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He nipped at the pad of her finger. “You might want to stop interrupting me.”
“Prove it.” She folded her arms, waiting.
“Heather,” he began again, “I’d like to open the champagne.”
“Oh.”
He pulled her firmly against him, loving the way her eyes went wide with anticipation. “And find out what it tastes like on your skin.”
“Oh. Yes, please.” The smile on her lips was unlike any of the others he’d seen before. He felt a ridiculous surge of pride in the accomplishment.
Turning her around, he let her lead the way to the bed.
***
Dale didn’t know a contentment like this existed. Completely sated, with Heather’s relaxed body beneath him, he could make a case for staying here forever. No criminals, no interfering relatives. Just the two of them and all the bliss they could create.
“I should move,” he murmured, reluctant to do so.
She laughed softly, her hands moving up and down the firm muscles of his back. “Maybe I’ll let you. In a minute. Or an hour.”
This woman never did what he expected.
On a groan, he rolled out of bed long enough to dispose of the condom. Returning, he slid under the sheets and Heather snuggled in, her head on his shoulder. She rested her hand on his chest. He stroked her hand, his fingertips catching on the fake engagement ring.
He tensed up. Couldn’t help it. More than ever, he wished this could be the real deal.
“What happened?” Her soft voice whispered into the darkness.
He could ignore it, pretend he hadn’t heard or simply misunderstood. She wanted the story of his first fiancée. He seriously considered distracting her, right up until she laid a soft kiss over his heart.
He took a deep breath, buying himself time. Wasn’t there a rule about discussing past lovers in a moment like this? A moment so fragile?
“She left,” he said flatly. “When I came back—wounded,” he nearly strangled on the word. “It was different. I was different. She left.”
“Different isn’t broken.” Heather shifted in his arms, looking up at him through her eyelashes. He wanted to drown in those eyes. Lose himself and forget what it had felt like in those days after coming home. In those weeks of rehab, when he had stopped making progress.
“She couldn’t—” He swallowed thickly, struggling to get the words out. “She couldn’t look past it. The scar… it was worse then. And it was a constant reminder. And my career… those changes… she didn’t sign up for any of that.”
Heather’s abrupt snarl startled him. “That bitch didn’t deserve you.”
“People are allowed—” How awkward to find himself defending his ex all these years later.
“People are allowed to change. People do change.” Clearly fired up, she wriggled around until she straddled him, framing his face in her soft hands. “For better or worse. It’s right there in the vows.”
“Well, guess my worse turned out to be too much to handle,” he tried to joke.
“No.” She pulled back, twisting the ring and staring hard at the stone. “No, that moment was her worst.”
He couldn’t fight it anymore. In a quick surge, he sat up, slanting his mouth over hers in a hungry, desperate kiss. He let the heat sweep through them, let her words sink into his skin, absolving him of a guilt he’d resigned himself to carrying forever.
But he wasn’t right for her. She sure as hell didn’t deserve to be saddled with him. He might not ever hold her again, but strangely he felt like a better man for his time with her. For knowing her here, tonight.
Feeling strong and whole again had been a pipe dream he’d given up when he stopped making progress in rehab. Yet here, tonight, Heather had given him a gift he wouldn’t have dared to ask for.
It terrified him, even as he gave into the miracle of her.
Chapter 14
