During the car ride, Megan stayed close to Gabe but felt he had withdrawn. If they had a shot at happily-ever-after then he needed to speak, but she'd wait till they went home.

The rest of the ride was pleasant the moment he kissed the side of her face.

The car rolled to a smooth stop and the driver opened her door. She scooted out and waited for Gabe who led her into his building and up to his floor. As he opened the door, she saw that candles were lit and everywhere. She turned and saw that a meal was laid out on the table, and that a blue ball gown was hung on a mirror. She stepped back but noticed the bouquets of flowers. She placed her hand on her chest to stop her heart from racing and turned toward him. "What is all of this?"

He picked up a flower and handed it to her. "I wanted you to feel special."

He must have learned that move from a knight in an old movie. She put the flower into the vase he found, though her cheeks felt warm. "I don't need special. I want to know what's going on with you? In the hospital you were quiet and became less talkative."

He pointed with his nose to the flower petals on the floor that Anakin rolled around in. "Your cat likes the flowers."

Cute, but off topic. She reached out for his hand and led him to the couch. "Please, Gabe. What's going on?"

He sucked in his breath like he was about to dive into the ocean and wanted the air in his lungs. He took a second and then said, "I keep having more visions of what happened in the desert and I think your brother was part of the ambush."

Maddox. There was no excuse for what happened to his parents or if he was part of something years ago, no redemption might be found because he was lost even longer than she imagined. She rested her hand on his knee. "You think he betrayed you?"

He pressed his hands to his nose like he was in prayer. "He stole my USB, but I think it was coordinated with help. I was so focused on healing that I put everything out of my mind."

True, but he was in jail now and nothing was left. They were safe and it was time they moved on. Gabe seemed locked in a prison of his past. She had to choose her words carefully. She kept her voice low. "Glad you fixed everything. The man who joined the Marines and the man who came out were two different people. In your case I would say your character grew. For my brother, something snapped in him and he's not well."

He turned and she saw a storm of emotions flash in his blue eyes. Then he reached out and kissed her forehead. "I don't want to talk about him anymore with you."

Agreed. The topic was heavy and her lips craved his kiss. She adjusted her shirt. "Fair enough."

Without another word, he reached forward and claimed her mouth. She melted like butter left out in the humidity.

All she could do because thinking wasn't an option was curl into him and deepen their kiss.

However she wasn't a teenager and she wanted more. Her fingers curled under his shirt to touch him, but he reached out and stopped her. They both sat as he explained, "The scars on my body remind me every time I'm home alone that I'm not the same person and I've thought for years that I was ruined."

Ruined? Gabe? The thought was hysterical; he was perfect. She kept her hand near his body while he held her. "Are you joking? You're my hero and you are perfect."

"I'm not a hero." He shook his head, but slowly he relaxed his hold on her. "I am more at ease with you."

Denials never meant anything. He was her hero. She moved her hand and touched his stomach and changed course to rub his side with the scar. "Good because you asked me to be your girlfriend and I..."

He interrupted. "I asked you that because I was shy about saying I love you."

Seriously? Without a thought she said, "I love you too."

"Really?" His eyes widened, but his hands curled around her thighs.

Too much talking. She could smell home and wanted to be fully with him. "Kiss me, Gabe, and make me forget the rest of the world."

"Done." He said and kissed her again.

This time they needed no more words. His kiss set off a heat storm. All she wanted was him. To give him access to do whatever he wanted, she simply laid on the couch.

He brushed her hair out of the way while he continued to kiss her. Then he went lower and kissed her neck. Her shirt felt awkward and tight and in the way.

With a shift, she reached down to lift her shirt.

He moved his weight, but the moment she freed her belly, he planted kisses there.

The ache inside her understood that joining with him was all the medicine she needed.

Needy and wanting were never part of her normal. Now she was Gabe's and this had to last forever. Love won.