Broken Boulder daddy's ghost behind you,

the way the snow-kissed woman stared up at him, all starry-eyed and soft...no one had ever given him that look. so smitten and tooth-rottingly sweet that he'd make a fool of himself just to have her gaze at him like that again. he didn't deserve it—didn't deserve her admiration or honeyed words. but they sank deep into bone, burrow themselves in his heart of stone. 

it made him feel wanted. seen. in a way he had never realized he wanted. dolce is not a soft man, has never been by any means, even when it came to affection. he was as rough and calloused as he looked. no woman before had ever changed that. and the thought that rala could both terrified the tank of a man, and thrilled him all at once. 

so, the decision was simple. he'd do anything to see her again. to have her smile and laugh all pretty, make him forget about all the evil he's done. 

"you sure are somethin' else..." the words, although rough, were nearly reverent. she graced his shoulder with a cold nose, seared her silent claim onto fur and skin. dolce rumbled with approval, his typically shaded expression softened, beguiled. 

he joined her side with a heavy nod, the snow crunching beneath muscle and weight. without a word he followed her lead, admiring the way she danced across the snow. "i'd walk with ya for as long as you'd have me."

i am GUTTED that this thread is over...and ready for a new one < 3