She shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter. I escaped and I’m never going back there. Maybe it’s better if we just remain friends for now,” she said. He felt sick to his stomach. He was causing her to pull back from him and from his brothers. He lowered to one knee and held her to him. He pressed his face to her belly over the sweater she wore.
“Don’t be afraid of me, of us. We would never cause you harm.” She ran her fingers through his hair and tilted his head up toward her.
“I don’t know if I can trust anyone again.” He eased back up and cupped her cheeks between his hands.
“You can trust me, us. We’ll protect you, Lucia.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips softly. When he released them, her eyes remained closed, and then her lips parted. She looked at him.
“You make me feel things. Things I don’t think I can handle because of my past.”
He wondered what that meant when he felt her pulling away. Something told him she needed reassurance just like he did.
“Nice and slow, Lucia. We’ll take our time and let things happen naturally. One day you’ll tell us what happened to you. One day you’ll realize we’re good, honest men, and that this isn’t about lust, sex, or something temporary.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, and she hugged him tight.
One kiss on the forehead is much sweeter than a thousand kisses on the lips. Filled with love, respect, and compassion. I’ll never be the same man again.
* * * *
They stood in the kitchen, Lucia complimenting the large table, a family heirloom of their parents.
“That is so cool. I love things like this. Family traditions handed down from one generation to the next. You’re close. It sounds like your parents really tried to keep tradition going,” she told them, and then her voice cracked.
Maxwell placed his hand on her waist as he stood behind her. She lowered her head and then turned to look at him. She faced him now, and he could see the sadness in her eyes.
Maxwell placed one hand on her hip and one on the table behind her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her.
She glanced at the others and shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong, Maxwell.”
He gave her hip a squeeze.
“Talk to us. Let us in, baby.” Her eyes widened at his statement.
“I can’t,” she whispered. He felt his gut clench.
“Does this have to do with the man that hurt you?” Salvatore asked. Maxwell felt his chest tighten. It seemed that Salvatore had gained some information on Lucia in the barn he hadn’t been able to share with them yet.
“Who hurt you?” Lucifer asked, stepping forward.
“Lucia?” Gabriele said her name and joined them by the table.
She took a deep breath and then released it. When she reached up and caressed her palm against Maxwell’s chest and played with one of the buttons on his shirt, he felt his cock harden and his body tighten with need. He wanted her. Wanted to kiss her, touch her, take the fear in her eyes away.
“It’s too difficult to talk about. I’m ashamed about it, about my family, about everything.”
“You can tell us anything, and we’ll answer any questions you have about us and our family, our pasts, anything you want to know,” Maxwell promised her.
“I can’t. I think it’s time for me to leave,” she said, looking so sad and obviously not meaning anything she was saying.
Maxwell pulled her into his arms and hugged her to him.
“No, Lucia, don’t go. Don’t be scared, baby. We’re going to be your guardians,” Maxwell stated. She pulled back.
“Guardians?” she asked, and they explained about the town, about the rules of watching over women and children and men requesting guardianship of single women, and how they were going to request to be her guardians.