The Redemption(80)

“I promise you, I’ll fill your life with magic.”

“I don’t need magic, Dex. I just need you.”





Dex has been quiet for a large portion of the trip. “What’s on your mind?” I risk breaking the silence just to hear his voice again.

He glances over while sliding his hand from my thigh to my knee and giving it a little squeeze. “Sorry.” He smiles. It’s small, but thoughtful. “I didn’t mean to be so quiet. Just lost in my head. The will stuff and Gage. My mom.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Dex has a way of confessing with such honesty. He’s direct and sometimes it catches me by surprise. With his eyes back on the road, he says, “Gage isn’t my brother by blood. My mom told me the night before the will was read. Gage found out during the reading and they made him leave the room.”

Not sure what to say, I blurt, “I’m sorry.” I have no idea if that’s appropriate in this situation or not.

“He’s an * for sure, but he’s kind of always been my * of a brother. Know what I mean?”

I nod.

He continues, “I’m just not sure where this leaves us. He screwed me over before and now he’s just lecherous since his wife left him. His life is unraveling and he’s the one pulling the string. I’m not sure what to think about things.”

“It’s a lot to take in. You need time to process.”

“Yeah maybe.” He nods this time, then exhales heavily. “Thanks for being here.”

“Thanks again for inviting me.”

Changing the subject, he smiles and an excitement comes over him. “So there’s this spot I want to take you to. It’s a little off the beaten path, but we’ll only lose a few minutes in drive time. Is it okay if we go?”

I can’t deny him this happiness. “I’d like that.”

We veer from the highway and travel about ten minutes, then down a secluded road near a house perched on the hillside. He stops the car and parks on the dirt shoulder just in case any traffic comes. He takes the top of the car down and I sit up on the edge of the door and look out at the ocean that stretches the entire expanse of the horizon before us. The sun is still high since it’s before noon, but I imagine the sunsets here are incredible. “It’s amazing here.”

Moving around the car, Dex comes to my side and faces me. “You’re more amazing.”

“Charmer.”

“I’m not charming you. I’m just telling the truth.” He leans forward and kisses me.

I pull him closer, loving the freedom I feel here in the open to love him.

With an eager expression, he asks, “Wanna do it?”

I burst out laughing. “Sure. Let’s do it,” I say, teasing him while poking him in the ribs. When I see he’s not joking, surprise takes over my face. “You’re serious right now?”

“Dead.”

“Don’t say dead.”

His expression softens. “Yes, I’m serious. I want you.” He slides his hands up my thighs, stopping on my hips.

Looking around, expecting to find an audience, I say, “We can’t. This is like someone’s property or something. We could get busted and arrested. I can’t be arrested, Dex.”

“It’s mine.”

“What’s yours?”

“It’s my property. All the way from the main road down this private street, which is technically a drive.” He points to the house. “I own that house too. And right down there,” he says, pointing further down the drive. “I’m going to build a house with a wall of windows overlooking the ocean. Right there on the side of that cliff.”

My mouth must be hanging open because he adds, “Nobody other than my lawyer knows I own this property, but I wanted you to know. I’ve imagined bringing you here many times, an escape from the rest of the world. The boys can hike the cliffs with me and explore the beach. I don’t know, just seems kind of idyllic.”

Moving my fingers through his hair, I kiss the side of his lips, lingering a moment before I say, “It is idyllic.”

With a mischievous look in his eyes, he asks, “So we can do it then?”

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I whisper, “C’mon, handsome. No time like the present.” I slip back into the seat and he hops the door and falls into the backseat.

His hands go behind his head and he smirks. “I want you on top.”

“God, you’re so demanding.”

“Say that again.”

I laugh as I’m climbing into the backseat. “You’re so demanding.”

“No, the other part.”

Tilting my head, it’s my turn to smirk. “God?”

His smile widens and he nods so arrogantly and so f*cking sexily. “You’re so bad.”

“I think you should punish me over and over again by sitting right about… are you wearing underwear?”

Adjusting on top of him, I sit, looking down. “Yeeeesss, of course.”

“I don’t approve of that at all.”

I roll my eyes. “I think you’ll survive. After all, it is me wearing them, not you.”

“I want them off.” He lifts up and I stand the best I can, allowing him room. He undoes his pants and slides his jeans down… he has no worries of underwear since he’s not wearing any.