I glance down at the small hand reaching over to cover mine. Maggie gently pries my clenched fingers apart and laces her fingers through them without speaking.

The small gesture is a gut punch to my insides. I struggle to swallow past the pain I’m feeling inside.

It’s almost too much to hope that she’s willing to give me a second chance. Especially after what I just put her through. I’m nothing but a total stranger. She doesn’t know me at all. Yet she’s willing to take a risk.

On me.

For me.

It’s hard for me to believe someone would be willing to do that. Most of my life I’ve been alone. Scraping by and making it the best I can by myself without help from anyone.

“Why?” I ask.

I don’t elaborate. I don’t need to. She knows what I’m asking.

“Because I see something hidden in you deep down below all the pain,” she says. “I know it’s there. I feel it. You’re a good man inside, Toby. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past. Or even tonight. I can look past all that. I know who you really are.”

I feel the tension I’ve been holding in my body for what seems like forever slowly start to melt away. Lifting our hands to my lips, I gently kiss her fingers. My lips linger a long second.

“Look at me,” she says.

I can’t.

Not yet.

I’m afraid if I do, she’ll see me for what I really am. When I don’t, she places a hand on my cheek and turns my face toward hers.

“See?” she says. “Take a long look. I’m still here, and I’m okay. A little freaked out and bruised, but I’ll survive.”

I’m not so sure.

There are bright red welts on both sides of her neck left by the imprint of my fingers. They must hurt like hell. It makes me sick inside to see them. And terrified that I’ll do it again.

“How can you ever forgive me?” I ask, reaching up a gentle hand to lightly touch her neck.

“I already have,” she says softly.

“Fuck…Maggie.”

With a defeated groan, I pull her close and crush my lips against hers in a desperate kiss. All of the emotions I’ve fought so long to keep in check come flooding out. I close my eyes and drink in her intoxicating sweetness until my head reels.

Knowing that she’s willing to take a chance after what I did makes me crazy. She should run out into the night screaming for help. Instead here she is, her lips soft and eager against mine.

I need her tonight.

She’ll never know how much.

I wanted her the second our eyes met across the food court and never imagined in a million years that I’d get the chance to be this close. She sighs against my lips, clutching my shoulders.

Taking her arms, I link them behind my neck. My heart pounds erratically as she opens her mouth willingly to my hungry onslaught. The taste of her drives me mad and immediately has me so hard and thick that I’m throbbing.

I slide one hand under her t-shirt and hear the quick catch of her breath. Instead of stopping me, she places her hand over mine and guides it up her stomach until my hand cups her heavy breast. Her nipple goes hard when I graze it with my thumb. Moaning, she leans closer.

Tentatively, she slides her hand under the sheet that I’ve pulled over my waist to rest it on my thigh. I suck in my breath when her hand moves up. The instant her hand touches my dick, it impossibly hardens and lengthens even more.

“Maggie,” I say, tearing my lips from her moments later, my breathing ragged. “Push me away. Please. I’m no good for you. You should run out the door right now and never come back. You have no idea of what you’re getting into with me.”

“No,” she whispers. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I bury my nose in her sweet-smelling hair, drinking her in. “I want you so fucking much,” I mutter. “You can still say no and I’ll stop right now. Even though all I can think about is how much I need to sink my cock deep inside you and stay there forever. I’m warning you. Stop me now. Before it’s too late. Because God help me, I can’t be the one to do it. I’m not strong enough.”