by
Diane Maxwell
Manuscript Complete / 200,000 words / Contemporary Romance
Copyright 2001 All rights reserved to the author
No copying in any form electronically or by any given means without the expressed written consent of the author
Chapter 32
"What?"
Rose took a deep breath. "I didn't love Louis. I only thought I did."
"You don't need to tell me," he said in a quiet, steady voice. His gaze never faltered from hers, never lost its glow of love.
But she had to tell him. No more secrets, no more things between them. Ever. "Yes I do. We went out, dinner, a movie, came back to my apartment. He wanted sex. I refused. We argued." She tried to turn away.
He stopped her. His hands held hers, anchored her in the present instead of the past.
Gave her the strength to go on. "The phone rang. While I answered it, he stole my designs. He knew I was planning to show them to our boss and the Governor the next morning."
"He claimed them." Rage mingled with disgust on his face.
Rose nodded, so glad those emotions weren't directed at her she almost broke. "By the time I figured out what he'd done, it was too late. Seems he also had this thing with one of the board members. Cousin to the Governor, big campaign contributors. I demanded an inquiry, but with him--"
"Backed by all that, you didn't have a chance." He drew her close. "No wonder you resented me when I first arrived."
"Not resented," she muttered against his broad chest. "Feared."
"What?" He held her away, stared at her in amazement.
"I was afraid of what you made me feel. Louis told me. . ."
"What did he say? Tell me."
She forced her gaze to his, let him see all fears, all doubts, just as he had with her. "He said I didn't know the first thing about how to be a real woman or what it took to keep a man satisfied. That I never would."
Michael cursed and gathered her close. "Then I go and make all these cracks after we made love. Good God, I'm sorry."
"We both said things we didn't mean. You made me feel all these beautiful things. But part of me's still afraid he was right." Her gaze fell from his.
"There's something I need to tell you."
She knew it was all too good to last. He might love her, but she couldn't satisfy him. She watched his face, whole body tensed and braced for the blow. "Just say it."
"Our first time, the morning you were in my bed. . ."
Shame and anguish flooded her soul. "I did something wrong? Something you didn't like or that hurt you or just plain stupid?"
He locked their gazes. "Not you. Me. I wanted you so badly I didn't stop to think I should use--"
This was it? "Michael?"
"We have no fears besides pregnancy because--"
"Michael."
"I've always used protection and tested fine during annual--"
"Michael shut up! It's okay. Really. I know."