23. Ember
EMBER
The next few days blur together in a strange mix of normal and electric.
Sully goes to the gym with Emmett most mornings, leaving Cassidy and me alone in the apartment.
We sit at the dining table with our laptops, coffee, and notebooks, finally starting to map out Sullivan Black Designs.
It feels good, exciting even. We talk about branding, how to get potential clients in a new city, and how we can separate ourselves from the old business without too much mess.
Cassidy is full of ideas, sketching logos while I’m the practical one, making lists, budgets, and timelines. It feels like us again.
"I still can't believe we're actually doing this," Cassidy says, looking up from her laptop.
"What? Starting over?"
She nods. "No husbands. Just us."
I smile. "It was always supposed to be us."
She points her pencil at me. "Exactly."
For a while, the only sounds are keyboards clicking and the occasionally muttered swear word when one of us can't think of the right wording for the website.
Then Cassidy suddenly gasps.
"What?"
She spins her laptop around. "What if we don't stop at interior design?"
I frown. "What do you mean?"
She starts talking faster, the way she always does when inspiration hits. "Every big interior designer eventually launches a product line."
I nod slowly.
"Furniture, homewares, lighting, rugs, cushions.”
My eyebrows lift.
“Like we have always talked about, but this time we don’t have husbands that shit on our idea, thinking it would never work.” She rolls her eyes. “Remember they would always say ‘stick to decorating houses’.”
Yeah, I remember, assholes.
“Well, screw them. We are going to prove them wrong. Imagine walking into someone's home, and every decoration worked because it was a Sullivan Black Design.”
My heart starts racing. "We’ve always wanted to do that."
"I know." She leans back in her chair, a smile spreading across her face. "Maybe they did us a favor by cheating on us."
I frown. "How?"
"Because we don’t have to listen to them shut down every great idea we have. We have no one controlling our destiny anymore.”
She isn't wrong. “You’re really in your girl power era,” I tease.
“Hell, yeah, we are. Great sex will do that.” Her eyes widen as if she wasn’t supposed to say that last bit.
“Who are you having great sex with?” I ask.
“Anyway, back to Sullivan Black Designs,” she says, changing the subject.
I shake my head. “Oh no, missy. Tell me who has been putting a pep in that step.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Em, you have to promise.”
I pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key.
“It’s Nelly.”
I squeal. “Oh my god, you dirty bitch. I can’t believe you have been hiding that from me.” Like you’re any better.
“I know,” she says, looking guilty. “It’s not anything. We’re just having fun.”
“I’m sure you are.”
She smiles, leans forward, and whispers, “I’m having so much fun.” I bet she is.
“I thought it was a one-off thing,” I ask her.
“Yeah, well, he messaged me when we got back and asked if we would be interested in decorating his apartment for him.”
“He did?”
She nods. “Yeah, um, I thought I’d check it out first before committing and …”
“And you ended up in his bed.”
“Many, many times.”
This makes me giggle. “Sully will kill him if he finds out.”
Just like Emmett will kill Sully if he finds out about the two of you. I push that thought to the side.
“I know. That’s why we said it’s only for the summer. You know these hockey guys, once the season starts, they don’t have time for you. So, it’s kind of the perfect rebound.”
Is Sully my rebound?
“Okay, so besides the sex, what about the apartment?” I ask.
“Total bachelor pad. He said he wants a warm family home like what we did for your brother. It’s not a huge job but …”
“But there are some great benefits,” I tease her.
“Fuck you, and yes, there are many. So many benefits.” She giggles.
“Well, I’m happy for you. Have all the fun and let me know if you need any help on the project,” I tell her.
“Um, well, I was going to kind of broach it with Connor when he comes back from the gym. Say we have our first paying client, so that way he won’t freak out if I’m with Nelly.”
“I like your plan, count me in,” I tell her. I will always have her back. “How about I work on the homewares idea? I can start researching that while looking for new clients.”
“Yes, you are the fricken best,” she tells me.
The front door opens and Sully in walks, carrying a protein shake. Emmett is right behind him, carrying two coffees and a shake for him, looking like he's been hit by a truck.
"I swear he's trying to kill me," Emmett mutters, handing Cassidy and me our coffees before dropping onto a stool at the island. "One more sprint and I would've thrown up."
“Hey, you’re the one who said we needed to be ready for training camp with all those young kids joining the team,” Sully tells him.
“You’re still young-ish, E,” I tell him.
My brother glares at me as he takes a sip of his shake. “What have you two been up to?” he asks.
Cassidy and I exchange a quick look. It’s show-time as I clear my throat. “We got our first client today.”
“Oh my god, that is awesome,” Sully says, coming over and hugging us both.
“Good work, girls,” Emmett adds.
“Thanks, it’s Nelly,” I tell them.
“That’s right, he was talking about wanting to redecorate,” Sully adds.
“It’s a small job, but still, it’s a start.”
“You guys did such a great job on my home. I’m sure Nelly will be happy,” Emmett says.
“Thanks, your apartment was his inspiration, he really likes it,” I tell him.
“Also, we have some more news,” Cassidy says excitedly. “Em and I want to design our own homewares products.”
“Homewares products?” Sully asks.
“Yeah, like rugs, cushions and things,” she explains.
“Oh wow, that sounds really cool,” he says excitedly.
“Wait, you think it’s a good idea?” she asks him.
“Of course, it makes sense. You can design the homes and use your products to decorate them.”
“Yes, exactly that,” Cassidy exclaims.
“Kevin and Trevor hated the idea every time we broached it with them,” I confess to them.
The boys look at us.
“Seems like the boys used to say a lot of mean things to you girls. Why did you never say anything to us?” Sully asks.
“Probably because we didn’t realize how bad it was till we got out,” Cassidy tells him.
“I’m sorry,” Emmett says to me. “I feel like I dropped the ball with you regarding Kevin.”
I shake my head. “Honestly, I thought it was normal.”
“A partner should always support their partner’s dreams,” Sully adds.
“Look, it was going to be a big investment, and at the time, we didn’t have the extra cash for our dreams,” Cassidy explains.
“How much do you need?” Sully asks her.
“Huh?”
“To get this homewares thing off the ground. How much do you need?”
“No, I am not taking your money,” Cassidy tells him.
“I’m with Sully. How much do you need to get this going? I don’t like that you didn’t come to us before and ask, you know we would have helped,” Emmett tells me.
“We’re not borrowing money from you,” I tell him.
“Why not? I can afford it,” he says.
“So, it’s just … you’re not an ATM. I’m not going to run to you every time I’m in a financial situation.”
My brother shakes his head. “Yes, you do. You’re my fucking twin. I share everything with you.”
“Agreed,” Sully states.
“You’re doing this because you feel sorry for us,” Cassidy tells them.
“No, we’re not,” Sully states. “We are pissed off that you two had a brilliant idea, and those two assholes shut it down.”
Oh.
“Let me invest then. If you’re not going to take my money any other way,” Emmett says.
“Invest?”
“Yes.”
“There’s nothing to invest in.”
“Yet,” Emmett adds. “Yet.”
“Look, Cap and I will be retiring soon. We’re going to need a backup plan,” Sully teases.
“And you think it’s homewares?” Cassidy asks.
“Um, yes, I could be the Martha Stewart of the hockey world,” Sully states.
“You’re a moron,” Cassidy calls out to her brother.
“I mean it, and I sure as hell know Cap means it. Let us invest, we believe in you both,” Sully says, looking between the two of us.
“Really?” Cassidy asks, her eyes welling up with tears.
“Yes.” Sully nods.
“Will you be silent partners? Because I’m not sure I could handle you coming in and trying to take over,” she says, wiping her eyes.
“Promise, two very silent partners.” He grins.
She rushes over and hugs him tightly.
“Seriously?” I question my brother.
“I’m serious,” he says.
I walk over and give him a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper into his ear.
Later that night, I can’t stop thinking about him.
The way he looked at me when he said he’d invest, and that he had faith in us.
I wanted to jump him there and then. Then I remember my stupid request the other night for sex lessons, and I think maybe now is the time.
Plus, I’m a little horny, and I have a hot, willing man next door who can satisfy my needs.
I slip out of bed and pad quietly down the hall to his room. The door is slightly ajar as if he was waiting for me, and I push it open and step inside.
He shoots up when I close the door, eyes dark in the low light.
“Ember?”
“Yes,” I whisper as I make my way to the end of the bed.
He touches his bedside table, and his phone lights up, illuminating the room. Sully is sitting up, shirtless, the sheet low on his hips. I move to the end of the bed, heart pounding and my hands fidgeting with the hem of my T-shirt. Sully watches me.
“I want my lesson,” I whisper.
His blue eyes darken. “Which lesson?”
He’s going to be a dick and make me say it. “Blow job.”
This earns me a smirk. “Then get on your knees, and show me what you’ve got,” he says, voice low and rough.
Okay, this is it. You can do it. You might be a little rusty, but it’s like riding a bike, right?
I drop to my knees between his legs and suck in an unsteady breath.
Sully reaches out and cups my cheek. “You look so fucking beautiful on your knees.”
I lick my lips, and he lies back. “Take me out,” he declares.
This is it, you can do it. I give myself a pep talk as my heart thumps wildly in my chest. I reach out and pull down the band of his pajama pants, freeing his cock.
It’s thick and hard, and bigger than I remember.
The sight makes my mouth water. I wrap my hand around him as I start stroking slowly, making him moan, then I lean in and take him into my mouth.
He hisses, fingers threading gently into my hair.
“Fuck … just like that.” He guides me gently, voice low and filthy as he tells me exactly how he likes it, slower at first, then deeper, tongue on the underside, sucking on the head.
I lose myself in the rhythm of it and can feel myself becoming wet.
“Yes, that’s it.” He groans as I become more ambitious and really take him down my throat.
“Good girl. You’re doing so fucking good.
” His words spur me on, and I go for it as my hands cup his balls, which makes him gasp and then let out one long moan.
“Keep going, do it just like that,” he urges, and I keep doing what he tells me.
I feel his cock twitch in my mouth. He must be close, and then he taps me on the shoulder, and I let him fall out of my mouth. Did I do something wrong?
“Don’t stop if you want to swallow, otherwise I can finish in my hand,” he says through gritted teeth.
It takes me a moment to realize what he is asking, and I decide to go for it, taking him back in my mouth all the way down my throat, so much so that I gag, and the next thing I know I can feel him pumping down my throat.
“Fuck, Em,” he mumbles, “ten out of ten blow job. Nothing wrong with your work at all.”
I laugh around him, the vibration making him groan. He pulls me off gently, eyes dark, his thumb holding my chin. “You can do that again anytime you want.” He smirks.
“Yeah?”
He nods. “Yeah. I could see you were getting into it.”
“I was.”
“That made it even better, fucking turn on.” He smirks. “I bet you’re wet,” he says, licking his lips. “I think I need you to sit on my face.”
“Your face?”
“Yeah,” he says, tucking himself back into his pants before he reaches out and pulls me to him. “Grab the headboard and hold on,” he tells me.
Headboard?
He lies back and slides down the bed. “Crawl up, babe, your seat is waiting.”
Confused and turned on, I do as I’m told and crawl over him, and reluctantly, I straddle his face, my knees sinking into the pillow on either side of his head, my hands gripping the headboard and ….
“Oh my god.” I gasp as his mouth finds me.
He doesn’t ease into it. He devours me with his tongue sliding through my folds, licking me like he’s starving, sucking my clit into his mouth with just the right pressure. I cry out, thighs shaking, gripping the headboard for dear life.
“Fuck, Em.” He groans against my pussy, the vibration making me whimper.
I lower myself a little more, and he rewards me by thrusting his tongue inside me, fucking me with it while his hands grip my ass, pulling me down harder. I’m riding his face now, grinding against his mouth, chasing the pleasure as it builds fast and intense.
“That’s it,” he growls, the words muffled. “Use me, fuck my face like a good girl.”
I’m moaning, hips rolling, completely lost in the sensation. He sucks my clit hard, tongue flicking fast, and I come with a broken cry, thighs clamping around his head, tears slipping down my cheeks from how intense it feels.
He doesn’t stop, he keeps licking me through it, gentler now, drawing out every last pulse until I’m shaking and whimpering, too sensitive to take any more. When I finally collapse beside him, breathing hard, he pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead, his face still wet with me.
“I’m addicted to your taste,” he confesses as he wraps himself around me.
Next thing I know, my eyes become heavy, and I fall asleep.