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Nox grins down at Fawn. “Tell him you love him.”

“Fine. I love him.”

“No, tellhimyou love him.”

She turns to face me and looks me in the eyes. “I love you, Gideon. Despite this ridiculous mate code and the false advertising. I do love you.”

“I-I love you too,” I stammer.

Nox rises and drops her into my arms.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Fawn

“Do you want to?” I ask.

“Want to what?” he replies, gazing into my eyes.

“You know…”

I take back everything I said about Gideon not being polite, gallant, and a little bit shy. As I nestle on his lap, he is all those things and more.

If this were Nox, I might have assumed he was trying to make me use the naughty words, but Gideon is merely clueless.

I slip my hand down between us and squeeze his cock through his pants.

“Oh.” He grins.

A knock sounds on the door. Before we can say a word, the door swings open to admit Persa and Estelle.

“So happy to see you two getting along,” Estelle says, smiling brightly.

“I hope we’re not interrupting?” Persa says.

Gideon jumps to his feet, sending me tumbling to the floor.

“My lady!” He drags me up again. “I am so sorry!”

“It’s fine,” I say. “My bottom has plenty of padding.”

He blushes.

I am also blushing.

Seven’s sisters are already calling servants to organize afternoon tea.

He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “I will help with the tea.”

I watch him go, promising myself I will have alone time with him later.

I don’t end up getting any time alone with Gideon. Seven’s sisters commandeer all my afternoon.

“I have a present for you,” Persa says, sliding a book across the table. “Thought you might be close to finishing the last book.”

My gaze snaps toward Gideon, who stands attentively at the side of the table. He doesn’t look at me, but his lips curve in a tiny smile.

I fully expect that the mate code, as Nox referred to it, will come into play later.