Thorns and Forgiveness (Twisted Legacy Duet, #2)

by Coralee June

I needed her forgiveness like I needed air, the beautiful irony was claiming her mercy was as easy as opening up my lungs and fucking breathing. I’d been too damn stubborn.

“Petal...” “Don’t call me that!” she screamed. I watched helplessly as she looked up at the sky. “Why’d you have to go and be like everyone else, Hamilton? Why’d you have to hurt me like that?”

To not demand her forgiveness and abuse it. But here we were, and I wasn’t any better than her mother, or Jack, or Joseph. I was just another person making Vera Garner cry, and I hated myself for it.

“You’re not in control anymore, Hamilton. If I want to get hurt by you, it’s my choice. If I want to forgive you, that’s my choice, too. If I want to suck you off out here, I’m not doing it because I’m a fucking martyr who likes to suffer. I’m doing it because I want your cock in my mouth. I’m doing it because I am my own person now.”

“Don’t try to save me, Hamilton. I don’t need a hero. I just need you.” She wrapped her glossy lips around me and slipped me fully into her mouth.

The woods witnessed our naughty declaration, and my queen? Fuck, she kneeled before me, taking all the power and control for herself.

“You don’t get to end this because you’re afraid I’ll get hurt, Hamilton,” she whispered before rising to her feet. No. No, no, no. “Petal—” She grabbed my chin and squeezed. “I’m the one in control. I choose who is worth fighting for. I don’t get on my knees for martyrs and cowards.”

“You’re going to go off and do whatever you’re doing with Jack. But you’re going to be thinking of me.” She turned to face me and leaned in. “You’re going to ache, Hamilton. You’re going to have a hard cock, and nothing will ease it. Not your hand. Not memories of me. Not another woman. Me.”

“You taught me how to stop being a martyr and take control of my life. Now I’m going to do the same for you, Hamilton.”

“I’m not a fan of secondhand pussy, brother. We’ve never really been a family that had to settle for hand-me-downs, yeah?”

“Vera. I told you already. I’m not—” I cut him off. “Right. You’re not going to date me. You don’t want me. Blah, blah, blah. So should we have Christmas at your new place in DC? Or should we meet at Jack’s house since the two of you are so close now?”

“You want the truth, Vera? I’d give anything in the world for a thousand more goodbyes from you. I’d love to meet up. I’d love to sit here and listen to you talk for the rest of my life. I want to be with you. I want to hold you. I want to do all the stupid things couples do. I want to take you to dinner at my mother’s favorite restaurant. I want to tell you everything. And maybe one day, I will. But right now, I’m not going to risk you.”

Please don’t call me again. I don’t want to be cruel to you. But I will. I’ll break you so fucking beautifully if it means keeping you out of this. Goodbye.”

“Oh, is there trouble in paradise? Do you want to ambush your uncle? How scandalous. We should have a threesome.”

“I’m not judging. Just because I think she’s a narcissistic psychopath doesn’t mean you can’t get your dick wet. I’m all for pissing off Joseph.”

“Hamilton doesn’t have to punch people to feel powerful, Joseph. In my experience, only people with little dicks and a superiority complex feel the need to express themselves with violence.”

“I’m not sure I like what you’re insinuating, Vera.” “I’m not sure I like you at all, Joseph,” she snapped back. Long gone was the timid woman that hid from confrontation.

I’ve never had something precious that was just my own,” Hamilton said before tugging my thong down. I had to lift up off the couch to help him ease it off of my hips. “My family has always stolen the things most important to me.”

“I don’t forgive you because I’m a forgiving person, Hamilton. I forgive you because I believe you. I believe in you.”

“Protecting you. Pleasing you. It’s my only purpose in life, Petal,” he whispered before laying me down and settling on top of me. “I want you on top of me. Beneath me. But more importantly, I want you always next to me.”

she told me that when you love someone, you let them bloom. And fuck, if it meant waking up to her beautiful smile, I’d water her with the blood of my enemies. I was a damn romantic now. I was whipped. Tethered. Tied up about this determined girl.

Jess stormed toward me, wearing black sweats and an oversized shirt that said Pussy Power.

“I’m just saying, if you’re fine with putting your best friend and your girl in the crossfire of your vendetta, then whatever. I just want to make it very, very clear what you’re doing and what you’ve risked.”

We were mad. Hurting. Healing. But we were together. Family was the motherfuckers you chose, after all.

“Again with the snappy remarks. The daughter I raised would never talk back to me.” “The daughter you raised was miserable,” I replied with a frown.

The words poured out of me without warning. “It’s hard to get back on your feet if you stay on your back, Mom,” I replied.

As I stared at Joseph, it suddenly occurred to me that my brother was nothing more than a lonely child throwing a temper tantrum. He wanted to be the center of attention. The man that made my life a living hell suddenly seemed very, very small.

“And then tomorrow, I want to protect you, Petal. I want to end this so that I can spend the rest of my life worshiping your pussy, your mind, your precious soul, and your heart.”

“I just want to fuck all my rage into your delicate body.” He leaned over and bit the inside of my thigh. “I want to break the skin. Lick up your pain. I want to work you hard, Petal.”

I might not be good enough, but I love him. He has the most compassionate heart. His capacity to love and do good is so, so great. I know the only good my son has comes from you. Jack and I simply aren’t capable of it.

Thank you for giving me the greatest love of my life. Maybe it’s selfish of me to have favorites. I love both my children, but I feel my love for Hamilton just a little bit deeper.

“Can I fuck you on top of your diploma? The bastard stole a majority of my girl’s attention the last four years, so it seems only fair I get the last laugh.”