A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

I’m touched and confused at the same time, and he sighs while dropping his head back.

“I really suck at this, don’t I?”

This time, I’m the one smiling in amusement.

“Suck at what?” I have no idea what he’s talking about, but I love how nervous he suddenly seems.

He looks back down, letting his eyes find mine to paralyze me. Damn. I wish he’d study the ceiling a little more.

“I don’t do anger, yet you can make me see red in a flash. I don’t do irrational things, yet with you, nothing ever makes sense. It’s like I can’t stop myself no matter what logic is against us. I don’t do passionate, but with you, well, my blood boils, and I swear I can’t stop thinking about you.”

He takes a deep breath, and I lock my knees in place to stay vertical. He seems reluctant to keep speaking, but he does.

“I don’t show affection in public, nothing more than a simple hand-hold or a light touch. Yet every time I’m with you, I want to kiss you, hold you, touch you… I want everyone to know you’re with me. Which is crazy, since we weren’t a couple while I was doing all of that. But in my head, somehow I’ve decided you’re mine, and I can’t seem to stop thinking that way.”

I’m torn between smiling and groaning. “Wren, that’s because I’m your daughter’s mother. That’s not… That last part… I don’t want you getting your feelings confused because—”

He cuts me off by kissing me, stealing my breath and swallowing the small gasp I release. When his arms wrap around me to keep me from melting into a puddle on the floor, I slowly turn to mush in his embrace, kissing him back and forgetting the words I was trying to say.

See? He makes me stupid.

He pulls back, and I lean forward, as though gravity is once again shoving me against him. After a few seconds, my eyes finally open, and I see him staring at me with nothing short of determination in his eyes.

“Does that feel like I’m confused, Allie? You don’t seem to understand. You drive me fucking crazy, and no one has ever done that before. Ask anyone who knows me. The fact that your Angel’s mom… Well, it actually complicates things. It doesn’t make it easier to fall for you at all. But I want you too much, and I’m not strong enough to pretend like I’m strong enough to deny it anymore. I’m just rambling now, huh?”

He’s adorable when he’s flustered, and I pull him down, kissing him, shutting him up the way he did me, and his arms tighten around me in response.

“I’d say we’d take it slow,” I murmur against his lips, feeling my lips curl in a smile, “but you’ve already promised to make it hard for me to walk. I’m holding you to that.”

He groans before picking me up, but then he smiles when my legs wrap around his waist.

“What time do you have to be into work?”

“Seven.”

“Then I’d better get started so you can get some sleep.”

I shiver in his arms, and the low, throaty chuckle he releases in response has goosebumps breaking out over my skin. The man I hated is definitely making me question whether or not I’ve been falling in love.

“You’re spending the night?” I ask, silently cursing the catch in my throat.

“I’ll have to. I don’t think I’ll be able to walk either once I’m done.”

I grin at him before his lips find mine, relishing how easily he carries me back to the bed. He turns and pulls me on top of him once we’re nestled back on the soft mattress, and he slowly peels my robe away, baring my body to him once more.

I got pregnant at eighteen. I lived in a house where I wasn’t allowed to spend the night with anyone but Bella. I wasn’t allowed to have anyone over. And I never broke the rules very often.

Angel was always more important than men, so I kept my relationships distant. No one made anything worth the risk of getting her attached. And I never spent the night with the few men I’ve gotten physical with over the years.

Sadly, Wren Prize is about to be the first man I’ve ever actually slept with. He’s not the only one who has lost control.

Chapter 25

WREN

Blonde hair is splayed across my chest, and I can’t help but smile as I look down at Allie. She looks content, her body wrapped around me like she’s never letting go, and my fingers start running through her hair.

For the past two days, I’ve woken up in Allie’s bed. I’m not sure why she doesn’t want to come to my house, but I could get used to this sleeping arrangement.

My smile dies. I can’t get used to it yet. Not until she believes that I’m not going anywhere. Once Angel is home, things will change. I’m not sure how much they’ll change either. Allie pushes men away, keeps them at arm’s length. And that’s my fault.