His hands held her hips firmly, letting her know he did not intend to release her. She thought otherwise and wiggled to free herself of his grasp.
“Stay put!”
His demand surprised her. It was not like him to command her. He had always been respectful and considerate with her, but then she had always granted him the same courtesy.
“I want to know what troubles you.”
“Why?”
His brow wrinkled. “You are my wife and I—”
She yanked herself free and moved away from him. “We are no longer truly husband and wife.”
She took a step back when he stood, the strength of him filling the room, his sleek movements reminding her of a wolf that prowled his territory.
“I disagree.”
Even his voice resembled a low growl.
She placed her hand on the rough wood mantel for support. “You deceived me. Now you expect me to trust that you speak the truth about your love for me?”
He marched over to her, grabbed a finger and placed her hand to his chest. “Feel my love for you. Know that my heart beats wildly when I see you and when you are out of my sight too long I miss you.”
Aliss dismissed the heavy beat beneath her hand. Surely, it was her imagination.
“I love when I wake before you in the morning and feel your warm body snuggled next to mine. I love holding you, hearing you breathe, watching you sleep, waiting for your eyes to flutter open and for you to smile. You always smile when you wake and look at me.”
How could she deny her own similar feelings? She felt safe and comfortable in his arms as if she belonged in them. And she couldn’t deny the smile that came so easily to her lips when she woke to see his face.
That she loved him was obvious, but she could not reconcile his betrayal. It tore at her heart.
She shook her head. “I do not wish to discuss this.”
“I do.”
“We don’t always get what we want.”
“No, we don’t,” he said. “Sometimes we have to take it.”
“Such as this isle that is more important to you than I am?”
He turned his head and stepped away from her.
She reached out and grabbed his arm. “Deny it.”
“I will relinquish the land according to our bargain. Does that not answer your question?”
“Do you really expect me to believe you will keep your part of the bargain?”
He took hold of her wrist, yanking her hand off his arm. “Are you too afraid to give me a fair chance to prove my love for you?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He walked out.
Aliss threw the cloth down on the table and squeezed her head with her hands. She wasn’t afraid. She was strong. It had taken all her strength to agree to his bargain and remain with him. Didn’t he realize how badly he had hurt her? Didn’t he know how much she loved him and wished that he truly loved her? Didn’t he know how frightened she was he would betray her again?
He had played her for a fool once. She could not allow him to do the same again. She would remain strong.
She plopped down on a chair, fighting tears.
Aliss turned at the sound of sniffles.
“I fell,” said five-year-old Joseph and held out his scratched and bleeding arm.
Aliss went to him, bending down to his short height and gently taking hold of his skinny arm.
“It hurts.” Joseph wiped his nose on the sleeve of his free arm.
“It doesn’t look bad. I think we can fix it,” she assured him.
“It won’t hurt, will it?”
“It may sting a little.”
Joseph shook his head and took a step back. “Like a bee?”
“No, no, nothing like a bee sting.”
Joseph stopped, wiped at his nose again then stepped forward. “Okay, fix it.”
Aliss talked with Joseph as she cleansed the abrasion and gently rubbed salve on it. In no time, she had him giggling and laughing and forgetting all about his injury.
Before he left, he looked around the cottage then called her to him with a crook of his little finger.
Aliss went to where he stood by the open door and bent down.
“I am glad you have magic hands,” he whispered.
“Magic hands?”
He nodded. “Everybody says so and I’m sure glad you’re our healer. You’ll always be with us, right?”
“Why do you ask that?”
He shrugged. “I heard some people say you might leave us.”
“Aliss is not going anywhere, Joseph.”
Joseph smiled and giggled as he was scooped up in Rogan’s arms. Rogan then placed him back on the ground and ordered him to go play and have fun. He turned to Aliss and said, “You are needed in the kitchen. There has been an accident.”
She retrieved her basket. “The choice is mine whether I go or stay.”