Page 71 of Redemption

“I need to get back, before the girls are up and wonder where I’ve been.”

There was a pause before he said, “Are you bothered if they know where you’ve been?”

It was a loaded question and one I wasn’t prepared to answer right now. I didn’t know how I felt about what was happening other than it felt good, but did it feelright? Given our history, everything should be screaming at me to stay away from him and yet I couldn’t, or my traitorous body couldn’t.

“No, I just…” I trailed off, not really knowing how to answer. I turned to him, seeing him sitting in bed, his dark hair unruly, his gaze penetrating me with an intensity I both loved and wanted to shy away from.

After a moment he waved his hand. “I get it, it’s fine. You go on and I’ll see you soon.”

I wanted to say we should talk about it but I couldn’t put words together so I didn’t argue, just gave him an awkward wave and hurried out of the cabin. I finger-combed my hair and slapped my cheeks, taking some deep breaths just in case I bumped into one of the girls up early.

I crept in through the front door and hearing complete silence, I carefully slipped my boots off. I paused, and still hearing nothing I released the breath I’d been holding and headed for the stairs.

“Good morning, Katarina,” Leo said.

I yelped and turned on the bottom step to find him leaning against the kitchen archway, a cup of coffee in his hand and a smirk on his face.

“Nice morning?” he asked, waggling his brows and taking a sip of coffee.

“Yes, you?” I replied casually.

“So far.”

“Great,” I said and then turned.

“I just saw the most interesting thing,” he began, a teasing note in his voice. I slowly turned, glaring at the little shit. “I saw someone leaving Jack’s cabin this morning who looked a lot like you. That’s interesting, don’t you think?”

I smiled at him, full of teeth. “I don’t think that’s interesting at all. Some people might wonder what you’re doing here so early in the morning in a house you don’t live in. Maybe some people should revoke your house guest privileges?”

He laughed. “My lips are sealed, Kat.”

I nodded. “I’m glad.”

Then his expression turned serious. “Just, be careful. I’m happy for you but you’re like my big sister, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I scoffed. “I won’t get hurt, it was just a bit of fun.”

He cocked his head. “For both of you?”

I faltered.Iknew it was just a bit of fun but did Jack?

Of course he did. He was out of prison and finally free, the world was his oyster. He wasn’t attached to me.

“Don’t get hurt, but also remember, he doesn’t have anyone.”

My stomach lurched at Leo’s words, hating that he was right. Jack didn’t have anyone and what if he did attach himself to me? Did I really want to think about the consequences of that?

“Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out!” I called over my shoulder as I headed upstairs for a shower.

Once I was clean and dressed in my denim overalls, hair held back in a ponytail and a red bandanna tied around my head to keep the stray strands from my eyes, I was ready for the day. Not that I hadn’t had the best sleepever and woken up the best way possible, but now Leo’s words had thoughts pinballing around my mind about what had happened with Jack and what the impact of that was.

What if my sisters found out, would they care? Would they be mad or disappointed? How didIfeel about it? Yeah, it had been amazing, the man was magic with his hands despite his lack of experience. And the thought of helping him build that experience had me fighting off a shiver. But it couldn’t turn into anything serious. It was casual. Jack would think it was casual too. We were just two random people who casually had mind-blowing, amazing, toe-curling sex.

When I met Jack on the porch thirty minutes later, my cheeks flushed of their own accord. My eyes trekked over him slowly, taking in the navy muscle tee that hugged his biceps, biceps I’d bitten last night to fight off a scream as he pounded inside me. The material was pulled taut against his chest, a chest I’d licked and nipped. His thick denim clad thighs that I knew held so much power and don’t get me started on his round, luscious ass. Even his feet were nice, and I hated feet.

Casual.

Clearing my throat, I asked, “Ready?”

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