Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-five
Peyton
I’ve been home for five days now. D’Artagnan hasn’t left my side. He’s always been my little shadow, but he’s taken it to the extreme.
We’re finally back on the boat and heading to the island for a few days; it’s exactly what I need.
Apparently, it’s exactly what D’Artagnan needs as well as he’s prancing about in his little life vest. He loves to be up at the front with the spray of the water coating his fur — I don’t understand it, he seems to be a cat that actually likes water.
Bennett and I are standing at the helm; my back pressed to his front as his arms bracket me.
He’s not let me out of his sight since I came out of surgery either, he even followed me into the bathroom the first time I had to pee.
We settled on me leaving the door open; I refused to go in front of him.
Being on the boat feels freeing. Here in Bennett’s arms I know that we’re going to be okay, that nothing can ever tear us apart.
“Do you know what I was most scared of when I watched that video?” His question comes out of the blue.
I shake my head, my body still wrapped in his hold.
“I was worried about what he’d done to you that wasn’t obvious.
I saw your wounds, the pain he’d inflicted on you, and Christ, that was bad enough, but I was so fucking scared of what else he might have done.
I could get the best doctors to stitch you up, to help your body recover from the damage he’d inflicted.
But if he’d violated you, if he’d rap—, fuuuck,” he groans.
“I don’t know how I could have healed that.
I don’t know how I could have ever made that better.
” I spin in his arms and cup his face in my palms. His eyes are haunted.
“Do you know why he didn’t? Why he never got the chance to do that to me?
” My stubborn man stays silent; he’s never going to give himself credit for saving me.
He still hates that he wasn’t there to prevent anything from happening to me.
Fine, he can stay silent, but I will remind him every goddamn day that I’m here and alive because of him.
“He didn’t do that, because you stopped him.
Because you got there before he could hurt me in that way.
” I place a gentle kiss to his lips and continue.
“I am here, in your arms, because of you. Because you saved me, because you killed him. Because of you, Bennett, I get to live.” He releases a shuddering breath and drops his forehead to my own.
“You’re it for me; you know that, right? I can’t do life without you.”
“You’ll never have to; I’m not going anywhere.
” He smiles at me and then gestures behind me with his chin.
I turn to look over my shoulder and smile as my lighthouse comes into view.
I fully turn in his arms, pressing back against his chest and take in the beautiful view.
I feel him fiddling in his pocket behind me as I look at my lighthouse.
“I’m not good enough for you,” he whispers in my ear, “but I’ve come to the conclusion that no one in this world would be.
You’re fucking perfect and everyone pales in comparison.
What I can do, is love you like no one else could.
I will spend the rest of my life trying to be the man you deserve.
I will treasure you, love you and treat you like the fucking goddess you were born to be.
” His arms release the wheel and he steps back from me.
I turn to see what he’s up to and my hands fly to my mouth; he’s on one knee in front of me and a small black jewellery box is held out in his hand.
“Marry me. Let me spend the rest of our lives showing you how much I love you.” Tears are streaming down my face; I can’t believe this is happening.
This man wants to spend the rest of his life with me?
He doesn’t think he deserves me? I guess we’re going to spend the rest of our lives showing each other how perfect the other is, because that’s exactly what he is. Perfect.
“Yes,” I sob. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
Bennett
I can’t believe she said yes. I thought she was going to push back, that she would think it was too soon. Or that she’d finally realized I’m not good enough for her; I thought I’d have to fight for her to wear my ring, for everyone to see that she’s taken. That she’s mine.
“I don’t want a big wedding.”
We’re moored up at our island, sitting out on the deck of the boat and she’s currently admiring her ring; a five-carat oval solitaire. I want people to see it from a mile off, it’s a fucking warning to any man that she’s not available.
“What do you want?” She’s currently lying back between my spread legs on the cushions.
“I want to get married here, on the boat, with Rebecca.” Fuck, she’s perfect. “What do you want, though?” I tighten my arms around her and lean down so my lips are by her ear.
“There’s just one thing I want,” I whisper.
“What’s that?”
“I want you pregnant,” she gasps at my words.
“I’ve still got about two months left with this current shot.”
“I don’t want you getting another one.” I nuzzle into her neck, she always smells so fucking good. “It could take us a while to conceive; I want us to start trying as soon as we can.”
“Bennett, having kids is huge. Are you sure we’re ready for that?”
“Yes. Fuck yes. I want it all with you. I’m not getting any younger, Peyton, give me this. Give us this.”
“Wha-what if I can’t?” Oh, sweet girl.
“Then we’ll see the best doctor there is. And if we still can’t, then we’ll adopt and they’ll be the luckiest damn kids in the world.” She turns in my arms so her cheek is resting on my chest and one of her arms is draped around me.
“Thank you,” she whispers the words so quietly I almost miss them.
“For what, sweetheart?”
“Everything. For everything, Bennett.”