She released it slowly.
“Two.” Christian quickly shoved his hand hard against her shoulder.
A popping sound came from the joint, and fiery agony burned through her shoulder and arm. She cried out.
A group of birds exploded from a tree as her scream echoed through the night.
Christian gathered her close, wrapping her in an embrace. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She closed her eyes and lay her head against his shoulder, enduring the searing pain engulfing her. She concentrated on Christian’s heat, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
“Are you well?” he asked hesitantly.
“You said three,” she replied between her teeth.
“I was never good at counting.” He gently stroked her good shoulder. “How do you feel?”
“Like I was struck by lightning,” she whispered.
He pressed a kiss to her head. “Think of something else.”
She ran a hand along his thigh. “Like how amazing you are?”
Christian chuckled and caught her hand. “I promise to show you exactly how amazing when your shoulder feels better.” He tilted her head up with a finger beneath her chin. “I love you, Will. I always have. But your father still disapproves of me. Nothing has changed.”
“Unless…”
He tilted his head. “Unless?”
“We are wed. Then, you are truly family.”
Christian thought about her idea in a moment of silence. “Are you proposing to me?”
“You won’t do it,” she replied.
Christian inhaled deeply. “Your father won’t like it.”
Willow lifted her chin defiantly. “It will be his punishment for sending you away. He will have to accept you if you are my husband.”
“And this is what you want?”
She lowered her chin to gaze at him through her lashes. “Yes. Absolutely. We love each other. I would be honored to be your wife.”
He nodded. “Then we shall be married.” He brushed a heated kiss across her mouth. When he pulled away, he had a frown on his brow. “The book you gave Simon. What was in it?”
She smiled. “A book of prayers.”
Christian threw his head back and laughed; his joy rang out through the night sky.
