Page 169 of Kathryn

Katie caught her breath and then spread her fingers and peeked out between them. “Love?” she squeaked.

He removed her hand from her eyes, kissed her palm, and then placed her hand on his chest. “You’ve stolen my heart, Kathryn.” His lips twitched. “And I didn’t even know I had one.”

Katie blinked rapidly but a tear still escaped and slid down her cheek. She quickly brushed it aside.

Gerrit grimaced. “Please don’t cry. I—”

“They are tears of happiness. I never thought to hear you say those words, Gerrit. I was not sure you even believed in love.”

“I didn’t until I met you. When I look at you, or when I’m with you, or even when I am thinking about you, I feel a rush of pleasure more intense than anything else I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never felt this way before, Kathryn. I am not sure you can imagine how—”

“I can imagine it because I have been feeling the same thing for months and months.” She dashed away another tear, smiling. “I am sorry for being a watering pot. It is just that I did not think you felt the same way.”

“I didn’t either.” He pulled a face. “I do not mean that I didn’t think I felt the same way, but that I did not believe that you did. Listen to me, babbling like a fool.”

“I rather like it.”

He snorted. “Proud of yourself for reducing me to this state?”

“Very.”

He chuckled and his usually formidable gaze suddenly softened, and a vulnerable expression settled on his face, something Katie had never thought to see on his aloof features.

“What is it, Gerrit?” she asked after a moment.

“I often think about how you came to my bedchamber that night.”

She felt herself blush to her roots. How could she be so silly after everything they had shared?

Gerrit saw her blush and looked amused. “I did not mean that part of your visit. Although of course I am thinking about it now.” He pulsed his hips, making her groan, but then grew serious. “No, what I think about is that we would be living separate lives right now if not for your wisdom and bravery in coming to me.”

“As much as I would love to take all the credit for my behavior, I have to remind you that I did not come to that decision without plenty of encouragement from your mother, Amelia, and Stone.”

“Perhaps. But you were wise enough and brave enough to listen to their advice. You will not convince me that you are not largely responsible for my happiness, Kathryn. And for teaching me how to love.”

If he hadn’t already melted Katie’s heart half-a-dozen times already, that declaration would have done it. “You already knew how to love—you show it in dozens of ways for the people you care about. As for loving you? You are very loveable, Gerrit.” She placed a finger across his lips when it looked like he might argue that point. “I think we were both just waiting for each other,” she said, leaning low to give him a kiss. When she released him, she cupped his face. “I want to hear it again.”

He cocked his head, as if confused. “I know how cruelly you sacrifice your knights?”

Katie laughed. “You know what I mean.”

He tightened his arms until she was pressed snugly against him. “I love you, my duchess, my seductress, my darling wife.”

Katie sighed happily. “I will never get tired of hearing that.”

“Good,” Gerrit said, covering her face with light kisses. “Because I will never get tired of saying I love you.”

“And showing it?” Kathryn cocked a taunting eyebrow and then reached between their bodies and quickly unhooked his fall before tugging open his soft, well-worn leathers.

Gerrit laughed as she freed him from his garments. “And showing that I love you,” he agreed.

And then he took her in his arms and did exactly that.

The end