The Captain's Placeholder: My Husband's Secret

olish and emptiness. It was perfectly cle

lked straight past the island, past th

ing?" Judge asked

Kelsie said with

e childish. Come

s and down the hall to the guest room

ture. It was his ho

the click of the lock disen

looked exhausted, but there was a fire in

dragging her old suitca

you doing?

loset and started grabbing handfuls of clothes-things she had left in

g anywhere." He ste

tried to shove a sw

elsie's shoulders and spun her around, backi

pushing against his chest. "

-or the letter-triggered something primal

isse

. His mouth crushed against hers, hard and de

ds were in her hair, holding her in place. She

r mouth, and deepened the kiss. His hands slid down her ba

betrayed her. The familiarity of his touch, the heat

ped her up, his arms strong and sur

her to the mattress. He buried his face

owled against her pulse

her ribs. It was a distraction. Kelsie knew it. He was using

s leaking from the corners of

He propped himself up on his elbows, looking

baby, Kelsie,"

rld st

The tears drie

she wh

air. "You want one. I want one. L

to kiss h

ears, he had said no. Too busy.

t the door? Now, when a mysterious wom

He was offering her a shackle. He was thro

ice water. The heat in her body vanis

ld buy her silenc

n, his lips b

ght her kne

it into hi

lungs in a rush. He rolled off her,

ward, off the bed, pu

ce was shaking, but not