Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (most important books to read TXT) 📕

home I grew up in. My dad designed it for my mother as kind of as a wedding gift when they were barely my age. They built it together and raised my sister and me in it.”

I forgot that he had once mentioned a little sister, but I guess I really haven't known him as long as it feels like I have. I hope his sister likes me and the stress builds when thinking of having to impress another important person in Gavin’s life.

I try not to think about it, so I just continue to gawk at the beautiful scenery around me. “Gavin, this is the most beautiful house I have ever seen! It's absolutely perfect and it doesn't at all look like it was built over twenty-one years ago.”

“My mom takes amazing care of it. Just wait until you see the inside. There are seven bedrooms!” He holds up seven fingers to emphasize how large this home really is.

My eyes widen. “Why so many rooms for only two kids? Let me guess, you guys also have four dogs that each needed their own rooms.”

He laughs loudly, making me crave more of the rich sound when it stops. He leans back in his seat like he's settling in for a while. “Sadly, no. We have a pretty large family that likes to visit a lot, so the extra rooms came in handy.”

I ponder the idea of having so much family around. It's a big difference from the life I have been used to, with just my adoptive mother and her one sister, who only visits during the big holidays. “That sounds like so much fun. I would've loved that growing up.” I sigh, wishing I could've experienced a childhood like his.

It seems like he's not too eager to get out just yet, so I unbuckle my seat belt and turn my body so I’m facing him. He just watches me with fascinated eyes, not seeming the least bit concerned that I notice his perusal.

I decide to just watch him right back. I suddenly feel relaxed with his eyes on me, studying every detail as if I were a beautiful work of art that he can’t quite figure out. He searches my eyes for a minute like he is looking for some secret in them, and then he moves down to my pink cheeks, before pausing on my parted lips. He parts his own, taking in a deep breath, and then chews on his bottom lip, making me want to reach over and rescue it from the torture.

He continues his examination, his eyes moving down to my covered neck. His expression saddens a little and he leans over the center of the car, into my personal space. Slowly, he reaches up and unravels the silk scarf. I watch closely, feeling anxious, and I know the moment he finds the dark bruises by the murderous look that spreads across his handsome face.

I notice his jaw clench and his lips form a tight, thin line. His expression is so pained and heartbreaking that I have an overwhelming need to comfort him.

Before I even realize what I'm doing, my brave hands move up to the sides of his face and I rub my thumbs along his tight jaw, hoping to calm the storm beneath it. I tilt his face up gently, just to pull his gaze away from my neck. His eyes snap to mine and darken from the contact between us.

My hands are surging from that special electricity that only he can cause. “Hey,” I say in a stern voice, hoping to keep his attention. I take one of my hands off him and point two fingers at my eyes. “My eyes are up here.” I tease.

He instantly cracks a smile and shakes his head like he can't believe I would be joking at a moment like this. He grabs my other hand from his face and lightly brushes his lips across the back of it. He raises his humor-filled eyes to mine and says, “I'm so sorry, madam. Will you ever find it in your heart to forgive my roguish behavior?”

I shrug and pull my hand away as if his lips on my skin didn’t make me nearly pass out, and I place it on my lap like a proper lady. “I suppose, this once. Just don't let it happen again.” I keep up the charade, glad that he is smiling again, and look away from him nonchalantly.

He leans all the way in until his cheek brushes up against mine, sending crazy tingles all the way to my chest. He whispers in my ear so quietly that I almost miss it. “Don't worry, I could never misplace those captivating eyes.”

I turn my head to look at him, wanting to see if he is still just playing along with our little game. I instantly realize that I've made a big mistake because our lips are just a breath away and I completely lose all train of thought.

Being this close to him, I can see the circle from around his brown contacts and a hint of the real gold peeking behind them. I can also see that he was being serious with his previous statement and it makes me unable to breathe again.

Kiss me. I think to myself but am too afraid to say the words out loud. He reaches one hand up and rubs the backs of his fingers along my jaw, leaving a trail of sparks in their path. His fingers continue until they rest on my sore neck, just below my ear as his thumb caresses my warm cheek.

“Breathe, Aella.” he whispers to me, his breath tickling my eager lips.

I let out a shaky breath before whispering back. “Maybe I could if you’d stop taking my breath away.”

The corner of his lips lifts on the one side that houses that adorable dimple of his. He closes his eyes and then, at a loud knocking on the car window, we both jump