Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I’m still staying with Sully,” I said firmly. “And I’m still going to do things my way.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Tonio nodded toward Sully. “Besides, I think we’ve established that he can handle whatever trouble finds you.”
I leaned slightly into Sully’s side, allowing myself the small comfort of his solid presence. “So, what now? Weekly family dinners? Awkward holiday gatherings? Father-daughter dances?”
“How about we start with dinner tomorrow?” Tonio suggested. “No pressure, no expectations. Just food and conversation.”
“I guess I could manage that,” I said cautiously. “As long as we don’t have any fancy shit where I have to watch which fork to use or something. Pizza. We can have pizza.”
“I think that can be arranged.” Tonio stood, straightening his immaculate suit jacket with practiced precision. “Nine o’clock? At my house?”
“We’ll be there.”
Before he left, Tonio hesitated. I knew what he wanted but was afraid of pushing me. So I took pity on the guy. I stood and hugged him. Tonio’s body stiffened, then seemed to relax into me, his arms tightening around me in a comfortable embrace.
“Thank you, Darby.” I barely heard him, but I got it.
Once he was gone, I let out a long breath, deflating against Sully’s side. “Did I just agree to have dinner with Antonio fucking Miles?”
“You did.” Sully’s arm tightened around me. “You okay with that?”
I considered the question seriously, taking inventory of my feelings. A small, fragile curiosity about the man who claimed to be my father, about the family I might have had. “Ask me tomorrow,” I said finally, nestling deeper into Sully’s embrace. “After dinner.”
Chapter Nine
Darby
I watched Tonio’s broad back disappear through the doorway, leaving behind the ghost of our conversation and a strange feeling in my chest. Family. The word still felt foreign, a concept I’d never truly grasped. I nestled deeper into Sully’s side, drawing comfort from his solid warmth as my mind spun with possibilities I’d never allowed myself to consider before.
“You okay?” Sully murmured, his breath warm against my hair.
“Just processing.” I tilted my head up to look at him, taking in the concern etched across his features. “But I’m done thinking for tonight.”
His mouth quirked into that half smile that never failed to send heat pooling low in my belly. “That so?”
“Mm-hmm.” I shifted in my seat, sliding my hand up his thigh, enjoying the way his muscles tensed beneath my touch. “I can think of better ways to spend our time than dissecting my daddy issues.”
Sully raised an eyebrow but didn’t stop my wandering hand as it inched higher. “Is that right?”
“Definitely.” I leaned in closer, my lips brushing the shell of his ear as I whispered, “I want you to fuck me so hard you make me forget my own name, Sully. Think you can manage that?”
His pupils dilated, the blue of his eyes nearly swallowed by black, and his nostrils flared. “You want it here, or back in my room?”
I glanced around the common room. Most of the brothers had cleared out, but a few remained scattered about, cleaning up after the impromptu party. The club girls were either passed out or being helped back to their rooms. No one was paying us any attention, but we were hardly alone.
“What’s the matter? Afraid someone might hear me scream your name?” I nipped at his earlobe, gratified by the sharp intake of breath it earned me. “Or are you worried you can’t keep up?”
His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking beneath the skin. “Careful, darlin’. You’re playing with fire.”
I leaned in to suck his earlobe between my lips. Then I bit down sharply. “Burn. Me.”
In one fluid motion, Sully stood, pulling me up with him. I stumbled slightly, laughing as I caught my balance. His eyes had gone dark and dangerous, the predator I’d glimpsed in the bar fight back at Throttle now fully present once again. It should have frightened me. Instead, excitement coursed through my veins like liquid electricity.
“You sure about this?” he growled.
“Shut up and fuck me.”
Sully bent and hooked his arm behind my knees, the other around my back, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. I yelped in surprise, drawing the attention of the few people left in the room.
“Put me down!” I demanded but couldn’t keep the laughter from my voice.
“Not a chance.” He started walking toward the exit, my body cradled against his chest. “I ain’t fuckin’ you in the common room, but you wanted to play, darlin’. Now we’re playing by my rules.”
A wolf whistle followed us as we passed Knuckles, who raised his beer in salute. “Maybe she’ll be less trouble after you wear her out.”
“Doubt it,” Sully tossed back without breaking stride.
“Hey!” I slapped his chest playfully. “I resent that.”
“No, you resemble that.” His grip tightened slightly as we reached the door. “And you’re about to get exactly what you asked for.”