Redeemed (Dirty Air #4)(108)

Yeah, I’m a fool in love. A big fool who can’t help recreating one of her favorite movie scenes just to get her back. The biggest idiot for searching high and low all over the internet for an eighties stereo like the film.

Did I need to do this? Probably not. But I wasn’t taking any risks in case my artwork didn’t win her over. Chloe is worth the sacrifice to my self-esteem.

Her feet remain planted on the front porch. I didn’t expect some grand display of affection from her, but anything is better than the silence right now. Peter Gabriel croons above my head and fills the void between us.

I shoot her a hesitant smile. Any day now.

She snaps out of her daze and runs full throttle at me. I barely have enough time to put the stereo down on the ground before she launches herself into my arms. I stumble before catching my balance.

It’s bliss, having her back with me. Her arms wrap around my neck right before her lips crash against mine. Our kiss is like two cars colliding. Uncontrolled with sparks flying and the world grinding to a halt around us. I run my fingers through her hair and lock her in place, enjoying the feel of her closeness.

God, I missed her. I missed her in my arms and the way she releases a breathy sigh when I stroke my tongue against hers.

Everything about her calls to me.

The wildness of her touch, both greedy and reverent.

The way her body molds to mine in all the right places, like she was destined to be my match.

The way she whispers my name under her breath when I run my hands down her body.

How did I survive a week without her? Scratch that. How did I make it through most of my life not knowing she existed? I could spend forever with her, and it still wouldn’t be long enough.

She breaks away from the kiss first and steps out of my embrace.

I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry for hiding the truth from you. It was terrible, knowing what I did about Matteo and your dad. Keeping it a secret was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, and I’ve done a lot of difficult things in my life. But I swear, I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t know what to say, and I thought Matteo would be better at explaining everything. But then he—”

She presses her index finger against my lips, stopping me. “I know. It’s not fair to hold it against you when you were put in an impossible situation to begin with. I realize that.”

My body warms at her words. “I swear from here on out that I will always tell you the truth. No matter the consequence. No matter the situation. No matter how much it could hurt me or you.”

“You promise?”

I nod.

“Even when I ask you if I look fat in a pair of jeans?”

“Is that a trick question?”

She pinches me in the ribs.

I grin, loving the smile on her face. “I’ll tell you, especially if you look fat in your jeans. The more curves, the better.” I wiggle my brows.

She throws herself back into my arms and wraps her arms around my neck.

I lean back against my car, easing some of the weight off my leg. “Am I forgiven?”

“You were forgiven the moment I read your letter on the back of your design. While your executions sucked, I realize you had good intentions, and that’s what matters most. I can’t fault you anymore for wanting to save me from a painful experience.”

I stare at her wide-eyed in disbelief. “I promise not to lie anymore. No matter what my reasoning is, you always deserve the truth.”

She chuckles under her breath and cradles my face. “Even when I ask what you think of my cooking?”

“Especially when you ask about your cooking. Dying from food poisoning isn’t on my current agenda.”

She laughs in the most beautiful way.

“I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you too.”

I place a soft kiss against her forehead before taking a deep breath of her flowery scent.

“So I’m you’re wildflower, huh?”

My cheeks heat. I might have gone a little overboard with my writing. I’m no Robert Frost, but I can get inspired too.

“I love when you get all shy on me. It’s cute.”

“I’m not shy.”

She lifts a brow. “I thought we said no more lies.”

“Is it too late to cancel this connection?”

She throws her head back and laughs. “I’m not a cellphone data plan. You can’t just cancel me whenever you feel like it. Plus, you can’t write a love letter like that and expect me to disappear. That’s what every girl dreams of.”

“Did it make your closet-romantic heart happy?”

“No. It made my heart whole.”





I follow her into my house. The massive front door clicks shut behind us. Chloe turns on her heel and pushes me against the door. I barely have a moment to recover before her lips crash against mine, her tongue tracing the seam of my mouth. My body shudders as her hands latch onto my T-shirt. With a huff, she pulls away from our kiss to give herself room to pull my shirt off.

Her eyes match a stormy ocean, endless and dark as her pupils dilate. She licks her lips, tracing the scar I love.

I want to fuck her so badly, to erase the last week from our memories. The time we spent apart might as well have been a year based on the way my cock pulses to life in my jeans.