Page 212 of Redeemed

He stills, and then his smile returns. “Good.”

“Good?”

Xander nods. “Yes. I may not have all your firsts, but I’ll always have this.”

Oh.

“You’re mine.” While his voice is quiet, his words are edged with a dark ferocity. His hand wraps around my throat again, and he pulls me closer to him, so our lips aren’t even an inch apart. “No matter what happens, Haven Ashford, I willalwaysown a piece of your soul.”

Xander

Iprobablyshouldn’thavegiven Haven a whole gummy.

That’s the thing about me, though. I never do what I should.

By the time we get home, Haven is out cold. I gave Haven the gummy so she could relax and let loose, but it was also because of what I want to do to her once I get her into bed.

Fingering her—and what she told me after—already had my dick hard. It calmed down on the rest of the drive, but just the sight of her like this has my erection coming back.

I park in the garage and quietly get out of the car. When I open Haven’s door, she stirs.

“I’m just… so sleepy,” she mumbles.

“It’s all right, doll. I’ll get you inside.”

She moans softly in response, not moving until I pick her up. With a surprised squeak, she grabs onto my leather jacket.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur softly. “You’re mine to take care of, remember?”

The tiniest smile forms on her lips, and she nestles into me, resting her head on my shoulder. She’s so trusting like this.Tootrusting.

Which is exactly how I want her.

Helpless.

Vulnerable.

Unable to fight back.

I bring Haven upstairs and set her onto mine and Lucas’s bed. Luc is still up, and he watches us with a predatory hunger in his eyes. I may have sent him a text or two updating him on the events of the night.

“I’ll be right back,” I whisper. “Get her out of her clothes?”

“Got it.”

I take a quick shower before I slip back into the dark bedroom. Lucas is sitting up in bed and stroking Haven’s hair. She’s still out, thanks to the weed. I neglected to tell her that it’s a strain that people mostly use to help them fall asleep.

“Am I joining in?” Lucas asks, keeping his voice low.

I pause, my hand already under the covers and roaming over Haven’s body. “Do you want to?”

“Doyouwant me to?”

Leaning over Haven, I find Lucas’s face and kiss him. “Always.”

After I pull away, Lucas hums lowly. “She does look pretty tempting, all passed out and vulnerable like this. You gave her the gummy?”

“She practically begged me for it.”

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