Page 122 of Provocation
Blake hugs me from behind. ‘Do you want to have breakfast first, or do presents?'
My eyes widen. 'I have presents? Real presents?’
‘Of course you do, Tulip,’ Mav murmurs, looking a little sad for me.
I sit down excitedly as the first one is brought over to me. I tear into it, finding my own robe that matches Shade's. I shriek, putting it on immediately, along with the matching slippers.
'It's so soft,' I murmur, snuggling into it deeply and sighing. ‘Thank you!’
I give him a tight hug, burying my face in his chest for a moment when I feel like I might cry.
When it passes, I open the next box that Mav gives me and find two electric kettles.
‘Two?’ I ask, grinning down at them.
He nods. ‘One for the house or the lab and one for the club. I know you hate it when people use the microwave for your tea.’
I smile and give him a long hug as well.
'I got something for you guys, too,' I say. 'Well, actually a couple of somethings.'
I take out an envelope and hand it to them to open. I found out a couple days ago that I won the silent auction at the Forrests’ Christmas gala.
Shade opens it, looking surprised that I got them something at all.
'A sailboat trip?' he asks incredulously.
Blake gives me a look. 'I thought you didn't like boats.'
I shrug. 'I thought you guys would enjoy it, and it should be quite a big boat. So, I don't think that I'll have the problem like I did on the rapids,' I say quietly.
I’m suddenly whipped up into Mav's strong arms and held close to his chest as he whispers a thank you in my ear. Shade takes me from him a moment later and does the same.
‘We’re going to have a great time out there together,’ he whispers.
I’m put back down and I draw a hand through my hair awkwardly.
'There was one other thing,' I say.
I give this one to Mav.
'It's not much,' I say, but he opens it with a frown and gives a sharp intake of breath.
He looks at me, his brow furrowing. 'Are you sure?' he asks.
I nod.
'I want you to have it. I'm sorry that I kept it from you before. I was just... I was scared,' I whisper.
'What is it?' Blake asks.
Mav closes his eyes. 'It's the formula for Envy.'
He puts the paper down slowly and draws me into another tight hug. This one is desperate and charged with emotions I can’t name, but can feel them coming off him.
'Thank you,' he says quietly. 'Knowing that you trust us with this is the best present that we could have ever gotten.'
Shade hugs me as well, and then Blake scoops me up and sits down with me in his favorite spot on the couch.
