Page 60 of Redemption

“You want me to walk you home?”

She lifts her head and looks me in the eye. “How would you feel about me stayin’ here?”

My eyes widen, and I have to tell my dick to calm the fuck down. “What do you mean?”

Pres grins. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Beckett. Being naked is not on the agenda.”

I return her smile. “There’s plenty of things we could do fully clothed.”

She gives me a wry look. “Nothing dirty is on the agenda. Sleep and nothing but sleep is what I’m offering. I’d like to just be near you, but if you think it’d be too difficult, or awk—”

“Stay, Pres. You can take my bed. The mattress is more comfortable. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

Presley glances into my bedroom. “Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t want to kick you out of your own room.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why did the mention of taking my room make you clam up just now?”

Her eyes widen. “What? I didn’t—”

“Stop being so cagey, and just tell me what’s really on your mind, Pres.”

She groans. “Fine. It makes me feel icky. It hasn’t even been a week since you ended things with Nicole, and I just think it’d be weird if I slept in the same bed where she recently slept.” Presley glares when my lips twitch. “What could I possibly be saying that you’d find funny?”

“Because you’re feeling icky, as you put it, for no reason. Nicole—or any other woman—has never been in that bed. Besides your mother, you’re the only woman who’s ever been inside this house.”

Presley’s mouth forms into an O. “How is that possible? You were... doing whatever with Nicky for two years, Beckett.”

I shrug. “I don’t know... it just didn’t feel right. And for the record, the whatever hasn’t happened since I found out you were back almost a month ago. Trust me, Nicole didn’t like not being able to come here. It caused more than a few arguments, and she’s actually showed up on my doorstep unannounced a time or two tryin’ to invite herself in. But I wasn’t willing to cave. The thought of bringing anyone else into this place felt... disrespectful, I guess.”

“To my parents?” She frowns. “You felt weird bringing another woman here because I’m their daughter?”

My head slices slowly to the left, then the right. “No, Pres. Your parents were never a factor.”

“Then, wh—”

“You, Presley. It felt disrespectful to you. To the memories. I know that makes me seem pathetic, or whatever, but—”

I completely lose my train of thought when Presley presses her lips against mine. I groan, sweeping her into me, pinning her against the wall as I own her mouth. My lips travel down her jawline to the nape of her neck, inhaling her sweet orange blossom scent as I go. My cock is ready to punch through my zipper, but I do my best to ignore it and focus on her. I continue south, over her collarbone, pausing when I reach the swell of her breasts.

“Beckett,” she pants. “Don’t stop. It feels so good.”

I pull back to look her in the eyes, to make sure there’s no hesitation in them. When I see none, I raise her arms above her head and remove her T-shirt. When I get my first glimpse of Presley’s breasts covered in nothing but a lacy bra, I swear I almost come in my pants like a fourteen-year-old boy.

“Fuuuuck.”

Presley follows my line of sight. “They’re not real. They’re...”

I place my index finger over her lips until she stops talking. “I don’t care, Pres. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen either way.”

She bites her lower lip. “I know I said no nakedness, but do you... do you want to see them?”

“Is that a real question?” I give her an incredulous look. “Honey, I want to see every part of you, but only if you want me to see. Don’t do it for me.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve felt...” Her chest rises and falls as she takes a few deep breaths. It takes extreme concentration to maintain eye contact, but I manage it for the most part. “Never mind, that part doesn’t matter.” Presley reaches behind her back and fumbles with the clasp of her bra. “I trust you, Beckett. I’ve always trusted you, and because of that, I want you to see me.”

For some reason, I get the impression this is about much more than being naked in front of me. I don’t want to push her, though, so I let Presley take the lead. When her bra straps slide down her arms, it takes every ounce of willpower I possess not to take her into my arms, kissing and touching her everywhere.

Presley reaches for my hand, and when I grab hers, she walks backward until we’re crossing the threshold into my bedroom. My fists clench in anticipation when she pops the button on her jeans and slides the zipper down.

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