Page 52 of Richard

Rummaging through her drawers, she selected a thin black silk robe that came halfway to her thighs and slipped it on without putting on any underwear. Tying the sash around her narrow waist, she sat at the vanity mirror and brushed her hair until it shone, leaving it loose around her shoulders.

The robe sagged at the front, revealing glimpses of her generous breasts, and she could see her nipples printed against the thin material.

Taking a deep breath, she left the room and headed downstairs to wait for his arrival.

Chapter 12

She was standing by the door, and as soon as she saw the sweeping arc of his headlights, she pulled it open, ignoring the biting cold. He shoved the door open and alighted, slamming it shut and not mothering to press the alarm, bounded down the steps, his long legs taking him across the threshold.

“Richard, I–”

That was as far as she got. Kicking the door shut, he gripped her around the throat and crushed her mouth with his. The kiss was rough, as if he was punishing her for putting him through hell.

She sagged against him, welcoming the invasion of his tongue. Her arms encircled his waist as he continued to kiss until she felt her insides weakened. Lifting her into his arms, he strode with unerring accuracy toward the stairs.

Lifting his head only to gauge how far he was from her room, he returned to the kiss as he carried her into the bedroom andlaid her against the pillows. Kicking off his shoes, he covered her body with his hands, busy at the knot at her waist. A grunt escaped him when he discovered her bare flesh.

Lifting his head, he finally spoke, his breathing ragged, eyes feverish.

“Damn you for putting me through that kind of abject misery.” His hand gripped her chin as he tilted her face up to his. “I was about to drink myself into a stupor and was cursing myself for a fool when you called.”

“I am sorry,” she whispered. One hand lifted to touch his unshaven jaw tenderly. “I envisioned my life without you, and I could not stand it. I had to call.”

His eyes burned at her admission, and suddenly, he could not bear anything between them.

“Does that mean you will marry me?” he asked gruffly. “I won’t accept anything less than that.”

She took a shuddering breath and nodded. “I am scared.”

“Of me?” There was an incredulous tone in his voice.

“Of what this will be. They are going to dig into my past.”

“I can arrange that we control the narrative.” He stroked her cheek gently. “I would never want to cause you one moment of pain. So, I will wait until you are ready to go public. As long as we are together, then I can endure anything.”

Pushing away, he made a quick job of taking off his clothing, dropping them carelessly on her shiny oak floor. Lying next to her, he shed the robe she had on, so that he could stare at her.

“I thought I was losing you and could not bear it.” He brushed back the tendrils of her hair. “When you said you needed time, I felt something dying inside me, and I was so angry at life at fate for bringing you into my life and then throwing so many challenges along with it.

I shouldn’t have rushed you, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I am impatient, I have found the love of my life for the first time, and I want to give you my name and everything else that comes with it.”

Her fingers curled against the hairs on his chest, her heart racing madly. “Did you mean it when you said you wanted a child? Or were you just saying that because of the one I lost?”

His eyes darkened. Lifting her hand, he opened her fingers and kissed her palm. “I meant every word I said.” He placed their joined hands on her flat stomach. “I want to see my seed growing inside you.”

“Richard–”Emotions clogged her throat. “I know I haven’t said I love you back–”

“I can wait,” he assured her swiftly, not wanting her to feel pressured.

“No.” She shook her head, tears swimming in her eyes. “I love you.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “I was scared, I still am and I never thought anything like this would ever happen to me. I hated the word ‘spinster’, but I told myself that I was okay with it.” By this time, tears were streaming down herface.

“Collette, darling–”

“No.” She shook her head again. “Let me say this, please. I convinced myself that I was happy with my life the way it was. I had a very good career and was good at what I do. Life was beautiful and it could have been worse.

And then I would go to the park and see families, mothers and dads with their little ones and my heart would break. I stopped going because I could not bear it. Oh Richard, I thought it was over for me!”

He gathered her against him and felt his heart hammering as she sobbed. Her fingers clutched at him and even when she made grooves in the flesh of his arms, he didn’t feel anything.

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