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“Maggie, what is it? Are you scared? Did I…” He didn’t complete his sentence as Maggie quickly looked toward him.

“Yes, I’m scared! I’m so damn scared it’s not even funny.”

He took her hand and brought her fingers to his lips. He kissed each one then brought her hand to his chest. He laid it flat against his shirt, over his heart.

“Do you feel that? Can you feel my heart racing?” he asked her, as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Baby, it’s you. Maggie, you do this to me. You make my heart race, my palms all sweaty, and my entire world is turned upside down over you. I know you’re scared, Maggie. God knows, I don’t blame you one bit for what that asshole put you, Ben, and Lori through. But with God as my witness, I am not Derrick. My mamma raised me better and the United States military enforced it all. I’ve seen people die, Maggie. I know pain, and when I’m with you, all those bad memories fade away.” He cupped her cheek with his free hand while he still held her palm against his chest.

“You’re special to me. You’ve become so important and so has Ben. Give us a chance, Maggie. One chance for me to prove to you that true love can heal any scar. No matter how deep.”

She stared into his eyes and he waited, heart racing, hoping that she would accept his request. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath then turned her face to kiss his palm.

“I’ll try, Jasper. Please help me and take things slow and I’ll try.”

He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tight. He prayed to God that he could be the man to make her happy, because he already knew that Maggie completed him.

Chapter 15

Lori awoke instantly feeling the warm body against her back and the strong, solid arm she held against her breasts. She blinked repeatedly, realizing that it was dark. Had she fallen asleep all afternoon and into the evening?

Strong, warm lips kissed her shoulder.

“You’re safe, angel. I’ve got you.” Dante.

She sighed in appreciation of waking up with such a sex god holding her. The man was a perfect image of a soldier. Even now, in the darkness as she closed her eyes she could see him naked. Ridges upon ridges of muscles, the man was his own arsenal.

She gripped his f

orearm which was pressed snugly below her breasts, and she felt her pussy awaken.

“What time is it?” she whispered, and he moved his arm, taking a new position over her, with one thigh wedged between her thighs. As he moved his thigh again and rubbed slightly against her pussy, she knew he was aware of her arousal.

“Dinnertime.” He leaned up on his elbows, placing her body underneath him in such a way she felt both encaged and protected. She didn’t know if she wanted to escape from the empowerment of his possession or close her eyes and exhale in relief of him being here, keeping her safe and secure. She closed her eyes and took a long, calming breath.

Dante pressed his thumbs gently over her temples, massaging her hair from her face. He cupped her cheeks between his hands and stared down at her. She anticipated opening her eyes to see his gorgeous, serious hazel ones, or to relish a little longer in the security of his hold. She had not awoken in a cold sweat, fearing her life or the lives of Ben and Maggie. It was obvious how dependent she was becoming on Dante, Trevor and Charlie, but she worried about rushing things. She wanted forever, but they were experienced and a lot older, maybe they had more patience than her.

“What’s wrong, sweet angel?” he asked. When she opened her eyes and saw his sincerity, his strong, chiseled face, and pure masculine beauty, she smiled.

“I’m afraid to say.”

He adjusted his body so that he encased hers completely with his own. He kept his forearms down, surrounding her shoulders, neck, and head as he slowly thrust his cock against her wet folds.

In a breathless sigh and response to his nonverbal insistence that she tell him what was on her mind, she exhaled her words.

“I need you. I’ve instantly become reliant on you, Charlie, and Trevor. I don’t feel anxious, scared, or fearful of the nightmares that bring on the attacks when one of you is with me. Like this.” She tilted her body upward, best she could with such an extra-large man covering her.

He smiled then caressed a finger across her cheek to her lips. He continued a pathway down her ribs and hip before grabbing her tightly and maneuvering his cock into her pussy.

“Good,” he said through clenched teeth as he stroked into her. She opened her thighs wider to give him better access to her cunt but his bold expression and dark eyes bore into hers.

“I need you in my life, every moment of every day. I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want you out of my sight,” he stated firmly, making her heart soar in relief.

She straddled his waist, and he maneuvered his hips then leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth. His hands gripped her arms and pressed them up above her head as he lifted his torso. He was now above her, thrusting his cock into her over and over again as their fingers entwined above her head. Her breasts pushed out, her pussy ached with soreness and desire for more cock. It was outrageous.

Moaning and trying to catch her breath with his heavy strokes, she felt the tears roll down her cheeks.

“Dante, you complete me, too.”