Promises

When Ana woke the next morning nick had already left the room. Nick had shown Ana the secret panel last night, so she used it to get into her room without being seen. She grabbed a change of clothes and took a quick shower then rushed through blow drying her hair and getting dressed. Ana's pants were slightly uncomfortable this morning, but she didn't have anything larger. Determined to ignore the slight tightness she headed downstairs.

When she got to the breakfast room, she made a cup of tea looking around for Nicholas. She finally spotted him through the balcony doors to the veranda. He was seated in a chair holding a cup of coffee staring out at the grounds of the estate. Ana walked out and stopped beside him.

"What is it?" Ana asked softly. He looked up at her and his eyes looked distant and empty.

"I am just trying to figure out what I am going to do with myself without you here. You have become my whole life, Ana." Nick said dejectedly.

"Go back to work at the hospital. Time will fly by." Ana suggested she did not know how to help him. Nick reached for her pulling her into his lap.

Nick buried his face in her hair. "You smell so good. I don't want to forget this."

Ana turned his face to hers and kissed him. "It's thirty days. We will get through this."

"We shouldn't have to." Nick told her anger, turning his voice hard.

"We will be fine, my love, but you need to keep a calm head about this." Ana told him the endearment slipping out. Nick had caught it too and pulled her to him kissing her with passion. After a moment he pulled back with a sigh.

"Let's get you something to eat. I doubt that reprobate can remember to feed you." Nick intoned dryly.

Ana chuckled and followed behind Nicholas as he held her hand and led her back to the breakfast room.

***********

It was a quarter to nine and Nick and Ana were standing in the foyer. Ana had her wallet with ID and a couple hundred dollars and nothing else with her as she should still have things at the Devon estate. Nick stopped her before she could get to the door.

Nicholas pulled a credit card from his wallet and urged Ana to take it. "If you need anything or need to get away from Scott. Even if you just want something, I want you to use this. You will be my wife soon enough so don't argue. I want you to have the means to get to me." Ana tried to say something but was stopped. "No, Ana, I need to know you have that for my peace of mind."

Ana put the credit card in her wallet, she didn't want to fight. "All right." They walked outside then, and Nicholas wrapped his arms around her. Scott had called an hour ago to say he would arrive at nine.

At ten to nine, Scott's car pulled into the driveway coming to a stop in front of the pair. Scott climbed out of the car and stood by the door.

Nicholas looked at Devon. "You're early."

"I'll wait." Devon drawled in a smooth tone.

Ana looked up at Nicholas who had a tick starting because he was holding his jaw so tightly closed. She placed a hand on his cheek bringing his eyes to hers. "Ignore him, he is baiting you."

Nicholas brought his hands to her jawline and neck threading his fingers in her hair. He heard Devon's angry sigh. Then he kissed Ana, pouring every bit of his desperation at being separated from her into that kiss. Passion quickly turned to desire, and he didn't hold back. By the time he paused for breath they were both gasping.

Ana swatted him on the arm. "That was mean."

"You're defending him?" Nick asked, confused.

"Hell no, it was mean because now I want to go back to bed, and I can't." Ana said huffily. Nicholas chuckled and Scott cursed behind them.

"We won't get out of bed for days when you get back. I'll make it up to you, love." Nicholas told her.

"Promise?" Ana questioned Nick.

"Bet on it." He replied.

"It's nine o'clock." Scott snapped.

Ana leaned up and kissed Nicholas softly. "Wait for me, my love."

Then she turned around and slipped from his embrace and quickly climbed into Scott's car. Scott cast a glance at Nicholas and saw an unreadable expression on his face. Then he climbed into the car and signaled for the car to drive.

Nicholas stood there a minute until the car was lost from sight. He walked back into the house to find Mrs. Burns in the foyer waiting for him. He had told her what was happening earlier. She really wasn't sure how she felt about it. However, the look Nicholas was sporting now told her how bad this was for him.

"I will be in my study drunk. I don't want to be disturbed unless it is Ana." Nicholas said heading in that direction. "Sober me up on day twenty-eight." Nicholas ground out between clenched teeth. Mrs. Burns sighed. This was going to be a long month.