Page 17 of The Awakening (The Morton Family Saga #3)

Chapter Fifteen

Gavin

S omething changed. I’d lowered myself toward Ellie, and she’d tensed up. I pulled back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while I studied her face for any clue as to what had caused her reaction. The last thing I wanted to do was overwhelm her. “I’ll be gentle, baby.”

She nodded, relaxing a bit.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked. I didn’t want her to think she couldn’t stop things now.

She nodded again, this time adding a quiet “yes” and a small smile. She gripped my hips and pulled me closer, so I complied.

I took care as I entered her for the first time, easing in a bit before pulling back out, then moving inside her a bit more.

Her body welcomed me, a warm blanket wrapped snugly around my cock.

I held still, relishing in the feel of her while letting her adjust to my size.

After a few moments, I pulled out almost all the way and plunged back inside.

Ellie moaned in response, and when I was confident it was a sound of passion and not pain, I continued.

This woman deserved every ounce of pleasure I intended to give her.

I may have joked about her being my Christmas present, but my intent was to do most of the giving.

I wanted to show her exactly what sex should be.

How good it could feel. And judging by her response, I was succeeding.

She raked her fingers over my back, her fiery hair flowing over the pillow a stunning image I wanted to memorize.

My heart had been closed off from love for the past year.

Naomi was the woman I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, but she decided she didn’t want long distance anymore, and I wasn’t ready to walk away from my architecture business.

We parted ways, and I had regretted it for most of this year.

There had been a few one-night stands, but they were nothing. When I looked at Ellie, I felt the cracks appearing. They had been since the moment I met her. She was kind and pure and good.

Her moan brought me back to reality. Plunging back into her warm core, I did my best to make her scream my name.

She wrapped her legs around me and cried out. “Gavin, please. Oh, Gavin. I have to.” She was panting, her body tightening around me. Grabbing her tit, I played with her nipple while I maintained my punishing rhythm.

“Oh god, Gavin. Gavin.” Spasms rocked her body, and I couldn’t hold back my release. I exploded inside her but continued to move, drawing out her orgasm. When it subsided, I collapsed on top of her, grinning at the soft sigh she made.

“Merry Christmas, Ellie,” I whispered as I rolled off and gathered her in my arms.

She rested her head on my chest and ran her hand over my chest. “Can I ask you something?”

“Ask me anything,” I replied, letting my eyes flutter shut.

“Is it always like that?” Her words were quiet and unsure.

My eyes flew open, and I stared at the ceiling for a moment before I responded. “What do you mean?”

“Sex, is it supposed to be like that all the time?” Her voice was hesitant but also filled with curiosity.

“What has it been like for you?” I wrapped my arms around her to give her comfort as I asked what might be an uncomfortable question.

“You were so caring, so attentive to me. It’s never been like that before. He never worried about me, only that he was satisfied.” She sniffled, and a tear dropped to my chest.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t tell you what others are like when they make love, but I promise you right now that any time you and I are together, it’ll be my mission to make sure you are satisfied.”

I’d never envisioned myself with a wife or a family.

Now here I was, making assurances and playing house with the most wonderful woman I could have imagined.

I wasn’t the father of her baby, but no one would know that but us, and over the past few weeks, I’d found myself I’d been imagining what it would be like to be that baby’s father.

What it would be like to make Ellie and the baby permanent in my life.

Ellie deserved better than what her past life had offered her, but she also deserved better than me.

A man who’d lost everything he'd worked toward. Sure, I had aspirations for the future, but I hadn’t made any moves.

I looked down at her taking comfort in how peaceful she looked, her eyes closed and her lips parted.

I kissed her on the forehead and chuckled.

I thought men were the ones who passed out after sex.

I closed my eyes, figuring I might as well join her.

A pounding on the door woke me from a peaceful dream. “Gavin, get out of bed. It’s time to eat, and mom said if you aren’t down in five, she’s coming in.” Rob hollered from the other side of the door.

“What time is it?” Ellie sat straight up and wrapped the sheet around her.

I wanted to laugh at how adorable she was, but I didn't want to embarrass her. We’d achieved a level of intimacy she had been taught was reserved for married couples.

I’d seen every part of her. Touched her bare flesh and made her scream my name while I was buried deep inside her.

In time, she’d realize the sheet wasn’t necessary.

“It’s six. Shit, we’ve been up here since three.” Flinging the blankets off, I stood up and searched the floor for my clothes. “Be right down,” I called out to Rob.

He didn’t respond. Knowing him, he’d probably issued the warning and disappeared the next second.

When I turned back to the bed, Ellie’s eyes were locked on me. “See something you like?” Putting my hands on my hips, I arched my brow and waited for her reply.

Ellie’s face turned eight shades of red in five seconds. “Gavin, get dressed.” She tossed my shirt at me from where it was lying on the bed.

“Lady, all this is yours, so look all you want.” I crawled across the bed and kissed her lips while I pinched her nipple.

Her laughter was refreshing. I couldn’t help but join in, and soon, we were both struggling to pull our clothing on quickly.

“Are you going to be all right down there? They are going to know what we did, and there might be some teasing.” Pulling her to me, I looked into her eyes.

“As long as you stay close, I think I’ll be fine.” Standing on her toes she planted a quick kiss on my lips.

I unlocked the door but turned to her when I remembered something. “I didn’t get to give you your gift.” Reaching into the pocket of my jeans I pulled out the little box.

“I don’t need a gift; you’ve given me so much—” Ellie’s hands flew to cover her mouth when she looked down at my hand. “Gavin, that’s too much. I can’t accept that.” She shook her head and took a few steps away from me.

“I don’t do things halfway. You deserve anything I can give you.

” I reached for her hand and slipped the gold ring accented with a cushion-cut diamond onto her finger.

It was three carats, and even the slightest hint of light made it sparkle and shimmer.

I asked our jeweler for something that would brighten her day just as much as she brightened mine, and he sure did deliver.

The plain gold band I had given her before we left Montana nestled right in under the diamond, like it had been made for it. Was it over the top for a marriage of convenience? Yes. But I didn’t care. For now, we had to make this believable.

Another quick knock on the door brought me back to the here and now. The door swung open, and my mother stood in the doorway, arms crossed and frowning.

“Listen, you may be newlyweds, but you will not ruin my Christmas supper. March.” She pointed to the stairs.

“If the two of you think you’re going to be disappearing during the New Year’s Eve gala like you did tonight, think again.

I will be watching you like a hawk.” She pointed at Gavin and then pointed to her eyes.

Her frown turned into a smile as she turned to walk down the hallway.

“Boundaries aren’t big in your family, are they?” Ellie asked as she walked ahead of me out the door.

“Well. No.” I shrugged as I followed her.

“Maybe you should change the lock on the door because it seems to me there are keys floating around.” Ellie looked over her shoulder and sashayed down the hallway.

“You telling me there will be more reasons to lock the door?”

She turned and reached for my hand. “You can count on it.”