Page 149 of Reluctantly You

My eyes leak and I feel him kiss them away as he turns the water off, drying me and helping me into my clothes. We walk back to my van and clamber inside, my body pressed against his on my makeshift bed. Pants settles at our feet, a slow, steady purr drifting up our legs.

“I’d prefer a hotel,” Gideon murmurs. “But fuck, I’m just glad to have you in my arms again.”

I huff and bury my face in his neck, my hand splayed across his beating chest.

“Seems your paintings have gotten darker,” he adds, his eyes trailing to the small canvas sitting opposite us.

“It’s only been a week.”

“It has been and yet, they’re still so fucking beautiful, Mitch.”

I swallow, my eyes stinging. “It’s too messy to be beautiful.”

He forces my gaze toward him, his fingers firm on the nape of my neck. “Even in the mess, it fucking shines.”

I let out a small sob and swallow roughly, trying to keep my emotions at bay, but still they leak from my eyes, a steady stream. He lets me, my tears soaking the front of his shirt until I’m finally able to breathe.

“Tell me why you ran?” he finally asks.

“Tell me how you found me?” I reply, my throat raw from emotion.

“Emmy’s friend, Lex…he apparently has a way with computers. Found you in less than twenty minutes.”

I peer up at him and my fingers slide up to his rough cheek. “Thank you.”

“Always, Mitchell. I’ll always come for you.”

I glance away, my eyes burning as I let his words settle into me. Soothing, a balm.

A moment later I admit, “I came to find my dad.”

“Hm, I figured,” he replies but remains silent, letting me admit even more.

“I found him, met him even, but he doesn’t know who I am, and…I’m afraid.” The last word comes out as a whisper, an admission.

My fear.

He may not want me.

“He’ll love you.”

“No one loves me,” I murmur, but his hand tangles in my hair and forces me to look at him.

“He’ll love you. I promise.”

I see the meaning behind his words swirling through those dark orbs and my chest swells. He can’t…oh fuck, hecan’t.

“Accept it, Mitchell. Accept it. And tomorrow, we’ll go meet him. You and I.”

I bury my face in him once more and let him soothe me with his touch.

“Okay.”

I can do that. I can do it with him by my side.

“You’ve got this,” Gideon says softly as we stare at my dad’s house. We’re currently across the street and I can’t stop shaking, but he’s soothing me with his mere presence. God, how did I ever think I should do this alone?

Perhaps being by myself is not the best thing. Perhaps I need him by my side.

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