“This madness is only ours, my love. My Frida. You can feel it, can’t you? How much I want you, how much deeper this thing between us is than just lust.”
She absorbed his words, every syllable of them, this raw declaration of the love that had taken them both by surprise, forged by their common past and the very fabric of their souls.
“Yes, yes, it is. I love you, Malco. Please never sacrifice yourself for me again. I’d rather you stand by my side and fight with me.”
The words flowed, revealing her feelings for the man, as her body became desperate for his, her hips bucking against him, his meeting hers. She should’ve been worried about his comfort, but she was too far gone. Everything was moving too fast to be stopped now.
Malco took her free hand, bringing it to his lips as he heightened his assault with the other. “I love you too.”
Frida shattered, screaming his name as she felt him pulsing inside her, his low groan a sure sign he was as lost as she was, and had been found in each other’s arms.
Her body shut the world out for a moment, suspended in time, focused only on their shared pleasure, this connection she never thought she craved.
Peace invaded her as she melted into his arms, leaning on his good side. As consciousness came back to her, she was glad to see him as breathless and sweaty as she was, but it was his lopsided grin that spread delicious heat in her chest.
This shared silence was precious, and when Malco kissed her hair, she wiggled a little closer. “Are you cold?”
“No. Are you hurting?”
“It’s a good kind of hurt. And if you want to have your way with me again, I’m ready for another round.”
“I don’t want to overexert my sex god.”
Malco relaxed even more. “Glad to know everything that’s happened hasn’t made you reconsider loving me.”
It was her turn to tense. “Why would it? Are you having second thoughts?”
He took her hand and nipped at her palm. “Not in a million years. I just thought that because of everything that has happened, with the police and the gang, you’d be reminded of things you’d rather forget. I’m part of that past with my brother and what happened to your sister. We’re linked because of it. I was worried that by being pulled into that darkness and violence, you’d realize it wasn’t something you ever wanted again.”
The way he averted his eyes made her realize that she hadn’t been the only one struggling with the return of a past they’d rather forget.
“I love you, Malco Aguilar. You, your heart, scars, and past. You’re a package deal, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you. I saw how good you are at your work and how your past helped you. All I ask is that you’re careful, and you don’t shut me out to protect me. I can take way more than you think. I need you to trust me.”
He turned and looked deep in her eyes, caressing her face with the tips of his fingers. “I think it will take a little time for me to stop being the man I am, sweetheart, but I will try.”
Her laughter poured out of her as part of the world righted itself. She was stronger with him, and she suspected that happy discovery was only the beginning of the wonderful things they’d share together. “I can accept that.”
“I think we both need it. I know the next months will be busy ones for both of us, but I’ll be sure to add romantic touches here and there. A reminder of how much I love you.”
Lips hovering over his, Frida smiled. “I could never forget, but I’ll never say no to a reminder. The more often, the better.”
His smile said it all when he took her lips again. From two children prisoners of dangerous gangs, they had come a long way, but at last, they had found their place in the world and in each other’s arms. For better and for worse had never sounded so perfect and exciting as Frida kissed the most wonderful man she had ever known.
Epilogue
“We the jury find the defendant Charles Kasten, guilty on all counts.” A cheer went up in the courtroom at the jury’s findings, but Malco only had eyes for the woman he loved. Her gaze swung to him at the back of the courtroom, and he thought his heart couldn’t love her more than he did at that moment.
Triumph, relief, pride, and love filled her stunning features. He returned her smile before she was swept into a hug from Cleo, who’d given up her own time to help out with recruiting and training more staff for Frida’s practice.
He twisted when a hand landed on his shoulder and saw James and Alex either side of him.
“I knew she could do it.” Alex nodded at Frida, who was shaking hands with Chief Randall.
James grinned at him. “Me too, she’s the lawyer and friend I want on my side in any situation.”
“She worked her ass off this last year to make sure the evidence she had and the case she made was watertight,” Malco told the men needlessly because they’d been there through every late night, through every struggle or set back, and there had been a few. A case like this was always going to have blips, and sometimes it had seemed like it had all been for nothing, especially when the gangs claimed more lives. In the end though, through the hard work, grit, and tenacity of the woman he loved, justice had prevailed.
James looked across the room at Mercy, who was with Frida, and his face softened. “The streets are safer for a little while, at least.”
Frida finally made it past the melee and threw herself into his arms.
Malco caught her and held her tight to his body, his head buried in her neck. “I am so proud
