Page 29 of Hart's Redemption

I grunted through a release edged with pain. He was still pulling me closer, deeper, milking every ounce I had to give. When I met his lust-blown eyes filled with so much love, I could've drowned in it. Guilt threatened to sour the moment as I finally saw what I should have seen from the beginning. I leaned closer to share a sloppy kiss and finally accepted what I’d been running from for months.

Joy had sparked in Josh’s eyes when I’d told him I’d bonded to him all those months ago in the cabin. More than that, there’d been a glimmer of love and the hope of being loved in return. And I’d thrown it in his face.

Josh lay sprawled over my chest in a panting, exhausted puddle that perfectly mirrored my current state. I scarcely had the energy to trail my fingers over his back, but nothing in this world would ever prevent me from touching Josh again. He let out a heavy sigh and seemed to sink even deeper into me. I brushed my lips against the top of his head and glanced around the room. The place was a wreck. I vaguely recalled bumping into things and still couldn’t make myself care.

“For the record, your stamina didnotneed werewolf enhancement,” I said.

Josh’s chuckle vibrated through my chest, setting loose a flurry of light inside ‌me. I tightened my arm around him and blinked past the sudden sting in my eyes.

Stars, I’ve missed him.

“Is something wrong?” The warmth of his breath tickled my skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut as the stinging intensified. The last thing I wanted was to dissolve into a blubbering idiot because he was being sweet. Damn Kotori and damn Priscilla too. I didn’t have trauma. I didn’t.

When I didn’t answer, he propped himself up to look down at me. “Baby?”

I caressed the side of his face and stroked my thumb over his prominent cheekbone. “I’m fine.” The lie might have been more convincing if my voice hadn’t warbled.

His eyes narrowed, then widened abruptly. He tenderly touched my jaw. “I’m learning my new strength.”

That was a mild way to put it. It was a miracle he hadn’t broken it. “I didn’t really hear an apology in there.”

“I can’t apologize if I’m not sorry.”

I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows at that. The concept made sense, but the fact that he wasn’t even remotely apologetic for nearly breaking my jaw did not. “What happened to not hurting me?”

His eyes glittered malevolently, and in that moment, I was transported to when we’d first begun this dance. “I was provoked.”

I barked out a laugh. “You built yourself a loophole.”

He glanced away, and his shoulders slumped. “Of course I did. I’m not an idiot.”

“I am.” I cupped his chin and brushed my thumb over his bottom lip.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he snickered.

I stared into his haunted green eyes. The truth about what I’d seen in his mind already on the tip of my tongue. As fast as I considered telling him I was now privy to some of the darker bits of his past, I dismissed it. Josh had lived through that horror once. He didn’t need to live it again. And he definitely didn’t need to deal withmyguilt.

He quirked an eyebrow, impatience clearly written on his face. “I’m waiting.”

My vow to bring light into Josh’s life resurfaced. He didn’t need to be reminded of past traumas he’d likely buried. He needed to know he was loved, that he was wanted. All the things I’d failed to do for far too long. I leaned up to give him a light kiss that kept our lips stuck together until I was finally too far away. “I missed you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” I brought his face to mine to steal another tender kiss. He moaned into it, and my breath hitched. “Don’t suppose I could convince you to take this to the bedroom?”

He snickered against my mouth, and the playfulness threatened to send me right back to the edge of losing my shit.Thiswas my Josh, and I’d missed him so fucking much. “What’s the matter? Is the floor too hard for you, old man?” He nuzzled my neck as his hand ventured south. My time to convince him to relocate evaporated with each touch.

“No, but the couch is killing my back.”

“It’s been nine days.”

“It’s been a hundred and thirty-seven days,” I corrected.

Josh’s hand froze inches from its destination. “You’ve been sleeping on the couch for over four months? Why?”

“I couldn’t bear to sleep in that bed without you. As it is, I can hardly stand to be in the room long enough to shower and change clothes.” Much as it hurt to voice, I owed him more than the truth. I owed him honesty.