“I’ll protect you.” He smiled.

It was megawatt and amazing. It sent a thrill through me that he wanted me so badly, but could I willingly lay myself out for this man?

He grabbed my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “Don’t throw what we have away, Mia. There’s something that brought us together. I feel like I’ve known you forever and I don’t want to be without that feeling. I can’t lose you.”

I felt at home in his arms and truly at peace when he entered my life. I closed my eyes to break the connection. The enormity of the moment sunk in as I opened them. “I don’t know,” I said, staring at his chest. He’d be able to see my vulnerability if I looked at him.

“How can you deny what’s between us, Mia?” His soft lips touched mine and I couldn’t pull away. I leaned into him, inhaling the soft musky scent that was purely Michael. “We have something here that can’t be denied,” he said against my lips.

“Michael.” Before I could finish the statement, his mouth enveloped mine effectively shutting me up.

He wrapped his arms around me. The touch that I had missed for days almost brought me to my knees. Pushing me into the house, he kicked the door closed behind us. I couldn’t deny him any longer. I couldn’t lie to myself and say what we had wasn’t magical in some way.

I pulled away and stared into his eyes. “Only me?” I asked. I needed the affirmation that I was it for him. I wouldn’t be in competition with anyone else for his love and affection. I’d never let myself be that girl.

“No one else,” he said before capturing my mouth.

The sound of his breath as he devoured my lips sent an electric pulse through my body. I loved everything about this man down to the small noises he made when we kissed.

“I’m scared, Michael,” I whispered as he broke the kiss.

“Of what?”

“You.” I sucked in a breath.

He held me at arm’s length. “Mia,” he said, lifting my chin. “I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.” His eyes searched mine. “Give me a chance to prove it. I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy.”

“How do I know I can trust you? I want to believe you, but what if I was the other woman, Michael. I can’t just pretend like nothing happened without knowing for sure.” I stared into his eyes.

“I have proof. I brought this to show you.” He held out the large brown envelope.

“Was is it?” I asked, not sure I wanted to open it.

“Just look. I want you to see Tammy for who she really is. My statement to the police is in there along with evidence and screen shots of her text messages. She never mentioned a baby, Mia. She lied and tried to trap me.” He pushed the envelope forward into my hands.

I walked to the couch and set it on the coffee table. Michael sat next to me, not speaking, as he watched me. I removed the contents one by one. A book and a couple sheets on paper were inside. Setting the book on the table I grabbed the papers and flipped through them.

I read the text messages first paying close attention to the timestamp. Not one said anything about a baby, just Tammy begging him to come back to her. The messages went from pleading to downright mean and threatening. The conversation was entirely one sided. They were all from before we met. He had ended it with her. I wasn’t the other woman.

“What’s this?” I asked. holding the black book in my hand.

“Take a look. It’s an eye opener for sure. Tammy made it.”

I nodded, opening the cover to reveal the first page. It read Michael & Tammy Gallo with a picture of them on their wedding day. Only it wasn’t them. I started laughing.

“I told ya,” he said, running his fingers across my hand.

“No, it’s just...” I tried to stop laughing. “She showed me a picture like this but an engagement photo.”

“Just great.” He reached for the book.

I batted his hand away. “I’m not done,” I said, as I turned the page.

“Knock yourself out. It gets more bizarre the deeper you go.” He leaned back and relaxed.

The engagement photo she showed me was next, followed by a series of wedding shots. When I came to a page filled with children I stopped and the laughter I fought so hard to stop bubbled to the surface.

“Madelyn Gallo,” I said, still laughing as tears formed in my eyes.

“Don’t forget about Mason,” he said sitting up. “She picked out all the names.” He smiled.

“She’s seriously a whack job.” I shook my head still stunned by her audacity. “Didn’t you know she was this nuts before you slept with her?”

“We were never a couple. I didn’t figure it out until I found the book. I walked out of her house that day and never looked back.” He rubbed my arm and grabbed my chin. “Mia, I never lied to you. Not about Tammy or anything.”

I searched his eyes. With all the information and the sincerity on his face, I knew he spoke the truth. “I believe you, Michael.”

“About damn time,” he said, moving to kiss me.

“I’m still mad at you,” I mumbled against his lips.

Pulling away, he rested his forehead against mine. “Take it out on me in the bed, Mia. I can’t wait another minute to feel you under me.”

“Wait,” I said, pushing him away.

His smile evaporated. “What?”

“I said I believed you, not that I’d have sex with you.” I shook my head and tried to make the statement believable. All I wanted to do was make love to the man and fall asleep in his arms. I missed his body against mine as I slept.

He gave me a cocky grin, the one that I loved. “Are you mine, Mia?” he asked, the corner of his mouth twitching.

“I haven’t decided,” I lied. There was nothing that I wanted more than to be his.

“Let me help you with that decision,” he laughed, as he picked me up and hoisted me over his shoulder.

I laughed, swatting his ass so hard my hand stung.

“That’s it baby, I like it rough,” he chuckled as he walked toward my bedroom.

I bounced on his back, biting his shoulder blade, smacking him again.

“Damn,” he said as he spanked my ass twice, making me yelp. “I’d say we both have some emotions that needs to come out. I’m going to fuck every bit of pissed off out of you and show you who you belong to.”

“I wanna see you try,” I said, giggling.

He threw me on the bed and all the air left my lungs as I hit the firm mattress with a bounce. He looked large and imposing standing at the foot of my bed. His shoulders were broad and the muscles in his neck were corded tightly. The t-shirt stretched across his torso and looked like it would rip with the slightest movement. His brown hair lay across his forehead in a mess. He looked delicious and more handsome than ever.

“I’m up for a challenge,” he said with a smile, as he removed his t-shirt.

Fuck, he really was beautiful. I sat up on my elbows and watched him undress. Every movement made his muscles stretched and contracted. He wasn’t wasting a moment or doing a seductive strip tease. I needed to feel him.

This wouldn’t be love making or rekindling – this was anger banging.

He pushed me back against the bed, opening the tie of my robe. He pushed it open exposing my nightie. “Still mad?” he asked, his hands gliding across the cool silk on my abdomen.

“Yes.” Damn, my voice wasn’t strong. I knew he didn’t hear the conviction behind my words.

He sat on his knees, grabbing the material with both hands. His palms slid effortlessly against the smooth nightie. His hands stopped just under my breasts before making the journey back down to my bare thighs. He grabbed the bottom of the nightie, pulling it from the middle and tore it in half.

“Michael,” I yelled. The air conditioning caressed my skin and goose bumps covered my flesh.

He laughed. “Quicker this way.”

“I could’ve just taken it off, for fuck's sake.”

“That was for fuck's sake, Mia. I’m sick of waiting. It’s been days since I’ve been inside you.”

I hit him square in the chest as he leaned over my body. Why do men have to destroy shit in the name of passion?

“Oh, yeah. Just like that. I like a little fight in you.” His eyes turned dark.

“I hate you.” I glared at him.

“No you don’t,” he said, as his mouth clamped down on my nipple.

I arched my back, crying out in ecstasy.

He moaned against my trapped breast causing a vibration to skate across my skin. My core to pulsated as I pushed him. “Don’t fight it, you know you want it, Doc.”

I sighed, lying back to enjoy the feel of his lips on my skin, because I did want it. I ran my fingers through his hair before gripping it tightly in my fists. I held his mouth in place as tiny shocks shot through my body. The familiar ache between my legs became almost unbearable. I dug my heels into his ass and ground myself against him.

He tried to lift his head, but I pushed it harder against my chest, almost smothering him. I could feel his laughter against my torso as his body shook in my grasp. “Put your cock in me,” I said, releasing my heels, to give him the ability to move his lower half. I felt powerful even if it was a roués. He could over power me in a minute, but he let me play the game.

His lips popped off my skin and he looked into my eyes. “Don’t you want to kiss a little first?”

“This isn’t love making, Michael. You’re fucking me. Put it in or get the fuck out.” I sounded harsh and strong and it sent a thrill through me.

His eyebrows shot up, a small smirk his lips. “That’s fuckin’ hot, Doc.”

“Shut the fuck up and do it.” I kicked him in the ass.