Authors: Kim Linwood
“Hi.” Such a short word, and yet there’s so much in his tone and the way he looks at me. He comes a step closer, then stops and pulls a bouquet of roses out from behind the chair. They’re gorgeous, a dozen shades of red, no two alike, and their clear, sweet smell reaching me even from across the room.
“Hi yourself.” My eyes dart from his face, to the flowers and back. “What’s going on?”
My heart feels like it’s on the top of a seesaw. I want to believe in the fantasy that this is a big romantic apology, but this is
Gavin
we’re talking about. It’s probably something his Dad set up for my mother. If I let myself believe too much, it will hurt that much more when I land.
I jump when I hear the click of the door closing behind me. A second click is the sound of the lock being turned. I don’t know what I’m scared of, but being locked in makes me nervous.
The fear must have shown on my face, since Gavin’s quick to say something. “Don’t worry. It still opens from the inside. He’s just giving us privacy.”
“Privacy for what?” If I didn’t know better, I’d feel like I was being set up for a marriage proposal on one of those hidden camera shows, but that’d be crazy. We already had the wedding. A romantic proposal now wouldn’t make any sense. If he gets down on one knee, I’m not waiting to find out, I’m running.
He stops an arm’s length in front of me, but no kneeling. “Alright, this is probably going to be crap. Just bear with me, alright?”
I nod, curious and terrified.
“Angie, I’m sorry. I fucked up.” He holds the flowers out, expecting me to take them.
I blink, caught off guard by the no strings attached honesty in his voice. There’s not even a hint of arrogance or condescension. As if on autopilot, I take the flowers and hold them close, inhaling their sweet scent. What is he up to?
“The other day... Look, I accused you of some pretty shitty things. I’m sorry.” It’s like it’s a word that he doesn’t have much experience forming with his mouth, and he has to concentrate to get it out. “I can’t promise I won’t fuck everything up again. I probably will, actually. But can you give me the chance to try? If words don’t convince you, I am willing to dedicate my tongue to a more passionate solution.”
There’s the smirk. I knew it couldn’t hide for long. Only Gavin could turn a romantic apology into a proposition for sex, but it’s so totally him that I can’t quite keep a little smile from forming on my face.
He holds up a hand like he just remembers something. “Wait, I got you something else too. Call it a peace offering.” He picks up a boxy package in brown paper with a pretty green bow from a low table near the chairs. “I think you’ll like it.”
Looking around, I try to figure out where to put the roses. Apparently, he’s thought of that too, since he pulls a vase from a bookshelf next to him. I arch my eyebrow at him in surprise and he laughs. “Don’t look at me. Captain Chuck suggested it. He’s smarter than he looks.”
“Maybe he’s just apologized to more women,” I joke.
“Maybe.” Gavin trades me the package for the flowers.
The brown wrapping is simple, but it feels like quality. The ribbon too, it’s actual velvet and hand tied. No cheap drugstore bow with a square of sticky tape like usual. This is all probably normal for Gavin, but I’ve never held a gift that felt so opulent before. I look up at him while he sets the vase down on the low table. “What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
For reasons I can’t explain, my heart starts pounding rapidly, like it knows there’s something special in there. I’m almost afraid to open it and find out, spoiling the magic. I force myself to take my time, untying the ribbon and carefully pulling the tape that holds the wrapping together. Inside is an unmarked box, and in it, another wrapper in softer paper, so thin that I see the outline of the present through it. It’s a book, but...
I pull the wrapper aside and gasp. It’s a book bound in leather. It looks ancient. Stamped into the cover is the title, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” By Lewis Carroll. Very gently, I open it, taking care not to damage the pages, marveling at the beautiful images and the pretty type.
“It’s from the first print run. I think it might have been rebound at some point, but everything else is original. I figured you could use a book to start your fancy library with.”
I hear his voice, but I barely absorb what he’s saying while I leaf through the book. It’s so beautiful. “Gavin...” I flip to the title page. 1865. He’s not kidding. It must be worth a fortune. “This is amazing, but I can’t take it. It’s too much. And where did you get it?” As soon as I ask, I remember the helicopter. “Wait,
this
is what the helicopter was here for? You airlifted a book for me?”
“And the flowers. I wasn’t exactly going to find what I was looking for between the postcards and the fridge magnets in the gift shop.” His voice is smug, like what else would you do if you’re trapped at sea and need a grand gesture? It doesn’t hurt that he knows he nailed the gift just about perfectly.
Shaking, I carefully put the book back in its box and set it on the table next to the roses. “I’m afraid to touch it.” I turn to face him and find him a lot closer than I expect. He looks like the cat that got the canary. “What if I break it?”
“Then we’ll get another book, but you won’t. Who else will take as good care of it?” Reaching out, he puts his finger under my chin and lifts, forcing me to look into his eyes. Suddenly, I’m out of breath, my heart thundering in my chest. He leans closer. “It’s just paper. What are you afraid of?”
I tear away from him, turning my back. It’s surprising how hard I find it. “Gavin, that paper is probably worth more than I am.”
“Impossible.” His breath is hot against the back of my neck. “What are you really afraid of?”
“You,” I whisper. “You can’t accuse me of using you to get things, and then give me things to fix it. How do I know you won’t use it against me?”
“I guess you don’t.” His frank answer throws me off. “Forgive me or don’t. I want you to have the book, either way. It’s not a trade. I can’t imagine that it could possibly be in any better hands than yours, and a trip as crazy as this one deserves something special as a reminder.”
His hands close around my upper arms. “I can’t stop thinking about you, babe, and I hope you’re as sick of denying this thing between us as I am. I hope you like the book, but personally I couldn’t give a fuck about it. What I was really hoping was that it would get your attention long enough for you to accept my apology, because that’s what I need more than anything else right now.
You’re
what I need more than anything else right now.”
This whole setup is like out of a movie written specifically to make me fall in love with him. It’s almost too perfect, and a little bit of the bitch slips out, trying to hurt him and make him show his true colors. “Run out of girls to pass your time with?”
His fingers go tight around my arms. “I didn’t touch them. Not a single one. If you want to push me away, you’re going to have to try harder than that. I don’t expect you to trust me right away, but tell me what to do to fix this, and I will.” He holds me closer. “All I can think about is you.”
I want to believe him. No, I do believe that he means it,
now
, but what about tomorrow? Next week? How can this work? “What about our parents?” I’m running out of reasons not to give in.
“What about them?”
“Don’t you think it would be kind of awkward,
Bro?
”
There’s a quiet pause before he laughs. “I called Dad, you know. To tell him about the money.”
I’d assumed, but it was good to know. “What did he say?”
“That I’m an idiot, more or less. And that I could do a hell of a lot worse than you. To be honest, I kind of got the feeling he’d rather have you as a daughter than me as a son, but I’ll try not to hold that against you.” Gavin laughs humorlessly. “You’re right, that would be awkward. But as far as not wanting us together? Be more afraid of him trying to lock you in before you can get away.”
I let out a short giggle. “I’m not, you know.”
“Hm?”
“Trying to get away.”
He pulls me close, holding me tight against him. “Like you have a fucking choice. You’re mine.”
The intensity in his voice sends shivers down my spine. “So you think you’ve won, do you? What if I change my mind?” From the way heat is pooling between my legs at his firm touch, I realize the question is very, very hypothetical.
He growls into my ear, “I really don’t like to lose.”
I break. It’s a victory I’m happy to give him. Wrenching myself loose from his grip, I turn around and reach up around his neck with both hands. Sliding my fingers into his hair, I pull him down to me, and he comes eagerly.
S
uddenly, it’s like even my sundress is too hot. I can’t imagine how he feels in his suit. I might have started the kiss, but Gavin’s determined to finish it, cradling the back of my head with one hand and putting the other at the small of my back, pressing me against him. Even through his pants, his hardness presses against my stomach.
I forget where we are. The flowers, the book, nothing matters except the connection between us, the electricity that’s arcing across our lips as we kiss. My hands roam over his hard body, looking for buttons and zippers and anything I can use to get his clothes off. His jacket falls, and I fumble with his shirt, only pausing so he can lift my dress over my head.
Finally his last button gives and I spread his shirt open, revealing the smooth, muscular chest underneath. Leaning in, I kiss his nipples and all the skin in between while he works his sleeves down his arms before throwing the shirt aside. The salty taste of his skin mixes with the sweet scent of the roses next to us, creating a heady perfume.
I’m tearing open the fly of his pants when my bikini top goes slack, the knot undone by his clever fingers. Letting it slide down my arms, I toss it onto one of the chairs before I grab the hem of his pants and tear them down his legs, underwear and all as I drop to my knees. I’m rewarded by his large cock bouncing free only inches from my face, pointing straight up.
I don’t even let him get his pants all the way off. Rising up, I envelop him in my mouth, trying to remember everything he taught me in the shower. His musk intoxicates and incites me. As I do my best to swallow him, all kinds of crazy, sexy tingles race up and down my skin.
He slides his hands into my hair, gripping me with hard fists and guiding me while I wrap my hand around the part of him that my mouth can’t reach. He thrusts with need, but suddenly pulls away. “No, too much more and I’ll come.”
I look up with a grin. “Okay.”
He laughs at my eagerness while he kicks off his shoes and pull his pants the rest of the way off. I watch him undressing hungrily. Out of all the gifts he’s given me today,
this
might be my favorite. Nothing can top him, or the feeling of finally being able to call him mine. Tossing the pants aside, he aims his intense hazel eyes at me. They’re so hungry it’s a little scary.
In the blink of an eye, he’s on me, picking me up and nearly throwing me on my back into one of the leather chairs. Making quick work of my bottoms, he tears them off so hard I hear fabric rip, but I don’t care. He hovers over me, breathing hard, then flips my legs onto the arms of the chair so I’m spread wide open for him. My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest, but I’m ready for him. Whatever he wants to do.
Gavin’s nostrils flare like a bull’s, but instead of just driving into me, he lowers his face while he grabs my thighs with his strong hands, holding me open. At first he just kisses along the insides of my thighs and up over my mound, touching me with his lips everywhere but exactly where I want him. He flicks his tongue right around the edges, teasing me until I try to follow him with my hips to lure him to my center.
Instead, he tightens his grip on my thighs to keep me in place. “Good things come to those who wait, babe.”
I nearly growl in frustration, my hands gripping the armrests so tightly my knuckles go white. Almost instinctively, I reply, “I’m not your babe.”
He laughs. “Is my mouth about to eat your sweet pussy until you scream my name? Right now, you definitely are, babe. Stop denying it.”
Oh my.
I start to respond, but then he swipes his broad tongue firmly right up between my folds and I forget why I cared.
He doesn’t reply, his mouth is too busy, but the way his eyes crinkle into tight crow’s feet shows how much he’s smiling. Then I forget all about that too, closing my eyes and letting his tongue work its magic. He swirls, nibbles, kisses, blows, and basically pulls out every possible trick in the book until I’m a quivering mess beneath him, my whole body tightening up in anticipation.
I’m so, so close when he sits up that I whine in protest, making him chuckle. Tugging his discarded pants closer, he gets something out of the pocket. There’s a tear of plastic and a moment of fiddling before he’s back between my legs, but this time it’s not his tongue pushing at my entrance. I draw a deep breath, waiting, my insides aching to be filled.
“You know, I think I might just be falling a little bit in love with you.” He looks almost as surprised by his words as I am, but he doesn’t take them back. His eyes bore into mine, like he’s looking right into my soul. He’s reading me like one of my books, and I don’t even have to say anything. I can see that he knows.
Gavin pushes into me and my pent up breath rushes out in a long sigh. I’m so close that when he fills me, I shudder with the need to release, and when he leans in and takes my nipple in his mouth, I lose it. I come around him, clenching his thick cock, my toes curling and my back arching, pressing my breast eagerly towards him for more.
His big hands wrap around my waist, holding me in place as he fucks me, first with long, languid strokes, but then harder and harder until he’s pounding me into the smooth leather chair. I grab onto him, my nails digging into his back and pulling him closer. Shaking with what feels like a storm of tiny orgasms in the wake of the big one, all I can do is cling to him and ride it out while I scream his name.