Redemption

by Alla Kar

  Embarrassment flooded me. There he was with bandages wrapped around his bruised body, and I was ogling him like a piece of meat. And it was worth every second. I regret nothing. “I’m not.”

  His dark brows shot up to his hairline. “Oh really? It looked like it to me.”

  Lifting my chin, I gave him a smartass smile. “Well, I guess you need to go to the eye doctor. I was just bringing you your breakfast, because my dad asked me to.”

  Those dark eyes watched me carefully until I squirmed in the doorway. “Well, are you going to bring it here, or do you want me to get up and get it?”

  I gritted my teeth before taking a leisurely step inside. Lucy bounded forward and took liberty on herself to plant her front paws on the side of his bed.

  Declan’s gaze cast down to Lucy. “Hi girl. You found me the other day, didn’t you?” he cooed, running his fingers against her head.

  Something wicked swelled between my legs. I need to get out of here. But—once again—my feet took a permanent residence on the floor. Lucy’s tail wagged in a steady rhythm as he cooed and brushed his knuckles against her which only drew attention to how massive his forearm was.

  God, I really need to get out of here—like yesterday.

  Stepping forward, I offered him the bowl of soup. Dragging his eyes from Lucy to my own, he carefully eyed the bowl, and then let his gaze travel back up my breasts to my eyes. I’d only been that close to him when he was covered in mud and blood. With his face clean, I could see every flawlessly imperfect thing about him. The fresh scar on his lip only intensified how full they were. A five o’clock shadow was light on his strong jaw. His heavy eyebrows were perfect naturally, because I knew he wasn’t the kind to go get pampered.

  And his fucking eyes. Things were stirring inside of me that I had never felt in my short twenty-one years on this planet. He reached forward, the tips of his fingers skimmed down the path of mine until he palmed the bowl and brought it down to his chest.

  His brows furrowed in confusion. His hand jerked outward, his fingers encircled my wrist, and he flipped my palm upward. Shock raced through me, but I didn’t snatch away as he examined my reddened palm from the bowl. “It’s fucking hot. Why didn’t you put it down?”

  Oh God. What was I supposed to say? I’m so incredibly attracted to you that I couldn’t move too close to you. “It’s not hot.”

  God, how lame can I be? I dropped my gaze to the wooden floor.

  His fingers tightened around my wrist, he jerked me closer to him, and my body pulsed from the bluntness of it. “Stop lookin’ away from me, it’s annoying.”

  I gasped and jerked away from him. “I’ll look wherever I want to look, thank you.”

  His eyes cast down to his abs, and my sex clenched tighter. “Obviously.” He meet my gaze. “I saw you earlier, and last night.”

  Damn it all to hell! The heavy pressure in my ears doubled from embarrassment. “I wasn’t lookin’ at you last night. I was checking on you.”

  The leg closest to me dropped to the floor with a loud plop. “I saw you checking—Angel.”

  Shit. Fuck. Shit fuck! “You’re mistaken but I’ll let it go.”

  A wide grin blessed his face, and he could have been the fault Adam wavered with Eve. The seductive evil that was so beautiful that you didn’t care the consequence. “You like to be in control, don’t you?”

  What? I nearly gasped but bit my tongue hard to keep my mouth at bay. Heath had always complained that I had to be in control of every situation but in reality he was just weak. “No,” I snapped.

  “You do,” he said back. “But that’s okay, because I’m the master of control, and it’s tough shit for whoever doesn’t like it.”

  Something about the tone of his voice told me that he spoke the truth. And by the look of him he’d have another woman underneath him to fill that void the disappoint left behind, quickly.

  “I’m not falling for your tricks,” I said. “I know you want me to fall for this bad boy bullshit but asshole really isn’t my style.”

  Oh shit. If looks could kill.

  His jaw twitched, and he sat his soup to the side. “I’m not trying to seduce you, Angel. I’ve already got you which is bad for the both of us. I’m trying to make sure you don’t fall for my bullshit and into this fucking bed, because it doesn’t need to happen. It won’t happen.”

  I stepped back like I’d been slapped. Not that I cared, but I was sure he’d liked what he’d seen when I walked in. “Fuck you. I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last fuck on earth.”

  The bed squeaked, his arm snaked around my waist and he drug me closer to him. Mouth parted, eyes on my lips, his minty breath heaved against me. “Take it back,” he whispered against my mouth.

  Warmth settled between my legs, and I went liquid. If he hadn’t pulled me against his chest I would have been a puddle of goo on the floor. My fingers sprawled against his tanned skin, and my breast brushed against his own. “Let me go,” I whispered, aware of how his eyes hadn’t strayed from my opened mouth.

  Wetness puddled in my panties as he brushed the pad of his thumb against my lower lip. “I wish I didn’t have to.”

  But he released my waist and allowed me to stand which didn’t go very well. I stumbled to the left and caught myself on the small nightstand at the same time he reached forward to catch me. “Careful,” he whispered, and I didn’t have to look because I heard the smugness in his voice.

  “I’m leaving,” I whispered helplessly. “Eat your food. I’ll be home today if you need anything.”

  “And how do you expect me to get you?”

  “Oh,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Here is your phone.” I dug it out of my butt pocket and handed it to him.

  He kept eye contact but reached for his phone. “You looked through it.”

  I swallowed, too stubborn to lie. “Yes.”

  “And what did you find?”

  I looked over at Lucy who rested her head on her front two paws, watching us. “Nothing. I found nothing.”

  He nodded. “Good.”

  We watched each other for several seconds, the obvious he’s bad news weighed between us. I needed to leave, because the small voice in the back of my head told me to ask questions that I was sure I didn’t want to know the answers to.

  “Call me if you need anything.”

  He nodded once, and I felt his eyes on me as I swayed my hips to the door. Once I shut the door, I used it as a crutch for my wobbly legs which threatened to betray me. God he was tense. I was tense. I was turned on beyond oblivion, a feel of desperation flooded me with need.

  This isn’t going to be good.

  ***

  “Where the hell is he?”

  Aunt Shelly barged into the front door without knocking. She clutched her purse at her side and searched around the room like a mad woman. Her dyed blonde hair—that I insistently told her looked better brown—was straightened and not a hair was out of place.

  “If the he you are referring to is the guy we found then he’s in the guest house out back.”

  She dropped her purse on the bar and sneered over at me. “And why the hell aren’t you over there with him? Come over here and give me a hug, girlie. I missed my best-friend.”

  I sank into her arms and pressed my cheek against her shoulder. She’d always been my mom for a lack of better words, and I missed everything about her. Even the perfume that was way too strong brought tears to my eyes. “So is he cute?”

  I rolled my eyes and went back over to the refrigerator. Cute? God, he’s gorgeous, but I’d never admit it. “He’s okay.”

  She squinted her eyes and took a seat at the bar. “Then why are you blushing?”

  “I’m not,” I said, grabbing us both a water from the fridge. “And is this the welcome I get from being gone six months?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I missed you, Nev. But no one told you to be gone six months either. Have you heard from that bastard of a fiancée? Is he not worried th
at you’ll find some helpless gorgeous man to nurse back to heath?”

  “Well, first off, I told you he’s okay. Secondly, I haven’t talked to him since I left.”

  Aunt Shelly’s mouth dropped. “You didn’t even answer the phone and hang up? What the hell? I was really looking forward to planning this wedding, ya know. You’ve crushed my dreams, Neveah. Oh, and I know he’s more than cute, because you won’t make eye contact with me.”

  “Don’t be so dramatic. I’ll have a wedding one day. And he’s okay, like I said.”

  She pursed her lips. “Well, let’s go take a look then.”

  I lifted a brow. “No, I’m going for a run.”

  She snorted. “I don’t need your permission to go look. I’ll just go introduce myself.”

  “Aunt Shelly, I really don’t want to go back out there.” And I really don’t want you to go back there.

  She shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She dropped her purse and made a beeline for the backdoor.

  Dammit. Lucy looked up at me, and we both started toward the back door. Aunt Shelly had already stepped inside when we made it to the porch.

  She stood in the doorway, and I could tell by her tensed shoulders that she knew okay really meant gorgeously rugged. “I’m Shelly. I’m Wes’ sister. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Declan’s eyes cast toward mine and a smug smile drew from the corner of his mouth. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  She nervously tucked her hair behind her hair and turned to me with huge eyes. “Well, I hope you get better soon. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around. I just wanted to introduce myself.”

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you. You’ve got one hell of a niece, too. You doin’ alright back there, Angel?”

  Angel! Ugh! I tightened my fist, and Aunt Shelly lifted a brow. “I’m fine. Let’s go,” I snapped.

  She gave him a wave with earned us both a wink. Goddammit, I really need to change my panties now.

  Aunt Shelly shut the door behind her and stared at me. “What the hell, Neveah. You said he was okay and that’s much, much better than okay. He’s gorgeous!”

  I shrugged. “If you like that kind of thing.”

  She stared blankly at me. “I don’t know you anymore.”

  I threw my arms in the air. “Okay, he’s freaking gorgeous. Can we get over it now?”

  She sneered. “Someone needs to get laid.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Don’t act like you don’t need some to get by. Since David and I split, I haven’t had nearly enough sex. I’m having withdrawals.”

  Oh, God. I could have went my entire life without knowing that. “Right, well, I’m not into one-night stands so I guess I’m out of luck.”

  Aunt Shelly wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “You know nothing compares to sex but some retail therapy takes the edge off? You down for some shopping?”

  I grinned. “I’m always down for shopping. I mean, if you’re paying.”

  Chapter Six

  Neveah

  All the lights were off when we got home. When Aunt Shelly goes shopping, the woman goes shopping. Three bags hung from each of my closed fists, and she was totally right, clothes do take the edge off.

  Lucy laid in Dad’s lap in the recliner. His head thrown backwards, and his snores echoed throughout the silent house. Smiling, I covered them up and made my way toward my bedroom.

  The crickets sang from outside, and I listened while putting away my clothes. Then I heard someone yell. I dropped my bag, and my blood turned to ice in my veins. What the hell.

  Again. Louder.

  I couldn’t make out what the person said, but I knew where it come from. Before I thought better of it, I raced out the back door into the humid summer night and forced my way into the guest house.

  Declan laid on the floor beside the bed with a confused look on his face. “Are you okay?” I asked.

  His gray eyes found mine through the darkened room, and he slowly nodded. “I’m sorry. I must have fallen in my sleep.”

  Then why were you screaming? I wanted to ask it. Something told me he wouldn’t tell me anyway. He was in his underwear—a different pair from the morning—but still my dad’s. “Do you need help?”

  A look of outrage crossed his face. “No, I can get up.” He grabbed the bed, and I watched as his muscles tightened as he pulled himself up and crawled into the bed.

  I stood awkwardly, biting my lip while I watched, not wanting to make him mad. “It’s okay to need help.”

  His gaze snapped to me, and I was pinned to my pathetic spot in front of him. “But I don’t need it.”

  I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay then. Do you need anything while I’m here?”

  His eyes swept me from head to toe, and he slowly shook his head. That I’m fucking you in my head look was on his face, and his parted lips made me want to give into my overly hungry hormones. “Not anything that’s morally right, you can’t.”

  What? Red heated my cheeks. Does that mean what I think it means? “Okay,” I whispered. “I’m going to bed.”

  “Where have you been?” he asked.

  I bit my bottom lip. “I went shopping with Aunt Shelly.”

  He nodded and glanced over me again, but this time I kept my eyes on him. “You wore that?” he pointed toward my tight jeans and shirt.

  “What’s wrong with this?” I asked.

  He growled and wiped his palm down his face. “Too many things to say,” he said. “Is that shirt low enough?”

  My mouth dropped opened. “That’s none of your business. If I wanted to go out naked it wouldn’t be your business.”

  His teeth gritted together, but he closed his eyes and took a breath. “You’re right. It’s not. No, I don’t need anything.”

  Whatever.

  I turned on my heel and marched angrily toward the house. Stupid domineering asshole.

  ***

  One week later

  I refused to go back into the stupid guest house although I’d been dying to see him. Dad had brought Declan his food and made sure he was content. I no longer cared if he was okay or if he was hungry. Well, not that much, anyway.

  Lucy yawned at my feet, and I rolled around in the desk chair at the gym. The day had just started, and I felt like I’d been there for three hours already. At least my new yoga pants were cute.

  The phone rang, and I nearly jumped to answer it.

  “Joe’s Boxing Gym. How can I help ya?”

  “Neveah?”

  Oh shit. The words in my mouth put on their brakes. There was no denying that Heath was on the other end of the line. I gathered my thoughts and cleared my throat. “Wrong number.”

  “Please,” he choked out.

  “How did you get this number?”

  “I looked it up on Google. Please don’t hang up. I’ve been calling you for over a week. Nev you just up and left? What the fuck happened? You don’t want to talk about it? Neveah, you punched me in the mouth? My lip is busted.”

  Good.

  “Can we try to work this out? Do I mean nothing to you?”

  Oh, I’m going to beat this guy’s ass. “I’ll tell you what happened. You fucked another girl. Or were you not mentally present for our fight?” I yelled.

  A random kid walking by hurried when I gave him the death glare.

  “Baby,” he cooed. “I’m not going to deny that I messed up, but you can’t just leave? We’re engaged. We can at least try to work it out. Let me come see you.”

  Is he serious right now? I barked out a bitter laugh that I hope gave him the notion that it was never going to happen again because it wasn’t. “If you show up to this fucking place I will chop your balls off and feed them to Lucy.”

  Silence.

  A low laugh sent chills down my spine. I dropped the phone against the desk with a loud thud. I glanced up, Declan stood in the doorway. God. He was standing up, and he was tall—really tall. Holy shit he’s staring at me. “What are you doin’ he
re?” I asked.

  His tongue dampened his lower lip, and he titled his head upward which gave me the perfect view of his square jaw. “I’m better, and I’m here reporting for duty. Is that a problem?”

  Yes. “Does my dad know you’re coming?”

  He smiled, and I clutched the desk for support. That stupid shirt was too tight to his arms and stomach. I could make out the ridges underneath, and my fingers ached to touch. I had to make a run to the store so that he could wear things his size. This isn’t working for me. “You better get that.”

  Get what? I followed his pointed finger to the phone. Shit! Heath. The muffled sound of his screams were distant. “Neveah? Who is that?”

  “Don’t call me again. Bye,” I slammed the phone down on the receiver and sighed.

  His boots thudded heavily against the tile floor, and when I looked up he was leaning over the desk, staring at me. God, he needed to take several step back, or I was going to sweat. “That must be the famous fiancée of yours.”

  Who told him about that? “Ex-fiancée.”

  He grinned, sliding the tip of his index finger along the mahogany wood of the desk. “I would hope so since Lucy is gonna be eating his balls and all.”

  I didn’t want to laugh, but my giggle box betrayed me. “Ah, so she does smile,” he whispered.

  “Don’t get used to it,” I said, before turning my back to him. “Dad, Declan is here to see you,” I yelled.

  When I turned back his eyes drug up from my ass to my eyes. “You’re a runner, huh?”

  I blushed but kept my gaze steady. “Yes, and why, please tell, do you think that? Is it because you were checking out my ass?”

  His slightly upturned lip told me everything. “Absolutely, Angel. And what a nice ass it is.”

  “Hey!” Dad said from his office. “Come back here, and we’ll get started. It’s so good to see you up and walkin’.”

  Declan straightened, and I felt so small. “Yes, sir. I’m glad to be walking.” He casted his eyes toward me. “Nice talking to you, Neveah.”

  I ignored him, pretending to me interested in a random file on my desk, then watched as he walked down the hallway toward my dad’s office. God, even the way he walked was hot. Confident without coming off too cocky, with his hands pushed down into his pockets. A swagger bone deep that he carried with every movement. It wasn’t something you could mimic.