Page 58 of Sacred Vow

The bed dips when he climbs back up, and this time he lays on his side behind me. “Relax,” he orders, though his tone is softer, and gently wipes the warm washcloth across my ass, up through my cheeks.

I reach up, twisting toward him, and trail my fingers over the scar that runs across his chest.

“Tell me what happened here.” The scar is only slightly raised at the edges. It’s healed well; his chest hair hides it pretty well. But it’s long.

He holds my wrist, pressing my hand flat against the scar. “Nothing I regret.” He brings my hand to his lips, kissing my palm then placing it back on my hip.

“Now, let me finish cleaning you.” Once he’s finished, he tosses the cloth and lies beside me, brushing my hair from my face.

“It still hurts,” I complain as I try to wiggle my way to comfort.

Instead of being contrite over my condition, he lifts my chin and kisses me.

Not the same possessive kiss as usual. It’s tender and sweet and hard all at the same time.

When he breaks the kiss, he leans his forehead against mine.

“Let me keep you safe, Isolde.” His voice is raw, a mixture of arrogance and concern. “I would rather keep you locked in here as a prisoner, with you hating me, than anything bad happening to you.”

I swallow hard.

When did I stop hating him?

Confusion pulls at my heart, and I curl up into his lap, tucking my head beneath his chin.

“I don’t want to be locked away like some fragile glass figurine. I can handle whatever comes my way,” I say after moments of silence go by.

“I know.” His brow knits together. “But that doesn’t mean you have to. Let me protect you. Give over that much. We’ll figure out the rest.”

I’d give over more than that, I realize in that moment.

I’d give over my entire soul to this man.

When the hell did that happen?

“You’re trying to protect me from my own memories. I know whatever it is, it is bad. I wouldn’t be blocking it if it wasn’t, but it’s better to face it then let it keep controlling my life like this.”

A moment ticks by.

Then another.

“All right.” He brushes hair from my cheeks.

Heavy silence falls between us. A moment of truce.

“But we do it together, and if it starts to cause trouble for you, you’ll stop.”

Sounds somewhat reasonable.

“Okay. And if my memory comes back and we get these people to leave me alone, you won’t keep trying to sacrifice yourself by marrying me.”

His lips kick up to the side. “I’m not making that deal. Let’s go.”

He picks me up and puts me on my feet. The ache in my ass becomes front and center as I start to move, but when I look to him to see if he’s concerned, all I see is arrogance cross his expression.

“Where are we going?”

“You need a shower, and I want to watch.” He folds my hand into his, tugging me toward the bathroom.

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