Collide Book 2 - Page 23

She blinked, met his stare for a moment, and then laid her head back down on his chest. “How old were you when you got this, and why did you choose to get it on your ribs?” She grazed her fingers along the dragon’s wings.

Head downcast, examining her delicate fingers flowing over the black ink, Gavin stroked the long line of her back. “I got it right out of college, so around twenty-two or twenty-three.” He ran his hand through his hair and released a breath. “I decided to get it there because I wanted it hidden from eyes I didn’t want to see it and traced by beautiful fingers that I did.”

She peered up at him, her smile soft and her touch softer as she skimmed the dragon’s body. “These fingers?”

“Yes,” Gavin whispered. “Those fingers.” He watched Emily smile at his words and lay her head back down against his chest. Hesitation rolled through him for a second, but he knew if he didn’t tell her, it would eat away at him. “I have to talk to you about something.”

“Did it hurt when you got it?” Emily didn’t look up as she continued to trace the art.

Gavin lifted her chin, his brows furrowed. “Emily, I did something I have to tell you about.”

Swallowing, Emily nodded. “I know you slept with those two girls.” She touched his cheek with the back of her hand and stared into his eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes, edged by thick, dark lashes holding her future. “And I don’t care. You thought I married Dillon. I know you wouldn’t have if you knew otherwise.” She placed a soft kiss on his lips and nuzzled her face in his neck.

Gavin caressed her hair and pulled in a breath. “I didn’t sleep with them.”

“You didn’t?” she asked, shock evident in her voice as she pulled her head back.

“No. You thankfully intercepted that train wreck when you showed up.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “So you won’t have any children running around in Mexico. Thank God.”

Gavin watched her expression ease, and fuck if it didn’t seize his heart in a single second. Bringing her face closer to his, he ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. “No. I won’t have any children running around in Mexico because I used protection with someone you didn’t intercept.” He paused, his eyes searching hers. Emily bit her lip and nodded. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice riddled with guilt.

Emily swept her gaze over his face and found nothing but regret. Guilt of her own tripped through her stomach, knowing she was the reason for it. As she searched her mind for a way to free him from his remorse, to show him it didn’t matter to her, a devious smile crept up the corners of her mouth. Sitting up, she straddled his lap, pinned his hands behind his head, and brushed her lips against his. Staring at him, she spoke against his mouth. “Gavin Blake, I love you so much, it’s literally dangerous to us both. You know that?”

He cocked an incredulous brow. “Dangerous?”

“Very,” she purred, raining kisses along his jaw.

Freeing his hands from her hold, Gavin threaded his fingers through her hair. A grin touched his mouth. “Mmm, I like a naughty Emily. You can be as dangerous as you want to with me.”

Emily’s stomach rolled with heat as Gavin brought her down to his lips. While kissing him, she heard Gavin’s stomach roll with a growl of hunger. She laughed. “Hungry?”

“What?” he asked innocently. He turned on his megawatt smile.

“Okay, I’m not deaf, Blake.” She leaned over and flipped on a lamp. “Either you’ve caught a bug while here in Mexico, or you’re hungry.” After pulling a menu from the nightstand drawer, she handed it to him. “I’m praying for the latter.”

Gavin barked out a laugh and then slowly sobered. “What is that?” He slid his thumb over her eyebrow and placed the menu on the bed.

Emily’s stomach plummeted. She felt all kinds of sick as she curled her hand around Gavin’s wrist, pulling it away from the spot where Dillon hit her. Panic set in, but she covered it up with a smile. “Oh, that? It’s nothing. I was at work, I bent over to pick up something from behind the bar, and I slammed my head against the countertop.”

Gavin sat up, snaked one arm behind her back, and lifted the other to her brow again. He studied it for a second. Something in Emily’s tone didn’t sit right with him. He shifted his eyes to hers. “It happened at work, huh?”

“Yes, Gavin,” she said, mustering up all the confidence she had left. “My moment of grace happened at work. Luckily the place was empty, or I would’ve been even more embarrassed.” She plucked the menu from the bed and started looking over it. “So what are you in the mood for? They have everything from burgers to filet mignon.” She swung her legs off him, pulled the sheet around her body, and stood to go to the bathroom. “Just order me the chicken Caesar salad.”

Emily flipped on the light switch and closed the door. Leaning against it, she drew in a breath, hoping she’d successfully pulled off the lie gnawing away at her. This wasn’t the way she’d wanted to start off with Gavin. Not even close. Keeping anything from him bit at her conscience. However, visions of Gavin going after Dillon tightened her chest, and Dillon’s threats the night of her rehearsal dinner screamed loud in her ears. With that, she settled the internal battle. She was protecting Gavin and wouldn’t say a word about what’d happened that morning. Emily turned the handle to exit the bathroom. On the other side, she found Gavin with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorjamb. His probing blue eyes made her heart lurch into her throat. Though her nerves skyrocketed, she couldn’t keep her gaze from sweeping over his naked form. The utter masculine perfection of his solid body had her instantly breathing faster, unconsciously biting her lip.

Chapter end