༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

ᵗʰᵉ ⠀⠀⠀ 𝓭ᴏ͟ɢ͟⠀⠀⠀ 𝔱ʰᵃᵗ ⠀⠀⠀𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗦 ⠀ ⠀( ⠀⠀𝙰𝙵𝚃𝙴𝚁 ݁ᛪ༙ 𝙸𝚃 𝙺𝙸𝙻𝙻𝚂 ⠀⠀) ᶦˢ ⠀ 𝖓𝖔 ⠀ 𝙱͟𝙴͟𝚃͟𝚃͟𝙴͟𝚁͟ ⠀﹐ ⠀𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 ⠀ 𝙏͟𝙃͟𝙀͟ ⠀⠀ 𝐃𝐎𝐆 ⠀ ᵀᴴᴬᵀ ⠀𝖣𝝤𝗘𝗦𝖭’ꔋ.

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ his expression remained the same.

“ i have accepted that risk for myself. i will not accept it for you. ”

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀“ we have the rest of the week to ourselves. we can stay home , go out , disappear for a while — anything that pleases you. i am waiting for you to say the word. ” (…)

[‍ ⌖ ‍‘ 𝖢͟𝖱͟𝖤͟𝖠͟𝖳͟𝖱͟𝖨͟𝖢͟𝖤 ᴰᴵ 𝖵𝖤𝖣𝖮𝖵𝖤 @cruelusts]

“ even if you would’ve taken me home just to spend time with me ; it would’ve made my return worth it , ” luciana spoke with such tenderness , as if the weight of their tragic marriage had disappeared from her mind in the moment. ⠀⤸

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ he calmly cut another piece of fish , taking another bite before continuing.

“ the other day , when i told you i had handled business … a bullet grazed passed my skull. ” (…)

[۟ @godsfell]

such delicious sense of possession.

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀“ three thousand each , ” he breaks the silence , dark gaze locked on the woman. “ that is , if you are willing to put that kind of money on the table for a single round. ”

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ he places his cards face down , lips pressing into a thin line at her boldness before straightening his posture. he allows the tension to settle over the table. (…)

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

he taps the deck against the table. his dark hues linger on her , studying the shift in her expression.

“ if i play you , you walk out of here with nothing. ” he tilts his head. “ that wouldn’t be fair , would it ?̲ ”

[‍ ⌖ ‍‘ 𝖢͟𝖱͟𝖤͟𝖠͟𝖳͟𝖱͟𝖨͟𝖢͟𝖤 ᴰᴵ 𝖵𝖤𝖣𝖮𝖵𝖤 @cruelusts]

@fazedsins

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ his gaze drifts around the restaurant , licking his lips.

“ i can’t remember the last time we did this. ”

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ mauri shakes his head , dismissing the thought before it can settle.

“ i did it because i wanted to. no other reason. i wanted your return to feel worthy of you. ” (…)

[‍ ⌖ ‍‘ 𝖢͟𝖱͟𝖤͟𝖠͟𝖳͟𝖱͟𝖨͟𝖢͟𝖤 ᴰᴵ 𝖵𝖤𝖣𝖮𝖵𝖤 @cruelusts]

his tenderness felt foreign against her skin. the gentle brush of his calloused fingers over her knuckles nearly made goosebumps bloom across her skin , the lingering kiss to her hand leaving a warmth that settled deep within her chest. ⠀⤸

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

⠀⠀ he cuts into his meal unhurriedly , taking a bite before gesturing toward her plate with his fork.

“ try this. they still know how to make it properly. ” (…)

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

but this evening in particular , he allowed himself a rare indulgence. if there is ever a time to let his guard down , it is with the woman sitting across from him.

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

he studies her intently , dark eyes searching the meaning hidden behind those crystal hues. there is something satisfying about how easily he reads her , as though the years between them have taught him what no one else understands. (…)

[‍ ⌖ ‍‘ 𝖢͟𝖱͟𝖤͟𝖠͟𝖳͟𝖱͟𝖨͟𝖢͟𝖤 ᴰᴵ 𝖵𝖤𝖣𝖮𝖵𝖤 @cruelusts]

“ because women don’t bruise that ego of yours the way a man can , ” she quipped , head tilting ever so slightly. glossy brunette waves spilled over her shoulder , framing the amused smile tugging at her lips. ⠀⤸

[༝ ⌖ 𝗠𝙰𝙽 𝗪𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚃 ┈ 𝗠𝙴𝚁𝙲𝚈 ‍ @fazedsins]

his words were entirely sincere. they have chosen the distance , convincing themselves it was necessary. it probably was.