Page 20 of The Awakening
Leaning over, he placed his hand on my knee. “We’ll get you training for anything you want to do. Right now, I’m just happy you’re as excited as I am about this. Don’t tell anyone yet. I am just checking into the viability right now.” His words were firm, but he didn’t have to say them to me. This was his news not mine so it wouldn’t come from my lips.
“I won’t say a word. But you will keep me updated, right?” I asked, hoping he wouldn't leave me out.
He stood and moved over to the television and turned it on before flopping down on the bed.
This has become our nightly routine. We would talk some. Then he would watch TV, and I would read. But tonight, I wanted to be closer to him. I could still feel his hand on my knee, and I wanted to feel more.
I settled in next to him, and he turned to look at me. “Well, this is a nice surprise.” He held out his arm, and I scooted closer, snuggling up against his side.
My heart was racing. We had been this close multiple times, but tonight was different. Was it because he had opened up about the business? Or was it because he believed in me and wanted my opinion and help?
“Ellie,” Gavin whispered. “I want to kiss you.”
“I wouldn’t put up a fight,” I replied, giving him a soft smile.
He lowered his head and brushed his mouth against mine. If I thought my pulse had been racing before, it was as if I had been running a marathon now. Gavin’s lips were soft, but his kiss was forceful, passionate, and possessive. Our tongues fought for space.
The show on the television long forgotten, Gavin rolled over so his body pressed against mine. Breaking the kiss, he looked at me, breathing heavy, just like I was. “Well, that’s not where I thought this would go,” he said as he smiled sheepishly.
“I thought it was nice,” I replied quietly, looking away from his eyes.
“Look at me, Ellie.”
When I obeyed, he continued. “Do not ever be ashamed of how you feel.”
His words made me think back to all the times Ray had made me feel dirty after sex.
“Besides, we’re married.” He claimed my lips again, and I wrapped my arms around him. He was an amazing kisser, and the feelings coursing through my body were different from anything I had experienced before.
Was this what falling in love felt like?
Chapter Thirteen
Ellie
Icouldn’t believe how fast time passed here. Back in Montana, it dragged, and every day felt like it was four days long, but here, I was just over halfway through my pregnancy. Kate pulled up to the house in her SUV, and I let out a sigh of relief. Gavin had been threatening to come with me all week. Kate and I had decided she would come to my OB appointments with me because Gavin couldn’t get away from the ranch. I didn’t mind. I’d looked forward to our days together—I’d never really had girlfriends—so Gavin wanting to intrude was less than exciting.
When I climbed in, she was grinning from ear to ear. “Are you excited to find out if it’s a boy or girl?”
“I am. Part of me doesn’t want to know, but the other part of me needs to plan for this little one.” I grinned and buckled my seatbelt before Kate backed out of the driveway and headed down the driveway.
“That’s odd,” Kate muttered as she slowed to a stop between the main house and Rob’s home.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Feels like something is wrong with a tire. Let me look.”
“I can check this side,” I said as I reached for the buckle on the seatbelt.
“No.” Kate all but shouted. “It will only take me a second.” She hopped out of the vehicle, but she took her purse…
As I turned and watched for her to come around my side to look at the tires, the door slammed, and the SUV shifted into gear. I turned in my seat, wondering why she hadn’t checked the passenger side, and came face to face with my husband.
“What are you doing?” I looked out the window for Kate, but she was running through the side door of the big house.
“I’m taking you to this appointment and every one from here on out.” He stepped on the accelerator and headed for the doctor’s office. “Look, I know I haven’t been there for you, and I’m the one that should have been at these appointments. Nothing here was more important than making sure you and the baby are healthy, but I’m here now, and I am not going anywhere.” Turning onto the highway, he held his hand out palm up for me to take.
His hand was warm on my thigh, and I couldn’t help placing mine on top of it. “Forgive me for not making these appointments a priority?”
