Page 322 of His Virgin Romance Series

I leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips again. It was just a little kiss to seal this new understanding between us.

“You don’t mind?” Gabby asked. “Taking things slow?”

“I don’t mind,” I replied. “I would wait as long as you wanted me to. I’d suffer through blue balls and everything.”

Gabby laughed, and I took her hand. “This can work,” I said softly.

“I’m scared,” Gabby said. “We live together… it’s not the smartest idea.”

“Then we’ll just have to be really smart about it,” I said, unwilling to even think of the possibility that this might be a mistake. My need for Gabby was too great. “We can do this, Gabby… you and I… we get each other. You’re my muse.”

She smiled. “I am?”

“You doubt me.”

“It sounds like a beautiful line.”

“You’re right.” I nodded. “I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you.”

Gabby frowned. “How?”

“Come with me,” I said, taking her hand and leading her out of her room and into mine.

My room was chaos. Since I had moved all my art supplies and canvases into it, there was barely any space to swing a cat. Even my bed was covered with paint and stains.

“Whoa,” Gabby said, as we walked in.

“Look,” I said, pointing Gabby in the direction of my latest masterpiece.

She stopped short as she recognized her likeness on the large canvas in front of her. “You painted me?” she gasped, turning to me.

“I attempted to.” I nodded. “I don’t think I’ve done you justice.”

“Oh, wow,” Gabby said, walking closer to the canvas. “You’ve used every color I can think of.”

“It felt fitting,” I said. “Two colors just weren’t enough to capture your beauty.”

“You’ve made me look like… something out of another world,” Gabby said, in awe. “Oh, Miles… it’s amazing.”

“You like it?”

“I love it,” she sighed. “No one’s ever painted me before… and not like this.”

“Like I said, I don’t think I’ve done you justice.”

“Please,” Gabby said, turning around and walking into my arms. “You’ve made me beautiful.”

I raised my eyebrows and looked at her incredulously. “You are beautiful,” I said fervently. “Why do you think I was so inspired?”

She shook her head at me. “I just don’t understand how you do it all,” she said, with clear admiration in her voice. “I thought I was juggling a lot but look at you. You’re a fireman, and you’re an artist. It’s amazing.”

I had to say something. I had to open my mouth and say something. I couldn’t let her keep thinking I was a fireman. I was lying to her. It was nothing more than a bald-faced lie, and yet my tongue wouldn’t loosen. I wasn’t strong enough to convince myself to do the right thing.

Gabby deserved better than me. She was good and kind and pure, and I was a liar, a con artist, and a fraud. But more than any of that, I was selfish. I wanted her, and I was willing to keep up the ruse in order to keep her with me.

Gabby kissed me softly on the lips and I let all my doubts and worries fall out of my head because it was easier. It was just easier to forget than it was to wrestle with the guilt.

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