Page 119 of Chalk Outline

Through glossy eyes, I look at the goddess she is.

“You are the most handsome man I have ever seen. You were always the embodiment of beauty in my eyes. That has never changed, and it never will,” Winona clarifies. Determined to prove to me that it doesn’t matter to her, and I know it doesn’t.

“I know I’m not ugly. It’s just that… sometimes I can’t see the beauty.”

“Then I’ll show it to you.”

A tear slips from my eye just in time for her to catch it.

“Are you mad?” I ask.

“I’m overwhelmed,” her voice cracks. “I missed you, but I’ll get mad later, and maybe I’ll take advantage of you.”

I chuckle at her words.

“I just got my best friend back, you jerk. What, you thought I wouldn’t recognize you?” tears fill her eyes again as her eyebrows pinch together. “I really want to tase you right now.”

Fuck, I missed my little brat.

“Never doubted you, but I had to buy some time. You interrogated my ass.”

“What do you want now?” she asks, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes.

I cup her cheeks. “You. I always wanted you.”

“What if we can’t go back?”

“Then we build something new,” I say, pulling her face closer to mine, my eyes flicking to her lips. Gentle raindrops begin to dance around us. She cries and laughs as my heart bursts with happiness.

Us and the rain... like our first kiss.

We glance up, smiling from ear to ear, before our mouths meet. I wrap my arms around the small of her back and spin us around. I taste heaven when our tongues reconnect, reminiscing about cherished memories and moments etched in time. As the kiss deepens, I feel like we’re disintegrating into stardust, finally home. Finally together.

“I have so much to tell you,” I whisper.

“Me too,” she says between quick breaths, her eyes welling up with tears again.

“Wanna dance first?” I offer my hand.

“You trust me that much that you don’t think I would throw you over this balcony? It’s pretty slippery. Accidents can happen.”

A candid smile sneaks across her face, bringing all of my six-foot-four frame to my knees. I can’t resist it. So, I grab her throat and devour that perfect mouth of hers again.

I trace every spot with my tongue and sprinkle kisses along her neck. She giggles, so I do it again. My tongue wipes away the water droplets cascading down her silky skin before they slip down her chin.

My arms squeeze her to me. I rub my cheek against hers, needing every particle of her to know that she is mine. She is my universe. And I’m hers.

What I’m about to tell her will burst the small, secure bubble she’s had since birth, only for her to realize it was a lie, too.

I pace the room back and forth while Winona dries her wet clothes in the bathroom. I offered to do it myself, but she said she’s not ready for that yet.

That’s understandable.

I won’t push her beyond her limits right now. Maybe later, if she allows it. There are so many things I want to say and other things I want to explore with her, but we need to take baby steps.

When she came to my tower an hour ago, I held my breath tightly as time ticked away slower than usual. Even in her shock, she allowed me to comfort her.

I just kissed her and danced with her to the sound of the rain and her enchanting laughter.