I'Ve Got You (11 page)

Kabe's eyes blazed with such quiet intensity, it was scary. Lips together in an angry line made a muscle in his jaw twitch. His interlaced hands tight, his knuckles white. He didn't say a word—didn't have to.

Tears burned behind Belle's eyes; she swallowed them back past her thickening throat and continued explaining the most devastating, heartbreaking time in her life. ‘Four weeks later, I was late. Tests showed I was pregnant.'

‘Fuck!' Kabe growled. Emotions crossed his face—rage, heartache, empathy—as he moved to hold her.

Again, Belle stopped him advancing. His hands flew into his hair, raking at his curls. ‘Please, Kabe, I can't go on if you touch me, I—I'll fall apart.' Reluctantly, he backed down. ‘I went through everything with my doctor. We all know it takes one precise moment, and there you are, pregnant. It felt like ice water ran through my veins.' Reliving the memory, Belle shivered and watched Kabe clench and unclench his fists. ‘I confronted Greg. He said getting pregnant was all my idea and insisted we get married. I knew he'd break if I kept pushing. I was right. It didn't take long for him to blow a fuse. His excuse? He was so in love with me, he wanted us to be together and getting me pregnant was a means to that end. He threatened to announce throughout the office, on Facebook, to the papers, to anyone who would listen, that he was the father and we were engaged. He's totally insane!'

Belle could feel and see Kabe's body was wired ready to erupt. His handsome face hard as flint, his jaw muscles working hard. Red-hot anger vibrated through him. He said nothing and held her gaze, as though he knew there was more to her devastating story. His barely controlled emotions were for her … all for her.

It had been nearly six months, and going through it again would reopen wounds that still felt so raw. Her pain would be horrific, but she couldn't hold back … not now. Her mouth trembled and tears rolled freely down her face. Then gathering strength within, she continued, ‘I did everything right. I read pregnancy books. I took good care of my body, ate the right food, rested …' Belle had worked hard to keep control, but what she was about to say now, out loud, was the most devastating, and her voice trembled as she went on. ‘Six months later …
six months
…'

‘Belle, no!' Kabe reached for her.

She had no strength left to push him away. Body shaking, hands covering her face, sobbing, she slumped into his arms. ‘M—my beautiful baby girl. Gone.'

‘
Belle
…' Kabe whispered, his voice tight. He pulled her to his chest and eased down on the airbed with Belle in his lap. ‘It's all right, I've got you.' Her head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her, and gently rocking back and forth, he waited until her grief settled. ‘Deep breaths, Babe, deep breaths.'

She didn't know how long they sat like that, but as her tension eased, she felt Kabe's did as well. Face wet with tears, grateful for his caring arms around her, she did as he asked.

Kabe reached behind him for his T-shirt dropped in the dinghy earlier and used it to dab her face, then left it on her lap, just in case.

‘You must think I'm such a blubber-arse.'

He chuckled. ‘I've seen and felt your arse, Babe, and trust me, it's nothing like blubber.'

Tears drying, she covered her mouth and snort-giggled. ‘I meant a weeping-wailer.'

‘Got any more of those?' His grin didn't reach his concerned eyes.

‘Not right now, but give me time.' Her fingers twisted at his shirt.

She looked down as his hand closed over hers, stilling them. Dare she hope Kabe understood how deeply her loss had affected her?

‘Feeling better?' His grip tightened, and his eyes held a measure of sadness for her. He did understand as much as anyone could.

‘Yes, thank you for listening.'

‘I always will. I'm honoured you feel safe with me to open up the way you did,' he said, giving her a meaningful look. ‘Never keep anything like that bottled up, never. You can talk to me about anything—anything at all.' He drew her in close, their faces almost touching. He closed the gap, closed his eyes and pressed his mouth lightly, lovingly on hers.

But, what he asked next rocked Belle's soul.

‘What was your baby girl's name?'

‘W—why would y—you ask that?' Belle stammered, new tears blurring her vision.

‘I know you, you would've named your baby,' he said with conviction. ‘Remember, you can tell me anything—never forget that.'

Belle straightened and proudly said, ‘Annaliese. It means “graceful light”.' She tried to keep it together, but her chin crinkled anyway and then a sob escaped her throat. ‘No one's ever asked so I assumed no one wanted to know. It's like she never existed, but … damn it, she did … she did.'

Kabe nodded. ‘Annaliese … it's a beautiful name,' he murmured. Never taking his eyes off her, Kabe gathered her hand and kissed her palm. ‘Anytime you want to talk about your daughter, I'm listening. All fucked-up crap aside, Annaliese was yours, was part of
you
. I'm here for you
and
your baby girl.'

Throat aching to keep her tears at bay, all Belle could do was nod. Her hand came up to cover her trembling mouth before another sob escaped her throat. At last someone understood.

Kabe pulled her hand away and tenderly dabbed her wet face with his T-shirt again. ‘I'm here for you, Belle.' His arm came around her shoulder and, placing his free hand to the side of her face; he pulled her to his chest, resting his jaw on the top of her head.

‘It hurts so much.' Belle shoved her face into Kabe's neck, loving the feel of his skin. She closed her eyes and whispered, ‘Annaliese, my sweet dark-haired girl. My grace, my light.'

Kabe lifted Belle up to the top of the airbed, covered them both with the open sleeping bag, and whispered, ‘Annaliese.' He leant forward and with his index finger lifted her chin; against her mouth, he said, ‘Sleep now, Babe.'

And she did, a contented sleep, free of disturbing dreams.

* * *

The morning chorus of birdsong started to penetrate Belle's sleepy mind. Sensing daylight, she raised one eyelid, squinted and muttered, ‘Noisy birds.' Moaning, she stretched her body like a waking cat.

‘Ow—ow—shit—
ow!
' Belle squealed.

Kabe smiled down at her. ‘What's your problem?'

‘Oh my God—cramp!'

Kabe pulled the covers off her.

‘Hey!' She lifted herself up on her elbows, and the pain intensified. She flopped back down and cursed some more. ‘Shit—shit—damn it!'

‘Stop squirming,' Kabe ordered. Taking hold of her leg, he eased it straight. Nursing her calf in the palm of one hand, he pushed the ball of her foot towards her shin with the heel of his other hand, massaging her calf at the same time.

‘Holy shit!
Aaaggghhh!'
Belle cried out. ‘Damn that hurts!'

‘Don't be a girl!' Kabe chuckled.

Teeth gnashing, she glared at him but once she noticed his concerned expression contradicted what he'd said, decided to stop giving him evil looks.

The pain and spasms eased, but Kabe kept massaging. Moaning with relief, and some pleasure, Belle closed her eyes. His hand went further up her thigh, and knowing what he was capable of, her sex pulsed. ‘Oh yes please, keep going … higher.' Eyes half closed, she looked into his, which were smiling with satisfaction.

‘Did you want to stay another night?' his voice teased sexily as he continued to rub her leg.

‘Oh God, that is so unfair.' She was torn.

He slid his arms under her back, lifted her up and kissed her. She loved his supple mouth, his tongue. And just when she was about to whimper with need, he pulled away, and captured her with a red-hot gaze. ‘You're right, I'm being unfair.'

‘Oh, but it was so nice,' Belle murmured, gripping his shoulders.

‘Yeah … very. We've got maybe twenty minutes, half an hour tops to get
The Ondine
off the sand before the tide turns. Then, get through the heads and find your dad's boat.'

She sighed, moving to get up. She fussed with her hair, thinking she probably looked a fright all crusty and tired. ‘How come you look fresh and gorgeous, have you been under the waterfall?'

‘Gorgeous?' His quirky grin went up a notch. ‘Nah, I went for a swim, otherwise I would've woken you in a
whole
different way.'

She ran her eyes down his body and stopped at the bulge in his shorts. ‘Oh.'

‘Yep, but later,' he said, with a smile that promised he would … later. ‘I know you slept well, didn't get kicked or punched once.'

‘Sorry … I didn't know I did that.'

‘Don't be,' he said, shaking his head and giving Belle a sweet kiss. Arm around her, he turned them to look across the bay.

She followed his gaze. ‘Oh look,
The Ondine
's …' she paused, tilting her head left then right, ‘perfect—or is she still stuck?'

‘It's not nearly as bad as yesterday. If I can't reverse her off the bar,' he said, studying the yacht's position, ‘I'll have a go at digging sand away from under the hull. C'mon, eat up.' He handed her the flask of water and a double choc-chip health bar.

‘You're my kind of man.' Belle took a long drink. She could feel his eyes on her and sensed his sinful smile. Just because they had wild sex last night didn't mean he was
her
anything. But yet, he
was
her everything. ‘Thank you for being so wonderful last night … during my blubber-arse moment.'

Kabe didn't say anything; once again he didn't have to, his actions said it all. He slid a hand around her neck, held her firm, and pulled her in close, then moved his hand down to slowly rub her back.

They ate their snacks; now and again, Kabe would rub her back or thigh. Belle liked that. She quickly dressed in her damp underwear, shorts and misshapen T-shirt, then neatly folded their sleeping-bags and pulled the plug on the mattress, while Kabe packed the dinghy.

Belle's chest tightened with a strange sense of loss. She stopped packing and looked around at the peaceful inlet, thinking how lucky they were to be able to camp right here without another soul around. But knowing that anytime she came back here without Kabe, it would never feel the same.

Kabe gave her a look that said,
yeah, I hate leaving
, but, voice husky, he said, ‘We have to.'

He feels it too! Oh shit, what are we going to do with this … with us?

Belle didn't want to dwell on it and make it harder on both of them, and felt relieved he didn't either. Hands cupped with seawater, she helped him douse the ashes of their little fire. He scooped up the remains, and took it into the bushes while she smoothed sand over the patch with her feet, until there wasn't a trace of anyone ever having been there.

On his return Kabe slipped a hand around Belle's shoulder and drew her into his body. Even though his embrace was brief, her heart raced anyway; she stood staring up at him in a daze.

He grinned, took her hand and pulled her towards the dinghy waiting at the water's edge. ‘Get in and I'll tow you out,' Kabe said, water lapping around his knees. Coming to her senses, Belle arched her eyebrows to question his instruction, but before she could say what she thought about that proposal, he added, ‘No point in us both getting wet.' Without another word, Kabe strode the short distance to reach her, bent over, put an arm around her back, the other under her knees, and lifted her into the dinghy.

* * *

Kabe glanced up as Belle negotiated the unsteady ladder. The sight of her shapely legs and curvy bottom, right there near his face, sent blood charging to another part of his body. His cock ached, and his hands tingled with an urge to reach up and grasp each luscious cheek, barely covered in pink undies that peeked out from under her pale blue shorts. So, hands cupping her arse, he did just that.

‘Whoa!' Belle cried out.

‘Just giving you a helping hand.'

‘Warn a girl next time.'

‘Where's the fun in that?' He snuck his fingers under the elastic of her undies and swept his hand back and forth across her silky skin.

Belle giggle and wriggled her arse as she hurried up to the deck.

Kabe glanced at his watch.
Ooh yeah, life is cruel.
He plunged his head and shoulders under the water, hoping it would clear his head enough to suppress his masculine urges, then climbed the ladder. Once on board, he took a few deep, calming breaths and pulled in the anchor. Back in the cockpit, Kabe turned on the yacht's motor and tried to reverse off the bar. Other than vibrations running through the boat, nothing much happened.

Turning towards the rear of his yacht, he met Belle's encouraging smile.

Christ, give me strength. She doesn't have a clue how much I want her.

‘You okay?' Belle questioned, head to one side.

‘Yeah. Have to shovel sand from under the hull,' he said, voice breaking.

‘I'll help you,' Belle stated, hands on hips ready for an argument if he declined her offer.

He pushed ahead anyway. ‘I've got one small shovel, there's no point in both of us going down.' He paused, assessing her expression, which hadn't changed, so he added, ‘Especially after taking the pains I took keeping you dry.' He gave her his best wicked eyebrow-arched smile.

Belle opened her mouth to say something, paused, and with hands on hips, she said, ‘We need to do this as soon as possible—am I right?'

‘Yes, but—'

‘You must have snorkels on board?' Belle asked.

‘You're pushy, you know that?' Kabe teased. Arms snaking around her waist, he planted his mouth on hers, tongue sliding in to tangle with hers long enough for Belle to whimper and grab his shoulders. ‘Don't go away,' he whispered and slid down to the lower deck.