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

outward like double doors, and set myself on the sill. “What are you doing here?” I ask, not at all surprised that he found where I live. I’m well aware that I should be frightened by this development but yet, his presence calms me deeply.

When he doesn’t speak, I hang my bare feet out the window and lean against the frame. I’m disappointed that he still won’t communicate with me, but I don’t plan on giving up. I wait in silence for a few minutes as he just watches me before I start getting frustrated.

I sit up straight. “Okay, is this how all of our exchanges are going to happen? Please just say a few words so I know you’re at least capable of some form of communication.” He doesn’t speak right away so I sigh and start to turn around, but he steps between my legs and places a gloved hand on my cheek.

My entire being stills as I fail to anticipate his next move. He tugs down the collar of my faded Tweety Bird pajama shirt and surveys my sore neck. His eyes close like he is the one covered in painful bruises. He leans his forehead against mine and growls slightly inside himself. “I’m sorry.” he whispers to me.

I realize that I am holding my breath again and let it shudder out slowly, causing my body to become less rigid. “What do you have to be sorry for? It’s not…” I pause when I take a deep breath in through my nose and am overwhelmed by a familiar spicy pine scent.

I snap my eyes up to my savior’s still closed ones and softly push on his chest, so he lifts his head from mine. His eyes open and he watches my every move with anticipation. I lift my hands to his black hood and slide it off of his head, running my fingers through his smooth but messy hair in the process. You’ve got to be kidding me.

His golden eyes close briefly for just a moment before opening again and watching me with that same intense gaze, the one I have grown to crave.

Suddenly feeling shy, I tuck my hair behind my ear and look down at my feet. He removes one of his gloves and uses his warm fingers to lift my chin back up, which causes those crazy tingles to spread to my lips. His eyes are pleading with me for something, so I continue my unveiling.

I reach up to pull away the black cloth covering his face and find the beautiful man that has slowly been wiggling his way into my soul. Gavin bites on his bottom lip, in a nervous way, which makes me immediately stop breathing again. Such a natural thing that I keep failing to do properly.

He takes off his other glove and shoves them both in his back pocket. “Your hair is a beautiful part of you that you hide away when you're scared.” He reaches behind my ear and untucks my hair, sending electricity all the way down my neck. “I don't want you to be scared of me.” he speaks in a low voice, his eyes never leaving mine.

Gavin sighs and then presses his forehead to mine once again. “I'm so sorry, Aella. I should have gotten to you sooner last night.” His voice is laced with agony. “I didn't know he would grab you like that. I didn't see it. I should've seen it. Everything is so screwed up.”

“Gavin, you couldn't have even known we would be there in the first place. It's not your fault Max flipped out on Kassy.” I try to calm his worrying. “You saved me. It was amazing.”

He opens his eyes and gestures to my neck. “This is my fault. I should have been able to prevent it. It's my job.” he blurts out.

“Your job? What are you talking about, Gavin?” At this moment I feel more confused than ever. “I thought you worked with your family.”

He takes a step back from me and runs his fingers through his dark hair. Noticing his apparent slip-up, he tries to change the subject. “It's nothing. You should probably get some sleep after everything that has happened.”

I cross my arms in defiance. “No. I really do need some answers now. For starters, why in the world are you running around helping people in a black ninja suit? How do you always know where I am, even when I was being strangled in a dark hallway?” My voice raises a notch with each question. “And what is going on with your eye color? Are you wearing contacts right now, or do you wear them at school?”

He chews on his bottom lip again, mulling over my interrogation. “I'm not wearing contacts right now, though I usually do during the day. My golden eyes tend to freak people out and draw attention.” He points to each of his eyes. “As for the other stuff, I can't tell you anything here or now, okay?”

Of all of my questions, that's the one he answers? I shrug and shake my head. “Okay, where and when then?”

He steps back into my personal space and grabs both of my hands with his. “Tomorrow. I will take you to meet my family and have them help me explain everything to you then. It’ll be easier for more than one person to tell our story.”

I feel nervous and excited about going off alone with him and seeing where he comes from. Really, I don't know much about him, but he makes me feel so comfortable just being near him. I'm meeting his parents tomorrow. Are we dating? My heart races at the idea.

“Okay. Tomorrow, then.” I nod.

He moves so close to me that I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. I freeze, not sure what to do next. Slowly and with sadness in his eyes, he leans in further and presses his lips in a feather-light kiss on the bruises spanning my neck.

I