Page 58 of Deception & Daylight
“Mmmm. I noticed,” he says, rubbing a palm over my still sore ass cheek before biting into my thigh. I let out a squeak as his teeth make contact with my flesh. “Quiet. Don’t wanna wake my mom when you’re half naked.”
I groan in frustration as he quietly pads down the staircase and into the kitchen. I’ve been here before, but I don't think I ever fully appreciated its charm. It’s a cozy space with an island in the center, copper fixtures, and vintage tiling. Off to the left, there’s an exposed brick fireplace with family photos on the mantle, and a small round dining table set with a dusty blue gingham tablecloth and fresh flowers in the center that I recognize as the ones I brought back for Lucy when she was discharged from the hospital.
Miles deposits me on the island, his hands trailing up my thighs as he leans in, kissing me far too briefly. “What are you in the mood for?” he asks.
You.
“I’m not picky.”
The dim light from the fridge illuminates the space as he peers inside. Not finding anything of interest, he opens the freezer and smiles as he pulls out a pint of vanilla ice cream. He places it down on the island then heads over to the pantry, returning with an armload of ingredients including chocolate chips, sprinkles, and marshmallows, before heading back to the fridge for a can of ready whip and a jar of maraschino cherries.
“Spread your legs,” he says. When I look at him like he has three heads, he chuckles, pointing to where I’m perched on the island. “The drawer for the spoons is right there.”
“Oh. Right.” My cheeks flame as he reaches between my spread thighs, pulling two spoons from a drawer.
Leaning in close to my ear, he says, “But if you wanna give me something else to eat, just say the word, baby.” He winks and suddenly my mouth is dry and I lose focus, my mind replaying visions of Miles on his knees in the alleyway.
Once he’s finished gathering an assortment of ingredients, he hands me a bowl of vanilla ice cream. “You do the honors.”
“I don’t think you realize what you’ve just done,” I say, eyeing the sugary sweet toppings lining the countertop. “This is either the best or worst idea you’ve ever had.”
First, I select the chocolate sauce and pour a generous amount over the ice cream. Next, I grab a handful of chocolate chips, followed by an Oreo cookie that I crush in my hand and sprinkle on top. Finally, I squirt a dollop of whipped cream over the whole thing before adding a maraschino cherry for good measure.
He leans into my space, his palm resting against my thigh as he snatches the spoon from my hands. “Be a good girl and open up.”
I instantly obey his command, allowing him to feed me. There’s something almost erotic about our positions and the way the spoon slides out of my mouth. The rich vanilla ice cream combined with the explosion of chocolate has me moaning around the spoon. When he goes to take his own bite, I snatch it from his hands and dart around the island, savoring the flavors on my tongue. With a mischievous smirk, he stalks towards me like I’m his prey, and I almost want to let him catch me. Instead, I run in the opposite direction, but my confidence falters as he snags me around the waist. His breath fans over my ear as he whispers a quiet threat. “Your ass still has my handprints on it, so I’ll be considerate for now. But if you continue to test my restraint, you should know I have other ways to punish you.”
Walking me back towards the island, he cages me in and the feel of his hard chest pressed against my body combined with the lingering threat of pain and pleasure combined sends wave a desire coursing through me. He grabs me by my waist and places me back on the island, stepping between my spread thighs. Feeling generous, I spoon another bite and hold it up to his mouth. He takes it, then brings his lips to mine and hums. “Perfect.” The way he’s looking at me, I can’t tell if he’s still talking about the ice cream.
Silence stretches between us as we take turns eating, and a sense of contentment washes over me. I don’t know what it is about Miles that makes it so easy to be around him, but I’m not taking this peaceful moment for granted. The way I see it, I could be in my bed alone, locked in a nightmare of my own making, or I could be down here enjoying an ice cream sundae with the man I once thought I hated. I’d choose Miles every single time. The thought isn’t as terrifying as it should be.
A light turns on in the hallway, reminding me I'm damn near naked sitting on the kitchen island. I quickly hop off the counter and crouch down, tugging Miles’ arm in a silent plea. “What are you doing?” Miles asks with a chuckle.
Keep my voice low, I say, “Hiding. Obviously.” Before I can explain further, Lucy’s voice cuts in.
“What are you doing here?” she asks. It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking to Miles. I peer around a stool, hoping she doesn't notice me watching.
“Couldn’t sleep. Thought ice cream might help.”
Lucy nods in agreement. “There aren’t too many problems ice cream can’t solve. Anything you wanna talk about?”
I assume he’ll make some sort of attempt to brush off the question, so I’m shocked when he actually opens up. “Do you have any regrets, Ma?”
“I’ve made many mistakes in my life, sweetie. But every single one of them led me here and I wouldn’t trade this life for the world. Is there something in particular you’re having regrets about?”
“A couple of years ago, I made some mistakes I’m not proud of.” My breath catches in my throat as I look up at Miles, only to find him staring straight at me.
“This have anything to do with your brother?” she asks.
“In a roundabout way, I guess. But it’s also Maggie. All of it happened at the same time, and sometimes I wonder if I should’ve handled things differently.”
“Your brother is…” Lucy pauses, considering her words. “He’s a broken man, Miles. What you two went through — well, I guess I do have a few regrets. But Maggie — she’s special. Whatever you did, I’m sure she’s forgiven you.”
“Maybe. But I’m not sure I’ve earned that forgiveness.”
“Well, the ice cream sundaes are a start,” she says through a laugh. “You can come out now, sweet girl.” Miles beams at me, reaching out a hand. I roll my eyes, begrudgingly placing my palm in his as he helps me to stand.
I sigh. “You knew I was there the whole time?”
