Chapter 32 #2
He gave a small shrug. "I haven't told Emily that part, but it's probably caused by guilt too."
"For what?" It was obvious to her, but maybe he needed to voice it.
"For pushing you away and not being able to be the man you deser—"
"Stop right there." She held up a hand. "This is never going to work between us if you keep—"
"I know." He cut her off this time. "But even though you’re not bothered by my...injuries, I am. The psychological ones as much as the physical ones.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to work through them, but it could take a long time still.”
“That’s okay, Damon. There’s no rush.”
“I know, but I’m tired of being in limbo. I want to move on with my life.” He locked gazes with her. “Move on with you.”
Grace couldn’t help the broad grin that spread over her face.
“But Grace, you need to understand that I’m not a hundred percent healed yet. I’m only about seventy. But...” He grimaced. “I may never reach a hundred.”
“I know, and that’s okay. We’ll face those challenges together.”
After they finished eating, they worked together to clean the kitchen then moved to the living room to watch a movie.
Grace let out a pleasant sigh as they snuggled on the couch with the lights down low.
Fifteen minutes in, she realized Damon wasn't watching the TV, he was watching her. She paused the movie and looked at him.
"What?" She couldn't help the chuckle that slipped out.
"Do you know how many times I dreamed about being here with you like this while I was deployed?"
She grinned. "Is it living up to your dreams?"
"Almost." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertips grazing her cheek.
"Almost?"
"There's one thing missing." His voice was so husky, it sent a ripple of warmth skittering down her spine.
"What's that?" The words came out a whisper.
"This." He slid his hand into her hair and gently pulled her head towards his as he leaned in.
Kissing Damon was like nothing Grace had ever experienced. He'd mastered the art of tempting and teasing, but he was also patient, waiting for her to invite him to deepen the kiss. Which she did wholeheartedly.
Her pulse raced, warming her from the inside out by the time Damon ended the kiss.
"Now that totally exceeded my dreams."
All Grace could do was giggle, which did nothing to help her catch her breath.
Damon leaned his head against hers. "You'll tell me if my touch and kisses bother you, won't you?"
"Yes. So far, I've been fine. In therapy I learned how to separate then from now. I recognize the difference between danger and affection. It really only bothers me when I'm talking about the...event itself."
“Good.” He scooted away from her and cleared his throat. "Listen, Grace, there's something else we need to discuss before this goes any further."
The serious tone in his voice made her gut clench.
“I assume you know the full extent of my injuries?”
She nodded, wondering what he was getting at.
“We didn’t get much of a chance to plan a future before I deployed, but I want you to be the mother of my children."
Grace felt her eyes widen. She wanted that more than anything, but Damon's frankness took her off guard.
“Dr. Campbell informed me that I might still have options for fathering children."
Warmth filled Grace's face as she recalled Dr. Campbell's pointed look when he described the method of how they would have to conceive.
"Judging by the color in your cheeks, you might be more aware of the intricacies of the process than I am.” Damon’s tone was teasing. “Care to explain?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“I...uh...well...um...”
Damon burst out laughing. “I have a pretty good idea of what it will take for us to have children and let me just say as much as I want you to carry my children, I’m not excited about the process it will require.” He gave a little shudder that made Grace laugh again.
She squeezed his hand. "Even if we never have children, I don't want to spend this life with anyone but you."
"I feel the same about you, but I want to have children with you, Grace. A whole bunch of them. If we can't have our own, then I want to adopt as many kids as we can."
"How many is a bunch?" Hesitancy laced her words.
"As many as the Lord sees fit to bless us with."
A slow smile spread across her face. "That's how many I want too."
"But you need to get over this habit of blushing." He caressed her cheek. "Because I have an appointment next month with a fertility doctor to talk about my— our options, and I want you to go with me."
"I want to be there."
"Good." Then he pulled her closer and pressed his lip to hers in such a heart-pounding, knee-weakening kiss that it was a good thing she was sitting.
"Is it safe to assume that we are on the same page in the same book now?" Damon drew a heart on the back of her hand. "Because I plan to propose to you very soon."
Grace let out a happy sigh as she put a hand on his cheek. "Don't you know, gaupito, we're writing our own book now."
“I like the sound of that.” His lips turned up in a breath-taking smile, then he winked. “I have a new bucket list item.”
He pulled out his phone and showed Grace the new addition to his Unforgettable Moments list: Take Grace to Holland for our honeymoon.
Tears flooded Grace’s eyes as she threw her arms around his neck. “You are seriously the most amazing man ever.”
“Here’s the thing though, beautiful, the tulips are only in bloom from March until May.” His breath tickled her ear. “So, are we going to have a very short engagement? Or wait a whole year?”
It’s already the middle of March.
She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. “I do not want to wait a whole year to marry you. So it sounds like we’re going to have a very short engagement.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”