Page 31 of Redeem Me

‘It doesn’t happen often,’ he says, as his lips return to their usual grimace.

And just like that, it becomes my mission in life to make sure it does.

But there’s no way I’m going to stop walking around his house in tiny outfits. If I have to endure this chemistry between us, I have no intention of making it easier on him.

Quite the contrary, in fact.

Chapter Fourteen

CAELON

I wake up feeling slightly lighter than I’ve felt all week. Admittedly, I fucked up yesterday. Tongue fucking Ivy on my desk was not on my to-do list, but at least we’ve agreed it will never happen again. Last night seemed to clear some of the tension between us.

I throw on a pair of running shorts and hit my home gym before Owen and Orla wake up. I do a full upper body workout and run ten kilometres before eight. By the time I reach the kitchen, Liz is dishing up breakfast for the kids. I scan the room until I find what I’m looking for. Or rather, who I’m looking for.

My molars clank together as I take in the tiny, faded denim shorts barely flirting with her full, round ass cheeks, and, I kid you not, a fucking bikini top, secured by tiny strings that I could snap with my teeth.

Did she not hear a fucking word I said last night?

Does she want me to bend her over the kitchen counter and fuck her into next week?

She’s barefoot, stretching up on her tiptoes to reach a coffee cup.

‘Daddy,’ Orla squeals.

Owen jumps from his seat and runs towards me, wrapping his arms around my legs.

I lift him up and balance him on my hip. ‘Morning, buddy. How did you sleep?’

‘Okay,’ he says quietly, his gaze falling to the floor.

I place my hand on the back of his head and whisper into his ear. ‘Do you want me to change your bed sheets?’

He nods, nibbling on his lower lip. ‘Sorry, Daddy.’

‘Don’t be sorry, buddy. Everything’s okay,’ I whisper. Changing the sheets gives me the perfect excuse to escape my half-naked nanny.

‘Can we still go to the beach today?’ Hope lights his eyes.

‘Sure. Give me an hour to get sorted and shower and grab something to eat.’

‘Morning,’ Ivy calls over her shoulder as she hits the button on the coffee machine. ‘You want a cup?’

‘No,’ I say gruffly, before remembering we’re supposed to be friends. Though if she can’t hold up her end of the bargain by dressing appropriately, why should I hold up mine?

She spins to face me with a questioning look. My eyes fall to her breasts, supported by two red triangular scraps of Lycra tied at the nape of her neck.

She arches a single eyebrow.

‘No,thank you.’ I force the words out and tear my eyes from her tits.

‘Scrambled eggs?’ Liz calls across the kitchen.

‘I’m not hungry.’ Not for food, anyway. I slide Owen down my legs until his feet meet the floor. ‘Eat your breakfast, buddy. You’ll need energy for the beach.’

How am I going to survive a trip to the beach with Ivy looking like that?

There’s only one thing for it. We’ll go early, swim, then come straight home. I’ll invent a meeting. Something urgent.A crisis at one of the hotels. A construction disaster. A severe bout of highly contagious stomach flu. I rake my fingers through my cropped hair, running my nails over my scalp.

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