Page 43 of The Horseman of Sleepy Hollow
He rose abruptly, pacing the grass. "That puts a death mark on you. If anyone discovered our secret and wanted my power, they would kill you first."
"Ifthey found out that I was your Ceannaire. And should that happen, you'd be there to protect me. We will protect each other."
"I don't know."
"I understand that you are hesitant to trust another human with this bond," I said gently. "The last time you trusted someone, it did not work out well. But I would never command you to kill anyone—never, Eamon. You have to believe that."
He rushed back to me, and for a moment I thought he would kiss me—something we had to do discreetly, if at all. But he only said, low and terse, "That is not why I hesitate. I trust you, Katrina. I trust your heart. And I do not want to put that precious heart of yours in any more danger. You cannot be my Ceannaire."
I crossed my arms. "Then I will not wed you. I withdraw my offer of marriage."
His brows drew together in a thunderous frown. "You cannot withdraw it."
"I can. The offer of marriage is revoked until you agree to let me protect you."
"Katrina..." His frustrated growl delighted me, and the swears that followed were even better.
"Such sweet music to my ears," I crooned. "Please, do continue. You have been so very civilized of late—I miss the unfettered Eamon of the cabin. When can we go back there? There are things I want to do to you." I blinked slowly at him.
"When we are married," he said through gritted teeth.
"What a pity we cannot marry until you agree to my terms."
"I will not be played with, Katrina, or forced into a decision. When we marry, this will be an equal partnership. You and I, together."
"Then you must let me protect you in my way, as you wish to defend me in yours."
I had him there; I saw the change in his face.
He stalked in a swift circle, beat his palm against the elm's trunk a few times.
"Very well," he said tightly.
"Very well? What might that mean?"
"I will marry you."
"You sound so elated." I rose from the blanket, shaking out my skirts. "Be careful, you might burst from pure happiness."
I swept past him, my chin in the air, but he caught my wrist and dragged me back. One broad hand pressed the small of my back, and his mouth claimed mine, hot and urgent. He devoured my lips, searched me out with his tongue; he stole my breath and possibly my soul—left me flushed and tingling andwanting,wanting.
"I have missed you," he breathed in my ear, under the fall of my curls. "I miss seeing you, lying there in my bed, or walking around in my clothes. I miss your constant questions, and your clever quips, and your incessant wickedness. I want my hands on your skin. I want to be inside you, Katrina, to be part of you. The thought of belonging to you frightens me and thrills me. I am elated to be your husband."
He pulled back, a triumphant half-smile on his face. I swallowed, scarcely able to look at him, or to stand properly.
"I want your word on a certain matter, however," he said, tracing my knuckle with his thumb. "You must promise me that when you feel trapped, as if you must burst out of your own skin, you will not hurt yourself. Instead, you can squeeze my hand very tightly. I will understand the sign, and I will immediately devise an escape for you."
"You would do that? Even if I needed to leave in the middle of a service, or avoid a quilting session with the goodwives, or run away into the woods for a while?"
"Anything you need, whenever you need it."
The sweetness of his commitment overcame me so much I could barely mouth the words. "I promise."
"Good." He kissed my fingertips. "I am going to ask your father now."
As he walked away, I fell limply back onto the blanket, clutching my shawl around me and wondering what I had done to deserve such a man. I did nothing, truthfully. I had simply been Katrina—selfish yet affectionate, sour and sweet by turns, devoted to doing right by my fellows humans, yet also decidedly immoral when it came to a certain handsome dullahan. A world of contradictions in one woman, and Eamon did not seem to mind at all.
He wanted me. All of me.
