Self-loathing overcame his entire being at Summer’s unspoken admission. Nick gently squeezed her tighter into his embrace. At that moment he would give all he had to take away the pain he caused her.
“Summer?”
“Yes, Nick.”’
Fumbling over his words, Nick asked, “You thought I was going to hit you?”
Silence.
“Summer?” Why wasn’t she answering? Did she still believe he would hurt her?
“Yes, I was afraid you were going to hit me.”
Pain clearly etched his handsome features. “Why? Why would you think that? I’ve never hurt you before.” Nick’s voice was barely a whisper.
No, not physical, but you’ve hurt me. “I know. But you’ve been so mad at me lately. I didn’t know what to expect.”
Nick could not argue with her assessment. “You’re right,” was all he could say. The moment was too fragile for him to convince her otherwise. No, he would not spoil the tenderness of the moment. Summer was right where he wanted her. In his arms, believing and knowing she was in the safest place in the world.
As he stood up with her in his arms, she wanted to know, “What are you doing?”
“Laying you down so you can go back to sleep, you look tired.”
Before he could take a step away from the bed, Summer’s small hand grasped his hand.
“Don’t leave, stay with me. I don’t want to be alone.” In his arms Nick had given Summer a glimpse of what they once shared.
“Nick?” Please stay, don’t go.
Nick rubbed his hand over his goatee. “Are you sure?” He was not sure if he should stay the night with her. The question was more so for his benefit and not hers.
Gently tugging on his hand, she assured him, “Yes, I’m sure.”
“All right, I’ll stay.”
Needing to be in his arms again, she scooted her body next to Nick’s until her back was firmly pressing against his solid chest. Summer reached behind until she felt a lean muscular arm. Heat surged through Nick as her soft palm caressed down cords of sinewy muscles until their fingers interlocked. Slowly she lifted his hand, bringing it around her body to rest on her swollen belly. Disengaging her fingers from the lock she began making tiny circles on the back of his hand.
Nick wanted to tell her to stop touching him. That was the problem with Summer, she could turn him on with a simple touch.
The last thing he wanted was for her to think he wanted to take advantage of her. Just as he was about to ease his hand and body away, Summer’s caressing came to a halt.
Gliding his hand over her belly to an area of activity she whispered, “You feel that?”
Nick nodded in the dark. “I feel it.”
“That’s your baby, Nick.”
Wrapping his arms fully around her, melting into her, Nick whispered, “I know. Baby, I know.”
Chapter 12
Three days passed before Summer was able to make it back to her home. After that turbulent first night at Nick’s, things mellowed considerably between them. There were so many things they needed to say. Summer needed to explain why she’d kept her pregnancy a secret. Nick needed to know why Summer found it necessary to keep him in the dark. Each time one of them began to broach the subject they would falter sensing the timing was all wrong. Besides, Summer didn’t want to ruin the short time she had with Nick.
The night they’d shared the same bed for the first time in many months had been special to Summer. Nick made her feel safe and wanted, almost loved, as she lay in his arms. As he held her he apologized to her endlessly. Turning her to face him, he tenderly kissed her forehead, eyelids and the tip of her nose with each heartfelt word.
The next morning Summer woke to Nick lightly stroking her belly with his fingertips. She had never seen such an overtly affectionate side of Nick until that morning. After stroking her belly he proceeded to place tiny kisses over every large round portion of it as he whispered words she was unable to decipher. Summer lay still as long as possible, never wanting the tenderness he was showering on her and their baby to end.
Nick had done a great job of convincing her he would never harm her physically. No longer did she fear him in that sense. Summer’s greatest fear was that Nick would hurt her beyond the physical, shattering her emotional and psychological wellbeing. Yes, he’d been so sweet to her for those three days. That meant nothing, whatsoever, if he hadn’t changed his position.
On numerous occasions Summer envisioned her baby being literally ripped from her arms. Other times she’d envisioned herself living her life as a fugitive on the run with her baby.
Shaking the nightmares away, she’d tell herself, “I have to somehow make him understand.”