Read Online A Prince For Sophie by Morgan Ashbury - Free Book Online

routine to try and bring herself back to normal. Even if normal would be a façade. The last thing Stephan had said when they’d parted company was that he’d be knocking on her door later tonight.
    As she felt her body begin to respond to the thought of that rascal and more sex, she quickened her pace. Hopefully the refreshing coolness of the indoor pool would restore her equilibrium and turn off her juices.
     
    * * * *
     
    The splash took Hannah unawares.
    Floating on her back, her goal a bit of relaxation before dinner, she hadn’t heard anyone enter the poolroom. Pulling her feet down, she stood up and scanned the water’s surface. Sleek, wet black hair and a determined, driven breaststroke identified the swimmer. Hannah made her way over to the edge of the pool and just watched as Sophie cut through the water, lap upon lap. The young woman always reminded Hannah of an electric current—crackling, full of energy, and driven. Today she appeared even more wired than usual.
    Finally that energy seemed to wind down. The princess threw herself onto her back, floating effortlessly. The illusion of relaxation was marred by the harsh sound of her breathing, which echoed in the cavernous room.
    “Feel better?”
    Hannah was proud of the progress she’d made reaching out to Sophie. Alex’s oldest daughter had struck her, on first meeting, as a reserved and regimented woman—cool, collected, and tightly wound. It was only as she began to get to know her that Hannah realized Sophie’s manner covered a shy personality and, she believed, a love-starved nature.
    Alex had been brutally frank in discussing his late wife’s shortcomings as a parent. To give him credit, his purpose had been not to denigrate his children’s mother, but rather to help Hannah in understanding his children and his relationships with them.
    The mother in Hannah longed to just gather Sophie into a fierce hug. The woman in her recognized the young princess wasn’t ready for such a display of affection.
    “No, damn it.”
    Hannah couldn’t help the laugh that erupted in response to Sophie’s frustrated declaration.
    “Well if that kind of frenzied exercise didn’t help whatever is bothering you, there is only one thing left known to womankind that will. Chocolate.”
    “I had sex today for the first time in my life.”
    Hannah could see by the shocked look on Sophie’s face that she hadn’t planned to say that. Mothering, Hannah mused, could come at the strangest times and in the most unexpected ways.
    Leaving her perch at the edge of the pool, she made her way closer to Sophie, then mimicked the young princess, floating on her back.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I think so. It was—”
    Hannah looked over and could see her face had colored. “You don’t have to say anything more if you don’t want to.”
    “No, I…I want to.”
    “Then go for it. Oh, sorry, guess you already did.”
    Sophie laughed and sank. Quickly breaking the surface, she spit water as she continued to chuckle. Hannah had to fight to keep a straight face. Tentatively reaching out to touch the younger woman’s shoulder, she said, “The first time for a woman can be scary—painful, a little messy. Unless the man is a considerate lover, and knows it’s your first time, there may not be much pleasure, either.”
    “No. I mean yes, he was considerate. The experience was wonderful. More than I thought it would be. I had always believed that the rapture written about in books did not exist. I don’t know why I always assumed that sex would be a distasteful or unpleasant experience.”
    Hannah had her suspicions on that score, but kept them to herself and let Sophie talk.
    “I don’t even know why I wanted you to know. But I realize now that when I decided I wanted a swim, it was because I hoped you might be here.”
    “I needed to relax before dinner this evening.”
    “Not to pry, Hannah, but this afternoon it seemed as if you and papa were…friends