Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(91)
Mags got lost in Dave’s deep, brown eyes as he spoke. She swore she could see the love shining out of them. It was fanciful and silly, but she’d never forgotten how expressive his eyes were. How in the hell she’d gotten so lucky, she had no idea.
“The only thing that kept me going was thoughts of you,” Mags said as she started her vows. She hadn’t planned anything to say, wanting her words to come from the heart and to fit the moment. “I wanted to give up. Wanted to find a way to take my own life, but I couldn’t do it. I knew you were looking for me. Knew you’d do whatever it took to find me . . . and you did. I didn’t try to contact you when I had the chance, not because I didn’t think you’d love me, but because I didn’t think I was worthy of your love anymore. But it took less than two weeks after you found me to change my way of thinking, and to regret not finding a way to let you know I was alive, and to ask you to come get me and David.
“Love heals all wounds, and while I’ll never forget what happened to me, your love has helped me take one day at a time, and to enjoy and live in the moment every day since. I love you, David Justice. I’ll never cheat on you, and I’ll stand by your side in support every day for the rest of our lives. Thank you for finding me. Thank you for not giving up. But most of all, thank you for loving me.”
Dave moved his other hand up and cupped her head in his hands, slowly leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers. Then he did it again and again . . . until Mags was so turned on, and frustrated with how gentle he was being, that she thrust a hand into the hair at the back of his head and growled against him.
Her sudden passion surprised her. Mags loved her husband, but she’d worried that her libido had been suppressed forever. To find that she suddenly wanted Dave with a bone-deep need was surprising . . . and a huge relief.
She felt his lips curl up in a smile, but he didn’t deepen the kiss.
He’d been so careful about not pushing himself on her. Not doing anything that might bring her demons to the surface. So Raven took control, showing him what she wanted. What she needed.
Thrusting her tongue into his mouth, she gave him the kind of kiss she hadn’t had in years.
He moaned, and she felt his erection against her belly. But for the first time in a very long time, Mags wasn’t turned off. Wasn’t scared of a man’s arousal.
Feeling giddy that her body was reacting the way it always had around Dave before she was taken, she gave herself over to him. Her husband.
How long they kissed on top of the bluff, Mags didn’t know. But a loud backfire sounded in the near distance, and she pulled away, laughing.
“So much for our romantic renewal-of-vows ceremony,” Dave said in disgust.
Mags wrapped her arms around him and lay her head on his chest. “The faster they build our house, the faster we can move in,” she reminded him.
The construction crew was there working on building their dream house. Dave had wanted to give them the day off so they’d have the property to themselves when they said their vows, but Raven had disagreed, saying that every day they weren’t working was one more day they wouldn’t be able to move in. He’d agreed reluctantly.
“I love you, Dave. You mean everything to me.”
“The words seem so . . . flimsy . . . compared to what I feel for you,” Dave returned.
Raven smiled up at him—and flushed in mortification when her stomach chose that moment to growl. Loudly.
It was Dave’s turn to chuckle. “Looks like I need to feed my girl,” he said. “Come on. I’m sure David is driving everyone crazy with his impatience to dig into that cake.”
As they walked away from the bluff toward Dave’s car, Mags said, “Whose fault is it that he’s got a massive sweet tooth?”
“Mine,” Dave admitted immediately and without shame.
All Mags could do was shake her head. Deep down, she didn’t care if Dave spoiled their son. He was trying to make up for his first four and a half years of his life when he was denied just about everything—food, love, friends.
Dave held open the door for her and waited until she was settled in the passenger seat before heading around to the other side. Before he started the engine, he leaned over and put his fingers on Raven’s chin. He turned her head and kissed her gently. “Love you, Raven.”
“Love you too.”
As they drove toward The Pit and the huge-ass party that awaited them, Mags marveled once again over how lucky she was to have this man by her side. He was patient and loving and completely devoted to her. He wasn’t without his faults, but it was hard to care much about them when he was so amazing in so many ways.
Soon, she’d gather up the courage to physically prove how much she cared. At one point, she truly hadn’t thought she’d ever be able to share her body with a man again. Slowly but surely, Dave was resurrecting her desire, and she couldn’t wait for the day she was able to make love with her husband . . . and purge the past once and for all.
One Year after Returning Home
Dave couldn’t believe the house was finally built. They were finally moved in.
He hadn’t minded living in an apartment for so many years, didn’t care about much of anything other than finding his wife. But now that he’d had Raven back for a year, and had the privilege of seeing their son blossom into a well-adjusted and happy child, he couldn’t imagine ever living in such a small, cramped space again.