“You don’t have to cook for us. Men can cook.”
My insides melt faster than the butter as Sully tops the waffle off with syrup.
“I know that. Well, I mean I know that now, but it’s not about me being a girl and the one cooking. I really enjoy doing it. It was something I did with my mom a lot back at the land.” A knot forms in my stomach thinking about her. I miss her so much.
I hate that I left her behind, but she’d told me to do what I needed to do. She was my father's fourth wife but could only ever conceive me. He’d hated her for it.
“Petal?” Sully rounds the island between us, coming to a stop at my side. When he wraps his hand into my braided hair to pull my head back to stare up at him, it makes me have second thoughts about cutting my hair off. “What is it?”
“I left my mama behind. She helped me get out. I miss her.” I smile through my watering eyes. “I think she might have liked you.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Oh, I have no doubt about it. If she’d seen the way you stood up to my father, she’d be your number one fan.”
“Think so?” He gives me that smirk I love so much.
“She might have to fight me for you,” I say before I grab the front of his shirt and pull the giant man down for a kiss. I stop right before his mouth meets mine. “You’re supposed to kiss a girl in the morning,” I tell him.
“Guess I’m learning too,” he responds before clearing the rest of the space between our mouths and giving me the perfect morning kiss.
15
SULLY
She tastes like syrup and her own flavor of sweetness. Everything a man could ask for and more. And she’s all mine.
I want her to eat more breakfast, to tour the house, to breathe in the fresh air outside–but I can’t seem to let her go. Not when she asked for my kiss. So I give it to her and lift her from her seat with ease.
Once I slide her onto the counter, she wraps her legs around me and runs her fingers through my hair. She’s already on fire, like a supernova of sexuality despite her innocence. I’m drawn in, completely unable to resist her.
Gripping her hips, I slide her to the edge of the island and rub my hard cock against her. She moans and throws her head back, and I take the opportunity to kiss her throat. Her skin is so soft, so warm. I want to bury myself inside her, to stay that way until she’s come so many times she can’t think straight.
“I want you, Orchid. I always have.” I press my forehead to hers. “But I’m not a good man. Not the sort a woman like you deserves.”
She cups my cheeks. “You are good, Sully. I know you are.”
I shake my head. “No, Petal, you don’t know my past.”
“Then tell me. You know all about mine, and you haven’t judged me. Why wouldn’t I do the same for you?”
“You would.” I give in and kiss her again. She’s undeniable. But I have to pull back again. “I know you would, but I don’t deserve it from you.”
“Life isn’t about what we deserve.” She nibbles my bottom lip. “It’s about what we make of it.” She meets my gaze. “None of the women and girls on the land deserve to be treated the way they are. I wasn’t. So I decided to make my own fate. That’s when I met you, and you became so much to me.”
“Because you don’t know me. Not really.” I squeeze her ass.
“Tell me, Sully.” She reaches down and yanks up my shirt. “Off.”
I obey her command and pull my shirt over my head. Her gaze strays over my chest and to the scars here and there.
“Tell me about these.” She leans over and kisses one, then runs her tongue along another. When she looks up at me, I see devious mischief in her eyes. “Go ahead, talk.” She returns to kissing me, driving me insane with her lips and tongue. “I’m listening.”
This is torture, the most enjoyable torture imaginable. When she grips my sides and pulls me even closer, her tongue running along my abs, I groan.
“Am I distracting you?” She blinks up at me, that innocence covering the desire of a little devil. “Go on.” She kisses one of my nipples.
That’s when something inside me ruptures. I grab her shoulders and push her back on the island. She squeals as I grab her shorts and panties and rip them away.
When I spread her legs wide, she gasps, and when I cover her sweet pussy with my mouth, she arches off the marble.