Hey, book bae!
Please enjoy this sample of Succession before it goes live tomorrow. if you haven’t already, you can preorder your copy here.
Unedited…
Salen
Salen still hadn’t gotten used to Rameek cooking for her. After handling her hygiene, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen in a silk sleeping set and found him in boxers and house shoes, making waffles. Everything else was done and spread across the large, gray and cream island in the center of the spacious kitchen.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, really needing a distraction. Truthfully, Salen didn’t have a domestic bone in her body. She knew how to clean up behind herself, but she’d grown up with a house staff that took care of cleaning, laundry, and her meals.
At the sight of Rameek in his boxers… wide chest exposed, sculpted six-pack, tattooed skin glistening… not to mention his dick print… Salen’s body shivered as she took all of him in. He chuckled and ran his hand down his chest.
Her eyes snapped up as she licked her lips. “Did you say something, Meek?”
“I did. I said these are done, so you can just grab some plates and silverware if you’d like.”
“Cool. That’s about all I can handle anyway.”
They shared a quiet laugh. “You can’t cook?”
“Not at all. I can do simple stuff like noodles and cereal, but that’s it.”
“Cereal? I know you’re not considering that a meal?”
Salen scoffed. “It has two ingredients that have to be mixed, so yeah. It’s a meal.”
Rameek scoffed. “Okay. So you won’t be fixing any of our meals.”
She tried to pout but it turned into a laugh as she set the plates on the island. “You won’t get any complaints from me, but… it would be nice if someone gave me a few lessons.”
He was so light on his feet, she hadn’t felt him making his way behind her, so when Rameek wrapped his arms around her, she gasped. Her body relaxed against him as she placed her hands on top of his. His soft lips kissed her neck, and her nipples instantly hardened. Rameek touched her as if he knew how much affection meant to her. It wasn’t her love language, but affection from a man she was attracted to was always a weakness.
“I would love to teach you how to cook, Salen. Just tell me when.”
“Can we make a night of it tonight?” she asked, turning in his arms to face him. “I want more of you.”
“Wine, music, candles… all that good shit.” Rameek chuckled before placing a searing kiss to the center of her forehead. “Whatever you want.”
“Okay,” she agreed softly, finding it difficult to remove herself from his grasp. Her mind was telling her the food was getting cold, but her body was telling her to stay in his warmth. Though she knew Rameek was the kind of man who liked to lead and take charge, Salen couldn’t stop herself from asking, “When are you going to kiss me?”
“When I know I can do it and not feel compelled to want more.”
“I’d let you have it. Me. You know that, right?”
Rameek nodded. “I do, and I’d take you, too, but I want the timing to be right. You got a lot going on right now. When that happens, I want it to be because you want me for me and not because I’m making you feel good when you’re otherwise sad.”
Salen exhaled deeply as they unraveled from one another. “I won’t deny that having you in my corner is one of the very few things that’s keeping me sane. Honestly, I probably would have drank myself to death by now if it weren’t for you. But having you and my poetry… that’s how I’m making it through this.”
His fingers slid across her cheek. “I’ve waited for a way in with you. You’re so… secure… I wanted to make sure when I came, I came correct and offered things you couldn’t refuse. What happened to Carl was devastating, and if there was a way for me to bring him back for you, I would, but I can honestly say I’m honored to be here for you.”
His confession caught Salen off guard. She was sure a man like Rameek was always secure and confident. Hearing that he was hesitant in pursuing her and not just waiting for a specific time softened her heart toward Rameek even more.
“We have to stop having these kinds of conversations at the wrong time.”
Her hands gently pressed at his chest to put space between them, then she fixed both their plates while Rameek made them mimosas with pineapple juice instead of orange juice.
After he lit the three candles in the center of the island, she asked, “I’ve noticed you romanticize things throughout your day. Candles while you cook, music while you get ready for your day. Have you always been that way?”
Rameek’s head shook as they sat at the island. Instead of answering immediately, he took ahold of her hand and said grace so they could start eating.
“I started doing that when I got involved with the mafia. It hardened me. Hardened the way I handled the women in my life, even my mother. I didn’t like that, so I started doing little things to try and balance that so I could still handle them softly.”
“Your mom was super cool. I wish I could have talked to her a little more last night, but there were a lot of people she had to socialize with.”
“Yeah, under different circumstances, she would have cornered you for a one on one to see where your head and heart are at.” His head shook as he cut his waffle. “I talked to her and my brothers this morning. They want you to come over Friday. You’ll be able to talk to her more then.”
“Cool. I’ll be there. I’m not returning to work any time soon, so it’s not like I have anything else to do.”
“I know I told you to stay lowkey to be safe in case you’re right about Bobby wanting to come after you still, but if you ever want to get out the house without me, you’ll always have a guard and be protected.”
“Okay, but I like being with you. I’m probably getting closer to you quicker than I normally would… but we’ve wasted a lot of time. Feels like we have a lot to make up for.”
“I agree.”
Silence found them for a while, allowing them to eat a few bites of food before their conversation picked up again. They covered more basics about each other. How Salen was six months older than Rameek. How they both loved the careers they’d taken on but didn’t mind trading them in for different roles in the future. How they agreed life was about changing and growing, with or without a partner… yet they both would have loved to have a life partner.
They discussed their hobbies—music, poetry, and dancing were at the top of Salen’s list, along with reading and plays. Rameek loved salsa dancing, which Salen couldn’t wait to see, along with basketball, camping, reading, and true crime documentaries. His guilty pleasure was Lifetime movies. He said he loved the ratchet drama and Salen couldn’t wait to watch a movie marathon with him.
“How are you stimulated the quickest?” she asked after they’d wrapped up their breakfast.
“I’m visual. I love stimulating conversation and giving service, but the quickest way to get a reaction out of me is being able to look at you. Especially when you have on that burgundy lipstick and heels. All I can think about is having them by my ears while I stroke your pussy.”
A quiet moan escaped her as she bit her bottom lip. She squeezed her thighs together as he asked, “What about you?”
“Affection. My love language depends on my mood and what I feel like I genuinely need in that moment, but affection always softens me. I can’t wait to be able to cuddle with you and get your scent all over me.” Unable to resist, she inhaled a deep whiff of his cologne. It was spicy like ginger, warm, and slightly chocolatey. “Every time you get close to me, I want to lick you from head to toe. See if you taste as good as you smell.”
Rameek stood, spreading her legs and making his way between them. He squeezed her thighs gently and her lips parted. As he brushed his nose against hers, Salen’s eyes fluttered.
“If you keep saying shit like that, you’re going to make me lose control.”
Salen licked her lips, and he was so close, her tongue brushed against his. Rameek groaned before tugging his bottom lip between his teeth. Cupping her cheeks, Rameek tilted her head.
“Is that what you want, Salen?” When she didn’t reply right away, Rameek added, “Hmm?”
Head nodding, she whispered, “Yes.”
Telling a man what she needed was always tricky. There was a chance he’d use it against her, denying her of it to maintain power over her. On the flip side, he could use it to create a connection that wasn’t genuine. With Rameek, Salen wasn’t worried about either of those being the case.
Salen was anxious. More anxious than she’d ever been to feel a man’s lips on hers. It was a kiss that had been in the making for well over ten years. Not knowing what to expect, her breath caught when he pecked her lips with his. The slow, soft, gentle pecks didn’t last long. As soon as they were familiarized with each other’s mouths, Rameek spread her lips with his tongue and connected it with hers. With time, the kiss deepened, and before Salen could stop it, her pussy was leaking as it imagined how magical his tongue and lips would feel there.
“Wow,” they mumbled at the same time before laughing quietly.
Rameek’s alarm sounded, and his head hung briefly. “I have to get ready to go, but I’m looking forward to coming back home to you.”
“That sounds good to me. And I promise not to try and cook while you’re gone.”
Rameek laughed as he went to grab his phone from off the counter. “I’d appreciate that. Syrus will be guarding you today, so if you want to grab some food or have him pick something up for you, just let him know. Vixen will be stopping by later, too. And you can always call me if you need me.”
Salen nodded but she didn’t plan on calling Rameek. The more he was able to focus on business, the quicker he’d be able to come back to her.