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Her grin finally split. “Truth is, I think your work boots are hot. I like the reminder of what a hard-workin’ man you are.

” My cock throbbed at her words. “Good, because when we get home, I’m gonna make you strip and wear nothing but my boots when I fuck you.

” The little heartbeat at her throat quickened, and I ducked, licking at the creamy exposed flesh.

A flurry of goosebumps erupted in my wake.

I slipped a hand between her thighs, rubbing at the seam of her cutoffs.

“I can feel your pussy humming for me underneath your shorts.” I rubbed at her aching core.

“Aren’t you still sore from earlier?” She clamped down on her bottom lip and nodded.

“Yes, but I still want you.” My inner ape beat his chest. “If I had another minute, I’d fuck you with my fingers until you creamed all over this seat.

” The Ferris wheel shifted forward again, causing our cage to jerk gently.

“You’re a dirty, dirty man.” I moved away with a smirk.

The scent of her pussy filling the air was enough to make me think I couldn’t be trusted out in public with her yet.

The urge to drop and fuck her up against anything available was still too strong.

I cast my eyes out to the twinkling golden lights that dotted the carnival grounds, tiny little specks of people shuffling around below us.

“How crazy would you think I am if I said I’ve never been on a Ferris wheel before?

” She popped a cloud of pink cotton candy into her mouth and smiled.

“I’d say you’re bat-shit.” I squeezed her thigh, our bodies pressed close as we sat suspended atop the carnival grounds.

“And I’d say what kinda childhood did you have if you’ve never hung in a metal basket above a crowd at deadly heights?

” I grinned, thinking that despite whatever else, if felt so damn fun to experience the silly side of life through her eyes again.

I’d grown up with a pretty stable childhood in every way, aside from a few traumatic moments.

I didn’t carry much from my past, but there was something a little darker that clouded Daphne’s eyes sometimes.

“There wasn’t a lot of room in the budget for things like cotton candy and carnivals and—” her eyes averted, taking in the nighttime crowd below us “—laughter.” “It’s a good thing you found me, then.

” I snaked her fingers in mine. “I think you found me.” Her bright smile returned.

“This big fluffy elephant you won me thanks you too.” She petted the soft gray stuffed animal in her lap.

“I’ve had so much fun tonight.” She popped another cloud of periwinkle cotton candy into her mouth and savored it as it melted on her tongue.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had this much fun at a carnival.

” The metal cage we were locked in shifted into gear, moving us slowly around the wheel as riders exited at the bottom.

“The last time I was here, I had pimples and Coke-bottle glasses.” She burst into a quiet giggle.

“I can’t imagine you with nerd glasses.” “Good. Don’t ever try again.

I’ve long buried all the photo evidence.

” “Surely I can sweet talk your mom into sharing the goods?” She was teasing, but it sparked a thought in my mind.

“Hey, why don’t you come the next time my mom does family dinner?

” Her eyebrows rose, eyes swirling with some inexplicable emotions.

“And like”—she tipped her head adorably—“meet your people?” “Yeah, I guess that’s what I mean.

” The Ferris wheel moved forward a few more places.

“Are we really ready for that step?” She was kidding me, I could tell, but I liked it.

I adjusted in my seat. Just the act of her bare thigh being pressed against mine for the last ten minutes of this ride was enough to remind me what she tasted like riding my tongue.

“Oh, we’re definitely ready, Peaches.” The pad of my thumbs settled on her full bottom lip, gently sliding across the tender flesh before I pressed our lips together in a tender kiss.

I didn't give a damn if we did look like lovestruck teenagers. I was lovestruck, well and twisted head over heels for this woman. “You make me so happy, Arkin. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so —” she licked her lips “—safe.” My heart collapsed at the use of the word safe.

It wasn’t the first time she’d expressed sentiments like this one and wasn’t the first time I’d wondered about the details of her life before I’d come into it.

“I’m vowing to you right here and now, on my word as a man, you’ll always be safe as long as I’m around, Daphne.

You never have to worry about that.” She nodded, happiness splitting her cheeks in a grin.

“You keep proving that to me, over and over.” “I’m a man of few words but a lot of action.

It takes some getting used to.” “Not for me.” She spread her palm on my cheek, her thumb tracing the arch of my cheekbone.

“It’s just one of the things I love about you.

” “Mm.” I placed another hungry kiss on her lips.

“Let’s talk more about all those other things you love about me.

” The rusted metal door creaked on its hinges as a teen carnie swung the door wide, gesturing us out.

I clasped her hand, and we ran out and down the steps, laughter and the scent of fried dough filling the night air.

“The comedy show just started at the stage. What do you say we throw popcorn at him every time he cracks a corny joke?” “Sounds like the best idea yet.” She grinned up at me, eyes dancing with fire and amusement and everything sweet in life that I wanted more of.

Whoever had wronged this woman in the past would have a one-way ticket to hell if I ever crossed their path.

Pushing my fingers into her hair, I held on to her for extra-long beats while the chaotic world spun around us, lost in her hair, her eyes, down deep to her sweet soul.

“It’s weird when I’m with you… I’ve never felt like more a changed man and my true self at the same time.

” Her eyes hung heavy, silence weighted like raindrops as we lost ourselves.

“I’ve never been the kind of person who needed other people to make me happy, but you make me laugh, and smile, and want to dance and sing and every other crazy thing on earth,” she confessed.

“And eat cotton candy in bed every day.” I snagged a pink tuft, dusting it along the button of her cute nose and then teasing it at her lips.

She nipped it, and it dissolved on contact, turning her lips a deeper shade of pink than before.

“Here. Let me get that.” I darted my tongue out, licking away the sugary sweetness.

She groaned, thighs shifting restlessly.

“Maybe it’s time we go home.” “Mm, I like the sound of that even more,” I growled, lifting her easily and spinning her, our lips connected the entire time.

“Wait!” She pulled away from my lips, giggling.

“I dropped the elephant!” I turned with her in my arms, bending quickly to swipe the elephant into my hands while keeping her safely secured in my embrace.

“I vote we name him Peaches.” I dusted him off on my thigh and then passed it to her.

But her eyes weren’t on me or Peaches. They were trained over my shoulder, round with quiet horror.

“Babe?” I breathed, trying to get her attention.

“Look what he’s doing,” she mumbled, fear and anxiety rocketing through her words.

“Who?” I spun, sliding her down my body as my eyes scanned the crowd.

“Him.” She pointed, and there across the dusty aisle, shrouded in shadows, an man was yanking on a young lady’s arm.

The carnival drowned out their voices, but the woman looked scared of the tage on his face.

Before I could even register what to do next, the man released the woman’s arm and then shoved her forcefully into the dust before looking over her, his arm cocked back.

“Oh, fuck no,” I spat, crossing the distance in a flash and hauling that useless fuck away from the woman.

I shoved him, over and over, until he was pressed up against the brick wall of a utility building, my hands shaking as I convinced myself why it would be a great idea if I didn’t throttle this motherfucker into the hospital.

I couldn’t say words, only saw red as every overwhelming urge to pile drive any useless piece of shit who abused a woman.

The man was gasping for breath, face red and turning an awkward shade of blueberry before I did the only thing I could think to do to protect us both from my rage and I slapped him across the face.

Not just any slap but enough to knock his fucking teeth out and leave him with a knot on the back of his head when it smacked against the brick wall.

I loosened my hold on his neck, and he whistled and gasped for breath, his fingers at my throat, clawing to release him completely.

“Who the fuck are you?” he spat, blood pooling in his mouth.

“Your worst nightmare, motherfucker.” I tightened my hold on his windpipe again, choking off his oxygen supply just to show him I could.

His eyes flashed worried again, hands clawing desperately before I let him drop in a heap to the dusty ground.

“Useless.” I kicked at his behind, the cloud of dust forming in his wake as he scrambled away like a crab enough to bring a smile to my face.

“Thanks, mister.” The woman who’d been hovering out of view was at my shoulder now, appreciation on her features.

“He’s been on my ass for weeks, begging me to take him back.

” I shook my head, eyes refocusing into reality as I took in her anxious features.

“You may want to check on your girl, though. She doesn't look too good.” My mind raced, for the first time turning to lock eyes with Daphne. Except she was crumpled on the ground, face in her hands. My heart fell. “Oh, Jesus.” I rushed to her side, lifting her face in my palms to take in her features. “Are you okay, baby?” She shook, every muscle trembling as she barely shook her head. I swallowed the lump of fear in my throat, adrenaline still running through my muscles after throttling that fuckhead, and now here she was, expecting me to be the tender man to rescue her. I stalked straight toward the parking lot, piling her into my truck and locking her up safely with the seat belt before I roared off back to my house. We were pulling into my driveway less than five minutes later, and I was carrying her into my bedroom, sliding her into my bed, and murmuring softly in her ear. “I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here.

Nothing’s gonna happen, and that woman is perfectly fine.

” My words didn’t seem to matter. All she could do was tremble, tears leaking from her sad eyes.