Her eyes flashed up at his. Shocked and then angry eyes. “You told my brother this? You told my brother that you loved me? Were you ever going to tell me?”
But he had. Physically—when they’d made love. With every touch, with every kiss. The passion between them had been…
Incredible. Explosive. All-encompassing.
And they had talked. He’d told her things about him that no one else on earth knew. And it wasn’t as though they hadn’t known one another for the better half of their lives…
Then again, he also vaguely remembered hearing something to the effect that women needed to hear the actual words. He rose from his chair and moved onto the bed beside her, keeping his gaze locked with hers, wrapping one arm around her, wanting—needing—this connection.
“I don’t know how or when it happened.” The backs of his accursed eyes were burning again. “But I love you, damnit.”
She pouted but if he wasn’t mistaken, her lips might have twitched just so. And seeing a light of hope in her eyes made him want to tell her over and over again. It didn’t make sense. They were only words and yet saying them out loud made a world of difference.
He’d thought love was a burden—a duty. But it was none of those things with Bethany, It involved the sharing of burdens, the sharing of duties. And, hell and damnation, allowing her into his heart.
He needed to make this right.
“I promise never, ever, to leave you standing on the edge of a dance floor again,” he spoke solemnly.
She shifted her disapproving gaze over to him. She was not going to make this easy and he was glad of it. And although she deserved a much better man, Chase wasn’t about to let her go. He’d far rather spend the rest of their lives together proving himself worthy.
“I’ll tell you all my hopes and dreams.” That was part of it.
She sniffed.
“And I’ll never accept a duel without your permission,” he added.
This actually seemed to impress her. “You promise?”
“I do.”
“I suppose that’s a worthwhile start.”
But then he narrowed his gaze at her. “Don’t imagine I’m going to stop protecting you.” Just in case she thought to step in front of any more bullets.
“But not from unpleasantness.”
“If there is any unpleasantness to be faced, I swear on my honor that I’ll share every last detail with you.” He frowned. “Although you may have to remind me from time to time.”
“I believe I can manage that.” His heart swelled as the corners of her lips tilted upward. When it turned into a full-fledged smile, it lit up the room.
Just as she’d lit up his life.
Even with her hair in tangles, wearing a wrinkled gown and sleepy from laudanum, this woman captivated him.
“I love you.” The words came easily, and he punctuated them with a kiss. “Love you.” Another kiss. “Love you.”
She was crying and laughing at the same time her arms slid up and around his neck.
Chapter 33
Oh Brother!
He loves me!
Floating in and out of consciousness, and upon the realization that she wasn’t, in fact, going to die today, Bethany had had every intention of staying angry with Chase for at least a day or two. But then he’d gone and admitted that he loved her. Several times.
And as his lips traveled down her neck and over her shoulders, she all but forgot why she had wanted to be angry with him in the first place.
