CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Put me down.”
“What?” He looked down at her, confused.
“I said put me down. Now.”
He set her on her feet immediately though his hands lingered at her waist as if afraid she might bolt. “Iris.”
“Nay. Ye daenae get to just sweep in here, make pretty declarations, and expect everythin’ to be fine.” She stepped back, putting distance between them even though her body protested. “Ye hurt me, Elijah. Badly.”
“I ken. I apologize.”
“Aye, ye are apologizin’ now.” She crossed her arms. “But that doesnae mean ye can just pick me up and carry me off like I’m some prize ye’ve won. I’m nae a sack of grain.”
“I never said ye were.”
“Ye treated me like I was. In yer solar, when ye dismissed me feelings and told me I was convenient.” Her voice cracked slightly. “Ye have nay right to treat me this way, Elijah. Nae after bein’ so dismissive of me earlier. Nae after makin’ me feel like I meant nothin’ to ye.”
He flinched as if she’d struck him. “Ye’re right. I wasnae thinkin’.”
“That’s the problem. Ye never think before ye speak when ye’re frightened. Ye just lash out and hurt people.” She forced herself to stay firm even though seeing the pain in his eyes made her want to comfort him. “I forgive ye, Elijah. I do. But that doesnae mean I’m going to just pretend it never happened.”
“I daenae expect ye to.” He ran a hand through his hair, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him. “Iris, I was an idiot. A complete and utter idiot. I was so terrified of losin’ ye that I pushed ye away first. And I ken that makes nae sense, I ken it was the worst possible thing I could have done, but I was afraid.”
“Of what? Of me leavin’?”
“Of ye realizin’ ye’d made a mistake. That ye deserved better than a broken man who doesnae ken how to show love properly.” His voice dropped to something raw and honest. “When Lydia arrived, all I could think was that ye’d finally see the truth. That ye’d realize yer sister would have been the better choice. That ye’d leave me.”
The admission made her chest ache. “I was never goin’ to leave ye.”
“I ken that now. I should have kent it all along, but fear made me stupid.” He took a tentative step toward her. “I will do anythin’ to get ye to come back with me, Iris. Anythin’ ye ask. I’ll grovel, I’ll beg, I’ll spend the rest of me life makin’ up for what I said. Just... please, come home.”
“I was always plannin’ to come home.” The admission made his eyes widen. “I dinnae come here to stay permanently, Elijah. I came to make sure Lydia got back safely. I was going to leave this afternoon regardless.”
“Ye... what?” He stared at her. “Ye were comin’ back?”
“Eventually. After I’d had some time to think. To figure out what I wanted.” She moved closer to him. “But that doesnae mean I’m lettin’ ye off easy. Ye hurt me, and there have to be consequences.”
“Anythin’. Name it.”
“Ye’ll obey me every whim for a month.”
He blinked. “What?”
“Ye heard me. For one full month, ye’ll do whatever I ask without complaint or argument.” She tilted her head, studying his face. “If I want breakfast in bed, ye’ll bring it. If I want to redecorate the solar, ye’ll allow it. If I want ye to spend an entire afternoon playin’ with Codie, ye’ll do it. Nay arguments, nay excuses, nay typical Elijah stubbornness.”
“That’s... that’s yer condition?”
“Aye. That’s me condition.” She stepped close enough to feel his warmth. “Because ye need to learn that bein’ married means compromise. Means listenin’ to me, considerin’ me wishes, treatin’ me as a partner instead of an obligation. And if it takes a month of ye bendin’ to me will to teach ye that lesson, then so be it.”
For a moment, he just stared at her. Then, slowly, a smile curved his mouth. “Done.”
“Just like that? Ye agree?”
“Just like that.” He reached out, pulling her close. “If it takes a month of bein’ yer servant to prove I can be better, I’ll do it gladly. If it takes a year, I’ll do that too. Whatever ye need, Iris. I’m yers.”
The words, combined with the fierce intensity in his eyes, made her knees weak. “Ye really mean that.”
