As soon as he walked back into the bar, I knew something had happened. I could see it in his eyes. I wanted to go to him, ask him what it was, but I couldn’t move. I was frozen in my seat—not because I was scared, but because I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I just sat there staring at him, the man I’d given my heart to, and I realized that I’d hadn’t fallen for him because he was perfect, because he wasn’t. Like everyone, he had his faults, those little imperfections that made him human, and he knew I had my own. He knew about my past and all my secrets, and instead of holding it against me, instead of treating me differently, he saw through them and found the real me beneath it all. Our imperfections were what made us work.

As he started towards me, Candi, one of their club’s bartenders, leaned towards me and said, “Damn. He is so freaking hot.”

She was practically drooling over him like he was a prize-winning bull at the market. “Yeah, he sure is.”

I could hear the intrigue in her voice as she asked, “You two got something going, don’t ya?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“I thought so,” she replied, trying to hide her disappointment. “I could tell he didn’t want to leave you here alone, but I can’t blame him for that. A looker like you is gonna draw some attention from the fellas. No doubt about that.”

Candi was a beautiful girl, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, Barbie doll kind of beautiful, and it was hard not to feel flattered by her compliment. “I guess you could say he’s the protective type.”

“Smart man. Hold on to that one.”

When Diesel finally made it over to us, he asked, “You ready to go?”

I nodded and hugged Candi goodbye before following him out into the parking lot. Once we were outside, I turned to him and asked, “What happened? Did you find out anything about Brady?”

He paused before he answered, “Can’t tell you much, Ellie. Just that everything’s gonna be okay.”

“What do you mean you can’t tell me?”

“I’ll explain more later, but this all falls under club business …” he started.

Before he could finish, Cotton came up behind him and interrupted, “Only gonna tell you this because I think it’s important that you know. You didn’t kill Brady.”

“How do you know that? Is he here?” When neither of them answered, I said, “If he’s here, I want to see him.”

Cotton’s eyebrows furrowed as he growled, “That’s not gonna happen, Ellie. Not a fucking chance.”

“Please, Cotton. I need this. Just two minutes, so I can finally get some closure.”

“You’ll get all the closure you need when we get those charges dropped. Seeing him isn’t gonna—”

Before he could finish, I said, “After all he’s done to me, I just want a chance to look him in the eye and let him know that he didn’t win. That’s all I’m asking for here. Just a chance to—”

“Fine,” Cotton grumbled. “You’ve got two minutes. That’s it.”

“That’s all I’m asking for.”

“I’ll get Rip,” Cotton told us as he turned and started back inside the clubhouse.

Once he was gone, Diesel put his hands on my shoulders and asked, “You sure about this?”

I nodded, but the nerves that were building in my stomach made me wonder if I was doing the right thing. “I think so.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

I eased up on my tiptoes and kissed him. “Yes, I do. I hope you can understand that.”

“I’m not sure that I do, but if this really means that much to you, I won’t try to change your mind.” He brought his hand up to my cheek. “But there’s no way in hell I’m letting you do this alone.”

I smiled as I said, “I didn’t suspect you would.”

It wasn’t long before Cotton returned with the man he’d called Rip. Diesel and I followed them both to their garage, and the anxious feeling I had in the pit of my stomach only grew stronger as they led us through a back door and into an eerie hallway. When they reached a side door, Cotton turned back to me and said, “Before you go in, you should know … he’s in pretty rough shape.”

I nodded and watched with great apprehension as he slowly opened the door. There were no windows and the lights were dim, and the foul smell burned my eyes, making it difficult to see as I walked into the room. But I didn’t have to see clearly to know that Brady was in the room. I could feel it in my bones. I took another step forward and my stomach turned when I spotted him sitting on the bed. His eyes were bruised and swollen, but I could see the hatred in his glare. Cotton was right. He was in pretty rough shape, and if he was anyone else, I might’ve felt sorry for him. But I felt no pity, no remorse. When I looked at him, I felt nothing.

“Hello, Brady.”

“What the hell do you want?”

Those familiar, anxious feelings started creeping over me, but I refused to let them stop me from what I needed to say. After inhaling a deep breath, I looked him in the eye as I said, “You know I didn’t deserve those things you did to me, Brady. I was good to you, even when you gave me no reason to be.”

“Don’t come in here all high and mighty like you’re some kind of goddamn saint. We both know the only reason you’re here is because you’ve gotten yourself mixed up with these assholes.” His face was red with fury as he spat, “I always knew you were a good-for-nothing whore, and now, you’ve just proven me right by getting tied up with those lowlife motherfuckers. Damn. A fucking biker club? Seriously?”

“I don’t have to justify my actions to you, but I will tell you this. Each and every one of those bikers are better men than you could ever be.”

“I don’t want to hear this shit, Ellie,” he barked. “For fuck’s sake. Just say what you gotta say and get the hell out of here.”

“I’m leaving, but before I do, I want you to take one last look at me, Brady.” I took a step closer to him as I said, “I want you to see that I’m still standing. After all you did, you didn’t break me. You tried, but like everything else you ever tried to do, you failed. I don’t know what’s going to happen to you, but I do know this: My future looks a whole lot brighter than yours.”

With that, I turned and looked over to Diesel. “I’m done here.”

When we started out of the room, Diesel reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as we followed the others out of the garage. While we continued towards Cotton’s SUV, I realized that I felt lighter, freer, than I had in years. I’d always believed that there were two types of forgiveness: the kind where you gave the person another chance, and the kind of forgiveness where you walked away. For Brady, there would be no more second chances. When I walked out of that room, I’d forgiven him for what he’d done to me, but I hadn’t done it for him, I did it for myself. I was tired of carrying around the weight of resentment and anger and absolving him was the only way I’d ever be free from it.

Just as we were about to get in the truck, Diesel pulled me over to him and said, “You did good back there. I’m proud of you.”

“I’m just glad it’s over.” I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Take me home.”

It was several hours later before we finally made it back to Diesel’s place. We hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast, so Diesel fixed us a pot of spaghetti for dinner. Once we were finished eating, he made us a fire where we cuddled up on the sofa and watched TV in silence. It seemed both of us were lost in our own thoughts as we tried to come to terms with everything that had transpired at the Forsaken Saint’s clubhouse. I was trying to figure out why I hadn’t shared everything with him sooner. I wanted to think it was because I hadn’t remembered, but the truth was, I had. By that time, I’d remembered everything. Maybe it was out of fear or simple embarrassment, but I’d kept it from him, and I didn’t like that I did. Sensing that something was weighing on my mind, Diesel looked over to me and asked, “You okay?”

“Yes and no.” I studied him for a moment, seeing the concern in his eyes, and in my heart, I felt like I could tell him anything. It was my mind that was having trouble understanding. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about everything sooner. I’m not sure why I didn’t.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Ellie. There could be a number of reasons why. The fact is, you still told me.”

“I think I was embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed? Why would you be embarrassed?”

“Because I married a monster, and then I didn’t even have the strength to get away from him. It took having something to blackmail him with before I found the courage—”

“Stop right there. You’re being way too hard on yourself with all this. Instead of focusing on the things you didn’t do, you need to focus on the things you did. You got away. That’s all that matters.”

“I think a part of me is worried that you might be too good to be true.” The words slipped out before I had to think. “I mean—”

“I’m just me, Ellie. In time you’ll see that. And in time, you’ll also see that I’m not him. I’m nothing like him.”

“I know you aren’t him, Diesel. I’ve known that from the start.”

“Then stop worrying about repeating your past, because you’ll never enjoy what’s ahead of you if you’re always looking back.” His voice was soft and heartfelt as he urged, “Be here with me. Let me show you how good things can really be.”

“I’m here. There’s no place I’d rather be.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, Diesel leaned towards me. His intoxicating scent enveloped me, a mixture of cologne and fresh leather, seducing all my senses. Simply being this close to him made my heart start to race as it nearly leapt from my chest when he said, “You’re amazing, Ellie, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how amazing you really are.”

His gorgeous, green eyes locked on mine as his mouth crashed down on my lips, kissing me with a fervent passion. My entire body tingled with desire as he delved into my mouth, and it was clear he was feeling the same when his fingers dug into the sides of my waist, pulling me closer to him. The bristles of his day-old beard lightly scratched against my skin as he took complete control, making my body ache for more while he claimed me with his mouth. A light moan escaped from my throat as my hands began to roam over his chest, gliding over the bulging muscles of his abdomen. I wanted to touch his bare skin, feel his body pressed against mine, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer. I reached for his shirt, and he pulled it off his body. Once it was gone, our hands became frantic, quickly removing the remaining clothes that separated us. In just a few seconds, I was wearing only my lace bra and panties.

“You’re every fantasy I’ve ever had,” I whispered as my eyes roamed over his body, traveling along the lines and curves of the muscles in his chest, then looking back to his gorgeous face as I smiled in appreciation. His eyes were focused on my nearly naked body, and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed the desire in his appraisal. I watched with fascination as his chest slowly rose and fell with each tortured breath.

“Mine,” slipped through his lips just before he reached for me, pulling me in for another heated kiss. His hands slowly eased behind my back to release the clasp of my bra. As the fabric slipped away from my body, I felt his lips glide across my skin to my breast. “Every inch of you is mine, and I’m going to cherish you in ways you’ve never imagined.”

The glow of the fire danced in his eyes as he lowered me down on the sofa. He hovered over me for a brief moment, and then his mouth resumed its divine torture of kissing and nipping the delicate skin of my neck. He settled in between my thighs, and I lifted my hips towards him as I tried desperately to find relief for the burning need that was building up inside me.

“Yes,” I hissed as his hand slowly slid between our bodies. He traced his fingers across my panties, teasing me with his light caresses before pushing the fabric to the side. He casually slid his fingers inside me, tormenting me as he swirled them ever so slowly. I could feel the fiery hunger and yearning deep inside me. It had started with just a spark, but I could feel it building, my arousal smoldering as it spread through my body. That feeling only intensified when his thumb began circling my swollen clit, drawing out my pleasure. When he found my G-spot, my breath caught in my lungs, and as my orgasm took hold, the muscles in my body started quivering uncontrollably. I was still trying to catch my breath when I felt my panties being slipped down over my hips.

I turned to look at him standing before me and watched anxiously as he tore the condom wrapper with his teeth. After he slowly slid it down his long, hard shaft, he lowered himself down on top of me. His weight pressed me into the cushions, making my entire body tremble with anticipation. This man had me spellbound, and I found myself gazing at him, then feverishly touching him, just to be sure he wasn’t a dream. A needful moan pulsed through his chest as his hands, rough and impatient, roamed over my entire body, proof that this was no dream. He was real, all of him, and my body melted into his as he trailed delicate kisses over my breasts, scraping his teeth across my sensitive flesh. He hovered over me, and a warmth spread across my flesh as I watched his eyes wander over every inch of my bare skin.

“You’re so beautiful, Ellie,” he whispered with his breath caressing my neck. Emotion flashed through his eyes as he settled between my legs, and then he stopped and inhaled a long, strained breath. Seeing that he was trying to maintain his control, I placed my palms on his chest and whispered, “Don’t hold back, Scotty. Not with me.”

He clenched his jaw before lifting my hips and making one forceful thrust deep inside me, filling me completely. My fingers tangled in his hair, as I wrapped my legs around him, taking him deeper inside me. Being with him was different than anything I’d ever experienced. He made me feel whole, undamaged, and beautiful; the feeling was bliss. Pure bliss.

I wanted to slowly savor the moment, to feel every erotic sensation, but he had other plans. He growled as his pace quickened, becoming more demanding and intense with each shift of his hips. My hands curled around his back as I held onto him, bracing myself for the next wave of pleasure that teetered on crashing through my body. His eyes never left mine as he increased his rhythm, each thrust more forceful than the last. My inner muscles clenched around him as I felt another orgasm building inside me. “Oh, God! Don’t stop!” I pleaded.

I could feel my climax burning through my veins. His very touch sent me spiraling out of control—body and soul—and the feeling was so exhilarating that I was finding it difficult to even breathe. I couldn’t stop my greedy body from seeking its ultimate high, and with one last, deep thrust, the fire raged inside me, consuming me as I reached the apex of euphoric pleasure. I let out a strangled cry as I writhed beneath him. Even with my body shuddering from the aftermath of such intense carnal satisfaction, he didn’t slow. Not even close. He drove into me again and again until he found his own release—with the growl of a bear whose hunger had been sated—as he lowered his body on top of mine. I lay there limp beneath him as I listened to the rapid beating of his heart. It slowly began to return to a steady pace, and then, he eased off of me. As he started walking towards the bathroom, my eyes dropped to his incredibly sexy behind. Like he could read my mind, he looked over his shoulder with a cocky smirk and asked, “Are you enjoying the view?”

“Yes. Very much.” I giggled. “Walk slower, will ya!”

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “I’ve created a monster.”

“Are you saying that’s a bad thing?”

“Absolutely not. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”