Page 12 of His Tempting Angel

I love him. I love him so damn much that it will kill me if something happens to him. I close my eyes and my dad’s voice begging my mom to wake up plays on an endless loop in my head.

I shove at him, struggling to breathe. I can’t…

I struggle out of the bed and wrestle myself quietly into my clothes. Then I grab my little bag, shoving my things into it. My eyes lock on his big body under the covers. Tears well in my eyes.

No, no, no! I don’t want to leave him. I can’t…

But then that icy trickle is back and I throw the bag over my shoulder and run to the door.

“What the hell are you doing, angel?” I freeze, not turning around. The tears trickle down and I can’t even lift a finger to wipe them away.

“Where do you think you’re going, Lexi? I told you that you’re never getting away from me. I meant it. You go out that door and I’ll follow. I’ll drag you back here time and time again until you’re so sick of it that you don’t have the energy to leave me.”

I rest my forehead on the wood. “I’m so scared, Max. What if something happens to you?” I whisper, choking on the words.

“What if it does?”

“My parents…”. I choke on a strangled sob and I flinch when he touches me, turning me around to face him.

“Angel, I cannot promise that something will never happen to me. Your parents didn’t promise each other that. But do you think that they weren’t scared? If your dad loved your mom half as much as I love you, he must have spent every day terrified that something would take her away from him. But we don’t get a guarantee in this life. And I know that he would have rather spent a small amount of time with her then never meet her. I know this because I feel the same way. It would break me if something happened to you, but I can’t imagine going my whole life without seeing your pretty face just because I was afraid and I let you run. Do you think you can live without me?”

A strangled sob escapes me and I turn and throw myself into his burly arms. “No! I can’t leave you. I swear I’d come back if you didn’t come back for me. I just can’t imagine being without you. I’m so scared.”

He lifts my face gently, his fingers wrapped around my jawline. He kisses my tears and he’s so gentle. So tender it breaks my heart all over again.

“I’m so sorry, Max. I just panicked. I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” I wail.

He shakes his head and his dark eyes are soft. “You need to talk to someone, angel. It’s called survivor’s guilt. I’ve been there and it’s rough. But you’re a fucking strong woman and I know you can find your way through it. And I’ll be right beside you. Every single day every step of the way. Your fights are my fights. We’re a team you and I. Forever, angel.”

My heart soars and I know that he’s right and I’m where I’m supposed to be.

Home.

“I love you, Max.”

His lips cling to mine and I wrap my arms around his thick neck, feeling the scars under my fingertips.

We both have scars. His are on the inside and outside. Mine are hidden but they’re no less.

“I love you too, angel. You’re my Christmas wish come true.”

His lips cling to mine and he pulls me back to the bed, stripping me slowly, gently, his eyes never leaving mine. Looking for even one moment where I’m not sure.

But this time I am sure. It’s gonna take some time, some work. But I’ve got help this time. I’ve got him and this little family that has engulfed me in their lives.

His hands slowly trace my curves and my fingers dance along his muscular body. Each dragged-in breath, each pant brings us closer to what we want and he lays me down, coming down across me, his eyes never leaving mine, his raised brows making me smile.

“I’m not going anywhere this time, Max. You’re right. I can’t spend my whole life afraid of feeling anything. If I have oneminute, one hour or ten years with you, it will have to do because I can’t live without you.”

He smiles and my heart swells, chest aching with so much love.

“Good fucking girl, angel.” His body comes down on me and I close my eyes as he slips inside me. I’m sore and the burn is a lot but I don’t care.

I need this. Need to feel like we’re one. Need to know that he’s mine and I’m his and nothing can strip away this feeling.

My head slips back, my eyes rolling back as he pounds into me, his hips snapping into my hips, our bodies lining up, wrapped up in this moment. One perfect piece of time that will never be taken from me.

He grunts and swears and I run my fingers down his chest, tangling them in the thick whorls of hair. The spicy scent of him is all around me.

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