Page 16 of Talk Turkey To Me
“I lied.” He ground out, cutting her off before she could name more of his sins. The words felt heavy, as if the weight of them was multiplied by the last seven years of loneliness. “You were too good for me, Lil. Your parents wanted you to go away to college and get a degree, to see the world and you couldn’t have,wouldn’t have, done any of that if you were still tied to me. I was going nowhere fast and I didn’t want to be that loser boyfriend back home working on oil rigs and holding you back so I let you go. I broke it off and when you tried to talk me into reconsidering, I got drunk and did the only thing I could think of to make you give up on us once and for all. I kissed Asha but I never slept with her just for the record. I couldn’t. I fucking cried on her shoulder like the broken hearted boy I was and that’s why I looked absolutely wrecked when I stumbled back with her. I let you think the worst of me because I needed you to know that it was okay to go but it nearly broke me, Lil. I loved you. I still love you. I always have and always will and if you wantthe rest of the truth you can have that too because I think some part of me knew that if you did ever come back, I needed to make something of myself, to be the kind of man who was good enough for you and learning to cook, working here, it was all for you so if you want me to quit and find somewhere else to work so you can have your kitchen then I’ll…”
“Shut up.” Lily snapped suddenly and he was so startled by the interruption and the tone of her voice that he hesitated. “Just, shut up, Myles. Stop talking.”
His heart cracked wide open and he released her despite everything inside of him wanting to resist. He’d upset her. Again. There were damp streaks where tears had fallen down her cheeks while he spoke and for once he couldn’t read the expression on her face at all.
“Lil, please…” He tried but she only shook her head and closed her eyes, as if she couldn’t stand the sight of him. He took a step back. His heart was breaking but he backed away further. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Lily opened her eyes suddenly and lunged towards him. He was half certain she was going to slap him but he didn’t try to defend himself. He deserved whatever punishment she wanted to deliver. But instead of swinging on him she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down so that his lips could finally meet hers the way he’d been dreaming of for seven long, cold, lonely years.
Lily kissed him. He’d finally come clean. He’d told her the truth and she had kissed him. So he did the only thing he wanted to do at that moment and he kissed her right back.
—----
Lily couldn’t believe how stupid he was. He was an idiot. But he washeridiot in all the ways that mattered.
In a way, it all made sense now. He’d broken up with her out of the blue and he’d gone to Asha when Lily had refused to let him walk away from what they had. He’d purposefully done it to drive her away because he’d thought it was for her own good.
But nothing about it had been good for her and here, now, for the first time in forever, she finally felt like she was right where she was supposed to be.
His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her tighter against his body. The slick, sticky mash of berries clung to them both and she didn’t care. She just slid her hands into his hair and enjoyed the sensation of the coarse strands beneath her fingers as their mouths began the process of relearning one another.
She’d thrown herself at him and smashed their mouths together in an overwhelming rush of desire but clearly Myles still preferred being in control because he quickly took over the kiss. He pressed her back against the fridge, pinning her against him, and he cupped her cheeks between his hands, holding her head just where he wanted as he eased the kiss into something deeper, richer and soul touching.
His tongue traced her bottom lip with a slick lick and when she opened for him, he languidly slid inside. Their tongues danced in a rhythm that Lily had all but forgotten was possible with the right man. Only this man could kiss her and make it feel like an expedition, an exploration, a claim.
Lily tugged on his hair, trying to get him to go faster, to give her more, but he only responded by slowing even further. His mouth swiped over hers in deep, languid strokes that turned her legs to jelly and her blood to lava. When she whimpered and ground her lower body against the hard length pressing against her he nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth and drew away enough to look down at her.
“Something you want, Lil?” His tone was teasing but his voice was husky with desire.
“You. Now. Faster.” She panted and he had the nerve to chuckle.
“Me? I’m yours. Now and forever. But faster?” His eyes were hooded, “Not a chance.”
She must’ve whined because he smiled and stroked a finger over the pulse point thrumming in her neck.
“I’ve waited too damn long to have you in my arms again to rush it, Lil. Dreamed about it too many times. And the first time I make love to you again, it isn’t going to be in the kitchen at The Mont with a mess waiting for us to clean it up and a ticking clock counting down to the busiest day of the year.”
Her heart stuttered even as her mouth formed a pout, “Why not?”
He laughed, “Because you deserve better.”
“I seem to recall you thinking that before and getting it all wrong.”
“I wasn’t wrong to want you to have it all. I was a stupid kid who went about it all wrong, but it wasn’t wrong to want the best for you.” He met her eyes and some of the heat had faded into a steady warmth that enveloped her in the promise of so much more than just this one stolen moment.
“You’re the best for me. You and this place. It’s home. You’re my home, Myles.”
He groaned, “You can’t say stuff like that when I just made a big declaration about not making love to you amid this mess.”
“It doesn’t have to be here. That wouldn’t be very sanitary now would it?” She bit her lip as her mouth curled into a smile, “But if I remember correctly there’s a back room nearby that we christened a long, long time ago.”
He smirked, “I remember that night.”
“I thought you might.” She rubbed her breasts against his chest, “So… what do you say we take a little break from cooking and heat things up in a different way?”
She squealed when he unexpectedly stooped and grabbed her around the waist. He tossed her over his shoulder and all the blood rushed to her head. He smacked her ass and she couldn’t stop smiling as he carried her to the little room by the backdoor where employees could change their clothes, put their things in lockers, and freshen up.
She couldn’t make out her surroundings very well being upside down over his backside but the place looked different than she remembered. Back when they were teenagers there had been a couple of worn down leather sofas against one of the walls for the staff to take breaks. They were gone now of course and in their place was a long table with benches on each side. She frowned at the loss of the furniture she’d been remembering when Myles suddenly flipped her back over his shoulder and sat her atop the table.
