Page 19 of Redeem

It was an interesting sensation, having someone watch me so openly. And to my displeasure, it wasn’t at all uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the activity. I had confidence in this, knew that I was more than capable of doing the work. So it was easy enough to convince myself that he was simply watching so he could learn, pick up pointers that might serve him well when he moved on.

It was safer to think that too.

I didn’t dare look at his face, my gaze squarely on the wood and sander, but I could conjure his image with no effort.

Could see the intensity in his dark eyes, the serenity on his face that could be mistaken for disinterest, but that I knew was the exact opposite.

The thought of that gaze on me filled me with a warmth that was far too pleasant.

“Dana?”

I turned off the sander and lifted my safety glasses.

“What’s up?”

I followed Ciprian’s gaze to where he looked out over the grassy yard.

The sky was blue, the sun bright with fluffy morning clouds, but in the distance I could see the rolling gray storm clouds.

“That’ll be here quicker than you’d think. You mind helping me cover the tools?”

Ciprian nodded, and then quickly unplugged the power tools. I moved the cut pieces to the side of the house, wrapped them with the tarp to protect them. Then grabbed another tarp and threw it across the truck.

“We may as well go inside,” I said, looking up at the sky, which had begun to darken ominously. “It’ll probably pass soon, but it looks like a lot of rain.”

He said nothing, but followed me inside.

After he closed the door, I felt that low-level awareness, almost like nervousness, kick up several notches. The idea of being alone with him in a confined space for who knew how long was thrilling, but also scary because I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep my distance or my cool.

“Here, let me get you something to drink,” I said abruptly, moving through the living area to the kitchen.

I didn’t hear him move, but I knew he was behind me. I took a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and turned to face him, my arm extended.

“Here,” I said, finally looking up at him.

He was much closer than I’d thought, so close I could see the little streaks of amber in his dark eyes, the way his nostrils flared slightly with his exhaled breath.

In an instant, I was ready for him, my pussy instantly slick, wet with the desire that I might not be able to acknowledge in my mind that my body undoubtedly felt.

I moved even closer, so close that I could feel his warm breath against my cheek.

Was I going to do this?

Would I be able to stop myself?

My mind might have been unsure, but my body was not. Before I realized it, I had moved closer, then closer, so close that at any second, my lips would touch his…

The shattering boom of thunder was followed by a strike of lightning that split open the sky in an instantaneous downpour.

I flinched at the sound, paused.

Ciprian dropped his arms and took a step back, his eyes narrowed slightly. He tilted his body away from me, looked toward the window. He hadn’t said a word, but his message was clear.

I would have kissed him, but he wouldn’t have kissed me back.

That unspoken rejection burned my pride more than I cared to acknowledge. So I didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, I walked past him, taking great care not to touch him, and stared out of the window.

“It’s really coming down out there,” I said, peering at the rain that poured down in sheets like it was the most fascinating thing I’d ever seen, while my face and neck flamed hot with the embarrassment of a few moments ago.

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