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And I believe him. The strength of his body is a safety net against my fear, his steady presence calming the nerves buzzing beneath my skin. Plus, it doesn’t hurt how sexy he looks in a pair of jeans.

The beautiful white horse beneath us shifts, sensing my hesitation, but Cillian’s grip remains firm over mine.

“Relax, Dinara. She won’t hurt you.” His words are rich with patience.

I exhale, slowly loosening my death grip on him. The late morning sun spills across the vast open fields, bathing everything in gold. Out here, it’s just us—the cadenced sound of the horse’s hooves against the earth, the rustling of the wind through the trees, the soft hum of nature embracing us in its stillness.

He nudges the horse forward, and I squeeze my eyes shut as we start moving.

“You doing okay, baby?”

I huff out a breath, my stomach flipping as if I’m about to plummet down a roller coaster. “Not so much.”

He laughs, deep and rich, the sound vibrating through me. “You’re doing great.”

He guides us smoothly across the field, and little by little, I relax, trusting him. Trusting that he meant it—he won’t let me fall. Soon, I ease into the rhythm, the tension in my muscles fading as we ride along the fence line. A rush of exhilaration courses through me.

“I think I like this.”

Cillian grins, twisting slightly to glance back at me. “Told you.”

We ride for what feels like forever, lost in the beauty of the open land and each other, until he finally slows the horse and dismounts, helping me down with ease. His hands settle on my waist, his touch lingering as his gaze deepens, pulling me into the quiet intensity between us.

“I have a surprise for you.” He takes my hand, leading me toward a shaded spot beneath a towering oak tree.

A checkered blanket is spread out, a picnic basket sitting in the center.

My heart swells, warmth spilling into my chest. “You planned this?”

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch slow and deliberate. “Wanted to do something special for my girl.”

My girl.

The words wrap around me, setting my pulse into an eager pace. This life, these last few days…it’s everything I once dreamed of for us. And now, it’s really happening.

We lower onto the blanket, the sun kissing our skin as he pulls out food: slices of cheese, bread, fresh berries. Simple, yet perfect. He feeds me a piece of strawberry, his gaze steady, eyes brimming with something unspoken, something deeper. As I take it between my lips, my glance drifts to the bracelet he once gave me, now wrapped around my wrist, exactly where it belongs.

“I want to try,” I confess as I gaze out at the peaceful stretch of land before turning to meet his eyes. “I want to trust you again. I want a life with you. A future. A family.”

Each word carries a piece of me, raw and exposed, as if I’m handing him my heart and hoping he won’t break it again.

“I don’t want to run anymore.”

I want to love you…

Cillian stills, something unreadable flashing across his face. Then, slowly, he cradles my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin as his lips pull into a genuine smile. “I don’t wanna run either.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I blink against the sting of tears. Leaning into his touch, I let myself savor the warmth of his arms wrapping around me like he has no intention of ever letting me go. I don’t want him to either.

“I promise, I’m not going anywhere.”

As his knuckles brush across my jaw, his mouth meeting mine, I let myself believe him. That maybe this time, we can have this. That his promises aren’t just empty words, but truths he’s carving into existence. Our kiss is slow, unhurried, steeped in devotion and quiet longing.

When Cillian pulls back, his green eyes flicker with a storm of emotions: love, passion, an unspoken determination to make this work. I can feel it in every fiber of his being.

His thumb gently strokes my cheek before a low groan rumbles from his lips. “Damn, I forgot I have to fly out for a meeting tomorrow morning.” His expression tightens with frustration and regret. “I swear, I wish I didn’t have to go, but Tynan needs me.”

“Oh…”