“Julianna?”

“I’m here.”

Drake grinned to himself. Oh yes, she was here. Lying next to him, all soft skin and gentle curves. He reached out to her, to draw her into him but something wasn’t right. His hands met air. He frowned.

“Princess?”

“I’m here,” she repeated.

Was the woman toying with him? After all he’d been through. A pang in his side as he rolled reminded him that he was not yet fully recovered, and he grimaced.

“Stay still.” Hands came to his shoulders and pushed him back. He let his scowl deepen as the image of a naked Julianna vanished and was replaced with a stern-faced, fully-clothed one.

He forced his eyes open again and the wonderful mirage receded fully. Not that she was not the most beautiful sight he had ever seen but he’d far rather she was naked next to him.

“Now is not the time to be thinking about that.”

His lids drifted shut and he urged them open again, making himself focus on the crease that had appeared between her brows. He must have said something aloud.

Drake shoved aside the gritty sensation behind his lids and rubbed a hand over his face. “On the contrary.” His voice came out hoarser than he expected. “Now is an excellent time to be thinking about that. I am alive after all. We should celebrate.”

Julianna stood, put a hand to her hip and lifted one brow. “Do you need some water?” she asked, ignoring his comment.

Since the near kidnapping, the bruise on her face had turned purple. His gut clenched. Would that he could have prevented her from even being touched by that brute. But aside from the mark on her face, she looked unharmed, and as elegant as ever. In a clean gown with her hair falling in gentle waves about her face, she reminded him of when he’d first laid eyes on her. Little did he know he would fall for her then. Little did he know she’d lay claim to his heart and soul.

He grinned.

“Well, do you want water or not?”

“Ale would be better.”

“Water it is.” She poured some into a glass and shoved it into his hands. “I do not know what you are grinning at.”

He tried to sit but pain lanced through his side. Julianna hastened forward and aided him up so he could take a lengthy gulp of cool water. He handed it back to her and rested his head against the headboard.

“I was just thinking of the first time we met. How beautiful you were...How much disdain you had for me.”

She set the glass aside and fussed over him, tucking in the sheets, and avoiding his gaze.

“That’s enough, Princess.”

She ignored him, moving around the bed to tuck in the other side. Drake grabbed her hand.

“Stop.” He drew her closer to the bedside. “Do you hate to think of how we first met?”

Her gaze landed on his finally and tears shimmered there.

“Julianna?”

“I nearly lost you,” she blurted out. A tear slipped down her cheek. “You could have died.”

He tugged at her hand until she gave in and sat on his bedside. He pushed himself up farther and drew her into him, pressing her face against his chest. She let out another little sob and he smoothed his hands up and down her back.

“You could never lose me, Princess. No matter what, I will always be with you.”

Her tears seeped into his shirt, hot and wet. He heard her draw in a shuddery breath and she straightened to swipe away the tears. She gave him a wobbly smile.

“Do you mean it?”

“Damned right I do. Do you think you could get rid of me that easily?” He spread a palm across her cheek. “I love you. I suspect I did even on that first day. You had me enthralled even then.”

“I thought you were an arrogant cad,” she confessed with a slight giggle.

“And you would have been right.”

“You still are an arrogant cad.”

“And this is how an injured man gets treated.” He smoothed his thumb across her cheek, removing any trace of tears.

Her smile eased away, and her expression grew serious. “I do not know what I would have done had I lost you.”

“Well, now you do not need to wonder. I love you, Julianna.”

“I am so glad I came here. Came to Cornwall. It was the best decision I ever made.”

“I’m mighty glad you did too.” He eyed her spiked lashes and still trembling lip, and shook his head to himself. “God, I love you.”

It was so intense, so consuming. He could feel the warmth of the words eat down to his very bones. He’d never experienced anything like it and he knew he never would again. Julianna was the one and only woman for him.

“Do you hear me, Princess? I love you. I’m never leaving you. Ever. I love you too much. Damn, it feels so good to say that. I’m going to say it over and over until you realize you’re stuck with me for a lifetime.”

“A lifetime?”

He nodded. “A lifetime.”

Her lips quivered into a smile. “I like the sound of that.”

“Me too.” He slid his hand around her neck and drew her closer, bringing her forehead to his. “I love you, did you know that?”

“I think so,” she murmured with a smile. “Did you know I love you?”

“It’s about damned time.”

“What do you mean?” She went to draw back but he kept her in place with his hand to the back of her neck while he brought up his other hand to push it under her hair.

“I have said I love you at least a half-dozen times now. It makes a pleasant change to hear the words from your lips,” he teased.

“Well, it is true. I love you, Drake.” She dropped a gentle kiss on his lips.

“If you love me, you’ll kiss me better than that.”

“You are not well,” she protested.

“Julianna, I have fought in battles and gone through a lot worse than a mere gunshot and a few broken ribs. I am certainly well enough for kisses.”

She sighed and shook her head but brought her mouth down upon his regardless, slanting her lips across his. Drake savored the warmth and the little taste of sweetness on her mouth that suggested she had been eating honey prior to him waking.

Before she could draw back, he pulled her harder against him, urging her mouth open with his and swiping his tongue into the velvety warmth. She made a tiny gasp then gave herself up to it. He kissed her long and deep until his body ached with need and he was forced to relinquish her. As much as he wanted to make love to her, even he had to concede he was not quite ready.

Besides, there were other matters to be dealt with.

He released her and eyed the plump pinkness of her lips. Perhaps kissing her and leaving her in such a state was not the best idea before confronting Knight, but a man had to remind himself what he’d fought for now and then.

He lifted the sheet and found himself confronted by his bare legs. The journey back to the inn was hazy and a little pain-riddled but he recalled Julianna stripping him down and tending to his wounds now. With the help of Louisa and the physician from the village, Julianna had nursed him almost back to health. Thankfully the bullet had exited out of his side and embedded itself elsewhere or he would have been in trouble. As it was, he’d probably have a small scar to remind himself of the time he nearly lost Julianna. Or perhaps more appropriately, the time he realized he could never live without her.

“I do not suppose my breeches are around somewhere?”

She glanced at a pile of clothing on top of the wooden chest in the corner. “You’re not getting up.”

“I am.” He pushed himself farther up the bed and shoved back the sheets. “I’ll walk around half-naked if I have to so you’d better hand me my breeches.”

She scowled at him. “Why do you even need to get up? I can bring you anything you need.”

“Because I need to speak to your brother, and this will not wait.”

He eased one foot onto the cool wooden floor, then the other, somehow managing to remain expressionless when a twang of pain inched through his side. If Julianna noticed quite how much pain he was still in, she’d never let him leave the room.

“I can have him come here,” she suggested, stepping forward to steady him. “He’s downstairs.”

“It’s humiliating enough having to ask Knight for your hand, let alone having to do it from my bed bare-legged.”

She stilled. “For my hand?”

“I love you, Princess. Did you think I would want anything else?”

“Well, no...” She smiled. “I was hoping to ask for Knight’s approval the morning I was well...taken. To save you having to face him. But you are only just recovered. Perhaps we should wait...”

“I’d rather get it over and done with. If Knight wants to beat me senseless, why not now? A few more injuries will not make much difference.”

Julianna bit down on her lip. “I’m sure he will not want to harm you.”

Uncertainty edged her voice. Drake didn’t care if Knight wanted to punish him for loving Julianna. He could well understand why a man would not want his sister marrying a man like him, but no one could love her better than him, he was certain of that.

“I’ll do whatever I have to to win your hand,” he told her. “I’d take a hundred beatings for you.”

“Don’t say such things.”

“Well, it’s true.”

She gave a little shudder. “I’d rather not think of beatings, thank you very much. I think we’ve seen enough violence recently.”

They had. He had. Now he wanted love and his damned beautiful Julianna. And that was not going to happen until he asked Knight for her hand.

“Come on, woman, pass me my breeches. My legs are getting cold.”

Reluctantly, she moved away and helped him into his clothes. He put a hand to the bed while slipping on his boots and pushed a hand through his hair.

“Do I look respectable enough?”

Eyeing him, she gave a half-smile. “Just about.”

He caught his reflection in the mirror resting against the wall and grimaced. His shirt was askew and creased. His breeches were no better. His hair stood at all angles and his stubble had turned into the beginnings of a beard. Dark circles ringed his eyes, emphasizing the redness of them.

Well, it wasn’t going to get any better. With the help of Julianna, he made his way downstairs to the taproom.

Voices quieted, and movement stilled when he entered the room. No doubt the story of Julianna’s kidnapping had been told over and over since their return, likely becoming more embellished by the moment.

Knight occupied their usual table alongside Nate and Red. Nate spotted him first, standing and coming over to his side. He slapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Good to see you standing, Drake. Though”—Nate ran his gaze over him—“you’ve looked better.”

“I could say the same for you.”

Nate chuckled. “Believe it or not, we were worried about you. We’ve been taking shifts at your bedside. You kept muttering something about...naked...and a beautiful woman.” Nate gave him a knowing look.

When Drake glanced at Julianna, he saw a blush appear on her cheeks. Drake straightened and eased his arm from around her shoulders. “I have no idea what you are talking about. Now if you will excuse me, I need a word with Knight.”

He hobbled over to the table. Knight ignored him while Red offered to get him a drink.

Drake thanked him. “A whiskey would do nicely.”

“Glad to see you alive and well, Drake. We’d be lost without you,” Red said before heading toward the bar.

Julianna lingered behind Drake while Knight continued to ignore him, staring into his ale. Drake gave a cough and Knight finally glanced up at him. “What do you want?”

“I think you know what.”

Knight gave a grunt and stood slowly, bringing himself to full height and puffing out his chest. Drake lifted his chin and stared the brute of a man down.

“Am I supposed to be glad that a man like you wants my sister?”

“All you need to know, Knight, is that I love her. More than life itself. If I had to die for her, I would. So long as there’s breath in my body, I will protect her, I will make sure she never wants for a thing. I swear it.”

Knight eyed him for several heart-stopping moments before his expression relaxed. It wasn’t a smile, but it was quite unlike anything Drake had ever seen before. His lips curved just the tiniest bit.

“I’d wanted a duke for her, but you’ll have to do I suppose. You have my blessing.” Knight dropped back onto his chair and went back to nursing his ale. “I bloody knew Drake loved her,” he muttered to Red who had returned with a fresh round of drinks. “Why do I always have to be right?”

Drake ignored the men and turned to face Julianna. She beamed at him and hurried forward, flinging her arms around him.

“Oof.”

“Forgive me.” She tried to draw back but he latched his arms around her and held her close.

“You are not going anywhere, Princess. Never again. You’ll stay by my side always.”

“Always,” she promised.