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She had loved Walter She truly had But what she felt for Tristan went beyond anything she’d ever experienced

As hisof a whale It didn’t sound quite as lonely as it had before Perhaps because now her heart and soul were filled to overfloith love for this

He lifted her into his arms, and she nestled her head into the crook of his shoulder The curious had been at the reception her father had held for her following the e ceremony While there was some tension in the air--she wasn’t certain if her brothers would ever fully eive it much credence

The Duke of Keswick had been the one to raise his glass in a toast to theht hih, but she suspected there were undercurrents in his words Tristan had returned hoo, but she knew he had still been adrift They’d both lost theirabout with no tether

But now her life again had purpose, her feet were sturdy on the path She, too, was home

Once locked inside the cabin, they took their ti the anticipation when they would once again coes He had new scars: a small one above his left brow, a tiny one on his chin Gifts fro bruising on his ribs

"You shouldn’t have let them beat you," she said

"I didn’t think you’d much like it if I tore into them Besides I deserved it" He cupped her face "I’d hurt you, Anne I’ll never hurt you again"

His mouth covered hers, and she couldn’t help but think that she would have this taste, this heat, this passion for the remainder of her life Anyti she would have no lonely nights without hiht

It was she who deepened the kiss She who stroked She who led theht came down on her, she curled around hiloriously happy Had she truly thought she could live the remainder of her life without this, without hioose

"Hue over the shell of her ear