Page 66 of Love Me Forever

“You should be in bed.”

“I could not sleep, and I grew cold beneath the covers.”

“Because I was not there to warm you.” He nibbled at her ear.

She tried to ignore the rush of heat that raced over her, but it felt entirely too good to disregard. “You did keep me warm.”

“Let me keep you warm again.”

She attempted to be annoyed with him. “You have no right to be here.”

“I have every right. You are mine.”

“I belong to no one,” she argued.

“Nay, we belong to each other, and that you cannot deny, for you know it in your heart—and soul.”

It was difficult to fight the truth, and that was what she wanted from him—the truth. “Why did you not tell me?”

“It would have served no purpose. You would have been frightened of me.”

“I was frightened of you when I first laid eyes on you.”

He kissed her cheek. “You were frightened of my scarred face and learned soon enough you need not fear the man. I am that man.”

She shook her head, disagreeing. “I know not who you are.”

“Aye, you do know who I am, but you stubbornly wish to ignore it.”

“You are not who I thought.”

“I am who you thought me to be—only there is more to me.”

“More that makes me question,” she said softly. “You seek battle more than you seek peace.”

“Not by choice.”

“I thought you a warrior who could finally find peace with me and that we could live a simple life.” She sounded as if her dreams had been destroyed.

“I have found peace with you.”

“How long will that peace last before you go off to fight and conquer?”

“As long as I have you, that peace will always be in my heart.”

She winced at the sharp pain that stabbed at her back and allowed all her weight to fall against him.

He asked no permission and gave his action no thought—he simply scooped her up into his strong arms and carried her to bed. He gently placed her down and tucked the covers around her.

She thought he would take his leave but instead he hastily disrobed, and she was about to object when she stopped herself. She did not want him to leave. She wanted his warm body next to hers, though she did not seek to make love with him. She simply wanted him there beside her.

He slipped beneath the blankets and moved up against her. “This night shift is not necessary. I will keep you warm.” He had it off her in seconds and had her against him, the heat of his body seeping into her cool flesh and toasting her body to gentle and satisfying warmth.

She closed her eyes and thought of them alone in the cottage and so very much in love. There was just the two of them. The outside world did not exist.

Royce held her close and stroked her back, her head resting on his chest. “Rest,” he whispered.

Her eyes fluttered closed.