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"Come for me. I want to feel you."

Randy breaks with a long groan. He spills over my hand and the side of the couch in thick pulses, clenching down so hard I see white. I fuck him through it, chasing my own release as praise spills out of me.

"Yes. Just like that. You feel so good coming on my cock."

Two more deep thrusts, and I bury myself inside him and come, hips stuttering as I empty everything I have. I stay pressed to his back, panting, kissing the damp skin of his shoulder just above the mark from the pumpkin scratch.

"You did so well. So good for me."

I ease out slowly, both of us twitching. I grab a throw from the back of the couch and clean us up as best I can without leaving him. Then I help him stand and tuck him into my chest in front of the fire.

Morty is nowhere to be seen having snuck off when we started.

Randy's forehead rests against mine. I kiss him, unhurried.

"Stay right here with me."

Willoughby

The weeks go by quickly. I'd worried that Randy’s behavior was a fluke. That he would go back to his crotchety, traditional ways.

But the opposite happens.

Every morning spent with Randy reveals more and more of his caring side. He begins studying the way I cook and, in turn, shows me the secret recipe for his delicious golden scones. It's a traditional dish only his leprechaun family knows, but since I’m now his family, he’s comfortable sharing it with me.

He helps me tend the pumpkin, and though he is far less adept at the task, I appreciate his sweet efforts. He always ensures the small electric barrier is still working.

I go with him to attend town council business. He’s been making an effort to support more of the island’s small businesses, popping into the Cozy Charm Café, Ivy's, and the Book Nook to say hello and let me pick out purchases. In the evenings, he stops at Nocturnal Nibbles so we can chat with Loric, sometimes staying for a meal.

Randy is still Randy, and he occasionally rants about the town’s new improvements and worries about revisions to the festivals. He has his qualms with several people in town, including Edgar, the town ghost, who's been a nuisance around the decorations.

I never want Randy to become a different person, but I needed him to find space for our bond and our growing community in his life.

And he has… he really has.

Now we're standing in the garden, arm in arm, looking at a pumpkin that's a bit taller than us. Morty sits on top of the great gourd like an autumnal king on his pumpkin throne.

This is it.

The moment we've been waiting for all month.

As is my family's tradition, I snip the stem of my fully grown pumpkin at the beginning of October. This year, the action should also end the spell that has bound me to my mate for nearly a month.

I blink, trying to keep the burning behind my eyes.

It's almost comical. I'd been horrified and furious when I first discovered the spell. But now I'm almost sad to see it go. While we don't need it to bring us closer anymore, it really did help us those first few weeks.

"Hey, sweetheart, nothing major is going to change. We'll just be able to run into town for groceries without having to drag the other along." Randy smiles and plants a soft kiss on my jaw.

"I like going grocery shopping with you," I admit softly, looking down at the pumpkin stem, which is easier than facing him for what my soul needs to say next.

"I love you."

Randy's shoes fill my view as he uses his knuckles to tip my face up. His eyes are fierce and soft, taking my breath away.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I did before all this started. My beautiful, too-good-for-me neighbor. I'm so unworthy to be your mate, but I'll work for it. Every day," he vows.

My lips find his as my hand curls around the back of his neck and tugs him closer. Our kiss is desperate and dirty as our tongues slide together.