When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Chapter 13: Free falling into love

Night had fallen, by the time we reached the place, where it had all begun. A full moon, rising on the Eastern horizon, illuminated our surroundings, and provided enough light, that Peyton immediately recognized, where we were going to be camped out, for the next couple of days.
"Of course. You brought us to our special nook," she says, a smile behind her words.
"Ain't no better place than here, to camp out, for a few days," I say, dismounting and hitching my horse to the nearest tree.
Peyton follows suit, hitching her horse beside mine. I reach for the supplies, stowed on the back of my saddle, that I always carry with me. A tent, and my bedroll.

Glancing over at Peyton, I gesture to the rear of her saddle.
"Get your bedroll, from your saddle there," I say.
"How long has that been there?" She asks.
"You serious, right now? It's been there, since I bought Sunbeam, for you," I say, an amused look in my eyes.
"I never noticed it, till now," she says, and I chuckle.
"Well, now you know. Now, unhook it from your saddle, and bring it over here," I say.
She does as I ask, handing it to me.
"Good. Now, on the left side of my saddle, there should be a lantern. Mind grabbin' that for me?" I ask.
"Sure," she says, moving around, to the other side of my horse, and grabbing the lantern, off of its clasp.

Suddenly, she starts laughing.
"What you laughin' bout?" I ask.
"Not only did I not notice the bedroll on my saddle. I didn't notice you weren't riding Legend," she says.
"Really? How does one not notice that?" I ask, laughing alongside her.
"Hey, don't judge. When life keeps one busy, they don't notice things as easily as others," she says.
"That's true 'nough, I reckon," I say.
"So, what's this fellers name?" She asks.
"Yet another horse, that ain't got one," I say.
"Nobu," she says.
"Nobu? What does that name mean?" I ask.
"It means trust. And it seems to me, like Legend, this boy is a real trusty friend," she says.
"Hmm, I like it. Nobu," I say.
"You're welcome," Peyton says, a large smile on her face.
"Yes, thank you, Peyton. That's two horses of mine, that you've named," I say.
"You have more?" She asks.
"Nope, just Legend and Nobu, for now," I say.

She ponders that, as we set about setting up our camp.
"You have a real connection, with your horses," she says.
"Horses, are one of my favorite animals, outside dogs, that is," I say.
"You'd make a good rancher, then. You know, one that raises horses," Peyton says.
"I suppose, I would. Never given it much thought," I say.
"Well, doesn't hurt to dream," she says.
"No, it doesn't. Now, hold that light up a bit, I need to finish setting up our tent," I say.

Within the hour, we had our camp completely set up, for the night. We'd made a fire pit, and had a decent little fire going. There was a nip to the air, tonight. Most likely, due to being nearby a river. But, the flames provided enough heat, to keep us warm. Side by side, we were seated by it, now, warding off the slight chill. I glance over at Peyton, noticing that she was shivering slightly, despite being next to the fire.
"Cold, Sweetheart?" I ask.
"Sort of. But, I'll be alright," she says.
"I don't buy that. Come on, get over her," I say, reaching for her.
She crawls into my embrace, and trembles.
"That's what I thought," I say, chuckling.

I remove my jacket, and wrap it around her, hoping it would help provide that extra warmth.
"You didn't have to do that," she says.
"Yes, I did. And don't even think, bout givin' it back, till you've warmed up, some," I say.
"I've said it once. I'll gladly say it, again. You're a good man, Arthur. A damn good man," she says.
"I can be, when there's merit, for it," I say.
"Am I a merit, for you being so good to me?" She asks.
"I'd say so," I say, nodding.
"What did I do, to deserve you?" She asks.
"Saved my life, on multiple occasions," I say.
"Well, I love you," she says.

I turn to face her, taking her face gently in my hands, caressing her lips with my thumb, before I very softly press my lips, to hers. Her arms wrap around me, pulling her in closer to me. Heart pounding, I move to deepen the kiss, suddenly hot to my core. I could feel things beginning to heat up rather quickly, between us. Reluctantly, I break off the kiss, to gaze longingly into her eyes.
"I can't. I can't Peyton," I say, trying to shut what was going on within my mind and body, down.
"Yes you can. Look at me. You can. I know that you're afraid that history will repeat itself. I know you're afraid to be hurt, again. But, you can't let what happened in the past, define your future. You're not the unsure teenager that you were then. You're a grown man. One who's become much stronger, much wiser, than you realize," Peyton says, her hand coming to rest, on my cheek.

I let out a shaky breath, as I search her eyes.
"Life is short. So, why not live it, to the fullest?" She asks.
"Goddammit, Peyton. How'd I get so lucky, to have a woman like you, come into my life?" I ask, my lips finding hers once more.
This time, I don't hold back. I let the feelings I was trying so hard to lock away, run rampant, free, within my body. Breaking away, once more, I rise to my feet, extending my hand to her. She takes it, preparing to rise to her own feet. But, I scoop her into my arms, bridal style, and carry her into the tent, with every intention, of exploring just how far, how deep our love we currently felt for each other, could really go.

Once we were inside, I pull back the top part of our bedroll. I lie Peyton down, on it, before I join her, leaning over her, and continuing to kiss her, passionately. At this point, I am extremely hot and bothered. And it is rather noticeable, on both our ends. Mine, mainly being, that my jeans felt a lot tighter, in the groin area. And I could definitely feel the uncomfortable strain, of an erection working to break free of its confinement. And with how Peyton moaned against my lips, I knew she'd definitely noticed it. Why else, was she working so hard, to get my clothes off of me? She'd already unbuttoned my shirt, and was sliding it off of me, exposing my toned torso. Without breaking the kiss, she runs her hand from my chest, to my abdomen, flattening her hand, against my stomach, right above the hem of my jeans, right on the spot, where the scars from the cougar attack, were. Well, one set of them, anyway.

Slowly, both hands move down, and work to unbutton my jeans. I don't stop her, this time. Not like I had, when we first kissed. I let her set about the task, awaiting the moment, I am freed from the strain and confinement, that was becoming more and more uncomfortable, by the minute. It didn't take her long, to get the button undone, and my zipper down. I groan, as I felt my erection, spring forth, free at last.
Breaking the kiss, my breath rapid and hard, I quickly finish removing my jeans. Peyton watches me, gasping when she catches sight, of how hard I was.
"Damn, it's...it's so big," she says, wrapping her hand around the shaft, and giving a gentle squeeze.
"Hard as fuck, too," she says.
"Hush, you," I say, as I bring my lips back to hers, distracting her, so I could set about removing her clothes.

I work fast, but efficiently, unbuttoning her shirt easily, with one hand. Once it was off of her, I toss it aside, setting to work, on her jeans, next. And like I had with her shirt, I tossed the jeans aside. The only thing left to do now, was remove her undergarments. Eager, now, I pull her up into a sitting position, and yank them off of her, using both hands, now. They slid off her body, with ease, and I tossed them aside, as I lie her down, once more, admiring her body, in the dim light provided by the fire just outside.
"Goddamn. You're beautiful, Peyton. Why would anyone, ever hurt someone, this beautiful?" I ask, as I place one of my hands, on her stomach.
"Because, I wouldn't let him get close enough, to get a peek. Besides, Colm O'Drisscol is Bufugly," she says.
"What?" I ask, amused.
"He's Bufugly. In case you haven't grasped the meaning yet, he's butt fucking ugly," she says.

Temporarily off guard, I bust out laughing. There wasn't a better word, than the one she'd used, to describe Colm O'Drisscol. It was true. The man was ugly as sin.
"And despite the scars from the cougar attack, you're also very beautiful," she says, bringing me back to the here and now.
"I am?" I ask.
"Of course. You're a rather handsome man, Arthur Morgan," she says.
I bring my lips back to hers, all manner of amusement, immediately forgotten, as I return to the task at hand.
She breaks away, once more, and I groan.
"I know. Last time, I promise. I just, I wanna ask you something," she says.
"What is it?" I ask, my voice huskier than usual.
"Have you given thought, to being a father, again?" She asks.

My eyes widen, shocked by the question.
"Why are you askin'?" I ask.
"Well, I was kind of hoping, that maybe you'd consider...," she begins, before I grasp what she was getting at.
"The two of us havin' a baby?" I finish, her gaze flashing to mine.
"Yeah...," she says, shyly.
I think on it, a moment. And the more I think about it, I realize, I wanted to be a father again, seeing as the first chance I'd had, had been robbed from me. And I realize, I want to have that chance, more than ever, with Peyton.
"Actually, I'm glad you asked," I say, as I lean over her once more.
"Really, You mean it?" She asks.
"I do. Let's have a baby, Peyton," I say, before completely surrendering to the heat, free falling further, into the love that was growing stronger and stronger, between us.