“You didn’t go too far.” He moved the reins to one hand and covered hers with the other. “You are not foolish.”
She turned her hand over without even thinking, entwining her fingers with his.
Holding back her tears was no easy feat.
“Then why are you being this way today?” Why was he so angry? Why had he withdrawn?
“I’m the one who went too far. I’m supposed to be protecting you.” Disgust sounded in his voice.
She wanted to remind him that they were married, that the feelings they had were perfectly normal. Yesterday, she would have done just that.
Inhibitions silenced her today.
“I won’t provoke you in the future.” She swallowed her guilt… and anger… and frustration. She’d done something wrong, and she didn’t understand it completely.
“I like it when you provoke me.” He squeezed her hand. “Too much.”
“But you also hate it.”
“I hate that…” He pulled the cart over to the side of the road and then turned to face her. “I hate that you don’t remember who you are. I’m taking advantage of you. That is what I hate. I hate that when your memory returns, you’ll regret what you did last night, the things that you said. That’s what I’m trying to protect you from. That’s why I was angry.”
What he was saying made sense, and yet it didn’t. But… “You don’t think less of me for… the things I said. What I did?” Staring into his eyes, Tabetha’s heart cracked.
“I could never hate you.”
She gulped, helpless at holding back her tears any longer. Only, by now, they were tears of relief. Because she had felt only half-alive all morning, and she couldn’t imagine life without him.
He pulled her close but Tabetha dipped her chin, hesitating rather than raise her mouth for a kiss. One arm around her, Rock tipped her head back, allowing her no choice but to look at him.
“I made you cry.” He brushed away a tear with his thumb. And then he trailed it down to her lips. “Forgive me?”
She barely nodded, fearful that forgiveness wouldn’t be enough.
“I don’t know what to do,” Tabetha admitted. “Yesterday, I didn’t even question my instincts, but today... I’m more confused than ever.”
If anyone was a fool,it was him. Strike that, make it a fool and an ass.
Stone was wrong in wanting the two of them to go on like this, but that didn’t stop him from wanting it. And whatever this was between the two of them seemed more impossible with each passing day.
And God help him, he couldn’t drag his eyes away from her. She’d never looked more beautiful. But she was more than classical features and kissable lips. She was more than voluptuous temptation. More than soft sensuality.
She was sensitive and proud andbrave. How had he not noticed the depths of courage in her eyes?
“Never doubt yourself with me.”I made her cry!
She blinked. “Do you love me?”
Love?
Oh, hell.
She’d mentioned loving him more than once already. He ought to have been prepared for this question. And of course, she must have assumed that he did. He’d done nothing to contradict it.
If he didn’t admit to loving her now, he would lose her trust. And if she didn’t trust him, it would be impossible to protect her.
But she needed his answer now.
“Yes.”
