Page 123 of Trade of a Lifetime (Trade Wind 1)

After rejoining her in bed, he kissed her mouth softly and lingeringly. She threw an arm above her head and turned to him trustingly.

James knew suddenly that he couldn’t deceive her, or himself, by hiding anymore.

Sharing his love with her would destroy their previous agreement. He could only hope that she wanted to build more with him.

“Lass, it’s time to amend our terms.”

“Terms?”

“I must specify certain rules which are essential to my acceptance of your invitation,” James recited, watching to see if she recognized her own words.

She cringed. “I can scarcely believe I dared!”

“You dared, and I matched your dare, if you recall. But I’m ending that contract. I can’t live by those terms anymore.”

She froze. Her expression became distant.

He slid his large palm over her heart; it beat wildly, reassuring him that she wasn’t detached.

Clara is not as remote and detached as she thinks—and neither, I wager, are you, Mr. Robertson.

He hoped Stella Stone was right.

Clara’s hand wrapped around his wrist; for a moment, he was sure she was going to pull his hand away. But she stilled, and her eyes filled with tears.

“Will you negotiate new terms with me, Clara?”

She frowned, then blinked. “What?”

“I want to continue with you, but under new terms.”

“What terms?” she whispered, her hand tightening on his wrist.

“This time, our relations involve sentimentality. I must be certain you understand. I have intentions for you, Lady Clara.”

She stared at him without blinking for a time, tears welling, then she closed her eyes tightly. He leaned down to kiss the streak all the way to her hairline.

“Second,” he continued mercilessly, “ours willnotbe a secret liaison. The world will know that we belong to each other.”

Her eyes opened wide. “James!”

Breathing hard, he waited for the shock to subside and reveal the cause. Was she horrified? Under his hand, her heart still raced.

She let out a small whimper; both of her hands overlaid his.

“Do you agree with my terms?”

“I—I want to. James, when you say sentimentality, wha—”

“I love you, Clara. Do you hear me? I love you.”

“I loveyou, James!” The words flowed out quietly on a breath. He reached for her, rolling so that she lay on top of him. Her arms tightened on his body.

With greater force, she declared, “I love you.”

Hands entwined in her hair, he savored the moment, her words running through his mind again and again.I love you. I love you. I love—

“James, when you say you want the world to know—”

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