Max knew they had a lot to discuss, but damned if he couldn’t help himself in claiming her. He wanted her and nothing would stop him this time. Not her past, not his job or his friends. Nothing would keep him from his woman. He needed to keep her safe and protect her, even if it was from herself.

He ran a washcloth under warm water and returned to the bedroom to find Molly sprawled out on her back, still naked, still looking like a well-fucked woman.

“You alive?” he asked jokingly, as he wiped between her legs and down her inner thighs, removing the glistening traces of their lovemaking. And that’s what it was, even though most would call it more of a forceful fucking. Sweet and slow wasn’t who he and Molly were, and wasn’t anywhere near what they both needed. They needed to bond and reconnect on a primal level. Now she knew she was his and there wasn’t any way she could deny it. Between willingly turning herself over to him for discipline and correction, and following his commands in the bedroom, Max knew her body belonged to him. They just needed to get on the same page with their minds.

“That was amazing, Max,” she said, getting up and locating the clothes that he’d tossed in the corner of the room. “But we do need to figure out if this is really going to work between us.”

“Of course, it’s going to work,” he said mildly, bending to grab his boxer briefs and pants. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“Because you’re a cop and I’m on parole, for one,” she said, ticking things off on her fingers as she spoke. “Because you’re good friends with my cousin and her husband who just happen to have a restraining order against me. Because you’re a good person, and I’m not.”

She said the last with such a resolute sigh of disappointment that it made Max angry. So angry he began to pace the room.

“New rule. You are not to speak badly about yourself anymore,” he announced, stopping in front of where she sat at the foot of the bed.

“But it’s the truth, Max,” she protested, looking miserable. “I did terrible things. Almost killed my cousin, didn’t take care of myself when I was pregnant. I’m a terrible human being.”

“Those things are in the past, Molly, and the past only defines you if you let it. You’re not the same person you were when you did those things. We’re not going to live in the past. We’re going to look forward, not back.”

“You make it sound so easy, but it’s not.” Her head fell forward in defeat. “I won’t be able to hang out with you and your friends, and I have to be home at nine o’clock. That’s not fair to you.”

He crouched down in front of her and caught her eyes. “That’s just Sara and Keith, Molly. I have other friends. And the curfew won’t be forever. You only have a year of parole. Besides, didn’t anyone ever tell you nothing good happens after nine, anyway?”

The joke made her smile—just a small one but he caught it. “I think it’s midnight, Max. Nine is awfully early.”

“But it’s temporary and not nearly the obstacle you’re making it out to be.” He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the next part, because he had things to get out in the open, too. “Now, what else?”

Her small smile disappeared and her gaze skated around uncomfortably. “Uhh, I’m not sure how to say this…”

He grabbed her chin, gently forcing her to face him. “You take a deep breath and say it with your eyes on me.”

She followed his instructions, inhaled and let her words come out in a rush with her exhale. “I don’t want kids. I can barely take care of myself and I don’t think I’d be a good mother. I’m happy that Keith and Sara have Carter and I won’t ever try to get him back. I want to focus on being the best me that I can and not run the risk of screwing up a child.”

He froze at her first words but forced himself to relax when he saw how nervous she looked. Like she was afraid he would bolt, that kids were a deal breaker, when the truth was exactly the opposite.

“Well, that’s good because I don’t want them either.” Relief and confusion warred for space in her expression, so he told her what she needed to know without making her ask. “I didn’t share much about my childhood when we were together before, and that was intentional. I don’t like to talk about it, and without getting into too much detail, I’ll just say that it was awful. While you had parents that barely recognized you existed, mine were so fixated on me I could barely breathe. And if I made the smallest wrong move, I got a beating. I lived in constant fear, with never-ending anxiety. I wouldn’t know the first thing about raising a kid the right way, and I have no desire to try.” He paused, gauging her reaction. When he saw hope and understanding, he continued. “I’m not going to say one way or the other about whether you’d be a good mother. I understand why you’re worried because I feel the same way about my own abilities to be a parent. So, you see, not wanting children is a good thing. What else you got?”

“Your job?” she said, though his time it was more a question than a statement.

“My job is irrelevant. You’re not getting in any more trouble, right?” He gave her a stern look, though it was unnecessary. She was nodding her head so hard he was afraid she’d give herself a headache. “Then there’s no issue. People change all the time, Molly. I’m not letting you hold us back over the past.”

She nodded again, appearing dumbstruck by his words. He knew it was a lot to take in, especially after everything else that happened today. What he didn’t expect was for her to lean forward and capture his lips in a demanding kiss. One where she seemed to be claiming him for herself.

“So we’re going to do this?” he asked when she pulled away. “We’re going to be a couple and you’re agreeing to submit to me and be disciplined if you break the rules?” He needed a clear confirmation that she was on board. Anything less would be abuse and no one deserved that, no matter how great their perceived sins.

“Yes. I agree.” She smiled then got shy again. “Do you want to spend the night with me?”

He gave her an answering grin that he’d once heard referred to as panty melting. “That’s the second best thing you’ve said all night.”

* * *

Max woke the next morning while the sky was still gray, Molly tucked tightly against his body. He took a moment to enjoy the feeling of having her next to him, her arm across his chest, her breath tickling his neck. He didn’t ever think he’d feel any of those things ever again.

When they first broke up, he didn’t want to see her, his embarrassment and guilt over the situation created a rage inside of him that blinded him to reality. Then, once he pulled his head out of his ass and went to look for her, he’d been shocked and dismayed at what he’d found. At the time, he didn’t have the skills to process the fact that his ex-girlfriend, who he might be in love with, had turned into a drug-abusing slut who only cared about having fun. A grifter with no education, and no job.

He hadn’t attempted to contact her after he followed her around for a few days and saw enough of her life to know they wouldn’t fit anymore. That a cop couldn’t date someone like her. It wasn’t until a few years later that, having had some more experience on the streets, he began to wonder why Molly made that turn onto a darkened path. Was it him that prompted her to give up her dreams and sink into a lifestyle sure to earn her an early grave?

When Derek contacted him the night Molly flew off the rails and kidnapped Sara, almost killing them both during a car ride from hell, Max knew it was more than a coincidence. Here was his chance to fix the past, right the wrong he’d inflicted on Molly.

Except, that wasn’t what happened.

Instead, he’d fallen back in love with her as he watched her go through her sentencing and eventual incarceration. She’d accepted responsibility for her actions, and her fate, without any protest. Max didn’t know why, but that’s when he started to see the old Molly coming out.

He meant what he said to her last night. The past was behind them. He had to let go of his guilt over his actions and focus on creating a future with Molly. Part of him mourned all the years they’d wasted apart, and the fact that he could have very easily lost her while she partied her way through life was something he couldn’t bring himself to consider. They were lucky, and Max wasn’t about to squander that gift.

Thinking about what they needed to do today made Max pray for just a little more luck from the universe. It was the last thing to permanently cut her ties with her old life and as much as Max wanted to do it for her, he couldn’t risk being seen giving a known drug dealer money. Even though he’d be parked on the street watching every second of the exchange, he couldn’t do it himself knowing it was money to pay off a drug debt.

“I can feel you thinking,” she said, startling him out of his thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said, looking down at her. She was adorable with messy hair and sleepy eyes. He’d never seen anyone more beautiful.

“It’s fine. My alarm is going off soon anyway.” She rolled over and stretched, letting the sheet slip down and expose her naked breasts. Max almost got distracted but shook his head to stay focused on what she’d just said.

“Really? You get up this early?” Max realized he knew very little about her day-to-day life. He’d been working practically non-stop since she came to live in his apartment.

“Yeah, I like to take my time getting ready. Have coffee. Then I leave at seven to make sure I don’t miss the bus.” Molly rolled out of bed and strutted to the bathroom, calling over her shoulder. “It takes the bus a half an hour to get downtown with all the stops and then I have to get to my building, get in and upstairs. I usually get to work at about ten to eight.”

As she described her morning, Max realized that not having a car made life much more complicated. He’d known that, of course, in an abstract kind of way, but listening to her lay it all out gave him a new appreciation and respect for people who relied on public transportation.

The shower came on, so Max decided it was time to get himself in gear. They had more things to talk about before they started the day. He set about making coffee and toast while Molly got ready.

She entered the room twenty minutes later wearing an outfit he’d seen her in repeatedly. It was nothing special, black skirt, white blouse, but she looked good in it.

“Is that your favorite outfit, or something?” he asked pouring her a cup of coffee. When he felt her freeze behind him, he realized he might have made a mistake.

“What? No,” she replied, flustered, and he saw when he turned to give her the mug, embarrassed.

Instead of dropping the topic, like his instincts were warning him to, he stupidly pressed on, confused by her response to his innocent question. “It’s just, I’ve seen you in it a few times.”

Her face colored and her eyes got glassy, and Max was afraid she was about to throw a fit. But she didn’t, she held it together and answered his question.

“I don’t have much money, Max. I only have a few outfits so that’s why you see the same ones so often.”

He felt like the biggest asshole in the world when he saw just how much that admission cost her.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t mean to be so rude.” He stepped closer and pulled her in for a hug. “You look very nice this morning.”

That was the truth. She looked fantastic. Her hair was pulled back from her face by a soft headband and she wore only a hint of makeup. She’d put on weight over the last few years, added to all the right places, giving her a healthy, curvy figure.

“It’s okay. It’s the state of my life and I have to own it. That’s what my counselor says at least.” She took a deep breath and seemed to steady herself. “That’s why I’m going to work. To make money so I can support myself and have nicer things. Right?”

That she looked to him for support blew his mind. “That’s right. We’re looking forward and building a new life.” He gave her a kiss on the nose and stepped back, not wanting to broach the next subject but having no choice. “About that. We need to have a plan for paying off Rodney tonight. I have the money for you.”

She took the envelope he pulled out of his back pocket and put it in her purse. “Thank you for doing this, Max. I know giving your hard-earned money to a drug dealer is the last thing you want to do.”

Max shook his head. “I want you to be free of this guy and not be flat broke. I want us to put the past behind us. That makes it worth it to me. I just wish I could keep you out of it.”

“It’s fine. It’s better I do it myself. I’ll make sure no one sees, and I’m not actually buying drugs or doing anything illegal, so I can’t get in trouble with my parole officer.”

Max pulled her close again. “Be careful. I’ll be right down the street, so don’t let him scare you. Don’t let him take you anywhere and definitely don’t get into a car with him. I don’t care if he pulls a gun, if I see him trying to make you move, I’ll be there in three seconds. I promise.”

The thought of losing her had Max rethinking this whole plan. Maybe he could get one of his informants to make the pay off, except they’d ask questions and who knew if it would get back to one of his superiors. No, unfortunately Molly was the only one.

“It will be fine, Max,” she said, reassuring him when he should be the one comforting her. “You’ll protect me.”

“I will,” he vowed. “With my life.”