“Tell me what you’d like this afternoon.” His voice was husky, provocative.
“Why don’t you surprise me?”
Her body relaxed and surrendered as Seger unfastened his breeches. A moment later, he was easing himself into her, slowly with grace and control, never taking his eyes off hers.
They watched each other in the twilight as they made love at the water’s edge. It was peaceful by the lake. Clara had never known such contentment, such deep, soul-blazing love.
After a time, his pace quickened, and he closed his eyes. He pushed into her firmly and held himself deep inside—so deep it felt as if he was filling her completely.
A moment later, passions spent, Seger collapsed on top of her. “I think I just gave you everything I had.”
“But I hope there will be something left for later,” she replied playfully.
He propped himself up on both elbows and gave her the rakish grin that always melted her heart. “I’ll see to it. A hearty dinner should fill me up again.”
He glanced at her hair and picked a few crisp, dead leaves out of it. “I’ve made a mess of you.”
Clara laughed.
He fixed his eyes on hers and rolled onto his back beside her, tossing his arms up under his head. “I’m glad you suggested this makeshift honeymoon. It’s been a delight so far.”
Clara rested her cheek on her hand and rolled to face him. “Thank you for bringing me here. I know it wasn’t easy.”
She saw in his eyes that he knew exactly what she was referring to. “No, Clara. It has not been that difficult.”
“But you were thinking of her for quite some time, and you were very quiet a little while ago. You looked sad.”
“Only because I haven’t thought of her in a long time, and that was my own choice. Being back here makes it impossible to ignore the memories, that’s all. And I suppose I’ve finally accepted that it’s time to say goodbye.” He hesitated before adding, “I want you to know that if she miraculously returned from the dead and knocked on my door this very night, I would still choose you.”
For Clara, those words were music to her ears. She dropped her gaze to the matted grass, but there was still one more thing that had been weighing heavily on her mind.
“Do I remind you of her?” she asked. “Is that why you married me?”
Seger leaned closer. “Of course not.” He cradled her chin in his hand. “Clara, look at me. I admit that when I first saw you, I noticed a slight resemblance. Perhaps it’s what made me approach you, but since then I have not seen it. You’re different in every way. I don’t see her when I look at you. I only see you.”
Clara accepted his explanation and reminded herself that even though this conversation about Daphne was painful in a way, it was a good thing. He was being open with her, and that was what she had wanted.
“I understand if you need to think of her,” Clara said. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been here.”
He touched her cheek, then leaned back on his elbows. “You’ve been very understanding. Most women would have slapped my face and stormed off by now.”
She tried to smile. “It means a great deal to me that you are honest with me, Seger, and if at anytime, you want to talk about her, I’ll listen. I want you to share your feelings with me.”
He considered that for a few seconds, then kissed her. “Thank you, but I believe I will refrain from talking any more about my tragic youth. Let’s put it behind us, shall we?”
He was right. It would hurt if he talked about Daphne constantly and told her private things about their relationship, because as much as Clara tried to be understanding, her heart was aching on the inside. She was only human after all.
Seger fastened his breeches while Clara arranged her skirts, then he rose and helped her to her feet. He pulled the leaves out of her hair.
As they mounted their horses, she thought about Seger coming there with Daphne, and how often he must have pulled leaves out ofherhair. Clara imagined Seger making love to Daphne, telling her that he loved her, as he must have done hundreds of times.
He does not love me, at least not yet. Not like he loved her.
The thought came unbidden, made her stomach clench, but she forced herself to banish it.
Chapter 20
Dear Clara,
