Free All Her Men (The Queen's Men Book 1) by Brina Cary Page B

he took a deep breath. It was now or never. He placed it in her hand. “’Tis a necklace that I saw ye admiring in the shop. It suites ye.”
    Her eyes went wide and he tried to back peddle, “If ye dinnae like it I can return it.”
    “No!” She snatched her hand back, cradling the necklace to her chest. “I mean, no, I like it.”
    Pride filled him. He had been right. In the shop her gaze had gone to the necklace several times. It was simple necklace, a white gold heart with three blue stones. They had a fancy name, but not one that meant anything to Jacob. “Would ye like for me to help ye with it?”
    She nodded but said nothing as she handed it to him. He waited as she turned around before stepping close enough to smell the shampoo she used, lavender and vanilla. He drew it around her neck, allowing his hand to graze her skin. He grinned as she shivered. He carefully clasped it and let his hands rest on her shoulders. “I hope ye like it, Amelia.”
    She stepped from him and turned to face him. Once again she nodded, but didn’t speak.
     
    ****
     
    Jacob took her hand. Such strength, such power. Yet, so gentle. “Lass, ye must know, how I feel…”
    Amelia suspected, but was not sure. After all, who could really be sure that someone felt the way they hoped about them. The necklace made her wonder. It made her hope. “I must be crazy. Just completely out of my mind. I mean, you guys took me from my home, but all I can think about is how you made my skin tingle. I think you broke me.” That was the only excuse. The only reason she would feel this way. Unless… “Jacob, why did you sleep with me?”
    “Och, I told ye before.”
    “No, no you didn’t.”
    “Did I nae?”
    “No. You told me that I would never have another lover. What did you mean by that?”
    “Do I really have to say?”
    There was a hint of hurt in his eyes. She turned from him, unable to weather being the cause of it, and shrugged. “It would be nice to hear the words… You’re a guy. Guys are supposed to say it first. You know, so I know you mean it.” Shyness seemed to overtake her. Why couldn’t she say the words to him? Three little words. Words that had never been so hard to say before, why were they now?
    “Och, Amelia, ye wound me.” The light shone brightly in his eyes as a sad smile played upon his lips. “Perhaps soon ye will find the words.” He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. “Ye are verra precious to me, Miss Amelia. Verra precious indeed.”
    “Why?” No one other than her father had ever said she was precious to them. There were days, as a child, when she did not even believe her father. He had left her. If she had been so precious to him, why didn’t he stay? Left both her and her mother. Left them to fend for themselves with only the occasional letter or random phone call. Looking back on it all though, Amelia began to remember other things. Her mother telling her that her father would do anything to ensure her safety, even lie to her. Could he have been lying when he said business kept him away? Could it really have been for their safety?
    Jacob’s gentle hands cupping her face drew her back to the present. “Because ye are. ‘Tis no other reason than that. Amelia, ye must understand. ‘Tis a most precious thing, to be treasured by someone. Ye are my heart and soul, lass. If ever we are separated, I will find my way back to ye. May take me forever to find ye, but I will nae leave ye.” Stepping back slightly, Jacob raised her hand and flattened her hand out. Raising it upright, her palm towards him, he brought it to his chest. As he placed it over his heart he whispered, “’Tis beatin’ for ye, an ye alone.”
    The moment was defined by intimacy. It screamed of trust and faith, begging for both to be returned. It was as if this moment meant everything to him. It did to her. His eyes seemed to bore into her very soul. Daring her to challenge him. Truth radiated back to her. This