Page 66 of Double the Redemption

“I … I don’t know what happened. One minute we were talking, and the next he was holding me. Then he was kissing me, and … Oh, God, I threw myself at him.” She covered her face with her hands, humiliation burning. “I refused to let him stop, and I climbed him like a monkey. He’s probably running away from me because I’m a crazy person. He’s never going to look at me again.”

Karissa snickered. “He’s running away because he’s a good person. And I think you’d be surprised by what he’s going to do. I bet he’ll be back here as soon as he can, wanting a repeat.”

“This is so embarrassing. I probably came off desperate.”

“Even if you did, who cares? He didn’t. He wanted it too, and considering how hard he’s been trying to get your attention and apologized all week, he’s probably relieved. That man is crazy about you. And between you and me, I overheard him telling Razor earlier today about a chick who was coming on to him at the shop. The very idea of being with her made him sick. He got her out of there so fast she was pissed.”

Why did that cheer her up? “He did?”

“Yep. You’ve got that man hooked. And that was before the kiss, so just imagine how he’s going to be now.” Her grin turned wicked. “And I, for one, can’t wait to rub it in his face that he’s no better than the rest of us. He gave us all a hard time. And now look at him.”

“I … I don’t know that this is going to be permanent. I don’t want to lead him on.” The very idea that he might be more invested in this than her made her stomach hurt.

“Then you talk to him, but why can’t you have a little fun? You’ve certainly earned it.”

“I don’t know that I’m built for that. I’ve … The last time I was with a man … willingly … was when I was a teenager.”

Karissa sobered. “Have you told Ink about that part of your past?”

“No. I … I just told him that they forcibly impregnated me with sperm. That was all done clinically.” She swallowed hard, bile rising as buried memories surged forward. “I don’t know how to say the rest of it.”

“Are you worried that Ink will look at you differently?”

She hadn’t thought about it at all. Never planning to spend any time with a man while she was here.

“You don’t have to tell him anything, Naomi, but if you want to make sure he doesn’t trigger you somehow, then it will be the only way.” There was no judgment in her tone, only understanding. “And if you’re not ready for more than some hot make-out sessions, Ink will understand. He might have perpetual blue balls, but he’ll survive.”

“I don’t … I don’t know what to think or feel right now.”

“I think you need to get up, shower, and go to bed. Everything will feel clearer in the morning. You’ve had a busy day. We ambushed you, and then Ink showed up. Now you’re getting a taste of what could be. It’s a lot.”

She had that right.

“Am I forgiving him too quickly?” The question slipped out before she could stop it, making her stiffen.

Karissa pretended not to notice. “Do you want to forgive him?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like holding grudges. They take too much energy. And maybe forgive isn’t the right way of putting it. The only thing he did wrong was break into the apartment. Everything else, he was going along with Savage and his orders.”

“True, but he shouldn’t have encouraged that skank either. The rest of it, yes, he needed to apologize, but everything that went down with the girl is the big thing, right?”

Naomi sighed. “Yeah. I can’t seem to get past in my head that he was so nice to me, helped out with Asher, kissed my forehead, and then disappeared.”

“And that left you hurt and confused.” Karissa sighed. “Men are idiots. I’m not going to speak for him, but it sounds like he got freaked out that he was starting to become interested in you.”

“He said the same thing. He said he’s always been a bachelor and never wanted a steady relationship. But now that he realized he does, he wants me.”

Karissa blinked then let out a disappointed groan and thudded her head against the cabinet door. “Dumbass. Seriously, no brains. He made it sound like you were his backup plan? Like, now that he knew you might leave, he’d better convince you to stay?”

See, she wasn’t crazy to think that, right? Naomi nodded.

“Why he’s been moping around so much is becoming clearer. I thought it was just because of the issue with Kayla, but this is much more than that. I’ll admit that part of me wants to make him crawl and grovel a bit more, but the rational part tells me that will get you nowhere. He’s always going to be a little stupid where women and words are concerned.”

Naomi chuckled. “I think that’s standard among men.”

“I tell Razor that at least four times a week. Where Ink is concerned, though, you might have to give him a little more leeway. He’s going to fuck this up a few more times before he finally gets it right. They all do. But so do we. I made Razor work fucking hard to keep me, and some of that was my own fear and completely unnecessary. But a man who’s committed sticks it out. I think if you give Ink a chance, he’ll show you he can do that.”

“And when I have to leave?”