direction, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Before I can even react, he’s on me, grabbing me with a surprising amount of force and lifting me off the bed. My heart races as I try to wriggle free. But he’s too strong.
I bite him. Hard.
He yelps in pain, dropping me instantly. I land with a thud on the floor, but I’m not going down that easily. Without hesitation, I spring back onto the bed, positioning myself for round two.
“Get off!” he growls, his tone venomous.
But I’m not backing down. I might not have the brute strength he does, but I can be just as stubborn. I spread my legs over the edge of the bed, daring him to try again.
He’s pissed now. “Don’t make me do this, Sophia .” His voice is low and dangerous.
But I’m not scared of him. Not anymore.
“Holy s**t! What have I gotten myself into?” he mutters under his breath, tugging at his hair in frustration. He spins back around, as if trying to gather his thoughts, but before he can even take a step toward me, I throw the pillow in his face.
“I’m done with this,” I declare, jumping off the bed, my feet barely touching the ground before I start hopping around it. “I’m not going to just let you push me around.”
He doesn’t follow me at first, but then he stops. His face hardens, and the tension between us shifts. Something else enters the equation—something raw, something that neither of us is willing to admit.
“I’m your bride, Dante,” I snap. “I should have the bed.”
“Ha! A bride who can’t even follow simple rules. What kind of man am I? The one stuck with a woman who doesn’t even understand respect!” He throws his arms up in exasperation.
I pause, and for a split second, the walls between us c***k. We’re both frustrated, exhausted by this charade.
But then, without missing a beat, I stand up straighter, the words ready on my tongue. “Fine,” I declare, raising both hands in surrender. “I have an idea.”
Dante’s gaze snaps toward me, still burning with anger. “What stupid idea?”
I cross my arms. “Let’s flip a coin. Heads, I take the bed. Tails, you take the couch.”
Dante stares at me for a long beat. The absurdity of it all seems to hit him. “A coin toss? Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious. You’ve got nothing better to do. So let’s do it.” I challenge him, my eyes daring him to back down.
His lips curl in a mocking smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Fine. You want to play? We’ll play your game.”
With that, he moves toward the bed, his broad shoulders tensing in irritation. But I know I’ve won this round.
At least, for now.
- Writer
