Page 71 of Chilled
“Do you still feel the same, Nick?” She couldn’t turn to see his face. Couldn’t bear to witness his disgust and certainly not the pity. Tears flowed freely now, blinding her, and she stumbled from the room in search of her shirt.
“Brenna!” Nick followed her and grabbed her around the waist before she reached her shirt. “Give yourself a chance.”
“I did once, and what did it buy me?” She tipped her face toward the ceiling, willing her tears to dry. “You can’t know that feeling of rejection.”
“Yes, I can.” He pulled her against him and pressed his cheek to her damp hair. “My wife rejected me by sleeping with another man.”
“That’s different.”
“Not so different.” His arms circled her, locking her into his embrace. “Trish was beautiful on the outside, but inside, she was ugly. Had I looked deeper, I’d have seen it. When I look at you, all I see is the person who cares about others and wants to make them happy. You’re loyal and protective of those you love. What’s ugly about that? It’s what’s beneath the surface that counts, not the outer package.”
“Even when the outer package is ugly?”
“I don’t think you could be ugly in any way.” His arms loosened around her, and his hands moved to her shoulders. Nick stepped away from her.
Brenna’s breath caught in her throat, and she stood still. She felt his gaze burning her back, taking in the mottled skin and thick, revolting scars. Would he rethink his position?
Then his fingers skimmed over her shoulders and down her spine, across the acres of scars. His lips soon followed, pressing little kisses to the damaged skin.
“No.” Brenna tried to pull away. The thought of Nick kissing her ugliness tore at her heart. “Please, don’t.”
“Yes.” With one hand at her hip, he stopped her from running and continued his sensual assault on the one area she hated most about herself. His hands massaged her back and shoulders; his lips teased the curve of her neck and inched downward.
The fear melted away, replaced by a tension she couldn’t deny. When he slipped her pajamas and panties down her legs, she stepped out of them and turned to face him, her skin on fire. “You make it really hard for me to resist.”
“Then don’t.” He pulled her into his arms and claimed her lips, her body and her heart.
CHAPTER 17
Brenna layfor several minutes in the circle of Nick’s arms, enjoying the sight of him sleeping, his naked chest rising and falling with every breath. Midnight-black hair fell over his forehead, and Brenna longed to brush it aside. But she didn’t want to wake him yet.
Her emotions were too raw, and she needed time alone to work through what had happened during the dark morning hours.
With a glance at the clock, she realized it was nearing noon, and the others would wonder where they were.
Although she longed to stay snuggled in Nick’s arms, she needed to get away from him and think.
Carefully, so as not to awaken him, she slipped from the bed, gathered clothing and left the room. Closing the door behind her, she locked herself in the bathroom, dressed quickly and pulled her hair into a ponytail.
Other than her lips being a little swollen and a bit of beard burn on her throat, she didn’t look any different. But she felt like another woman stared back at her from the mirror.
Blowing out her cheeks, she bent to brush her teeth and left the bathroom without another glance at the stranger in the looking glass.
Nick would be angry she’d left, but she had to get away and think without him in the vicinity. Careful not to make a sound, she tiptoed out of the room and eased the door closed. Not until she was safely out of the hotel, did she take a deep breath and run for her car.
When she arrived at the station, Brenna headed straight for the war room.
“Hey, Jensen, where’s Tarver?” Paul sat at the computer, a cup of coffee perched on the edge of the desk.
“I left him at the hotel, sleeping.”
Paul frowned. “That’s too bad.”
“Why?”
Melissa walked up beside her, wearing gloves and a mask and carrying an envelope. “You got another one of those letters.”
Brenna’s gut erupted in a flutter of nerves.
