Page 99 of Back To Our Beginning

“Honey, do you need to talk to someone? A professional, maybe?”

She gave a little laugh. “I did one better. I talked to Little Grandma. I don’t know how but just talking it through with her unlocked and unloaded it. Just like it sometimes does with the kids I work with.” Her hands moved, and I felt her fingers lifting the hem of my shirt.

“Maddie,” I protested. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”

She looked up at me with sparkling eyes. “Stay here, stud. I’m going to get the ice cream.”

I caught her before she could get up off the couch. I wasn’t in the mood to play. I was in the mood to make love with Maddie. Make slow, tender, gentle love with the woman I adored. And I was going to start with a kiss.

I pulled her onto my lap and smoothed back her hair, pulling out the scrunchie that kept her hair in a ponytail. Then I threaded my fingers through her dark, silky hair.

“Mmm,” she murmured. “I like that.”

“I’m glad.”

I kissed her temple and jaw. The bruise was gone, but I remembered the green and yellow colors that had marred her flesh. Even now, the thought of it made me hurt. I kissed down until I finally reached Maddie’s irresistible lips. I licked along her bottom lip, tasting a hint of lemon. I took my time, licking and tasting, while she slowly opened for a deeper kiss. I dipped my tongue into the honeyed cavern of her mouth and dueled with her tongue. We caressed one another in a sensuous slide that seemed to go on forever. Our strokes matched my fingers that were sliding through the thick curls of her hair.

Maddie whimpered, and inside, I smiled.

She writhed against me, but I chose not to move my hands, even though she was now caressing my abs. She was killing me in the most incredible way possible, but she didn’t understand. This was all about her. She might have said she was feeling all right, but it was my job—it was my duty and my pleasure—to ensure that she felt only joy as we came together.

I changed my methods just a little. Instead of just stroking through her hair, I began to massage her scalp in soft circles. As I did, her hands relaxed. She was no longer frantically trying to unbutton my jeans. Instead, she went back to stroking my abs. I broke into a sweat.

This woman was going to be the death of me.

I pushed up off the couch with Maddie in my arms and carried her into the bedroom. Before setting her on the bed, I pulled back the duvet and sheet, then laid her down. I gathered all the pillows and put them behind her head so that she was in a reclining position.

Maddie’s eyes were almost black, and her lips were swollen. She held out her arms for me to join her.

I shook my head. I needed a moment.

Finally, I looked up at her and I gave her a semblance of a smile as I fingered the T-shirt she was wearing. “Can I take off this shirt?” I asked hesitantly.

She frowned. “Of course you can. Beau, are you okay? I’m not fragile, you know.”

I sat down on the side of the bed and dipped down for a long, languorous kiss. When I finally sat back up, I spoke. “I know you’re not fragile, Maddie. You’re an Amazon, a Valkyrie, a warrior princess. But right now, you’re Maddie, my woman, my lover, the woman I love. I have this need to lavish you with love and care.”

She searched my face.

How could I explain this, except for… “I need this,” I choked out.

She cupped my right cheek. “Whatever you need, Beau. Always.”

I gathered her close, my face buried into her neck, then felt myself convulse.

What the hell?

But I couldn’t stop my emotions from storming through me.

I’d had so many nightmares, thinking about that moment when I saw all that blood, when she wasn’t responding, and I didn’t know if the chopper would make it in time.

“I’m here, Beau,” she whispered into my hair. “You saved me.”

She spent forever massaging my back, crooning soothing words until I could finally feel her with me.

Safe.

Whole.