they had contained.
She whimpered as he reached for her. The sweatpants were stripped from her, the legs ripping as he managed to free her from the material. He braced her against the padded arm of the couch, lifted her leg and thrust hard and heavy inside the sensitive depths of her pu**y. Roni arched in his arms, a strangled cry tearing from her throat as pleasure seared her body, even as pain lashed at her heart. Her gaze was locked with his and in it she saw the bitter fury and anguish no man should have to bear. Blood stained his face, his neck. His eyes glittered with remorse, with hunger.
“Roni…” His voice was strangled as he paused, buried to the hilt within her, a small measure of sanity replacing the bleak horror in his eyes. “Roni…”
She covered his lips, her fingers trembling.
“Feel how wet I am for you,” she whispered with a sad smile. “How much I love you inside me, however you need me, whenever you need me.”
Tears filled her eyes as he blinked down at her. Part of the feral intensity had faded, leaving instead an overwhelming sadness.
“He would have killed me and possibly Merinus as well,” she whispered a second before he moved, his h*ps jerking convulsively, causing his c**k to stroke the tender depths of her pu**y with hard demand. “I love you, Taber. All of you,” she cried out then. “I love you…”
He groaned. A low, heavy sound filled with remorse, with thankfulness. He gathered her against him, cushioning her head on the unsoiled shoulder as his hands gripped her bu**ocks, his c**k moving inside her.
Long, slow strokes caressed the inner heat of her cunt as he kissed her throat, her neck. His thighs bunched, his back tensed, but still the deliberately careful movements never slowed.
“Mine,” he whispered again. “My woman. My love.”
His thrusts increased then, his breath coming hard and heavy, his h*ps driving the fierce erection as deep, as hard as he could as she clenched his shoulders, her legs wrapping around his hips, holding on for dear life as she felt her cl**ax begin breaking over her.
Seconds later, she felt him locking inside her, heard his groan, his hungry little growl, then the hard, heated blasts of his se**n spurting in the tight depths of her pu**y.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered against her neck, his face damp—though with tears or his own sweat, she wasn’t certain. “I am so sorry you had to see what I am.”
“No, Taber.” Her hands smoothed over his hair, his shoulders. “Never be sorry. I love everything you are. All of you.”
* * * * *
Such acceptance should not have been possible. Taber stood under the hot spray of water, his eyes closed, his mind slowly clearing of the blood rage he had felt when he had seen that bastard ready to fire off a submachine gun in the women’s direction. Helping to wash it away was Roni, her hands tender as she cleaned him thoroughly. She had washed the blood from his hair, his face, and had then proceeded to clean every inch of his body with the silken comfort of soap and cloth. Hot steam and the scent of soap filled the large shower cubicle. The sounds of water rushing over him and Roni’s soft hum whispered over his mind. With each rinse and careful soaping of his body, he felt more of the rage rinsing from his soul as well. With it came an incredible dragging weariness. He wanted nothing more than to curl up beside her and sleep. But there was so much left to do.
“All done,” she whispered gently as she kissed his shoulder, her hands smoothing over his wet flesh, stroking him as the involuntary purr began to sound in his chest. He flinched at the sound.
“Shh.” She cuddled against his chest, kissing it, her soft licks immeasurably tender. “Do you know how much I love that sound? How much I love knowing I pleasure you? Comfort you?”
His eyes were closed against the melting pleasure seeping through him. He had never been taken care of. Ever. And here she was, so small and gentle, her voice whispering over him, her hands soothing him, taking away almost three decades of pain as she whispered her love for him.
“They can’t take you,” he suddenly groaned as emotion tore from him, his arms contracting around her, holding her close to his chest. “I couldn’t live without your touch, without your heat and passion, Roni.”
His throat felt tight from the feelings sweeping over him. “I would rather die than face such a thing.”
“We won’t let them take me, Taber. Together, we’ll be okay.” She pushed his hair back from his face as he opened his eyes, staring down at her, aching with the beauty he saw in her.
“I won’t let them.” He shook his head. “I will have to kill again…”
“And I will be right beside you when you do.” She laid her fingers over his lips. “I will always be here, Taber. And we’ll face the aftermath together. Just as we are now.”
Did he deserve her? Hell, no, he knew he didn’t, but he knew there wasn’t a chance he was going to let her get away from him, either.
He cleared his throat as he leaned back from her, groaning at the erection suddenly straining between them.
“I have to talk to Callan,” he sighed. “Then we’ll take care of other things.” He glanced down at his stubborn organ once again.
Roni moved to turn off the shower then grabbed the large towels she had laid out before leading him beneath the spray of water. He watched her in bemusement as she dried him like a babe.
“You would make an excellent mother,” he whispered, imagining her bathing their child, caring for it as tenderly as she was caring for him, or more so.
A soft flush stained her cheeks. “I love children.” She moved behind him, stroking the towel over his