"Now you're making excuses for yourself. I'm perfectly safe where I am, Jacob."
I walk over to her and grab her shoulders.
"Don't you understand I was so far gone I wouldn't have cared who got in front of me?"
"You would never hurt me."
"I could have killed that man. He's probably going to press charges."
"Yeah, no. I made a deal with him."
'What?” I jump. “What kind of deal? You shouldn't have done that."
"Carl has several warrants in different counties. I told him if he didn't press charges, I wouldn't tell the Sheriff about them."
"Then he got off too easy."
She steps into my arms and hugs me. Her soft curves fit perfectly against my body, and I sigh with relief.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, baby girl?"
"I love you."
"Oh God, Marci."
I take her face into my hands and kiss her gently. Her lips taste like honey, and I find I'm starved for her. I devour her mouth with mine and press my hard cock against her. I'm not ready for us to make love again, but I need her desperately. I need to know she'll have me, forever, in spite of my PTSD.
I pull back and look into her eyes.
"I love you too, Marci. Will you still marry me after seeing me that way?"
"Yes."
"Here, let me take your coat off."
I help her with her coat and hang it by the door. She's wearing a red t-shirt that goes to her thighs and black leggings. She looks comfortable and relaxed here with me.
"Will you spend what's left of Christmas day here with me?"
"Absolutely."
I pull the covers off the sofa bed and make room for her to get into the bed. I follow her and pull her to me once I'm settled in. There's something that's bothering me, but I don't know if I should bring it up. Hell, I'm going to marry this girl, I need to be able to communicate honestly with her.
"Marci, was he violent with you when you were together?"
She's silent for the longest time, and I dread what she's going to tell me. I swear, if he hurt her, I'm going after him and killing him.
"No. There were some signs, but he never lost his temper or put his hands on me violently."
"Thank the Lord."
"What if he had? Would you hurt him?" she asks.
"Probably. Maybe. Yes. You are the most important person in my life. Of course, I would have hurt him."
"Shhh, I'm okay."
