Little Miss 3 Apples Tall 🤏✨

little miss 3 apples tall 🤏✨

Ndithande Chapter 3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/43602945/chapters/111683053 https://www.wattpad.com/user/Karisiomk

Okoye passed by him to come into his home and the light scent of sweet vanilla followed her. For her to smell so good and look good, he wondered if he was pulling her attention from someone else at the moment.

“ I am not sure if you would be interested in tea or perhaps something stronger.” He called back looking at the kettle on his stove only to search through his cabinets for wine.

Okoye looked back at him, pulling the containers of food out carefully and placing them on the table. “I think since I brought you tea I suppose wine would be a good second choice to have” she gave a light shrug of her shoulders.

Due to Namor's habit of taking or tasting his liquor or wine when he wasn’t around. Attuma had placed most of his bottles on the very top of the cabinet hoping to make Namor leave his wine bottles alone. Frowning some, when noticing at least one bottle was out of place he made a note to himself to tell Namor to get his own damn collection. Snatching a bottle down he began to pull at the cork while fuming about his cousin.

“Do you need help with opening it? I do have a corkscrew I can get back at my home.”

The scent of vanilla wrapped around him once more he could practically feel her warmth. Curious brown eyes stared at him and then at the bottle in his hand, she was standing close to him and Attuma couldn’t help but let his gaze wander down to her lovely breasts.

Clearing his throat he felt his mouth begin to feel dry, and his grip on the wine instantly tightens. “No, I think I have it.” He said a little too quickly. A loud pop was heard, the cork flying out of the wine bottle straight to the ceiling missing Attuma’s face by mere inches.

Okoye jumped but brushed aside Attuma to get a towel to help clean up the wine that was now spilling everywhere. First his hand and now almost taking a cork to his eye, Okoye was a distraction to him that was causing bodily harm. Moving to place the wine bottle in the sink, he grabbed another towel just to clean the red wine that dripped all over his hands and splattered on his shirt.

“Well, it looks like much didn’t spill too much.” Okoye straightened to place the damp towel after she wiped up the wine off the ground. “And are you okay?” she questioned .“Yes. Just maybe I have shaken the bottle and didn’t realize it was almost pointing to my face. But let's eat before the food gets cold.” Attuma lied even though he offered a reassuring smile to her, his dimples showing some. Okoye nodded but leaned close to brush her hand against Attuma’s cheek, wiping away the specs of red wine off his cheek.

“You have gotten wine everywhere.” Okoye chuckled while patting his shoulder and moved back to the table. Attuma felt the heat rise in his face while his cheek still felt warmth from her touch, he was glad she pulled away from him. He was unsure if he would have resisted leaning more into her touch, allowing her to trace his face if she had the desire. Attuma gathered plates and silverware for both of them while taking the wine bottle from the sink.

The smell of cooked meat and spices filled the air quickly, Attuma handing silverware to Okoye before he sat down beside her to reach the dishes. “I am not sure if you ever had this but this is called Chicken curry, Shuri helped me, and also a dessert called Basbousa. “She explained. Attuma gave himself a generous helping of rice before getting just as much curry to cover it. “It smells delicious, I have heard Namor speak of a dish like this perhaps at a restaurant he’s been to. I’ve never heard of Basbousa though.” Attuma stated between small bites.

Okoye served herself but taking a smaller helping of the food and moved to pour herself wine and some for Attuma. “Mm, it's a dish from my homeland, well both of them are. A sweet like cake. “ she mused. “Curry Chicken can be spicy but I asked Shuri to ease up on that for I was uncertain if you can handle it. “ A soft grunt came from him, “Do not alter your dish because of me, I prefer it spicy anyway.” Attuma cleaned his plate only to help himself to some more of the Curry Chicken, Okoye was glad that she decided to make a big pot of it even though Shuri grumbled in the process. His body was warm while his face was flushed but he ignored it. The dish was spicy, and his tongue was burning but yet he had the audacity to ask for her normal level of spicy for the dish. He couldn’t bring himself to stop eating because it was too good. The mixture of spices was refreshing to him, better than most dishes he cooked for himself. There was a glint of humor in Okoye’s eyes when she looked at him ever so often but she didn’t say anything.

“Do you do everything out here by yourself?”

The question came after a moment of silence and after Attuma finally had his fill of food, pulling his glass of wine closer to him. He nodded just as he took a sip, enjoying the strong but bitter taste of the wine.

“For a couple of years now, sometimes my cousins help me but it’s mostly me.” Attuma and Okoye allowed the surprised expression on her features.

“That is impressive considering running a ranch is very hard work. Your cousins should help you more, from day to day things could be difficult.” she mused. Attuma shook his head, “It may be difficult but I will not ask them to do that. They may join me on their own will.”

“I could help you on days that I am not busy if you do not mind.”

Attuma damn near choked on his wine and stared at Okoye, “ I am flattered but you said it yourself that it is hard work. Do not make promises you can not fulfill.” Part of him hoped that this wasn’t Okoye’s way of proving to flirt with him.

“I know what I said, Attuma. I have you know that I am well aware of what goes on in a ranch, my-.” she started to say not wanting to mention W'Kabi, her ex-husband she feared that it would change the mood. “Look, if you ever do need help and I am close by just let me know,” she said sincerely. Attuma glanced at his wine glass, tilting it carefully while watching the dark liquid for a second. Women that have made passes at him in the past had said the same thing and he never humored it because of his disinterest.

“Can you ride a horse?”

The question was sudden but an honest one while he glanced at her once more. Admiring how the light from the sun was now shifting, casting beautiful shadows on her face.

“Eh? Yes. I used to own a horse or well the horse doted on and was practically my own.” she explained carefully. Getting to his feet, he placed his glass down and pushed in his chair.

“Let's go for a ride then.”

Perhaps the wine was making her mind swim but excitement filled her as she got up to her feet, she followed him back outside his home and around to the back of the house. The wired fence stretched away from the property but was gated off with a wire fence giving enough pasture for the two horses and a few cows he had whenever out for rotational grazing. Since the cows were out strolling about in the gated pasture, the horses were in their stalls. Attuma led them to the barn, pushing the doors open wide while he spoke, “ I am going to take a guess and say you were raised on a ranch?” he questioned while Okoye carefully peered into the few gates doors where some horses were facing away. “Yes,” she said softly and Attuma nodded seemingly content with the answer for now.

Though she failed to mention again that even her ex-husband had one and both equally tending to the lands. Okoye weighed the options if things were to grow serious she would mention him, but for now, she couldn’t. That subject was a layer of personal issues she didn’t want to go into. Besides, she did notice that Attuma hasn’t yet said anything about his own personal life.

For all she knew, he could be entertaining this evening just as much as she was. Pointing at the black mare, who was faced away from the gate. “What are all your horses' names? This one is very pretty.” Attuma moved to stand by Okoye,” That's Nalo. And the chestnut that's now looking at you is Azi” he replied moving to pet Azi. “ Getting a horse bit piece, Attuma moved back by Azi to slip the piece into the stallion's mouth and secure it. Opening the gate, he guided the horse out near the saddles. Okoye gave the two space, admiring how Azi seemed to be eager about going for a ride. Azi tries its best to gently tug at Attuma’s shirt or even nudge him. Placing folded blankets on the back of the horse, Attuma finally placed it on a saddle and secured it.

Snapping on the reins, he looked to Okoye who came close to his side admiring Azi. “Don’t mind him, He’s showing out because you are here. “ Attuma offered his hand to Okoye to take so he could help her onto the saddle. A soft slender hand met a strong grasp, she held onto him firmly while holding the pommel of the saddle to ease up onto the horse. Attuma only let go of her hand to lightly hold her hips to guide her and to make sure she didn’t fall. He climbed onto the saddle next, only shifting some to get his footing right once on. His strong arms around Okoye to get both reigns, her back pressing lightly into his warm broad chest.

With a firm nudge into Azi’s side and the flick of the reins, the horse moved into a slow trot. Each light bounce pushed Attuma’s and Okoye’s hips into one another while Okoye gripped the pommel, but she prayed to Bast to cease her hammering heart. “Okoye-” Attuma said too softly into her ear, though she swore she could hear the humor in his tone when her shoulders tensed slightly. He was enjoying this too much.

“You said you were familiar with horseback riding and if you would like I could give you the reins. To the right by the pasture, there is a trail path that circles back around this area. It takes us by a lake and we make our way back again.” Holding the leather reins in one hand, he held them close to Okoye who took them after a moment. “Do you not believe me?” The question was blunt but she was curious but she wasn’t complaining. “I did at first but usually those that aren’t familiar horses tend to get nervous once near one or riding one. You didn’t.” he pointed out, watching as Okoye steered Azi onto the trail path that led to the lake. Rust and pink hues were scattered throughout the clouds as the sun had slowly begun to set. Okoye huffed and shook her head, an honest answer that came from Attuma at least. The air began to cool down, a welcoming change from the dry heat that lingered all early afternoon.

“My most recent horse was named M20, he was light gray but looked white from afar. A very kind horse tried his best to follow me around everywhere. I wasn’t his true owner but doted on me” she said with a faint smile. “Azi reminds me of him, he would not waste time nudging me or trying his best to eat or pull my clothing.” she chuckled. For once she was glad that Attuma couldn’t see her face, the longing for the horse lingered in her gaze.

“And where is he now?” He questioned, allowing one arm to carefully wrap around Okoye’s waist but his hands settled on the pommel of the saddle. “M20 is with his true owner and that was someone that I had been with at the time. My ex-husband,” she admitted.

There was a long silence, several questions that lingered in the back of Attuma’s mind now all being answered at once. Why he didn’t see anyone with her, no ring on her finger as well. But just as those questions were silenced, more arose with him.

“You miss him.” Attuma pointed out carefully while looking at the path ahead of him. The statement held a double meaning. While a foreign feeling burned his chest at the thought of her being distracted by another. Okoye’s sigh only made the sensation worse. Grassy plains stretched as far as the eye could see. Wildflowers of various colors all spread out before him, the scent of floral faintly moved passed them every so often.

“M20? Yes. The animals on the farm that I helped raise, were mine just as much as his. Yes.” Okoye frowned some. “Mm,” Attuma said softly, what odd sensation he felt that he could only label as jealousy slipped him.

“He took it away from you?”

“I gave my portion away, I wanted nothing to do with him or anything that could tie me to him.” Memories of her and W’kabi arguing with one another filled her mind, how W’Kabi tried to convince her to stay. That the moment of weakness he had that made him look to other women for comfort would not happen again. That he loved Okoye and that he would do better for her. This weighed on her heart, being forced to leave the memories of a proud W’kabi learning to garden for her. Or being chased by his own chickens out of the hen house. The brief envious that W’Kabi would have over his own horse M20 would favor Okoye and even try to push W’Kabi away. All these light memories could not outweigh the bad ones that hurt her. W'Kabi cheated on her and in return had the gall to still hope for Okoye's forgiveness.

Sudden warmth around her made her gasp, bringing her back to the reality that she was still with Attuma. Attuma’s strong arms had wrapped around her firmly, “ I am sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up. If you would like to go back already we can.” he said quietly to her. He had seen the tension, the distant look as if Okoye was on the verge of shutting him out.

“No, it is not your fault. And no, I want to see the lake you mentioned.” Okoye stated, though placed one of her hands on his forearms and patted lightly. She welcomed that there was no judgment or ill thoughts towards her about this confession. Okoye had feared this would turn the evening into a short awkward one.

“We’re almost there, just pass that hill” Attuma pointed ahead of them while the grassy plains slowly became an incline. Attuma placed a hand over Okoye’s gesture for her to stop Azi at the top of the hill. The incline was high enough to overview his ranch and her home, and the road that led into town. Giving a beautiful view of the land and the lake itself. The sun had disappeared below the horizon, and orange and pink were replaced with deep blues and purples in the sky. Those same colors reflect on the calm large lake.

“It’s beautiful.”

Attuma nodded slowly, taking his hand off hers to place it back on her waist, Azi moved forward again down the incline and closer to the lake. “This was a favorite place of ours as children to visit, back then the lake was filled with fish too. We could swim all day, catch fish and go home to eat,” he explained. “When part of this property was lost, it became overfished and damaged. For the most part, I have repaired the pier and have it where if you catch it you release it back into the lake. This allows the fish a healthy cycle of growth and increases its population of them.”

Okoye didn’t pry about the term of lost, knowing that some type of legal battle had to ensue over the area. “Well I am glad that this is back in your care,” she said with a light smile. The wind began to pick up some, bringing more cool winds as it became darker. The lake was quiet besides fishes breaking the surface every so often to eat bugs that dared to hover too close to the surface. She steered Azi with ease, urging the horse to go back towards the hill to start making their way back to the ranch. Attuma chuckled to himself, his deep chuckle made his chest rumble some. Part of him was certain that Azi didn’t mind Okoye either for he had taken to her naturally. As many times Azi had pulled his reins out of Namor’s hand purely out of spite. Azi was very good for Okoye this evening.

“What?”

“Mm nothing, just Azi seems to like you too,” he confessed after a moment. A soft laugh was his reward from her, not minding how she leaned into him while they scaled the hill. “Oh, so it isn’t just that Azi likes me, hm.” she teased lightly. “Do not tell me I must spell it out for you.” he quipped back. “No, I think you almost taking a cork to your eye did let me know everything that I need to know. “ she hummed but laughed at Attuma’s slight huff. Each time he came close, she saw the way he froze up while soaking in every part of her. She wasn’t blind when his eyes lingered on her.

The night sky revealed bright stars that scattered out as the moon began to slowly raise. The path back seemed way too short for Okoye’s liking but she enjoyed it. “Thank you and thank you Azi for taking us to the lake today. "She said, reaching to lightly pat the horse while approaching the pasture. Attuma’s hand slid further up Okoye’s stomach slowly pushing her back towards him, while he leaned over her shoulder.

“Perhaps we can do this again.” Attuma offered while Okoye looked up at him, searching his eyes while he did the same. “I am sure Azi would enjoy that too.” He leaned closer to her, brushing his nose against hers. Feeling her hand touch his cheek, Attuma moved to place his lips against hers carefully. Afraid that she would know that he wanted to kiss her since his first night seeing her. Feeling her lips part for him, his warm tongue brushed against her slowly and Attuma’s head began to spin. The kiss deepened, and Attuma’s embrace tightened while their tongues swirled and pushed against one another until they were forced to pull for a breath.

“Yes, very soon,” she whispered against his lips. Attuma smiled, pecking her lips and then pecking her forehead.