Here All Along

by Crista McHugh

  Gideon pulled away, his voice hoarse as he asked, “See how good we are together?”

  In her mind, she wanted to tell him no. She wanted to scream and push him away and hide in her room until she could keep her emotions in check. But her body overruled her. As much as her mind told her to leave, her body—and maybe even her heart—forced her to stay. “You’re only going to make things worse.”

  “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  He kissed her again, and this time, he made his objective clear. He wanted her, and he wasn’t going to stop until she surrendered. His hands roamed her body, clutching her thighs, squeezing her ass, massaging her back until the strap of her dress slipped from her shoulder. He moved from her lips to her bare skin, nibbling on the flesh until she wished she was completely naked so he could taste all of her like that.

  With each caress, her resistance waned. How long had she wanted him to make love to her? How long had she fought her feelings for him? How long would she continue to deny herself the one person she desired?

  She gathered his shirt in her hands and tugged it over his head with an impatient whimper. A few seconds later, her dress followed and landed somewhere across the pool. One impulsive, lust-driven move after another created a sensuously torturous striptease between them.

  First, his jeans.

  Then her bra.

  Then his underwear until he was standing naked in the pool beside her.

  She wrapped her hand around his thick cock, stroking his length and imaging how good he’d feel inside her.

  Gideon moaned and braced his arms on either side of her along the edge of the pool, his eyes squeezed tight. “Oh, God, Sarah.”

  The restraint in his voice mirrored that of his body. As much as he wanted her, he was still waiting for her to make the final decision. She could give into him and experience all he had to offer, or she could call it off now before she took their relationship to a place she’d never be able to return from. Lust or logic. Passion or prevention. It all rested on her.

  Instead of using a searing kiss to convince her to continue, Gideon brushed his thumb along her lower lip and met her gaze. The love shining from his eyes stole her breath away. This wasn’t a man who would’ve taken advantage of her drunken state to fulfill his sexual desires. This was the man who’d search for who knew how long to recover a cherished memento and quietly return it to her. This was a man who’d always been by her side when she needed him. This was the man who’d been patiently waiting all this time for her to acknowledge the love between them.

  “Please, Sarah, let me in.”

  Her head whirled from the implications. He wanted more than just sex. He wanted her to let him into her heart. She’d become open and exposed, vulnerable. She’d risk destroying everything she held dear. With just a word, he could crush her and send her back to that dark place she’d been three years ago. And yet, if there was one person she could trust her fragile heart with, it was her best friend.

  Her chin trembled as she nodded.

  He wrapped her in his arms and pushed her back against the pool wall. The restraint vanished, and raw passion took its place. He kissed her until her hesitations were forgotten, until her fears gave way to need, until her hunger matched his.

  And God, how she wanted him. Funny how the object of her desire was the one man she’d never considered because she’d failed to see him as anything other than a friend. She’d always found Gideon attractive. Most people in this business were. But when he ran his warm hands over her bare skin, when he kissed her until she was left breathless, when he pressed his hard body against hers, she wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anyone.

  She yanked off her underwear and wrapped her legs around his waist.

  It was all the invitation he needed. He lifted her hips and entered her with one, swift thrust.

  Her entire body tightened from the sensation. Damn, he felt good. And just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, he began to move inside her.

  He started off slow, drawing out each stroke as though he wanted to make the moment last forever. His kisses followed suit, soft and tender and full of warm emotions like love. But as much as she enjoyed them, some rebellious part in her wanted more. She signaled it first with a nip of his lip, then the impatient rocking of her hips, and finally by digging her heels into his ass with a silent plea for him to deepen.

  He chuckled and followed her unspoken commands. His movements became faster, stronger, harder until she cried out in pleasure every time he rammed into her. This was what she wanted, what she deserved. A no-holds-barred fucking. The roughness of it awakened the wild child who’d been dormant inside her for so long, she’d almost forgotten who she’d been. She was finally free to let down her guard, to be herself, and to be still wanted for exposing her dark side.

  Gideon responded by quickening his pace until she could barely breathe. Her body grew tight and tense, inching closer and closer to the point where she could no longer hold back her release. She dug her nails into his shoulders and cried out his name as she came.

  “So. Fucking. Beautiful.” The words came out as stiff grunts and ended with his own cry of release. Gideon reached out to grab the edge of the pool as his legs buckled. They fell deeper into the water until only their heads remained above the surface, but their bodies still remained intimately entwined underneath.

  She had no idea how much time had passed before he whispered, “I told you we’d be good together.”

  “You were right.”

  A hopeful smile revived his features, and he gave her one more tender kiss. “Then let’s give this marriage a chance.”

  As much as she wanted to agree, her doubts returned in full force. She knew what being his wife would entail. Yesterday’s article would only be the beginning of the media frenzy surrounding them. It would be worse than the circus that had followed her before her accident.

  And yet, if there was anyone who could protect her from it all, it was Gideon. After all, he’d helped her hide in plain view for the last three years. They’d even been able to wander the Strip the other night without being recognized. If they could keep it a secret…

  He didn’t wait for her response before picking her up out of the water. “We need to get cleaned up if we’re going to make our dinner reservations at nine.”

  Shit! She’d forgotten all about their reservations at Guy Savoy tonight. The chilly night air created rows of goose bumps along her bare flesh. She cuddled closer to him. “Jesus, Gideon, we’re naked.”

  “So?”

  “And it’s freezing.”

  He laughed in a way that instantly calmed her. “Then maybe I should find a way to warm you up.”

  Her thoughts immediately turned to the king-size bed in his room, but once he got inside, he carried her past it and into the bathroom. He set her down in the pink onyx tub and turned on the water. “I’ve been dreaming about you in this tub since the day we arrived.”

  She leaned back and stretched her arms out along the rim, hiding nothing from him. “Have you?”

  “Yes.” The heat in his eyes drove away the last of her chill and reawakened her desire. He stared at her like she was some sort of delectable treat he couldn’t have until later, even though he wanted her now.

  She beckoned him to join her. “And then what?”

  He slid into the water and pulled her onto his lap, his cock already hard and heavy between her thighs. “And then I’d make you come all over again.”

  Which he did.

  ***

  Sarah’s heart pounded at an unsteady rhythm, but she wasn’t sure if it was due to the man holding her hand or the fact she was leaving the villa sober for the first time since she’d been outed. The fact that she was now married to Gideon would only add to the tabloids’ spin on what was turning into a wild trip to Vegas.

  “Relax, Red,” Gideon murmured as the elevator doors closed.

  She envied him. He appeared so calm, so collected,
so at peace with their situation that she wondered what effect sex had on men’s brains. Was it like the ultimate sedative? Or was Gideon finally relieved that she’d given into his pleas to be more than friends?

  No, it wasn’t giving in. She wanted it, too. She’d just been too afraid to admit it. Or to act on her feelings.

  But now that she had, a new fear settled into the pit of her stomach. How would she transition to her new role in Gideon’s life? Assistants were often overlooked. But girlfriends? Correction—wives—weren’t.

  “What if there are reporters downstairs?” she asked, her voice tight and high.

  “There aren’t any on the second floor. I already had Raul scout it out for us.”

  Some of the tension fled her shoulders, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Sorry if I’m overreacting.”

  “Did I say you were?” He placed a kiss on her forehead as the elevator doors opened to a nearly deserted lobby. “Whatever happens, I’m right here next to you.”

  Like he always had been.

  He gave her hand a little squeeze and led her out of the elevator.

  The last time they’d tried to have dinner at Restaurant Guy Savoy, they’d been ambushed by Mackinzie. Although Gideon reassured her that the actress was long gone with some Italian prince, Sarah still couldn’t shake the cold apprehension that crawled up her neck as they made their way to their table. What if the staff remembered them from last time?

  Worse, what if they recognized her from the video on the Internet?

  But nothing out of the ordinary happened. No hushed whispers. No covert glances or outright stares that followed them as they passed. No flashes of a camera. Just a restaurant full of people enjoying their dinner.

  Gideon held out her chair and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before he left for his own chair. “Expecting trouble?”

  “We’re the ones all over the gossip sites.”

  “Not tonight.” He picked up his menu and grinned at her. “Tonight, we’re enjoying a long-overdue meal together, and I can’t think of a better way to begin our next adventure together.”

  Adventure. Such an odd word to describe marriage. Based on her mom’s track record, she’d call it “imprisonment” or a “scam” or a “What the fuck was I thinking?” But with Gideon, “adventure” seemed to fit.

  Could she survive this adventure intact, though?

  Gideon waited until they placed their orders before saying, “Tell me what’s really on your mind.”

  “You know what’s on my mind.” She straightened her silverware. “For three years, I’ve managed to hide in plain sight. But after the last few days…”

  “You can still have your privacy, Sarah. Take tonight, for example. Do you see any of the media hoopla?”

  “No…” She drawled the word out, fully expecting the sky to come crashing down at any moment.

  “And the whole video thing will die down in a few days.”

  She pointed to her wedding ring. “But what about this?”

  “I made sure Gabe bribed the clerk and the minister not to leak anything to the press.”

  Something didn’t add up. Gabe seemed like an accomplice on many things, but why would he dish out money to keep their wedding a secret? “And he did it?”

  “Yes,” Gideon replied with a tone of finality that suggested there was more to last night than he was willing to share. “But I can assure you, we did everything we could to keep the wedding out of the news.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I want this, Red.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. His eyes burned with such determination and desire that she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. “I remember one of the reasons you gave back in October was that you didn’t want to be in the spotlight. So, I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy, starting with proving to you that we can enjoy each other without anyone even knowing that we’re married. And once you’ve become comfortable with breaking the news, we’ll release a statement through my publicist and leave it at that.”

  “Do you really think this plan will work?”

  “All we can do is give it a go and see how it pans out. Now stop worrying and enjoy dinner with me, please.”

  She wanted so hard to believe him. If there was a chance they could make this marriage last, she would take it. But for now, all she could do was hope he was right.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gideon awoke the same way he had the morning before—with a sexy redhead in his arms. Only today, he had a satisfied grin to go with it.

  Married life agreed with him, and it was due to more than just great sex. Not that the sex wasn’t awesome. He and Sarah could set the room on fire, the sex was so hot. But what happened last night went beyond the physical connection forming between them. He’d witnessed a change in her, a softness, a vulnerability that made him want to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. And it made him fall even more in love with her.

  Now he had to figure out how to convince her that their marriage was more than just a drunken whim and that they could keep it a secret until she was comfortable with it.

  He slipped out of bed, taking care not to wake her. As much as he wanted to stay, he was due on the set in an hour. Thankfully, though, this would probably be their last day shooting in Vegas since they still didn’t have someone to play Rae, and afterward, he could spend a few days enjoying married life until Mackinzie returned or they found a replacement for her.

  He glanced down at his wife. The mixture of soft curves, creamy skin, and wine-colored hair was enough to conjure up plenty of images of a femme fatale. Red would be perfect for the role of Rae. If only he could convince her…

  No. Stop it right there. You know Sarah wants nothing to do with Hollywood. Don’t try to force that on her.

  Gideon gritted his teeth and thought about Gabe’s arguments to get her to return to the screen. It may have been a waste of her talent, but her happiness mattered more.

  He hopped into the shower, still torn over his desire to respect her wishes and his desire to see her return to her former glory. And he was no closer to finding peace with the dilemma when he turned off the water.

  The shower door opened, and a set of feminine arms reached for him through the tendrils of steam. Sarah came inside and threaded her fingers through his wet hair. “Leaving without saying good-bye?”

  “I didn’t want to disturb your slumber.” But now that she was awake, he wasted no time in kissing her until she took him by the hand and dragged him back to bed.

  As much as he wanted to make love to her slowly, he was already in danger of being late. She seemed to sense his urgency and rolled him over to his back. “We’ll make this quick,” she said as she straddled his lap.

  She lowered herself onto his dick, and he almost came right there. He loved watching her ride him, her hips moving up and down, her neck arched back, her hands roaming across his bare skin. But watching her wasn’t enough. He needed to touch her, to hold her breasts, to guide her movements until they found the perfect rhythm. And when they did, he was rewarded with soft moans of pleasure and sweet kisses.

  He came almost without warning, but when she drew to a sudden stop, her inner walls clenching tight around him, he was unable to hold back. He held on to her until the shockwaves ebbed, in awe at how wonderful it felt to be inside her. Even their orgasms seemed to be in perfect sync. Yet another sign they were perfect for each other.

  When his vision came back into focus, he first noticed the glow in her cheeks, followed by the blissful smile. His heart squeezed at the sight. He’d never seen her this happy, and he was glad he was the reason.

  She ran her finger along the center of his chest and lowered her eyes in an uncharacteristic moment of shyness. “You have to be careful, Kid. If we keep at this, you’ll get a reputation for being late to the set.”

  “You’re totally worth it.”

  She lifted her gaze to meet his, and her smil
e widened. “Go, before I consider tying you to the headboard.”

  “I never knew you had a kinky side.” He managed to dodge a playful swat and place a kiss on her cheek before rolling out of bed. “But if you want to try it later tonight…”

  “Should I prepare a shopping list that includes handcuffs?” she teased back.

  His dick stiffened from the thought of Sarah playing the role of a dominatrix. “Stop it, Red, or I’m going to have a raging hard-on all day.”

  “Then maybe I’ll just have to surprise you when you get home.” She slid out of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom.

  And for the first time since he’d said “I do,” he finally believed this marriage would work.

  ***

  Sarah tucked a strip of condoms she’d purchased from one of the lobby stores into her purse and grabbed Gideon’s lunch from the counter. Last night and this morning had pushed the limits of risky behavior, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up pregnant with Gideon’s child.

  The thought still made her breath hitch. A few weeks ago, she would’ve equated an unplanned pregnancy to a DUI arrest—terrifying and carrying grave consequences. But now, as crazy as it sounded, she wanted to have his baby.

  Just maybe not right away. After all, they hadn’t even been married forty-eight hours yet.

  Married. The word sounded so foreign to her, and yet, if she was ever to marry anyone, it would be someone like Gideon. But it still took some time to get used to thinking of them as a couple.

  The elevator ride down was starkly quiet compared to the chaos that greeted her when the doors opened. Camera flashes. Loud voices. Dozens of reporters all vying for her attention.

  Her heart jumped into her throat, and she fought the urge to run back up to the villa and hide.