Page 36 of Torn Souls

She giggles, the sound washing over me as she heads toward the oven, pulling a mitt over her hand as she does. “I like tea,” she confirms.

But I already know. Not only have I been digging deeper about her father, but I’ve done more research on what Oaklynn likes.

Maybe it’s unfair because I’m not giving her the chance to tell me herself, but I don’t really care. I’m going to show this woman that she’s ours. There’s no way I won’t use every advantage.

CHAPTER 12

OAKLYNN

I almost giggle. This man is going to make me tea? How domesticated.

I watch him out of the corner of my eye. His movements are precise. There isn’t a single wasted movement. It’s kind of beautiful to watch.

Getting the last tray of cookies in the over is a nice distraction from the way Huck’s muscles move while making me tea. It probably shouldn’t be as sexy as it is, but I find myself squeezing my thighs together.

Once I close the oven, I can feel the heat of Huck’s body behind me. I have to take a deep breath to stop myself from turning and throwing myself into his arms.

That would not be ladylike.

“Come and have some tea, Sweet Girl,” he demands.

He doesn’t give me the chance to head over to the island where a cup is waiting for me. I’m not at all surprised when he grips my hand, lacing our fingers, and leads me over to stools set up on the other side of the island.

I smirk at him and shake my head, not really admonishing him. “You’re bossy.”

Huck barks out a laugh as he sits next to me and proceeds to put some honey in his tea. “I’m not even the worst of the lot,” there’s a tease in his voice.

The quiet we fall into doesn’t feel awkward. It’s peaceful.

There haven’t been many times in my life when silence with another person felt like this. Normally I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, but not right now. I’m content.

It’s a strange feeling and one I want to hold onto and never let go of.

I’m sure that my father is angry, if he’s even realized that I’m not where I’m supposed to be. It’s not uncommon for days to go by without seeing my father. Especially after he’s put his hands on me, he tends to keep his distance. I used to tell myself that he didn’t want to see the pain he inflicted on me, that maybe he felt bad about it.

Now, I don’t think any such thing.

When the timer goes off, I can feel Huck’s eyes on me as I move around the kitchen. Surprisingly, It doesn’t make me feel like I’m on display.

Once I’ve transferred the last batch to the cooling rack, I grab two from the first tray that went it and bring them back to where Huck’s is still watching me with an intensity in his brown eyes.

The smile he gives me when I hand him one of the cookies has my heart pounding in my chest. He’s gorgeous when he smiles, though I’m not sure he would appreciate it if I said as much.

Huck practically moans around his first bite of cookie. It looks like he wants to shove the rest of it in his mouth but holds off, barely. I can hardly contain the laughter that wants to bubble out of me.

“I have a feeling you didn’t just come home because you wanted to see me,” I challenge him while arching my eyebrow.

He eyes me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You’re observant, aren’t you, Sweet Girl?”

I shrug, not denying it. “I’ve learned to read people. It pays off.”

When he grips my chin, it feels like my entire body lights up from the inside out. He turns my face so I’m looking at him, his eyes boring into mine like he can see past the polish that has always been expected of me.

“That was about survival,” his voice is low, an ominous quality to it that has goosebumps covering me. “You became a master at manipulating your cage as much as you could. Now, you’re no longer caged, Oaklynn. You’re free.”

“Am I?” My question is soft because I don’t want to challenge him and what he’s potentially laying at my feet.

Huck rears back a little, almost as if I slapped him. “Of course,” he insists.

---