“I’m here.”
“I don’t think you are.”
“I’m here.”
“I don’t think you are. I think you went back to that basement. I think a part of you is still locked inside.”
“Stop.” Gavin tried to pull off her, but she tightened her legs around him, refusing to let go.
“It’s okay, wild man. My heart is open whenever you’re ready to walk through that door.”
“What if I never can?”
“My love doesn’t have time limits. It’s everlasting.”
Ginny could see the toxic train of thoughts that held him.
“Nothing lasts forever.”
“My love will.”
“You say that now, but what if I piss you off or—”
“Or we get separated?” Ginny finished for him, seeing the fear that her big, tough man would never admit to in a quadrillion years.
“I’ll stay true to you forever,” she promised, running her hand down his spine and feeling him arch under her touch like a big cat. “My love will,” she vowed, giving him the assurance he didn’t even know he was asking for. “Forever and a day, my love will be endless.”
“People make that promise at least a thousand times a day. I’ve been promised that before. Promises are meaningless.”
“Maybe so, but those promises weren’t made by me. I don’t forget my promises just because the person isn’t there to see me keep track of them.” Ginny shifted slightly under him to place her hand over his heart. “Mine is engraved in gold … right here. You don’t even have to lock it inside; it will always be there for you. Only for you. It will never tarnish or go cold, even when we’re no longer on this Earth. My love for you isn’t fool’s gold; it’s real and true and will never end.”
“You don’t know what the future holds. I’m the first man you loved. Time changes a person. Ten years from now, you could be saying the same thing to another man.”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t know th—”
“I do. Wild man … there’s only one Gavin James. There was only one key made for my heart.”
Gavin crushed her mouth in a kiss that stole her breath at the intensity, as if he was having an inner struggle to believe her.
Returning his kiss, she ferociously battled back, parting her lips to give him what he needed. The mental struggle between them had them passionately wiggling and writhing on the bed as their bodies took over, drowning them in a haze of desire where time stood still and the only sounds in the room were sighs and moans. Ginny held him close when she felt him shuddering over her, surrendering every ounce of her being to him. Giving him a butterfly kiss on the curve of his neck, she wiggled out from under him to tug at him.
“Come on … up. You’ve relaxed enough.” Seeing what she was doing was useless, she picked up a pillow, whomping him over the head, then hastily running toward the bathroom at his growl.
She was merrily singing “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus in the shower when Gavin stepped inside. She impishly gave him a sultry look before she stepped out, closing the door behind her.
“Get back in here!”
Pressing her naked breasts against the glass, she seductively teased him. “Nuh-uh … Next time, be quicker. I’m already done.”
Gavin moved to press his body on the opposite side. “Come back in here. I have something to give you.”
“Like I’m going to fall for that,” she taunted, looking back over her shoulder as she reached for the towel to wrap herself.
“You’re lucky I used most of my strength fucking you, or I’d come after you.”
“Old man, it has nothing to do with strength; you just aren’t motivated enough.” Ginny giggled, pointing at his limp dick.
“Then come back in here and motivate me some more.”
She tsked him with the click of her tongue. “You’ve been motivated enough for today. I’ll give you some more tonight.” With a sassy grin, Ginny went into the bedroom to dress.
Putting on a thin pair of blue cotton crop pants and a white linen top, she was putting on her sneakers when Gavin came back in to get dressed. Brushing her hair, she put her hair in a ponytail, then turned to see Gavin putting his shoes on.
“Ready?” he asked as he stood to look at her questioningly.
Finding herself unable to speak, she had to blink back the sudden tears in her eyes.
Gavin walked to her to enclose her in his arms. “We don’t have to go.”
Shaking her head, she stepped out of his arms. “I’m ready.” She gave him a strained smile. “Just in time.”
Hearing the knock from the other room, they went to answer the door. Agent Collins was waiting and, without pleasantries, hurried them to the Moke.
The short ride was over too soon for Ginny. She regretted not coming up with a spur-of-the-moment refusal for the meeting with Allerton and her mother for breakfast.
Escorted to the first-floor restaurant, they were led through a private doorway that had a different buffet area than the one in the other room. Bypassing the buffet, they headed toward a balcony doorway then to a large patio that faced the ocean. The area had six tables and each one was occupied by guests. Allerton and a woman sat at the largest table, waiting for them. They were already eating and looked up when Gavin and Ginny took their seats.
“Good morning. I hope you both slept well,” Allerton greeted them.
“We did. Thank-you,” Ginny answered, placing the linen square on her lap.
“Soleil was hungry. I assured her you wouldn’t mind if we didn’t wait.”
“Not at all.” Glancing around the table, she did a double-take of the guests, recognizing several she had seen in the media.
A waiter appeared by Allerton’s side. “What would you like to drink?”
Both she and Gavin ordered orange juice.
“Would you like the waiter to fix you a selection, or would you prefer to make your own plate?” Allerton asked.
“I’ll just take the juice.”
“I’ll take some eggs, bacon, and toast,” Gavin ordered.
“You have a long day ahead of you. I had the kitchen fix you a lunch for when you get hungry on the island.”
“Thank-you.”
Once their drinks arrived, Ginny didn’t touch her drink until Gavin gave her a subtle nod.
It gave Ginny the creeps the way Allerton studied Gavin. She didn’t like it, and despite Gavin ignoring the perusal, her protective instincts screamed at a fever pitch.
Underneath the tablecloth, she felt Gavin place a warning hand on her thigh.
“You sure I can’t tempt you to try something off the buffet? You didn’t eat much last night. Is something wrong with the food?”
“No. I’ve never been much of a morning person.”
Angry as she was with Allerton, Ginny attempted a conversation with her mother.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thank-you. Would you like a mimosa?” Spreading a dot of orange marmalade on a slice of toast, Soleil then gave the toast to Allerton. “You should try one. The bartender rims the glass with brown sugar.”
Was Soleil silently indicting that she and Allerton were in a relationship? Ginny was sickened at the thought.