Welcome To Redemption: Series Collection (Books 1-6)

by Donna Marie Rogers

  Only this time, she caught a flash of devilment in his eyes before he turned to stroll down the front walk. She crossed her arms, leaned against the porch column and watched until he disappeared around the corner. The shit knew exactly what he was doing to her. She would’ve recognized it yesterday if she hadn’t been so busy falling.

  That silent admission made her heart thud slow and hard. Dana stilled, but the panicked shortness of breath that in the past had accompanied her realization of feelings for a man didn’t materialize. She held her hand over her chest in wonder as joy spread through her. So this is what it felt like; this was the real deal.

  A soft, happy laugh escaped her previously disappointed lips. Watch out, Charlie Russell. Now that she knew he was the one, the man didn’t stand any more of a chance than she had.

  Chapter 7

  Charlie didn’t know how he made it through dinner when all he wanted to do was get Dana alone somewhere and kiss her senseless. When she’d opened the door in a siren-red halter dress, her long hair loose and wild, he’d gone weak in the knees. Literally. Didn’t help that all the blood in his brain had rushed south, either.

  But with Dana, he wanted to do this right, take it slow and discover each new emotion she awakened. Since talking to her that day on the boat, he’d felt a shift inside; the guilt had eased some and made room for more in his life. He couldn’t believe the freedom that little alteration had given him, and while he knew he had a ways to go, thanks to her, he was on the right road.

  He’d thought long and hard about telling his family he’d driven Annabel to the party, and realized Dana was right. Once he had the truth out in the open, even if they hated him—his gut clenched at the thought—he would be free to let the guilt go and move on with his life. God, after all these years, the thought was more than a little frightening.

  On the drive home from the restaurant, he reached over and took Dana’s hand in his. She glanced at him, the smile on her face content. Happy. Beautiful. It warmed him inside, and he swallowed back the too serious question on the tip of his tongue.

  He parked on the street outside Allie’s house, then hurried around to get Dana’s door. As she extended one shapely leg out of the truck to slide down, her dress rode up on her lightly tanned thigh. Charlie forced his attention up, and also didn’t allow his hand to rest against her bare back when he escorted her to the house.

  Taking it slow sucked, but it felt right—mostly.

  Dana turned to face him before he could step onto the porch, putting them almost at eye level. The backlighting of the porch light cast her face in shadow, but her green eyes picked up a shine from the street lamps at the curb.

  “I had a good time tonight,” she said.

  “Me, too,” he agreed, his voice low in his own ears. Knowing even a chaste kiss would be too risky, he started to move back. Besides, he still needed to ask her to brunch tomorrow. To meet his family and help him fix his life.

  Dana reached up and fisted her hands in his shirt, halting him mid-step. He lifted his brows in surprise when she pulled him forward. Her arms wound around his neck, her body pressed against his, and as she spoke, her mint scented breath caressed his lips.

  “I did not wear this dress for you to leave without kissing me tonight.”

  Charlie groaned. Of their own will, his hands splayed across the soft skin of her bare back. “You’re killing me, Dana. I’m trying to be nice here instead of rushing into any—”

  “Shut up and kiss me.”

  He didn’t have to because she did. And if he thought the kiss the other day was hot, at least the water had banked the flames. This time, her aggression started an inferno inside him that would rage out of control pretty fast if he wasn’t careful. Not that he really wanted to be careful when her soft, silky lips were on his.

  “Allie’s out tonight,” Dana whispered. “Do you want to come in?”

  His heart banged against his ribs. “For, uh, coffee?”

  She leaned back, her hips pressing intimately against his. “Yes. Because I dressed like this so I could invite you in for uh, coffee.”

  Desire throbbed in places he was sure she felt through the silky material of her dress and the idea of being any kind of careful disintegrated in a puff of smoke. And to hell with discovery—he knew all he needed to know about this emotion.

  “In that case, I’d love a cup of coffee.”

  She rose on her tiptoes for a quick kiss and then spun around to unlock the door. The expanse of skin left bare by her halter dress was too tempting to resist, especially since the view had nearly driven him mad when she’d left the table earlier for the ladies room. Charlie moved in close and brushed her hair aside to place a kiss on her shoulder blade. As she jiggled the key in the lock, her bottom brushed against his erection tightening the front of his jeans.

  He bit back a groan, his fingers tightening on her shoulders. “Keep that up and two’s not out of the question.”

  The look she gave over her shoulder could’ve started a match from across the room. She wiggled her hips again. “Maybe three?”

  He laughed. “That’s pushing it. I’d be up all night, then.”

  “That’s the idea.” She swung open the door and pulled him into the house with her. Once they were concealed in complete privacy, she turned and flattened her palm over his thumping heart. Batting her eyelashes, she gave him the sexiest smile he’d ever seen.

  A tiny little voice in the back of his head tried to reassert its warning to slow down, but it was no competition for the seduction of Dana’s body. Charlie dipped his head and covered her mouth with his again. Her lips parted, inviting his tongue to explore and conquer while he skimmed his hands along her spine, down to where the edge of her dress pooled just above the dimples of her lower back.

  A soft massage and dip of his fingers into those enticing indents summoned a low moan from Dana. Her arms tightened around his neck as he slow danced her toward the stairs. He broke the kiss to drag in a breath before nibbling his way along her jaw. Her sweet scent enveloped his senses when he buried his face in the curve of her neck. Whatever her perfume, it was twice as potent when combined with Dana’s unique scent and the heat of passion warming her skin.

  The material of her halter dress got in his way so he lifted his hands to fumble with the knot at her nape. Just the thought that she wore no bra hardened him even more. He couldn’t wait to feel—

  “Easy,” she chastised, reaching back to still his efforts. “Once this comes off, you will be seriously over-dressed. Maybe we should wait until—”

  Charlie reached up behind his head to grab a fistful of his shirt and stripped it off. “Better?”

  She cocked her head slightly to the side and ran her gaze across his chest, down to the front of his jeans and back up again. He barely had time to hope she liked what she saw before her tongue came out to wet her already glistening lips. “Yes.”

  “Your turn.”

  Her gaze met his. She moved up to the second stair and raised her hands to the knot. Her chest was at his eye-level, and Charlie couldn’t have looked away if he wanted to. The material of her dress stretched across her breasts, the puckered nipples clearly outlined. The need to touch overrode the anticipation of her unveiling.

  He spanned her waist with his hands and in one quick, smooth movement, laid her back on the stairs. Her surprised squeak turned into a gasp when he braced one knee on the stair and leaned over to suck a nipple into his mouth.

  Dana drew in a breath, then another, until she was practically panting as Charlie worked her left nipple with his tongue through the now wet material of her dress and rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger. She ran her fingers through his hair and with a slight tug, shifted his attention to her other breast.

  His erection rubbed rock hard against her leg and she wanted to give back as good as she was getting. She slid her hand down along the muscles of his back and around to the front of his pants just as he dragged her dress aside to ex
pose one breast to his passion darkened eyes. She rubbed his length at the moment his hot mouth closed over her bare skin and drew her deep into his mouth.

  A deep groan echoed in the stairway, but she had no idea if it was his or hers. The loosened knot at her neck gave way and her dress sagged until the wet material clinging to her skin halted its decent. Charlie peeled it away and leaned back to look down at her.

  “God, Dana, you’re so beautiful.”

  She’d never felt so sexual, lying on the stairs with her hair tossed about her shoulders, naked almost to the waist. Smiling, she traced the outline of the eagle’s beak on his right bicep. His tattoos were even more appealing with his chest completely bare for her to feast her eyes on.

  He shifted, and Dana’s dress slipped down across her stomach. The reality of how fast they were moving, and more importantly, where, finally registered with her common sense. A quick grab kept the dress from revealing everything.

  “We should probably take this to the bedroom.”

  He cupped her breast with one hand and leaned in for a small nip to her shoulder. His tongue replaced his teeth as he murmured, “I’ve never had…coffee…on the stairs before. Wanna try it?”

  Did she ever! “Tempting…but I don’t think Allie would appreciate walking in on that sight.”

  Charlie jerked his head around toward the door. “You said she was out tonight.”

  “Relax—she is, but…” Dana shrugged as he faced her again. “Just in case.”

  “Another time?”

  Dana laughed at the hopefulness in his voice. “If you play your cards right.”

  He pushed up to kneeling and then helped her to sit. Dana tugged her dress up, clutching it against her chest as she rose and turned to start up the stairs.

  “Don’t go all modest on me now,” Charlie complained behind her.

  She tossed a grin over her shoulder. “Well I’m certainly not going to walk up the stairs completely naked.”

  “Complete…ly? You mean…?”

  At the top of the stairs, Dana looked back again to find Charlie staring at her ass. “Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”

  He gave a low growl and swept up into his arms without warning. Over her laughter, he demanded, “Which room is yours?”

  “Left…right here.”

  He carried her in and practically tossed her on the bed. After two small bounces, she shook her curls back over her shoulders and braced up on her elbows to watch him unbutton and unzip his jeans. The bulge he revealed set her pulse tripping faster than ever. He wasted no time toeing off his shoes and sliding his jeans down his thick thighs.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t know you were commando during dinner,” Charlie said, watching her watch him. “We’d have never made it to dessert.”

  “Damn, I knew I should’ve told you. Then we definitely would’ve had time for a third cup.”

  He shucked his jeans, shaking his head. “Nothing like putting pressure on a guy.”

  She dropped her gaze. “I don’t know, you look like you’re up for it.”

  His deep chuckle increased the pleasurable shivers of anticipation trembling low in her belly. She waited for him to hook his fingers in the waistband of his black boxer briefs and pull them down, but instead he crawled onto the bed and kneeled at her feet.

  When he picked up her right foot and began massaging, she slowly skimmed her gaze from the stretched material of his briefs, over his tight abs, and up his chest before letting her head loll back. She gave a low hum of appreciation as much for the sight of him as for the magic he worked on her calf muscles.

  Charlie moved to the other foot and she lay back with her eyes closed, drowning in pleasure and a deep-rooted contentment that was only heightened by the simmering sexual undercurrent. If ever a man defined “don’t judge a book by its cover”, Charlie Russell did. He had all the appearances of a rough, arrogant bad-ass with his good-looks, the tattoos and man-truck, but underneath it all was a man who loved his dog and family, and knew just how to treat a woman right.

  Maybe her bad habit of falling for the client had a silver lining after all. Not that he was a client, she silently reminded herself.

  A sharp tug on her dress snapped her eyes open to see him standing at the foot of the bed as he pulled the material free of her body. He dropped it on the floor, leaving her naked.

  “Damn, you were serious,” he muttered.

  She fought an onslaught of modesty and let him look. “I wouldn’t tease you.”

  “Woman, you’ve been teasing me since the moment we met.”

  “Hey, I didn’t ask Sugar to get me ready for a wet tee shirt contest.”

  He crawled back onto the bed, one knee between her thighs as he paused to press a kiss just below her belly button. “She really is a good dog, isn’t she?”

  Dana’s heart flip-flopped when he raised his gaze without lifting his head. She saw his grin as well as felt the curve of his lips against her stomach. Still watching her, he shifted down with clear intent. She closed her eyes, gave herself up to pure sensation and breathed, “Yes.”

  Charlie made sure Dana was completely satisfied before removing his briefs and donning protection. When he moved up to take her in his arms, sliding into her heat felt like coming home. Sure he joked about Sugar dumping coffee on her, but fate had been smiling down on him the day he met Dana.

  He eased inside her, stroking slow, then faster, enjoying the flush of passion on her face. He wanted to watch her climax again. A light sheen of sweat dampened his skin as he slowed his thrusts, fighting not to finish in seconds flat. Dana’s encouraging whispers and inarticulate sounds of pleasure threatened to undermine his efforts, but he concentrated on alternating his pace to prolong the anticipation before driving them both to heaven.

  Forehead resting lightly against hers, he held his weight off her while trying to catch his breath. “That was definitely not decaf.”

  She laughed softly, her body shaking beneath his. “Best coffee I ever had.”

  Then she opened her eyes and he lost any hope of getting enough oxygen into his lungs. He’d give anything to prolong this moment with her forever. The implication of that thought kick-started his pulse all over again. Charlie rolled to the side, propped his head on his hand and brushed a curl from her forehead with his other hand. Keep it light, man. Don’t scare her off.

  “Better than a white chocolate caramel latte?”

  “Yes. Though, now that I think about it, I should have another sample to substantiate that statement. You might be a one cup wonder.”

  “Give me ten minutes and I’ll substantiate the hell out of your statement.”

  He leaned in to nip her shoulder and tasted the faintest hint of salt on his tongue. Dana pushed him onto his back and rolled to loom over him. “And what do we do in the meantime?”

  “I have a few ideas.”

  His hand had almost reached the curve of her ass when he heard the distant slam of a door. Dana’s eyes widened as Allie’s voice echoed from the downstairs foyer.

  “Hey guys, I’m home early.”

  “Oh my God.” Dana flew off the bed and grabbed her robe off the back of the vanity chair. She rushed to the open bedroom door while struggling to get her arms in the sleeves. Charlie threw off the covers in a frantic search for his clothes.

  “Maybe we can—” Distinct pause, then Allie’s muttered, “Aw, shit,” found its way up the stairs.

  Door in hand and mostly closed, Dana looked back at Charlie as he pulled on his boxers. He stilled at the same time she covered her mouth.

  “My shirt,” he said.

  “Your shirt,” she said at the same time.

  From beyond the door, they heard Allie call out extra loud, “Forget it.”

  Dana turned as Charlie joined her. He felt like a kid whose parents had caught him doing something wrong. Dana’s similar feelings were written all over her face.

  “Should we go down?” Dana whispered.

  “Don�
��t you dare.”

  They both jumped at Allie’s words from right outside the door. A hand thrust through the small space Dana had yet to close, Charlie’s shirt fisted in its fingers. Dana made a grab as Allie dropped the black material and withdrew with a quick, “Good night.”

  They never saw her face, and ten seconds later her door clicked shut down the hall.

  Charlie met Dana’s gaze and fought not to smile. After a few heartbeats of uncomfortable silence, he said, “This is stupid, I mean, we’re both consenting adults.”

  “And yet I feel like I’m sixteen all over again.”

  He grinned. “Me, too.”

  She shut the door and leaned back against it with a soft laugh. Charlie dropped his gaze to her red polished toe nails and let it wander back up her long, slim legs, the short silky robe knotted at her waist that didn’t completely conceal the luscious curves of her breasts, and the tousled curls he’d run his fingers through just minutes earlier. The whole picture made him want to carry her back to the bed. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen now.

  “It’s probably best if I head home.”

  Her gaze met his for a long moment before she pushed away from the door and handed him his shirt on her way past. “Yeah.”

  Charlie took solace at the disappointment in her voice and gathered his things to get dressed. “Walk me out?”

  “Of course.”

  Down the stairs, other thoughts began crowding back in. Family thoughts. About Dana. About Annabel. He took hold of Dana’s hand and knew with her at his side, he could face anything. Even the thing he dreaded the most.

  At the door, he tugged her into his arms and kissed her long and slow. He wanted to give her something to think about after he left, but the plan backfired when her uninhibited response had him considering backing her up to the couch in the living room, Allie be damned.

  He skimmed his hands up her back and grasped her wrists behind his neck. “I should go.”

  “So go.”

  Only she didn’t step back or remove her mouth from his.