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Leaning back an inch, I peer down at her hand wrapped around me, then into her eyes.
Those eyes.
Fuck, those eyes.
I’m gone. Ruined. “You fucking own me,” I whisper, breath ragged. “You know that?”
Her answering smile tells me she does.
Scarlet
I avert my eyes when Lance spots us and stands from his chair, my stomach churning with anticipation.
The sun’s setting, lanterns lighting up the outside dining area and cliff tops as a warm evening breeze dusts over the lodges in a gentle caress. Ave and I set the table ourselves this afternoon, picking flowers on our walk to use as a centrepiece.
Reaching for Ave’s hand, I give her a reassuring nod, knowing she’s nervous. When I look back up, I can’t help but gawk at the man adorned with the most breathtaking, genuine, full smile.
There was a time I’d have given anything to see that smile on his face. Some days I’d have to work for it; the ones when he’d come home from work or after visiting his mum and need topping up.
I remember walking into his hospital room only last month, not knowing if I’d ever see him smile fully again.
“Daddy looks beautiful, Mummy,” Ave says, tugging on my hand.
I go to look down at her. I at least try. But my eyes are glued to him. “Yeah,” I murmur, swallowing. “He does.”
We walk the rest of the way to the table, Lance taking a half step as we near. “Girls.”
“Hi, Daddy.” Ave waves awkwardly, not the only tell she’s nervous if her slick hand in mine is anything to go by.
With one hand behind his back, Lance drops to one knee in front of her, squinting his eyes. “Miss Sullivan, it can’t be.”
Ave’s smile could light a village. “Auntie Lucy made me this dress.”
He pulls his arm from behind his back, revealing a fresh bouquet of pink roses. “You know, I bought these flowers for you thinking they were beautiful, but you just made them the third most beautiful thing I’ve looked at all day.”
I see her eyes shine, and Lance looks up at me, his face so handsome my stomach twists.
“The third?” Ave eventually asks, playing right into his hands.
“Well, you’re the first—by a mile.”
She giggles. “Then what’s the second?”
He tilts his head at her, his smile coy as he leans in and whispers in her ear.
Ave’s eyes widen and then instantly flick up to me. I look away smiling, and I hear, feel, Lance’s deep chuckle in places I’d never give him the satisfaction of knowing about.
“I cooked for you,” Ave tells him, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. She guides him to the table, not waiting for him to pull out her chair as he tries to before she climbs up and waits for him to sit.
“You cooked for me?” he repeats, giving her his undivided attention. “What did you make?”
I make my way around the table, sitting on the other side of Lance and opposite Ave.
“Steak. Mummy said it’s your favourite. We made dessert, too, because the steak was really boring to prepare.”
“I can totally see that,” he agrees, pinning me with a look as his tongue darts out and swipes at his full bottom lip. “I’ve actually been looking forward to dessert all evening.”
I shake my head in warning, my face flushing hot at memories of him naked, hard, and begging, the promises I had him make.
