Chapter 52

Anna turned in his arms, curling her hands into fists, hitting him on his damp, bare chest, wanting to hurt him for what he’d done to her and to their child.

“I hate you,” she said thickly. “I hate you so much.”

He only caught her fists in his and gathered them together, bringing them to his mouth and kissing her knuckles. His eyes were very dark, almost black.

“I’m sorry, Anna,” he said in a low, rough voice. “I’m so very sorry for hurting you. And you have every right to be angry. Take it out on me. You can hurt me; I deserve it.”

His heat took all the strength from her. All she could do was look up into his face. “Why?” Her voice was hoarse and broken. “What are you doing here? What did you come back for? To hurt me some more?”

“I hoped my swimming would bring you to me.” He cupped her face between his palms. “Because I’ve come back to claim what is mine. You. You and our child.”

“I don’t understand. You didn’t want me. You told me—”

“I