Page 79 of Give Me Redemption

“Jesus Christ,” she says, walking over to the table and putting the bags in her hands down.

We’ve brought cards, alcohol, and food. This will be a nice break from life, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping we could move our relationship a little farther. Dalton hasn’t made a signal move and I’ve sworn I wouldn’t, but tonight that might fucking change. I know she wants me; I can tell by the way she watches me when she doesn’t think I know. The way she presses her thighs together, the goosebumps on her arms when we touch.

I’m going crazy.

I know she has to be, too.

The wind howls against the door, and I bend down and toss some logs into the fireplace. I lay kindling on top of it before stacking more logs and striking the lighter.

Once it catches, I turn, looking over at Dalton who’s lighting candles. She has a beanie hat over her hair, her cheeks are flushed, and her freckles are makeup-free. She places the candle down and unzips her coat. While pulling it off, her shirt lifts a tad and I can see her stomach.

She has no idea I’m watching her.

She has no idea how much I want her.

She has no idea how beautiful she is.

She’s clueless to the way I feel about her. I mean, really, how many guys do you know would still be doing this? We haven’t slept together; we just hang out a few nights a week like best fucking friends who want to fuck like rabbits, but don’t because… God, I have no idea why.

She’s scared of something. I don’t know if she lied to me about never being in a serious relationship, but the way she stops things from happening between us makes me think someone did a number on her.

She walks over to the grocery bags and I look away with an exhale.

“What do you want to eat tonight?” she asks. She pulls out a jar of peanut butter and pulls open a few drawers.

“Chili?” I ask. We’re going to be here for the weekend, so we bought enough food to have options.

“Sounds good to me.” She twists the top off and sticks her found spoon inside before placing it in her mouth.

Jesus Christ. I feel like a hormonal teen. Everything she does makes me think of sex. It’s ridiculous. I stand up and walk to the kitchen to grab a beer from the box we have on the counter. I pop one open and open the fridge to put the rest inside.

This weekend is either going to be really painful or the best weekend I’ve ever had.

It took some time to convince her to even do it. She’s been distracted lately. When we meet up for drinks or have dinner, it’s like she’s got something else on her mind. So, I thought this would be good for us. She was hesitant and came up with an excuse that she had family plans she couldn’t get out of, but I kept on.

Until finally, she agreed.

I won.

I realize how big of a deal this is, so trust me when I say, I’m not taking it for granted. She has nowhere to go now. It’s snowing outside and we’re alone.

All weekend.

I’m going to break out all the moves until she gives in. I won’t touch her, but I promise before the end of the weekend, she’ll be all over me.

“Good?” I ask as she licks the spoon.

She nods. “Uh-huh.”

My eyes move from hers to her mouth before I take a sip from my beer. I lean back on the counter.

This is going to be torture.

Chapter Thirty-One

Harlow

I can’t take it anymore. I really, really like Jace, and I want him so bad I ache.

---