Page 71 of Craig

He undid her; there was no mistaking that. He said he loved her and had insisted that she felt the same.

Did she? What was this tingle in her heart?

It was something she refused to acknowledge, not now anyway.

It was true that she felt something for him, something big; she could acknowledge that, but she was scared to go further. She needed time.

She was broken, had been broken for too many years to count.

He felt her mind going into a million directions but left her to her thoughts as he continued to soothe her. He felt the wetness of her tears on his chest and was also attuned to when her breathing slowed, indicating that she had fallen asleep.

He tucked her in even more; his body wrapped around hers and continued his soothing touch, but he was wide awake.

He could wait, he decided. Well, he had to.

He didn't have a choice. He loved her with an intensity that was frightening.

He would wait until she was ready.

Now, she was vulnerable and still hurting. He wanted to find the man who had put her through all of it and beat the crap out of him.

He wanted to protect her from everything and everyone.

He also knew she would not welcome his protection. She was fiercely independent and very strong.

He supposed she'd had to be, considering. But there was also a vulnerability about her that tugged at his heart.

She didn't show it, but her emotions had been stripped, allowing him to see it. Seeing it tore at him.

She was his woman, his heart, his life, and he wasn't going to stop until she gave him everything. He wanted it all.

He would build a life with her. Have children together.

His heart spiked a little as he wondered if the seed was already planted.

He hadn't used anything and he was almost certain she wasn't on anything. But did he want a child in this confusing mix?

She wasn't ready yet and he wanted time with her. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and succumbed to sleep, his arms still wrapped around her.

*****

The rest of the week flew by quickly. After that night, the earth-shattering time they shared, he noticed a change in her.

She didn't talk about her past or bring it up and he wisely stayed clear. They went fishing again the very next morning.

She was the one who rose early, made a gallon of coffee, omelet, and toast to face the rain-drenched morning.

The haul was smaller than the first, but she caught the most, which delighted her. He was happy to see the smile on her face, the glow in her eyes, and would have done anything to make it happen.

They took long walks through the wooded area, stopping to look at an elk drinking from the stream.

He could see that she was enchanted with the place and that made him happy. He promised himself that they would return as soon as they had some free time.

He would see to it. This would be a place where they could get away from the pressing demands of their lives.

They talked about inconsequential details. He noticed that she stayed away from anything too personal.

It disappointed him, of course, but he supposed that was part of the deal of loving her.