I chose wrong. Maybe years ago. Definitely now.
By the time we arrived back at the shop, my cock was harder than a sledgehammer and ready to strike. It was begging to feel Gemma’s tight walls as I pushed that material aside and sank into her. Over an hour of torture had weakened my resolve to keep things platonic.
It’s possible I’d been kidding myself all along. I didn’t want to be her friend. I wanted to make love to her until she couldn’t see straight. I wanted my dirty hands all over her pristine outfit, flawless skin, and generous curves. Taste her sweet lips. Lick her pussy until her cream dripped down my chin and coated my beard. Had I accepted her offer at the restaurant, things would have escalated quickly. She deserved more than a ruthless kiss in a parking lot. More than getting bent over a car and taken until she begged for mercy.
Then again, she deserved to be punished. A few good spankings for making me wait years to claim her again. The possibilities filled my mind as I rode into the parking lot and parked by the back door. Part of me wanted to push her away and forget she ever set foot back in my town, but a bigger part of me needed to get closer and make up for lost time. With her hot body pressed against mine, I couldn’t think clearly.
I lowered the kickstand and gripped the handlebars tight. She climbed off and took her heat with her. I wasn’t ready to say goodnight. I sat back, and no words came. This was harder than I expected. A lump formed in my throat. I turned off the bike and silence descended like a heavy cloak. It was stifling.
“Listen, I know you don’t want to hear this… but thank you for today. For helping me. I appreciate it, Blake.” She handed me the jacket and helmet.
I grunted something inaudible and stuffed the items into the saddlebag. Avoiding her eyes, I glanced at her hands. Her tiny fingers knotted together like she was nervous.
“Goodnight.” Her heels sunk into the gravel as she turned away.
The sun had set, leaving only remnants of pink and orange in the sky. The colors made her skin look even more radiant and perfect. Her skirt flapped along the side, reminding me of the black lace and the treasures beneath.
I removed my helmet and stashed it away with the rest of the gear. “You still owe me.”
She stilled and glanced over her shoulder. “Yes. I wasn’t going to leave without paying.” Her tongue slid across her lower lip, drawing my eyes to her mouth. “I’ll settle my debt. I assume credit cards are acceptable.”
My eyes fixed on her wet lips. They were so damn inviting. The almost kiss in the city plagued me. Kissing her had the potential to open old wounds. She was my ex for a reason. Gemma was born with a silver spoon and Lakeside would never be enough for her. This smart, beautiful woman was destined for more. I hadn’t wanted to hold her back, but I didn’t care anymore. The desire coursing through my veins overruled everything else.
“Your credit cards are no good.” I swung my leg over my bike and stood.
Her manicured eyebrows rose as I advanced towards her. “You want cash. Fine. I’ll have to find a bank.”
“No. You promised you’d help with our accounting and—”
She stepped backwards until her back hit the wall. “Blake, it’s late. I’m not sure us working together is a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea. Unless you have something else to offer.”
It was too dark to see the warring shades of brown and green in her irises, but her eyes grew larger. “What other form of payment did you have in mind?”
“I want more time with you.”
She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. The deep cleavage line drew my attention. “Why? Clearly, you don’t want to kiss or anything sexual from me.”
“Don’t put words in my mouth. Let’s talk about what happened earlier.” I closed the small gap between us. “Why did you try to kiss me? An old habit, or something more?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, dropping her arms and placing her hands on her hips.
“Matters to me. You’re the one who left me and never looked back. Remember?”
Her lips parted and then formed a thin line. She inhaled deeply, flaring her nostrils. If I didn’t already find her sexy, the way she composed herself and raised her chin instead of backing down would have tipped me over. Gemma had no fear.
“That’s not exactly how I recall things ending. It wasn’t that simple. Look, I thought you didn’t want to rehash the past.”
“Maybe we should.”
“Or not. We’re friends now. Friends don’t kiss. It was a momentary lapse in judgment. Like muscle memory or something.”
“We’re not friends.”
I invaded her personal space, pressing her against the wall. I had no idea why I was goading her, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that if I didn’t do something, this would be the last time we’d ever speak. She had a life in the city. Our families were at war. She had no reason to hang around.
“We used to be,” she whispered.
“We were always more than friends. Do you recall how our first night ended?”
She giggled. A sweet and throaty sound that filled the night with joy. “If memory serves, the star quarterback tried to get to second base.”
“Succeeded,” I corrected. My hands had pawed at her full breasts for over an hour as our lips locked. We stayed in the park until the sun began to set. “Would have rounded third if your ma hadn’t called your cell and interrupted us.”
Her parents never approved of our relationship. They refused to let her near me. If they’d found out we were an item, they’d have shipped her off sooner. I loved that Gemma snuck around behind their backs and kept seeing me. Unfortunately, they got their way in the end.
“We got carried away.” Her teeth raked over her bottom lip, tempting me to take over. “We’re not in high school anymore. There’s no one around to stop us.”
I shook my head, trying to break through the lust filled fog that blinded me. “Until a few hours ago, you wanted nothing to do with me. Probably forgot I even existed. Then you stroll into town and ask me for favors. Expect me to kiss you.”
“No, I—”
“What if I’d let it happen? Would one kiss heal years of pain? For me, one kiss would never be enough.”
“Damn you,” she breathed as her hands pounded against my chest and her eyes filled with tears.
I lowered my head closer. Pushing her to the point of crying gutted me. The tip of my nose touched hers as I rested my forearms against the bricks behind her head. “I’m not trying to hurt you. We’ve hurt each other enough.”
She sniffled and blinked rapidly. “We both made mistakes. Is that what you want to hear?”
Her sweet apple breath lured me closer like a powerful aphrodisiac. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs. She smelled too good. Her body had been tempting me all damn day and into the night. I’d tried to do the right thing; let her go again, but I had a better plan. I’d give her a reason to stay.
“I think you know what I want,” I replied. “Nothing has changed for me.”
Her hands trailed slowly down my torso. An inch lower and she’d feel my erection. I moved her hands over her head and caged her with my body, preventing her escape. The more time I spent with Gemma, the more I wanted her. Even if it ended in disaster; I needed to kiss her. Needed to make her mine again.
“Look at me.” I waited until her eyes met mine. “I’m going to kiss you.”
“Stop teasing me and do it.”
My nose grazed her cheek, and she trembled. She chewed her lip and stared into my eyes, waiting for me to make a move. I lifted her hands high above her head, pressed my erection against her stomach and licked her earlobe. As I trailed my tongue along her jaw, she sighed. The sound burrowed deep and shredded the last of my willpower.
I grabbed the back of her head with my free hand and kissed her hard. Her lips were soft and welcoming. I licked across the seam and she opened. When our tongues collided, she moaned, and her eyes fluttered shut. Her ton
gue twirled around mine. Not hesitant, but every bit as greedy as mine. She tasted like sugar and apples. Addictive.
The kiss was hungry and demanding like we were both ravenous. Like neither of us could get enough.
I growled into her mouth and kicked her feet wide apart. I released her hands, gripped the back of her thighs and lifted her into my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I pressed her back against the bricks, molding our bodies together.
She moaned again as my cock rubbed against the sweet spot between her legs. Her hands roamed my back and her breasts smashed against me. The hard tips of her nipples raked against my chest, eliciting another roar of desire from deep within me.
Holding her close, I sucked on her lower lip and tugged it between my teeth. The way I’d been wanting to since I first spotted her crouched between the vehicles. If we moved into the shop, I’d tear her clothing off. My resolve was hanging by a thread. It had been too long. She tasted too good. Gemma deserved to be worshiped. Not mauled. Her soft whimpers drove me insane. My cock tried to tear through my jeans to find her wet heat. One quick zip and I’d have been balls deep inside her tight pussy.
I released her lip and kissed along her jaw. Even her skin was sweet. I’d bet my left nut her pussy tasted even better. I’d gone too many years without her flavor on my tongue. My mouth watered.
“You taste the same, but better,” I grunted.
Her hand moved into my short hair, massaging my scalp. “So do you. Amazing. I want more. I want all of you.”
Good. My plan was working. My lips trailed down her neck and over her collarbone. I sucked on her flesh. Enough to tease her. Enough to leave a mark.
Her words nudged me to keep going. I wanted to touch her, mark her, and claim every part of her body. But I needed her to want it as badly as I did. I needed her to come back for more. Something she hadn’t done in the past. We couldn’t change history, but I wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes.
A quick fuck wouldn’t satisfy my cock. It would be like serving a starving man an appetizer. Nothing more than a tease. Like kissing her. The entire day had been nothing more than foreplay. Gemma would go home, and I’d once again be left alone. My shoulders stiffened, and I pulled my mouth away.
“Gemma, the last time we made love you split. I’m not interested in a repeat performance.” I set her on her feet. “If you want more, then you know where to find me.”
“You’re serious. You want me to leave?”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I never wanted you to leave. Then or now. Doesn’t change that leaving is what you do best.”
Her beautiful hazel eyes narrowed, and she adjusted her glasses. “That’s not fair.”
“Then prove me wrong.”
“You’re an ass.”
“Partly true. I’m a firm believer that if you love someone, you set them free and all that jazz. It’s late and I’m certain your parents are waiting for you.”
“Okay,” she said. Her lips were swollen from my kisses.
“Okay,” I repeated with a smirk.
“I don’t need to prove anything. But… I keep my promises. I’ll help with your accounting. So, I’ll be back.”
“Do you want me to walk you?”
She glanced at my raging hard-on and shook her head. “I’m good.” She grabbed the front of my shirt, reached up on the tip of her toes and kissed me.
The kiss was chaste but equally powerful. When she pulled away, I didn’t stop her. I didn’t chase her. Gemma walked away.
Once she was out of sight, I yanked the keys from my pocket, unlocked the door and dragged myself inside. Without turning on the lights, I marched into my office and tore open my jeans. Leaning one hand on the desk, I gripped my shaft and imagined sliding between her spread thighs. My cock was so hard and ready to explode. I squeezed harder and pumped with ruthless abandon, chasing my release. It didn’t take long. I groaned her name and splashed cum next to my foot.
This was not how I expected my night to end.
Chapter Six
Gemma
Tossing and turning all night hadn’t helped the restlessness growing inside. Had the kiss with Blake been the end of my night I might have had sweet dreams, but it was impossible to sleep with a house full of drunken socialites. I had never fit in with my parent’s friends and nothing had changed. They introduced me to a few young men with big wallets and even bigger mouths. All business and no fun. After an hour of schmoozing, I had locked myself in the guest bedroom. I would have hidden all day except my mother knocked on the door at the crack of dawn with a long list of tasks to do for the funeral.
Instead of listening to the funeral director, I typed a text message for Blake. It was great seeing you didn’t seem like the right thing to say. I erased the perfunctory greeting. I wanted to type that I regretted not tearing his pants open with my teeth and riding him until morning. Instead of being blunt and inappropriate, I typed let’s finish what we started. That was less vulgar. Not that it mattered since I’d never send the message.
As I replayed my night over again, I kicked myself for not pushing Blake for more. It would have been so easy to fall on top of him. It’s not like I was a virgin. But if we went all the way, I’d never leave with my heart. Blake wasn’t the type of man you loved and left. He was the end game. If I gave in to temptation, there’d be no walking away. I’m not sure how I survived leaving the first time.
My mother slapped my hand, and I accidentally sent the message. “Pay attention,” she admonished.
“Shit,” I mumbled and shoved my phone in my pocket.
“A photo will be placed here. Unless you’d prefer it by the entrance.” Mr. Miles adjusted the lapels on his tweed jacket.
The mahogany wood casket was closed next to where he stood. Inside the velvet-lined box was my grandfather’s lifeless body. I walked over and placed my hand on the top, wishing I could talk to him one more time. I needed his advice. When he’d learned about my relationship with Blake, he’d been disappointed in me. Not because he hated Blake or his family but because I had kept a secret. It had taken months to rebuild the trust I’d broken.
“Both,” my mother replied. “I don’t want those cheap frames. The ones I see reused again and again. I want no expenses spared. My father would have wanted the red-carpet treatment.”
My grandfather would not have wanted his picture blown up and paraded around. He was a private man with modest tastes. Smart investments and hard work had filled his wallet long before I was born, but he wanted a simple life. That’s why he’d bought the Quarry and moved to Lakeside. The money in his bank hadn’t changed his values or his work ethics. I could still hear his voice in my head telling me to work hard, keep my mind focused and chase my dreams because I’m the only one who could make them come true.
“Of course, Mrs. Newbury. How many photos would you like?”
I sighed and shook my head. Everything about this funeral was in abundance. I didn’t think my grandfather would have chosen any of it. My mother liked the finer things, but this wasn’t about her.
“Two will be plenty,” I murmured. “Don’t make this about you Mom.”
Her nails dug into the fleshy bits of my upper arm. A fake smile plastered against her Botox infused face. “Excuse us,” she seethed, dragging me towards the exit.
Once we were outside on the sidewalk, she let me go. Her green eyes were half glazed from the mimosa’s she’d consumed before we left the house. “How dare you!”
The late morning sun hid behind clouds, casting patchy shadows on the concrete. We were alone. I rubbed my arm and shuffled my feet. I was too tired and too devastated to sugar coat my response.
“He’s dead. Fucking gone. He isn’t here to see the frames, the flowers or the programs. If he had planned ahead, he wouldn’t have picked any—”
Her hand swiped across my cheek. The blow came fast, leaving an unexpected stinging sensation. This was the first time I’d been slapped. We didn’t have the bes
t relationship, but she’d never hit me. I stepped away and covered the side of my face.
“You’re an embarrassment with that mouth. You’ve been distracted all morning. Keep your sass to yourself and show me a little respect. I lost my father for goodness sakes.” She lifted her chin. “Why can’t you act like a lady? For once in your life, be dignified.”
My eyes filled with tears. I blinked them away as rage boiled inside me. “I’ll never be like your friends and their perfect kids. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Oh Gemma, I’m sorry too. I’m doing my best under the circumstances. Trust that I know what’s best for him and best for our family.”
The apology fell flat. She wasn’t sorry. Since the moment I returned, we’d been fighting. She didn’t want me around, yet she’d forced me to follow her along like a puppy. I was done.
“You don’t know me or what’s best for me. I’m not sure you took the time to know him either. You were too busy spending his money. Too busy drinking with your friends to spend time with him or me.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her hand clutched the pearls around her neck. “You weren’t even here.”
“Because you forced me away,” I shouted. “I spoke with him every week. He visited me almost monthly after he retired. You never came once. What kind of mother abandons her only daughter? Or slaps her for that matter?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m an excellent mother, and I was a devoted daughter. We moved to this town to be closer to him and to give you a better life away from the gangs and riffraff in the city. We sent you to the best schools. It has all been for you.”
Rough Spark: Big Flirt Series Book Two Page 5