The Billionaire’s Salvation ~ Max(37)
Author: J.S. Scott

Mia doubted that Max could force the Sandman to make all of her dreams good ones, but looking at his display of savage determination, she almost believed he could. And she certainly knew he’d try like hell to do it, even if he had to drag the fabled creature of folklore to their bedside every night to sprinkle magic sand in her eyes. Lifting her arms around his neck, she murmured, “Just love me like this forever. It’s enough.”

“I’ll never stop,” he agreed, the tension starting to leave his body. “Just promise me you won’t ever try to protect me again. Not at your own expense. I would have rather died than to let him lay a finger on you,” he growled.

Mia’s eyes filled with tears, the sincerity of Max’s statement, a re-avowal of what he’d said earlier, hitting her like a slug to the stomach.

My husband would die for me, just to avoid seeing me hurt.

Knowing she loved him just the same, she answered carefully. “I’m not sure I can make that promise. It wouldn’t have saved me, Max. Danny still would have hurt me that day. But it saved you.”

He brushed away her concern. “Promise,” he insisted.

“No,” she refused. “I can’t. Could you make the same promise? You said no more lies, and I won’t lie to you. I’d protect you if I could.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll just make damn sure you’re never in a position where you have to make that decision again. And no more running.”

She shook her head. “No more running,” she agreed.

“If you need to run, I’m going with you,” he announced adamantly. “If you had told me you needed to disappear, I would have arranged it…for both of us.”

“But your career, your business—”

“Don’t mean a damn thing without you. Do you think I’d give a flying f**k about money or anything else if you were in danger? I’d disappear with you, be presumed dead along with you to protect you and your brothers without hesitation.” His body tense once again, he shot her a laser-sharp, exasperated look.

Mia sighed, shooting him back an apologetic expression. “I’ve been through over two years of counseling, and it’s still hard to believe someone can love me like you do,” she confessed. “I’ve come a long way, but I’ll have my insecure moments,” she warned him. “I’ll still find it hard to absorb that it’s finally over. That we’re all safe now.” It was hard to comprehend the fact that Max would drop everything in his life for her. Sure, she’d learned to value herself, accept herself the way that she was by working things out with a good counselor, but accepting Max’s love was the hardest thing she’d ever done. What had she ever done in this life to deserve him?

“Take all the time you need, baby. I’ll convince you eventually,” he uttered quietly, his eyes unrelenting as they connected with hers, the love shimmering and flowing white-hot between the two of them, making Mia’s pulse hammer.

Stroking his hair, she told him, “You’re amazing, Max Hamilton.”

“Did you think so when I was smacking your ass?” he asked with a wicked look.

“Yes. It made me want to be naughty all over again,” she answered truthfully.

“Sweetheart, I want you to let me know if I ever scare you, or push your boundaries,” he warned her dangerously. “My control when it comes to you isn’t exactly reliable.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Max. And I never could be. I know you’d never hurt me. You make me feel safe.” Mia knew she’d never be frightened of Max, no matter how hard he pushed her with his bossiness. The man was an incredible mixture of arrogance and vulnerability, dominance and tenderness, and it fascinated the hell out of her. But she’d never be nervous about any of those qualities. Every part of Max turned her on. He wanted to protect her, and he’d give his life for her. She could never be afraid of that kind of love.

“You’re safe now, and I’m going to make damn sure you stay that way,” he grunted.

They were both silent for a moment, drinking in the pleasure of being together before she asked curiously, “Did Travis kill Danny?”

Max’s eyebrows narrowed as he replied, “Probably. It was technically an accident, but Travis was there. Is the fact that he’s dead bothering you?”

“No. It doesn’t bother me personally that Danny is dead. He deserved it, my family is safe, and it means he won’t be around to terrorize anyone else. But poor Travis already put Danny in jail. I hate that he might have had to kill someone for me to be free. He does have a conscience, but he’s always done whatever it took to protect me and Kade.”

“You know he was the one who put Danny in jail?” Max asked, stunned.

“Of course I knew. Does he really think I’m that stupid? He shows up in Virginia, sees what’s happening, and Danny is suddenly going to prison? I knew Travis had done it. What actually happened to kill Danny?” she asked softly.

“When Travis finally located Danny, he went to talk to him. Danny fled in a vehicle and Travis took off after him. Danny ended up going down a very high ravine in Colorado after he lost control during the chase. And believe me, I doubt that Travis felt a twinge of remorse after what the bastard had done to you. When he had verification that Danny was dead, he arranged to bring you home, but apparently never got a chance to talk to you about it because you were gone when he got home from his meeting. Why were you at the picnic anyway?” Max asked, confused. “You had just gotten back to Florida.”

“I knew you’d probably be there. I saw the invitation at Travis’ house. I knew you’d probably hate me for what I’d done, but I wanted to see you. I couldn’t help myself. I kept moving closer, but I didn’t think you’d recognize me.”

“No chance of that. I could sense you,” Max answered, disgruntled. “But the disguise was good enough that no one else did. Did you cut your hair that day?”

“No. I had it done about a year ago. My long hair was used as a weapon too many times. I did it to feel better. It was kind of like therapy. It felt good,” she told him.

“He pulled you around by your hair?” Max snarled.

That was putting it mildly, but Mia didn’t tell Max that. Her father had done the same thing. She simply answered, “Yes.”

Lethargy and exhaustion tugged at Mia’s body. Yawning, she closed her eyes.