Page 76 of Double the Redemption

Still, common sense prevailed. “But when this is all over, Ink? When I need to leave to testify?”

His eyes bored into hers. “Are you already planning your exit?”

“I’m just trying to be realistic. There’s no way I won’t fall for you, Ink.” She’d already accepted that about herself. Letting a man into her life, into her bed, and into her son’s life, she couldn’t be expected to keep things casual.

Well, that, and Taz wouldn’t shut up about it. She was starting to see why Karissa and Glitch were always threatening his life. It came close a couple of times for her too.

He seemed to weigh that. “And falling for me would be a bad thing?”

“Falling means risking not only my heart but Asher’s as well. He’s only two, and he’s not going to understand why we stop seeing you every day or why you’re not around. He’s not going to understand that adults don’t always stay around forever. And he’s so attached to you already, Ink. I don’t know how to navigate it.”

“I’m already attached to him too.” His lips quirked slightly. “He’s so fucking smart, and he’s going to be hell on wheels, staying one step ahead.”

“Tell me about it. That’s why, as a teenager, I never got caught for anything. I figured stuff out so fast that I could do what I wanted, and no one was the wiser.

“But that’s just it, Ink. You’re talking like there’s going to be more than a few months. We have no idea what will happen in a few months. I have to testify, and the cartel is not going to take that lying down. It won’t matter what the Feds do. I’ll have to sit in that room and hope no one takes a shot at me. The Devil’s Predators are good, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to best the cartel.”

“I have no intention of this being over when you’re done testifying, Naomi. And that includes the Devil’s Predators and me being there to make sure nothing bad happens. You’re not dying on anyone, Naomi. And when it’s all over, I intend to bring you and Asher back here. All you have to do is give me the chance.”

“I don’t know if this is what I want, Ink.” It hurt to say it, but she had to be honest. “I’m finally getting my freedom, and there are so many things I want to see and do with Asher.”

“And you think I won’t do that?” There wasn’t any hurt in his tone, but she sensed the trepidation.

“You have a life here. A shop and clients who need you. A club where you’re happy. You won’t leave that.”

“Not fully, but I can go Nomad as far as the club is concerned. And I can leave the shop in someone else’s hands if I need to. Tom is coming along, and he’ll be doing full-fledged tattooing within the next few months at the rate he’s going.

“There’s nothing we can’t figure out if we put our minds to it, Naomi. I don’t want to hold you back, but the idea of walking away from you just isn’t possible. And maybe you’re right; if we realize in a few months it’s not working, that doesn’t mean I’m going to walk away and leave you and Asher to fend for yourselves.”

“You say that now, but we both know that if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be back to finding other women to spend your time with. And I won’t be able to stomach it.”

“I can see why you might think that, but I promise I will never do that to you, Naomi. The girls will kick my ass, and Taz will probably help. That crazy asshole likes to joke, but he’s just insane enough that I don’t actually want to cross him.”

They were silent for a long moment, neither looking away from the other. “Well, this wasn’t what I planned when I came up here,” she joked, needing to lighten the mood.

His lips quirked. “What did you have planned?”

The flush worked its way back up her cheeks. “Ah, well, I was kind of hoping I could talk you into bed, see if it was worth giving you the—Ink!” she screeched as he twisted and rolled, leaving her flat on her back on the bed, him hovering over her. Her eyes widened when he nudged her legs open so he could fit snugly between them. She brought her knees up around his hips, the intimate position not lost on her. Neither was the feel of his hard cock against her core.

Wow. He was certainly bigger than her high school boyfriend. Her panties dampened with arousal.

His lips curled into a wicked smile, eyes flashing. “You just love to prick at my ego, don’t you, baby girl?” he purred. “You wanted to try me out before you made a decision, huh? Just a little test drive?”

She wasn’t sure why she felt brave, but her lips curved, and she gave a slight shrug. “What if you’re terrible in bed? I mean, maybe all those years of manwhoring around were just you trying to improve your skills, but the women all lied to you? Like you said, you have an ego …”

His eyes narrowed, but his lips twitched. “Baby girl, you’re playing with fire.” He pressed closer to her. Her breath hitched as pressure and friction mounted. It was so good. It was like reliving everything she wanted, everything she needed, everything she liked.

“Are you going to prove me wrong?”

He groaned, eyes slamming shut. But when they opened, the fire in them had her breath catching and her heart pounding. He swooped down to take her mouth, and she vaguely wondered if she’d just made the best decision ever or the biggest mistake.

Given the way he tasted, her body was definitely screaming the first one.

The kiss wasn’t gentle or searching like the ones he’d given her before. This was passionate, claiming, and possessive. He devoured her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside and taking control. She trembled from the force of it, not from fear, but from the storm of need building and the desperation for more.

Her fingers wove through his hair, yanking the strands, making him grunt and grind harder against her, so she opened wider for him.

When he drew his mouth from hers, she whimpered, chasing him. He groaned, taking her mouth again, giving her exactly what she needed before wrenching away once more.