Where else did he hit you, Emily? Gavin flicked his eyes to hers. He realized he was setting himself up for more self-inflicted pain, but a part of him needed to put himself through it. Emily had suffered far worse than he was. Or not. That was a question he definitely couldnt answer because this was a suffering hed never had to endure.

My lip, Emily softly answered, watching Gavins eyes turn fierce. She froze.

Gavin cringed, fighting back the compulsion to rip out of the house. Your lip, he stated calmly, once again trying to school his tone. He hit your fucking lip? Hesitantly, Emily nodded. Watching her beautiful lips tremble, Gavin caught a whisper of her perfume. In that moment, all he could think about was re-branding those lips. He pulled her down to his mouth hard and fast.

Emily let out a soft whimper as their tongues met, hot and wet. His kiss was desperate, urgent, and devouring. Though his possessiveness took her by surprise, she knew he was stamping her. She knew it, and she didnt care because she wanted him to. She needed this from him, and she knew he needed to mark her. She tangled her fingers in his hair, tugging hard as her heart sank.

I cant believe he fucking hurt you, baby, Gavin breathed. Ill only ever worship these lips. Ill only ever worship this body. Gripping the back of her neck tighter, Gavin deepened the kiss. When I look at you, I feel like Im looking at the other half of myself. Youve filled the empty space in my soul, and because of that, youre a Goddess to me. Thats the way Im always going to treat you. For the rest of your life. I promise you that. I fucking promise.

Emily kissed him harder. His words tattooed themselves in her heart, his kiss nearly depleted her of air she didnt want in her lungs. She only wanted to breathe him in.

As Gavin pulled Emilys T-shirt over her head, he knew those promises would be easy to keep. Hed rather burn in the lowest pits of hell than go back on his word because she was a Goddess in his life. His lover. His friend. His forever.

But damn him into those flaming pits of hell, as he began to re-brand his lover, he knew there was one promise he wouldnt be able to keep because he would protect her until the day he died.

The most fucked up part, and God help him

He couldnt wait to break it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Gavin, could you go ahead and answer Mr. Rosendales question regarding our approach?

Without warning, Coltons deep voice intruded on Gavins thoughts. Wicked thoughts thatd consumed him over the last sixteen hours since Emily explained what Dillon had done to her. Sitting in a meeting, surrounded by executives representing one of the countrys leading pharmaceutical giantsone in need of a massive advertising campaignGavin knew he should be paying attention. But he wasnt. His world had been turned inside out, his heart ripped open. There werent adequate words that could possibly convey his mental state of mind on this late Friday morning.

His sleep-deprived state of mind, that is.

In the darkness, Gavin had stared at the ceiling as he held Emily. Listening to her soft breathing, wide awake with adrenaline pumping through his veins, Gavin attempted to purge visions of Dillon hurting her from his head. No matter how hard he tried, it didnt work. His brain fucked with him. The insistent clatter of wanting to feel Dillons blood on his hands screamed loud in his ears. He had seethed until the sun rose. Gavin wouldve never thought it was possible that Emilys soft body, intertwined with his, couldnt bring him down from the cliff of murderous destruction from which he was so eagerly waiting to jump. Last night proved that even though holding her dampened some of the anger boiling under his skin, Emily couldnt extinguish the flame fueling it.

Colton repeated his earlier request, yanking Gavin back to the present. He lifted his heavy head and settled his eyes on his brother. Colton stared at him with a look of confusion shadowing his face. Gavin rummaged through the paperwork in front of him. When he heard one of the four gentlemen seated across from him clear his throat, Gavin broke the silence.

He shook his head and glanced back at Colton. No. I cant answer his question. He tossed the stack of papers onto the conference table. Why dont you go ahead and give them the information, Colton. It wasnt a polite question but more so a statement that said nows not the time to fuck with me. The eldest mans face went gray, its color mimicking his hair. Once again, silence cloaked the room.

Brows cinched together in what Gavin easily recognized as aggravation, Colton cleared his throat. He dragged his stare away from Gavin and focused on the impatient executives. I apologize, gentleman. It appears my brother woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Colton gave a casual shrug, a smirk tipping the corner of his mouth. He shot Gavin a sideways glance, humor replacing his aggravation. Clearly, he must not have gotten laid last night.

Within a few seconds, the table erupted in an orchestra of chuckles, none of which included Gavins. Though he wanted to bitch-slap his brother for the catty remark, he was impressed by the assholes quick witted response. Colton had always had a knack for it, and Gavin had to admit it smoothed over the tension in the office. Gavin mirrored the stupid smirk on his brothers face as he leaned back, rubbing a tired hand over his chin. He flicked his attention to the clock on the wall, ignoring the bullshit spiel Colton was working over the group in an attempt to gain one of the largest accounts Blake Industries could acquire. Money was the furthest thing from Gavins mind as he noted the time. Eleven fifteen. A little over an hour until he had to meet Emily. Before falling asleep last night, shed sweetly suggested a quiet lunch at a small caf in Battery Park since she was getting off of work early. Gavin knew she was trying to calm his nerves. That was one of the many things he loved about herthe way she evened him out. God, he fucking loved her. Hed give up everything for her. Travel across the world at the drop of a hat if she insisted. There wasnt a limit he could reach or a line he wouldnt cross in order to make her happy. Now, he just needed to convince her she was worth every bit of it.