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The Pair with Principle
She slid across the narrow aisle to tuck herself under his arm and rest her head on his shoulder.
"Severus—if I can't love you in spite of your past I don't deserve you," she whispered.
He tightened his arm around her and took a deep breath. "I have always fallen short, Elaine, always."
"We are no angels —we bleed, we cry, we make horrible mistakes, and are abused by others," she whispered.
He gently tilted her chin up with one finger and pressed a tender kiss to her dusky rose lips.
"Your confidence provides me confidence," he whispered tenderly.
Dusky Rose, #45