Bedding The Billionaire (25 page)

With a sigh and an apology already prepared, he stood,
then changed his mind and buzzed Beverly.

"Send in Ms. McPherson please. There's some last
minute details to go through for the contract."

A moment later and Abbey was standing inside his
office. She closed the door and turned slowly to him. The expression on her
face was distant, empty. It was as if she wasn't really there.

Damn, he'd really hurt her this time. He walked over
to her and took her hands in his. He gripped them tightly to his chest then
leaned forward and kissed her. She didn't respond.

"Abbey, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry I didn't
believe you. But I do now, and it doesn't matter. Everything's fine, Abbey,
everything's going to be fine."

He pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around
her. She didn't move. Her arms remained by her side and her body stiffened. Nick
fought down the rising panic.

"Abbey? Talk to me. I spoke to Vane, he confirmed
your story, and now I just want to be with you. I know you're upset that I didn't
believe you at first, but you understand that I had to know for sure. Don't
you?"

"You didn't trust me," she murmured.

"Sweetheart, I do now. I'm sorry I didn't believe
you. I understand why you're angry but all I can say is I'm sorry. I needed
proof."

"You didn't trust me," she said again.

"Honey, let's talk about this later."

She said nothing. Nick took that as a good sign. Maybe
she just needed time to let everything sink in, to understand it from his point
of view. Surely she'd do the same thing if she was in his shoes.

Or maybe she was feeling a little overwhelmed with
everything. After all, there were still issues to work out, like where they
were going to live.

"How about you go back to the hotel and I'll get
the ball rolling on this contract. I'll come past and pick you up and take you
to my place." He took her hand. "I hope you like it. It'll be yours
soon. If we decide to live in Sydney, that is. But you don't have to make that
decision yet."

He kissed the top of her head and held open the door
for her. She seemed a little mechanical as she left but that was probably
because she felt overwhelmed. She'd be fine once she'd thought everything
through.

***

Beverly handed Abbey a drink of water. "You look
pale," she said, "are you sure you're feeling okay?"

Abbey tried to smile but it was difficult with numb
lips, numb body and numb brain. The only thing she could think about clearly
was getting away. Going home where she could cry herself to sleep in her own
bed.

"Um, I'd like to change my flight back to
tonight. Can you get me on the next plane to Melbourne?"

Beverly smiled. "Of course." She made a
phone call then hung up. "There's a flight in an hour. But it's not the
same as Mr. Donaldson's. He's already gone."

Abbey glanced in the direction of Nick's office but he
didn't emerge.

Downstairs, she caught a taxi back to the hotel,
collected her things and checked out. Slowly the numbness wore off and was
replaced with anger.

Nick had to have proof. Proof! Proof that she wasn't a
liar, proof that she wasn't a hooker! For crying out loud, what sort of man
can't tell that about the woman he loves?

Unless he doesn't love her.

Abbey choked back tears as she sat in the back seat of
the taxi heading to the airport. She'd made love to Nick numerous times, she'd
poured out her heart to him and given everything of herself, and he didn't
trust her. He couldn't even tell if she was after him for his money or not. What
did it take for him to know she loved him for who he was?

Two tears spilled from her eyes and dripped down her
cheeks. Damn it, she loved him but he was too blind to see it. Too blind, or
not in love with her.

If he loved her he would believe her, he would know that
what she felt for him was the once in a lifetime kind of love.

***

Nick signed the contract and handed it back to his
lawyer.

"Take your time. She'll take it with her tomorrow
when she leaves." If she leaves tomorrow. Maybe he could get her to stay
the rest of the week.

The lawyer left and Nick stood. Five-thirty. He'd head
out to Abbey's hotel and pick her up. He considered going out for dinner but
decided to order in. That way he could have her all to himself for the entire
night.

Beverly was switching off her computer when he passed
her desk. "I might be late tomorrow," he said. "I thought I'd
show Ms. McPherson the sights of Sydney in the morning while we're waiting for
the contract. Give me a call when you get it and we'll head back in."

"I thought she told you," said Beverly,
frowning. "She's changed her mind and is catching a flight tonight."

Her words sent a stab through Nick's heart and he
stopped cold. "Tonight? What time?"

She checked her watch. "It leaves in a little
over half an hour."

Nick couldn't think but he could move. He sprinted to
the elevator, cursed it when it didn't arrive immediately, then banged the
button for the underground car park when he got in.

Minutes later he was speeding through the streets of
Sydney and heading to the airport. He ran several amber lights, prayed he
wouldn't get pulled over by the cops, and pressed his foot to the floor.

By the time he got onto the freeway, his mind had
begun to work again. He didn't like what it told him. Why in the hell was Abbey
leaving? He didn't understand. Okay, so he hadn't believed her when she said
she hadn't slept with Vane, but he did now, that's all that mattered. And he'd
never make the same mistake twice. Ever.

He arrived at the airport, parked illegally, and raced
inside the terminal, his heart thumping so hard he could hear it between his
ears.

He glanced up at the departures screen. Her flight had
been delayed and was scheduled to board in ten minutes. He let out a long,
ragged breath but he didn't slow his pace. He ran to gate two and scanned the
faces. Abbey was sitting in a corner, her head bowed.

He joined her and crouched in front of her. She
glanced up. Her cheeks were damp with tears and her eyes red and raw.

"Abbey," he whispered, rubbing away the
tears with his thumbs. "Abbey, don't go. Please."

She stood and pushed past him, heading for the
toilets. He followed, took her arm and directed her into an alcove away from
prying eyes.

"Abbey, speak to me. Please, I, I don't
understand..."

He scanned her face but she shook her head and looked
down at her feet.

"Please, don't go. Give me a chance, Abbey. Whatever
the problem is we can work it out."

He reached for her and gathered her into his arms. For
one happy moment he thought she was going to stay like that, but she pulled
away, shaking her head.

"Nick, I can't handle this anymore. The parting
is just too hard."

"Then don't leave! Abbey stay with me,
please." He watched her closely for a reaction but she didn't move. "I
need you," he whispered.

He tried to take her again but she shook her head and
he let his hands drop to his sides. It ached not to touch her, to comfort her.

"You don't get it, do you, Nick?"

He shook his head. "No. I admit I don't. I
thought it was all cleared up."

"For you it is. All you cared about was whether I
slept with Vane. You didn't believe me when I said I didn't."

Nick blinked down at her. Having his suspicions
confirmed didn't make him feel any better. He swallowed and tried to ignore the
rising panic welling inside him. "I wanted to believe you, Abbey. Really I
did. But I was...scared." He moved to touch her again but changed his mind
and ran both hands through his hair. Suddenly the fear came flooding back. Not
fear of losing control over his life, but fear of losing Abbey. It was
overwhelming, crushing. He realized being in control meant nothing if he
couldn't have her with him. Always.

The announcement for boarding was made and Abbey moved
away. He reached for her.

"No. You can't go." He fought the urge to
hold her to him, to trap her against his body so she couldn't leave. But he
didn't. He couldn't. He wanted her to stay of her own accord.

But he was getting desperate. He'd beg her to stay if
he thought it would make a difference.

"Abbey," he whispered, staring down at her. "I'm
sorry if I made you feel like a..."

"A hooker."

Nick shuffled his feet. "A gold digger. My heart
knew you weren't, my heart never thought you lied, but after all the lies that
passed between us at the beginning, my head just took over. That's the way I
am, Abbey. My head has always ruled Nick Delaware. Until now, I thought my
heart was just another organ. But you stole it. You ripped it out of me and now
it hurts like hell because you won't give it back. I'm sorry I didn't trust
you. I'm sorry I didn't follow my heart from the beginning."

He swallowed and put a hand to his thudding heart to
try to still it. He placed his other hand against the wall next to Abbey. She
looked down at her shoes so he couldn't see her face but he could tell by the
way her shoulders shook that she was crying.

She made no movement toward him.

"Abbey, please, you're scaring me."

***

Abbey cried silently, trying to clear her thoughts. Nick's
presence was so strong and masculine beside her that she had to hold herself
back from throwing her arms around him. She could hear his breathing, heavy and
ragged. She could feel his eyes on her. Boring into her.

"Abbey," he prompted. "Sweetheart, did
you hear me? Please, what do I have do to make you understand? I'm an idiot. I
know I don't deserve you, but I can't give you up. It's killing me knowing
you're going to get on that plane and never come back."

He paused, shifted from foot to foot, then gingerly
touched her sleeve. His breathing changed from ragged to rasping. But she still
couldn't look up at him. The sight of him would just make the ache so much
worse. Make it more difficult to leave.

"Abbey, I love you so much, I can't...I can't
cope if you go." He took a step forward, caught her shoulders and drew her
against him. His arms were like a strong cage, holding her tightly to his
chest. The final call for boarding was announced but Abbey barely heard it.

He loved her. He loved her.

Nick's chest heaved against hers and he buried his
face in her hair at her shoulder.

"Please tell me you won't leave," he
whispered. "I don't care if you don't love me, just don't leave me. I
can't lose you. I can't…"

Nick shuddered. In an instinctive movement, Abbey
lifted her arms from her sides to his waist, stretching them around him. "I
love you, Nick," she said, squeezing her eyes shut against the onset of
fresh tears. "You're a stupid, frustrating control freak. But I love you
anyway."

Nick's grip tightened momentarily as he let out a
long, shredded breath, then he kissed her. His lips were soft yet his kiss was
urgent and filled with need. He pulled away and held her face in his hands. His
moist eyes searched hers.

"I'll never doubt you again," he said.
"Never. I've learned my lesson. I won't do anything to risk losing
you."

"No more lies between us, okay? Only the
truth."

He nodded quickly. "Agreed. So you're
staying?" he croaked.

"Yes," she said, trying to stop herself from
grinning stupidly.

His mouth twitched, then he frowned. His eyes suddenly
grew serious. "Forever?"

She nodded again and leaned into him, kissing him hard
on the lips. "Yes. Is your house large?"

Nick looked quizzically down at her as he put an arm
possessively around her waist and squeezed. "Quite big, why?"

"A house needs to be christened. A different room
each night. That should keep us occupied for a while."

He shook his head, but he was grinning. "I plan
on christening every room tonight."

Abbey glanced up at him, grinning like a school girl. "Just
how many rooms are there?"

"Lots."

THE END

ABOUT KENDRA

Kendra Little writes erotic romance and explicit
erotica. Read free excerpts at her blog:
http://kendralittle.blogspot.com
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For now, read a sample from SNAPPED, a sexy romance
featuring Abbey's voyeuristic friend Lucy.

CHAPTER 1

The woman was young, blonde, and a little too plastic to be called
pretty. Dressed in a red lace teddy and nothing else, she leaned forward so
that her large breasts spilled onto the man's chest. He lay on the bed,
entirely naked, and caught one of her lace-clad nipples in his mouth. The woman
moaned.