by Kira Blakely
How could I have fallen for that charm? I had certainly lived up to my simple small-town upbringing. I had fallen into the arms of the first handsome rich man who’d offered to fix my tire. How much more of a cliché could I become?
I imagined Luke waking up in his kingly bed with a smile on his face, proud of his previous night’s conquest. He might even text a friend to tell him how he had nailed a simple country girl who didn’t know any better. And then he would text Sarah, or Maria, or whoever else he was supposed to be engaged to, and tell her he missed her and how lonely it was up here in the woods by himself.
I straightened up again, still panting. I was ashamed of myself. Not only was I embarrassed about falling for Vincent’s charms, but the man I idolized in the medical world was a complete playboy. Not worth my adoration.
I kept walking, hoping the path would lead me somewhere. By now, however, every direction I looked appeared to be the same. I worried that I was walking in a loop, and I was just going to end back up at the cabin again.
Images from the previous night flashed through my brain. His rock-solid body, his washboard abs, the trail of dark hair that ran down his navel and disappeared into his jeans. How big and tight he felt inside me. He had known exactly what to do with his fingers in his car. He’d had me under his complete control. Now I knew why; because he was a womanizer. I hadn’t thought I was his first; I wasn’t so naive… but I hadn’t realized he was nothing more than a playboy. The article about him made his reputation in the billionaire social circles very clear. Vincent Stoltz made women wet in their panties, and he was not shy about who he wanted to fuck. But it seemed the bad boy was going to be tamed. By Sarah, or Maria or whoever. Had I been one of his last flings? Should I be honored? Hell, no,
I wanted to scream until my throat bled. The banging in my chest was actually my heart, but it felt alien in my body. So stupid. So stupid!
I kept walking, keeping my blurry sights on getting out of the woods in one piece. I would become one of the many amusing anecdotes he related at one of his champagne parties. Just the thought of it made me sick.
The one thing I had vowed to never do in my life was have a one-night stand. And it wasn’t difficult to stick to the promise, given that the choice of men in this town wasn’t exactly drool worthy. But this was not how I imagined I would break that promise. I didn’t believe in one-night stands. I hadn’t believed that someone could make you so crazy, push your beliefs to such a limit that you would give in to your physical desires with no thought for the consequences.
And, unfortunately, I had been stupid enough to believe that it was more than just the sex. I had woken up with a happy satisfied glow on my face, believing that he wanted me for more than just a night, that our comfort with each other meant something more.
The truth was that he was here on a vacation, to get away from the pressures of leading a life in the limelight. I was just a bonus.
I heard the car engine and stopped in my tracks. I could tell that the car was nearby. I held my breath, the beating of my heart growing loud in my ears. The sound of a door slamming put me further on edge. Twigs and leaves crunched under shoes; someone was running toward me.
“Gemma!” he shouted behind me.
I turned slowly, starkly aware now that I was practically naked. I had scratches from thorns on my bare legs, and that my hair was probably now an even bigger mess.
“Seriously, Gemma, where are you going?” he growled, like he was exhausted with me. His fists were clenched, and his shoulders were heaving. That dark torturous gaze had returned to his eyes, the one I had seen the previous day at the diner.
“I’m trying to go back home,” I said, jutting my chin out at him. I wasn’t his responsibility anymore. I wanted him to just leave.
“Like this? Without saying goodbye?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest. He was standing with his legs apart; I could see the strength in his thighs. He could crush me if he wanted to; I knew how strong he was.
Chapter 16
Gemma
We were glaring at each other. Despite the fact that I was angry, I couldn’t help but feel like the breath had been knocked out of me. He looked absolutely perfect. It was hard to imagine that he had just woken up. Even though his hair was tousled and he had a darker shadow on his chin, he looked like a million dollars. Casual and comfortable in his jeans and shirt, he was devastatingly handsome, and I would have run into his arms if I wasn’t determined to never see him again.
“I didn’t think that you would want a formal farewell,” I said, feeling self-conscious in my lack of clothing. I could see him studying me… my legs, my messy hair. He had noticed the scratches on my knees.
“Why does it have to be a farewell at all?” he asked, breathing in harshly through his nose.
“I saw the magazine, Vincent. You don’t have to pretend anymore. You got what you wanted from me; you should let me go now,” I snapped, tucking in a few curls behind my ears nervously.
The look in his dark eyes changed again. His gaze softened. Just like the previous day, his temper went from red hot to lukewarm. He seemed to have an immense control over his emotions, an art I had not yet mastered.
“And what is it that you think I wanted from you?” he asked, crossing his arms over his expansive chest. I knew how easy it would be for him to grab me and pin me down to the ground. I couldn’t believe I was still lusting after him, after all this.
“You wanted to get into my pants, and you managed it very smoothly. So, bravo to you. But I have to leave now,” I spat the words out at him. I could feel my hands shaking from the onslaught of emotions coursing through my veins. What was this hold he had on me? Why couldn’t I just turn around and walk away from him? What was holding me back?
“Please,” he said softly. “Don’t go. Let’s talk about this.”
“What is there to talk about? You lied to me! You didn’t even tell me your real name!” I yelled, getting angry all over again. “Do you give a false name every time you go on vacation and want to put one over on a stupid local girl?”
“I did that because I didn’t want to spoil anything. I wanted a shot at an ordinary relationship with you. I was trying to get away from who I am, but now I know it was wrong. I should have been honest with you from the beginning,” he said, coming closer to me. His voice sounded hoarse and guttural. His eyes had narrowed and his face had darkened as he focused on me. I wanted him to touch me, but I didn’t want to make the first move. I didn’t want to break my resolve, but I knew that if he touched me I would melt. I would give in.
“So, you were using me to experience a small-town ordinary life, as you put it?” I snapped, and he shook his head silently.
“I wasn’t using you, Gemma. I hadn’t planned on it. But when I met you, I didn’t want any of the LA nonsense to ruin the connection we had,” he continued in that same quiet calm voice. He had come up very close to me now, and I had to crane my neck to look up at his face.
“And what about those rumors? They can’t all be false,” I said in a meek defeated voice. I knew that it was over. Whatever anger I had felt toward him had all been washed away. All he had to do was turn up.
“No, they’re not,” he said and my heart stopped for a second, “I led a frivolous life. I couldn’t commit to one woman.”
I could feel my cheeks burning up; my eyelids had grown heavy, I could barely continue to look into his eyes anymore. I was going to buckle at my knees and simply fall into his arms.
“What about your engagement?” I said in a small voice that was choking up.
He shook his head. “Those are just rumors. I’m not engaged. Whatever else I may be, Gemma, I’m a man of my word. I wouldn’t be unfaithful to anyone. I’ve never done that,” he said and now he was standing directly over me.
His breath was falling on my face, making the dark curls on the sides of my cheeks flutter. He was looking down at me with seriousness. The smile had disappeared from his face. We had com
e so close to losing each other, so quickly. I wasn’t sure what he was feeling as he held my gaze, without making a move to touch me. All I knew was what I was feeling; something I had never felt before. Like I could do anything, that I was capable of absolutely anything.
He placed his large hands on my shoulders in silence. Just his touch was enough. I was already wet between my legs and when he touched me, I felt like I was going to explode.
He spun me around, so that now I was facing the tree trunk. My palms pressed into the coarseness of the trunk and I felt his hand on the back of my head. He was pinning me to the tree. I felt a rush of excitement in my belly, just as I heard him unbuckling his pants.
“I’m going to teach you a lesson for running away from me again,” he said gruffly, sliding his jeans down to his ankles.
Without him asking, I parted my legs, sticking my butt out toward him. He stepped forward, grazing my butt with his erect throbbing cock. He was so hard for me already. How long had he been hard for me?
“Stop running away, Gemma,” he growled again, and encircled my waist with his hands. He was holding me in position, with no preparation this time. He was going to take me in broad daylight, against this tree. And I was all but begging him to.
I could feel the dampness between my legs, and I couldn’t wait any longer. He was stroking my butt with his cock, teasing me, while holding me in place. All he would have to do was lift the shirt…
I felt his hands on my skin. His fingers were searching out my panties. When he found them, he slid them down with one quick flick of his wrist. I moaned, biting down on my lip. I could feel my insides knotting and unknotting with every brush of his cock against my skin.
Now his hands were caressing my butt, slowly, feeling out my flesh… squeezing with his hand.
I had my legs parted already, so when he slid into me, he fit inside me tightly. I gave out a loud groan when I felt him there. He was holding me by my waist, and I was holding the tree for support as he drove into me. He pumped in and out forcefully. Our voices were harsh, and we were both moaning. He grunted with every thrust. He really was teaching me a lesson… only the wrong lesson. I was definitely going to run away more often if he was going to do this to me as punishment!
Within just a few minutes, I knew I was going to come. He reached so deep inside me. With his cock, he stroked that spot that made me come quicker. He felt strong and masculine standing behind me, our bodies stuck together as he made me orgasm.
Something seemed to explode deep inside me. “Luke,” I screamed as I came.
“My name is Vincent,” he growled, as the contractions swept through me. “Say it, Gemma. Say my name.”
He kept pumping into me; he didn’t stop. Instead, he increased his pace so that my body bounced and shook as I had my orgasm.
“Vincent,” I sobbed weakly. “Oh, God, Vincent.”
“Gemma,” he said and I felt him explode inside me, too.
He growled as he came, his grip on my waist tightening. We were both out of control, especially me, because I was going to come again. What was happening?
We orgasmed together, Vincent shooting inside me while I screamed again. My body was soaring, my heart was beating out of my chest; there was no escape.
He remained inside me for a few moments longer, draining himself into me completely. When he started pulling himself out of me, I threw myself against the tree trunk, completely spent.
I could barely move a muscle. Orgasming twice, consecutively, was exhausting, although I had a wide smile on my face. It was like every time we had sex, Vincent made me experience something new. Something I didn’t even know my body was capable of.
He was pulling up his pants as I remained leaning against the tree trunk.
“Ready for a nap?” he asked with a laugh, and I finally turned to look at him. I couldn’t stop smiling, and I also couldn’t keep my eyes open.
“I’m hungry,” I said lazily, letting my eyes drift shut. Suddenly, I felt Vincent’s hands on my hips again. Only this time, he was lifting me up in the air.
I yelped in surprise as my feet left the ground and then he threw me over his right shoulder and started walking. My yelps turned into loud laughter as he continued walking toward his parked car.
“Put me down! No, put me down!” I yelled, while lightly punching his back with my fists. We were both laughing by now. My black curls fell in a cascade as he held me, my head turned over. I was flailing my legs in front of his face, but Vincent had me pinned to him.
“I’ll put you down when we get to the cabin. You’re a serious flight risk,” he said with a laugh, carrying me past the car… carrying me like that all the way back to his cabin.
I was literally flying.
Chapter 17
Gemma
I switched my phone on discreetly, while sitting on a stool at the kitchen island. Vincent was frying eggs in front of me, looking up from time to time with a smile. My phone buzzed in my hand from the texts that came pouring in.
“Sounds like you’ve been missed,” he said with a laugh, raising an eyebrow at me. He still had no clue about my parents, the trailer we lived in, or my living situation. I blushed and put my phone on silent. All the texts were from my parents of course, mostly Mom.
Where are you Gemma?
You better come home right away!
When will you be home?
Why did you hang up on me?
What will you do about your job?
“Everything all right?” Vincent asked, popping bread into a fancy-looking toaster. I only nodded my head as I gripped my phone tightly in my hand. This was not the time to discuss my family with him. Not over breakfast. Not after the morning we had just had. When would be a good time to discuss it anyway? I gulped and started typing a text.
Not coming home today. I don’t want to think about my damn job. Big Mike is an asshole, I wrote it and sent it off. I switched off my phone again for good measure and looked up at Vincent with a beaming smile.
“All good?” he asked, walking up to me with two plates of fried eggs, buttered toast and bacon on the side.
“Yeah, just friends wondering what my plans are for the day,” I said, waving a hand at him.
“What are your plans for the day?” he asked, arching an eyebrow as he sat down across from me.
I pulled the plate closer to myself and picked up one of the greasy bacon strips with my fingers.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I said, taking a bite.
“Well, my plan is to spend the day with you. If you’re willing to do that, of course,” he said, taking a big bite of his toast. We were smiling at each other coyly. We both knew what my answer to that was going to be. I wasn’t prepared to leave just yet.
“How long are you here for?” I asked him, without answering his question.
Vincent sighed and rubbed a hand on his knee. “A few more days. Until the end of the week, but let’s not talk about that right now,” he said, the smile disappearing from his face. I wasn’t smiling either. The thought of him leaving, of all this coming to an end, sent a knife through my heart. I could feel it there, twisting in my chest.
“Tell me about your life here,” he added quickly, and I refused to meet his eyes.
“There’s nothing much to tell. I go to work, or I used to go to work. I attend classes in the evening. I study and go to bed. Same story next day,” I said, cutting a piece of the egg. The yolk was runny and spilled out all over the spotless white plate. At home, I would have swept it up with the toast, but in front of Vincent I wasn’t so sure. I was still self-conscious of my mannerisms. What was the right thing to do?
“Sounds simple enough,” he said. Those deep dimples on his cheeks looked delicious enough to eat.
“What about your life in LA? What is that like?” I asked, sitting back in my chair. Vincent was smooth and sophisticated with his food, carefully and slowly chewing it. There was no spillage and no mess on his plate.
“Busy. Pr
essurized. I’ve been working non-stop for two years to get the cure out into the market,” he replied and our eyes met. “I was surprised that you had even heard of me,” he added with a smile.
I raised an eyebrow and tilted my head at him.
“Did you think we are that cut-off here?” I asked and he laughed.
“No, of course not, I just mean that my line of work is boring,” he said. Although I was sure that some others who read those gossip magazines often would know him, his personal life wasn’t boring in the least, but I kept that to myself. There was no reason to bring that up again.
Vincent got up to pour us two glasses of orange juice.
“Don’t you have to meet with your employees or something? I thought this was more of a business trip,” I asked, following his every movement with my eyes. It was still hard to believe that I was in this place, sharing breakfast with Vincent Stoltz. There were so many questions I had for him, so much praise to give him… I had admired his work for several years. But with him in the room, all I could think about was how hot he looked and how he wrecked my body and mind.
“I did, but I’ve cancelled the meetings. They can keep themselves entertained. I have better things to do today than give tiresome presentations,” he said with a laugh. “I also had your car fixed, so we can pick it up whenever you want.”
I pushed my plate away and narrowed my eyes on the handsome man in front of me.
“Not hungry anymore?” he asked, still chewing on his food. The runny yolks and bits of bacon remained on my plate. It wasn’t that I wasn’t hungry, and I was just too self-conscious of how I was eating the food. I decided not to argue with him about fixing my car.
“No, but the food was delicious, don’t get me wrong,” I said and sipped on the orange juice instead.
“You’re right,” he said, wiping the sides of his mouth with a white napkin. “I’m not hungry either. Let’s find something else to do.”