A somber silence fell over us. “Maren, I’m scared of losing you. Of losing them.”
Quietly, I added, “I’m scared of losing you. Of you realizing this life with the babies isn’t for you.” If Bane decided this was too much it would destroy me.
“This is it for me, angel. I’m all in.” There was conviction is his voice. “No turning back. You’re mine forever.”
“I’m all in, too. I’m yours … forever.”
A peace filled the air. Fingers trailed down my stomach. “We are going to have double the trouble.”
Glancing back, Bane smiled as he chuckled. “I can’t wait.” He nuzzled my neck. “How fast do you want to get married?”
Married. I couldn’t believe Bane proposed. “I don’t want a formal wedding.” The movement on my stomach stopped. “What do you want, Maren?”
“If you want something more, I’m fine with it. Okay?” I turned toward Bane. This was new territory for us on so many levels.
Bane searched my face. “I’ll tell you if it’s not something I want. I’ll always be honest with you.”
Running a finger down his chest, I told him what I wanted. “I want us to commit ourselves to each other. No wedding. No pastor.” It wasn’t conventional, but it fit us.
“Where?”
Excited flutters coursed through me. “Here. Now. But that’s only if you want.”
“Now? You’re okay committing ourselves while being naked?”
I giggled. “It may not be conventional, but I want us to be together.”
Bane pulled me closer to him. “I, Bane, promise to cherish you for the rest of my days. I’ll never leave or abandon you. I’ll protect you and our family with every fiber of my being. I’ll be yours forever.”
We were doing this. Right here. Right now. I kissed him. “I, Maren, promise to love you with every ounce of my being. Be a good wife and mother. Be there for you in the good times and the bad. Let you be my everything and be yours in return.”
Bane rolled on top of me as I felt the tip of him enter me. The connection between us intensified as I asked, “So, we’re married?”
“We’re married.” He pushed in and I could sense victory coursing through him. “I love you, wife.”
“I love you too, husband.”
My world was complete.
Christmas was approaching in less than a week. I neared three months into the pregnancy. Sex was amazing. I couldn’t get enough of it. Marriage was more than I’d ever thought. My stomach had a little bump to it with the twins. Everything showed faster and the risks were greater. I couldn’t wait to feel them move around, but I was nervous. Sixty percent of all twins came prematurely. The risks were all amplified. Bane seemed to be handling all the information well, but I knew he worried.
I loved him more every day and I wanted my family more than I’d wanted anything.
Twins. It was going to be crazy caring for two babies. With Bane by my side, I knew we could handle it. Bane laid beside me, peacefully sleeping with his hand on my stomach. It’s how we slept every night. He’d told me he wanted to make sure our babies knew he was there and would never leave.
Beside the bed, his cell phone vibrated. Without missing a beat, Bane grabbed the phone, cleared his throat and spoke. “Hello. Yes. Are you sure? That’s good news. Thanks, Alex. I will.” I wasn’t sure how he could go from fast asleep to wide awake in a nanosecond. He looked toward me after he hung up and answered my silent query. “Sarge and Eric’s bodies have been identified. Looks like a deal gone bad. We’re in the clear. Alex is assembling a team to take care of all the connections and see if there were any other leaks.”
Relief coursed through me. I’d been trying to push it to the side with all the worry the twins brought and live in my happy bubble. I was married and in love. Stress wasn’t good and I tried to pretend the underlying fear wasn’t there. But now that the door had been opened, I had to ask, “Will it ever be safe for us?”
Propping up on his
elbow, Bane popped his neck. “Angel, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I will protect our family.”
“I know. I trust you … implicitly.”
“But …”
I took a deep breath as I thought about all we had been through. “But what if there are still some loose ends out there? What if Eric did tell someone else? What if Sarge had a backup plan? I’m trying not to stress about it, Bane. But—”