Collide (Collide #1)(139)

"Gavin," she said with an alluring smile.

"Emily."

"I enjoyed every millisecond of you ripping those panties from my body."

As Gavin tried to walk back into the bathroom, Emily closed the door in his face and locked it.

"The food will get cold," she yelled out, trying to stifle a laugh.

"It's sushi; it's supposed to be cold. And I'm giving you five minutes to come out here and eat it," he groaned. "If not, I'm beating the door down, and you'll be what I'm having for dinner, Miss Cooper."

Laughing, she heard him walk away and found herself trying to hold back the sudden urge of allowing him to acquire her as his main dish. Though his threat held massive appeal, she got dressed, blew her hair dry, and made her way into the living room.

To her surprise - and very much to her liking - he'd dimmed the lights throughout the penthouse, turned on the gas fireplace, and set up a makeshift picnic on a blanket in front of the crackling flames. Again, she found herself observing him without his knowledge. Mystified by everything about him, she watched as he poured them both a glass of red wine, his body relaxed as he sat Indian style on the blanket. Leaning against the wall, she crossed her arms and wondered what the last year of her life would've been like had he been the one to visit Olivia with Trevor instead of Dillon. However, in that moment, a sickening paradox occurred within her thoughts. No matter how bad her scenario with Dillon had ended, Emily could never forget the things he'd helped her through, and a part of her would always love him for that. Nevertheless, her heart now lay in Gavin's hands. He was her new love, a new path, and the new road she wanted to follow.

On a sigh, she walked over to Gavin and knelt astride him. He smiled at her as he curled his arm around her waist. She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips, and when she did, the heat that he resurrected in her body made itself acutely present - but, at the same time, guilt filled her soul. Some of it was guilt for Dillon, but more so, guilt that she was the reason Gavin was about to step into a catastrophe, considering they had opened up the floodgates to something that could be devastating to them both. The only thing she could do was pray that he was strong enough to endure the turmoil they would find themselves in once Dillon returned.

"I love you, Gavin," she whispered, her voice sullen.

Pulling back, he searched her eyes. "I love you, too, Emily," he said, brushing his fingers through her hair. "I honestly do."

She gave him a weak smile and moved herself across the blanket, being careful not to knock anything over. She started to open some of the containers and then placed a few rolls of sushi on her plate.

Handing her a pair of chopsticks, Gavin studied her for a moment, picking up immediately on the shift in her demeanor. He couldn't help but feel his heart sink, if only for a second. "Are you alright?"

She took a sip of wine and nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

"Are you sure?"

"I am." She leaned over and stroked his cheek. "Thank you for all of this. It's perfect."

Her reassuring touch settled his thoughts. Letting out a breath, he smiled. "It's me who needs to thank you."

"Don't be silly," she laughed. "Thank me for what?"

"For everything, Emily," he replied, his voice and eyes soft. She looked at him, her movements stilled by his tone. "Thank you for falling in love with me. Thank you for sharing yourself with me. God, thank you for not wanting to f*cking kill me every time I pursued you during all of this. I know I put you in a bad position, but I couldn't..." He paused, drawing in a long breath as he looked down to his plate. When he brought his gaze back to hers, he could see tears brimming in her eyes. "I just couldn't stay away from you," he whispered. "I felt you the second you walked into my building. Hell, I think I felt you before you walked in. I've never experienced anything like that before in my life. It all flashed in front of me - marriage, kids, growing old together. You pulled me in, and I knew...I just knew right then that we were supposed to be together."