Prologue
Cambridge University
Eight years ago
Sofia didn’t want the night to end.
Yes, it was drizzling with a chill in the April air, but she was warm, tucked against the most extraordinary man—someone so honest and kind, and so grounded in his beliefs she just loved listening to him. Who would have thought that by coming to Cambridge she’d find an American who was so perfect for her?
It was funny how the world worked, how love found you when you least expected it.
Glancing at their joined hands, Sofie imagined what her parents might say about Ian, and she wondered if she could get them to see how good he’d been for her. How he was strong and honest. Kind.
She wondered if how much she loved him would matter to them?
Her parents and her family exerted so much control over her life that she couldn’t
imagine them approving of her relationship with the former soldier. Yes, he was brilliant--well educated and honorable. But he wasn’t of her station, and marrying well was all her parents ever wanted for their second child.
“Sofie? What’s wrong?” His voice was deep, and clear, with the slightest New York
accent.
“Why do you think something is wrong?” she replied.
“Because you usually talk my ear off and you’ve been very quiet. Is something on your mind?”
What would he do if she just told him the truth? Ian, by the way…
Since meeting him she’d learned to see outside her own bubble. As so often the case growing up the way she did, Sofie was the center of the universe. Everything she did was watched, every want or need was satisfied, and it was all done without much thought to anyone else. Ian changed all that. He helped her see the big picture.
Looking up at him, his profile took her breath away the same as when she saw him for the first time. He was tall, over six feet, and muscular in a lean rather than bulky way. His face was angular, handsome; his eyes were large and dark. Always seemingly touched by a bit of gold, his hair and skin had a warm quality. But it was the way he touched her, held her, kissed her that had changed the way Sofie saw herself.
She wasn’t a sheltered girl, but a woman. At twenty-one, she was ready to grow up.
“Ian? I have a favor to ask you.”
He stopped and turned her into his powerful arms. “Anything.”
It was now or never. He was all she’d ever wanted in a man, every dream she’d ever had about her knight in shining armor.
His thumb skimmed over her cheek. It was such a simple gesture, but Sofie’s heart
fluttered and jumped wildly. Finally, she mustered up the nerve to tell him what she wanted. “I want…” Lord help her, she was nervous. “I want you to make love to me.”
His eyes locked on hers and everything around them, the breeze, the rain, the noise from the pub nearby, seemed to quiet immediately. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more certain. You’ve been so patient with me, so sweet. I know it hasn’t been easy.” She glanced around, then rising on her toes, she kissed him. “Let’s go to your flat. I want to be with you.”
He hadn’t moved except to pull her close, but it seemed just a split second and his hands caught her head and his mouth came down on hers in a kiss the likes of which they’d never shared. This was hot, hungry and a little dangerous. But Sofie gave into it when his tongue slipped into her mouth, a soft moan escaped from her throat surprising both of them.
“I don’t know what to do,” she heard herself say.
“I’ll take care of you.” His lips pressed into her temples and Ian’s warm breath filled her with comfort, strength. She trusted him, above all else, Sofie trusted him.
The short distance to his flat through the park near Christ College sseemed endless. The waiting interminable. Now that she’d decided, being with him was the only thing that mattered.
Once they’d climbed the three flights of stairs and he’d closed and locked the heavy wood door, Sofie launched herself into his arms.
“Whoa, slow down. Sofie, baby, slow down.”
“I’m sorry…I…”
“Shh. Don’t be sorry.” His hand stroked her hair. “I want this to be good for you. We have to go slow.”
“Okay. Okay.” God, she was nervous.
“Come here.” Taking her hand, Ian led her through the living area of his flat. It wasn’t big, but it was neat and beautifully appointed, with large windows she expected made the place gorgeous on a sunny day. It was much nicer than she expected, but over the past few months, she’d learned that Ian was full of surprises. They entered his bedroom, which again, was surprisingly neat, and another set of large windows dominated one wall, looking out on Christ’s Pieces. He sat on the blue comforter covering the bed, pulling her down next to him. They stretched out and Ian made sure Sofie was tucked securely into his side.