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“Yep, we’ll be outta your hair shortly.”

“Now, sir.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The tip-tapping of an impatient foot puts my good mood on edge.

My head snaps in the woman’s direction as my shoulders instinctively curl further around Winnow and rotate her away from this woman’s glare.

“You know damn well it would have been easier for you to let us have our moment, but instead, you decided to take the opportunity to shit all over it. Now, can youpleasego back to doin’ whatever it is you get paid to do so I can make sure my woman is okay, and we’ll happily spend our money elsewhere.”

The clerk lets out an incredulous squawk but otherwise storms off.

Reluctantly, I slip my hand out from between Winnow’s thighs and bring my fingers to my lips to suck the arousal coating them. She cranes her head to watch, eyes widening. The delicate flavor of her pooling on my tongue fills me with a certain sense of rightness that inspires a deep hum of satisfaction to rumble in my chest. “Goddamn, baby, I’m gonna crave the taste of you every day now.”

Winnow tries to burrow further into my chest.

“I cannot believe that just happened.”

Sucking the last of her juices from my fingers, I chuckle. “Worth it.”

She finally pulls back, still flushed with embarrassment.

“You alright, angel?”

Winnow gives a huffed laugh. “Let’s just get out of here, please.”

Chuckling, I pry her hands away from her face so I can press a quick kiss to her lips that takes her a little by surprise. “Ready to do the walk of shame?”

Winnow shakes her head.“No.”

Well, that settles that.

Winnow lets out a yelp as I bend to pick her up by the backs of her thighs. Her legs clamp around my waist, arms wrapping around my shoulders, and now she’s free to hide her face in the crook of my neck.

Despite the employees’ glare as I carry us out of there, I’m grinning from ear to fucking ear.

WINNOW

Ibury my face in the crook of Gideon’s neck until we’ve put some distance between us and Daphne’s Boutique.

I’m sorry, Daphne. You wouldn’t have been able to resist either.

I can feel eyes on us from our strange display, but for the first time in my life, I find I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m too blissed out with affection for this man. That sweet ache in my chest, what I can only guess is oursoulboundtether, is tingling with nothing short of giddy adoration.

When I intuitively feel like the store is no longer in sight, I finally pull away to face Gideon. A grin immediately bursts across his handsome face, eyes twinkling with mirth as they crinkle at the corners, and it’s fucking contagious.

Laughter erupts between the two of us, and I can’t help but give one of his muscled shoulders a playful smack. “You are sobad.”

Gideon only laughs all the harder—a sight that is heartachingly swoon-worthy as he continues to tote me around like a pet monkey.

When his laughter calms, the open, earnest, reverent look in his eyes steals my breath.

“Only for you, angel.”

WINNOW

The only clothing store still open is what Gideon calls a Western store. I have no idea what that is, so I brace myself for a surprise as I unwrap my legs from his waist and stand on my own.