Page 41 of Redeemed

“What are you saying?”

“I need you to be careful around him. If things go my way, you’ll never be alone with him, but I can’t always predict what he’s going to do.”

She goes stiff. “Alone with him?”

“He might try to separate us so he can speak to you more freely. If he does, I need you to promise me that you won’t talk to him.”

“Oh. Um, why?”

“Because he’s nothing but a liar. You can’t trust anything that comes out of his mouth, no matter how convincing it sounds, all right?”

“I…” She frowns but nods. “All right.”

“If he ever tries to get you alone, you call me. Immediately. He’s dangerous, angel, and I don’t want him hurting you.”

She looks terrified now, and while I hate scaring her, that’s what I want. If she’s scared, that means she understands how serious this is.

“Tell me what you’ll do if Mark tries to talk to you alone.”

“You—Colt, this is—”

“Tell me.This is important, Haven.”

“All right, all right. I… I’ll try to get away from him, and I’ll call you.”

“And?”

“And I won’t listen to anything he says.”

One of the many knots in my chest loosens. “You promise me?”

“I promise,” she whispers, staring up at me with those innocent brown eyes of hers.

“Good girl.” I kiss the tip of her nose, watching as a blush creeps across her cheeks. “I’m just trying to keep you safe. I promise, angel, I’ll always protect you.”

Haven’s lips turn upward in an adoring smile. The late evening sunlight hits her face just right, casting her in a golden glow. She’s so fucking captivating that I can’t bring myself to look away.

My fingers twist around a loose lock of her hair. “So beautiful.”

Her blush deepening, Haven drops her gaze so she’s staring into her lap. That won’t do, so with a bent knuckle under her chin, I lift her face up so she has to look at me.

Leaning in, I murmur, “You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever met, Haven Ashford. I swear it.”

Her lips part, and when I gently pull her into me, she follows without resistance. Whenever I’m close to Haven like this, I love watching the way she reacts. My girl turns pliant, and her eyes get all foggy. She can’t help but be affected by me, and the best part is that I don’t even think she notices.

“I’m going to kiss you,” I whisper. “Pull away if you don’t want me to.”

Someone better would probably wait for her to verbally consent, but I can’t. I’ve been more patient with her than I’ve been with anyone in my entire life. Besides, I like keeping her in this state. It’s like she’s under a spell, and all I had to do to cast it was give her a morsel of my attention.

So, without another moment’s hesitation, I close the distance between us and press my lips to hers. The tiny noise she lets out is one of suppressed longing. It’s been building up inside of her for too long, and now,finally,I get to unleash it.

It takes Haven a moment to gain her bearings, but then her lips begin to move against mine. I’m pretty sure she’s never been kissed before, especially since she’s clutching my arms like I’m her lifeline. When I pull back, her quiet, disappointed whine only confirms it.

“More,” she whispers, leaning toward me.

“More,” I agree.

Before I kiss her again, I pull her onto my lap so she’s straddling me. She gasps in surprise but doesn’t move to get off.

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