“We were at the park watching a few kids playing touch football. I took my eyes off her for just a moment, not even half a minute. She was playing on the large fort and laughing, having a great time. I looked at the game, for the first time feeling a little envious that I couldn’t play with them. I heard someone scream and jerked my head back to where I’d last spotted her. She was grasping the rail at the top. I jumped up, but before I even reached my feet, she slipped and fell to the ground. It was like the entire event happened in slow motion. One minute she was laughing, the next she was falling. It wasn’t even that far, but she was so tiny, and she landed wrong. Her neck broke – she died instantly.”

The pain in his voice ripped Bree apart. He was fighting to keep it inside, but even decades later, the wound was only a scratch away, just underneath his skin that she had thought was so thick. She couldn’t even comprehend going through what he had.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she listened to him talk about his sister’s last moments. What an imaginable thing for him to witness. Why was he telling her about it? What could she do to make the pain end?

“Apparently there was a pole that came loose. She leaned on it, and fell through. She grabbed another bar, but before anyone could help, she slipped. If I’d been next to her, she’d still be alive today. My mom showed up at her funeral, even managed to force a few tears. She ate up the sympathy from strangers. There was a huge article in the paper and crowds of people flooded the service. I hated them, every single one of them. What right did they have to be there! I was supposed to watch her. The guilt tore me in two. My mom got a huge settlement from the city and took off in the middle of the night. She never looked back and I’ve never tried to seek her out. After she left, Ray couldn’t handle me. I was angry and holding onto so much guilt that I was striking out at him – on everyone.”

Bree scooted closer and wrapped her arm around Chad’s trembling form. He was in another place at that moment, but he seemed to draw comfort from what she was doing so she stayed pressed against him.

“Ray finally dropped me off at a human services office and I went into foster care. I was tossed from home to home. Nobody wanted to deal with a messed up kid like me. Finally, I ended up in the juvenile courts. That’s where I met Mark and Joseph. They saved my life. I was on a path to destroy myself, but they wouldn’t let me. They were doing volunteer work and took me under their wing. Mark and I became best friends, and Joseph helped me realize Jackie’s death wasn’t my fault. I still, to this day, feel responsible, but I know I didn’t cause her death. I just never ever want to lose someone again who I’m supposed to watch. Your family feels the same way, Bree. They love you, and if something were to happen to you, it would destroy them,” he finished.

His words made Bree feel about two inches tall. She was so blessed, with a family who loved her enough to go out of their way for her, and she was being stubborn. She still needed to prove her independence but she’d accept having her own personal bodyguard without complaining about it.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said, feeling the words were inadequate. She knew they couldn’t take away the pain, but she felt helpless to do anything more. What did you say to someone when they opened up to you the way he had?

“It was a long time ago. I just wanted you to understand how much your family loves you – and also understand why I can’t let anything happen to you. They’d never forgive themselves if those threats against you were real and they did nothing to stop the man. I can’t sit back and not give this my all – I’ve committed to guarding you, and isn’t it better to be over-protective than not protective enough. It’s all done for the right reasons.”

Both of them were silent for a few minutes and Chad finally realized that Bree was practically wrapped around him. The heat of her body was more effective in healing his wounded soul than any amount of therapy he’d gone to, insisted upon by Joseph.

As he closed his eyes and felt the tender touch of her hand caressing his arm, and the press of her rounded breast pushing against his chest, he felt the sorrow always present, ease and instead his body came to life.

He suddenly needed her with a vengeance. He knew she could take away the pain. The touch of her small hands, the feel of her silky skin, the sway of her body. Without thinking it through, he leaned down and his mouth connected with hers.

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was filled with despair and need. He was trying to push away his demons and quench his thirst. Bree paused for only a moment before she was kissing him back with her own hungry need.

Chad’s body instantly hardened. He pulled her onto his lap and his hands explored her back, moving along the slender slope of her spine. She moaned into his kiss, igniting fire inside him. He moved his hands below the hem of her shirt and broke the kiss only long enough to pull her shirt off. Then, before either of them could come to their senses, his mouth connected with hers again.

His tongue pushed against the barrier of her lips and slid inside the warm recesses of her mouth. He greedily took all he could from her, but she wasn’t a victim. She clawed at his head, tugging him closer to her, groaning into his mouth. He unclasped her bra and tossed it aside, needing to feel her untethered breasts pressed against him.

He pulled back to shed his own shirt, then pulled her body tightly against his. The feel of her bare breasts pushing against his chest intensified the ache in his groin. Her nipples were hard as they pressed against his skin – sending a shudder straight through him.

He laid her back on the bed and took a moment to gaze down at her beautiful body. She was stunning, her skin flushed with arousal, her breasts rising and falling with the deep breaths she took. Her blue eyes were shining with excitement. Moving his head down her neck, he tasted a slight hint of coconut on her skin.

“Chad,” she cried out when he circled his tongue around the top of her full breasts. He cupped their perfect weight in his hands and ran his thumbs across her tight pink buds. Her back arched off the bed, begging him to take her in his mouth. He gently nipped the skin around the peaks, but didn’t give her what she so desperately wanted.

She pushed her hips up, grinding her pelvis against his straining erection. He groaned as the movement caused sweat to break out across his overheated body. Finally, he took one of her peaks into his mouth and she cried out in pleasure as he gently sucked her deep within his mouth, then moved back and gently raked his teeth across the sensitive nipple.

She gripped his head in her hands, pulling him closer. He moved from one peak to the other, giving them equal attention, while his hands moved down her body and undid her pants. When he moved his mouth down the gentle slope of her stomach, nipping the skin, then gently soothing the pink bites with his tongue, she arched into him.

She tasted like heaven.

He reached her lower stomach and inhaled her sweet scent, loving the feel of her quivering body. She was soft and smooth and had the most succulent curves. Her hips fit perfectly in his large hands. It took all his power not to strip her and sink deep inside her heated folds. He couldn’t ever remember wanting a woman so badly it made him ache.

He slowly pulled down her shorts, sliding them past her feet and onto the floor. With his masterful tongue trailing along the inside of her thighs, she continued to groan beneath him, her legs opening in invitation. He looked up at the red satin covering her from his view and his pulsing manhood jumped inside his pants, causing him to cry out. He stood and removed the denim and his boxers in one swift movement.

He nearly lost it again at the sight of lust in her eyes as she took in his naked body. There was no hiding her reaction from him – desire was evident in her eyes and trembling form. He dropped back to the bed and ran his tongue up her thighs, pausing at the juncture of her thighs.

“Please, Chad,” she pled, reaching her hands down, trying to pull him to her.

He ripped her panties off, then leaned forward and swiped his tongue along her silken folds. The first taste of her made his head spin. He nearly came before he ever got the chance to sink inside her.

Chad inserted two fingers into her soft lips and groaned when he felt how ready she was for him. He took her pulsing skin into his mouth and flicked his tongue around the swollen nub while moving his fingers in and out of her. Her body began shuddering, then she tensed and cried out as she gripped him tightly. He swiped his tongue across her a couple more times, wanting to draw out her pleasure.

“Please, too much,” she cried, and he finally lifted his head. Damn, she was beautiful, with her half closed eyes, flushed skin and satisfied smile. He had to join them together.

He quickly crawled up her body and brought his mouth back to hers. She tried to turn her head, exhausted from their lovemaking, but he knew he could bring her more pleasure.

He gripped both her hands with his and held them above her head while he trailed his lips across her own, then down her throat to her breasts, where he lavished attention on her swollen nipples. Her hips began to gently grind against him and then intensify, signaling she was ready for him to take her.

He moved his body above hers, his swollen head pressed against her opening. Her eyes widened as he started pushing inside. She was so wet and tight, he had to pause half-way inside, or risk their love-making ending before she could be satisfied.

“More,” she demanded, which brought a small smile to his face. Then she moved her hips and all humor fled.

Chad thrust deep inside her in one quick motion and her body stiffened as the full length of him stretched her. Afraid he was hurting her, he tried to pull back, but as her body adjusted, she relaxed and clamped her legs around his back. She pushed her hips up, not wanting to release him and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Chad let go of her hands and moved his arms down so he could grip her hips. He held her soft flesh as he started moving in and out of her tight body. She groaned as the pressure began building again, and he felt her grip him even more. His entire body was covered with sweat, making them slide together beautifully.

He pushed his upper body up, pressing their hips tighter together so she could move her lips down the column of his throat, swirling her tongue around his pounding pulse, then further, until she took his nipple into her mouth and gently bit down.

He completely lost it and quickly thrust in and out of her. She eagerly met him, pushing up, their hips colliding. He felt her stiffen in his arms seconds before she let out a cry of pleasure, then she started pulsing around him. He thrust inside her – in and out, then collapsed as he spilled his seed deep inside her wet folds.

Neither of them spoke as they gained control of their breathing again. He was burning up inside and out, and trying to find the energy to move, when she slowly moved her hips beneath him. He was still buried deep inside and he felt himself stir at her movement. His eyes opened in amazement. He couldn’t understand how he could possibly feel any passion after the earth shattering orgasm he’d just had.

“Mercy – I’m begging you,” he pled as he finally pulled from her sheath and turned them so they were on their sides facing each other. Her face turned scarlet as she looked at him.