Pulse (Collide, #2)(23)
Nodding, she laid her head back down on his chest and clenched his shoulders. “I didn’t think you were coming back.”
“Well, I knew I was coming back the moment I left.”
Emily lifted her head, her hooded stare meeting Gavin’s. “Oh, did you, Mr. Blake?”
“Why, of course I did, Miss Cooper,” he said with a grin. “I figured I’d let you sweat it out for a while.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Apparently, I made you moan while you sweated it out.”
With a pseudo pout, she batted his arm playfully. “Wiseass.”
“It’s part of my charm.” He chuckled and skimmed his fingers down her back. Pulling her closer, Gavin fastened his mouth to hers. Emily’s lips went pliant and goose bumps rose over her body. “Get used to it. You’re stuck with this wiseass.”
She nipped at his lip and smiled. “I’ll take you whatever way I can.” After indulging in his kiss a little longer, Emily rested her head against his chest, her body deliciously sore.
A stretch of silence filled the room as Gavin sank into the sensations of Emily tracing his tattoo. Her touch tossed him into heaven, yet his thoughts cast him into hell. Guilt hit him and decided to play a little game. He’d planned on telling her right away about his brief encounter with the woman he’d met a few days before on the beach, but God help him, he couldn’t when he’d arrived at the hotel. Seeing Emily in the hallway with her luggage, ready to leave his life again, sent his intentions flying out the f*cking window. Hell, he knew he had every right to do what he did, but that didn’t stop it from weighing heavily on his chest. Gavin cleared his throat and brushed his hands through Emily’s hair. He cupped her face, bringing her gaze to his. “I have to tell you something.”
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 f*ck 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.”