Song Of The Nightingale (DeWinter's Song 1) (33 page)

“No man will ever control me, Raile. You should know that by now.”

He was reminded of the day she had brought Arrian to him and had faced him in defiance. “In this room, we first met, Kassidy. Had I known what was in store for me, I wonder if I would have fled from you.”

“You would have been wise to, Raile. But to say we first met in this room is not altogether true, is it? We met in the park when I was only a child.”

“So we did. The pity was in forgetting that. But you were so young that day.”

“And you were so sad.”

“I still am, Kassidy.”

She glared at him. “Except for our son, it would have been better for us both if we had never married.”

There was pain in Raile’s eyes, and he was quiet for a moment as he walked over to her and pulled her to her feet. “As you know, Kassidy, in the beginning, I put little importance on marriage.”

“You made that very clear to me. I married you, knowing we would not always live together.”

“Please, just listen to what I have to say.”

She looked at him, her heart breaking, wishing he did not feel bound to utter the words that would tear her heart out. “Very well, I’m listening.”

“I have come to believe, Kassidy, that if a man has a wife who just happens to have the greenest eyes he has ever seen . . .”He reached out to gather a handful of silken hair that felt alive in his hands. “And if her golden hair rivals the setting sun on a summer’s evening...” He laced his hands through her hair and brought her face closer to his. “Add to that she is loyal, generous, and loving. And if she has a temper that rises like a live volcano and a forgiving nature that can calm a man like a tranquil sea at low tide. If she’s stubborn and always speaks her mind...” His eyes closed for a moment before he continued, “then a man can count himself fortunate indeed.”

His chest expanded with unbearable pain, fearing she would not have him. “I ask you, Kassidy, would a man toss away such a rare and precious jewel?”

She stared into his eyes, hoping she had heard him right. “Are you saying you like being married to me?”

He pulled her head to rest against his shoulder, wanting to hold her like that forever. “I have been in torment while I was away from you. I have grown accustomed to seeing you every day. I have never missed anyone since my mother died, Kassidy—but I hungered for the sight of your face, the sound of your laughter, the feel of your hand in mine.”

Her eyes rounded with hope and wonder. “Raile, I—“

“Please forgive me, Kassidy,” he interrupted her, afraid if he didn’t finish what he had to say, he would be unable to continue. “You see, I have never loved a woman before you, and I don’t know how to act with you. I know I did everything wrong.”

She stepped back, her heart beating with hope. “You love me, Raile?”

He smiled down at her. “I am most irreversibly in love with you, my little wife.”

“But you said you would never—“

He placed his finger over her mouth. “I said many foolish things, Kassidy. I hope you will be generous and not remind me of them too often.”

She touched his cheek softly, as doubt filled the green eyes that were swimming with tears. “Oh, Raile, I cannot believe you could love me. I have been nothing but trouble to you.”

His lip curved into a smile. “I won’t deny that. Since the moment I’ve known you, you have turned my world upside down.” Then he became serious, his eyes searching hers. “Kassidy, I wonder if you would allow me to break another promise to you?”

Happiness was bursting forth within her. She wanted to press her body against his and allow his nearness to fill her whole being.

“Which promise, Raile?” she asked softly.

“The one where I promised you your freedom if you gave me a son.”

Her green eyes took on the glow of a siren. “Just you try to send me away, Raile. Everywhere you go, I will be one step behind you.”

“I have not always treated you well.”

“That is not so, Raile. Each time I have been in trouble, it has been you who stood beside me and made everything right again.”

There was triumph in his eyes and he picked her up in his arms and carried her to the French doors and out into the garden. “You are fixed to me now, Kassidy. I’ll never let you go.”

Were the ghosts of past DeWinter wives glancing down at her from the high turrets of the castle and shaking their heads in satisfaction—she felt as if they were. Kassidy pressed her cheek to his while happiness filled her mind. “Oh, Raile, my love, my love, why would I want to leave paradise?”

He bent his dark head and lightly touched his mouth to hers. She melted against him and thus they stood locked in each other’s arms until at last he pulled away.

He laid his rough cheek against hers. “You have allowed me to live again, and to believe that things such as love and honor still exist.”

At that moment, a bird took flight from a nearby thicket, and Kassidy followed it with her eyes, her heart soaring as if it had also taken wing. She looked up to find Raile smiling at her, for he, too, had seen the nightingale.

“Look.” Raile pointed to the tall oak that shaded the far end of the garden. “The male waits for her just there on the highest branch—do you see him?”

“Yes, I see him,” Kassidy said, as Raile enfolded her in his arms, crushing her against him.

“Listen, my love,” Raile whispered against her ear, “do you hear him singing to his mate?”

“Yes, Raile, I very definitely hear the nightingale sing to his lady love.”

He turned her to face him, his dark eyes warm and soft with intense longing. “The nightingale sings for us also, Kassidy.”

She pressed her head against his chest, hearing the thundering of his heart. “I know that, too, my dearest.”

Kassidy could say no more, because the sweet song of the nightingale echoed in her ears as her husband’s lips pressed against hers. And soon, even the nightingale’s song was drowned out by the beating of the lovers’ hearts.