Read Loving His Forever for Free Online

stands in front of my open door and lifts his hand to cup my cheek.
    “I’m so proud of you, Angel. I can see the fear written all over your face. Know you’re safe with me. Always.” He leans forward and my eyes widen. My body stiffens to stone. My eyes follow his movement. He presses his warm lips to my forehead tenderly. My heart starts pounding out of my chest.
    Ethan backs away and shuts the door then gets in the driver’s side. I tuck my hands under my knees as I think about what the heck just happened. The kiss on the forehead was totally innocent. Starting that first night, Ethan has ended up in bed with me from my nightmares every night, because as soon as he leaves, I wake up screaming again. Ethan holding me chases away those demons.
    Ethan starts his truck and looks over at me. “You sure you’re ready for this?” he asks. I nod and give him the biggest smile I can muster. Ethan’s mouth falls open for a second and lets out a small hiss that I can barely hear. Confused, I start to ask what’s wrong, but he turns away from me.
    We sit in silence for a few minutes before I ask, “How was work today?” I look over at him for a second before looking out of the windshield.
    “The same ol’, same ol’. Some fucker was hitting his woman today in a store because she was trying to leave him.” He tightens his hands on the steering wheel, making the leather creak from his tight grip.
    My throat tightens at the thought of a woman having to go through that. I wish I could help her. Nobody deserves to go through something like that.
    “What happened to the man?” I ask anxiously.
    “He’s in jail, but he will probably be out by tonight.” He shakes his head angrily.
    “I hope she gets away,” I whisper, lost in thought.
    “Me too, Angel.” He grabs my hand and presses a kiss on the back.
    A few minutes later, we pull up in front of a steak house. “I’ll help you out.” He slams his door shut before I can suggest otherwise.
    Twisting in my seat, I open the door. Ethan’s raises a hand for me to take. I look at it for a second before my small hand goes into his warm calloused one.
    “You ready for this, Brae?” he asks me one last time. He searches my face, looking for any doubt, but I don’t have any. I’ve got to do this.
    “No, Ethan, but I need to do this.”
    He smirks at me. “Well, let’s go then.” His hand goes to the small of my back, and I lean into his side protectively as he leads me through the parking lot to the front entrance.
    People exit as soon as we reach the door. A man accidently brushes me. I stiffen and close my eyes. Ethan pulls me tighter against him and out of the man’s way.
    He opens the door, and we walk into the darkly lit restaurant that smells like steaks and fried things; that smell alone has me starving. I want to put on all the pounds I can so I don’t look so sickly; I never want to be this small again.
    The waitress looks up at us and grabs two menus. “Table for two?” She’s really pretty, and I can’t help but notice the way she is staring at Ethan. Licking my lips, I look up at Ethan nervously, and much to my surprise, he’s not staring at her but at me. I shift uncomfortably under his gaze. I watch as the lady in front of us looks at me funny. I know what she’s thinking. Why is someone like that standing beside someone like me?
    “This way,” she tells us and walks toward the back of the restaurant. Ethan tucks me closely to his side again. The eyes that stare at us as we pass have my mind on alert. I’m scared, and on top of that, I feel self-conscious to the point I want to run back outside and hide in the truck. Ethan’s hand curls tighter around my waist, almost like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. I bite my lip nervously in an effort to distract myself from these thoughts.
    “Relax, baby, I got you.” Ethan’s warm breath tickles my ear as he reassures me. The lady motions us toward a booth and sets the menus on the table.