Page 43 of Bought For The Marriage Bed

Nina closed her eyes, her limbs suddenly feeling cold without the warmth of his.

‘Nina…I—’

‘Please don’t say anything.’ She scrambled to her feet without looking at him and reached for her towel.

‘I am assuming from your reaction that you had rather a difficult delivery with Georgia,’ he said, his voice flat and unemotional.

She wound the towel around her body without looking his way.

‘Nina?’

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘We have to talk, whether you like it or not. I need to know.’

‘What do you need to know?’ She turned on him. ‘Do you want to hear how Georgia was born after fifteen hours of labour without her father present? How her father refused to acknowledge her existence? Is that what you want to know?’

Marc stared at her, all of his carefully rehearsed accusations fading away.

‘You have no right to cast judgement,’ she continued. ‘Do you have any idea of what it’s like to be pregnant and alone? Do you?’

He drew in a breath and let it out on a sigh. ‘No, I do not. You are right. I have no right to judge.’

‘Georgia needed a father and my…I mean I needed someone to help me bring her into the world, but your brother wasn’t interested.’

‘He had not planned on having a child with you.’

‘So what?’ she asked. ‘Whatever the motive when a child is conceived, it’s up to both of the parents to jointly see to its welfare. Besides, accidents can happen.’ She gave him a pointed look and added, ‘I didn’t happen to see you put on a condom just now.’

‘I did not…you know…’ He let his words trail off, a dull flush riding over his cheeks.

She raised her brows. ‘Surely you know better than that? Pre-ejaculatory fluid contains thousands of sperm. You might very well be in exactly the same position as your brother.’

‘If I am, I am prepared to meet my responsibilities. If we have conceived a child I will not walk away.’

‘Even though you loathe me and can barely stand to look at me?’

He met her gaze without flinching. ‘I will put my personal feelings aside if need be.’

Nina felt her heart tighten painfully at his words. He was so unlike his brother, who’d had his fun and had walked away without a backward glance. She knew Marc would stand by his word, even if it cost him dearly. How she wished she could tell him the truth!

She turned away before he could see the longing in her eyes. ‘I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I have no plans to get pregnant.’

‘If it were to happen…’ He raked a hand through his hair as he considered the prospect. ‘You will tell me?’

She met his eyes for a brief moment. ‘I would owe you that at the very least.’

His eyes fell away from hers first. ‘I will check on Georgia. You should go to bed; you look…exhausted.’

She opened her mouth to deny it but stopped as she realised it was true. ‘Thank you,’ she said softly and moved towards the door.

‘Nina?’

His voice stopped her hand from turning the handle and she slowly turned around to face him. ‘Yes?’

His eyes didn’t quite meet hers. ‘I am sorry.’

Her hand on the doorknob fell away. ‘For what?’

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