Page 79 of Redemption

“Please,” she begs.

His hand slaps her ass twice more before gripping her hip and picking up his pace. He thrusts into her three more times before her body convulses, and the orgasm rips through her so hard she ends up in tears.

He finds his own release, his hot seed filling her, and he mutters, “Fuck, baby.” The moment he sees her tears, he releases her and slides out, pulling her to face him. “Did I hurt you? God, Karmen, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. God, I’m such a fucking ass-”

Her kisses interrupt him and reaches up to wipe her tears. “No, I’m not in pain,” she says with a giggle. “That was so damn intense.”

“You started crying?”

“I didn’t mean to. It just kind of happened,” she says and laughs as the tears continue to fall. “It was like you fucked me right out of my body.”

His face changes from concern to confusion to amusement before laughing with her. “That good, huh?”

“So, good,” she says and kisses him.

Laying her down, he pulls her onto his chest. The air between them remains silent, and she feels so content just being there with him. She can’t remember the last time she felt this settled.

“How long have you been wearing my shirts?” he asks, breaking the silence.

Sniffling, she plays with his chest hair. “Since we ended things.”

“Even when you were with Rush?”

“God, it pissed him off to no end.”

“Good.”

She laughs. “It’s pathetic, I know, but it’s not the most pathetic thing I’ve done.”

His lips kiss her forehead, and he runs his fingers through her hair. “What else have you done?”

“I don’t want to tell you.”

“You can’t say that and not tell me!” he says. “Please?”

Sighing, she shrugs. What else does she have to lose? “I keep a bottle of your cologne in the bathroom.”

“That’s not pathetic.”

“Smell your pillow.”

She hears his heart race under her ear, and she can’t help but wonder if she’s divulged too much. Made herself look obsessive and tell him this was just a big mistake.

“I love you.”

The words take her by surprise, and she sits up to look down at his face. “You do?”

“I never stopped... I was just so angry.”

Her eyes look at his torso, unable to meet his eyes any longer. “I get it.”

“I took it all out on you, and that wasn’t fair. It was easier.”

“We needed to grieve the way we did. I deserve it all, and I don’t blame you for any of it. Everything you did, I deserved.”

“No, you didn’t. You shouldn’t have cheated, but I shouldn’t have pushed you so far away you felt that desperate. I mean it when I said I took you for granted. I knew you’d always be there, and I stopped trying. That wasn’t fair to you or our family.”

Sniffling, she holds back her tears. She’s cried too much today, and she doesn’t like it. “I miss him every day, TK. My baby boy was taken because of my stupidity, and I can never forgive myself. Never. Part of me knows I don’t deserve you here right now. That you should say this is one big joke, and break me all over again.”