Free Secrets Of The Heart (Book 1, The Heart Series) by Laurie LeClair

hand through his hair. “Not likely,” he said in resignation, hating himself in the process and wondering when he’d become so heartless, so damned hurtful to Bree.
    “I thought that by marrying me…you could at least put it behind you.” Her voice throbbed with agony, ripping him apart even more. “I guess I was wrong.”
    Nick’s thoughts whirled, crashing together. He had to find a way to salvage what little potential remained in repairing what he’d nearly destroyed. “We may never mend the past.”
    “We won’t as long as you hold onto those uncompromising ideals you refuse to examine.”
    Her barb stung. Drawing strength from his desire to have a family once again, Nick continued, “If we can find a way to bury our ancient history, then maybe we can go on to have a pretty good future together.”
    “Just because you bury something doesn’t mean it dies, Nick. You and I both know that; haven’t we tried to do that with our forbidden kiss? It just festers and becomes infected. If we had talked it out when it happened maybe we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in now.”
    “Married?”
    “Guilt ridden.”
    “Well, we can’t change the past, can we?” He took a slow, deep breath, and then released it. Nick dismissed her attempts to hash out their terrible mistake. It was over and done with, the threatening repercussions gone along with Vinnie. “I’ll be the first one to admit we’ve made this huge leap from antagonists to husband and wife. It’s a little daunting to expect to switch gears so fast. Maybe we should look at this time at the cabin as an adjustment period.”
    “A sort of transition?”
    “Consider it a start to lay down a foundation of friendship.”
    “Friendship…” She’d ended the word on a questioning lilt. “But you’re the one that forced the issue of a real marriage with the prenuptial agreement. Are you taking it back now?”
    He gritted his teeth, trying to stem the raw edge of his desire for her. He’d waited years to make love to her. What would a few more days matter? What he said next screamed against his body’s needs. “We should get to know each other better first. I’m asking for a delay, that’s all.”
    “A delay.”
    “You sound like a damn parrot. Don’t you have anything worthwhile to say?”
    “Well, excuse me for not being so damned articulate!” She rose swiftly. Towering over him, she bit out, “If you didn’t want to make love to me, Nick, then all you had to do is come right out and say so, not beat around the bush.” She marched into the cabin. The loud click of the door shut him out once again.
    He groaned. If she only knew just how much he wanted her, he thought, it would scare her just as much as it did him.
     
    ***
     
    Bree stirred awake. Peeking under her lashes, she found herself alone in the king-size bed. Weak beams of predawn gray light penetrated the cracks in the twin shuttered windows, illuminating the shadows in the large, masculine master bedroom.
    The curved indentation in the snowy-white pillowcase beside her told her Nick had finally sought rest sometime last night, without waking her, without consummating their marriage.
    A flash of sadness shafted through her chest. And an ache grew, deep and strong. Bree sucked in a shaky breath. The sharp painful catch caused a knife-like stab to puncture her throat.
    Moisture gathered in her eyes, making her vision swim in disjointed, blurred shapes.
    Will I ever have a husband who wants me on my wedding night?

 
     
     

Chapter 8
     
     
    Sighing, Bree grabbed Nick’s pillow to her, burying her face in the plush spongy softness and inhaling his special scent.
    Anguish, low and deep, tugged at her, painfully reminding her how badly she wanted a real husband, one who loved her. In spite of her allegation, Bree sensed he wanted her. She may have little experience with men; she’d only been intimate with one, but she did detect desire in Nick.
    The gentleness of his kiss