Redemption(122)

Yeah, I thought, as I sighed contentedly. Life is definitely as it should be.





Bonus Chapter



Jimmy



Yesterday, I flew into Dulles. I had promised Dean I would do whatever it took to help him win Tyler back. I was edgy, though. Ever since I got back to the UK, I had been thinking about Tara. I couldn’t get the images out of my head. Her eyes closing when I touched her, the way her sexy lips parted when I hit that sweet spot, and the way she screamed my name when she let go beneath me.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her soft brown eyes and the way they seemed to penetrate my soul. She had the most amazing eyes and body. Shit, I didn’t even want to get started on her body. Her skin felt so soft and smooth, I thought I could easily get lost within her. Her moaning just about fucking did me in every time. Despite all this, I thought I could go home and carry on as normal. Both Tara and I spent every waking moment together when I was in the US, but we both knew it wouldn’t last. What was the point when we lived so far away from each other?

But yet, here I was, standing outside her door like a lovesick puppy, wondering whether I should knock. I had been standing there for the last five minutes. I was surprised no one had shouted at me or called the police yet.

It was silly of me to come here, but I couldn’t help it. When I left, both Tara and I agreed that what we had was just a little bit of fun. We liked each other and couldn’t seem to take our hands off each other, so why not? What was the harm? Well, it seemed the harm was finding out how much of a good thing I was losing. The harm was me kidding myself that I could ever keep away from her.

I stood there, laughing at myself. It was funny, really. I had always been kind and courteous to women. At the end of the day, they gave us life, made us happy, and possessed the one thing that could bring a man to his knees. But I had never committed. I told any lady I came into contact with that I was never a sure thing. If they accepted that, bring it on. If they wanted more, it was “Nice to meet you, but I’m off”. I had never promised to be anything more than what I was. I was transparent, but that had kept me out of hot water. It had kept me in the lifestyle I had been accustomed to.

No one to love. No one to cause me pain. No one to rip my heart out when they vanished from my life.

I had been happy with this for years. I could be wild, free, single, and I’d never have to answer to anybody. I could go where I liked. Stay out as long as I wanted. It worked for me. But the truth behind it all? I hated coming home to an empty house. I hated waking up without the feel of a woman next to me. I had lost my “Grace from God” and, ever since then, I had been the loneliest, most pathetic creature alive. I always thought Grace and I would settle down, marry, and have kids. I always thought she was it for me and nobody else could compare.

Until I met Tara.

Suddenly, she appeared like my beacon of light. She was a breath of fresh air. I had met some characters in my time, but nothing like Tara. She had this energy about her that screamed lively, gutsy, and in control. At the same time, there was a vulnerability there that screamed to be nurtured. And every single part of me wanted to answer her cries.

But standing outside her house, I couldn’t help but think that no matter how I felt, it wouldn’t change the fact that we had agreed to never see each other again. No matter how much I wanted to see her, Tara may not reciprocate.

And it was that thought which made me turn and start walking towards my car. It was that thought that had me reaching out to the car door to open it.

“Jimmy?”

I froze, unable to move. It was her voice. That voice which made me close my eyes for a moment and savor it like it was the only word I’d ever hear.

“Jimmy?” she called again, and I knew I couldn’t stand like that forever.

I turned and saw the face that had haunted my dreams for the past three weeks. She looked absolutely stunning. Wearing a light blue chiffon dress that looked like it was made for her, Tara looked more beautiful than I remembered. She had her hair up in a bun, but it highlighted her perfect chocolate brown eyes and caramel-colored skin. Every part of me wanted to touch that skin right now, but I held back. She may not even want me there.

Completely stunned, she stood there. Then, as if she composed herself, her hands went straight to her hips. “So, you’ve flown four thousand miles just to stare at my door for five minutes and then leave?”

I couldn’t help it. My dick reacted.

Finding my voice, I smiled. “I didn’t know whether you would want to see me again. You know, after we had that talk.”

She shook her head. “I don’t care about that. Why are you here?” She stepped forward a little, waiting for my answer. In fact, she seemed really keen to know. It was probably because she thought I was with Dean and she was worried about Tyler. I could understand that, considering she was so close to her.