Page 56 of Love Me Forever

“You say that often to me, but how can I forget it?”

“Just remember—promise me you will remember how deeply I love you.”

She gripped his hand as tightly as her meager strength would allow. “I have told you I would and I give you my word that I will.”

“Good.” He seemed satisfied. “Now again, what troubled you?”

“It is no longer of importance.”

“It is to me. Tell me.”

To argue the issue was futile, so she surrendered. “Looking upon you I realized that beneath your scars that heal lays a handsome man.”

“The one scar is deep and will remain with me forever. I will never be handsome again.”

Brianna suddenly felt selfish. She had not given thought to how his facial scars would make him feel. He would never look as he once did; he was changed forever and yet he was whom he had always been; a good and kind man.

“But then you care not for handsome men, so perhaps I should be grateful for my scars.”

“Nay.” She was quick to argue, her hand going to cup his face. “I am foolish. I think because I had a handsome husband who was deceitful that all handsome men deceive. You have taught me different, I must remember it.”

Royce kissed the palm of her hand. “I do not deceive nor will I ever deceive you. You have my word on that.”

She smiled. “Then I have no worries.”

“Good, then we can concentrate on planning a wedding.”

“You have yet to ask my permission.”

He laughed and the men once again cautiously glanced his way. “It is your brother’s permission I must seek.”

She placed her hand in her lap and, sounding like a petulant child, said, “He will ask me if I wish to wed you.”

“What will you tell him?” He kept a smile on his face, for he enjoyed teasing her.

“That you have yet to ask me.”

“He will allow you this decision?”

“I will not wed unless I wish to wed,” she said adamantly.

His hand was quick to grab her chin and gently squeeze her cheeks so that she looked to make funny faces at him. “Do you wish to wed me?”

“Is that how you intend to ask me?”

He ran gentle fingers over her lips and down her neck. “Nay, it is not, and besides, I already know your answer.”

“So then you think it unnecessary to ask me?”

His hand trailed down to her breast, which he gave a slow squeeze, and he tenderly pinched her nipple, which instantly hardened between his fingers.

She was grateful that her fur wrap kept his intimate touch private, and she lingered in the exquisite pleasure of the moment.

He whispered near her ear. “Marry me, Brianna, for life would not be worth living without you.”

She felt tears well in her eyes. She had not thought to hear those words ever, and she most definitely did not expect to hear them spoken with such love. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she answered, “Aye, I will wed you, Royce, for I cannot bear to think of a day spent without you.”

He kissed her tears away and then kissed her with a hungry gentleness. “We will wed immediately.”