THIEF OF SOULS
A month ago Regina would have been amazed to realize what was to become
of her mental state. Her life had been satisfying, under control, the
way she expected it to be. Now she felt on the verge of a breakdown.
Why? What bomb had been tossed her way, shattering her equilibrium?
And then he was there.
Regina didn't know how she knew it was Nick, for when a pair of arms
went around her, she turned without looking and buried her face in a
masculine shoulder. Perhaps it was the smell of him--crisp linen and
expensive soap, not cologne--that warned her. Or the feel of his
cashmere sweater pressed against her nose. Or perhaps she knew simply
because she wanted it to be him.
The soft crooning of his voice, which Regina could feel vibrating deep
in his chest, brought another rush of tears. What a maudlin fool she
was, blubbering like a baby, losing all control rather than gaining
some, only because she received a little sympathy. Despite her
self-contempt, however, she wanted to cling to him, let him take the
burden.
"Regina," Nick said, stroking her hair, "it will be all right, I
promise." He put his hand under her chin, lifting her face from his
shoulder. "Look at me."
Regina did as he asked, and the understanding she saw, the concern in
his expression, opened a barrier in her heart, one she'd kept
successfully erected until now. With that awareness she ruthlessly
tamped down a sudden disquiet advising her to go slowly.
"Oh, Nick," she wept, "how did you find me? How did you know I needed
you?"
"You are my soul, Regina." With his thumb he removed the moisture on
her cheek. "Destiny, remember?"
"But that doesn't explain--"
Nick kissed her, a long slow kiss more tender than sexy, and she melted
into him. The moment stretched on, and Regina felt as though he were
absorbing her, a singularly strange yet euphoric sensation. All at once
her mind conjured a picture of a phantom, his arms shrouded in a cape
made of shadows, and as he enfolded her in his lethal embrace, the cape
engulfed her. She was immersed in the darkness, a part of it, and the
feeling was exhilarating and arousing and ultimately frightening as
hell.
Regina pushed away from him. Nick's expression was avid, almost greedy.
She began to shake uncontrollably, but his black gaze caught hers, and
her mind clouded.
"Let's go home, Regina," he said.
"Home?"
"Yes, my love. Home."
He reached for her hand.
As soon as he touched her, the trembling in her body ceased, and she
felt a vacuous smile steal across her features. Nick would take care of
her. He would make the hurt go away.
Together they took the elevator to the lobby and left the hospital.