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WINNOW | A FEW DAYS LATER

“ H ow would you feel about goin’ on a little adventure today?

” I peek up at Gideon from where my cheek rests in the muscly pillow of Gideon’s bicep and pectorals.

Legs twined together with his arms curled around me as we lay facing one another on our sides, I’ve never felt more at peace. Or in love.

Gideon’s eyes dip to meet mine, and there’s so much reverence and adoration there as a corner of his mouth tips up in a small smile. His thumb strokes my jaw, patiently waiting for my answer.

“But, don’t we have to work today?”

Gideon’s grin widens. “ I have work every day. You can do whatever you want, angel, but I think our crew will get on just fine without us. I can’t tell you the last time I took a day off. I think they’ll be happy about it, honestly.”

“Oh, yeah? Are you a real task troll?”

Gideon gives me a strange look, chuckling. “Nah. Don’t need to be. We all pull our own weight. Although Beau likes to refer to me as a ‘helicopter mom’.”

I have no idea what that is, but it sounds funny enough that it still makes me laugh.

“Well, in that case, I’d love to go on a little adventure with you.”

For no reason at all, I give one of his nipples a cruel pinch, to which he has zero reaction. I think this man’s pain threshold must be terrifyingly high. Instead, his smile creeps wider, and a blink later, I’m pinned beneath him and he’s burying his face in the curve of my neck and growling.

“You know how much I fucking love you, angel?”

When he buries his face even deeper, his scruffy beard tickles the sensitive skin, making me burst into laughter and squirms.

I can feel Gideon’s lips part in a grin at the discovery of my tickle spot. His hold on me tightens as he scrapes his bristly jaw over the column of my neck and I am fucking howling.

Gideon chuckles as he holds me with the strength of a fucking gargoyle and speaks with the utmost calm.

“What’s the matter, baby? You got ants in your pants?”

I’m laughing so hard I can’t even breathe, much less respond, and if he doesn’t stop, I’m gonna pee a little.

All I can do is attempt to kick and flail to no avail.

After several too-long moments of torture, he finally pulls back to look down at me as I pant to catch my breath.

“I’m gonna get you back for that, Gideon Kincaid.”

He grins from ear to ear.

“I can’t fucking wait.”