I didn’t care. I wanted everyone to know he was mine, always and forever.
“I was so worried.” Rudy fussed over me. We were in the big tub. The warm water covered us up. The soft scent of lavender filled the room, and for the first time in hours, I was so relaxed, I was blinking. My body wanted to sleep, but not yet. I didn’t want to move from his arms.
“Ye made me so proud tonight. The way ye handled everything. Celeste won’t be back to bother us for a while. I think she learned her lesson.”
“Yeah, I had no choice. I wasn’t going to let her win this stupid game of hers. You are mine, not hers.”
“That I am, love. Come on, yer about to fall asleep. I can’t have ye drowning, now can I? We have a wedding to plan.”
“And a honeymoon.” I grinned.
“Aye. Two weeks of just us. No work, no people. Isolating. Lots of naked isolation.”
“Why, Mr. Ferguson, you’re being mighty cheeky.”
He helped me out of the tub, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Aye, I am, and ye love it.”
Oh, he had no idea just how much I loved that.
We moved to the bedroom, got into our night clothes, and climbed into bed. His large, warm body curled around me. I closed my eyes, yawning softly. I was so content to just stay here, never moving.
This was what I needed.
Just him.
Everything else was a happy bonus.
That night started a new path for me and Rudy. A more open, responsive relationship that I’d not trade for anything in the world.
He was slowly helping me reprogram myself. I was relearning what it was to be loved and to return that love. I was finally happy in and with my life. For that, I’d forever be grateful that he came into my life.
If you’d have said a year ago, I’d be here, married to the love of my life, I’d have said you were delusional. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong about my future.
With Rudy and his family, our family, by my side, I had all I could ever want or need.
The future held so many things. Untold stories and memories that I would be able to share with our kids, and grandkids, one day.
The rest of our lives, no matter the ups and down, were going to be a ride that I enjoyed wholeheartedly. Until my last breath.