Spent, Gavin burrowed his face into Emily’s neck, breathing in, and drowning under the scent of their combined mixture. His mouth floated across her cheek, his fingers ma.s.saging her hair. “I need to hold and make love to you all night.”
And, G.o.d, he did. Showing her over and over again how much he needed her, Gavin wiped away Emily’s memories of a ruthless past, closing the door to what never should’ve been. As he held her through the night, her breathless future was contained in the expanse of his warm, strong arms, and she knew this magnificent start to what lie ahead would be forever ingrained in her heart.
EPILOGUE
Gavin slid his key in the lock and walked into the savory smell of a home-cooked meal. He was impressed by how far Emily had come over the past year with her culinary skills. She’d said she would master cooking, and h.e.l.l if she didn’t. Though he’d never admit it to his mother, Gavin thought Emily’s lasagna made hers taste like the frozen kind. Without Emily’s knowledge, Gavin stepped into the kitchen and watched with adoration as she pulled a roast from the oven.
Placing his briefcase on the table, Gavin’s eyes roamed over her black heels, up her shapely legs beneath a skirt that stopped a few inches above her knees, to the gracious contour of her jaw. She was Gavin’s angel. His walking, breathing, amazing for life, mind-blowing, all-consuming angel. Emily stabbed a meat thermometer into the sizzling roast. She must’ve burned herself because Gavin heard her gasp. It was possible his angel’s cooking skills weren’t as great as he thought, but that didn’t matter. She still blew his mind.
Coming up behind her, he snaked his arms around her waist and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Emily jumped, and Gavin chuckled. “Did I scare you?” he whispered, running his lips along her neck. “And did the roast attack you? If so, I’ll kill him.”
“Yes, you scared me,” Emily answered, facing him. With a smile, she slowly shoved her index finger in Gavin’s mouth. He sucked it lightly, his swirling tongue bringing her burn instant comfort. “And yes, he attacked me. But I’d rather you not kill anything today.” She pulled her finger from his mouth, her brow drawn up seductively.
Gavin pressed her back against the counter, his hungry blue eyes zeroed in on her plump lips. He untied the Betty Crocker-looking ap.r.o.n from her waist and dropped it to the floor. “Where’s Noah?”
Emily looped her arms around his neck. “I had your parents pick him up for the night so I can show you a good time on your birthday, old man.”
Armed with a lazy grin, Gavin bent his head and crushed his mouth to hers. Emily moaned, and Gavin grabbed her thigh, hiking it up around his waist. “Old man?” he questioned between kisses. “I’m thirty. And let’s not forget all the swoon worthy”—he kissed her harder—”intense… satisfying”—he nipped her neck—”mind numbing… hot as h.e.l.l”—he licked her earlobe—”‘Gavin give it to me harder now, please don’t stop, oh my G.o.d, keep going’ moments this old man’s shown you.”
“Mmm hmm. You have given me quite a few of those,” Emily purred. s.e.xual need balled low in her belly. Kissing her deeper, Gavin started unb.u.t.toning her blouse. Emily’s eyes fluttered closed as he dragged his lips down her jaw, across her neck, settling them on the swell of her breast. She tangled her fingers in his hair. “Gavin, wait, I want you to open your gift first.”
He didn’t stop. h.e.l.l. No. He slowly pulled the scalloped edge of her black lace bra just below her nipple. With a devious smile, he looked at her as he flicked his tongue across the hardened bud. Emily gasped and bit her lip. “I thought it was obvious I was opening my gift, Mrs. Blake.” He lifted her onto the cool granite counter, pulled her tiny apple a.s.s to the very edge, and s.h.i.+mmied between her legs. Licking into her mouth, he groaned, his body riveted by her tantalizing taste. “I’m the birthday boy, which means I get to call the shots. s.e.x. Lots of it. Here and now. With my hot wife on the counter.”
Tilting her head to allow Gavin to devour her neck, Emily released another moan and hooked her legs around his waist. Over her increased breathing, she heard her heels. .h.i.t the wood floor. Gavin kissed her harder, making it difficult for her to stop. But she knew how to get him. “How about your hot wife incorporates wild s.e.x into the gift she got for you? Sound good?”
Gavin caught her lip between his teeth and stared into her eyes for a long moment. Eventually, he released it and backed away slightly, his grin wide. “Incorporating wild s.e.x into a gift you’ve already gotten me? Mmm, I can’t say you haven’t piqued my curiosity. Does it require batteries?”
Emily nodded, her smile salacious. “Oh, yes. It requires a very large battery.” Gavin lifted a curious brow, his grin widening. She hopped off the counter, grabbed Gavin’s hand, and started leading him toward the garage door. “Close your eyes,” she whispered.
“What are you doing?” Gavin probed, a devilish smirk curling his mouth.
With a quick hand, Emily pulled him by his necktie down to her mouth. Running her tongue along his irresistible lips, she swung her arm around his waist and squeezed his a.s.s. Tight. “It may be your birthday, Mr. Blake, but I’m the one running the show. No questions. Got it?”
Yep, his wicked angel knew how to make Gavin’s stone harder. “I’m nothing but a peasant to your demands, sweets.” Smiling, Emily watched him close his eyes, proud of the authority she held. “But I’m definitely pulling the alpha caveman card on your pretty little a.s.s during our s.e.xcapade.”