Page 146 of The Highlander Who Protected Me

“So do I. I . . . I love you, Royal.” Her words echoed the stuttering of her heart. “And I want to be with you, as a woman wants to be with the man she loves.”

His hands tightened on her shoulders. “You love me?”

“I know it seems rather sudden, but it’s been coming on for quite some time.” She gave him a weak smile, feeling foolish. “Rather like a case of the sniffles that doesn’t seem to want to go away, no matter what you do.”

A grin, dazzling in its intensity, transformed his solemn expression into one of joy. “I have been waiting for those words for a very long time, my lady.”

He stood and pulled Ainsley to her feet.

“You’ve been waiting for me to make a stupid joke about sniffles and loving you?”

Royal swept her into his arms with a dramatic flourish. “It was the perfect thing to say. You’re generally most truthful when you’re insulting me.”

“Oh, dear,” she said. “I am the worst wife in Scotland. Probably England, too.”

He plopped her on the edge of the bed, then leaned down and planted his hands on either side of her thighs.

“You’re the perfect bride for me, my angel.”

She rested her hands on his shoulders. “Truly?”

“I am yours, Ainsley. Now and forevermore.”

His quiet declaration made her throat go tight. All she could muster was a misty smile.

“Now,” he said. “May we commence with the mutual seduction?”

“Yes, please.”

When he started to untie her wrapper, Ainsley brushed his hands away. “Let me do it.”

She pulled her legs onto the bed and rolled up into a kneeling position. Her heart was pounding so hard it made her lightheaded, but she didn’t care. Despite the ugly images that still lurked in the darkest corners of her mind, she wanted this. She wanted Royal with a need that made her insides tremble.

And she wanted to please him. She wanted him to burn with a fire that could only be quenched in her.

A smile lingered on his lips, but Royal’s gaze was intent and smoky. “Need help?” he asked as she fumbled with the laces of her dressing gown.

“I’m quite capable of undressing myself,” she said, trying to sound pert.

Unfortunately, her wrapper sported an unreasonable number of laces and ties, each apparently determined to tangle itself into a Gordian knot.

Her husband rubbed a hand over his mouth, obviously trying not to laugh.

“I do hope I’m not boring you,” she said.

“That would be impossible. But while you’re divesting yourself of that very charming garment, I might as well get undressed too.”

Ainsley realized she’d never seen her husband entirely naked. “That makes perfect sense. Carry on.”

His eyes twinkled. “Logistically, it will facilitate the process.”

“Oh, blast.” She’d managed to utterly snarl the delicate ribbons that secured the waist of her robe.

Royal sat down to pull off his boots. “Do you want me to cut the ribbons for you?”

“God, no. Do you have any idea how much this outfit cost?”

He yanked off one boot and went to work on the other. “Here’s a thought. Why not just pull the damn thing over your head?”

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