Free Right Side Up ((MMG Novella)) by R.B. Hilliard

His voice cracked, “None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me!” He slapped himself on the chest. “This is what I live with every single day!”
    My whole body shivered and my heart stuttered in my chest. What is he saying? “ Are you saying you regret us?”
    His sad eyed stare ripped me to shreds. “I could never regret you, Princess. You’re my everything. When I look at you, though, all I see is how I’ve failed you. The only way I know how to deal with all of this guilt, is to protect you from anything else that could hurt you.”
    Flipping off my heels, I unsnapped my seatbelt. Then I hiked up my skirt, crawled across the console and straddled his lap. He pushed his seat back and settled his hands on my hips. We were nose to nose. I could smell a hint of mint on his breath. I wanted to taste him, to eat him up, but that would have to wait. First, we needed to settle things once and for all. He tried to turn his head away, but I placed both hands on his face and refused to let him disappear on me again. “Dooley Shane was a sick man, Cowboy. Neither of us could have predicted his actions. To tell you the truth, I am a better person because of what happened.” His eyes widened in shock, and I explained. “I value my life and the people I love so much more now. I know what I need and I’m not afraid to ask for it. I need you to laugh and mean it. I need you to touch me the way you used to and know I am not going to break.” His fingers flexed on my hips and I could feel every hard inch of him pressed against me. Only strength of will kept me talking and not taking what I wanted. “I’m okay with you protecting me, but you have to stop trying to control me. I know it will take time for you to get over that day, and I have no problem giving you this time, but not if it means you change the way you love me.” His blue gaze held mine. “I need to know you love me now just as much as you did before I was shot, because if something has changed for you…”
    Before I could get the rest of my sentence out, his lips were on mine. One of his hands slid up my back and into my hair. Using slight pressure, he tilted my head and deepened the kiss. Without a word, he reached between us, opened his fly and released his hard cock from his jeans. I let out a surprised gasp. This was both bold and exciting, something the old Gage would do. Another gasp escaped when he reached under my skirt and found the side seam of my panties. His tongue licked across mine as he ripped them from my body and tossed them onto the floorboard. His mouth still devouring mine, he lifted me up and pulled me down onto his hard shaft. As always, he more than filled me. I dropped my head back and moaned. He took this as an invitation to suck on my neck, something that drove me crazy with lust, not to mention full body tingles. His large hands grasped my bare hips under my skirt and held tight, stopping me from moving. My head snapped up and our eyes met. His were bright with emotion.
    “I love you more than I did before. I love how brave you are. Every day I wake up wondering if that’s the day you will decide I’m not enough for you. I’m scared shitless someone or something is going to take you from me. I live with this fear every second of every day. Never, ever doubt how much I love you, Piper O’Connell. I promise to do better, but you have to promise not to leave me.”
    My heart melted into a massive mush puddle. Softly, I brushed my lips across his and whispered, “I’m not going to leave you, sweetheart. I’m going to marry you.”
    A flicker of relief passed over his face and then his lips were back on mine. I wound my fingers into his hair as he lifted me up and slid me back down his hard cock. Instead of gently making love to me, like I expected, he took me hard and fast in a punishing pace. In no time at all, we were both shouting our releases. Not able to help myself, I buried my face in his neck and burst into