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

"Thank you," I say as I take the items from him. "I don't know how long it has been since I've actually eaten something." I take a long drink from the water bottle.

Gavin stares down at my hurt ankle before he whispers something that I can't make out.

"What?" I ask.

"Three days," he says a little louder this time. He still isn't looking at me.

I stop chewing my granola bar. "What are you talking about?" I ask, not understanding what he is saying to me.

He looks up at my confused eyes and sighs. "You haven't eaten anything in three days." He looks pained again. “Assuming the creep didn’t feed you.”

"That's impossible," I say, thinking about everything that has happened. "That would mean that I would've been passed out for a day and a half from Thrane's drug." I feel like I am just barely waking up from the nightmare.

He nods. "I was looking for you for over two days before I found you limping through the woods. And it's been almost another day since then. You have been in and out of consciousness for a while. I was getting pretty worried, so this morning I had to practically force you to drink some water."

"I'm so sorry, Gavin." I slouch, feeling so drained, even after the remarkable amount of sleep I've had in the past few days. "I shouldn't have run off on my own like that. I knew what kind of trouble I was in and I acted like a child."

He grabs my chin, turning my head so that I am forced to look up at him. We lock eyes for a moment, and I can see so much worry in him. "Don't you apologize to me. All of this was done to you and you did everything right. You didn't ask for any of it and I'm the one who is so sorry that this is your experience with my world." His voice is low as he speaks to me. "You are an incredible warrior, Aella."

I feel like I could cry again at his sweet words. I have felt so miserable and weak but somehow when he speaks to me like this and looks deep into my eyes, I feel like I could do or be anything. "Your world isn't all bad. I know that." I whisper back to him, unable to find my full voice.

"Good, because you’re perfect for it," he says, his eyes falling to my parted lips. "I’ve never come across anything like you, before."

My heart races as I watch him lick his perfect lips. His hand moves from under my chin and glides softly along my jaw to the back of my neck. I shiver from the electricity that follows his touch.

Gavin's eyes flick back to mine and I watch as they darken slightly. He scoots his body closer to mine and leans in close to me, his hand still gripping the back of my neck. I want so badly to feel his lips on mine, but my mind stops me.

Gavin closes his eyes and touches his nose to mine. I close my eyes as well but breathe out my next words like a whisper. "Please don't kiss me."

Gavin's entire body stills, and he pulls back from me. His eyes open again and search mine for answers, but he doesn't take his hand from my hair. "Why?" He asks in a sad voice.

I sigh and close my eyes again, feeling like there is a large spotlight on me. "Because." I say but know that I need to say more. I don't want to have any regrets. "Gavin, if you kiss me now, I will never be able to stop loving you.” I rush the words out, immediately wanting to take them back but knowing I can't.

Gavin is so quiet that I have to open my eyes to be sure he didn’t disappear. He is watching me, looking confused but with a slight lift to the corner of his mouth.

"You love me?" He asks in a quiet voice.

I nod, feeling hot tears start to come. "I'm so sorry, Gavin. I tried not to, but I just feel so..."

Gavin groans deep in his chest and pulls me hard against him, our lips connecting perfectly. It takes me a half a second to realize that he is kissing me, but when I do, my eyes close and I am falling. My first taste of Gavin's soft lips is intoxicating. They brush against mine gently, in a slow rhythm.

Gavin separates us for a moment, breathing heavily. He takes his hand and rubs his thumb along my bottom lip. I look up into his eyes and see flames in the golden irises.

He whispers against my mouth. "You have blown into my life and spun me around so many times, completely capturing and captivating me. I am so in love with you, Aella Lundon. You are my magnificent whirlwind."

He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me onto his lap and up against his warm body. His lips find mine again and I smile against his kiss. He brushes my lips softly with his, but the kiss soon turns fast and needy, both of our hearts needing to be healed from the events of the past three days.

My hands slide up his strong arms and tangle in his messy hair. I pull him closer to me, needing more. He tugs gently on my hair at the base of my neck, causing my head to tilt back, giving him better access to my mouth. A quiet gasp escapes me, and I find it difficult to breathe.

I pull away from him slightly, so I can take a much-needed breath. Gavin is breathing heavily along with me and there is a beautiful smile gracing his perfect lips.

He rubs his hand up and down along my back, sending warm energy into me. My lips are buzzing from the electricity that just passed between us. "Wow," I say and instantly feel like