Page 106 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“She does not hate you. Rossi’s just… Rossi. Her and Stat are a lot alike. Especially after their accident,” Sol mumbled. “Don’t take it personal. She used to be the same way with me when we first met, and I was her husband’s sister. If she’s hard on you, it’s usually for a reason, but it doesn’t last. Look at us now. We’re like real sisters. I piss her off, she frustrates me, we’re always arguing, but it’s always love. My mother couldn’t stand her either, but they’re thick as thieves now.”
“That’s crazy. I never would have guessed that.” I’d heard about an accident and it being the reason Rossi was in her chair, but I never got the full details, and I thought it would be rude to ask.
I thought about looking it up online, but that seemed like an invasion of privacy or like I was doing too much. If Staten or his mother volunteered the information that was one thing, but I wasn’t one for prying.
“Oh yeah, drama for days when her and Justus first got married, but it made things interesting. The growth was serious.” Sol lifted both brows, and someone tapped lightly at my door again before it was pushed open.
When Staten poked his head inside, he was surprised to find his aunt with me. Instant irritation furrowed his brow. It waspretty funny because it was obvious his mind was on something else when he walked in. Sol twisted her mouth to the side and forked some more lasagna.
“What you doing in here?”
“Um, excuse you.” She turned her nose up. “I swear you rude as hell. You could have started with, hey Auntie. What’s up, how you doing? How’s Haco?”
Sucking his teeth, Staten let himself into my room, his presence immediately taking over and sending my heart into palpitations. From the moment he swept those warm, prepossessing eyes over me, something had shifted. It wasn’t anything that hit me over the head like some aha moment, it lingered until the moment he opened that door for that interview. Now it was bold and forceful, right in my face and stealing my breath. It wasn’t because Sayer had left me vulnerable. In fact, being with Staten and the kids kept my mind off that situation. The gratification he left me with came from the way he looked at me or spoke to me, when his fingers swept over my cheek or he kissed me. It was attentive, and endearing, things that didn’t exist between me and Sayer.
“I wasn’t expecting to find you here, and I need to talk to Cambrie real quick.”
“Hmm, yeah, okay.” She lowered her eyes into little slits of suspicion before glancing at me over her shoulder. “You mind if I take a plate to go?”
“Whatever.” Staten seemed distracted, holding the door open for her, and she stepped out.
He made sure to close and lock it when she was gone before taking slow strides in my direction. The warmth in his gaze was like a caress, sweeping over me gradually. Heat pulsed between my thighs, dampening my panties.
“What are you doing?”
“I missed you.” His arm stretched, and he stroked my cheek then cuffed my chin and fused his mouth to mine.
“Staten, your mama is in the kitchen with your kids,” I whined.
“So just be quiet and let me do what I do,” he said against my lips.
Squatting between my legs, he nudged me onto my back and pulled at my pants. My bare thighs were on display, and he canvassed them slowly with admiration. I liked the feel of his rough hands against my smooth skin, reminding me that I was dealing with a man. Kissing along my legs, he arrived at my already puddling middle and slid my panties to the side. His warm breath against my nub left me panting and anxious as his tongue swiped against my pearl.
Latching on, he swirled his tongue in slow circular motions and went back and forth between slurping and sucking until I was clawing at the sheets. The pressure was starting to be too much, and the pleasure of what was to come crept up my spine and into my chest. After he slipped a few fingers inside me and continued the steady motion with his tongue, I lost the battle.
“Shit!” I whimpered, a gush of my essence dripping on his tongue.
“We can finish this up tonight. I gotta go handle something with my brothers.” Looking me in my eye, he kissed my lower lips and towered over me.
This man left me dizzy and trying to collect myself when he was gone. Eventually, I got up and went to the bathroom to shower quickly and change. I was sure everyone was done eating by now, and it was mandatory that I cleaned the kitchen before bed. In a two-piece, red, silk pajama set and my gray Ugg slippers, I arrived in the kitchen just as the kids were clearing plates. Rossi and Sol were still seated at the table, but Staten was alone at the counter with the plate I’d set aside in frontof him. He winked when I strolled past, and my walls clenched anxiously.
“That was so good, Cambrie!” Piaget complimented.
“Ten out of ten for real,” Saga agreed, rubbing his stomach and belching from his chair.
“Ten out of ten and will eat again!” Rogue chanted, pasta sauce all over his little face.
“I’m not hungry.” Tavi nudged her plate from her face and glared at it resentfully.
She ate like a bird most of the time I cooked anyway, and I wasn’t going to force it down her throat.
“Aw, thanks y’all.” I stopped at the sink, and Saga walked over with his and Rogue’s plates. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. That’s one of the dinners me and my mama liked to make together.”
“I can help you with the dishes if you want,” Saga offered, looking around at the counters cluttered with all the utensils and dishes I’d used to cook.
Not only did he shock the hell out of me, but his father damn near choked on his bite of food. Pounding his fist against his chest, Staten slowly chewed and swallowed what was in his mouth and took a breath. He sat up tall on his stool and cleared his throat.
“What you say?” his father checked with him.
