Collide (Collide #1)(140)

Now she moved to him, uncaring of knocking anything over this time. She sat up on her knees and inched her way across the blanket where she snuggled herself in his lap. Draping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down to her mouth. Any and all doubts she had that he wouldn't be able to endure what they were about to go through together evaporated from her mind.

Vanished. Poof. Gone.

"You're crying," he whispered over her lips, wiping a tear from her cheek. She smiled, and Gavin let out a light chuckle. "I always manage to make you cry."

"These are definitely good tears this time, Gavin," she said, sniffling as she laughed.

"And that's all they'll ever be." He leaned down to kiss her. "I swear to God that's all they'll ever be, Emily."

Still sitting in his lap, she reached for a pair of chopsticks and plucked a roll out of one of the tins. "Open up," she said, holding it to his mouth. "I want to feed you."

He did as she asked, smiling while he chewed. "I can get used to this."

"I bet you could," she laughed.

"But of course." He lifted his glass of wine to his lips and took a sip. "I'll take more," he said, opening his mouth wide.

She giggled and reached for another, popping it into his mouth. "Can I ask you something, Mr. Blake?"

"Anything."

"Have you been to all of these places?" With the sweep of her hand, she motioned to some of the pictures on the walls.

Swallowing, he took a second to look at some of them. He nodded. "I have actually. I went to study them."

"For school? I thought you took business management."

"I did take business management," he said, smiling. "But I originally wanted to become an architect. I'm fascinated with the way things are created - from stories in books to buildings." He traced the curve of her jaw, down to her collarbone, and then over her shoulder. She smiled at him. "I find it amazing that a thought in someone's mind can turn into something so beautiful and so life changing - just from a simple vision or idea."

"Why didn't you go to school for that then?"

His gaze swept over the pictures again for a moment. "After my grandmother on my father's side passed away, Colton and I were each left a considerable inheritance. He came to me wanting to open Blake Industries." Reaching for another piece of sushi, he popped it into his mouth and shrugged. "He needed my half of the inheritance to start it up. Instead of becoming a silent partner as we had originally discussed, I went in as part owner. Essentially, the advertising industry creates things, so I figured why not - and besides, it was something he really wanted, and I didn't want to let him down."

Emily looked up to him, cupping her hand over his cheek. "You did it for him."

"Kind of." He smiled. "But I'd never let the prick know that."

"Do you like it though? I mean, are you actually happy doing it?"

"I'm happy with how successful we eventually became." Quirking a brow, he smirked. "And I don't usually go into work until ten in the morning most days, so that's a plus."

"Lucky you. I wish I could go in that late," she laughed. "But you didn't answer my question, Blake." He smiled, and she adjusted herself in his lap. "Are you actually happy doing it?"

"You want honesty?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I'm shooting for here," she laughed.

"I hate it. It bores me pretty close to death."