Page 70 of Love Me Forever

Royce understood. Sometimes you had to tempt fate.

“I will be right beside you.”

She placed a hand to his cheek and wished with all her heart to ask, Always will you be beside me? Instead she simply nodded.

He saw the wounded look in her brilliant blue eyes, and his heart ached. How did he convince her that he loved her that every word he had spoken to her had been from his heart?

She had no difficulty standing, though a dull ache reminded her that she had foolishly run when she was not yet fully healed. In time the pain would be gone for good, but the ache in her heart? She did not think would ever go away.

Royce slipped her cloak off her shoulders. “You should rest.”

Brianna looked to the bed and recalled how he had held her in his arms last night, and whenever she turned or fussed, his hands were there to soothe her. She wanted him, but she also wanted to trust him without doubt. She needed that from him, she needed it for herself.

She walked to the chair by the hearth and slowly eased herself down to sit.

Royce did not offer his help; she would only refuse it.

She needed a sense of freedom, and he would give it to her for he himself felt the same.

“I answered your question; will you now answer mine?” she asked and leaned back in the chair.

He walked to the bed and snatched the folded wool blanket from the end. He placed it over Brianna’s lap, tucking it in around her. He sat down on the floor in front of her and began to remove her leather boots.

He seemed to concentrate on every movement he made, his touch firm yet gentle, and she did not disturb him. She waited for him to speak, for she was certain he would.

His strong fingers rubbed her cold feet; his thumbs massaged her insteps and soles until she felt completely relaxed and rested her head back against the chair.

“My grandmother was a wise woman and taught me about strength and fairness. She understood things many did not and saw much more than most. She talked to me endlessly about life and its constant joys and disappointments, and she talked of people and how easy it was to know if one was friend or foe.”

“I would have loved to have met her,” she said, knowing his grandmother had passed on.

He smiled, glancing up at her, and his fingers stilled for just a moment. “She would have loved you, and she would have been happy that you were to be my wife.”

She did not argue with him; now was not the time.

“I was a grown man when she died, but her death tore at my heart, and it was the one and only time I have ever cried, and I did so alone, where no one would see me or judge me as weak.”

“It is not weak to shed tears for someone you love.”

“When you lead men, you show no fear and spill no tears.”

“When you love, there are no rules; you simply follow your heart.”

He laughed softly. “You sound as wise as my grandmother.”

Brianna wished to hear more about her. “She raised you?”

He nodded. “My parents passed within a short time of each other, and I have no siblings. I was young and eager to lead the clan, but my grandmother had other ideas. She told me that I had lessons to learn before I could be a strong and effective leader. She made it known to the clan that peace would prevail; no battles would be fought, until I gained in knowledge and strength.”

“No one objected?”

He grinned. “No one argued with my grandmother.”

Brianna grew excited, sitting up in the chair to hear more. “She was a leader herself.”

“Aye, that she was, and a good and fair one. She understood the way of things and people. She taught me what it meant to lead a clan wisely.”

He paused in thought, and she knew he was recalling memories.