Peta was proud of her fiancé. She no longer had any doubts that Martin was the right man for her. Every single day, every single hour, he proved that his love was steadfast and did not waver in the face of hardship. He was handling the trial fate had set before him remarkably well. In fact, he seemed even kinder and more attentive than before.

It was a difficult time for Peta. A week earlier, she had injured herself after falling down the stairs in a neglected underpass. Fortunately, her hospital stay had been brief. The X-rays showed a crack in one of her pelvic bones, something that, in practice, could not be actively treated. The traumatologist had told her she simply had to be careful so the fracture could heal. No walking without crutches, no sudden movements, no sex, more time lying down with her legs propped up on pillows—those were his instructions. Peta was determined to follow them so she could recover as quickly as possible.

She didn’t want to be bedridden, so she often went out for walks with her fiancé. When she supported herself properly and stepped carefully, the pain was bearable. She avoided stairs—stairs were pure torture for her.

Even though Peta hobbled along on crutches and had lost her graceful gait, Martin continued to look at her with adoration. His gaze warmed her heart and gave her confidence that the bad times would soon pass.

He watched her every movement, ready to catch her if she stumbled. He carried her in his arms whenever they had to overcome stairs or when the sidewalk was broken. When they stopped at a café, he always seated her in the most comfortable place. Once, he even held her in his lap so that her backside wouldn’t touch anything and the pain would be minimal. Peta felt like a princess—not that it had been any different before.

In the evenings, he would undress her slowly and carefully, carry her into the bathroom, and place her in the bathtub with almost ceremonial gentleness. He helped her bathe without excessive touching—a true gentleman. Then he would dry her and massage her legs, which often swelled after the accident. He lay beside her, embracing and kissing her, but he never insisted on more, knowing he had to protect her. Peta felt sorry for him when she saw how he struggled to conceal his arousal. Usually, he would slip off to the bathroom and return calmer. It was an unpleasant situation, because as much as he longed for her, she longed for him too. Still, because of the injury, they began satisfying each other in ways they hadn’t tried before, which brought a new thrill into their relationship.