Page 51 of Love Me Forever

“I cannot understand how it seems that you two took an instant dislike to each other. Unless I am wrong—tell me I am wrong.”

He tried, but she rushed on.

“You both wish me safely returned home, and yet you both are at odds over how to accomplish the same task. It makes little sense, yet I tried to remember that you are both men and men often make little sense.”

“Brianna,” he said quickly, but she was set on speaking her mind.

“Blair is a good man and my brother’s closest friend. If he sees how much we care for each other and how kind and caring you are to me, he will speak well of you to my brother.”

Her words reared his temper. “I need no one to speak for me.”

“Well, you certainly do not seem to make friends easily. You looked all but ready to attack Blair and his men.”

His stance had been guarded but for a reason, a reason he could not explain to her. “Your safety is my concern. I knew nothing of Blair or his men.”

“You learned quickly enough and still you were on guard.”

“As was he,” Royce reminded.

She dropped the branches she held, and her hands went to her hips. “Then tell me why. Why did you two treat each other as opponents?”

“Men are territorial. They protect their own.”

Her eyes rounded. “You cannot be serious.”

“Most serious.” His voice was firm and his stance rigid. “What is mine no one harms, and you are mine.”

Her hands slipped off her hips and her eyes softened. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his cheek.

He slipped his arms around her waist. “I am glad you understand what I say. You are not an object to me. I claim no ownership over you. It is my love for you that makes you mine.”

“Then if it is your love for me that makes me yours, then my love for you makes you mine.”

Her smile forced him to smile. “And are you territorial?”

She squeezed his cheek with her one hand. “No one touches what is mine.”

He leaned down and swept his lips across hers. “I want no one touching me but you.”

“I like touching you,” she whispered near his ear and faintly brushed her lips over his scarred cheek.

Their kiss lingered in gentleness, both enjoying the taste of each other and both not wanting it to end. When it finally did with great reluctance on both their parts, Brianna rested her head on his shoulder.

“If you do not get along with Blair, I fear you will not find my brother a friend. Then I worry that we will not be together.”

“Worry not. Your brother and I will understand each other.”

“Understanding and getting along is not the same,” she said. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him to her. “I do not wish to lose you.”

He hugged her in return. “You will not lose me. You are mine and will remain so. I will allow nothing to come between us.”

A chill raced over her, and the feeling did not bode well with her. “Promise?”

“I give you my word, Brianna, and I do not give my word lightly.”

“I trust you and your word.”

“Always trust me and never doubt my word, Brianna, for I shall always keep it no matter what happens.”