“It has brought us to this hillside, Nesta. It has brought us to speaking the words that our duties forbade. That you love me and that I love you, and that the pleasure has been magnificent but never simple, and that in my heart you are not Llygad’s daughter or the King’s woman, but my wife.”

He moved, and entered her, making the claim of his words physical and complete.

She closed her eyes and savored the feel of him, the total union. He filled her perfectly. Their bodies and hearts were so close that they truly merged into one.

“You must repudiate the betrothal,” she whispered. “You know that you must.”

He withdrew and entered her again. “I will not. You may have been drugged when you said the pledge, but I was not.”

He was making her arousal stir slowly, build blissfully. The sensation was so beautiful. It joined with her heartache, creating an emotion that was exquisite and soulful in its combination of happiness and sorrow. “Then I have betrayed you even more than I thought. I will cause your destruction. Can you forgive me?”

“The question should be mine, Nesta, if it is spoken at all. I am the one who put you in prison.”

“You know what I mean.” But he didn’t. Not all of it. Not the worst betrayal. He knew enough, however.

He stopped, his body half joined to hers. He laid his warm palm against her cheek. “There is nothing to forgive, my love. I did not expect you to forget who you were because of me. My desire to protect you made me demand that you do. So did my hope that I could keep you with me. I never really thought you would turn your back on it, however. I am not sure I could have loved you if you had.” He kissed her. “Now, do not speak of that anymore. Tell me that you love me again, and fill the night with your cries of pleasure, and carry me to heaven as only you know how to.”

She gladly told him she loved him. Again and again she said the words until they became a chant keeping rhythm to the connection of their bodies. Even when abandon obliterated her awareness of everything except his body and soul and breath and pleasure, she still said it. The cries ringing around them as they careened to the stars carried frantic declarations of her love.

“We must go, Nesta.”

She had dreaded hearing the words, and her heart sank like lead. Time had slowed as they lay on the hillside, and she had never known such beauty as she experienced in his arms.

He helped her rise, and fixed her garments. He kissed her once more, wonderfully, then took her hand and led her to the horses.