Redemption Rains (17 page)

“You see I was so confused, tied up in
knots, wanting you so bad one minute and then you would open that
mouth and shoot me down with one word. I acted out in anger because
I felt such a bastard for wanting you so bad. And then when I saw
you in that nightgown and you teased me so, I lost control. I had
to have you and when you gave in, all heat and passion, I knew that
I was a goner,” he had started to pace, shaking his
head.

“I thought that there was no way you
could not love me after that night but then Lindsey showed up and I
was so full of jealousy I couldn’t do anything but throw insults at
you.”

Elizabeth grabbed his hand, bringing a
halt to his continuous march back and forth.

“Please stop pacing Devin you are
going to make me ill.” He looked at her then and noticed that the
color had drained out of her face. Elizabeth touched her fingers to
her lips as she felt the nausea burn her throat. She turned away
from him. Devin held her while she was sick, pulling her hair back
and wiping the tears she cried. Elizabeth hated it when she was
sick. The doctor had told her on her last visit that he was
surprised her sickness had lasted so long, which made her fear
there was something wrong with the baby. But he reassured her that
it would not hurt the child as long as she remembered to eat
properly and drink lots of fluids so she wouldn’t get dehydrated.
The nausea had decreased, only happening when she found herself
upset. Devin wiped her face with his handkerchief; she could see
that his hands were shaking slightly.

“Sweetheart, you are sick,” Devin’s
voice shook worse than his hands. The need to reassure him filled
her.

“I’m alright Devin. It only comes when
I eat strange food or if I am upset,” her eyes were huge in her
white face and her bruised mouth stood out against the pale skin.
He traced her tender lips with his thumb, swearing
softly.

“I did this to you didn’t
I?”

“No Devin, it takes two to make a
baby,” she had responded without thinking and when she saw the
shock in his eyes she cringed. She had just assumed that he knew
about their baby, but she was wrong and she braced herself for his
reaction.

“Did you say baby?” it was a husky
whisper.

“Now Devin, don’t get upset. I was
going to let you know when I returned to Edward’s house.” Elizabeth
spoke calmly as she stood up and walked toward the path again. She
really needed to get inside, the wind was getting cold, and her
teeth started to chatter slightly.

“Our baby?” he looked incredulous at
her. Elizabeth took offence at this, assuming he thought that she
had slept with someone else so shortly after their
encounter.

“Of course it’s our baby. What do you
think? That I went out and slept with Tom, Dick, and Harry after I
left you? Well, you are wrong. And if you don’t believe me...” she
faltered as tears ran unchecked down her face, “I don’t really care
if you don’t believe me, because I don’t need you. The baby and I
will be fine together, without...without...you,” she ran up the
path crying uncontrollably. Her heart shattered to
pieces.

When she reached the villa she ran
into her bedroom and slammed the door shut. She felt sick again and
knew that if she did not calm down she would end up in the bathroom
all night. Taking deep breaths while standing in the middle of the
bedroom Elizabeth tried to empty her mind. You are all right, she
told herself. He will leave and never look back.

The door burst open and Devin stormed
in. His face was dark with anger freezing her to the spot. Okay, so
he’ll leave after he bends me over his knee and gives me a good
thrashing. She looked at his thighs and then his strong hand and
imagined him not thrashing her but holding her, touching her. Heat
flooded through her body rising into her cheeks as she looked into
his face. His eyes were angry, his mouth formed a tight line, and
then she saw it; the tick in his jaw that gave him away. She
realized then the power she had over him. He may not love her, but
he wanted her, even now when he was so angry.

“What the hell do you mean running
away after that preposterous speech?” he did not yell, he didn’t
have to.

“It was not preposterous. It was
fact.” Suddenly Elizabeth felt the need to test her power over him.
“I don’t need a man to take care of me and neither does my
child.”

“That is my child also and I think
that I have some say in whether he needs a father or not,” his word
surprised her.

“So you don’t deny that I am carrying
your child?” she did not sound as cool as she hoped.

Devin looked into her eyes bright with
unshed tears and she saw him visibly relax his tense body and
slowly walk over to her. She watched in wonder as he took her hand
in his and laid it against his chest.

“I love you Beth,” he looked at her
with those beautiful blue eyes. “I’m tired of fighting. I just want
to hold you, and kiss you and make love to the mother of my
child.”

Tears splashed down her cheeks as his
words sunk in. Devin loved her. He loved her.

“You love me?” her voice held
disbelief. And then she saw him smile down at her and
laugh.

“We are really going to have work on
your response darling. Shall we try this again? I love you
Elizabeth Windsor.”

“Oh Devin, I love you too,” and then
she was in his arms and he was smothering her with soft
kisses.

“I have always loved you Beth, since
the second time I saw you, the night your apartment burned down.
When I saw you trying to act so strong and looking so helpless, I
knew that I had to protect you. And then you fainted. Lord, did
that scare the hell out of me.” Elizabeth smiled happily up into
his face so full of love for her.

“You know when I fell in love with
you? Or at least when I finally knew it was love I felt?” she asked
Devin in a teasing voice. He hesitated and then shook his
head.

“It was when you held me on your lap
and soothed away my nightmares. That is when I knew that I would
love you forever,” she smiled at him.

“Will you marry me Beth? Please?” he
pleaded.

“Yes, Dev, I will marry you,” and then
he kissed her and it was one of the most passionate kisses they had
ever shared, filling Elizabeth with love and hope and happiness
forever.