Lovers Premiere (Kimani Romance) (14 page)

It was too much. Sofia could feel her orgasm brewing. When it finally exploded, she threw back her head and released a strangled cry. Ram was right behind her, but with everything rushing to one area, his knees weakened. Finally, his orgasm hit him like a truck and his legs went out from underneath him.

They tumbled to the floor with his body absorbing most of the impact. After the initial shock wore off, they laughed. Like when they fell during skating earlier, once they got started, it was hard to stop.

“I love you so much,” Ram said, pulling her close and planting a kiss against the top of her head.

Sofia smiled in the dark, but she was still waiting for that other shoe to drop.

T
he next week floated by like a dream. When Sofia and Ram weren't making love, they were trying to patch together plans for their future. When Sofia informed her family about Ramell buying her parents' old home, everyone expressed their joy and excitement for having the house back in the family, especially Rachel. Sofia became obsessed about redecorating and Ram kept dropping hints about them having a real honeymoon.

So caught up with creating their new life together, Sofia started spending less and less time in the office. It didn't mean that she was off her game, she still made and closed some great deals for her clients, but she started spending less time on her BlackBerry and Ram declared their bedroom a no-electronic zone, so the iPad and the laptops had to stay in her new home office.

If there was one thing that was starting to cause Sofia
some anxiety it was the wedding reception her Aunt Lily was planning. It wasn't the list of friends and colleagues that her family invited—it was the fact that Emmett Jordan was going to be there.

Ramell picked up on her apprehension but Sofia struggled with confessing about its source. After all, Emmett was Ram's father and it was clear that the two of them were close. Sofia told herself that she just needed to suck it up. It was just going to be one evening. Surely, she could handle that. If she could glue on fake smiles for Hollywood pow-wow meetings and parties, she could grin and bear being around that lying, backstabbing jerk.

Sofia didn't know how her aunt pulled it off on such short notice, but their wedding reception was booked at the Beverly Wilshire in the heart of Beverly Hills. Both Ramell and Sofia hoped for just a small event with their closest friends and family. Somehow that equaled over a hundred people in her aunt's mind.

Sofia selected a lavender Stella McCartney gown that was all classic chic and timeless on her willowy frame. Her long hair hung in soft, structured waves over her bronze shoulders. When her small team of stylists finished getting her ready and she descended the staircase, Ramell literarily stood at the bottom with his mouth hanging open. Everyone chuckled at his reaction while Sofia simply blushed.

An hour later when they strolled arm and arm into the Beverly Wilshire, the beautiful couple was greeted with an enthusiastic round of applause before being surrounded and congratulated on their marriage. It was
at that moment that it truly sunk in for Sofia that she was indeed a married woman. The idea was both scary and thrilling at the same time.

Uncle Jacob and Aunt Lily swept their way over and showered Ram and Sofia with hugs and kisses.

“I'm just so happy for the two of you,” Lily said, blotting away her tears before they had a chance to ruin her makeup. “You're both just so beautiful together. I know in my heart of hearts that you two were destined to be together.”

Ramell's arm draped around Sofia's slim waist and then pulled her closer. “That's what I keep telling her.” He smiled at her and couldn't resist leaning in for a quick kiss.

A few minutes later, Rachel and her fiancé Ethan Chambers approached. With their own wedding a week away, the happy couple glowed with love.

“It looks like we're going to be brothers soon,” Ethan said to Ramell, thrusting out his hand.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Ramell said, pumping his hand. “But I'm also expecting you to take good care of Rachel here. If not, I would hate to have to hunt you down.”

“That would make two of us,” Uncle Jacob cut in.

Ethan pulled at his collar to let them know that he could feel the invisible noose they were threatening him with. “I don't think that you guys have anything to worry about.” He pulled Rachel close and captured her with a kiss.

Ramell frowned and then glanced over at Sofia. “I think we can do better than that, don't you?”

Sofia smiled. “I don't know. Do you think?”

Ramell straightened his arm and then in dramatic form grabbed Sofia, dipped her back so that she kicked one foot up and then laid a kiss on her that was reminiscent of the old black-and-white classic movies. When he finally lifted her back up, the entire room erupted into applause.

Ethan and Rachel laughed at their antics.

“Since this is your reception. I'm going to let you win this round,” Ethan joked.

Ramell winked. “Smart man.”

Emmett Jordan's voice boomed as he approached. “Hello, son!”

Instantly, Sofia stiffened. Her gaze shifted to Rachel who, with one glance, telepathed silent support.

“So you finally did it!” he laughed, whacking his son on the back. “You finally married her. I have to admit I was beginning to have my doubts. Then again, women can't resist the Jordan charm.”

Ramell laughed as he returned his father's hug. “I'm glad you could make it, pop.”

“I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Well, I did miss the wedding,” he reminded him.

“Sorry about that, pop.” Ram tightened his hold around Sofia's waist. “It was sort of a spontaneous thing.”

“Is that right?” Emmett's gaze finally drifted over to his new daughter-in-law. “My God. You look so much like your mother,” he said, shaking his head.

Sofia was already on a low simmer and her smile was starting to wilt.

“How about a hug?” he asked, stretching his arm wide.

She'd rather gouge her own eyes out with a pitchfork, but it was time for the big Hollywood agent to put the acting chops she'd learned to work. After making Emmett wait for a couple of awkward seconds, she finally stepped into his embrace. However, she didn't allow for his arms to stay around her for long as she quickly removed herself from his embrace. She caught Ramell's frown from the corner of her eyes, but she refused to look at him. Instead, she forced her lips to curl back up so that she could ask to be excused.

“I just need to dip into the ladies' room for a second,” Sofia said, stepping away from Ramell's side.

“I'll come with you,” Rachel offered. She gave her fiancé a brief kiss and then peeled herself out of his arms.

The two sisters rushed from the small circle just shy of leaving skid marks. Seeing their speed most of their guests started parting like the Red Sea to avoid being run over. Sofia couldn't get away fast enough and could barely manage to fill her collapsing lungs with much needed oxygen as she reached the ladies' room.

“Are you all right?” Rachel asked.

“I will be,” Sofia said, pulling in several more deep breaths. “I swear I can't stand that man!”

“I know,” Rachel said, rubbing her back in hopes of calming her down. “It's just for one evening. You can do this.”

“And after tonight?” Sofia challenged. “What if he's around all the time? What if Ram invites him over to dinner once or twice a week? What if they get together and hang out in the media room for football and
basketball games?” Heat rushed up her chest and neck as she worked herself up into a frenzy. When she started feeling lightheaded and woozy, she grabbed a hold of the vanity to support herself.

“Calm down, Sofia. Calm down,” Rachel urged. “Deep breaths. Take deep breaths.”

After feeling the tips of her ears burning, Sofia took her sister's suggestion and started taking in deep breaths and expelling them slowly.

“That's it. Calm down,” Rachel coached. “You can do it.”

Bit by bit, Sofia's face cooled as she calmed down.

Rachel smiled. “There you go. Do you feel better?”

Sofia nodded and then hugged her sister. “Yes. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

“You know I'm always here for you.” Her sister smiled. “But as far as dealing with your new father-in-law, I think you're just going to have to talk to Ramell and tell him how you feel about Emmett.”

“Yeah. I should really tell my new husband that I can't stand his father. That should go over well.”

“There's something to be said for honesty. You can't go the rest of your lives together trying to avoid the man. Ram is going to understand—he might even be able to help you two work this thing out.”

Sofia stiffened. “I do not want to work anything out with that man.”

Rachel tossed her hands up. “I understand. But you're going to have to talk to Ramell about the situation regardless. There's no getting around that.”

She hesitated, but after her sister cocked her head and
stretched her eyebrows up at her, Sofia had to admit that she was right. “I'll do it tonight.”

“Good,” Rachel said, giving her another hug. “Now are you ready to go back out there?”

She sucked in one more deep breath and then nodded.

“All right. Let's go get them, tiger.” Rachel draped her arm around her older sister's shoulders and then led her out of the ladies' room.

They hadn't taken more than a couple of steps outside the door before Emmett Jordan cornered them.

“Sofia, do you think that I can talk to you for a few minutes?”

Sofia dropped all pretense of a smile. “I don't think that now is a good time,” she said coldly. But when she attempted to step around him, he blocked her and Rachel's path. “It will only take a minute.”

“Then call my office and make an appointment.”

Emmett shook his head. “My God. You really do hate me,” he said, frowning and shaking his head. “I think I've always suspected it since you had walked in on—”

“I don't want to talk about this right now!” Sofia yelled as she tried to move around him again, only for Emmett to pull the same stunt and block off her exit.

“Wait!”

“Will you stop doing that?” Sofia snapped and stomped her foot.

When a few heads swiveled in their direction, Rachel leaned over and whispered, “Take a deep breath. It's going to be all right.”

Sofia followed her sister's instructions. “Look, Emmett. This isn't the time or the place for this.”

“I just want to clear the air. I think that there's a huge misunderstanding that's gone on for far too long. And now that…well, we're family…”

Sofia stiffened again. Why couldn't this man get it through his head that she didn't want to talk to him?

“…And family is important to me…” he continued as he stepped into her personal space.

Alarm bells rang in her head as she quickly jumped back and held up her hands like stop signs. “Emmett, we're not about to have this conversation.”

Rachel stepped forward. “Mr. Jordan, maybe this isn't such a good time.”

“Is there a problem over here?” Ramell asked, threading his way into the circle.

“There's no problem,” Sofia lied.

“I think there's a big problem,” Emmett contradicted. Ram frowned.

“What's going on?” Uncle Jacob and Aunt Lily now joined the loop.

Sofia's blood pressure shot up as she placed her slim fingers against her temples.

“I was just trying to talk to Sofia about a few things,” Emmett pressed.

“And I said that I didn't want to talk right now,” Sofia hissed. “I don't want to talk to you
ever.
Period. End of story.”

“Sofia,” Ram said, stunned. “What's gotten into you,
sweetheart?” He moved closer to her and wrapped his arm back around her for support.

“Nothing has gotten into me. Will you just drop it?” She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't have it. “Will you let me go? Stop trying to control me!”

“What?” Ramell's arm fell away from her waist.

“Maybe we just need to go into another room real quick so that we can talk,” Uncle Jacob suggested. “Clearly, we do need to clear the air about a few things.”

What had gotten into everyone? Didn't they just hear her say that she didn't want to talk to this man?

“I don't know,” Rachel hedged. “Sofia is getting pretty upset. Maybe we should do this another time.”

“Well, I, for one, want to know what the hell is going on,” Ram said, his gaze still searching his wife's face for the harsh rebuke that she'd just lashed out on him.

Sofia wanted to apologize, but at the same time she felt as if she was being cornered. And now that her family was all looking like she was the freak in a freak show, she relented so that she could just get this whole thing over with. “Fine.” She tossed up her hands. “Five minutes.”

Emmett had the audacity to smile now that he'd gotten his way.

“Let's just go into this room over here,” Uncle Jacob said, pointing off to the side.

Unbelievably, in the middle of their own wedding reception, the family smiled and excused themselves to their few friends and family so that they could dip into a room off from the grand room.

Ram took a chance and swung his arm back around
her waist. She allowed it, but she was still irritated. This was the very thing that she had hoped to avoid for years, now it was worse than she had ever imagined it. Instead of privately telling Ram her issues about his father, she now how to air her grievances in front of her whole family. Once they were all piled into the other room, Uncle Jacob closed the door.

“First of all,” Jacob began, turning toward Sofia. “I'm sorry that we have to do this this evening, but clearly it's time that we deal with a few things, a few things that…your aunt and I had hoped to avoid.” He reached over for his wife's hand.

Sofia folded her arms. “My problem isn't with you or Aunt Lily. This is about Emmett and him alone,” she stressed. “It's about how
he
stabbed my father in the back. It's about
him
sneaking around with my mother!”

“
What?
” Ram thundered, turning toward his father.

Emmett's hands came up as he stepped back. “That is not true!”

“Yes it is,” Sofia contradicted him. “I was there, remember?”

“What? You saw them together or something?” Ram asked.