“MacSorley.”
“I think you had better find some new friends.”
Randolph made a face. “It did seem a little, uh, unorthodox.”
“That’s an understatement.” She gave him a long look. “So am I to understand that you now profess to love me because you took me to bed and didn’t jump into another woman’s, because you were a little worried about me and didn’t appreciate when my bodice was the recipient of glances from other men?” She gave a half roll of her eyes. “That hardly seems enough to build a life upon.”
He didn’t seem to appreciate the eye roll or her flippant tone. His gaze sharpened. “You are also the most irritating woman I have ever met.”
He looked so wonderfully frustrated, she wondered if it might be time to have some pity on him. She couldn’t fully hide her smile. “I am? Why didn’t you say that in the first place.”
He looked at her as if he couldn’t believe it. “Christ, Hawk was right.”
“Who?”
He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Do you believe me?”
Amazingly, she did. “Let’s just say I’m not completely opposed to the idea. It’s quite a list.”
He didn’t seem to mind her sarcasm. “Just wait until I start walking around with a stupid grin on my face.” He gave a brief shudder before continuing in earnest. “I know I acted unforgivably, but I am sorry. I’ve never fallen in love before, and I didn’t realize what was happening to me until you left, and I thought I’d lost you.” His expression grew pained—almost devastated. “I let you walk away thinking I didn’t care about you, and I was out of my mind with regret and fear. Nothing else mattered but finding you and doing whatever it took to convince you that you are the most important person in the world to me. That I would be honored to have you by my side as my wife. That you are the first, second, third, and only choice. That I could never marry anyone else after being with you.” He reached out to caress the curve of her cheek with his thumb. “You ruined me, sweetheart.”
Her heart squeezed; it wasn’t so cold anymore. “I think you’ve got it the wrong way around,” she said wryly, instinctively burrowing her face deeper into his hand. “I was the ravished virgin.”
He shook his head. “I found perfection. How could I ever settle for anything else?” He took a deep breath and looked down into her eyes. “Marry me,mo ghrá. I swear on my honor that I will never give you cause to regret it.”
Her mouth twisted. “I don’t know. Your honor has taken rather a severe beating of late. Now that you’ve sullied your reputation, I’m not so sure—I rather fancied marrying a great hero.” She tilted her head. “Any more impossible castles for you to take by chance?”
Realizing she was teasing—and what it meant—his eyes warmed with happiness that filled her own heart.
“I’m afraid not,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Now that my uncle Edward Bruce has made the truce with England over Stirling Castle, the last one has been taken.”
She shrugged. “Oh well. I’m sure you will think of something.”
He grinned. “I’m sure I will.” He slid his arm around her waist and drew her to him. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
She nodded.
That was all he needed. He covered her mouth with a groan and pulled her deeper into his arms. He kissed her like a man who’d just found his life’s reward. Like a man who would love her for the rest of his life. With every stroke of his tongue, with every touch and caress, he showed her exactly how much she meant to him. And a very few minutes later, when he’d divested them both of their clothing and carried her to bed, he showed her the perfection that would be theirs for a lifetime.
