Page 337 of Redeemed

“Ask Lucas to do what?” Colton asks as he steps onto the porch.

Haven springs up and practically falls out of the hammock on her way to him. The cuts on her feet have healed, as have her bruises. It’s nice to watch her move around without seeing her wince every few seconds.

“You’re done?” Haven asks.

“Mmhmm.”

Slipping her arms around Colton’s neck, she pulls him down for a kiss. He grabs her ass and hoists her up until she wraps her legs around his torso. As Colton carries Haven over to the chaise lounge, the kiss deepens, turning slow and languid.

“You’re killing me, angel,” Colton groans against her mouth.

That doesn’t stop her. As Colton sits so Haven is straddling his lap, she runs her fingers through his hair. Turns out, it’s one of his weaknesses. The moment she starts playing with it, he folds, and our girl has learned to exploit that.

Beside me, Xander leans forward. He’s watches them with rapt attention. None of us have gone further than kissing with Haven, despite her begging. I understand why she wants it, but I’m not willing to risk hurting her more.

Months ago, I probably would’ve been on board. Xander and Colton definitely would’ve been. But things have changed.We’vechanged. I want to protect Haven—not just her body, but her heart, too.

I’m not sure how much longer we can hold out, though. She wants this, and I haven’t forgotten what she told us all those months ago. This isherbody. She knows what she wants—what she can handle. I don’t want to take away her agency. I just don’t want to accidentally go too far, either.

“Haven,” Colton grits out.

I turn my attention back to them to find Haven kissing Colton’s neck. He’s not doing much to stop her, though. In fact, he tips his head back to give her easier access. When she grinds her hips against his, he grabs on to her waist, not to stop her but to egg her on.

“Fuck,” Xander mutters. “What I’d give to be him right now.”

“You say that like she didn’t make out with both of us for twenty minutes when we first came out here.”

“Yeah, but that was, like, a half hour ago.” His eyes turn dark with hunger. “Just look at her. Tell me you don’t feel the same.”

“You know I do.”

In her little black sundress and with her purple hair falling down her back, she looks like she’s something straight out of a dream. I want her body against mine while she’s moaning against my lips. Even better, I want her trapped in between me and Xander while we overstimulate her until she cries.

“Tell me you want this,” Colton says, and I realize Haven has moved his hands to her shoulders, slowly helping him pull the straps of her dress down her arms. “Hav-Haven, promise me.”

“I promise,” she says softly. “I don’t want him to be the last person who touched me like this. I need it. I needyou.”

Colton stares at her for a few seconds, seemingly paralyzed. His eyes flit up to her face, and then he gives in. He yanks her dress down the rest of the way and dives in. Haven cries out when he sucks one of her nipples into his mouth.

When her head falls back, I can’t take it anymore. I’m standing next to her in a split second, fisting the hair at the base of her neck. I keep my grip gentle as I lean down and seal my mouth to hers in a searing kiss.

Haven melts, and when Xander moves to her other side and rolls her free nipple between his fingers, she gasps.

“Is this why you were so impatient for Colton to come outside?” Xander teases. “Couldn’t wait for all three of us to have our hands on you?”

I don’t let Haven reply. My other hand is wrapped around her throat in a possessive grip, and my tongue is sliding over hers. She’s turned pliant under our touches, completely willing to let us have our way with her.

“You want more?” Colton asks.

When Haven nods breathlessly, he smirks and slides his hand into her panties. Haven lets out a sharp exhale against my mouth when he finds her clit. I pull back to watch her eyes widen, and then I lean into her again. My lips move against hers in a slow, dominating kiss that she falls into without hesitation.

All the attention is on Haven, just as it should be. I want her to feel all of us, to know that we have her. This is a huge step, one that could trigger a flood of horrifying memories, and I don’t want that.

“I love you, little fawn,” I whisper against Haven’s lips.

When she looks up at me with those soft brown eyes of hers, I smile. There isn’t any fear in her expression. Only trust and a nonverbal reciprocation of what I just said to her.

“So fuckin’ pretty,” I mutter before kissing again.

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