Page 60 of His Secret Wish

She slipped out of her robe, hanging it on the back of the door. The little pajama shorts she wore hugged her ass to perfection. His cock stirred, not quite ready to go again, but getting there. Probably wouldn’t take much for him to get hard again.

Walking over to the bedside table, she snapped off the light and climbed into the bed. He held his breath, waiting to see what she would do. Time seemed to slow down, each second feeling like a thousand years.

When she shimmied over to him, throwing her arm over his waist and her leg over his thigh, he relaxed. She placed her head on his shoulder, and the smell of her shampoo hit his nose. He’d honestly thought she was going to be weird about everything, but was glad she hadn’t freaked out.

Not that he could blame her if she did. This weekend had been nothing like he’d expected. Of course, he hadn’t really known what to expect. But it definitely hadn’t been having mind blowing sex with his soon to be ex-wife.

A piercing pain stabbed him in the chest, right over his heart. He should tell her how he felt, let her know where he stood. But the idea that she’d reject him was still heavy on his mind. Her leaving had destroyed him the first time, and he’d been angry and resentful for a long time in an effort to try to get over the hurt. It hadn’t worked, and he’d turned into an angry, heartbroken asshole. One who was obsessed with work, and did nothing but roam around the ranch, yelling and snapping at people for doing things he didn’t like, or saying things he didn’t want to hear.

Just like his father.

He squeezed his eyes closed, shame and anger with himself washing through him. He’d always promised himself he would never turn into his father, and yet, he had. And sadly, it had been so easy to slip into that role. Way too easy.

Isabella snuggled against him and sighed. Her breath was evening out, moments away from sleep. He draped his arm over her, settling his hand on her hip. She hummed, a sound of contentment that made him smile. He’d missed this so much, had wasted so much time.

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you.” The whispered declaration was hoarse, nothing more than a rumble. “I love you so much, and I’m sorry. For everything.” The back of his eyes burned, and he tried to blink the tears away, but he couldn’t stop them from slipping down his cheeks.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried. Probably just after Isabella had left him. He’d been so devastated, so angry. Had blamed her for giving up on him, on them.

And now, he finally realized it had been all his fault. He could see that now, now that the hurt and anger were gone.

He closed his eyes, his skin cool where the tears had tracked across his skin. Isabella started to softly snore next to him, the sound familiar and comforting, like coming home. He hoped sleep would catch up to him, but it didn’t, and he laid there in the dark for a long time, the most important person in his life wrapped around him, and prayed she would forgive him. That he could have his life back.