by Kennedy Fox
“Yes. Both in suits. Tall. One had a camera, and the other had binoculars.”
He nods as if he’s not surprised, which is perplexing.
“I think they’re private investigators,” I admit.
Tyler clears his throat before rounding my little kitchen table and opens the fridge. “Could be.”
He rummages around and pulls out items.
“What are you doing?”
“Gonna cook you some dinner and help get your mind off everything.” He spins around and flashes me a sincere smile. “I mean, if that’s okay. If I remember correctly, you love homemade chili and anything spicy.”
I smile, and those stupid flutters return. “Alright, on one condition.”
“What’s that?” He tilts his head with an amused expression.
“You tell me about Vegas. The real story.”
Chapter Eighteen
TYLER
The real story.
Only Liam and Maddie know what really happened, and it’s not a story I repeat. Gemma knows I was set up and was saving my friends, but that’s it. I’ve never talked about getting involved with the O’Learys and the terrible things I witnessed, but then again, Victoria isn’t someone I enjoy discussing. Considering the deposition is soon, it has me concerned that she’s responsible for having Gemma followed. I keep it to myself because I don’t want her to live in fear. It makes no sense for someone to be tailing her because Victoria’s guards are usually more strategic than that. Though she might be trying to use scare tactics from the beginning because Victoria’s bat-shit fucking crazy.
“What exactly do you wanna know?” I ask, avoiding her gaze while I move around her quaint kitchen and set the ingredients on the counter. The other day, I felt like I was being watched too, and now I’m wondering if this is a coincidence.
“The events that led up to you getting arrested, and what it was like behind bars.”
I narrow my eyes as I look at her.
“Shit, sorry. You probably don’t want to discuss prison.”
Not particularly, but if it’ll keep her mind off those assholes following her, I’ll tell her what I can. We used to chat for hours between ripping off each other’s clothes. She’d want to know about the Army, and I’d tell her stories of the trouble my friends and I would get into during leave.
“It’s okay, I just haven’t really talked about it with anyone except Liam. Not even Everleigh knows all the details.”
“She only told me a little if I brought it up, but after a while, I stopped asking.”
“Why?” She tilts her head at me as I continue. “Why’d you stop?”
She shrugs with a faint blush. “Once I met Robert, I thought it was inappropriate. I didn’t want Everleigh thinking I was still hung up on you while I was dating another man.”
I arch a brow. “Were you still hung up on me?”
A small smile meets her lips. “I thought I was because I never had closure so I could properly move on. I tried to forget about you. But once I heard what happened, I asked Everleigh about you because I wanted to be there for her, too.”
“I’m truly sorry about that.” I frown at the sadness in her eyes. The day I left without her was one of the worst days of my life. “I appreciate you asking about me and being a support system for my sister. I know she took it hard.”
“Your grandparents did too.”
Guilt hits me hard as I think back to five years ago when Everleigh told me how they reacted to the news. I had done exactly what I tried to avoid—disappointed them.
“I didn’t do it,” I say, keeping my hands busy as I cut an onion. Something I’ve repeated so many damn times since I was charged.
“Everleigh told me.”
“Did you believe her?”
“Of course. And I believe you too. Regardless of how much time had passed, I knew you’d never be involved with illegal guns and drugs.”
“I didn’t deserve to go to prison for crimes I didn’t commit, but I was involved with some shady people. I never wanted to be a part of that lifestyle, but I did what I needed to help my friends.”
As I make the chili, I tell her about Liam and his arranged marriage to the mob princess. I talk about the day I got sentenced and the realization that nothing would be the same again. Then I admit to keeping her letters and having most of them memorized word for word.
“You do? Really?”
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I wash my hands, then dry them. When the chili boils, I turn the heat down to a low simmer.
“I don’t know…” she murmurs softly. “I guess I just thought you forgot about me after all this time, and—”
“Forgot?” I raise my brows. “Are you insane? You’re all I’ve thought about for years.”
Her cheeks turn bright red. Gemma lowers her eyes as if she’s embarrassed we’re talking about this.
“Gemma.” I step closer, tilting her chin up to look at me. “I could never forget you.”
She stares at me, then licks her lips.
“You were my first love. I didn’t leave because I didn’t want you. I was twenty-two and thought the grass was greener on the other side. I had a desire to see what else the world had to offer, but don’t think it was ever easy for me to be without you. My heart was breaking while I simultaneously broke yours.”
Tears well in her eyes, but she holds it back. “Then why didn’t you come back? You just cut off all communication with no warning. I was devastated.”
“I knew it’d only be harder if we kept in touch. I felt like if I visited, I’d never leave, and I’d be here forever.”
“And would that have been so bad?”
“At the time, yes. I didn’t want to feel trapped. I was scared to death of ending up like my mother or worse, my father. I was convinced the only way to break the mold was to leave Lawton Ridge and stay away.”
“I wish you would’ve given me the chance to show you how wrong you were. You would’ve never ended up like them.” She shakes her head when tears stream down her cheeks.
Closing the gap between us, I brush the pads of my thumbs under her eyes.
“Don’t cry, Gem. We can’t rewrite the past.”
She relaxes against my touch. As I cup her face, I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead.
“It’s not the first time I’ve cried over you,” she says with a laugh. “I think I was so hung up on you because you were my first…well, my first everything. Guess it’s true what they say.”
“What’s that?”
“No matter how much time goes by, you never really get over your first love. They’ll always have a place in your heart, whether you want them there or not.”
“Sounds about right…” I mutter. “Never felt that way about anyone again.”
Gemma’s head snaps up. “You didn’t?”
I look down at her, second-guessing if we should be this close or if I should even be admitting these things, but I can’t keep them hidden from her anymore. For years, I’ve held back how much Gemma meant to me and how much I missed her. I’ve wished my stupid head would forget it all, but it’s impossible when my heart still aches for her.
My thumb brushes over her bottom lip, removing it from between her teeth. “No. I don’t think finding love like we had is in the cards for me.”
“Why would you think that?” she asks softly, almost bracing herself for my response.
Grabbing a loose strand of her hair, I slowly tuck it behind her ear, and an electric spark jolts between us.
“No woman compares to you,” I say honestly, then add, “No woman ever will.”
“Tyler…” she whispers on a strangled cry.
I cup her face, bringing our foreheads together. Gemma fists my shirt with her fingers, then wraps her arms around my waist. It’s the closest we’ve been since I’ve been home, and though it’s wrong, it’s never felt more right.
Our heavy breathing fills the silence, and there’s a plethora of raw emotions lingeri
ng between us. I’m waiting for her to tell me what to do—back off, leave, stay—and I’ll do whatever she asks.
“What do you want, Gemma?” I’m trying to read her, but it’s impossible.
“Kiss me.” Her words are so soft that I’m positive I misheard her. When I don’t move, she pulls back slightly allowing our gazes to lock. “I want to remember. Remind me?” she pleads.
How can I tell her no? How do I deny the woman I’m still in love with? I can’t.
I slide one hand around the base of her neck and cup her face with the other. We’re so close. Our lips aren’t touching, but I can feel her ragged breathing against my skin.
“Are you sure?”
She gently nods, and before either of us can change our minds, I claim her lips, crashing our mouths together in a hot, needy kiss. My tongue swipes inside, the heat of her breath hitting me with full force. Gemma clings to me, grabbing my shirt and sliding her fingers underneath. Her nails claw down my back, and I gasp out a growl.
“Fuck,” I hiss, lowering my hands down her body until I cup her ass. Her arms loop around my neck, and I lift her body until her legs wrap around me. As our tongues dance together, we quickly lose control. We’re on the front lines, fighting this war of desire, both surrendering and wanting more.
Walking with Gemma in my arms, I manage to find her loveseat, and we sit. She straddles my lap, and as her back arches, Gemma grinds her hips against me. The fire burning between us is so hot, neither of us can stop to put it out.
“Goddamn, baby,” I mutter, moving inside her shirt and cupping her breast.
Pulling back slightly, she grabs the hem of her blouse, then removes it. Without a word, I do the same. Gemma’s beautiful, there’s no doubt about that, but when she’s this ravenous, she’s fucking breathtaking.
I undo her bra in one swift motion, which leaves her gasping. Haven’t done that in years, but apparently, I haven’t forgotten. My cock is so hard in my jeans that it’s becoming painful, and with Gemma rocking against me, it’s not making it any easier.
“Touch me,” she begs.
I move my lips to her neck as my fingers pinch her nipple. I gently suck as her eyes roll in the back of her head. Gemma arches her back as she moans and digs her nails into my shoulders.
“Christ,” I growl, then drag my tongue along her collarbone. “Your skin’s so soft, baby. I still remember the way you taste.”
“Mmm…” she hums with a smile as she fights with my zipper but loses.
I smirk and pull her skirt above her waist. “I bet if I rubbed between your legs, you’d be wet for me right now. Am I right?” Sliding my palm up her thigh, I rub over her panties and feel her arousal. “Fuck, I am.”
Gemma’s so goddamn responsive, it makes me wonder if her fiancé knows how to give the pleasure she damn well deserves. He probably has to take a boner pill just to get hard, or maybe she has to murmur dollar figures to turn him on. Considering he’d rather be at a business meeting than comforting his woman, my guess is he doesn’t do shit when it comes to satisfying her.
Once I slide her panties to the side, I brush over her pussy, and she immediately coats my finger. Though my dick is fucking aching to be inside her, I’m not going to rush this, even though it’s torture.
“Don’t tease me…” she says with a small chuckle, moving against my touch.
Jesus, she needs it bad.
I push two fingers inside, and she gasps, throwing her head back as she grinds harder against me. Keeping my other hand steady on her hip, I hold her tightly as she rocks up and down.
“Yes, just like that, baby. Take what you need from me.”
Gemma squeezes my shoulders and presses her mouth to mine in a desperate kiss. It feels incredible to taste her again and feel her unraveling around me. It’s been years, but I haven’t forgotten how amazing things were between us.
Sliding her tongue between my lips, she moans when I rub her clit with the pad of my thumb. At this rate, it won’t be long before she falls over the edge. She pants and moans as I finger fuck her.
“Oh my God,” she breathes out, melting against me. Her head falls back again, and I slide my teeth across her bare throat. I suck on her soft skin as I increase the pressure on her clit.
“Your cunt is so perfect, Gemma. Goddamn, I’ve missed this,” I whisper hoarsely in her ear. “Come on my fingers, baby. I know you’re close.”
I pinch her nipple as I nibble on the shell of her ear, and seconds later, her pussy tightens, and she screams out with satisfaction. Her nails dig into my shoulders as she rides out her release, and it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
Once her body relaxes against me, I bring my fingers to my mouth and taste them.
“Mmm…so fucking delicious.” I smirk, licking my lips. “I’ve missed that.”
Gemma’s head snaps to mine as her green eyes widen in horror. For a moment, I think she sees something behind me, but then I notice panic and realization in them.
“Oh, shit. Oh my God. Shit, shit, shit,” she mutters as she fights to push off me and lowers her skirt when she stands. She grabs her shirt off the floor and pulls it on, her breathing rapid and harsh.
I’m so thrown off by her reaction that I’m not sure what to do besides wait for her to toss me out or explain. “Gemma…” I say gently, trying to adjust my hard-on so I can stand.
Her hand covers her mouth as she stares at me in shock, shaking her head before speaking. “I-I’m so sorry…I can’t, we can’t…I wasn’t thinking clearly. That shouldn’t have happened.”
Well, that’s like a nice cold bucket of ice water to the face. Though I can’t say I regret it. Fuck Robert and his perfect fiancé façade. If he loved her the way he claims, he’d be here right now instead of me. He would’ve dropped everything to make sure his woman was safe.
“Gemma, please stop freaking out…” I finally get to my feet, and she steps away, putting space between us.
“You have to go. Please, go.” She walks over to her kitchen island. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have let it go that far.”
“You asked me to kiss you…” I remind her.
“I know, and I shouldn’t have.”
“I wasn’t complaining.”
She swallows hard and licks her lips, the ones I just kissed. Gemma is having a complete meltdown, and all I want to do is pull her into my arms and comfort her, but I don’t. I keep my feet planted.
“What just happened was wrong, Tyler.”
I want to ask her why it felt so right then. But instead, I shrug, not buying her words. I see through them. While she wants to do the right thing, even she knows deep inside that being with him is wrong. All the red flags are proof. How can she not see what we have, could have, would be the real thing?
“Well, I call bullshit.”
“What?”
“I said, I call bullshit. You knew exactly what you were doing when you asked me to kiss you. You think you love him, but you still have feelings for me.”
“Tyler, please. Don’t.”
Gemma’s nearly in tears, and I hate upsetting her. I know the love and desire we had all those years ago is still there just by the way her body reacted to my touch. It’s frustrating to see her lie to herself and pretend the spark isn’t there. The past twenty minutes was all the proof I needed.
“Make sure to stir the chili,” I say, scooping my shirt off the floor.
“Wait, what?” She nearly stutters over her words, and I point at the pot behind her.
“The chili. It’ll be ready soon. Stir it so the seasonings mix and don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.”
I yank my shirt over my head and grab my keys. “Make sure to lock up behind me.”
Then I pull open the door, briefly waiting to see if Gemma says something, and when she doesn’t, I shake my head and leave.
When I leave, I look up and down the street, seeing if I notice anything suspicious or the SUV she described, but I don’t. Fucking lucky to
o because I’m in a shitty mood. I would’ve had no problem pulling those assholes out of the car and giving them a piece of my mind with my fists. I’m halfway to the condo when the sky opens up and unleashes on me.
Fucking great.
I’m drenched by the time I make it inside, and Everleigh gasps when I enter.
“God, what happened to you?”
I glare at her as I kick off my shoes, then go to the bathroom. Immediately, I strip out of my wet clothes and hop in the shower. My heart pounds and races with adrenaline. The need to punch someone or something weighs heavily on me, but I grip my cock and punish myself instead.
Gemma isn’t mine.
I don’t deserve her.
Even twelve years ago, I knew I didn’t, but I still had her. I’ve fucked up a lot in my life, but giving her up is my biggest regret. Tasting her again and knowing it can’t ever happen again might kill me. I’m so fucked. I should’ve walked away when she asked me to kiss her, well before her lips touched mine.
I shake my head.
I should’ve bent her over and given her a dozen reasons she’ll always be mine and not his.
My thoughts jostle as I roughly stroke my shaft and grunt to images of Gemma’s mouth falling open as she came by my touch.
You can’t rewrite the past, I told her.
You were my first love.
Being alone with her is equivalent to playing with fire and then getting pissed when I get burned.
I should know better.
Gemma’s pure and sweet and shouldn’t get wrapped up with a guy like me who has more baggage than an airport. Even if Robert is a phony fuck, he can give her things I never could. A life she deserves.
My balls tighten as my hand squeezes hard, and I hiss through the orgasm as the memories of her flood my mind. I’m never going to get over her.
I toss and turn all damn night, fighting with the urge to text her or keep my distance. Deciding on the latter, I give up trying to sleep and get out of bed at four a.m. Grabbing my workout clothes, I change and brush my teeth, then head outside for a run. This pent-up rage isn’t going anywhere, so I have to work it off.