“It was a stolen car that was later abandoned. We knew it was a drunk because it was littered with empty liquor bottles. Cassie’s blood, and fabric from her dress was wedged into the front bumper.” He balled his fists at his sides. “He walked away without even a scratch while my wife bled to death in front of me.”
“You were there? You saw it happen?”
How much should he tell this woman who was gently coaxing the most horrifying, most painful experience of his life out of him? Erik wondered.
“We’d gone to a birthday party at a friend’s house in Manchester.” He spoke slowly and cautiously. “On the way home, we got into an argument. It was late and Cassie begged me to wait until the morning and she would explain everything to me. She was like that, you know. She hated confrontations. If a fight began brewing between us, she would walk away to cool off and when she returned, we would resolve our difference more calmly.”
He closed his eyes for an instant. “But that night, I wasn’t having it. I wanted answers right then and there. So she insisted that I stop the car. We were passing a park, so I pulled over, thinking it would be a safe place for her to cool off for a few minutes. But just as she opened the door and stepped out, a car came whipping by.”
“Didn’t you see it coming?”
“It was dark. The driver didn’t have his lights on. It happened so fast.” Erik pressed his hands against his temples. His head was throbbing. At least, she was sensitive enough not to ask what they’d been arguing about. The only other person who knew about that argument was his ex-best friend, Clayton Monroe. Nobody else. Not even his mother. As hurt and angry as he’d been at the time, he didn’t want people speculating about his wife and what she may or may not have done. Most importantly, he didn’t want anything to tarnish his daughter’s image of her mother.
The authorities had questioned his action in stopping on the wrong side of the road and allowing his wife to exit into the street instead of the sidewalk. He’d been under suspicion for allegedly pushing his wife out of the car into oncoming traffic. But having no evidence that he wanted his wife dead, he’d been cleared.
He was an idiot, not a monster.
“I’ve never told anyone about that argument,” he said, wondering if he’d made a mistake in telling Michelle so much. He didn’t even know her, and yet he’d poured out the darkest secret of his soul to her.
Michelle gazed up at him with moist eyes filled with warmth, the kind of homespun warmth he longed to have wrapped around him.
“I won’t repeat it to anyone,” she said. “I’m sorry, Erik. I’m sorry you and your little girl had to go through such a terrible experience.”
The sincerity in her voice seeped through his skin, into his blood. “You’re remarkable,” he said huskily. “Almost too good to be true.”
His heart jolted when she unexpectedly took his hand and laced her fingers through his. Her touch was like quicksand, pulling him into a chasm of pure desire. He felt an avid quickening of his heartbeat as a violent passion pulsed through his veins, bringing his dormant body to life.
The moment she touched him, a hot flash swept through Michelle, and her heart began to hammer against her chest. It was as if she’d been struck by lightning. Instantly realizing it was a mistake to touch him, she dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to do that.” She cast her eyes downward to hide the boisterous storm raging inside her.
“Don’t be. You acted on impulse.” Erik put his hands under her chin and raised her face to his. He wiped his thumb across the softness of her cheek, capturing a tear that had escaped from her captivating eyes. He rubbed the warm moisture between his fingers, relishing the feel of it against his skin.#p#分页标题#e#
Her lips parted slightly, and involuntarily, her pink tongue darted out to wet her dry lips. Erik groaned. Her compelling eyes spoke to him, offering him the intimate female delights he’d been deprived of for so long. His head started a lazy descent, and as he got closer, his predatory male senses were stimulated by the sensual fragrance exuding from her skin.
“What’s that scent you’re wearing?” he whispered.
“Moonlight. You like it?”
“Yes. I like it. I like it a lot.”
Michelle closed her eyes as her heart jackknifed in her throat. She whimpered when his smooth, warm lips touched hers, and the heady scent of his masculinity attacked her. There was no spicy aftershave, no musky cologne, just his potent manliness. Her limbs turned to jelly when he pulled her to him and completely covered her mouth and swept his tongue inside, ravishing her hungrily. She clutched his shoulders and opened wider, giving him absolute permission to enjoy her.