Pulse (Collide, #2)(119)
Emily found her breath evaporating from her lungs. She froze under the gravity of his words, but her heart, filled with a riot of emotions, took off excitedly. Gavin’s declaration sang in her ears, musical notes of love reverberating through her. “I love you,” she choked out, her eyes stinging with happy tears. She wrapped her hand around the back of Gavin’s neck and pulled his smiling lips into her mouth. “And, yes, I’ll take every last step with you, Gavin.”
“Yeah?” he questioned with a chuckle between kisses. Once again, Noah squealed in displeasure, trying to squirm from Gavin’s hold by kicking his chunky legs in frustration. “You’re going to be my wife?”
“Yes. I’m going to be your wife,” Emily cried, lifting Noah onto her lap. He settled down when she handed him a bottle, his little body relaxing with instant gratification. Emily’s limbs went weak as Gavin reached for her hand and slipped the engagement ring onto her finger. Her soul warmed from everything it represented.
“Thank you,” she whispered, staring into Gavin’s eyes. “I have no words that could possibly describe what you do to me every day.” And she didn’t. He’d found her broken, withering away into nothing. He’d mended her heart, bandaging her soul with his presence. Through it all, he showed her what true love was. He was a dream. The only thing she could do was pray she never awoke from this bliss. His bliss. Gavin dowsed her lips with more intoxicating kisses as she ran her hand down his bare chest. Time was of the essence, but now time would always be filled with everything Emily could’ve ever imagined, everything she could’ve ever hoped for.
“You already gave me the only word I needed to hear,” Gavin said softly. He kissed her again, massaging his fingers into her hair. “Now, you need to get up, and go get ready. There’s a gift for you on the bed.”
“Get ready?” she asked. She laid Noah, out cold, onto the comforter. Smiling, she stared at him a moment and soaked in his tiny, exhausted body. “Where are we going?”
Standing and bringing Emily along with him, Gavin stretched, his hard, rigid physique catching Emily’s attention in an instant. She bit her lip, her gaze roaming over his golden skin, needing to follow the glorious dragon’s descent below Gavin’s pajama pants. It was all good, though. Every inch of her had a lifetime to worship the beautiful work of art on her fiancé’s extraordinary body.
“I’m taking you out to celebrate.” He leaned into her ear, his tongue stroking the lobe. Chills shot, prickling over Emily’s flesh. He kissed her lips one, last glorious time, soft and gentle. Gavin stepped back, leaving her body aching from his absence. “Olivia will be here in fifteen to watch Noah for us. I’m spoiling my lady tonight.” Eyes locked on hers, Gavin jerked his head toward their bedroom. “Go ahead. I’ll see you soon, future Mrs. Blake.”
Gavin always came up with the sweetest things to say, but those particular words rolled from his tongue like chocolate. Breathless, Emily nodded and made her way down the hall, her head fuzzy with joy, excitement, and love.
Upon entering their suite, Emily’s eyes fell upon a large rectangular box lying on the bed with a red bow crisscrossing around it. Emily wondered what the certified-wiseass love of her life had in store for her. A horrid, pink Yankees sweat suit came to mind, but since he’d said they were celebrating, she figured he probably skipped that idea. On second thought, she wouldn’t put it past him. He loved putting his stamp on things. She sank onto the bed reaching for the box, her curiosity more than piqued. After sliding off the bow, she lifted the top. A laugh escaped her lips when she spotted silver, blue, and white Yankees tissue paper hugging whatever gift was hiding inside. She shook her head, praying he wasn’t going to make her endure a night out on the town swathed in his favorite team’s gear. Hands itching to find out, she tore the paper away with the velocity of a rocket shooting into the air. On a gasp, mixed with a sigh of relief, she was thrilled to find her man wasn’t going there.
No. Instead, the attire he’d chosen for her was a single shoulder, glossy black silk wrap dress with elegant ruching above and under the bust. Standing, Emily held the breathtaking cocktail dress against her chest as she stared at her full-length mirror. Hitting just above the knee, with a stunning jewel appliqué cinching the waist, there was no doubt the dress would accentuate her newfound mommy curves. To top off her surprise, Gavin had picked out a pair of the season’s newest black, strappy Manolo Blahnik’s. With giddiness flowing through her, Emily turned to get ready for the evening and spotted Gavin leaned casually against the doorframe.
“Have you been watching me the whole time?” Emily asked, feeling a flush run up her cheeks.
“I have, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” Arms crossed, he gave her a lazy smile. “Did I do well?”
Emily strolled across the bedroom, her eyes feasting on his chiseled face. She tangled her fingers in his soft, dark hair and brought him down for a kiss. “Do you ever not do well?”
“Mmm”—he smirked, running his lips across her jaw—”now that you mention it, I guess I’m pretty on point all the time.”
Emily giggled, nuzzling against his bare chest. “So confident.”
“I am.”
“Well, Mr. Confident, where’s our child then?”
“Asleep in his crib.” He popped a brow, looking at her. “Now kiss me for the good daddy deed.”