Page 62 of Nick
“Rest now,” he repeated, softer this time, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand.
And as Sarah’s breaths deepened into the rhythms of sleep, Nick finally admitted what he had always known: Sarah was, and always would be, his.
Chapter 26
SARAH WOKE TO THEsoft light of dawn filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over Nick’s sleeping form beside her.
His long sandy brown hair fanned across the pillow, a few strands lazily caressing his closed eyelids.
The steady rise and fall of his chest hypnotized her as she allowed herself a moment of quiet contemplation.She traced the curve of his jaw with her gaze, lingering on the familiar stubble.
As she watched him, Sarah’s heart ached with a love so profound, so fraught with regret, that it was nearly suffocating.
Nick’s eyes opened, his gaze turning on her.Without a word, he reached out, his hand gently cradling the side of her face, thumb brushing her cheekbone.
The moment his lips met hers, the connection sparked a wildfire that raced through her veins.
Sarah responded with a kiss fueled by years of longing.She tangled her fingers in his hair that flowed around them like a wild mane, drawing him deeper into the passion that had simmered inside her, unspoken, for far too long.
Finally, reluctantly, she pulled away from their kiss, her chest heaving with the effort to regain control over her racing heart.She studied Nick’s face, and her throat tightened as she grappled with her next confession.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she began.“I need to tell you—well, everything about that night, when I…when I convinced you to run.”
The shifting light from the rising sun cast patterns upon his face, but it did nothing to hide the tension that creased his brow.He nodded slowly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.
“Okay,” he said, his voice steady despite the underlying edge of anxiety Sarah knew all too well.“Tell me.”
Sarah took in a deep breath, feeling the dry New Mexico air fill her lungs as she prepared to unearth the past.
Her fingers traced the lines of the rumpled bedcovers, a restless energy coursing through her.
She could sense Nick’s protectiveness radiating like heat from his body, even as his own fears lurked right beneath the surface.
“Back then,” she started, “I made choices…terrible choices.And you deserve to know why.”Her gaze flickered to his, searching for a sign of kindness.
Nick reached for her hand, his touch promising that he was willing to listen.The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint reassuring smile.It was enough to nudge Sarah forward.
“Four years ago,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear lacing each word, “I began feeling ill.Nothing made sense, and my body… It was changing.”Her hands trembled as she folded them in her lap, the memory so vivid she could almost feel the nausea that had gripped her back then.
“I went to the pack doctor,” she continued, the image of the sterile office floating before her eyes, the scent of antiseptic mingling with the earthy aroma of herbs used for healing.“He told me I was pregnant.”There had been elation in that moment, a surge of love so powerful it had threatened to overwhelm her.“I was ecstatic.All I wanted was to tell you, to see your face light up with the news that we were going to be parents.”
The room seemed to contract, the past swirling like dust devils around them.
Nick remained silent, his thumb caressing the back of her hand in a soothing rhythm.
“I—” Sarah’s voice broke.But no, she couldn’t falter now.Not when there was so much at stake, not when she was so close to laying her soul bare before him.
With a deep breath, she steadied herself.“I never got to tell you because Karla… Karla knew.She was the receptionist at the doctor’s office back then.”
Nick’s brow furrowed.The soft light played against his features, accentuating the lines of tension in his face.
“She must have told Vincent.There’s no other way he could’ve found out about the baby.”
Sarah watched Nick closely.Each second stretched out.Her hands trembled slightly, and his skin was warm under her touch, a stark contrast to the chill of dread that threatened to envelop her.
“You have to believe me.I never wanted any of this to happen.”
“Tell me the rest.”Nick’s voice was quiet, reserving judgment, and Sarah clung to the belief that love—forgiveness—could still bloom from the scorched earth of their past.
