Page 77 of Redeem Me

I’m falling in love with him.

I’ve been falling harder every day since he first took me in the hallway. Maybe even before. I haven’t said it to him. I haven’t wanted to terrify him. But there’s no denying his hard edges have softened. There’s a light in his eyes that wasn’t there before.

‘Buy yourself something, please. It’ll make me feel better about leaving you.’ He presses a fleeting kiss to my temple.

‘Now I’m definitely not going to buy myself anything. I want you to feel so bad about leaving me that you race home the second you have the chance.’

He nuzzles into my neck. ‘Do you think I want to be apart from my sexy, sassy girlfriend?’

‘Girlfriend?’ It’s the first time he’s used the word, and it turns my blood into molten lava.

‘I know, I know, you’re all woman,’ he sighs. ‘Do you prefer the term partner? Just so you know, I think of you as my equal in every way.’

‘Call me whatever you like, as long as it’syours.’

‘You were mine the second I touched you,’ he purrs, running his lips along my jawline.

‘Hmm, maybe I touch myself again and see how quickly that brings you home.’ I buck against him, the low stirring of arousal building in my stomach and lower.

‘Don’t even think about it,’ he murmurs, slipping a hand between my legs. I’m wet for him. I’m always wet for him.

He groans, prises the coffee cup out of my hand and shoves it on the counter. ‘I really don’t have time for this, but you make it impossible to be anywhere on time. Until you moved in, I’d never been late for anything in my life.’ He spins us around, hoists my bum up onto the counter, and spreads my legs. ‘Now, my PA lies to me about my schedule because she expects me to be late. You’re bad for business, Tranquil.’

‘I’m good for your prostate, though.’ I inch forwards and lift up my nightie. His eyes fall to my crotch and he hisses out his approval, tugging down the waistband of his sweatpants and freeing himself.

‘This is going to have to be quick,’ he warns. ‘I need you to come hard and fast on my cock like a good girl, okay? Can you do what I say without defying me, just this once?’ He pushes the tip against my entrance until I’m the one hissing.

‘You know, just this once, I think I could do that for you.’ Firm fingers grip my ass as he slides into me, filling me and stretching me before pulling out and driving in again and again. It takes less than four minutes for me to come on his cock and only a few more seconds for him to follow suit.

‘I’m going to miss you.’ His ragged heartbeat pounds against mine.

‘Not as much as I’m going to miss you.’

The “l” word hovers in the air like a cloud between us, ready to be plucked from the sky. Or maybe it’s just in my mind.

As he’s finishing cleaning us both up, we hear footsteps onthe stairs. I hurriedly tug my nightie down and hop off the worktop, fluffing my hair.

Owen rounds the corner, rubbing his eyes, his dark hair spiked up where he’s been lying on it. His face is creased with marks from his pillow, but notably, he doesn’t have his favourite tatty teddy with him. Is this progress at long last?

‘Morning buddy. How are you today?’ Caelon squats to Owen’s eye level.

‘Daddy, I have a ‘fession,’ he says, but instead of his usual pained expression, he’s sporting a smile like it’s Christmas morning.

‘It’s okay, buddy, I’ll take care of it.’ Caelon ruffles his hair, then pulls him towards him for a hug.

‘No, Daddy, this ‘fession is different.’ Owen resists Caelon’s embrace, his big innocent eyes bouncing between his father and me as he puffs his chest out. ‘I didn’t have an accident.’

‘You didn’t?’ Caelon’s pride is audible. ‘That is amazing! I’m so proud of you, big man!’

‘Thanks, Daddy.’ Owen looks at me again.

‘That’s amazing, sweetheart. You’re such a big boy now.’ Owen runs to me, burying his face in my chest as I stoop to catch him in my arms.

‘I think we need to buy you something cool while we’re shopping today,’ I pretend to whisper, like it’s our secret.

‘Can I get something cool, too?’ Orla appears in the kitchen doorway wearing a Barbie nightie and fluffy pink slippers.

‘Sure.’ Caelon lifts his little girl and twirls her around the kitchen. ‘Anything you like. Make sure Ivy buys herself something, too. Samuel will drive you into the city when you’re ready.’

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