A Redo (The Sterling Shore Series #6)

by C. M. Owens

  His hands slide under me, and I feel the bra loosen before he pulls it off me and tosses it aside. His wicked grin transforms his face, and I almost blush—but it takes more strength than I have.

  “Am I going to fast?” he asks, but then his mouth latches onto my nipple, and the ability to speak gets harder.

  “Not fast enough,” I mutter, almost breathless, and he releases something that sounds like a growl before his lips find mine again.

  Then I feel his bare body between my legs. When the hell did his pants come off? Not that I’m complaining, but seriously, when?

  His tongue is demanding, possessive, and definitely savage inside my mouth, and all those foreign sounds keep spilling from my lips to his. I feel him nudging me, moving his hips until he’s settled right where I want him.

  There’s no warning before he groans and thrusts in powerfully, and my lips break apart from his to cry out in pure pleasure. I freaking sound like a porn girl that I would normally mock.

  He doesn’t move at first, and I take in a shaky breath, still trying to wrap my head around the fact Wren is on top of me, in my bed, inside of me…

  His eyes find mine before they close and his lips descend on mine again before his hips start rocking. Just the slightest friction has me arching into him and making more of those sounds.

  He continues to devour my mouth, leaning his body over as he grips my hips, tugging my lower half higher, and finding an angle that makes it impossible for me to concentrate enough to kiss.

  He leans up, and I watch without shame as he grips my hips harder, bashing his hips into the cradle of my thighs hard enough to leave bruises, but I don’t give a damn. His muscles are flexed as I grip the sheets below me, taking in every movement connecting us.

  It’s all too much—sight, touch, taste, sound… Tingles turn into painfully pleasurable shocks, and I cry out his freaking name like some madwoman when my whole body stiffens before becoming completely boneless.

  Wren’s furious thrusts change rhythm. He moves harder but slower inside me as he groans and shudders. He drops to my body, kissing my neck while his body continues light movements. His rocking finally stops, and I gingerly wrap my arms around his neck while his face stays buried between my neck and the pillow.

  Even though I’m still high from what just happened—he really knows what the hell he’s doing—my body suddenly tenses. I just had sex with Wren. Again. And the last time this happened, he just stood up and walked out.

  “Fucking perfect,” he says against my neck, sounding a little out of breath.

  I don’t completely relax, but some of my anxiety dies as he continues trailing kisses across my neck. And then I completely lose all tension when his lips find mine again.

  The hunger is gone, and now he’s slowly exploring my mouth at a leisure pace, kissing, sucking, biting... But then he stops, pulling back ever so slightly.

  “Hi,” he says, grinning down at me like he’s much too proud of himself.

  I laugh lightly before cupping the back of his neck.

  “Really? Hi?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t hear the slight tremble in my voice.

  He smirks before cocking an eyebrow. “I said fucking perfect but you didn’t respond. So I thought I’d go with a different approach.”

  He bends, brushing his lips against mine, and I grin bigger. He’s not just walking out. But suddenly he pales, and his body goes rigid. That knot tightens in my stomach. He regrets it?

  “Shit,” he says, screwing his eyes shut. “I didn’t even put on a damn condom. Shit. Shit. Shit.”

  This is what it means to have a guy make you stupid. I didn’t even think about a condom, and I always think of condoms. Thank God it’s Wren.

  “I’m on birth control. I never miss a shot,” I say quietly, feeling dumber for even considering it to be okay to do this again.

  But. It’s. Wren. And Wren makes me stupid, hot, wild, hungry—

  “Thank fuck, because I didn’t exactly think to bring condoms when I found out Billy was over here. And there’s no way in hell I’m done with you yet.”

  How did he know?

  That’s the least important question to be asking right now.

  “What happens now?” I ask, hating the timid tone of my voice.

  I hate to ruin the mood, but the reality I ignored when we crashed in here is now back. We’re not two people with nothing to lose. We’re parents, and our daughter has to be priority number one. She can’t get hurt because of us.

  “I’m only human, so I need a few minutes,” he says, grinning bigger before nipping my bottom lip. “But I plan to make it hard for you to walk tomorrow.”

  I frigging shiver when he says that. He laughs, and it embarrasses me that he noticed the ill-timed reaction.

  “That’s not what I meant,” I groan, and he snickers softly before pressing a kiss to my neck again.

  He leans up, studying my eyes, and his smile slowly turns into a serious line. His hand goes to my hair, gently running his fingers through the loose curls.

  “I’m not sure what else to say. I didn’t plan for this to happen, but you’ve been driving me out of my fucking mind since the day you felt me up at the supermarket. So I’m done fighting it, Allie.”

  Another shiver. Another laugh from him. And I frigging blush. “I didn’t feel you up,” I lie—I was totally groping his chest, even though I hated myself for doing it when I saw who he was. “You know this can turn into a mess, and we have Angel to think about.”

  He pulls back, looking down at me, and he slowly shakes his head. “I gave you plenty of chances to change your mind. Too late now. We’re doing this. I’m really persistent—”

  “Allie!” I hear Bella yell, and I curse as Wren rolls off me.

  “Allie, you in here?” Bella calls, getting closer to my room. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be right out!”

  Wren openly stares at my naked body as he sprawls out on my bed, putting his hands behind his head as he takes me in. I don’t miss the smug grin on his face as I grab my robe from the back of my door and rush into the bathroom. Thank God there’s a door from my room to the bathroom—to do a quick, nowhere nearly good enough, clean up.

  I walk back out, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks. Wren doesn’t bother covering up, and I let my eyes linger far too long on his very naked, very tempting, very hard—

  “Allie! Are you okay or not?” Bella demands from the other side of the door.

  My eyes snap up, and Wren winks at me, grinning as though he knows exactly where my mind is. I take a deep breath, and quickly open the door enough to step out, shutting it before Bella can see him on my bed.

  Her eyebrows go up in surprise, and she takes a step back, letting her gaze rake down my robe-covered body. Thank God I shaved my legs this morning. Sometimes I do get lucky after all—no pun intended.

  “Um… What’d I miss?” she asks, a knowing grin suddenly blooming across her face as her eyes meet mine.

  I grab her by the elbow, tugging her away from my bedroom, and lead her toward the kitchen. But I scream loudly when I see a guy suddenly right in front of me. He jumps, I jump, and Bella laughs.

  The guy smiles awkwardly and uncomfortably, taking several steps back. He’s short, pale, and why does he look disappointed in me?

  “I think we interrupted something,” the guy says, still frowning before looking at Bella and pushing the glasses up on his nose.

  Bella rolls her eyes. “Can you wait on me outside?” she asks him.

  This is Benjamin? She really is trying to change her type. But he could be a great guy, so I can’t judge him… yet.

  Wren is suddenly in the room, his shirt still off but his jeans are on, and I squeal. Damn. People really need to stop scaring me.

  “Sorry,” he says, his grin slowly forming. “I heard you scream.”

  “Benjamin scared me,” I explain, but I grimace at how pathetic my voice sounds. This is the mother of all awkward situations, and I
have no frigging idea how to act right now.

  Clutching my robe a little tighter at my chest, I swallow hard, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. Benjamin frowns while looking over at Wren. What is with his judgmental eyes? Or am I just being paranoid because I lost control, screwed my daughter’s father in a fit of passion, and now I’m worried I’ve just destroyed the relationship we did have.

  Bella, however, doesn’t look judgmental at all. She looks like she wants to do cartwheels or dance in celebration. I want to hide.

  “I was worried after I called Wren,” Bella says, not even bothering to hide her ridiculous, taunting, I-know-what-you-have-been-doing smile. “Obviously everything has worked itself out, though.”

  Wren chuckles softly before tugging my back to his front, wrapping his arms around my waist while resting his chin on my head. The effortless grace in which he tucks me against him, and the comfortable intimacy we have makes it seem as though we’ve done this hundreds of times.

  Wren kisses my hair, and I relax against him, no longer caring that Judgmental Benjamin is still frowning at us.

  “I’ll explain later,” I say when I realize Bella is still waiting on an explanation of some sort.

  “Yes. You will. Details are expected,” she says, smirking as Wren snickers more.

  “Some details,” I quickly add, subtly telling Wren that I don’t share everything with Bella.

  Well, at least he’ll think I don’t tell her everything. I can’t wait to tell her everything, and then beg her to keep me from over analyzing it.

  “We should get going,” Bella says to Benjamin.

  Wren’s arms leave me as Benjamin walks out, and Bella pulls me to the side as Wren walks toward the living room, a paper in his hands that seems to have his attention.

  “Please tell me it was done when I interrupted,” Bella whispers, practically beaming and dying for info.

  I glance over my shoulder, watching as Wren heads toward the living room, his focus completely trained on whatever he’s reading. He’s smiling. What’s he reading?

  “Allie!” she whisper-yells.

  I snap my head back, grinning because I can’t help it, and she smiles back.

  “Good enough. If you’re smiling like that, then he must have finished dusting the cobwebs out of your… never mind. You can give me the details later.”

  I glare at her, but then nod, mostly because I’m afraid of what I’ll sound like if I try to speak. She laughs lightly while rolling her eyes. But then seriousness returns.

  “Was Billy still here when Wren arrived?”

  My smile falls, and I sigh. “Yeah. That’s definitely something we’ll talk about later. I think… I’ll just… Later.”

  She frowns but doesn’t push the matter.

  “Bella, you coming or what?” Benjamin says from the front door, even though we can’t see him.

  “I don’t like him,” I tell her honestly, just like I always do.

  “Neither do I,” she groans. “I keep telling myself that it’s because I’m too shallow and stupid since I only want boys that are bad for my health, but I really think it’s because he’s an ass.”

  I laugh just as she does.

  “I’m ending things tonight. The ass owes me dinner since I paid for our last one. Don’t ask.”

  She rolls her eyes and walks off, tossing a goodbye to Wren on her way out. Wren reciprocates, but he’s lying on my sofa, looking all too perfect there, and he’s still grinning at whatever he’s reading.

  “Why are you smiling?” I ask once I hear the door shut.

  He looks up, and I swear he’s mocking me for some reason.

  “I’ve never been the subject of a pro/con list before,” he says, amusement sparkling in his endless blue eyes.

  He really is too sexy, and he needs to put a shirt—

  Whoa. What? No!

  “What?” I squeal, my face reddening and my entire body going stiff.

  He glances back down, and seriousness takes over his face as he continues reading the proof that I’m bat-shit crazy about him. So crazy that I’m making pro/con lists like the nerd stalker from hell.

  “I’m not overly fond of the con list. But I think I can wipe some of these away. Starting with confusing and frustrating. The rest we’ll take in stride. I have confidence that I can prove myself to you.”

  He laughs when he sees how red I am from head to toe—yes, my entire body is blushing right now. I. Could. Die.

  He tosses it aside before standing, and he walks to me with a sexy saunter, deliberately tempting me. My eyes run down his very sexy, very ripped body, and it reminds me why smart girls turn dumb for hot boys. Damn that V. Why does he have to look like that?

  Words, Allie. Speak.

  “You weren’t supposed to see that,” I lamely say, stating the obvious.

  He smirks just as he reaches me, and he tugs me to him before tipping my head back.

  “Tell me what I have to do to make you stop looking like you’re ready to bolt. I swear you resemble a terrified kitten right now.”

  I start to speak, but the words die in my throat. Kitten? I don’t want to be a kitten, damn it. Before my brain and mouth start working together to formulate coherent sentences, Wren speaks again.

  “We’ll keep it quiet for a while. Angel doesn’t have to know. You and I are mature enough to separate our relationship from our relationship with her. But, Allie, I meant it when I said I was sick of fighting this. Since I met you, my life has been turned upside down. I don’t know what it is you do to me, and sometimes I’m not sure if I love it or hate it. You strip me of my damn sanity sometimes. I’m not used to feeling so much, and with you and Angel… It’s like I can’t stop feeling.”

  I’m touched and confused at the same time, and he sighs while dropping his head back.

  “I really suck at this, don’t I?”

  This time, I’m the one smiling in amusement.

  “Suck at what?” I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I love how nervous he suddenly seems.

  He looks back down, letting his eyes find mine to paralyze me. Damn. I wish he’d study the ceiling a little more.

  “I don’t do anger, yet you can make me see red in a flash. I don’t do irrational things, yet with you, nothing ever makes sense. It’s like I can’t stop myself no matter what logic is against us. I don’t do passionate, but with you, well, my blood boils, and I swear I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  He takes a deep breath, and I lock my knees in place to stay vertical. He seems reluctant to keep speaking, but he does.

  “I don’t show affection in public, nothing more than a simple hand-hold or a light touch. Yet every time I’m with you, I want to kiss you, hold you, touch you… I want everyone to know you’re with me. Which is crazy, since we weren’t a couple while I was doing all of that. But in my head, somehow I’ve decided you’re mine, and I can’t seem to stop thinking that way.”

  I’m torn between smiling and groaning. “Wren, that’s because I’m your daughter’s mother. That’s not… That last part… I don’t want you getting your feelings confused because—”

  He cuts me off by kissing me, stealing my breath and swallowing the small gasp I release. When his arms wrap around me to keep me from melting into a puddle on the floor, I slowly turn to mush in his embrace, kissing him back and forgetting the words I was trying to say.

  See? He makes me stupid.

  He pulls back, and I lean forward, as though gravity is once again shoving me against him. After a few seconds, my eyes finally open, and I see him staring at me with nothing short of determination in his eyes.

  “Does that feel like I’m confused, Allie? You don’t seem to understand. You drive me fucking crazy, and no one has ever done that before. Ask anyone who knows me. The fact that your Angel’s mom… Well, it actually complicates things. It doesn’t make it easier to fall for you at all. But I want you too much, and I’m not strong enough to pretend like I’m strong enough to deny
it anymore. I’m just rambling now, huh?”

  He’s adorable when he’s flustered, and I pull him down, kissing him, shutting him up the way he did me, and his arms tighten around me in response.

  “I’d say we’d take it slow,” I murmur against his lips, feeling my lips curl in a smile, “but you’ve already promised to make it hard for me to walk. I’m holding you to that.”

  He groans before picking me up, but then he smiles when my legs wrap around his waist.

  “What time do you have to be into work?”

  “Seven.”

  “Then I’d better get started so you can get some sleep.”

  I shiver in his arms, and the low, throaty chuckle he releases in response has goosebumps breaking out over my skin. The man I hated is definitely making me question whether or not I’ve been falling in love.

  “You’re spending the night?” I ask, silently cursing the catch in my throat.

  “I’ll have to. I don’t think I’ll be able to walk either once I’m done.”

  I grin at him before his lips find mine, relishing how easily he carries me back to the bed. He turns and pulls me on top of him once we’re nestled back on the soft mattress, and he slowly peels my robe away, baring my body to him once more.

  I got pregnant at eighteen. I lived in a house where I wasn’t allowed to spend the night with anyone but Bella. I wasn’t allowed to have anyone over. And I never broke the rules very often.

  Angel was always more important than men, so I kept my relationships distant. No one made anything worth the risk of getting her attached. And I never spent the night with the few men I’ve gotten physical with over the years.

  Sadly, Wren Prize is about to be the first man I’ve ever actually slept with. He’s not the only one who has lost control.

  Chapter 25

  WREN

  Blonde hair is splayed across my chest, and I can’t help but smile as I look down at Allie. She looks content, her body wrapped around me like she’s never letting go, and my fingers start running through her hair.

  For the past two days, I’ve woken up in Allie’s bed. I’m not sure why she doesn’t want to come to my house, but I could get used to this sleeping arrangement.