Chapter 56

She couldn’t share herself again now and not bare her soul to him. God, there’d be nothing left.

Gathering her strength, she pushed away from him and rose to her feet. Her legs had all the strength of rubber and gave way beneath her. She crumpled back to the ottoman.

Hunter sighed and lifted her onto his lap. “Stop, Kata. Let me take care of you.”

He carried her to the bedroom again. She tensed against the sublime pleasure of feeling his skin against hers. Part of her wanted him to go . . . but the thought of not being with him again shot panic through her.

That was a bitter pill to swallow. She sobbed harder.

Kissing the top of her head, he curled up on the bed and brought her onto his lap.

“J-just give me a minute alone,” she begged. And she hated the pleading note in her voice, but he’d stripped to the core. The only thing left was the scared girl inside so terrified of becoming her mother.

Hunter hesitated, then eased out from under her.