Page 47 of Her Righteous Protector

“Did you go into the Navy knowing you wanted to be an officer?” Hannah asked.

Max nodded. “I didn’t have much control when I was growing up. As a matter of fact, I didn’t have any. I was in the foster care system. I was determined to do something when I got out of the system that would give me control.”

“Can I ask you questions about your childhood, or is that something you don’t like to talk about?”

Max picked up one of her hands resting in her lap and placed it against his chest. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I wasn’t comfortable discussing it with you.”

15

Hannah’s fingers kneaded against his chest and the sensation went straight to his cock. Fuck, he’d been thinking about doing this for the last three days. If he hadn’t been getting in fifteen-mile early morning runs each day, there wouldn’t have been a chance in hell he would’ve gotten the few hours of sleep he’d been getting each night.

She let out a sharp gasp and pulled her hand away.

“Don’t stop,” Max pleaded. “Zephyr’s asleep.”

“That’s not it, do you really think this is a good idea?” Her green eyes bored into his.

Max cupped her face and touched his lips to hers. He savored her moan, then he lifted his head. “You feel it too.”

She gently pulled his fingers from his face. “I have never, ever, felt so attracted to a man in my life,” she softly admitted.

“Thank God,” Max said as he touched his forehead against hers. “But, Hannah, I don’t want you to think I haven’t thought about this. I have. Ten days ago was a fluke, a beautiful, wonderous fluke.” He lifted his head to stare into her eyes. “But tonight? This is something I have thought about.” He rolled his eyes like Zephyr. “Scratch that, it’s something I’ve obsessed about. I would never do anything that could jeopardize our relationship because it would crush the little boy we both adore.”

She breathed out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Exactly.”

“Baby, you’re not hearing me. When I say I’ve thought this through, I mean I’ve thought this through. I’ve never lived with a woman before. But for almost three weeks, twenty-four-seven, I’ve lived with you, and I couldn’t have found a better woman to be spending my hours with.”

* * *

Hannah pulled back, scared. How often had she thought the same thing?

“It’s because of Zephyr,” she argued quickly. “You’re just drawn to me because I’m a mother figure to your son,” she dismissed him.

“Do you think that I’m really that dumb?” he asked calmly.

“Of course not,” she jumped in. “You’re one of the smartest men I’ve met.”

It was true too. Max wasn’t just book smart, he was emotionally smart. She’d never met anyone in the world like him.

“Hannah, I haven’t told you much about my job or my training. I’m used to quickly assessing situations and making life and death decisions. It’s what has kept me and my men alive.”

She shivered at his words. She reached up to touch his chest again, but this time with both of her hands. She had to feel his warmth. He covered her hands with his.

“Honey, I didn’t tell you this to scare you. I’m telling you this so that you know that when I say I’ve thought about something, I’ve looked at it from all angles, and I have. I would never do anything that would jeopardize Zephyr’s emotional security. Do you believe me?”

She did. “I do.”

“Hannah, this isn’t about me not being able to keep my hands off of you, this is about the fact that my heart has become involved. And no, not because of who you are to Zephyr. This is about who you are becoming to me.” He tilted her chin up and kissed the tip of her nose. Kissed her lips. “Who I think you are destined to become to me.”

Hannah gasped. “Max, that’s not possible. What you’re saying’s not possible,” she choked out her denial.

He gave her a crooked grin. “Be honest with me, Hannah. Really, really honest. If Zephyr weren’t involved, would we be in bed right now?”

“Well, yeah,” she spit out with a laugh. Then she sobered. She pushed away from him and stood up, well aware of the fact that he let her. She walked over to the fireplace and for long minutes she stared into it.

“Are you coming back to me?” he asked gently.

She went back and sat down with more space between them.