Page 53 of Blood Sweeter than Honey

That rope tying me to her seems to pull tighter, and before I can even consciously register the action, the backs of my fingers are grazing her arm to draw her eyes back to me.

“It means more to me than you know, angel, but I feel the need to reiterate that I didn’t take you in with the expectation of you earnin’ your keep.”

If it were literally anyone else, I’d feel differently, but there’s something inside me that wants—needs—to take care of her.

Winnow gives me a smile that belies a hint of melancholy. “And I wouldn’t expect you to do that without repaying you somehow.”

I don’t bother to mask the appreciation glowing behind my eyes as I take her in. She fidgets beneath the building tension.

“You want to show me how to make another one of your favorite dishes so you don’t have to eat BLTPAMs every day? I really wanted to cook something else for you, but I’m terrified of messing it up and ruining your evening with an inedible dinner.”

My lips tip up in a grin as that sweet, twisty knot of affection tightens impossibly further in my chest.

“How about tonight we go grab something to eat in town? It’s still early enough that we could make it there before the stores close, and we could finally get you a proper wardrobe.”

WINNOW

Truly, this man’s generosity knows no bounds.

Before I can stop myself, I’m closing the distance between us. He doesn’t shy away in the slightest when I throw my arms around his neck. His long arms, heavy and thick with muscle, wrap around me to pull me tighter against him.Never in my life have I felt so happy and at peace.

My words are slightly muffled against his chest. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re lovely?”

Gideon’s chest rumbles with deep, gentle laughter. “I’ve been called many things, but I can say with certainty that ‘lovely’ isn’t among them.”

His reply makes me squeeze him that much harder. “A true injustice,” I murmur into his muscly pec.

With another chuckle, one of Gideon’s large palms cradles my head as he strokes soothingly over my back, making warmth blossom in my core. “In all honesty, I don’t think I ever gave them a reason to.”

My thoughts circle around this man for several moments as I allow myself to sink further into him before finally pulling back to hold his gaze. A corner of my mouth curls upwards. The bold words are out before I can stop them.

“Oh, yeah? You save all this goodness for me?”

My cheeks flush as a feline grin spreads across his face. With my sensitive hearing, I can discern the pounding rhythm of his heartbeat, and that it’s somehow in sync with mine.

“Darlin’, if you only knew just how good I wanna be for you…”

Oh my fucking gods.

My lips part as I am struck with pure wanton need. Gideon’s eyes dip, tracking the action just as Trigger erupts into barking hysteria, making me yelp and jolting us both out of the moment as the sound of gravel crunching beneath tires sounds from Gideon’s incredibly long and secluded driveway.

His hands cover my ears as he lets out a baritone shout that could make a daemon tuck their tail.

“Hush!”

Trigger quiets reluctantly, still whining softly and huffing as he paws at the front door. Gideon’s hands return to my waist as I twist in his arms to gaze out of the living room window to find Sheriff Harlan’s mechanical beast of burden come to a stop just beyond the porch.

Growling in frustration, Gideon squeezes my waist. “Come on, let’s go show the man you’re alive and well.”

Gideon tugs me toward the front door. Just before opening it, he releases my hand, and I catch a glimpse of the visible outline of a verylargecock trapped within his denim trousers. As soon as his back is to me, I catch him readjusting himself.

Chewing my cheek to hide my grin, he opens the door to find Sheriff Harlan climbing up the front steps two at a time with his long legs, only to be tackled by Trigger. Gideon makes a sharp sound, and Trigger drops to his haunches, casting Harlan a pleading look for pats, his tail sweeping the stained porch boards.

Harlan gives him a good rub behind the ears, eyes bouncing between the two of us. “Well, don’t you two look perfectly domestic. Like two peas in a picket-fenced pod.”

Sheriff Harlan’s eyes settle on me—no doubt realizing I’m dressed entirely in Gideon’s clothes. “Has Mr. Kincaid proven himself to be a good host and gentleman?”

The grin that spreads across my face is genuine. “He has, indeed.”

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