“Ever?” she cut in.
“Until you have proven yourself to be a responsible adult,” he finished, barely recognizing himself in his own words. But if this was what it took to keep the bloody little fool safe from herself, then so be it.
She let out an impatient breath. “When did you grow so pompous?”
“When I fell in love with you!” he practically roared. Or he would have, if they hadn’t been in the middle of a building of apartments, all inhabited by single men who stayed up late and liked to gossip.
“You…You…You what?”
Her mouth fell open into a fetching little oval, but Gareth was too far gone to appreciate the effect. “I love you, you idiot woman,” he said, his arms jerking and flailing like a madman’s. It was astonishing, what she had reduced him to. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d lost his temper like this, the last time someone had made him so angry that he could barely speak.
Except for her, of course.
He ground his teeth together. “You are the most maddening, frustrating—”
“But—”
“And you never know when to stop talking, but God help me, I love you, anyway,—
“But, Gareth—”
“And if I have to tie you to the damned bed just to keep you safe from yourself, as God is my witness, that is what I’ll do.”
“But Gareth—”
“Not a word. Not a single bloody word,” he said, wagging his finger toward her in an extremely impolite manner. Finally, his hand seemed to freeze, his index finger stuck into a point, and after a few jerky motions, he managed to still himself and drag his hands to his hips.
She was staring at him, her blue eyes large and filled with wonder. Gareth couldn’t tear his gaze away as she slowly rose to her feet and closed the distance between them.
“You love me?” she whispered.
“It will be the death of me, I’m sure, but yes.” He sighed wearily, exhausted simply by the prospect of it all. “I can’t seem to help myself.”
“Oh.” Her lips quivered, then wobbled, and then somehow she was smiling. “Good.”
“Good?” he echoed. “That’s all you have to say?”
She stepped forward, touched his cheek. “I love you, too. With all my heart, with everything I am, and everything—”
He’d never know what she’d been about to say. It was lost beneath his kiss.
“Gareth,” she gasped, during the bare moment when he paused for breath.
“Not now,” he said, his mouth taking hers again. He couldn’t stop. He’d told her, and now he had to show her.
He loved her. It was as simple as that.
“But Gareth—”
“Shhh…” He held her head in his hands, and he kissed her and kissed her…until he made the mistake of freeing her mouth by moving to her throat.
“Gareth, I have to tell you—”
“Not now,” he murmured. He had other things in mind.
“But it’s very important, and—”
He dragged himself away. “Good God, woman,” he grunted. “What is it?”