Page 75 of Landen

“I am not ill,dammit! I am pregnant.”

“And I did thisto you!” His hand slammed down on the table and rattled thesilverware, causing her to jump. “I planted my seed inside you,and as a result, you are suffering. Look at you! You are suffering,and I am the cause of it.”

“Landen-”

“Let me finish!I breezed into your life, and like a bloody selfish moron, Ipersuaded you to have a fling with me. A fling which turned intosomething so much more, and I did not think of using protection.”

Leaning back in hischair, he closed his eyes wearily. “I am sick about this - sickto my stomach. I cannot bear what I did to you, and it’skilling me, don’t you get it? I hate myself for putting youthrough it.”

There was silenceafter that impassioned speech, and Tessa felt her heart fluttering atthe look of anguish on his handsome face. She missed the carefree manwho had flirted so outrageously with her when they first met, the manwho had worn down her resistance and taken her to his bed.

She missed thecloseness between them and hated the cold distance that was drivingthem apart. She wanted it back, and she would do anything to get itback.

“I love you.”She told him quietly.

His head lifted tostare at her. “Why else would you be putting up with all ofthis?” There was a tinge of bitterness to his tone.

“I love you,and I want what we had back.” She continued. “For me toget through this, I need you. And I need you to stop blamingyourself. I am getting better. I am eating; before this, I could noteven keep water down.

The scent of perfume,even the very taste of toothpaste, would have me gagging. But I canbrush my teeth and smell food, which does not bother me. I am gettingbetter, just as the doctor says. I am eating- Landen, please look atme.”

She pleaded. “BecauseI am starting to think that you cannot bear to do so because of mylost weight. I am starting to think you don’t find meattractive anymore.” She ended in a whisper.

Pushing back hischair, he came around to where she was seated. Plucking her up, hesat down with her in his lap. “I think you are the mostbeautiful woman I have ever met,” he told her gruffly. “AndI cannot control my emotions for the first time in my life. I wantyou, Tessa. Wanting you is like a fire burning inside me.”

Her heart melted atthe ragged look on his handsome face.

“Then have me.”She whispered.

“No.” heshook his head. “I can’t.”

“I need you. Itdoes not have to be rough; I just need to feel you deep inside me.It’s been too long, and I am suffering from withdrawal-”His mouth swallowed up the rest of the words as he seized hers in akiss that rocked her entire foundation!

With a whimper ofjoy, she wrapped her hands around his neck and welcomed the wonderfulinvasion of his tongue.

Landen felt thesimmering passion that had been lying dormant burst into flames, onethat was threatening to consume him. His mouth devoured hers, and hefelt the familiar passion storming through his body.

The control wasslowly slipping away, and with almost superhuman strength, he endedthe kiss, his heart beating thundering inside his chest, his skinfeverish.

“Landen-”

“I need aminute.” He strove to get his rampaging passion under control.

“I cannot sleepwithout you.”

“You won’thave to.” Getting to his feet, he clasped her and strode offtoward the lovely and cozy bedroom. The housekeeper had burned a firein the hearth to eliminate the chill. Placing her carefully on thepillows, he stepped back to divest himself of his clothing beforeclimbing next to her.

“Do you want meto keep my clothes on?” she asked him tremulously.

“Why would-”He began, and then understanding dawned. He had told her he could notbear to see how thin she was now. “Let me.” His touch wasunbelievably gentle as he eased up to remove the thick sweater shehad donned after her shower earlier.

His heart twistedinside his chest as he noticed the ribs poking out and the concavestomach. She was almost three months pregnant, but it was not showinganywhere other than her breasts, which seemed to be fuller.

“I am sorry.”She whispered.

“For what?”he asked gruffly as he peeled off her leggings and panties.

“For lookinglike this. I promise that I will eat everything in sight-”

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