Page 16 of Redemption
I nod.
He leans in and brushes his lips against mine. The energy between us crackles, scorches me, leaves me gasping. I cup his face in my hands and press my lips more firmly against his, yelping as he pushes me up against the door, pressing his whole body against mine. His mouth asks for entrance and I’m more than happy to give it. One single kiss robs me of every last remnant of sanity. He steals my breath, my mind, my heart.
I reach for the handle, realizing it’s locked, begin a blind, fumbling search for the key in my purse, unlock the door and push it open. We almost fall into the darkness in my hallway. Christian crushes me to him in a forceful embrace, kicking the door closed, never breaking the kiss. He pushes me in front of him, steering me into the living room until the back of my legs collide with my couch. In a moment of hesitation, I put a hand to his chest and he responds immediately, taking a step back.
“I—” I begin.
“Too much?”
I search for something to say. My body screams for him, but I haven’t been with a man since my divorce last year, and Evan was my first. I try to tell myself it’s like riding a bike, and what’s a little sex? But my brain is back, taking over.
“Know what?” he says. “You can kick me out. It’s fine. Or we can round it up with a cup of tea, and then I’ll let you sleep. Sound good?” He rakes a hand through his dark, jaw-long hair and licks his lower lip, as if he’s tasting me. The sight makes a shiver run through me.
“Sounds like a plan,” I say faintly.
He throws out his arm. “Lead the way, Miss…”
“Jackson,” I say. “Kerry Jackson. Pleasure to meet you Christian Russo.”
He begins to hum ‘Miss Jackson’ by OutKast. I groan and slap him on the shoulder. “I’ve heard that a million times. Don’t go there if you value your life.”
Christian holds up his hands and grins. “Your word is my law.” He gives me a gaze that makes my knees weak. It’s dark, and full of sin.
I pour water into the kettle with shaky hands, my mind spinning from the vodka, the late hour, his presence in my house.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” he murmurs. “Meeting you. You’re—”
“Oh my God, fuck it,” I gasp, my brain shutting off entirely at the sound of his voice, silky, full of promises I suddenly want him to fulfill.
I spin around, facing him, and in a flash he has me on the counter, with himself squeezed in between my thighs. A hard length pushes against my pussy through the fabric of way too many obstacles. Heat rushes to between my legs as his hands slide up along my sides, hesitating by the swell of my breasts. When I don’t object, he cups them and kneads them with rough hands as he catches my mouth again, stealing every remaining ounce of sanity along with my breath.
He pushes against me even harder, rubbing his hard cock against me, making me boneless with need.
“I want you so fucking much. You have no idea,” he groans in my mouth.
A click to my left announces the water has finished boiling. The sound snaps me out of the magic.
I nearly double over from the clenching in my belly, the need for him, paired with panic over what’s about to happen. “Christian,” I whimper, as I put my hands on his chest and shake my head. “I can’t.”
He freezes up. For a breathless moment I think he’s just gonna take me anyway, and I’m not sure I’d fight it. Our gazes meet and I widen my eyes at the predatory look on his face. Then it fades and he nods, stroking my cheek, his fingers leaving burning trails.
“I’ll go.”
I’m left gasping, wanting, desperate for more. The teacups remain empty next to me on the counter. My front door clicks closed. I sit frozen to the spot. I just said no to some probably steaming hot sex with the sexiest man I’ve ever touched. Am I insane?
On shaky legs I make my way to the front door, locking it. My phone buzzes in the purse I dropped on the floor at some point when he pushed me inside. It’s Chloe. I have fourteen missed calls. I send her a quick text, then I stumble to bed.
I don’t fall asleep until the early dawn. Putting a hand between my legs, I come once, and later once more, thinking about his strong heavy body pressed against mine. I wonder if I’m going to see him again. Did I lose him forever?
My friendand coworker is furious with me.
“You could have sent one fucking text. We were so worried, Ker!”
I hang my head in shame. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t myself last night.”
“Tell me about it, girl! You look like shit. What did you do? Did you drink the whole night?” She grabs my chin and turns my head from side to side, studying the dark circles under my eyes, snickering.
I shake my head and can’t hide the grin.