Page 154 of A Simple Truth

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GIDEON

Ilooked at her.

Truly looked at her, my mind frantically memorizing every single detail. The way her half-dry hair bunched up above her, the way her cheeks were a perfect tint of pink, the way her freckles mapped her whole body, making me want to kiss each one of them; the way her lips lusciously curved in a perfect smile, the way her eyes glistened in the dim light of the room.

“What?” Finn asked, her skin shimmering in the warm, dancing light of the small fire.

“You are the most gorgeous woman to ever exist,” I responded, lowering my lips to hers once again, dragging my teeth against that fuller bottom lip.

“Who is a bad liar now?” She teased; the sound of her relaxed voice made my heart fill with contentment. I propped my head up with my elbow, unable to pull my gaze away from her as the winds howled outside.

“I am offended by your accusation, m’lady. I have not told a lie in my entire life,” I replied, bopping her perfect nose. She theatrically rolled her eyes at me, making me smile. My arms wrapped around her, pulling her body closer to mine, welcomingher warmth as I landed another kiss on her shoulder. “It is the honest truth though, you are the most gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking, charming, perfect woman to ever exist,” I purred.

“Yeah-yeah, sure…” She didn’t believe my words and I felt almost offended at the notion.

“Fine…I guess you could say you are the second most beautiful woman to ever exist...that is, after Petunia.” I taunted her, earning a loud smack against my chest.

“You did not just say that!” She glowered at me, appalled, but the corners of her eyes wrinkled with a smile at the smug look on my face. “Arrogant asshole. I hope you enjoy being abstinent for the rest of your life,” she threatened, and I loved the way her eyes lit with that bewitching fury.

“Yeah, sure… as long you keep me around for the rest of my life to ensure your punishment…” I moved a strand of her hair off her neck, landing another kiss there, and then another to her jaw, totally enslaved by the feel of her skin against mine.

“Is there something in between a bad liar and an asshole jerk?” she asked, her eyes closing, her voice turning into a whisper as her body leaned into my caresses.

“How about this…” I mumbled against her neck. “You have completely enthralled me with your beauty, captivated my mind, my body, my soul. Anytime you are around me I cannot take my eyes off you…which doesn’t help, because my cock turns rock hard at the slightest notice of your presence.” She chuckled at my words, and I knew I’d dedicate my life to hearing that sound. I traced my fingers down her arm in lazy motions. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you ever since the first day I met you.”

“Even then?” She looked at me, her eyes filled with all-encompassing love that mirrored mine.

“Even then. I knew I liked you from the moment you sunk your teeth in my throat.” I smiled at her, reminiscent of themoment. “But imagine my surprise when I realized you were the one person I spent half of my life looking for.”

“How did you know I was a Destroyer?” She turned to the side, mirroring my same position, and I couldn’t resist cupping her breast while her chest moved, feeling absolutely happy with the universe right now.

“I didn’t. At least, not until that moment on the bridge.” I paused, raising my scarred hand up. Finnleah looked at my burned palm, patiently listening. “I was trying to save you, as you are aware...in retrospect, it had been the first sign of what to expect with you, but I digress. As it turned out, I had no business in saving you since you had a plan all on your own.” I narrowed my eyes at her as she innocently batted her lashes at me. “But that day on the bridge, I think our powers recognized each other. They are one after all. And I also think it was your pent-up rage, similar to the day in the tent, back in the camp, that prompted them to come out. You told me to go burn in hell, and then you burned through my armor; metal only a Justice Wielder can mold. And youmeltedit, alongside my skin too. I was so shocked, that I just stood there, gaping, watching you almost drown in the river. Not my best moment…but you emerged from the river, glaring back at me, unyielding. And I think a part of me fell in love with you then too,” I told her.

“I was going to say I’m sorry for your hand, but then again…” She wiggled her arms out from my embrace, showcasing small burn marks on her wrists. “I’d say we are even.” I pulled her wrists towards my mouth, trailing kissing on them too.

“That was also done by your fire going rogue, I never let my fire burn you, so I’d say you still owe me.” My lips stretched with a devious smile, but she ignored it as she asked,

“When did the rest of you fall in love? When did you know?” I rolled on my back, pulling her on top of me, my fingers drawinglazy circles on her bare back as she rested her head against my chest listening to my heart beat.

“I don’t think there was a single event that made me fall in love with you, I think I was falling in love with you each day, more and more, until it suddenly hit me like a brick wall, and I finally realized that I was completely love-struck by you… In love with you down to the marrow in my bones. It hit me all at once. Coincidentally, we were stuck in the desert then too.” I landed a kiss on top of her hair.

“After Elfland?!” She sounded surprised, raising her head to look at me. “That’s the overwhelming feeling you were talking about?” I nodded, obsessed with the way she looked at me. “Are you telling me you were blatantly talking about beingin love with me,and I missed it?!” She gasped.

“Oh yes, most definitely. What was the feeling you were talking about then?” I asked, wrapping blankets around our naked bodies, as the fire crackled and popped in the cooled room.

“Joy,” she said, laying her head back down on my chest, her fingers trailing down my muscled chest. “I was there with you, and I felt pure joy. It was so overwhelming, because I hadn’t felt joy in years.Years,I lived truly believing that I would never be able to experience happiness again like I did before Ollie died, that I was broken beyond repair.Then one day, I watched you roll down the sand dune, absolutely ridiculous, making a fool out of yourself, and somehow, out of nowhere, I felt such comfort and joy. Wholesome joy.”

I landed a kiss on top of her head.

“I’ll be a fool for you any day you want me to.”

“I love you, Gideon,” she whispered as the lingering peace settled in the dusty air.

“I love you too, my little wildfire,” I replied without any hesitation.

And my heart had become whole.

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