“I didn’t say that either.”
“Didn’t you?”
“Nay.”
She looked up at him with a light smile at the corner of her lips and an impish gleam in her bright green eyes. “So then, I do have value to you.”
More than she would ever know. “This was all a game?”
She shook her head. “Not a game. I merely wanted you to talk to me.” She took a step forward and touched his arm.
Sin stared at the delicate hand on his biceps and it took all his strength not to crush her to him and claim those lips with his. To not lift her in his arms and run with her to their room where he could lose himself in the sweet softness of her body.
“I know you have been alone much of your life,” she said gently. “But we are married now. No matter how this came about, I fully intend to abide by my vows. I would be a wife to you, Sin, if you will let me.”
Therein was the problem. He didn’t know if he could. Every time he had ever reached out to someone, he had been hurt. Over the years, he’d learned to pull inward, to give no one that kind of power over him.
He had shut off his heart, his emotions and learned to just be.
It was the only way to have peace in his life.
Now she wanted to change all that. He had hungered for love and acceptance for so long that he didn’t dare reopen himself to any tenderness now. It would destroy him.
“I need to be alone for a while,” he said, gentling his voice. “Please.”
She withdrew her hand. “I will be waiting for you when you are ready.”
That was the kindest thing anyone had ever said to him. Touched to a level so deep it defied explanation, he turned and made his way slowly toward the stables.
“I don’t know if you’ll ever reach him, milady.”
Gasping in alarm, Callie turned in the hallway to see Simon drawing near from behind her. “You were eavesdropping?”
“Only a little.”
She smiled at his honesty. “Where is Jamie?”
“Aelfa took him to your room. She and I will watch over him tonight for the two of you.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
As he started to leave, she stopped him. “Simon, is there anything you can tell me to help me with Sin?”
“He is a hard man, but a fair one. No one, including myself, really knows your husband, milady. He has been shut to the world since the day I met him. Sin just is. He asks for nothing and relies solely on himself. If there is a way of reaching him, I don’t know it. All I know is that it won’t be easy. But if you’re willing to try, then I am willing to help.”
“You’re a good man, Simon.”
He laughed aloud at that. “Beautiful women keep saying that to me and yet they all end up married to another. Perhaps I should try being bad and maybe then I could go home with the fair demoiselle.”
Callie smiled at him. “I doubt you could ever be bad.”
A young maid approached them timidly from up ahead. Callie greeted her.
“Beg pardon, milady,” the girl said nervously as she curtsied before them. “My lady bid me give this to you. ‘Tis a wedding gift.”
Callie took the small box from the girl’s shaking hands. “From whom?”
