Page 67 of Redemption

She sits up, suddenly more alert. “Really?”

“Sure. Why not?”

She swings her feet out of bed and stands.

Fuck me.

Pres wanted something more comfortable to sleep in, so I gave her one of my old tees. Sadly for my dick, I didn’t consider the effect seeing her in my clothes would have on me. She used to always wear my shirts when we were younger, but she was swimming in them, so she’d tie the cotton in a knot, exposing a sliver of her toned abdomen. I used to find every excuse possible to touch that small patch of skin. This time, my shirt’s hanging halfway down her thighs, but somehow, it’s even sexier. I have to avert my eyes when I’m treated to a glimpse of her perfectly sculpted ass cheeks as she bends over to grab her jeans off the floor.

I groan and discreetly adjust the persistent bastard in my pants.

She looks over her shoulder at the sound. “What’s wrong?”

I wink. “Nothin’ at all, honey. Just enjoying the view.”

Presley gifts me with a small smile, and the tightness in my chest loosens just a little. I’m trying to figure out how to approach this whole thing, so I took a gamble on the flirting, which she seems to appreciate. It’s my most natural state with her—always has been—so I’m hoping the familiarity will help soothe her. I’ll make sure she knows I’m here if and when she’s ready to talk, but I’m thinkin’ some sense of normalcy will be good for her.

Presley approaches me and loops her arms behind my neck. I’m still sitting on the bed while she’s standing, so she leans down just a bit to place a kiss on my left cheek. Her hair creates a curtain around us and tickles my cheek as she leans into my ear.

“Thank you, Beckett.”

“For what?” I pull her onto my lap, her legs hanging off the side.

“For being the greatest man I’ve ever known.” She pulls back with a smile. “Please don’t tell my father I said that.”

I laugh. “Your secret’s safe with me, honey. Though, I don’t know how much truth there is behind that statement.”

She trails her index finger along my stubbled jawline and traces the same path with her lips. “It’s my truth.”

I run a hand along her back as she moves down to my neck. “Pres, you keep that up, and we’ll never make it to the arena.”

She sighs dramatically. “Oh, fine. Geez, what’s a girl gotta do around here to get some?”

I laugh, lightly tapping her ass as she stands. “Arena first. If you still want to ravage me after, I’m all yours.”

“Are you?” She tilts her head to the side. “Are we really doing this, Beckett? All my... stuff doesn’t make you want to run for the hills?”

I get off the bed and take her hand. “Darlin’, I’ve been yours since we were five years old. If I’m runnin’ anywhere from this point on, it’d be to you.” I place a kiss on the underside of her wrist. “You set the pace, Pres, however long that takes. I’m just happy going along for the ride.”

She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head over my heart. “Do you really think I’ll get to the point someday where I don’t feel so screwed up?”

“If you stop tryin’ to do this all by yourself, I do.”

Presley tilts her chin up. “When I’m with you—barring that episode this morning—it’s the closest I’ve felt to normal in a long time.”

I give her a crooked smile. “Then I guess you’re stuck with me.”

She chuckles, walking backward out of the bedroom. “C’mon, Cowboy. Let’s go see that arena.”

“Oh, no. Don’t you start that, too.”

Now she’s really laughing. Fuck, she’s beautiful when she does that. “Why not? I think it’s adorable.”

I narrow my eyes. “Honey, adorable is one of the last words I’d want you to use to describe me. Handsome, sexy as fuck, extremely well-endowed—all of those things are golden. Adorable or Cowboy, not so much.”

Presley gives me a sassy wink. “I think I’ll stick with Cowboy because I think it’s adorable.”

“Fucking Clayton,” I grumble, holding the front door open for her.

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