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“I still have my FBI contacts. I can help you.”
She looked stricken, like she might be ill. Her skin went a chalky white. Was she afraid of law enforcement? I needed to do something.
“Okay look. We don’t have to do anything right this second. All I need you to do is promise me you’re not going to run. Whatever happens, you and I deal with it together. And you tell me in your own time.”
“Why are you being so good to me?” She searched my eyes, and I smiled.
“Because I love you. You touch me in a way no one else has. And I’m not going to let you go.”
* * *
I decided that we were past the talking stage. Diana wouldn’t understand how serious I was about her until she had time to witness it. There was no greater proof than the past.
I’d seen the look on her face when she found out I’d been law enforcement. It was a look only seen on the faces of people who have been in trouble. I knew what it was like to be afraid of police and other authority figures. Although I had to admit that it was shocking to think of Diana as the type of person who would be a criminal. She kept telling me that she’d done bad things, but I wasn’t sure I could believe it. What kind of bad things could she have done before this? If anything, she had been forced to do things for others. I’d seen it before, criminal groups that used innocents to do their dirty work. But no matter what she’d done or what she’d been forced to do, I didn’t care. We were kindred spirits.
Once we’d been together for a while and she had assurance that I wasn’t going to ditch her when it was convenient, she’d trust me.
Until then, I’d show her.
Threading my fingers through her hair gently, I kissed her forehead. She sighed when my lips met her skin. I almost did too. I was starved for her touch and wanted to wrap myself around her. But it was more important that I not scare her. I had to show her that I could be gentle and take care of her.
“When I saw him with his hands around your neck, my heart almost stopped beating,” I whispered before I kissed her again, on her cheek this time.
Diana angled her head slightly to allow me better access, but I tightened my fingers in her hair. I didn’t want her moving too much and hurting her neck.
“Shh. Easy, sweetheart. Just let me hold you. I need to feel that you’re okay. Need to feel you here with me.”
I knew I was rambling and probably sounded like an idiot, but I didn’t even care. Because everything I was saying was true. I’d almost lost her today, and if I had, my heart would have been as good as gone. Now that I knew what it was like to love someone, I couldn’t imagine going back to my prior cold, hard existence.
“I’m so sorry,” Diana mumbled. “You could have been killed because of me.”
I snorted at the idea. “They aren’t a threat to me, but they are a threat to you. And I’m going to make sure they never get anywhere near you again.” It wasn’t bravado that made me so certain. It was simple observation. If those goons were anywhere near my level, they wouldn’t have had to recruit a woman to do their dirty work for them.
I didn’t even want to think of what they might have on her to force her to take a job like that. Did she owe money? I cursed. I could only hope they hadn’t kidnapped one of her kids or her parents.
“Sweetheart, how did those guys force you to work for them? They didn’t take your baby hostage or anything, right? Because if they did, I’ll go and get him for you. Hell, Noah and his whole team will suit up if necessary.”
Diana’s eyes shone as she looked up at me. “It’s nothing like that. I don’t have any children, and my family… my whole family is gone now. I’m all alone.” Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. “I don’t have anyone.”
Moved beyond words, I cradled her closer. “That’s not true. You have me, and I’d die before I ever let anyone hurt you. I’m in love with you, Diana.”
I kissed her, allowing my lips to dance gently over hers.
Diana clung to me, her fingers digging into my biceps. “You can’t love me.” She sobbed. “You don’t even know who I am.”
I moved closer, kissing her the whole time. “I know enough. I know how I feel when I’m with you. And I know I’ve never felt like this before.”
Diana moaned softly as I put a hand on her back, right below the hem of her shirt. I slid my fingers over the warm, soft skin bared to my touch. I could never get enough of this. She was perfect for me.
“Don’t kick me in the balls this time,” I warned teasingly.
She smiled against my lips. “I really am sorry about that. I’m rather fond of those, actually.”
I pressed against her and was rewarded with a soft moan. “I can tell. I’m fond of every single part of you. Especially these.” I cupped her breasts gently, squeezing them in my palms.
I growled as her hands tightened on my shoulders. I loved the way she felt in my arms, her fingers trailing over my back. My eyes closed at the sensation. I could never get enough of her touch.
She lay back on the bed, and I crawled over her. Then before we could get too carried away, I got up and locked the bedroom door. If Matthias or Jonas walked this way and got a glimpse of her naked, I’d be forced to hunt them down. That was the last thing I needed, especially when I was so on edge. They were just starting to forgive me for the misunderstanding when I’d tried to kill them before.
