Page 4 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Brooks
On the boat, Nov 1812
Meeting Persephone was the best thing that had happened in his life.
And over the past almost two weeks, they had gotten to know one another so well that he knew without a doubt that she was meant to be his.
He knew from the moment she was thrust in his arms, but these last two weeks sealed it for him.
He just had to convince her. But he spent every day with her, helping her learn to walk again and showing her just how strong she was.
And seeing her strength was important to him and to her.
She would give him her shy smiles and he lived for them.
Waking in his lonely cabin was getting harder and he knew they would be getting back to London soon.
It hurt him deep inside especially after knowing that she would be going back to her family.
And they sure as hell did not deserve his woman. Not after they forced her to believe that she was a sickly, weak child who could never do anything for herself because of her endless sicknesses that she had for her entire life.
She was so happy here, so changed from the woman that Lily had told him she was like before and he wanted nothing more than to protect that. Protect her and he would do what was necessary to do that.
He would ask her today and hopefully she would not turn him down.
He was being selfish, but he did not care. He never had been before, and it was hard on him.
Getting out of his bunk, he walked to the small window looking over the ocean.
He loved seeing the endless water, but he longed for his salon.
And he wanted nothing more than to start his life with his girl.
Now that he found her, he was never letting her go.
He sighed and pulled his breeches on and then his shirt and boots.
She always blushed red when he came in just his shirtsleeves, and he knew that she was used to polite society. One where a man was always properly dressed and not in such a small amount of clothes and it made him laugh.
But when he helped in the rigging and took off his shirt? She would still have that beautiful blush, but her eyes would crawl over his body as if she could not help but stare at his muscles and he wanted to crow.
To beat his chest and yell from the top of the rigging that his woman wanted him.
Brooks smiled and pushed his hair out of his eyes and walked to the cabin she was sleeping in.
Knocking on the door, he heard her say, “Come in.” And he walked inside, but he was not expecting to see her standing inside, her legs stronger, but still shaky.
Rushing to her side, she smiled at him and then the bright blush covered her face as she saw his clothes.
He grinned and pulled her close. “What are you doing Persephone? You could get hurt.”
She rolled her eyes at him, “I am fine Brooks. I need to do this by myself. And I am not as shaky as I have been. I am able to stand for longer periods of time and my legs are stronger. I promise you.”
Brooks sighed, and nodded, “Then show me.”
She put her small chin up in a stubborn tilt, and her honey colored eyes flashing at him and he walked over to the door and crossed his arms over his chest.
She took a deep breath and took several slow steps toward him and not once did she waver.
