Record of Wrongs (Redemption County Book 1)

by Sharon Kay

  “What else?” He leaned in to kiss her neck.

  “I can cook a mean batch of French toast.” She melted into his hold, tilting her head to allow him her whole neck.

  He straightened. “Yeah?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “That’s my favorite. I’m putting that in for the official breakfast request tomorrow morning.”

  “Keep kissing me and I’ll make it.” A low purr stirred in her throat. “I think I have all the fixin’s.”

  But he didn’t keep kissing her. She pouted and glanced at him…and oh god. He was giving her that look. He’d already done it once that night. That look that said he saw more in her than he should. More than what she could give him. His eyes pierced her with an intense glow that unnerved her as much as it made her feel safe. “What’s that look for?” she whispered.

  “I like looking at you, Rosie-girl,” he murmured. “I plan to keep on doing it. That okay with you?”

  “Sure.” The word left her lips, born on the beat of her heart, before the logic of her brain could stop it. He was irresistible and her body wanted more and more of him.

  “I’m serious, Rosie. I don’t want you skinny dipping with anyone else. Putting on dresses like tonight for anyone but me.”

  “I don’t want to either, Cruz. I don’t want to share you.” That was the truth. The selfish, parts-omitted truth. It would break her heart to see his arm around another girl. To look at another woman with those slate blue eyes full of desire and promise.

  “Good.” His kiss stopped her thoughts, bringing her back to right now and his strong body clasping her tight. He nipped at her lip, the bite of his teeth such a delicious contrast to his soft lips. One hand drifted to her belly, moving up in a slow tortuous path.

  God, he already knew how to make her crazy. Her mind couldn’t even wrap around all the things he would probably do to her. She was ready for all of it.

  His hand covered her breast, wet fingers rubbing her skin in a stroke that heightened everything. She tightened her legs around him, blocking out all but his touch. He was what mattered.

  The sudden flap of wings overhead had them both glancing up. A soft thud, and a scrape of twigs were the only sounds to accompany the quiet creek. “What the…“ Cruz frowned.

  A gray-brown feather drifted down to land on the water’s surface. “Owl,” Rosie murmured. “He probably just found dinner.”

  “An owl.” Cruz shook his head. “This place is something else.”

  “You’re something else.” She traced a dark swirl on his bicep.

  “Let’s go back to your house. I’ll get you in the shower and wash all this creek water off you.” A devilish grin flickered in his eyes.

  “You just wanna get me in the shower, period.” She kissed his shoulder.

  “Hell, yeah. That’s only for starters.” He shifted her higher. “And let’s get your sweet ass moving before you get me too hard to walk.”

  “Okay.” She held on as he walked them to the bank. “But you know I’ll take care of you.”

  He growled as he climbed out of the creek and set her down. She pulled their towels from her bag and handed one to him, but not before noticing his cock, semi hard and dripping with creek water. Oh god. He was temptation in its purest form.

  He rubbed the towel over his hair and stared at her like she was his prey. “Let’s go, baby. One more second and we aren’t getting back to your place for another hour.”

  She wrapped herself up in her towel and grabbed the flashlight, wanting nothing more than to get him in her house, in her shower, in her bed. In her life.

  Chapter 23

  For Rosie, the next weeks flew by in a sweet haze of work and Cruz, Cruz and work. He spent all his nights at her house, exhausting her into blissful sleep. Though their schedules didn’t always align, and sometimes they only had a few minutes together before she had to work at the Grille.

  But coming home after a long shift, with Cruz naked in her bed? That, she was already used to. That, she never wanted to give up.

  And the mornings when he had to be at a job site at seven am and woke her up to say good morning…in the sexiest of ways.

  Like right now. The sun was a bright slash in the east as his hand cupped her bottom under the cool cotton sheet. His touch stirred her to full consciousness, every nerve sparking to life. His hand crept lower, between her legs.

  Her back was to his chest and she reached around, finding his heavy erection. It never failed to amaze and delight her how often he woke up this way. She grasped the hard steel of his shaft and stroked, making him hiss out a hot breath against her shoulder. She tried to turn over to face him, but he stopped her.

  “Stay where you are, baby.” He pulled her leg back, over his hip, and his big warm hand covered her pussy.

  She gasped as his fingers flexed, creating just enough pressure on her clit to make her moan. He flexed his hips into her, but she didn’t want to let go of his big perfect cock. He grunted and bit gently on her shoulder.

  Next his hand came up to cup one breast, then the other. She closed her eyes, blocking out everything except his body touching hers. She gave up her hold on him, shifting her ass to rub against his groin.

  “Fuck, baby,” he said softly. He pulled back and then pressed close again, and this time his cock was between her legs. The thick length lay against her hot flesh and when he flexed, the tip brushed her clit in a lightning bolt of sensation.

  “Cruz,” she moaned. He was right there, so close. Her hips rocked. “I’m ready.”

  Cool air met her back as he paused and half turned. “Shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” She could barely talk, with need firing her body.

  “Out of condoms up here. God dammit. I have some in my wallet, but it’s downstairs.” He tensed like he was going to get up.

  “Wait.” She twisted toward him. “Don’t go. Let’s not use one.”

  He studied her with eyes so serious she could melt. “You sure?”

  She nodded. “You know I can’t get pregnant. And I haven’t been with anyone else in years. It’s okay.”

  “And I’m clean.” He lowered back down to nibble her ear. “God, baby I’ve been wanting to feel you, all of you. No barriers. Just your hot pussy gripping my cock.”

  His words sent a fresh rush of liquid heat between her thighs and she reached down to position him at her entrance. He slid in with a soft curse. “Fuck, you feel amazing.” He rolled her toward him and slipped his arm under her ribs. With his other hand he pulled her leg farther across his hips, getting her at the angle he wanted, he began a deep thrusting rhythm.

  Logically, she knew condoms were super thin and things shouldn’t feel that different, but it did. He did. Every ridge rubbed against her inner walls in a sensual pumping motion that she never wanted to stop.

  He moved faster, hips rocking harder. Her breasts bounced, and his hand cupped and squeezed, moving from one to the other. His rough fingertips rolled her nipples and his other hand dipped to massage her clit.

  She panted as he worked her, keeping up his constant, everywhere touch, his hips slamming now with his own urgency. His breath was hot on her neck. His hands were magic. Her core was wet and aching as he pushed her higher.

  With a gasp, she came. She reached around to hold onto him, his hip, his ass, anywhere she could reach, to keep him thrusting deep. “Cruz!” she squeaked as her body trembled.

  His hands tightened on her, locking her in place as he let out a growl and drove deeper than he ever had. Her eyes widened at the delicious pressure, then at the hot slickness that filled her. He kept thrusting through his orgasm until he finally stopped, lodged deep.

  “Holy fuck, Rosie.” His breath was choppy. “Christ, you feel incredible.” He started moving in and out again. “Just feeling you. Nothing between us. Fucking incredible.”

/>   He was incredible. Sudden tears sprang to her eyes and she hastily tried to dash them away before he noticed. How had this perfect man walked into her life? It was too much, and her heart swelled and threatened to crack. She was falling hard.

  But of course, he did notice. “Hey. What’s this?”

  She smiled through it. “Just …you’re so amazing. I can’t believe you walked into my life.” That was the truth. That was safe to say.

  “Me too.” One tear sneaked down her cheek toward her jaw, and he stopped it with a kiss. “I love being here with you. You showing me all the stuff I’ve been missing about country life. I’m not going anywhere.”

  His sweetness was too much. “For now, though, you sexy man with your cock still inside me…” She traced the sweeping tendrils of ink on his arm as he rumbled a warning. “You better get to work before you’re late.”

  “Shit, woman, it gets harder to leave you every damn day.” He dropped his head to her shoulder and kissed a line down her arm. “Thank god I got a holiday coming up at the end of the week.”

  “That’s right.” The Fourth of July was on Friday, and she couldn’t wait for the three-day weekend. “Let’s do something special.”

  “Like what?”

  “Let’s go dancing.”

  He shot her a quizzical look. “Where?”

  “There’s a bar in Murphysboro. They have a big dance floor. I promise I won’t make you line dance.”

  “I’d step on your toes if I tried.”

  “Hmm, I can either wear a dress or shorts with my cowboy boots…” She ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Either way, from the moment we leave I’m going to want to get you back here.” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “All righty then, you think on it.” She grinned. “I’m gonna get another hour of beauty sleep.”

  “You don’t need it. The beauty part.” He slowly pulled out of her and moved off the bed. “Sleep? Yeah, I may’ve tired you out.” Dropping a kiss on her shoulder, he pulled the sheet up over her and headed into the bathroom.

  From her vantage point on the pillow, she watched him walk that fine naked ass into her bathroom, then closed her eyes. Sated bliss swamped her and she clung to it as fiercely as she clung to his declaration that he wasn’t going anywhere.

  Chapter 24

  The heat and humidity hadn’t let up all week, and as Rosie and Cruz walked hand and hand into the bar in Murphysboro, she welcomed the blast of air conditioning. “Oooh, that feels good.” She shook out her hair as they showed their IDs to the guy at the door. The bouncer handed Rosie’s license back with a smile. “Have a nice night, miss.”

  He kept his face impassive as he examined Cruz’s, then gave it back. “You’re good.”

  Cruz laid a hand at the small of her back. “He thinks you’re hot.”

  “Pfft. He didn’t say that.”

  Loud, fast-paced country music blared as they entered the spacious main room. Neon beer signs flickered next to wagon wheels attached to the walls. “He didn’t have to. I know it. It’s a guy thing.”

  “I don’t care about any other guys but you.” She hooked a finger into his belt loop.

  “Good.” He scanned the tables ringing a large dance floor. “I’ll have to punch anyone who hits on you. I’m beginning to think I shoulda requested your shorts.”

  She’d worn a red halter style dress—his choice, after she showed him her clothing options. It hugged her waist and flared out over her hips, ending just above her knees. As soon as she’d put it on, his eyes had turned predatory. She’d left her hair loose because she knew how much Cruz liked it.

  “Next time,” she murmured as he guided them to a tall table near the bar.

  Cruz scooted her chair in. “Want anything to drink?”

  She paused. She rarely drank. She hadn’t sworn off alcohol after her accident, but it often left a bitter taste in her mouth, both literally and figuratively. It reminded her of losing control and that terrified her. Once in a while, she had a glass of wine to celebrate something. And tonight, she was willing to celebrate the wonderful last few months with Cruz. She wasn’t worried about losing control, and if she got a little tipsy, she trusted him implicitly. Nothing would happen to her, not when he was around. “White wine. Pinot Grigio?”

  “You got it.” He left, and since the bar wasn’t crowded yet, he was back in a minute. He set his draft beer and her wine down, and settled on the chair next to her. Not opposite her.

  She smiled. “We have this one cute old couple who comes into the Grille every Sunday for supper, and they sit on the same side of the booth. Never seen ‘em sit across from each other.”

  “Yeah?” He locked those slate eyes on her in a gaze that stole her breath. More intense than his usual. “Now that’s something to aim for.”

  Something in the way he said it…or rather, what he left unsaid, made her whole world slow down. She’d meant her comment to be a casual one, but in a heartbeat it morphed into a deeper insinuation. He made her want to crawl into his lap and never leave. He also made her feel that she should be strong enough to be honest and spill every detail of her life.

  But she couldn’t do either, caught in the orbit of his stare. “Yeah.” She smiled and swung her attention to the front door where a dozen girls had burst in, one of whom wore a short veil. “Oh wow, it’s a bachelorette party.”

  He spared them a short glance, then refocused on her. “Good for them. There’s only one girl I wanna look at.”

  She smiled and sipped her wine, letting the fruity taste slide down her throat. The music changed to a slower song, one she loved. The dance floor cleared of all the single girls and a few couples meandered to the center.

  “Wanna dance?” Cruz asked.

  How could she say no? She smiled and took his hand.

  He led her to the center of the dance floor, wrapping his arms around her waist. She linked her hands behind his neck. He’d worn a plaid button down short sleeve shirt. The button he left undone revealed a tan triangle of skin she wanted to kiss. A tendril of ink peeked along the lower part, part of the words that had symbolized the bleakness of his life, before.

  Before he’d done a crazy thing like thrown a dart at a map and moved here.

  The serendipity of it stole her breath. “I’m so lucky to be here with you,” she said softly.

  “I’m the lucky one, pretty girl. Didn’t know what to expect, coming to the south.”

  She giggled. “You could’ve ended up in the bayou, with gators and all.”

  “I’ll take the wildlife here, thank you very much.” He ran a hand up her back, part of which was bared by the dress. They rocked slowly, pressed together from hip to chest, and she didn’t know when she’d ever felt this content. “Damn,” he murmured.

  “What?”

  “Is this singer in my brain, or what?” Cruz shook his head. “I swear he said he wanted to get his girl undressed and out of this place.”

  “It’s by Michael Ray. He’s awesome.” She scratched her nails lightly on his neck.

  “Dude knows his shit,” Cruz muttered.

  “Are you turning into a country music fan?” She grinned.

  “Can’t help it, when it’s everywhere down here.” He held onto her as the song ended and another slow one started. They stayed on the dance floor for two more slow songs. Rosie just breathed in his delicious masculine scent and let him hold her. She could stay locked in this bubble forever. Just the two of them, dancing here all dressed up. Or just them, in bed with him driving her out of her mind. Or just cruising on empty country roads.

  Anything with him was perfect. Anything with him made her happy. She’d never thought too far in the future, but it loomed over her now. She knew he didn’t see her as a hook up, or a summer fling. And that scared her as much as it made her tummy flip.


  The music changed to a faster song that was tearing up the current country charts. Rosie and Cruz looked at each other and at the same time said, “Wanna sit down?”

  She giggled and he wrapped a big arm around her and steered her to their table, through dozens of people streaming onto the dance floor.

  “I’m gonna get a refill. Want anything?” he asked.

  “No, I’m good.” She still had a half glass of wine to finish.

  “Be right back.”

  “Okay.” The bar had become exponentially more crowded since they’d been dancing. Now the floor was so full of people that they almost reached their table. She peeked over her shoulder to see Cruz waiting in a throng, as bartenders hustled behind the U-shaped bar.

  So distracted by his tall frame and broad shoulders, she didn’t see anyone walking toward her. Didn’t know, until it was too late.

  “Cracklin Rosie, is that you?”

  She whirled on her seat as dread bloomed in her stomach. Only one person called her by that stupid nickname. She found herself looking into the arrogant eyes of someone she never expected to see again. “Peter?”

  Her ex-boyfriend. The one she’d been trying to get over in college. The one that had messed her up so badly that she got too drunk and wrecked her car…and her life.

  Not just her life.

  He’d been gone already, moved who knew where. He never called, never acknowledged what had happened to her. She hadn’t expected it because they had already broken up. She honestly never figured she’d see him again, and that was fine. She took responsibility for her actions. But now, an explosion of emotions hit her like a cannon blast.

  Did he know about the crash? Her injuries?

  Did he deserve to know…

  The one little detail linking them after they’d broken up?

  But it was over. Gone in a blink, a crash, a tree. For a second, the chill of snow dusted her arms. The vibration of an engine going way too fast. The slide of tires with no traction…