Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 by Abigail Grant (best summer books .txt) 📗

had plans for me, but come on. Could it be any less subtle?

Chapter 4

If nerves could talk, mine would be screaming. I’m dancing for the fifth time with Gavin, my husband! And I feel like I literally can’t be this close to him without starting a fire.

It has only been a couple of hours since our Bonding Ceremony. The snow pushed us all indoors to Gavin’s dining room, or now known as the dance floor. The dinner and dancing that followed has been a blast. I couldn’t imagine a better day than this one.

Each time Gavin holds me this close to him, my blood starts to heat up. I know others have noticed too, because Liam and Kassy have both made faces at me. Kassy even whispered “cool it” at one point and the blush on my cheeks was ten times hotter than normal.

Gavin’s hand slides down my spine to rest just above my tailbone and I can see a small puff of steam rise from my dress where cleavage would be if I had any.

“Love, you’re about to melt the dance floor,” Gavin teases me and I growl inside of myself, frustrated.

“I’m trying to be calm, but my body is not cooperating. It’s like I’m burning from the inside out.” I breathe in slowly and let it out again, to no avail.

Gavin’s cold fingers stroke my hot cheek and the tingling he leaves there only makes the heat worse. “Why am I not burning you like I did to Hagan?” I ask him, realizing he should be in pain.

Gavin smiles and his dimple appears on his cheek. “Because, I’m your husband now. We are Bonded, and Bonded Intendeds cannot hurt one another. We are one, Aella.”

His words roll through me and I’m surprised at the sudden calm I feel. We are one.

I never have to feel alone again with him completing me. I smile up at him and sigh. “Wow, and just like that I feel calmer.”

Gavin chuckles and pulls me closer to him. “You’ll feel even better tomorrow when the bond is complete.” His crooked smile is wickedly handsome and he watches me with the same dark eyes that show his internal desire.

I instantly feel hot again and I huff out an irritated groan. “Holy crap, I’m already sick of the fire thing!” I exclaim under my breath.

Gavin steps away from me before I start breathing fire like a flipping dragon. “I’ll give you some space to cool down. Go say goodnight to your mom. I’m sending everyone home.”

Gavin raises his voice and announces to our guests that the party is over for tonight and we’d see them all in the morning. His voice is way too chill and I just know I couldn’t look them all in the face so easily knowing what tonight is about.

Yeah, I’m still a teenager after all.

I give hug after hug as our loved ones leave the house that I will forever share with my new husband.

Aunt Mags doesn’t say anything to embarrass me, which is completely shocking. She just kisses me on the cheek and says, “You’re a beautiful woman now, my girl. I’m so happy for you.”

I want to cry my eyes out again, but alas, I’m all cried out for the day.

Kassy is the last one out the door and she hugs me tighter than she ever has. “I love you so much, El. I’ve never seen such a beautiful ceremony before, or a more perfect couple.” She shrugs. “Except for me and Liam, of course.”

I giggle at her and shove her arm playfully. “I love you too, sis. I’m so glad you guys came back for today. Who knows when I’ll see you next.”

Kassy waves a hand at me. “As soon as you kick the demon’s you-know-what, we’ll be here with you again.”

I don’t want Kassy and Liam to go back to London but I know it’s for the best.

“Anyways,” she adds. “We aren’t leaving until noon tomorrow so maybe we’ll see you in the morning… if uh, you’re not too busy.” She winks at me and my mouth drops opened like the back of a dump truck.

“Kass!” I yell and she just turns to leave with a witch-like cackle, closing the door behind her.

It’s official, I’m alone on my wedding night. With Gavin Cole.

Breathe.

Before I turn around to find Gavin, two incredibly cool arms wrap around my burning skin and I sink into his hold on me. Gavin kisses my neck sweetly and whispers in my ear. “Come with me.”

I turn to him and he takes my hand. He pulls me with him to the long hallway that leads to both of our bedrooms.

Breathe.

Telling myself to breathe does nothing for the fire inside of me. With each step, another fire starts somewhere inside of me.

Gavin tows me past my usual bedroom to his own at the end of the hall. He opens the door and gestures for me to go in. I’m in awe of the place before me. Instead of his usual dark blue comforter and bare walls, the room is decorated in a maroon and dark gray, with actual decorative pillows on the bed and vases of flowers on the two new nightstands. Beautiful pictures of the Jacksonville landscape are framed on the walls.

I turn to Gavin with my eyebrows raised to my hairline. “Who did all this?” I can’t believe he’d have the eye for this decoration and I think I already know the answer to my own question. Alexa.

“Alexa,” he says without hesitation, and shrugs. “I wanted you and I to have a place for just us, and I knew my old blue bedding and single pillow weren’t going to do the trick.” He looks down at me shyly all of a sudden. “Do you like it?”

I give him my happiest grin and wrap my arms around his neck. “Gavin, I love it. Every bit of it, but there is one thing missing from the bed…”

Gavin