“That’s not the kind of love—”
“Listen, Clara. You’re afraid to love a man. You’re afraid to trust yourself to a grown man because who could take care of you better than yourself? Letting yourself love me means that you put your heart in my hands as surely as you’ve got hold of mine.”
She shuddered, fighting his words even as she tried to hear them.
“You trust your body to me, don’t you? That I’d never hurt it.”
She was sitting naked on his lap. She’d seen him protect her in a thousand ways big and small. “Of course, I do.”
“And you trust your thoughts with me, don’t you? I let you remake my castle, didn’t I? And I heard something about a new stillroom?”
“For Rhona. Near the old kitchen,” she said.
He grunted but would not be distracted.
“So now you’ve got to trust me with your heart, and that’s a frightening thing.”
She curled tightly against him. “I don’t know how.”
“Course you don’t. Your mother didn’t teach you. She wanted to change you and so picked at you until you were both mad. Your father and brother love you, but they didn’t know what to do with you. They let you go your own way and braced for whatever disaster befell.”
She winced. There had been several disasters over the years.
“And then there was your first love.” His voice deepened at that.
“He’s not important. He was a fortune hunter. He’s gone.”
“And he broke your heart, so there was no opening it again.”
She lifted her head. “But you’re not him. You’re you. And I want to love you.”
“But you don’t feel it?”
“I don’t.”
He smiled. “Let me help you.” He took her hand and pulled her fingers to his lips. “Your body’s safe with me.”
She nodded.
“Say it, love.”
“My body’s safe with you.”
“Your thoughts are safe with me.”
“My thoughts are safe with you.”
“Your heart is safe with me.”
“My heart—” Her throat tightened, strangling the words. Her eyes widened in shock.
“Aye,” he said, his lips curving in a smile. “I think we’re on to something. Try again.”
She took a deep breath. “My heart. My heart is safe. With you.”
“Aye, it is. Try again.”
It was easier this time. “My heart is safe with you.”
