And when he settled between her thighs, she kissed him long and deep, her arms winding about his neck.
Her Bennet.
Here in her arms once again. She could hardly believe it was true even as he sunk into her, pain radiating out.
Not that she ceased kissing him. In fact, she ignored the pain. They were joined together, in a way they’d never been before, totally and completely belonging to the other.
His face was taut with tension, the cords of his neck straining. “My love,” she asked, searching his gaze, “what’s wrong?”
“I hurt you,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “I hate that I hurt you.”
“I’m fine,” she cried, wrapping her arms tighter about his neck. “Truly. I’d not change a thing.”
“Sweetheart,” he said, his breath ragged. “I need to move inside you. I…”
“Do it,” she said simply, holding him even closer as he pulled out of her, pushing back in. “Is it…is it what you hoped?”
He lifted up to look down at her then. “It’s better.”
She smiled, drawing him close as he pulled out and then pushed in again with a loud guttural cry; he did it again and then again, setting an unsteady rhythm that soon broke as he moaned out his finish.
She held him in her arms for the longest time as he burrowed his face into her shoulder.
When he finally lifted up to look at her, his eyes were unreadable. “Rebecca?”
“Yes?”
“We need to marry as soon as we possibly can.”
She smiled at him. “I’ve no objections.”
“Good.” He slid to the side, pulling her with him. “I’ll not sleep another night without you in my arms. We’ve wasted too many already.”
She couldn’t agree more.
Three weeks later,they were wed at the chapel on Dillan’s property. Surrounded by their friends, Bennet held her handsin his as he repeated the vows that would make Rebecca his forever.
She smiled into his eyes, hers shining with the happiness he felt so deeply that it stole his breath.
After all this time, he’d finally found his place.
Her fingers squeezed his as she repeated the vows as well.
“You may kiss your bride,” the vicar said with a smile.
Sliding his arms about his bride, he tipped her back as his lips captured hers.
Their guests—Brax and Mona, Dillan, Alexi and Laurel, Charlotte and Tate—rose as they clapped. All were aware of the winding path of their courtship that made their marriage that much more poignant.
Laurel waved to them both, her brown eyes misting with tears.
She and Rebecca had grown quite close over the past few weeks, going over the intimate details of the day that Laurel had nearly drowned and she and Dillan had lost their sister.
Now Rebecca and Bennet made their way down the aisle, stepping into the morning sun as everyone gathered around them, shouting their congratulations.
The group loaded into carriages, winding first through the village, where villagers came out to congratulate them, and then looping back to return to Dillan’s home.
Most of the arrests had been made, and the group would soon return to London. Bennet intended to delay his and Rebecca’s return for as long as he could. While he needed to claim his marquessate, as he’d learned more about Laurel and Dillan’s loss, he understood their need for aid.