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“I’m so glad I kissed you in Scotland. I beat myself up over it, but I’m so happy I did.”

“Mmm, me too,” he slurred. “Why did you beat yourself up?”

God, sleepy Arne is so fucking adorable.

“Because you are my captain, and I wasn’t sure if I had read the signs right. You were shocked.”

“Yeah, I was. First time a guy kissed me. I was shocked how much I loved it.” His voice didn’t sound sleepy anymore. “And I felt bad, too.”

“Why?”

“Damn it, Raven. You are so young, and I am—”

“Hot,” I interrupted him.

His snort ruffled my feathers. “Not.”

“You are still young. You’re only thirty-two. That’s not old.”

“Ancient compared to you.”

“You forget what I am. I don’t think I age like a human. And thanks to my autism I always felt older than I was.” I trailed my fingernails over his sweaty back. “I never fit in anywhere. Never until I met you.”

“I guess you aren’t just talking about how perfect you feel when you are inside me.”

“I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic or not,” I told him truthfully, only to have him scramble to his hands and knees to gaze into my eyes.

“It was a joke, but a bad one. I’m sorry. I feel the same way about you. You and I, we fit together.” Arne’s muscles bunched when he lowered himself to kiss me, drawing my eyes to his thick biceps. “I never felt this way about anyone before, Max. No idea how I’ll ever stop wanting you. Not even when I’m eighty.”

His eyes flew open when he realised what he’d said.

He wants to grow old with me?

“Sorry, I…”

Bringing his forehead against mine, I shook my head to shut him up.

“Me neither, Arne.”

From the moment we left Denmark until he parked outside, Arne never let go of my hand or leg.

He let go with a gentle squeeze and half turned around at me. His wistful smile made my stomach drop.

“I hate that I can’t kiss you goodbye, Raven.”

“Yeah, me, too. I love you.”

“Fuck, I love you so much.”

His eyes dropped to my lips, hanging on them as if he wanted to make quite sure he remembered their shape forever.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Max.”

“Tomorrow.” I nodded. “Thank you for taking me with you. It was…”

“Yeah.” A smile lit up his face. “It was.”

Thirty-three