Page 32 of His Wood Her Fire

It looked homey and perfect.God, I loved this woman.

Oh, she hadn’t said anything to me yet.But every day I saw it shining a little brighter inside her velvet eyes.

That was the only thing keeping me from going insane.Of course, I hadn’t said it again either.It was like we were stuck in this standoff, and I knew I was going to be the one to crack.

But I wasn’t ready.Not yet.

While Gloria slept, worn out from our early afternoonsexercise, I went and took another shower, using trimmers on my beard and a three minute conditioning treatment on my long hair.

She’d been so sad earlier when she told me she had to leave to attend some snobby photographer’s opening, but I told her it was fine, we’d get together after the weekend.

She looked crestfallen, but she’d nodded.But I just kissed her and told her I respected her dedication to her work.

It was shitty of me to let her think she was going alone.But I was about to make that all up to her.

Besides, it was Christmas Eve, and no, I had no intention of spending it away from her.

I heard her alarm go off as I exited the bathroom and I bent down to kiss her lips, waking her up.

“What time is it?”she asked, her sleepy voice turning my cock to steel.

Later,I reminded my baser self.

“Time for you to shower and dress, Baby.Be quick.We gotta go.”

“What?Oh!But you don’t have to take me,” she murmurs, sitting up.

“I don’t have to.But I want to.Now get your ass up or you’re going in one of my sweatshirts,” I teased her.

Gloria squeaked and jumped out of bed.And no, I did not turn around, I just watched her jiggle her way to the bathroom with that stunning smile on her face and goddamn, I swear my love for her grew.

Fifteen minutes later,and yes, I was surprised as you, the two of us were both sitting in my SUV.The pets had all been walked and packed and were now sleeping in the backseat.

Meanwhile, I had to remind myself to keep my eyes on the road and not the gorgeous woman in the red dress and knee-high boots sitting beside me.

“Did I tell you, you look amazing tonight?”

“Um, you did, but I could stand to hear it again.And you do, too, by the way.”

“I do too what?”

“You look amazing.Really.Did you trim your beard?”

I felt her eyes on my face and pride filled me, knowing she found me attractive.I grinned lazily and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze before placing it back on the steering wheel.

This woman was so damn important to me.She was everything.

“Music?”

“Yes, please,” she huffed and started playing with the channels.

A full hour passed before I felt Gloria’s stare land on me.

“What is it?”

“Well, you haven’t told me why you wanted to drive me to this work thing,” she said expectantly.

“Oh, it’s no problem.I’ve got to do some things in the city, anyway.”

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