Page 15 of Love Me Forever

“Nay, I wish no marriage. I wish to keep my freedom.”

“You have a man’s protection?”

“My brother,” she answered but gave him no more.

“He does not mind you remaining with him?”

She smiled. “Nay, my brother wishes only my happiness, as does his wife. He will let me live my life as I choose.”

“And you choose loneliness?”

“You think me lonely because I have no man?”

“Nay,” he said seriously. “I think you lonely for you have never truly known a man.”

“I was married,” she said, not understanding him.

‘To an idiot.”

She could not help but grin.

He smiled along with her and encouraged her to continue.

‘Tell me about your husband.”

“Will you tell me about your wife?”

He admired the way she diverted his remark. “I am not married.”

She raised her hand slowly, her fingers gliding ever so gently over his swollen lip. “You have no one to care for you.”

Her words affected him more than he cared to admit. He had no one special who cared for him, who worried over his safety, who prayed for him when he faced battle. He had only the occasional woman who satisfied his needs, but no one who was always there for him. No one who would reach out and touch him in his time of need like Brianna had just done.

“And yet you have a caring soul and give without thought to its return.” Her hand fell slowly to her side.

Her tender touch left a tingle on his lips, a tingle that spread slowly through him. And his thoughts were anything but caring. “My soul is not what you think.”

“I do not think you know your own soul.”

‘Teach me,” he challenged and was not surprised by the sparkle that shone in her eyes.

“Aye,” she said on a yawn. “I will do that.”

He wanted to ask her more questions, especially about her husband, but she was tired and needed to rest. They had time to talk, time to learn about each other, and he looked forward to the many talks they would share, but for now she needed rest.

“Rest, and then you will eat.”

“I have rested enough and I am not hungry.”

“You persist in having your way.”

“As do you.” Another yawn attacked her and she grew annoyed.

“Why fight your need to rest?”

“How can I grow strong if I do nothing but lie in bed?”

“The first few days you did nothing but sleep and moved not a finger. Now you sit up, move your arms, your legs, and remain awake longer. You heal, slowly aye, but you heal. That is what is important. And you must eat, for the food fuels your body.”