Pulse

by Gail McHugh

Page 90

 

  Curiosity coiled deep in Emily’s belly as she watched his lean, toned frame gracefully move around to her side of the car. God, he looked amazing decked out in a tailored black Armani suit, a crisp, white button-down peeking out from underneath, and his effortlessly sexy “just fucked” hair. He opened her door and pulled said blindfold from the back pocket of his pants. Reaching for her hand, he helped Emily out, his smile playfully dotted with mischievousness. He gathered her in his strong arms, shielding her from the cold, as Boyce Avenue’s live acoustic version of “Find Me” spilled from the speakers. For a moment, Gavin stared into her eyes and swayed with the music.

  “Déjà vu,” Emily said dreamily. She recalled the last time they’d danced like this on the side of the road in Mexico. “You’re very smooth, Mr. Blake. ” Gavin shot her a lazy smile, and Emily drew up a brow, her curiosity growing by the second. “What are you up to?”

  Before she could blink, Gavin slipped the silk blindfold over Emily’s eyes. He pressed his lips to her ear. A small gasp left Emily as Gavin lightly traced his fingers along her jaw, his voice soft, causing heat to slither over her skin. “We’re about to play a game. And, no, it’s not twenty questions, doll. ”

  “No?” Emily breathed. The sounds of cars rushing by, along with Boyce Avenue’s beautiful love song disappeared as Gavin’s fingers continued a trail against the slope of her neck.

  “No,” he answered. “This game will stimulate each and every single one of your five senses beyond human comprehension. Sight. . . ” He pulled her closer, and Emily could feel his growing arousal hard against her stomach. “I’m going to show you things you’ve never seen before. ” Brushing her gray wool pea coat slightly away from her shoulder, he feathered his lips against her collar bone. Emily shivered, goose bumps popping up all over her body. Every hair stood on end. After a moment, he brought his lips back to her ear and lightly nibbled on her lobe. As he swirled his warm tongue around diamond earrings he’d bought for her for Valentine’s Day, Emily swore she was about to melt into the gravel on the side of the road.

  “Sound. . . ” He teased his fingers into her hair, her body screaming for release. “Do you like it when you feel my breath on your ear?” Emily swallowed and nodded. Words were a thing of the past as she sank, plummeting into his touch.

  “Taste…” Oh, he was really getting her riled up as he slowly, so achingly slowly, ran his soft tongue along her parted bottom lip. “I’m addicted to the way you taste, Emily. I always have been, and I always will be. But I want you addicted to me in the exact same way. ” Was he nuts? He’d already turned her into a fiend for all his flavors, yet she had a feeling he was about to make her a full-blown addict, praying for her next hit.

  “Smell…” He ran his nose against her hair, down her neck, and back up her flushed cheek. The sound of him inhaling her scent rushed a feeling of need straight to her dampened panties. “Mmm, the way every part of your sweet body smells would lead me to kill for it if it ever disappeared from my possession. It’s… mine. ” Emily puffed out a breath, the dominance bleeding through his tone awakened nerve endings she never knew existed.

  “And last, but certainly not least, touch…” Emily heard him step back. Her body felt deprived in the wake of his warmth. It needed more. Wanted more. Craved more. What was he doing? Surely he should be touching her. “Well, that, Miss Cooper,” he continued, “shouldn’t be hard to figure out. We’re going to touch, smell, taste, hear, and see everything one another has to offer in ways we never have before. ”

  Breath stripped from his words, and sight gone, hidden beneath the blindfold, Emily felt as though she was a mad woman about to attack. Thankfully, Gavin brought her back down and saved himself from an embarrassing display of her ripping the blindfold off and sexually mauling him to death. Though she was pretty sure he wouldn’t mind. She felt his fingers intertwine with hers as he carefully guided her back to the car and helped her into the seat. The sound of the door closing made Emily’s already nerve-shot body jump in anticipation. His feet crunching over the gravel made her already heightened senses acutely alert. Once he got in the car, the humming of his breath made her racing heart beat faster.

  He started the engine, pulled the strap of her seatbelt over her waist, and clicked it. Barely grazing her skin, he drew circles around her newly engaged ring finger. Oh, yes, he was teasing her, and he was doing it very well. A brush of his hand on her neck, a slight touch on her thigh, and a light stroke through her hair every now and then made the remainder of the intensely quiet ride torturous. By the time she heard and felt car come to a complete stop, Emily was so sexually charged, she was convinced she was about to lose her mind.

  Parked in the circular driveway of a two-story Mediterranean-style home he had built for them, complete with every feature Emily unknowingly gave him over the last several months, a reverent smile broke out across Gavin’s mouth as he watched Emily’s chest rise and fall with her shallow breaths. The sight of her next to him, unaware of what he was about to show her, made him high. His little game wasn’t over just yet. No. He was going to savor the moment for as long as he could. With the flick of a button, the ornate wrought-iron gates swung closed. Gavin stepped from the car, his smile growing as he opened the passenger side door, and helped his blindfolded future bride to her feet.

  “Where are we?” Feeling his arms slip around her waist from behind, Emily’s lips puckered into a smile. “I’m a little afraid right now. ”

  Gavin pulled her body flush against his chest as he steered her across the multicolored, sandstone driveway. His heart rate escalated the closer they got to the front door. “Take a step up,” he whispered. Emily did as he said. “Another. ” Again, she complied. “And, guess what?”

  “Another step?” she asked, giggling.

  “You got it,” he answered.

  Once on the porch, Leslie, Gavin’s housekeeper—who he’d already hired back on fulltime—quietly greeted them when she opened the front door. Gavin nodded, mouthed “thank you,” and watched her skirt down the driveway to her car.

  Stepping into the marbled foyer, Gavin closed and locked the door, slipped Emily’s coat off her shoulders, and softly kissed her lips. “Stay here. I don’t want anything happening to you. ”

  Crossing her arms, Emily tilted her head. “You can’t see my eyes right now, but I’m rolling them, wiseass. ”

  “I bet you are,” Gavin laughed. He strolled over to the cascading staircase and hung his suit jacket and Emily’s coat on the intricate, hand-carved cherry railing.

  “Come here,” he called, grinning. “My voice will lead you. ”

  “Are you kidding me?” Emily heard her words echo in whatever space she was in. “I’m about to take off this damn blindfold. ” Before she could, the sound of Gavin’s quick, solid footsteps hit the air, followed by the feel of his hand pressing against the small of her back.

  “No,” Gavin said, leading her into the spacious, open living room. As requested, Leslie had everything he’d asked for ready and waiting. “The blindfold stays on. I have another game we’re about to play. After that, and only if I see fit, I’ll remove it. ” Gavin loved the small, sexy pout forming across Emily’s lips. He kneeled in front of her and grazed his hands down her calves. “Hold on to my shoulders for support. ”