Page 42 of Redemption's Inferno

“Then I’ll pay,” she said. “I make a lot of money and don’t have any bills other than Simone and the basic essentials of life—groceries, gas, like that. I pay nothing to live with Viggo and Jamie, Karl bought my car when I moved to Philadelphia to go to school, and Viggo has been paying for everything for Simone.”

“I don’t think they have a chance, but if they’re vengeful like that, they could ask for millions of pounds. It would be a burden on you for the rest of your life.”

“It’s just money,” she said with a small shrug. “Knowing I didn’t actually kill him by leaving him tied up takes away most of the guilt, but not all. I still feel terrible it happened on my watch, so to speak, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make up for that. I understand it would be a burden on you, as well, if that happened, so if this works out between us, we don’t have to actually get married.”

He swung his head around to look at her and shook his head in disbelief. “Are you serious? Do you really think that little of me? I’m beginning to think so.”

“I want to protect you!” she protested.

“The first time we had sex, you immediately told me it was okay if I just wanted to be friends. When I said I wanted to give this relationship stuff a try, you pointed out you’re going to get fat while pregnant and you understand if I’ve changed my mind. And now, because there’s a chance you might get sued, you’re letting me off the hook for marriage so I’m not financially burdened. Bloody hell, woman, don’t you think I know my own mind?!” He scowled at her. “I’m not an idiot. I’m well aware a pregnant woman gains weight, although our definitions of fat appear to differ. If that was going to be a problem, I’d have never suggested we try this. And frankly, if this works out between us, I’m assuming it would be forever. Isn’t that what you want? If we were to fall in love and decide we want to be together, wouldn’t the goal be to be together for the rest of our lives?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And you think if that was the plan I wouldn’t marry you?!” He gave her a dirty look. “Seems to me you’re more afraid of us getting together than I am.”

She looked away, staring out the window moodily. He had a point, even though she hadn’t thought about it that way. She did feel reluctant to involve him in her crazy life, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. She liked him a lot, and wanted to explore more with him, but part of her was embarrassed. She was such a mess, in so many different areas of her life, she couldn’t imagine a man like him wanted to live with her.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said after a moment. “Please?”

She sighed. “I’ve done so many stupid things, and if I were you, I’d think twice about getting involved with me. I’m divorced, and still heavily involved with my ex. I have a child and am about to have another, neither of which are yours, which means a relationship with me makes you an automatic stepfather. This situation with Adam Brown is truly embarrassing—how much of a twit am I for getting myself into that and letting it go for eight long years?”

“You were young,” he responded. “You think I never did anything stupid when I was 18 and 19?”

“It’s different, though. You were at the university having a good time before going into the military—I was doing nothing but partying and being reckless. And now I’m in what I think is a healthy, but very unconventional, relationship with two bisexual men whom I now have two children with. Does that make any sense for you?”

He smiled. “Do I look like a very conventional guy to you? I mean, look at me—I have dreads, 30 tattoos and counting, and I work in a sex club. How many suburban parents do you know like that?”

She chuckled. “Not many, but you don’t really work in a sex club—you work for one of the top security firms in the U.S. and the sex club is just your current assignment.” She paused. “I’ve got no explanation for the dreads, however—why do you have them?”

He laughed. “In the military, of course, my hair was buzzed short on my head but when I got into undercover work, I wanted to look less military and more like a regular bloke. I started growing it out and then I went on a mission in Jamaica. I thought it was brilliant, all the men with dreads, and I had extensions put in as a lark. Got taken prisoner with the dreads and wound up having them for about two months. When I escaped, I made an alliance with a rival group and since they knew me with dreads, I had to keep them. Then it became my thing and I’ve kept them… I think about getting rid of them, though. Get a bit itchy sometimes, and the hair is trashed, not soft or healthy anymore.”

“I like them,” she said, looking at him carefully. “But I could see you without, as well.”

“Would you like me to cut them off?”

She shook her head. “I’ve no say in that! If you told me to cut my hair short I’d laugh in your face, so I don’t think I should tell you what to do with your hair either.”

“Generally speaking, on men other than me, do you like dreads?”

She bit her lip but knew lying wouldn’t be right in such a new relationship. “No.”

He nodded. “I appreciate your honesty.”

“But it works on you. It’s not a deterrent—I find you incredibly attractive. Dreads or not.”

He smiled. “Believe me, the feeling is mutual.”

Chapter 16

They got to London and checked into their hotel. Pausing to freshen up in the bathroom, Emilie was surprised to see Chains on the bed naked when she came out. She raised her eyebrows, using a joke to hide how much she wanted him. “Trying to tell me something?”

He smiled. “We’ve been officially dating for four days and I’ve yet to get any. If this is how it works in a relationship, we’ll need to go back to the way things were before we made it official.”

She laughed. “I’m sorry! I’ve fallen asleep on you every night!”

“Well, yeah, and the plumbing situation.”

She kicked off her sandals and slid the summer dress she wore over her head, letting it fall to the ground in a heap at her feet. Standing there in nothing but a white lace thong, she paused and stood still, letting him look her over.

---