She inhaled when she saw my chest—the reaper I’d had Jericho ink around my heart. During the time I’d been away, I’d convinced myself I was worthless when it came to Red—the death of our relationship was a real thing for me.
On her heart, a wilted flower dripped blood down her front. “Oh, Red, I’m so damn sorry.” I gently kissed the flower.
She traced my reaper. “I wasn’t the only one feeling pain.”
I worked down her body until my mouth found her folds. I worshipped her clit, even as she begged for release. In minutes she gave me her first release. She flew apart without a thought of what she showed me in that most honest moment.
After sliding protection on, I entered her with a slow stroke, in and out, keeping all our parts touching, tempo steady. She wrapped her hands tight around me caressing my backside, but I kept the pace the same, needing her to feel cherished because she was the most special woman in the world. With deliberate, intense thrusts, I pushed her into another climax, and she squeezed me so tight I had to use every ounce of my control not to fall over with her.
“Red.” The words wouldn’t stay inside. “I love you.”
She squeezed me tight with her walls and I couldn’t hold back.
“I love you, Dare.”
Her words sent pleasure shooting through me as I came inside her.
Red was mine.
We lay together, cuddling and playing all evening until we drifted off together wound up tight.
* * *
Red insisted she go with me to see Jericho, but I tried to tell her no, not that it did a bit of good. When I was done with the asshole today, he’d need a hospital. Red thought this was her fight, but she was wrong.
I left our bedroom, heading for a pop while I waited for Red to finish putting on her war paint. All the boxes stacked everywhere in the apartment bugged me, she could flee at any second. “You need to unpack, Red.”
She opened the bathroom door, worrying her lip with her teeth.
I growled, and she laughed.
“I thought you’d want to live together.” She spoke so fast her words ran together. “But if not—”
I kissed her just to shut her up. Her soft lips opened and I claimed her mouth and made sure she understood she was mine. “I do. Can’t we live here?”
“Yes!” She jumped up, grabbing my neck, and I had to catch her.
“You don’t have to go.” It was not the first time I’d said it. “Let me beat him some more, so he understands your position.”
“I do. We need to talk it out, so it’s behind us.” She wouldn’t budge. “You and Jericho have made peace?”
“With my fists.” After she’d told me how she thought we’d been in it together, controlling her, manipulating her, I’d been ready to punch him again.
“He’s your best friend, you’ve cleared the air and now I need to clear the air.” She ran her hand down my biceps.
“I’m coming with you.” It wasn’t optional.
“Will you let me handle it? Just watch, and let us hash it out?”
“Best I can do is to say I’ll try.”
She kissed me, which I liked. “Thank you.” She spoke into my lips before peppering my cheek with kisses. Unable to keep her home, we both headed out the door.
We strapped on helmets and I checked hers before getting on the bike. When her hands tightened on me, it felt right. She belonged in my bed and on the back of my bike—where she was now. As we drove to the club, I tried to calm my fury, wanting to let Red do this her way. I parked the bike and we went through the front door.
We’d crossed halfway across the room before Jericho stood and strode toward us. “Man, I knew you belonged together.” He clapped me on the back and looked to my woman. “Mama, I never meant things to go to hell like they did.”
I growled. “Fucker.” I plowed my fist into his stomach. The bastard never did anything he didn’t intend. Jericho was the most calculating bastard I’d ever known.
He stumbled back and I hit him again. In three strikes Jericho lay sprawled across the floor. Satisfaction settled in me.
“This is me handling it?” She arched an eyebrow at me.
I huffed out a breath. “He’s listening now.” I strode past the groaning ass on the floor to get something to drink at the bar.
Jericho pushed himself up to sitting. “You broke a rib, I think.”
“Lucky that’s all,” I called over my shoulder. “Listen close to Red.”
“Those your licks?” Jericho asked Red.
She held out a hand and helped heave him up from the floor. “Not my idea.”
Jericho limped to the table and eased himself down.