Page 70 of Chilled
"I choose you."
Panic rose in her at the thought of his ultimate rejection. Better to cut her losses and run. But she didn’t want to. "Nick, you're perfect, and I'm flawed."
"There lies the error in your thinking." He pulled her closer until her body was an inch from his. “No one’s perfect. We all have our flaws.”
The warmth emanating from all that exposed skin made Brenna’s fingers ache to touch him. “How am I supposed to walk away when you’re standing there half-naked?”
“You’re not supposed to.” He pushed a damp tendril of hair behind her ear. “What are you really afraid of, Brenna?”
Brenna leaned her face into his hand. “I’m not afraid.”I’m petrified.
His thumb smoothed across her cheek. “Liar.”
“Okay, so I’m afraid.” She had to inject one last attempt, one last note of reason. “If anything happens tonight, it doesn’t have to mean anything.”
“Like hell it doesn’t.” His lips descended on hers, blocking out further protest.
As if the levy burst, all the pent-up emotions of the last few days poured through into that one kiss. Despite her words to the contrary, Brenna knew this kiss meant everything to her. She knew by going into Nick’s arms tonight she’d be opening herself to heartache.
No longer able to hold back, she knew she needed Nick almost more than she needed to breathe. After the chilling bath in the freezing waters of a roadside ditch, the discovery of three dead bodies and the ever-present knowledge she was a killer’s target, Brenna wanted some reassurance.
Hadn’t she given her all to the job? Didn’t she deserve a little happiness, even if only for a couple of hours in the darkness before dawn? Even if she didn’t deserve it, she damned well would take what she could.
And Nick seemed willing, if the hands skimming across her back then sliding beneath her pajama bottoms were any indication. Did he notice the different texture of her scars? Did it repulse him?
Did she care? All she wanted was to be held in his arms and have him climb between her legs and fill her with life.
She leaned against his chest, the friction of his coarse hairs against her bare breasts making her nipples tighten into hard beads. Sliding her hands up his biceps, she reveled in the smooth skin stretched over rock-hard muscles. She loved the power he held in check and wanted more.
Without turning to expose the scars on her back, Brenna backed toward her bedroom, pulling Nick along with her.
His hands skimmed over her bottom and down to cup her thighs. Lifting her off the floor, he wrapped her legs around his waist and carried her into the room, never breaking contact with her lips.
“What about protection?” she said against his mouth.
“I’ve got that covered.”
A thrill of anticipation coursed through her veins. This was no chance encounter. Nick had been thinking about this before he’d made his first move. “You’re very sure of yourself.”
His lips curved into a gentle grin. “No, just hopeful. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since last night.”
Brenna’s heart sang. Gorgeous Nick Tarver had been thinking about her.
Nick kissed the tip of her nose and eased her down onto the bed, laying her back against the bedspread. “Is it so hard to believe I could find you incredibly attractive?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, believe it.”
“I want to.” She turned her face aside, the intensity of Nick’s green gaze boring into her soul. “It’s hard when I’m not even pretty.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Only with the lights off.” She stared at the nightstand where the light glowed as a testament to the harsh reality of the truth as she’d always known it.
“Brenna.” Nick lay down beside her on the bed and turned her face to his. “You’re beautiful where it counts.” He traced a finger over her left breast, his touch sending fire deep within.
“You say that now, but you haven’t seen me.” Brenna wanted his words to be the truth, wanted to believe him. But she knew better. How could anyone look past the horrible scars? “Will you still think the same when you see all of me?” She pushed off the bed, tears blinding her and stood with her back to Nick, fully exposing her flaws for his inspection. How could he not be horrified by the wide path of destruction from her shoulders downward?
