Page 10 of Love Me Forever

He retrieved another wool blanket from the chest at the end of the bed and placed it over Brianna. “We can try again to dress you in your night shift. You would be much warmer.”

She seemed to give his suggestion careful thought, and then slowly shook her head. “I know I must sound a coward, but it is just too painful,” —she paused, taking a light breath— “perhaps in another day or two.”

“A coward you are not.” He sounded as if he scolded.

He wanted her to realize her own bravery. It took courage to bear pain and to trust a stranger to help.

She paid no mind to his gentle scolding, her smile growing stronger. “My brother tells me that I am stubborn; my sister-in-law tells me I am determined.”

“I like your sister-in-law.” His own smile grew slowly along with hers.

“She is a woman I much admire.”

Brianna sniffed the air. “Is that rabbit stew I smell?”

“Hungry?” He had hoped her appetite would improve, and while he knew she probably could not stomach much, it was necessary to her healing that she eats more. She needed to regain her strength, for she remained weak, unable to do for herself and he knew that it upset her to be vulnerable.

“Aye, I am. I think perhaps I could even feed myself this time.”

She seemed determined, but he thought of how slight movements left her in pain. A few of her bruises had worsened, and two new ones had slowly made themselves known. Her recovery would take time and patience.

“We will see.”

Before he could stand, her hand slowly crept from beneath the covers to touch his arm. “Really, I feel stronger.”

He held his hand to hers. “Squeeze one of my fingers.”

She looked ready and confident to prove her point, and she grasped his one finger. Her eyes instantly clamped tight from the stab of pain that shot through her, and she felt herself grow faint. His name was but a mere whisper on her trembling lips. “Royce.”

He cursed beneath his breath for foolishly offering her a choice. His hand closed gently around hers, and his other hand softly stroked her face while he soothed her with tender encouraging words.

“The pain will pass. Relax and think only of my touch.” His voice softened to a whisper. “Your skin is so smooth and warm, and it blushes when I touch it.”

Her eyes remained closed, but a faint smile touched her lips. “I am not accustomed to such a gentle and caring touch from a man. And you are a caring man, Royce… for a warrior.”

He did not wish to reveal himself to her, but he did wish to keep her talking and thinking about anything but her pain. “My scars betray me?”

“Not only the scars.”

“What, then, besides the scars?”

“The sheer size of you, the thick, hard muscles in your arms and chest, the confidence with which you carry yourself and the pain within your eyes.”

He was impressed with her observations. Not many bothered to look and actually see the truth of a person. As a warrior, he had learned the skill of observation at a young age and used it to his advantage. He had, however, never met anyone who could do the same until Brianna.

“Battle must leave heavy scars on the soul.” Her eyes opened slowly and she looked at him, waiting for a reply.

She challenged him in conversation and thought, something he had never experienced with a woman, yet something that titillated in its own way. “One needs a soul to have it scarred.”

Surprisingly, she laughed gently. “Everyone has a soul, Royce.”

“Not warriors.”

“Especially warriors.”

He shook his head.

She would not let him deny her words. “Aye, warriors have the strongest of souls. They protect the weaker souls and do what must be done for the sake of freedom. Life can be cruel without warriors; complete chaos would reign and no one would know peace.”