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GIDEON

W innow looks so fucking beautiful with this smile on her face, eyes filled with an earnest sort of adoration and openness. The fact that I was the one to put it there does all manner of things to my healing heart.

I swear it’s like fucking clockwork: moments after I experience joy, anxiety creeps in like poison in water to tell me it’s all about to be ripped away.

Easy come, easy go, some fearful voice in the back of my mind warns.

All the guilt I feel about hiding the truth from her comes roaring to the forefront of my mind, hissing and spitting that she’ll never be able to love me once I tell her the truth.

But as Winnow slips her delicate hand into mine, curling herself around my right arm and pressing a kiss to my bicep as we exit the store, that fear begins to abate.

Winnow moans with pleasure as her eyes roll in the back of her head around a mouthful of fried green tomatoes and homemade remoulade sauce. The sound and sight make my cock thicken yet again, and I’m forced to readjust myself.

“Holy hell. Can we make this at home?”

At home.

I try my best to tame my thoughts so they don’t run away with all the dreams those two little words coming out of her mouth paint.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Eyes twinkling, and face stuffed full like an adorable little chipmunk, the apples of her cheeks hitch as Winnow smiles around her mouthful. My heart trips all over itself every time I get to witness her joy.

While the food at this place is always delicious, my focus remains fixated on the woman in front of me throughout the meal and what I can do to keep those smiles on her beautiful face.

On the way back to my truck, with her hand in mine, we walk past a jeweller’s closed store. Diamond rings sparkle in the display cases within, and hope and realization begin to sing in my soul.

I wanna marry this woman.