Unable to tolerate even the small distance she managed to get between them, Gavin stepped forward, pushing her onto the bed. He ignored her protests as he climbed after her retreating figure. He grabbed her just as she was about to escape to the other side of the bed and pulled her into a bear hug.
"I know. I know. I fucked up," he admitted in a soothing voice as she tried to fight out of his embrace. "If…if you knew what had been going on in my mind you would have me locked away. I was losing my mind. I need you to forgive me. I need us back. I need to feel like I'm living again."
She stilled, falling silent for a long moment. Gradually, he felt her body relax in his arms until he was sure she wouldn’t bolt, not that he wouldn’t just catch her again. He shifted, adjusting her against him until she was comfortable, and they lay there, face to face, his arm resting over her hip.
Eventually she spoke, her voice small and unsure. "And it was all just because you thought Cameron was taking me away from you?"
He could see the doubt in her eyes. For a second, he imagined what face she would make if he told her the entire truth. That what really broke him was his valiant attempt to keep their family together after she had fallen asleep half naked in his bed. His cock twitched at the memory. A memory that had plagued him daily for months. A memory he kept imprinted behind his eyes even as he tried and failed to distract himself with another girl.
Gavin's eyes lowered to the knot of her robe. What kind of face would she make if she knew their father had stepped aside and released the leash from his unruly son?
No. Not yet.He breathed.
His fingers toyed with the tied knot at her waist as he answered her question. "That was and still is a fear that keeps me up at night."
Completely unaware of his near slip in control, Ebony lifted up onto her elbow and glared at him. "But you said you wished I was just some random girl."
Unable to stop himself, he traced her bottom lip with his thumb. "It would make it a whole helluva a lot easier if you were some random girl. Maybe I wouldn't care so much or maybe nothing would stop me at all," seeing her shock, he smiled.
The last time he let some of the truth slip, that day at the country club there had been confusion on her face. Tonight, the confusion was all but gone. Now she just looked at him as if she couldn't believe he said that. Good. She was learning.
Grabbing the tail of the knotted tie he pulled until it came loose. Ignoring her sound of surprise, he peeled the robe down and off of her, sliding it out from beneath her. Underneath, she wore a thin blue satin nightgown that barely stopped at her thighs.
"What if I was still naked?" she shot back even though he noted she hadn't fought him.
Gavin stood up from the bed, never taking his eyes from hers as he tossed her robe onto a nearby chair and grabbed the hem of his shirt. "Then it's a good thing for both of us you weren’t."
He pulled his shirt off over his head. Her eyes were wide as they tracked his movements. For years she had seen him shirtless but this was the first time it felt as if she wasreallyseeing him. His hands went to his pants and he chuckled as she couldn't help but look away. Keeping his boxer briefs on, he slipped back into bed, stifling a groan at the nearby heat of her. Fuck, he missed this.
Silence stretched comfortably around them as they got closer under the covers and turned off the lights. Gavin had to force himself to breathe. It felt as if it had been ages since he had been this close to her. Everything inside of him wanted to grab her and press her close until she felt the hard ridge of his cock between her legs.
Moonlight bright and pale poured in from the window, making her dark skin glow under its light. "Tell me you love me," she whispered in the dark. "Because for the past few months it didn’t feel like you even liked me."
Without hesitation, he answered. "There’s no word for what I feel. Love doesn’t even scratch the surface."
"Gavin."
His whispered name felt like a small beacon in a sea of black. Frowning, Gavin nuzzled his head deeper into the soft warm pillows. Fuck, they were so warm. He usually hated warm pillows.
Again, he shifted his head side to side, loving the softness he felt.
"Gavin."
This time his name came out like a small coaxing plea. Something brushed along the sides of his hair, tracing the sides of his head. Gavin groaned and he turned his face into the hot pillow wanting on some level to feel it against his lips.
A moan sent vibrations through him cutting through the last of his sleepy haze, and he opened his eyes. He blinked, seeing nothing for a moment. Slowly realization settled over him. He was under the covers with his head buried in his sister's chest. He could feel her breasts on either side of his face pillowing him.
God save him. He didn’t move an inch but he did answer in a muffled reply. "Mmmm," he hummed, inhaling her scent until it fused with his bones.
If he suffocated and died right here and now it would be worth it.
Again, her fingers traced the line of hair just behind his ears, causing an electric ripple to course through him. "Do you want me to forgive you?" her voice was sleepy and the room was dark and he knew without even needing to pull away to look out the window it was still late in the night. Not that God himself could pull him away at this point.
Below them the yacht's engines hummed as it sailed them to their new destination.
He thought of her words and tightened his grip around her, trying to bury himself deeper in her. Her nightgown, a thing of lace and satin, did nothing to shield her from him. He could feel every inch of her and knew she wasn't wearing a bra.
"Yes," he said hoarsely, looking up at her.
