Pulse (Collide, #2)(120)
Without hesitation, Emily did as he asked. Before she could devour his lips with the intensity her body screamed for, the doorbell sounded. “Olivia,” Emily breathed, attempting to regain her bearings as she backed away.
“Perfect but imperfect timing,” Gavin sighed as he turned toward the hall. “You get ready, and I’ll get the door. Right after I calm myself… down.” Semi-hard, Gavin tried to think of something, anything that would take his mind off Emily’s luscious lips. However, nothing was working. As he opened the door, he hoped Olivia wouldn’t notice his very awake, very enthusiastic response to Emily’s touch.
“Eeek!” Olivia all but yelled as she darted into the penthouse. “Where’s my godson?”
Running his hand through his hair, Gavin smiled and closed the door. “He’s asleep.”
“Oh, come on already.” Olivia frowned and chucked her purse onto the foyer table. Continuing to pout, she marched into the living room and sank onto the couch with a huff. “Every time I come over he’s sleeping.”
With a look of confusion laced with amusement, Gavin shook his head. “Liv, that’s what babies do best. They sleep.” She rolled her eyes as dramatically as Sarah Bernhardt. Gavin lounged into a soft, leather wingback chair. “Aren’t you curious if Emily accepted my proposal? I’m surprised that wasn’t your first question.”
Olivia rolled her eyes again. “Pfft. I don’t ask questions I already know the answer to. There was no way she would’ve not accepted, and had she, I would’ve beat her ass down, ran off and eloped with you, and legally adopted that precious baby who seems to be in a permanent state of sleep. Are you two drugging him?”
Gavin’s mouth dropped open, though he wasn’t quite sure why. The things Olivia said would shock a serial killer before entering a gas chamber to his death.
Rising to her feet, Olivia tapped her cheek, her expression showing she was deep in thought. “Speaking of drugged-up, sleeping babies, I’m going to wake him up. Aunty Liv needs some Noah lovin’.”
Gavin shrugged. “That’s on you. I’m warning you now, no matter how much he likes you, you’ll become his worst enemy if you f*ck with his nap.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Olivia quipped, hurrying toward Noah’s room.
Before long, Gavin heard Noah wailing along with Olivia attempting to calm him down. Gavin chuckled and decided that was the perfect time to get himself ready for the evening. Yeah, Olivia had it coming to her, and Gavin was pretty sure Noah would deliver a clean, solid blow.
“So where exactly are you taking me?” Emily took in the scenery as Gavin eased onto the Taconic Parkway. Even though the cold skies of March anchored the air, and trees had yet to bloom, it never ceased to amaze Emily at the way the city seemed to melt away into a spectacular pallet of nature. With Manhattan’s skyline long vanished from view, the harshness bled into nothing but peace. Mountainous boulders hugging the road were a glorious difference from the chaotic jungle they lived in. In a way, this part of New York reminded Emily of Colorado. Different in many ways, yet it held the same warmth home always would.
“It’s a surprise,” Gavin answered, flipping on his right blinker. He glanced in the rearview mirror before he pulled off onto the side of the road. He popped the vehicle into park, grinned, and leaned over, placing a soft kiss on Emily’s lips. “One you need to be blindfolded for.” Without another word, he opened his door and stepped from the car.
Curiosity coiled deep in Emily’s belly as she watched his lean, toned frame gracefully move around to her side of the car. God, he looked amazing decked out in a tailored black Armani suit, a crisp, white button-down peeking out from underneath, and his effortlessly sexy “just f*cked” hair. He opened her door and pulled said blindfold from the back pocket of his pants. Reaching for her hand, he helped Emily out, his smile playfully dotted with mischievousness. He gathered her in his strong arms, shielding her from the cold, as Boyce Avenue’s live acoustic version of “Find Me” spilled from the speakers. For a moment, Gavin stared into her eyes and swayed with the music.
“Déjà vu,” Emily said dreamily. She recalled the last time they’d danced like this on the side of the road in Mexico. “You’re very smooth, Mr. Blake.” Gavin shot her a lazy smile, and Emily drew up a brow, her curiosity growing by the second. “What are you up to?”
Before she could blink, Gavin slipped the silk blindfold over Emily’s eyes. He pressed his lips to her ear. A small gasp left Emily as Gavin lightly traced his fingers along her jaw, his voice soft, causing heat to slither over her skin. “We’re about to play a game. And, no, it’s not twenty questions, doll.”
“No?” Emily breathed. The sounds of cars rushing by, along with Boyce Avenue’s beautiful love song disappeared as Gavin’s fingers continued a trail against the slope of her neck.
“No,” he answered. “This game will stimulate each and every single one of your five senses beyond human comprehension. Sight...” He pulled her closer, and Emily could feel his growing arousal hard against her stomach. “I’m going to show you things you’ve never seen before.” Brushing her gray wool pea coat slightly away from her shoulder, he feathered his lips against her collar bone. Emily shivered, goose bumps popping up all over her body. Every hair stood on end. After a moment, he brought his lips back to her ear and lightly nibbled on her lobe. As he swirled his warm tongue around diamond earrings he’d bought for her for Valentine’s Day, Emily swore she was about to melt into the gravel on the side of the road.