QUOTE : What are you planning to do<br />with all my points?”<br />Points? It took Jenny a moment to remember what he was talking about. Points, when he smiled. She turned<br />around slowly and put her hands on her hips.<br />“Your points? Those are my points. I earned them. You can’t have them.”<br />Gareth scowled and shoved his hands into his pockets.<br />“Bollocks. I had to smile very hard for every single one of them. And if you don’t take this elephant and marry me, I<br />swear to God you’ll never get another point again.”<br />Jenny’s world froze. Outside, she could hear the clear voice of a blackbird singing. It was overwhelmed by the<br />ringing in her ears. She turned to Gareth slowly.<br />“What did you say?”<br />“I said, you’ll never earn another point again. I haven’t smiled since you left me, and I miss it.” He kicked at the ground, his eyes tracing the dust. “I miss you.”<br />“No, before that.”<br />“Take this elephant—”<br />“After.”<br />He looked up. That feral light shone in his eyes again, but this time the wild look was a plea. A lion yearning to be<br />freed from its cage. “Take me.” His voice was thick and husky. “Please. Jenny. I’m begging you.” <br />She didn’t know what to say in answer. He’d shocked the words right out of her skin. She could only stare, as some frozen expanse inside her tingled to life. It hurt to want.