head back, and climaxed, allowing him to do the same.
He thrust into her, leaving no doubt that she was his, now and forever. He held himself there, wanting to bind them together for eternity.
Alex tightened his grip on her backside as he leaned toward her to whisper in her ear.
“You are mine, Clara. And I am yours. We will never, ever be parted again.”
If she said aye or nay, it hardly mattered. So long as she wanted him, so long as she loved him, he would spend a lifetime looking for her. He’d spend his days trying to convince her with words and his nights doing the same with deeds.
As the throbbing slowed, he pulled back to look at her.
“I will keep you safe, always. And before you say another word,” he knew what she would say next, “’tis my choice to do so. Sara believes there’s no longer a threat. Gilbert approves. But more importantly, I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving to you that you’re safe and showing you how much I love you.”
Her eyes widened.
“I love you, Clara. And if you think I’ll let the woman I love walk away from me again—”
“I love you too, Alex.”
Her warm, soft eyes peered into his soul. And he held her gaze, glad for it.
“And you won’t have to come looking for me again. I will not leave you.”
Reluctantly, he lifted her off of him. She tugged his hand toward the river’s edge, and he followed. Kneeling beside it, she dipped her hand into the water and brought it to her face, washing the smudges there.
He watched, mesmerized, hoping it meant what he thought it did.
Alex followed her lead and helped her wipe every bit of dried mud from her cheeks until they were clean.
“He is gone.”
And then she stood, giving him a full view of the glorious body he had first spied when she washed herself at the lake. But this time, she would not be putting her boy’s clothes on. Instead, she picked them up from where he had discarded them, walked back toward him, and promptly tossed every piece into the river.
He roared with laughter as she made a second trip for the cap. He stood as she marched back to him as proud and tall as an ancient water goddess.
“It will be fine,” he said.
He ran his hands along her sides, her back. She was beginning to feel cool to the touch.
“Clara,” he said, holding her face in his hands.
Clara’s fingertips glided down his arms. “Aye,” she murmured.
“What do you intend to wear back to the inn?”
Her eyes widened.
“Aye, lass, I’m sorry to have mentioned it.”
“Alex, ’tis not funny. What will I do?”
He ran his thumb along the outline of her lip.
“I will find something, love.”
Her expression changed from concern to. . . something else.
“I could get used to hearing that.”
He caressed the length of her body until he reached her hands, which he clasped, squeezing them gently.
“I will say it every day. All day.”
“You complained about your brother and Lady Juliette,” she reminded him.
“I did. But I expect to act just the same. . . when we see them.”
“What do you mean?”
He leaned forward and kissed her on the nose.
“We will live at Dunmure,” he said.
“Dunmure? But Alex, I thought—”
“It is mine, and ’tis time for me to claim it. My mother can live there, or Brockburg—I leave that for her to decide. If it pleases you.”
“Of course it pleases me. I’m just surprised.”
“No more surprised than I was to watch you toss your boy’s clothes into the river.”
“Don’t you dare laugh at me. I just. . .” She smiled. “I just wanted to get rid of them. I wasn’t quite thinking of anything else.”
“I see that,” he said, his gaze appreciative. He was unable to keep the laughter from his voice.
“But Geoffrey and I scoured the countryside to find you. And now—”
“And now, I am Clara. I thought I had to choose, and I was so afraid to choose wrong. But I’m not afraid anymore. Alex?”
“Aye, love.”
“There is a bit of Alfred in me still. And I don’t know if I’ll ever be Clara completely again. Not after all that has happened.”
She said it by way of an apology, but there was nothing to apologize for.
“As long as you’re by my side and not holding a sword to English reivers, it matters not to me.”
“You should have seen me,” she said, clearly proud of her efforts. “And I still wish to