Page 55 of Redemption

“Might not define her. It might. But it might not, and I saw the way you two were together.”

“So?”

“I know sex. I know people. Sex and people. People and sex. Connections. That’s what I know.”

“Well, I didn’t.”

“Sleep with her?”

“Yeah, mate. I made sure she got off. Loved every second of it.” He sucked a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, remembering how she clung to him like the very next seconds of her survival were dependent on him delivering a true blue, screaming orgasm. “She did too.”

“Good,” Maddy said approvingly.

“You should talk to her, all right? I’m not the one who needs the pep talks.”

She clucked. “You need to know what you’re doing.”

“And what is it that you think I’m supposed to do to make this better? She’s got to get through this herself. I figured that out myself, Maddy. I got her off. Showed her she could still go there.”

“That’s not enough,” Madelinetskedhim, letting her French accent thicken.

He shook his head, finally releasing the pinch on his nose. “Then what?”

“Next time?”

There wouldn’t be a next time. Right? He did what she needed: got her off. Then he didn’t know what to say. Hell. He’d panicked, nearly choking over how badly he wanted Victoria. But what did that even matter? She was leaving, and he was part of a ghost team. “Sure. Tell me about next time and how I might be anything good enough to deserve that.” Madeline hung onto that silence longer than he expected. “Maddy?”

“Oui… I’m here.” She let out a soft breath in the phone. “You are good enough, my friend, and when you have her? Don’t mistake making love for actual love.”

His eyebrows reached his hairline. “Thanks for the pro tip.”

“Bury yourself deep, and never let go of her eyes.”

A quick sweat broke over Ryder at the thought. “Roger that, Maddy.” The thought of burying his cock deep inside Victoria’s sweet body was going to send him over the edge. “Is that why you called?”

“To check on her.”

“She’s doing all right.”

“She is if she had a sexy Aussie make her moan before her first cup of coffee.”

“Either way, she’s fine.”

Maddy laughed. “Sometimes, you forget who I am and what I know.”

He stared at the ceiling. “No, Madeline. You know sex and people. I got it.”

“Au revoir.”

Ryder tossed the phone on the bed and couldn’t face Victoria now, even if he hadn’t wanted to hide in the shower before. “Ahhhh.” He stretched high overhead, then dropped his hands, pulled off his drawers, kicking them toward the wall where his bag was, and padded naked into the bathroom.

He slapped the water on, and waited for the steamy air to wrap around him.Bury in her…Shit, if Victoria wrapped her legs around him, if he could sink into her tightness... “I’d never survive.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Australia

Four Years Ago

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