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“When did you know you loved me?”
He drank deeply, wanting to give her an honest answer. A romantic part of him wished to tell her it was the first night they met in the stables, but that was not true. He’d wanted her, lusted for her, since that night. But he hadn’t yet known he was capable of love. “The day of the attack.”
She peeked over the rim of the jeweled goblet, and Garrick finished his wine.
Not yet.
He filled his own cup and poured Emma more wine as well.
“When you spoke of your desire to see the ‘jewel of the crown.’ You said you wanted to see it even more than you wanted a family of your own.” He swallowed back the bitterness of the later part of the memory. “When I told you Graeme was a good man and would make a worthy husband . . .” What a fool he’d been. “. . . I knew then I did not want him, or any other man, to marry you. I imagined us riding side by side to the Tournament of the North, thought of your excitement and how I wanted to give you that more than I’d ever wanted anything.”
He placed his wine on the table beside them.
“That’s when I knew.” Garrick took her goblet and placed it next to his own. “I loved you then.” He took her hands in his. “And I’ve loved you every day since. I just didn’t know how to make you mine.”
He rubbed his thumbs along her palms. Slow, circular movements meant to help her relax.
“I never did properly thank you for the mare,” she said. “Where did you get her?”
“From Edward.”
Her eyes brightened. “King Edward?”
“Aye. A gift for my services. I brought the horse back from Acre. I knew she had to be yours.” He continued the slow movement of his thumbs, increasing the pressure.
“But how . . . when . . .”
“When I returned to Clave, I had him prepared and would have sent him to you sooner, but Cacho became ill and needed to recover first.”
“Cacho?”
“Edward gave him the name. ’Tis a castle in Kakoun, to celebrate our victory there. You’re welcome to change it.”
She shook her head. “I think I will keep him to . . . Oh!”
Garrick had dropped her hands and reached for her breasts instead. Through the thin fabric, he continued the same circular movements until he felt the tips of her nipples.
“You are most welcome,” he said, this time moving one hand beneath the shift. With the other, he pulled her toward him.
“When did you know?” he asked as his hand slid up her thigh and found the treasure it sought.
Propping her hands on his shoulders for support, Emma attempted to answer. “The night—”
She stopped when he slipped his finger inside her.
“The night?” Garrick tried not to think about the fact that she was already wet and ready for him. He concentrated instead on her words.
“I . . . I can’t—”
“Try.”
She was close to climax already.
“You said . . .”
Emma closed her eyes as Garrick ignored the silent screams of his body. Knowing this time he wouldn’t be forced to stop.
Nay, not yet.
