Page 45 of The Marriage Mission

Noah watched her, the moonlight casting a silver glow across her peaceful face. She seemed to be searching for him even in her dreams, pulling him in like a siren's call. It was a reminder of why he hadn't been able to drive away earlier that night. After sitting in his car, keys in hand, the image of Jacqui's face had anchored him, pulling him back to his new reality. The world could explode around him, but he would stand in its center if that's where his wife was.

Noah set the medal down on the nightstand and quietly slipped into the bed beside Jacqui. He reached out, taking her searching hand in his, interlocking their fingers. The contact soothed her instantly. Her hand gripped his with a gentle strength, pulling herself closer to him.

Jacqui's eyes fluttered open. The haziness of sleep clouded her gaze. When she saw him, a slow, radiant smile spread across her face, illuminating the room more than any light could. "Noah, you're home."

He was. He was home. Not because he was in this bed. If she had slept in another bed, he would destroy this one and come to that one.

He wanted to tell her about his struggles of the day, his struggles of the past. He would. But not now. Right now, he didn't want any struggle. All that would be between him and the woman he loved would be surrender.

"Are you okay?" Jacqui ran her fingers over his brow, straightening out the crease she found there.

Noah nuzzled into her touch, seeking her warmth and care. "Seeing that fire was tough."

"You know that wasn't your fault."

"Do you?"

Her grin told himcheck mate."Jules wouldn't let me take the blame. Or the responsibility to fix it."

"I'll help her rebuild."

"Me, too. I promised my sister I wouldn't try to take over. But that doesn't mean I won't still be by her side the whole way… double checking to make sure everything is done correctly."

In the darkness, Noah grinned at his wife. She was learning to let go, but she'd never abandon those she cared about.

"Seeing that fire, it brought back some bad memories. Of my time in the service."

"You want to talk about it?"

"Not tonight, but I will tell you. I won't ever keep secrets from you. Again."

"Again?"

"I lied to you, Jacqui. But I think you know I did."

Noah looked into his wife's beautiful face. He could see her clearly in the darkness of the bedroom. Her eyes sparkled at him, even though they weren't fighting.

"I never had any intention of ending this marriage," he said.

The light in her eyes turned into a full blaze.

"I love you. I think I fell in love with you the first time you snapped at me."

Tears welled in Jacqui's eyes, but they didn't put out the flame.

"I'm going to spend the rest of my life fighting with you, fighting for you. I'm going to be your hero because you rescued me."

"You rescued me, too. You rescued me from myself. I got so used to doing everything, carrying all the weight. Until you."

Noah pressed his mouth to her temple. Then to the corner of her right eye. He repeated the gesture at the corner of her left eye.

"You make me feel light and free. You make me feel like I can fly. Though my sisters want me to stop hovering over them."

Noah pulled his wife on top of him. "I don't want you to stop hovering over me."

"Good, because I have no intention of letting you go."

He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that sealed his silent promise—a promise to stay, to love, and to be there, always. Jacqui's kiss warmed Noah from the inside out. The doubts and the shadows of his past might never fully disappear, but with Jacqui, he had a reason to face them, to fight through them. Here, with her, he found his resolve, his purpose, and his home.

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