Page 31 of Sully
I rolled my eyes at him but couldn’t keep the smile from my face.“What?”
“For what it’s worth,” Tonio said, his voice growing serious again, “I don’t expect you to become someone you’re not.I’m not looking to control you or change you.I just want a chance to know my daughter.”
“Even if your daughter is a pain in the ass with boundary issues and a talent for causing trouble?”I grinned at him.
“Especially then,” he replied without hesitation.“You wouldn’t be Jennifer’s daughter otherwise.”
The mention of my mother didn’t sting as much this time.Maybe because I was starting to see her through different eyes, not just as the broken woman who’d failed me.Someone who had once been loved, who had created art and inspired passion.
“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 AntoniofuckingMiles?”
“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.”
