“What are you doing?”

“Have a care, Gwen. I need a moment.”

“You need a moment? Take off the damn bandages. Now,” she demanded, trying to break free.

“Nay.” He sighed. He leaned back, taking Gwen with him. She sat on her knees, and he wrapped his legs around her, adjusting the shirt to cover her from his view.

“Nay,” she mimicked in a shout, poking a finger at his chest. “I’m going to die in the morning and you’re depriving me of my last wish?” She didn’t wait for a reply and reached for the edge of the binding.

Greylen cursed again and covered her hands. “You are not going to die.” Good God, the woman had a thick skull. “And I’ve already said, you’ll not remove them. I promised.”

Gwen snatched her hands back, then pushed against his chest with both of them. “Break it.”

“I never break my word, Gwen,” Greylen replied.

“Oh my God…you don’t want me.” As Gwen whispered those words, she realized she’d never been more humiliated in her life. Too many firsts and his rejection was the worst of them. Tears filled her eyes and she wanted nothing more than to leave. Dream or not, she was out of there. She began scooting backward, feeling for the edge of the bed with her feet.

“Where are you going?” Greylen asked in a chiding tone.

“Don’t touch me. I’m leaving.”

“You’ll go nowhere.”

“This is my dream. I can do whatever the hell I want,” she shouted as she slid from the bed and moved along the side. Truthfully, she had no idea where she was going, but she couldn’t stay any longer. And she would not cry in front of him. She would not. But then his hands were on her.

“Don’t push me away, Gwendolyn—ever.” His warning came with a squeeze to her shoulders.

“In case you’ve forgotten, you’re the one who stopped, Greylen. Excuse me for feeling rejected, but I was.”

He pulled her closer. “I did not reject you. How could you even think such a thing?”

“How—how?” She pushed him away again. “If you didn’t notice, we were moving from appetizers to the main course, you giant idiot,” she snapped. “But you obviously don’t want me.”

He grabbed her again, his voice angered. “I want you so much ’tis killing me.” He brought her closer to his body. “For more years than I care to remember, I’ve wanted nothing more, Gwendolyn. But when I take you, I’ll have the pleasure of looking in your eyes. Which leads us back to my promise. I gave my word, Gwen. Once given, ’tis a solemn vow—I will not break it. Understand.”

Oh this was priceless. The man who rejected her, humiliated her, and made her feel like a fool, wanted her to accept his word. She wished she could stare him down. Instead, she made a sweeping motion with her hands and broke his hold.