Donโt you do that.โ She turned away from the mirror, toward him. โDonโt you dare make a joke. It took a great deal of courage to say what I did. And you donโt have to speak a word in return, but I will insist you be man enough to take it. I wonโt have you making light of my feelings, or making light of yourselfโas if youโre not worthy of them. Because you are worthy, Colin. Youโre a generous, good-hearted person, and you deserve to be loved. Deeply, truly, well, and often
Tessa DareYou don't want me to feel obligated? Well, I'm sorry, Lily. I am here because I feel obligated." He brought her hand to his chest, pressing her palm flat against his rapidly thumping pulse. "I'm obligated by my heart. It's decided you're essential to my existence, you see. And it's threatening to go out on labor strike if I don't make you mine this very day. So yes. I am here on bended knee, acting from a deep, undeniable sense of obligation. I am, quite simply, yours." He swallowed hard. "If you'll have me.
Tessa DareDonโt. Donโt play that game.โ His brow pressed to hers. โWhen I heard you cry out . . . it was like a saber to the gut. I wanted to die.
Tessa DareWhat? You mean to travel almost five hundred miles alone? No. I canโt let you do that. I . . . I forbid you.โ It was Colinโs first attempt at forbidding anyone to do anything, and it worked about as well as heโd expected it to. Which was to say, not at all.
Tessa Dare