Three
For a long while, I lay with my head against Ian's chest, his arms wrapped securely around me. Neither of us speak, but I feel the gentle rhythm of his heart against my hand. I sigh as his lips tenderly bathe my brow, and I am content to stay this way forever. Nothing in this earthly sphere could compare to being loved by Ian, and I can't believe I could live so long and not have experienced such soul-stirring intimacy. I have never felt so adored, so treasured.
Reaching up, I caress his face. "I love you, Ian."
"And I love you," he murmurs against my brow, his embrace tightening. "Ye've made me whole, lass." He turns and rises over me, gazing into my eyes. "Ye own me. You have ta know that."
Giving him a loving smile, I say, "I know." He kisses me then and I murmur against his lips, "Promise me something."
Drawing back a little, he says, "Anything, love."
"Promise me you won't ever get tired of me." My eyes fill and I blink the tears back. "Promise me, Ian."
"Ah, Yvonne," he whispers, resting his brow against mine, "'twill never happen. Trust in my love for ye, darlin'. Nothing will ever free my heart from you. There is no option on forever."
~ ~ ~
Ian
Uttering a silent plea to God, Ian prays for help with the task ahead of him – to love his wife back to the woman she was before, the woman he knows still resides within her. Ian longs see her beautiful, face-splitting smiles again, to hear her bubbly laugh and bask in her once effervescent spirit. He misses that side of her badly. But as much as he misses that part of Yvonne, having her as his wife compensates for all of it. To know she is his makes any and everything possible.
Still, he knows they have been given this trial for a reason, and he'd meant what he said to her. He will always be there. There is no option on forever.
Even if it takes him that long to prove it.
~ ~ ~
The next day we drive up the canyon to a reservoir. Ian carries me to the spot he'd chosen for our picnic, placing me on a blanket we brought from the inn. He removes the picnic basket from his arm and sets it down before joining me on the blanket.
Leaning back on my hands, I sigh, taking in our surroundings. The grassy knoll we are on is slightly rocky and sits above the lakeshore. Behind us across the canyon road is a picturesque mountain backdrop.
Adults and kids move to and fro along the water's edge, and various sizes of boats occupy the lake, some of them cruising through the water in the distance. There isn't much traffic on the canyon road, making our surroundings peaceful.
"Comfortable?" he asks me.
"I am."
"This is nice," he says, making a contemplative noise as he takes in our surroundings. "'Tis no Scotland, but it will do."
"Do you miss it?"
"Sometimes." He smiles, caressing my hair.
I have always felt guilty about him giving up his life in Scotland to stay here with me, but since the accident, the guilt has grown. My reason for staying in the states left when Mama left this earth. If Ian hadn't married me, he could . . ."
"Don' do it, lass," he says suddenly, evidently reading in my expression what I don't voice. "Dinna even think it."
Saying nothing, I watch a couple walk by, heading down to the shore. Their arms are around each other as they casually stroll by, as if they don't have a care in the world. I can feel Ian's eyes on me, though he says nothing. He is still reading me and sometimes I think he knows me a little too well.
I watch him lay back on the blanket. His deep gravelly voice is husky as he takes my hand and says, "Come here, my wife," drawing me down beside him. He wraps his arms around me and I snuggle against him, breathing in his scent. He straightens his kilt, assuring that he is modest.
"We will return to Scotland one day," he says. "Until then, this is home." He places a hand under my chin, lifting my face to meet his steady gaze, his eyes warm and full of love. "Ye're my home."
As he brushes my tears away and kisses me, I am filled with a renewed determination to be the best wife I can to him. When we get home, I will be fitted for prosthetics. Therapy will be long, the process time-consuming, but we both have good insurance to help cover the costs. And we have nothing but time.
I need to heal, both inside and out. I owe it to Ian to try.
And I owe it to myself.
~ ~ ~
In the evening we dine at a steakhouse up the canyon, then we return to our cabin and watch a movie. Afterward, we make love and talk until we fall asleep.
Our next two days are spent going for long drives, stopping in small obscure towns off the beaten path to dine and shop. I love exploring with Ian. He makes everything fun and I can almost forget about being a burden. Every moment is memorable.
Our nights are spent wrapped up in one another. And during these intimate moments, I feel whole as a woman. This is what Ian does to me. His love helps me to forget what I have lost and fills me with gratitude for all I have gained.
YOU ARE READING
If You Ask Me To: A Highland Romance - Book 3
Romance"Opposition comes to us all from time to time, and some of those times are worse than others. The question, "Why me?" slips through the lips like a sprinter taking off at the starting line when he hears the whistle sound. It's reflex. But why ask a...