Page 44 of Captain's Claim

I go to open my mouth to speak, but the sheer sight of her is practically choking me.

The robe is knotted tight around her waist, but it’sshort. Just enough to reveal the smooth, bare length of her thighs, toned and fuckingirresistible, with a single droplet of water trailing down the inside of one.

My cock twitches against my zipper.

Her cheeks are pink, her skin dewy, lips soft and parted like she’s seconds away from telling me off like she always does. She smells likevanillaand something sweet, something citrusy and fresh, like she’s been soaking in some expensive body oil, making her skin gleam.

I want to drag my tongue across it.

Then she opens her mouth…

And ruins the moment.

"What the hell do you want?"

I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply, already regretting every decision that led me here. “Yeah. Believe me, I don’t want to be here either.”

Her eyes narrow.Suspicious.Like she’s trying to figure out what Ireallywant.

I shift my weight, hands shoved in my pockets. “I-uh… I came to apologize.”

Sophia tilts her head slowly, like she’s just witnessed a freakingmiracle.

“I’m sorry, what?”

I grit my teeth, my entire body rejecting this on a cellular level. “I shouldn’t have let you go like that.”

Then, a look of way too much fucking satisfaction spreads across her face.

Sophia doesn’t just smirk. She preens. Like I’ve just delivered her favorite brand of chocolate-dipped, salted caramel smugness on a silver platter.

Her eyes glitter with victory as she leans against the doorframe, arms crossed under her breasts, pushing them higher beneath her robe. Temptation wrapped in attitude.

"Say it again."

My jaw tightens. "What?"

She tilts her head, deliberate as hell. "Apologize. Properly."

I exhale, my hands flexing in my pockets. "Sophia-"

She hums."Hmm. Thought so."

She reaches for the door like she’s about to shut it in my face.

Fuck that.

"Fine," I growl, stepping forward, stopping the door with my palm. My body cages hers in, heat pressing between us. Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t move back.

"I’m sorry, alright?" My voice is low again. "I was a dick. You should’ve never hit the ice like that. And yeah - maybe I shouldn’t have laughed."

Her lips twitch, and I can see her dragging this out just to watch me suffer. Sadist.

"Go on," she teases.

I clench my jaw so hard it might snap."And…"I swallow hard, forcing the words out. "I’ll never let you fall again."

“Oh my God.” She exhales a soft laugh, crossing her arms.Big mistake.The movement pulls the robe tighter around her, cinching at her waist, teasing just a hint more of that smooth, bare thigh.

---