Full Contact (Redemption #3)(96)

“What is it?”

“The first set of paintings to go up will be yours.”

My heart sinks. “That might take a while.”

“As long as it takes. But I’m hoping the blank wall will be a motivator.”

“Thank you. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiles an entirely benign, un-Torment-like smile. “Took you long enough. I was beginning to think I might actually have to hire one of the people I interviewed.”

“I had a life to sort out first.”

“You have a man to sort out next,” he says. “He’s taking out his frustrations on my fighters. I had to arrange for an ambulance to be on permanent standby.”

For the first time since I walked into his office, I manage a smile. “That’s on the agenda.”

*

The next day, I go to Ray’s apartment. My heart drums in my chest as I stand outside his door. What if he doesn’t want to see me? What if I don’t get a chance to make the speech I’ve had running through my head for the last few days? What if he doesn’t want the baby?

Taking a deep breath, I push the what-ifs away. No matter what happens, I’ll survive. And once I testify against Luke, I’ll really be able to move on. I’ll live the life I’ve always wanted to live. I just hope I don’t have to live it alone.

I knock.

Silence.

Then, footsteps.

My heart pounds when the door swings open.

Oh God. He’s so banged up—black eye, swollen cheek, tiny bandages on his temple and chin. Instinctively, I reach out to touch him and he steps back. Away.

Swallowing my fears, I stiffen my spine and push past him into the apartment. “I need to speak to you. I’ll take five minutes of your time and then I’ll leave.”

He nods and closes the door, turning to lean against it, his thick arms folded. “Okay.”

“Okay.” My hands clench and unclench by my sides. He’s wearing the sexiest damn pajama pants I’ve ever seen, navy blue with the Redemption logo on the side, tight in all the right places, and nothing else.

The nothing else is distracting. I feast my gaze on the hard planes of his chest, the solid ripple of muscle in his abs. So delicious I want to lick him all over.

“Sia?” His soft voice draws me away from that fantasy.

My cheeks flame. “Sorry.”

“You want a drink?” He peels himself away from the door and brushes past me as he heads toward the kitchen. My body heats, trembles at his touch, and I follow him across the floor.

“I’m not drinking anymore.”

Ray pauses beside the fridge. Frowns. “Water?”

“Sure. Water is good.”

“You want to eat something?” He fills a water glass from the tap and hands it to me, the slight touch of his finger sending a zing of electricity through me.

“I’m…uh…not really eating anymore either.”

He stills, then plucks the water glass from my hand and places it on the counter. “What’s going on?”

My heart bangs in my chest, and I curl my fingers around the cool concrete counter. “I…I’m…pregnant,” I blurt out. “That night in the rain. I missed my pill the next day, and then I was in the hospital, and by the time I told them, it was too late to catch up.”

His eyes darken almost to black and a sliver of panic winds its way through my heart. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I want this baby. After what happened to me, I never thought I’d be able to have children, and to me it’s an incredible gift.”

He stares, silent, unmoving. His face gives nothing away. Although I had prepared myself for rejection, I can’t help my heart from sinking through the floor, nor can I help the ball of sorrow from lodging itself in my chest.

“I’m not asking you to be involved unless you want to be,” I say quickly, desperate now to get out. “I’ve taken the job at Redemption, so I’ll have enough to get by, and my parents decided to downsize, so they don’t need financial help.” I’m babbling, but I can’t stop. “I just…thought it was the right thing to do to let you know. I love you. More than anything I want to have this baby with you. I’m not afraid anymore. Not of you. Not of your job. Not of me. Jess made me realize I’m a survivor. And tomorrow, I’m going to testify against Luke at his trial and I’ll really be able to put the past behind me.”

He still hasn’t moved from the kitchen. A sob wells up in my throat and I turn for the door. “Good-bye, Ray.”

“Don’t go.”

“What did you say?”

“You don’t go. You don’t leave. You don’t walk away.” His voice, deep and raw, slides over me like a warm blanket. Hope flutters in my chest, and I turn around and find myself in his arms.

“Did you really think I would let you leave?” He kisses my forehead, then cups my jaw in his hand, brushing his thumb over my cheek.

“You did before.”

“Biggest f*cking mistake of my life.” He teases my mouth open, grazing his tongue along the seam of my lips. My fingers curl into his shoulders, and I lean up for more. He tastes lemony and sweet. He tastes of Ray.

I arch closer to him, my body coming alive at the feel of those hard muscles against me. I want him so badly, I can barely breathe, and yet I need to clear the air.