Page 23 of All The Time You Need (Magic of Time #1)

Annie had cried herself out when she’d gone to collect the stone from Lissa. They’d cried together, her friend proclaiming her amazement at Alex’s response. Lissa had once again opened the big chest at the foot of her bed and pulled out not only the stone, but also Annie’s missing purse. And then, with no more tears left in her body, Annie had washed her face and gone down to meet Alex for their evening meal.

Their last evening meal together.

She picked at her food, unable to force more than a few bites past the enormous lump sitting in her throat. She was grateful that Alex was too involved in his conversation with his father to notice because she feared she’d be unable to carry on a conversation without making a spectacle of herself.

After what felt like hours, he rose from his seat and extended a hand to help her to her feet. She followed quietly, her hand wrapped in the warmth of his, until, at last, they arrived at the door to their bedchamber and entered together.

For the last time.

Though the words cut into her heart every time she thought them, Annie couldn’t seem to stop herself from acknowledging that everything they did, they did for the last time.

“You’ve had a bath drawn,” Alex exclaimed, sounding pleased with her action.

“I saw how hard you worked in the lists this afternoon. The hot water should soothe your muscles.”

It was the least she could do for him. A hot bath to help him drift off to sleep.

“Always so thoughtful of others,” he said, pulling his shirt up over his head and tossing it across the nearby stool.

“Here, let me help with that,” she said as he began to unwrap his plaid.

For the last time.

“Certainly,” he agreed, lifting his arms away from his body to allow her full access.

When she finished, he stepped into the big wooden tub and sank down, hiding all his naked glory beneath the steaming water. Behind him, she sank to her knees, fighting to keep at bay the tears that pricked her eyes. She had to be strong, now more than ever before.

She picked up the rough-shaped bar of soap that lay next to the tub and rubbed it across his shoulders, massaging the areas where tension had pooled. His sigh of contentment as he leaned back into her hands was more than reward enough. The sound of him, the feel of him, reached down into her body and settled somewhere near her heart.

How could she bear to leave him? How could she live without him? But those weren’t really the questions that drove her to what she planned. How could she live with herself, knowing she’d robbed him of his dreams?

She couldn’t. And that was why she had only one course of action open to her. She had to leave him. To leave this world. To return to the place where she was meant to be. She had to set Alex free. She loved him too much to do anything else.

Unless…

Maybe she hadn’t been direct enough. Hadn’t Lissa all but accused her of as much this afternoon?

She kneaded the knot in his shoulder, stalling for time while she forced the words swirling in her mind to come out of her mouth. It was the question that mattered most to her. And his answer would determine what action she took this night.

“Do you love me, Alex?”

He opened one eye to look up at her, his brow wrinkling. “Yer my wife, Analise, joined at my side for the rest of time. You should ken that you’ve no reason to question my feelings for you.”

She had the very best reason to ask, but his non-answer spoke volumes. If he truly loved her the way she loved him, he wouldn’t have hesitated to say so. It was the confirmation she’d feared.

As she slid the soap down his chest, his hand clamped over her wrist and he pulled her from behind him to look into her eyes.

“After staying overlong in the lists this afternoon, I had feared myself too tired to partake in the joys of wedded life this night. But, as usual, yer touch has shown me otherwise.” He gently tugged her arm, urging her closer. “Join me in this fine bath.”

“My dress will get wet,” she protested, though every fiber of her being was drawn to him.

“You ken that the gown will dry, my sweetling, do you no’? Though now that I think upon it, perhaps you’ve the right of it.” He rose to stand, water sheeting down his hard, muscled body. “Perhaps it’s best we remove yer wee gown and save it a thorough drenching, aye?”

Desire shot through Annie, filling her with the heat of need.

“Absolutely,” she responded, completely under the spell he wove each time he touched her.

She hadn’t planned their evening to go this way, but perhaps it was for the best. This would be a memory for her to carry with her when she left. One last sweet memory to savor for the rest of her life.

The waiting was sheer torture as he slowly untied her laces. His eyes held hers, even as his hands freed her from the burden of the shift that separated her bare body from his touch. When the gown at last pooled at her feet, he lifted her into his arms, but rather than return to the tub, he carried her to the bed and laid her on her back.

The grin he wore as he lowered his body over hers made her breath catch in her throat, and she could swear her heart skipped a beat when he nuzzled next to her ear.

For the last—

No, she wouldn’t allow herself to think that again. No regrets at this moment, only the joy of being with him. Only the joy of knowing that even if he didn’t love her, he did desire her.

He made love to her slowly, his hands caressing every sensitive spot on her body until she thought she might scream for wanting him inside her. Even their joining was slow, stretching out her pleasure until the sheer physical pleasure lifted her body and the stars behind her eyelids burst into sparkles that kept time with the pulsing of her body.

Afterward, she lay next to him, his arms holding her close, his heart beating beneath her ear.

She would never forget this moment. Never forget this night.

When his breathing grew soft and slow, she slipped from his arms and climbed out of his bed to pull on her dress and tie back her hair.

“Why are you up?” he asked, his voice husky with sleep. “Come back to bed, my sweetling.”

“I’ve something I need to do. It won’t take me long.”

One last kiss. What could it hurt? She hurried back to his side and leaned in, one hand on his bare shoulder as her lips touched his. He groaned at her touch, encasing her in his embrace, and she had to try one last time.

“I love you, Alex. With all my heart.” She waited, holding her breath, for what he would say in return.

“As any good wife should,” he answered, giving her a grin before kissing her again.

Not the answer she’d hoped for. Not the answer she’d needed.

She stroked her finger down his shoulder and bit back a sob as the weight of her loss settled around her. But really, it couldn’t be a loss when what she was losing was something she’d never had to begin with. Pushing away from him, she picked up her bag that held the heart-shaped stone and crossed to the door to slip out.

“Annie?”

“Hmmm?” she responded, not daring to turn and look at him again, knowing she might not have the strength to leave him.

“You’ll hurry back?”

“I’ll hurry,” she answered. “Goodbye, Alex.”