Marissa sighed. He was not going to allow her to ignore that question, that much was certain.
“I was thankin’ ye for savin’ me,” she said simply, ducking her head so as not to meet his eyes.
She stared at her hands, steepling her fingers. The mattress shifted, and a moment later, Arthur’s hand came into view.
His thumb touched her chin, using it to guide her gaze to his. His grey eyes were regarding her with an emotion that she could not place, but his face was softer than she had ever seen it.
“I will always save ye.” Arthur emphasized every word, saying them slowly and deliberately as if to ensure she took in every bitof their meaning. “It doesnae matter who throws themselves in our path, or what may come our way. There is never a life—nae the one we’re livin’ now or the one we’ll share in heaven—where I willnae save ye.”
Something unfurled inside Marissa, her heart swelling.
“I never thought I would find that,” she said, gulping past a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat.
Arthur’s voice was soft when he spoke. “What do ye mean?”
He brushed a curl from her face, the warmth of his fingers as they grazed her cheek sending chills dancing over her skin.
“Me whole life, I’ve nae wanted to get married,” she explained. “But now, I cannae imagine wantin’ anythin’ more.”
Emotion bubbled up inside her, and she knew that it was something that could only be quenched by the feel of Arthur’s body on hers.
She moved quickly, likely faster than she should have, considering the injuries they had both sustained that day. But she did not care.
She hurled herself at Arthur, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him to her. But, despite her advances, he hesitated.
“Are ye sure?” he asked. “Ye were injured today. I dinnae want to do anythin’ to ye that will make it worse.”
“I’m certain,” Marissa said, her voice filled with confidence. “The tonic the healer gave me did wonders, and the only thing I need right now is to feel alive. I need ye to make me feel alive.”
Arthur studied her face, but she knew that he would find no doubt there. She wanted him.
No. Sheneededhim.
Marissa had never been more certain of anything in her life.
“If ye’re careful with me head,” she added, still trying to find a way to get what she so desperately wanted, “I think we’ll be just fine.”
Standing on her tiptoes, she softly pressed her lips to Arthur’s. His muscles tensed with his struggle to keep himself from fully unleashing on her. But she did not want that.
She kissed him again. His mouth moved against hers, albeit softly. But Marissa knew she would take what she could get.
Their lips remained pressed together, slowly moving in tandem. And eventually, Marissa allowed her hands to explore him. Her fingertips traced the backs of his arms, moving to caress the ridge of his spine.
Slowly, almost imperceptibly, their kiss began to deepen.
More. I need more.
Quickly, Marissa sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, biting down on it. Arthur hissed, his hands flexing against the small of her back as he pulled away to gaze down at her.
His eyes were burning, filled with a desire that echoed her own. She smirked at him.
And just like that, every bit of his resolve shattered.
The two of them fell back onto the bed, their mouths meeting in an explosion of love and passion. Marissa parted her knees for him as he climbed on top of her, their centers pressing together in a way that sent shivers through her entire body.
Their kiss broke, both of them panting as Arthur started to kiss down the line of her neck. It was desperate and needy and carnal, the way they pawed and clawed at each other.
Marissa fisted her hands in his shirt, quickly working to tug it over his head. At the same time, Arthur’s large hands pulled her dressing gown over her legs, bringing it up over her hips and exposing her lower half.
