Her fingers curled against his neck, and she clung to him, transmitting her doubts as surely as if she’d said them aloud. A flood of possessiveness washed through him.

She was his. His woman. His wife.

And suddenly, Cole knew he was in very big trouble. He was beginning to want more than a temporary wife, beginning to want Darci by his side for a lifetime.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

The night air washed across Darci’s face as they strolled the emptying streets back to Cole’s hotel. Neither spoke, and Darci hadn’t a clue how to break the growing silence. There were things that needed to be said between them, but too much stood in the way of the saying.

She twisted at her wedding ring aimlessly, trying to adjust to the unfamiliar weight on her finger, to what it symbolized. Somehow, it had all become very real in these past few minutes. She was married to the man of her dreams, but she’d never be allowed to love him the way she’d always known she could.

Because to love Cole would surely lead to a heartbreak she wouldn’t survive.

Cole stepped into the lobby and tugged her toward the elevator. Dragging him to a stop, she waited until he turned to look at her with a question shading his gray eyes.

“I think it’s time I say good-night.”

He frowned, then drew her closer, tucking her into his arms. “I thought we should make some plans, discuss the next step.”

Darci shook her head, knowing she didn’t dare be alone with him yet. She needed him too badly, and her exhaustion made it difficult for her to form the words that she had to say. “Come to my office in the morning, we’ll talk then.”

“But what about—”

She placed her cold fingers against his lips, absorbing his warmth. “I can’t deal with any more, Cole. Too much has happened too quickly, and I need some time to assimilate all of it.” His protest still lingered in his eyes. “Please?”

His lips pursed, and he pressed a gentle kiss against her fingertips, sending a shaft of longing straight to her soul. She clenched her teeth, resisting the urge to follow through with what she really wanted from Cole.

“You’re right. We both need time. Unfortunately, that isn’t something we have a lot of. By tomorrow night, we need to be living together, acting like a loving husband and wife, and making some serious plans.”

“I know. And we will. Just give me tonight.” Her words became a double-edged sword that she suspected he was sharing with her. She wanted to give him the night, to share the darkness with him and learn the secrets of his body. But thoughts and feelings of that nature would only lead to serious trouble.