Redemption: AmBw Romantic Suspense

She bit her lip, and I immediately yearned to suck on it.

I forced myself to relax. “Just don’t forget that all men aren’t the same. Take time to heal, but also take time to relearn the male race.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Some men are not really men. Many don’t know how to treat a woman the way she deserves.”

“Preach.”

“And it’s not your fault that you married Wyatt. You’re not weak because you loved him. You’re strong because you left, when he stopped loving you.”

“I pray you’re right.” She hugged herself. “I just don’t want to rush into another situation with any man. I don’t want to make any more mistakes where my kids have to deal with more. . .trauma and pain.”

My heart ached. “I understand.”

If only I could show her. If only I could cut myself open and hand her my heart, let her take days to study it. Give her weeks to test it. She would know who I was. She would comprehend the inner parts of my soul.

I let out a long breath. “I just want you to know that there’s no strings attached to my friendship.”

“I believe you.”

“But. . .I do like you. I do want. . .”

Her voice lowered. “Yes?”

“There’s something about you, Ebony. Maybe, we’re similar in some ways. Same sort of sadness. Same sort of yearning to live and survive. Whatever it is, you’ve drawn me in.” I twisted the bullet in my pocket. “I just want you to know that. . .I’ll be waiting here for you. No matter how long it takes. . .days, weeks, years.”

She smiled. “You won’t wait years.”

I gave her an intense stare. “Test me and see.”

Heat bridged between us.

There was no doubt that an attraction had sparked. Whether Ebony was comfortable with dealing with it or not. As we talked, her gaze continued to slip along my body and not just my bare chest. It strayed to my crotch. I was thankful my cock hadn’t jumped.

I’ll take my time with you, but soon you’ll know how good I can make you feel.

Ebony deserved pleasure. We both did, and I was going to see that we got it.

I stepped back in my position in front of the door. Not completely blocking it, but enough. I could tell that I’d given her a lot to process. That she was ready to leave just from the fact that she was so confused with her emotions.

The more she was around me, the more I learned her and needed to know more.

“So. . .” she cleared her throat. “I’ll let you put a shirt on. . .I mean. . .not that you need to put a shirt on. It’s your house.”

I grinned. “So, you want me to keep my shirt off?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

She blinked.

“I’m just playing, Ebony.”

She relaxed. “Your lunch is downstairs, if you want it.”

“Thank you.”

She shook her head.

“What?”

“Yoshiro, I literally came up here just to give you some food and you pretty much. . .start this conversation about relationships and broken hearts and sex. . .I just wanted you to get something to eat.”

I laughed. “The topic was too heavy?”

“You’re fine.” She headed my way.

“For the record.”

She stopped two feet in front of me and looked up. “What?”

“For the record, I never said anything about sex.”

She rolled her eyes. “It was insinuated.”

“In your dirty mind.” I touched my chest. “I was talking about love.”

“Whatever.” She headed away.

I stayed where I was, halfway in the doorway. Ebony brushed against me as she passed. And I relished in that simple touch, wishing we could have more contact—body to body, lips to lip.

She was right about the insinuation of sex, but I wanted her to realize that it was on her mind too. She craved my cock just as much as I wanted to lick that pussy. But I wouldn’t push the matter. I wouldn’t take it too for.

She’d gone through too much and survived.

After she left, I pulled the bullet out of my pocket, tossed it in the air, and caught it. The mystery of its appearance wouldn’t be solved today. Possibly, it would never be resolved.

But I knew in my heart, that the puzzle of Ebony would be settled. She would always be on my mind, and I would be right there, waiting, hoping, and craving.

My phone rang.

I walked over to the nightstand, grabbed it, and answered. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me,” Kevin said. “That guy Wyatt left Portland. He’s at a house in Vancouver, Oregon. Right on the border of Oregon and Washington.”

“Less than an hour from here?”

“Yeah.”

Kevin continued, “I checked the spot out. It’s one of the chicks from the restraining order—Selena Garcia. I guess she doesn’t mind him being there. They ordered two large pizzas, liter of soda, and some cookies. He paid with it on his credit card. He also bought two movie tickets online.”