Page 81 of Give Me Redemption

He picks up his stuff from the living room and walks into one of them. He doesn’t shut the door behind him, and I can’t stop my eyes from watching. He unbuttons his shirt, facing away from me. He shrugs it off before reaching and pulling his white T-shirt over his head.

I rake my eyes over his back.

Jesus.

Muscles move and my eyes land on a few very noticeable scars. I wonder where he got them? My insides turn to mush, because I’ve never seen Jace with his shirt off. He unzips his bag and pulls out some jogging pants. Is he going to go shirtless?

Fuck.

I don’t think I can handle that.

I rub my forehead, feeling a stress headache coming on. I put the peanut butter down and toss the spoon into the sink. I walk over to the bags and pull out a bottle of wine. I need like ten of these to get through this weekend.

I uncork the bottle and pour myself a glass, just as he shuts the door. And now my mind is thinking did he just drop his pants?

I groan and chug the wine.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jace

I felt her watching me. I know she saw me take my shirt off, and I swear I thought about going shirtless, but I don’t really want to walk around with the scars on my back. I’m not ashamed of them, but it’ll be a reason to talk about the Army and I don’t want to.

I want this evening to be fun, lighthearted, and relaxing for both of us. I toss my clothes onto the bed, wondering if her things will end up here or in the other room. I’m pretty sure I know the answer to that, but a guy can hope. I open the door, catching her walking into the other room.

Damn.

Even though I knew, I’m still disappointed.

I head into the kitchen and start getting the food ready to prepare.

______________

Hours later, the chili is cooking, and we’re at the table playing cards. The wind slams against the door, and Dalton turns to look.

“This is crazy,” she says.

“Yeah, it’s pretty bad out there.” The lights have flickered a few times. I don’t really want the power to go out, even though we have the fireplace. Still, the rooms won’t be that warm, so we’d have to sleep out here. And I just don’t see how that works without us being close.

Which is what I want, but I don’t want her to do anything she doesn’t want to.

She puts her cards down and walks over to the window. After I prepared the food, she came out smelling like lavender and vanilla. Her hair was wet, and she’d put on a pair of really tight, soft black pants with a long-sleeved black silky shirt.

She took a shower and she’s barefoot. I’ve looked at every inch of her.

From her painted black toenails to the fact she has no panty line in those pants, which has me thinking she isn’t wearing any or she has on a thong, and I’ve had to shut down my thoughts on all that immediately, because my dick can’t handle thinking about her in a thong, or without underwear.

The poor guy has suffered enough.

I watch her look out, until I decide I want to see, too. So, I walk over and stand behind her. I put my hand above her on the edge of the window. Her hair has dried, and she’s wrapped it up off her neck. All I have to do is bend and I could easily kiss it.

All I have to do is move my hand and I could snake it around her waist and pull her flush against me. The snow is falling in every direction, getting swept off course by the wind. The trees are swaying. It looks miserable out there and makes me even more grateful to be in here.

With her.

She crosses her arms and shocks me stupid when she leans back on my chest.

I melt.

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