Page 24 of Redeem

“I…”

Her voice was a whisper, but seemed so loud, especially after the long moments of silence.

She tucked a few stray curls behind her ear, then dropped her hands back into her lap, risked looking at me, her expression self-conscious.

I almost smiled, knowing that Dana had missed how open, almost girly that action was. And knowing her as I did, which was surprisingly well given the short length of time since I’d found her, I knew she wouldn’t want me to see that.

“This is…”

She shook her head, went silent.

“This is what?” I asked.

She looked at me then, her dark eyes deep, fathomless pools, the expression in them one I couldn’t read.

“This is…nonsensical. You turned me down cold. I should be too embarrassed to even look at you,” she said.

“Dana, I—”

She shook her head, cut me off, and then smiled. “It’s your right. And I didn’t say I’ve given up.”

Her eyes flashed mischievously, and I felt myself smiling, this playful side of her intriguing. The smile soon fled and she sobered, looked at me, considering.

“Why do you want to help me?” she asked.

Her voice was quiet, her eyes serious. I knew instantly she’d never been more vulnerable to me than she was in this moment. I didn’t deserve that, but I wouldn’t question it. Instead, I told her the truth.

“You need it. Will you let me?” I replied.

She didn’t respond, but she looked at me, the weight of her thoughts clear on her face. Funny that an offer of labor, the unspoken offer of companionship were enough to slow Dana down. She sighed again. “This is fucking nonsensical. I can’t believe I’m actually considering this,” she said.

I thought I would pump my fists in joy, but I kept myself calm. The battle wasn’t won yet.

“Why is it nonsensical?” I asked.

Her face crinkled into a wry smile. “I don’t want or need help, and I sure as hell don’t like it.”

“Maybe you’ll surprise yourself,” I said.

The dark brown of her eyes deepened. “Oh, you’ve surprised me plenty,” she replied.

In an instant, the air between us charged, and my gaze dipped to Dana’s full lips, then the smooth, dark skin that covered her padded collarbone. Were this a different time and place, Dana and I different people, I would have pulled her across the seat and had my cock buried balls-deep inside her before my next breath.

I couldn’t, though, so instead I looked away, counted slowly until I had myself back under control. I looked at her again.

“I have, Dana. I have. Let me do this for you,” I said.

She looked at me, her brows furrowed, her head tilted in the way that told me she was deep in thought. I was asking a great deal of her, trying to move past the distance and solitude she had so carefully constructed. But I had no choice. I wouldn’t leave her like this.

She thinned her lips, then looked away before she abruptly turned to face me again.

“Grab your stuff,” she said.

Eleven

Dana

What the hell was I thinking?