Pulse (Collide)

by Gail McHugh

  Gavin sucked in his bottom lip and slid his arms around her waist. “I’ve turned you into such a dirty, kinky, little masochist. Do you have any idea what that thought does to me?”

  Emily giggled. “Yes. I can feel what it’s doing to you right now.”

  “That obvious?”

  “Very.” Emily nuzzled the crook of his neck, biting him softly. Dragging his musky scent through her noise, she curled her fingers in his hair. “Your head’s so consumed by my newfound dirty kinkiness, you didn’t even notice something on me.”

  Gripping her thighs, a groan crawled up Gavin’s throat. “And what you’re doing is supposed to help?”

  “Okay, I’ll stop,” Emily quipped, pulling back.

  Gavin frowned. “I’m tossing out the caveman card here and demand you continue your dirty, kinkiness on my neck.”

  “Nope,” Emily giggled. “Not until you figure out what’s new on me. Seriously, it’s not that hard.”

  Gavin buried his hands in her hair and guided her down to his lips. “Wrong,” he whispered as he spoke between kisses. “It’s painfully… tortuously…agonizingly, I’m-about-to-rip-the-panties-from-your-body hard.”

  Right about the same time Emily started thinking about how deliciously, intoxicatingly, and addictively wonderful his kisses were, his cell phone rang. As usual, Gavin showed no intentions of answering.

  Emily pulled back and looked at him. “You really should answer that.”

  He guided her back down to his mouth. “No way,” he groaned as he scooted against the headboard, bringing her with him. “Whoever it is will wait.”

  “Uh, uh, uh,” she playfully warned, her smile as teasing as ever. “It could be your parents calling to let us know what time they’ll be here tomorrow.”

  Gavin blinked. “You get off on this, don’t you?”

  Emily batted her lashes. “In so… many…many ways. Now answer it.” She laughed and carefully maneuvered from the bed, more than enjoying the swat on her ass he gave her.

  As she watched him take the call, Emily felt her stomach tighten. Though not in pain, she definitely wasn’t comfortable as a Braxton Hicks contraction balled her belly. With her breath somewhat depleted, she sank into an overstuffed chair and tried to relax. Playing it safe, considering she was within three weeks of her due date, she glanced at her watch and started timing it. As her stomach loosened from the mild assault, the baby made his presence known. Hammering his foot in what Emily believed was anger at his own discomfort, he hit his mark somewhere below her right ribcage.

  “I hear ya, buddy,” she mumbled, rubbing the area he’d attacked. “Soon.” Emily watched concern edge Gavin’s eyes when his gaze landed on her.

  Promptly ending his call, he moved across the room and fell to his knees in front of her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, placing his hand over hers. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded and pulled in a deep breath. “Fake contraction.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. I’m starting to get used to them.” She swallowed and, with Gavin’s help, stood. Smiling, she draped her arms around his neck. “So, can you tell what’s new on me?”

  Startled by her nonchalance, Gavin shook his head, smoothing his hands down her waist. “Emily, I think you should lay down.”

  “Why?” she asked, her brows furrowed.

  “You’re getting contractions.”

  “Silly man, I had a Braxton Hicks.” She waved dismissively and walked across the room. She plucked her water from the nightstand, took a sip, and nearly finished the whole bottle. “I’m fine.”

  Gavin shoved a nervous hand through his hair. Yeah, he was pretty damn sure his girl was losing it. “How do you know you’re fine?”

  “Well, let’s see. It’s my body, and I’ve come to know it quite well over the last twenty-five years.” She padded back over to him, a smile on her face as she once again slid her arms around his neck. “Want to know two things I bet you didn’t know?”

  Gavin released a sigh, attempting to go with the flow. “Sure.”

  Emily wiggled her brows. “One: you’re very, very shmexy when you’re worried.”

  Gavin chuckled. “Am I?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “I’ve said it before”—Gavin smirked, loving her playfulness—”and I’ll say it ‘til the day they bury me. You’re pretty shmexy yourself.”

  “Why thank you, sir.” She pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Two: While losing yourself in all my dirty, kinky, Braxton Hicks-filled shmexyness, you failed to notice I’m wearing the sweatshirt you lent me one year ago tonight.”

  Gavin flicked his eyes down to the gray Zenga Sport sweatshirt he’d sworn disappeared into thin air. “No shit. Look at that.” Grinning, he flipped the hood over Emily’s head. “It definitely fits you better this year.”

  Emily’s mouth dropped open, and Gavin laughed. Giggling, she swatted his arm. “You take that back right now.”

  “You know I’m kidding.” Gavin kissed her pouting lips. “Do I need to make it up to you?”

  “As a matter of fact, you do.”

  “Name it, sweets.”

  “Bottle caps.”

  Gavin popped a brow. “Bottle caps?”

  Emily nodded. “Yep. A friendly game of toss the bottle caps.”

  “Is this some kind of wager for your forgiveness?” Gavin’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “And when you lose, what happens then? Am I cast into one of the guest bedrooms for the night?”

  Emily scoffed, heading for the French doors. “Why would you assume I’m going to lose, wiseass? And yes, you sleep solo if you don’t let me win.”

  Chuckling, Gavin watched her stick out her tongue in true Emily fashion as she disappeared onto the balcony. In true Gavin fashion, he was about to test his girl’s memory. Grabbing a remote and flicking on the surround sound, he hit repeat on one particular song. He tossed on a long-sleeved T-shirt and started for the doors. With the freezer bag filled with caps in hand, Gavin breathed in the salty smell of the ocean. Emily was leaning against the railing when he emerged into the cool night air. She smiled, sinking his heart the same way she’d sunk it a year ago. Hell, if there ever came a time she couldn’t steal his breath, he’d know the world around him had gone crazy.

  Dropping the bag of memories onto an Adirondack chair, he reached for her hand and gently pulled her to his body. “May I have this dance before we play our little game?”

  “Looks like you’ve already decided that for me,” she teased, resting her head against his chest as they swayed.

  Gavin kissed the top of her hair. “Would you’ve been able to say no?”

  “Never,” she whispered.

  “That’s what I figured.”

  “You push your luck every chance you get, don’t you?”

  He chuckled lightly. “Always.” With one hand splayed along the small of her back, he took the other, intertwined with her fingers, and pinned it to his chest. Staring at her, he smiled. “Do you know what song this is?”

  “I do,” she breathed, her gaze transfixed on his lips. Her muscles warmed as the memory of the first night they’d made love spilled through her. “Louis Armstrong’s La Vie en Rose. I also remember the first time we danced to it.”

  “Very good, Miss Cooper. You continue to impress me.”

  He stopped moving, and Emily’s heart sputtered as he bent his head, brushing his lips against hers. A tease of a kiss. Never enough. But Emily knew from the moment he’d first kissed her, she’d never get her fill of him.

  “You know I’m going to dance with you to this song at our wedding one day. That is, if you’d have me?”

  Emily swallowed, her breathing increasing. As her hair whipped around in the light summer breeze, a tear slipped down her cheek. One year. One full circle had been drawn around their lives, and although they’d been tested in every way possible, they were still together. “I could never not have you, Gavin. Never,” she whispered, falling more in love
with him than she’d ever thought possible.

  As Louis Armstrong belted out soulful melodies about casting magic spells, Gavin cast his on Emily, as he always did. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her slowly, deeply. Emily’s heart dropped, knowing one year ago tonight on this very balcony, beers, memories, and tears were shared. Little did she know then, a stolen moment, a sweatshirt, many bottle caps, and few layers peeled back later, her life would never be the same.

  And she thanked God for every minute it wasn’t.

  “How the heck did you talk him into going out on the boat?” Olivia smeared a heavy dose of suntan lotion across her chest. “You seriously have that man whipped. He adamantly declines the fishing trip every year.”

  Emily coated her legs with suntan lotion. “I didn’t talk him into it. Colton did.” She placed the bottle on the wrought-iron table and adjusted the umbrella above her. Sighing, she shook her head and lay back in her poolside chair. “I’m curious to see how sick he’s going to be when he gets back. He insisted the water was calm enough. Now look at it.”

  Olivia nodded. “Oh, he’ll be hugging the toilet, I guarantee it. He thinks because he stuck that stupid sea sick thing behind his ear, he’s covered. Not a chance. I’m surprised he doesn’t heave after swimming in the pool.”

  Both women laughed. Fallon returned from inside the house and handed Emily a glass of lemonade.

  “Thank you,” Emily said.

  “You’re welcome. What are you two laughing about?” Fallon questioned, getting comfortable in a chair.

  “Gavin and the way he’s, without a doubt, going to be making love to the many toilet bowls in his house when the guys get back.” Olivia nodded knowingly, a wicked smirk twisting her lips. “Emily’s definitely playing nurse tonight.”

  Emily’s gaze drifted out to the choppy waters of the Atlantic. As she watched the waves crash against the shore, she wondered if Gavin was okay. She also wondered if he’d agreed to go on the trip in another attempt to keep his mind off the test results. Due any day, his nerves were becoming shot by the second. He and Emily weren’t the only ones nervous, though. When his parents had arrived this morning for his Fourth of July party, Emily could see the worry in their eyes. She could see it in everyone. From Fallon, to Trevor, Olivia, Melanie, and Colton, everyone around them looked uneasy when she really paid attention.

  “Olivia,” Jude called from the pool. Slicking his sandy brown hair away from his forehead, he smirked. “If you don’t get in with me, I’m getting out and coming to get ya.”

  Olivia shot him a look. “And if you do, your body will never feel the tip of my paint brush again.” She kinked her head to the side. “And I’ll never allow a certain tip of your body to feel mine ever again.”

  Emily watched as he pondered Olivia’s threats. However, his deliberation didn’t last too long. He climbed from the pool and darted toward Olivia. Within seconds, he had her hauled over his shoulder, dangling her kicking, screaming body over the pool. Emily took a laughing breath, and Olivia took an unwanted swim when Jude dropped her into the water. Loving that Olivia seemed to have met her match in Jude, Emily and Fallon giggled as they observed her spit water.

  “Jude Hamilton!” Olivia sputtered as he jumped in with her. Pulling her into his arms, he hooted a laugh. “I’m so going to kick your fucking ass all over the place for this.”

  Jude swung his attention over to Emily and Fallon. “What do the two best friends think? I’m wondering if she needs a good dunk for that one.”

  “Do it!” Fallon chirped, tipping her wine cooler to her mouth.

  “Crap off, Fallon,” Olivia squealed, attempting to wiggle from Jude’s hold.

  Emily held her hands up in surrender. “I’m staying out of this one.”

  “Thank you, fr—”

  Emily assumed Olivia’s last word was going to be “friend” however, Jude dunked her, cutting her off. Emily tore her attention from the dunking battle when she saw Gavin and the gang of fishermen making their way across the yard. After tying her sarong around her unflattering waistline, Emily moved quickly but carefully across the water-soaked slate tiles. She couldn’t help but frown when she saw Gavin’s expression. Yeah, her man looked less than healthy.

  Kissing his lips, she curled her arms around his waist. “No good?”

  Gavin ran a tired hand over his sunburnt cheeks. “I’ve been better. But I need you to tell me why was it again I didn’t listen to you about not going?”

  Emily smiled. “That’s because you wanted to look cool in front of the guys.”

  A hint of a grin appeared on Gavin’s mouth. “Ah, yes. Me and my coolness. Do me a favor and chain me to the fence next year when they rib on me for not going.”

  “Deal.” Emily ran her hands through his hair. “Shower?”

  “Are you washing me?”

  “Do you want me to?”

  Gavin lifted a brow. “Is that a serious question?”

  “I’m just making sure.” She pouted. “You’re looking pretty ill.”

  “Right,” he agreed, sliding his hands through her hair. “But a little dose of Emily might cure my nausea.”

  “Come on, my sick man.” She giggled and reached for his hand. “Emily will take care of you.”

  And she did. After a very long and very thorough shower, Gavin felt less… nauseated.

  As the sizzling smell of burgers, hotdogs and chicken wings floated through the breeze, Gavin pulled out a chair and waited for Emily to finish up helping his mother inside the house. Everyone sat down to a hearty meal prepared by Gavin’s father.

  “Feeling better, man?” Trevor asked, chomping into a piece of corn on the cob. “Or do we need to be careful you might get sick all over the table?”

  Fallon rolled her eyes. “Eew, Trevor, that’s gross.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” Gavin shook his head and chuckled. “Just for that, if I do feel sick, I’m aiming it at Trevor.”

  “Okay, seriously?” Olivia chirped, her forehead pinched in disgust. “We’re trying to eat here.”

  “Why do women get freaked out over that?” Jude scooped a monster-sized portion of potato salad onto his plate. “There’re nastier things out there other than throwing up.”

  “I agree.” Gavin leaned back, folding his hands behind his head. A slow smirk lifted his mouth. “Like my nephew with his finger shoved in his nose right now. He’s digging for something.”

  Everyone whipped their heads around to the table Melanie, Colton and the kids occupied. Sure enough, little Timothy had other plans for what he was going to enjoy for dessert.

  An orchestra of revolted groans from Olivia and Fallon filtered through the air along with the sound of their chairs screeching back from the table as they plucked up their plates and walked away.

  “Colton,” Gavin called out, smiling, “bro, you might want to handle your kid.”

  Colton lifted his eyes from his plate. He flicked them between his two children, ultimately stopping on the guilty one. “Timmy, get your finger out of your nose.”

  Melanie sighed, reaching for the unoffending hand. She swept him up from his chair. “Come on. It’s soap and water for you.”

  As the men laughed and joked about what’d just happened, Emily, Lillian, and Chad emerged from the house. They each took a seat at one of the two tables.

  Emily placed her plate down, her expression curious. “Why did Fallon and Olivia just storm inside? Did one of you guys insult them?”

  Another round of laughter went off, adding to Emily’s confusion.

  Jude stood and made his way inside. Gavin assumed he was attempting to go check on Olivia. Gavin draped his arm over Emily’s chair. “No, we didn’t insult them. They just have weak stomachs.”

  Emily started piling cucumber salad onto her plate. “Mmm hmm. I’m not even going to ask.”

  “Good. You’re better off, Em.” Trevor took a swig from his beer and pushed his empty plate away. “So what’s the deal? You two have a nam
e for the little one?”

  Emily looked at Gavin. “We do.”

  “Noah,” Gavin answered, trying to keep his mind from straying to unwanted thoughts of him not being his son. “Noah Alexander.”

  Trevor nodded. “Good name.”

  “Yeah, it is.” Emily gave Gavin a weak smile, knowing his head was stuck in battle again. With a sigh, she turned to Trevor. “So, Fallon said you two are moving in together.”

  Trevor beamed. “Yep. She insisted.”

  Emily raised an incredulous brow. “I heard it was the other way around.”

  Gavin chuckled and shook his head. “She told us all about it the other day. The roses. The dinner with the nervous speech.”

  “Okay. You caught me.” Trevor finished off the rest of his beer. “Like you’re any better with Emily, you sap. Forget about speeches. Yours are infamous.”

  “Ah. They are, and I’m worse.” Gavin smirked. “But you’ll never catch me denying it, and my sappiness gains me swoon-worthy points.”

  Emily giggled.

  “Dude. You’re done for. Swoon worthy?”

  “You got it, bro. I’m as swoon worthy as they come.” Gavin massaged his fingers through Emily’s hair. “Tell him, sweets.”

  Emily dropped her fork onto her plate and dropped herself into Gavin’s lap. She curled her arms around his neck and smiled. “He’s the king of swoon, Trevor. You really should take some pointers.”

  Trevor stood, stretching his long arms. “I’m out. You two are scaring me in more ways than one.” He swiped his plate from the table and made his way into the house.

  “Mmm, we scared him away,” Gavin whispered, brushing his lightly stubbled jaw against Emily’s cheek. “We’re bad, huh?”

  A sultry smile touched Emily’s lips. “So very bad.”

  After indulging in a few stolen moments with the only woman he wanted to consider him swoon worthy, Gavin watched Emily disappear inside to help his mother prepare some desserts. It triggered an upsurge of relief. The past couple of weeks, the two had become close, and that’s all Gavin wanted to see. As he enjoyed the sounds of his niece and nephew playing tag, Gavin was glad he’d cut this year’s party down to close friends and family. With the sun getting ready to retire for the day, he took a seat around the fire pit alongside his father and Colton.