Page 57 of Redemption

“Kat,” he sighed, his head dropping back. I scrutinized him. He seemed tired, exhausted even. I knew today was a lot of work but it seemed to have taken its toll.

“What’s with you?” I demanded. I didn’t like that I noticed he was weary or how much it bothered me. And I also didn’t like how much I’d been getting the brush off when he should have been chasing me.

“Nothing, Kat. Please, just go.” He gestured to the door. Teddy came out from the bedroom and sat down at my feet, staring up at me lovingly. I stroked his head a few times before he settled himself by the fireplace.

I fixed my stare on Jack. “Why did you want to talk to me?”

“What do youmean?”

“Before, when you were in the house. You said you wanted to talk to me. What about?”

He shrugged and hunched his shoulders in, looking uncomfortable. “I just wanted to apologize for earlier, I shouldn’t have put my hands on you. Shouldn’t have tried to…” he trailed off, his eyes dropping to my mouth. The tension grew the longer he stared, and my heart pounded in my ears.

We were alone, in his cabin, just the two of us and he was staring at my mouth. Again.

“Jack,” I whispered, and it was enough. He took one step forward, then another, until he was right up against me, pressing me back against the door.

“Why are you here?” he demanded, his voice low.

“I…” had no answer. I didn’t know why. Only that I’d felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever, and I didn’t want to leave.

He reached behind me, putting us closer together. His intoxicating scent had my eyelids fluttering closed, especially when his cheek brushed against my arm. He twisted the doorknob, opening the door a crack, bumping it into me, the action moving us closer together.

“Door’s open, you can leave.”

But I didn’t. I just stared into those soft blue eyes that held so many sad moments, so much pain. And shockingly, I wanted to ease it.

“Leave, Kat, please,” he begged, his brows dipping in. He pressed his forehead to mine, his breath caressing my lips. “Please leave.”

I shook my head gently, reaching behind me and closing the door. The sound of the tumbler dropping into place was a scream in the quiet of the cabin. I could only just hear it over the beating of my heart.

“Kiss me,” I whispered, fool that I am.

He brushed a lock of hair back, his fingers lingering and stroking the shell of my ear, trailing along my jaw, just like he had earlier. His thumb rested on my lower lip before he plucked it between his thumb and finger. The anticipation had me on edge, ready to detonate with the slightest movement. Our chests expanded together with each labored breath.

“So pretty,” he murmured, and I swear to God I whimpered. He pressed against me, our bodies lining up and I felt his hot, hard length, and melted into him. His body held me up and he released my lip. He hesitated, indecision warring with desire. Why was he taking so long?

“Kiss me,” I demanded again.

“I haven’t done this in a long time, so I’m sorry if I’m not that good at it,” he spoke softly, his chest hitching. Vulnerability radiated off him and I reveled in it. Drowned in it and was eager for more.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because right now, the way I feel about you, I want this to be the best damn kiss you’ve ever had.”

I swallowed, my throat dry and my body ready to burst into flames at his admission.

“It already is.”

I barely said the words before his mouth slammed into mine, hard. Giving and taking every little thing I had to offer. His lips were firm, insistent but gentle, sipping at mine, tasting and sampling. His tongue slid along the seam and I shivered against him, opening wide on a moan and letting him in.

His tongue chased mine, delving and sliding together in a hot wave. A shock zapped right through me, waking up nerve endings that were long dead. I moaned, tangling my hand in his hair and tilting his head soI could get deeper. I was hungry for him and couldn’t get enough.

He tasted divine, like sex and sin and promises of pleasure like I’d never known. He licked and sucked on my tongue, rubbing himself between my legs, right where I needed him and my knees gave out. He tapped my thighs and I leapt up, wrapping them around his waist and he turned, stumbling through the cabin as we ate at each other’s mouths.

The next thing I knew, my back was hitting his mattress and his weight settled on top of me, heavy and so perfect. I frantically pulled at his shirt, desperate to feel his warm skin on mine. Our lips parted for a moment when his shirt went over his head, then his tongue was trailing a path down my neck, sucking hard and my clit throbbed sharply, desperate for him. I clung to him, writhing against him, my eyes rolling back in my head.

“Fuck me,” I begged. I hadn’t meant to beg, but how could I not when he was getting me so hot, and yes it had been a while, but my senses were destroyed by this man.

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