“Idid that. I couldn’t even admit to myself that this short time with you had filled me to the brim with happiness. I don’t like people, much less need them. And yet you slipped in through the tiniest crack, sand filling my empty hourglass, until I was so full of contentment and peace, that I felt I did not deserve this much joy.”
“Elizabeth, you deserveallthe joy.”
“I should have told you I was falling in love as soon asIknew it. Instead, I bottled the truth inside, as if that way I could keep myself safe. I thought I was guarding my heart, but my silence broke our bond instead. Instead of protecting what I cherished most, I abandoned you out of fear.”
His eyes watched her with hope.
Softly, she said, “Without you, I will always be fifty percent of what we could have had.”
“And what could we have had?”
“Everything. I don’t want to walk away or say goodbye. I want to be withyou, Stephen. Here, or wherever you happen to be. I love you.I lost my heart to you weeks ago, on a string connected to a pulley connected to gears that launched an arrow straight into my chest. Nothing could stop me from loving you. You’re stronger than any force I’ve ever known.”
“Impossible.” He rose to his feet and stepped forward. “You’re the strongest forceI’veever known. My first glimpse of you was as Beth the Berserker, and you’ve given me no reason to doubt your strength any moment since. I did not strip you of your armor. You chose to remove it. And as for me…”
She held her breath.
“I’ve been defenseless from the moment you swashbuckled your way into my life,” he said softly. “I love you, Elizabeth Wynchester. I love you two thousand percent and rising. You’re phenomenal and fearless and… How did you get into my house?”
“Through the murder room.”
“Through the murder room,” he repeated. “How did you know where all the traps were?”
“I didn’t. But I know you.” She gave him a crooked smile. “Don’t worry, I didn’t destroy anything. Even I could see that it wasn’t an environment where I could hack my way through with a sword.”
He took her hands. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
“The storage shelter, on the other hand…” She winced. “You might need to replace a few panels.”
A startled laugh escaped him. “You were inside the barn?”
“I was delivered with your latest supplies earlier today. You always immediately unpack every crate. I was so certain you’d pry open mine at any moment.” She swallowed. “Is it unromantic to hide in a wooden crate? I fear my methods may always be a bit abnormal.”
He placed her arms around his neck and wrapped his own about her. “In case it was unclear whilst you were picking your way through a murder room… I am not a man who craves normal.”
“What do you crave?”
“You. Always and only you.” He covered her mouth with his.
Elizabeth kissed him back for all she was worth. He loved her, thorns and all. They tumbled together onto the bed.
“Say you’ll marry me,” he murmured between kisses.
“Hmm,” she teased. “I’ll think it over. Does this proposal come with jewelry and my own army?”
“No,” he said. “But I did commission you a bejeweled claymore. I can turn it into a ring if you’d rather have—”
She silenced him with a kiss. “I was yours at ‘bejeweled claymore.’”
“That’s more like it.” He trailed his kisses down to her bosom. “Now I’ll never let you go.”
“Where would I go?” She tugged his shirt from his waistband. “I’m finally home.” She glanced down. “I’m also shedding wood shards onto your elegant bedsheets.”
He tossed his waistcoat aside and grinned. “I’ll try to think of a way for you to make it up to me.”
47
Stephen had not expected to ever return to Castle Harbrook, but he and Elizabeth could not think of a better place to embark upon a new start than where it had all begun.
