First Love Second Chance

by Kira Blakely

  Chapter 18

  Vincent

  It was evening now and Gemma was on her back, with her bare legs open as I slid my face down to her knees. The fireplace was lit, and the flames caught the smokiness in her eyes. She lifted her head to look at me and then gently put it down again on the carpeted floor.

  Half a glass of wine dangled from her hand, and she took another long sip. I licked the inside of her thigh, where her skin was the softest to touch. She purred and swirled the glass around in her hand.

  “You went to Yale,” she murmured softly as I licked the other thigh. She tasted like honey and peaches, a sweet delicious taste that tingled my taste buds. The scratches on her knee from the thorns she had run through in the morning had turned into bright pink scabs now, and I caressed them.

  “I did, indeed,” I said, meeting her glazed-over eyes. She drank some more wine and I watched as her reddened lips stretched to a smile.

  “I can’t even imagine that. What it would be like to go to a school like that,” she said, moving her hips. I traced the shape of her legs with my fingers, before settling my hand on her exposed belly. She was still in my shirt that she had put on in the morning. She was floating in it; it was too big for her. But she insisted that she was comfortable when I offered her a change of clothing.

  “It was all right; I made some friends for life,” I said, as I stroked her tight belly. She was beautiful to touch, to have in my arms. Her hair was spread around her face in rich dark curls. She was the most awe-inspiring thing I had ever set my eyes on. I wanted to bite into those lips.

  Gemma laughed when she heard me say that about my friends. Her laughter was becoming more and more common to hear now. Her hardened demeanor from the previous days was softening. Either way, she was just as beautiful and mysterious. Despite all this time we were spending together, she was still a puzzle to me.

  “I’m sure it was more than friends you made at Yale, Vincent. I’m sure your college has something to do with your success, too,” she said, laughing still. Every time she smiled, she sent shivers down my spine. Her laughter was infectious, genuine and humble. I felt like I could be completely honest with her.

  I regretted not being honest with her sooner. I should have known better. Gemma Ramsey wasn’t like any other woman I knew, and I should have treated her differently from the beginning. But I was grateful that she was trusting me again.

  “Yes, look at where I am now. I have you naked under me, and all we’re doing is talking,” I said and tickled her belly. Gemma giggled, and I pinned her down with a hand. I felt her legs squeeze around me as I slipped down farther between them so that her sex was in front of my face now.

  She was so wet for me, dripping wet with no panties to act as an obstruction between my tongue and where I wanted to reach.

  She wriggled as I held her tight and brought my face closer to her. Gemma was moaning already, moving her hips in anticipation as I stuck out my tongue, growing closer and closer to her wetness. When I licked her, she arched herself up, closing her eyes.

  I licked her again, delicately, just to tease. The glass of wine fell from her hands and it spilled all over the carpet.

  “Shhh… don’t worry about it,” I said when I saw her eyes fly open with guilt.

  I pinned her back down and this time thrust my tongue deep into her. Gemma moaned, wriggling under my grip.

  “Vincent …” She said my name like it was a song, and I thrust in deeper. I knew where I had to stroke her to make her come, and I found it easily with my tongue. I used one hand to stroke her clit, while I kept pushing my tongue into her as far as I could. Gemma was shaking, spreading her legs wide apart for me now so that I could truly and completely consume her.

  She tasted as delicious as I had predicted and I wanted to be inside her completely, make her come. I wanted to possess her, and never had I wanted someone else to feel this good. My priority was to make her have an orgasm, have multiple orgasms. Watching her writhe and scream with pleasure made me rock hard. I could come just from watching her.

  I pushed my tongue in deeper, keeping my fingers on her clit, playing with it.

  When I felt her weave her fingers into my hair, I knew it was time. She came instantly, and I kept driving my tongue in, just like my cock had before. She shook as she came, screaming out my name, clutching my hair in her hands tightly.

  When her voice died down and her breathing began to subside, I finally slid my tongue out of her. She was spent again, lying on the carpet with her arms spread out around her. She had her eyes open and was staring at the ceiling, breathing hard.

  “Why are you smiling, Gemma?” I asked, hauling my body up so I could lie down beside her. She tried to control her breathing first before she turned to me, her cheeks flushed from exhaustion, her eyelids drooping. She was ready to pass out.

  “Because I’m happy, Vincent,” she said and I drew her into my arms. She may not have told me much about herself, but one thing I knew about Gemma Ramsey was that she made me happy, too.

  Chapter 19

  Gemma

  I had lost track of time by now; it could be the sun setting or the crack of dawn. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t looking ahead or daydreaming about the future. I was living only in the present.

  We were both naked, sitting comfortably in a hot tub in the backyard of the cabin. Vincent was sitting opposite me, and our toes were entwined together under the hot bubbling water. When I looked up, I figured it could be dawn now, because the sky was a curious shade of deep yellow, nearly orange. I could hear birds beginning to chirp somewhere far away.

  We had slept on and off in each other’s arms. Vincent had cooked dinner at some point, too, delicious steaks that I had dug into hungrily. Slowly but surely, I was losing my self-consciousness and turning more into myself. Vincent didn’t seem to care or notice. If he had an issue with my table manners, he wasn’t showing it.

  It was calming as we sat there, the water bubbling and grazing against my sensitive skin. The bottom of Vincent’s dark wavy hair was damp, and it stuck to the sides of his wide neck. The top half of his torso was above the water level, and he had his arms stretched over the sides of the hot tub. I could see his chiseled muscles in all their wonderful glory. He had mentioned he was a swimmer in college and his body showed it. He had an athlete’s sinewy built.

  Vincent was looking at me while I ogled at his body. When our eyes met, I blushed and looked away.

  “It’s going to be morning soon,” he said quietly and a chill ran down my spine. I knew what that meant. One more day gone, and one more day closer to him leaving. My breath caught in my throat again, and I refused to meet his eyes.

  “We should go for a hike soon,” he said, sliding himself over to me. I nodded my head and wrapped my arms around his neck. I wanted to cling to him for dear life. It was ridiculous, this feeling coursing through my veins. He was still here, but I was sad already. Vincent had no idea how he had changed my life in a matter of just two days. He had shown me a glimpse of a different life and made me believe that I did deserve better.

  “Are you familiar with the trails?” he asked as he pressed his lips to my cheek and gave me a soft tender kiss.

  “Somewhat. I should be able to figure them out. The locals aren’t allowed on the estate though, so I don’t know this area as well as I know the rest of the mountain,” I told him, kissing his chin as he held me close.

  His hands had found their way to the back of my waist, and he was pressing me close to him. I could feel his erection against my legs and I breathed in deeply.

  “You sure you have nowhere else to be?” he asked, catching my gaze. I shook my head, my eyes sparkling as I stared at him. I wondered what he thought of me then? Whether he thought I was desperate, a loser… why I had nowhere to go.

  “I’m free today,” I said, and we kissed. Our lips met in a gentle kiss, like we had known each other for years. Despite the sexual fire burning in us both, which I knew would mak
e us lunge at each other in a matter of minutes, our kiss was soft and long.

  His hand traveled up, from my back to my shoulders and then to my front as we continued to kiss. He squeezed one of my erect nipples and tugged at it, making me desperate for him again.

  “Oh, Shoot! It’s my phone,” he said, pulling away from me suddenly.

  I heard the ring then as well, from somewhere inside the cabin. Vincent was out of the tub in seconds, hauling his drenched body out of the water as he strode quickly back indoors. I was smiling after him, watching his naked tight butt walking away from me. I couldn’t wait for him to return so I could kiss him again. I wanted him to finish what he had started.

  The sky was getting lighter at a faster rate now, and I realized how early in the morning it was for him to receive a call. I could see straight through the French windows into the living room, where Vincent was pacing the floor, roasting himself in front of the fire as he spoke into the phone. He had assumed that serious look on his face again, I could see that he was talking business.

  Still smiling, I shook my damp hair out and threw my head back to look up at the sky. What had I gotten myself into? How was I supposed to resume a normal life again once he left? He still hadn’t told me exactly when he was going to leave, and just the thought of it made me sick to my stomach.

  I heard the doors sliding open, and I looked up. Vincent was walking back over to the hot tub; his brows were crossed and his face was dark. I sat up straight in the water, my heart beginning to race. It was very seldom that I saw that look on his face. This couldn’t be good news.

  “Everything all right?” I asked him as he came over to me, placing his hands on the edges of the tub. The fact that he didn’t want to get back in the water told me that something was wrong. What was he going to tell me?

  Vincent looked away from me, toward the horizon where the sun was rising.

  “That was my secretary calling from LA,” he said quietly, still not looking at me.

  I breathed in and let out an enormous sigh. Here it comes…

  “I have to go back to LA today for a meeting I can’t miss,” he said, turning to me again. His eyes were heavy, and his mouth was firmly set in a thin line. I could see that he was clenching his jaw. His nose looked sharp and chiseled, I still couldn’t stop admiring his physical form, despite the news he was giving me.

  “Today? When?” I asked, draping my arms across my breasts. For some reason, I felt like I suddenly needed to preserve my modesty. Vincent’s gaze dropped to my covered breasts and then he looked up at me again.

  “First flight out; she’s already booked my ticket. I don’t think I have more than three hours remaining here,” he said glumly. Did he expect me to cry? Did he expect me to make a scene? He was looking at me like he was sorry for what he was saying. Even though I could feel my lip quivering, I tried to force a smile on my face.

  What else was I expecting to happen? I knew this was coming from the moment I stepped into his car.

  “Of course,” I managed to say, in a squeaky mild voice.

  “Gemma…” he said and reached out a hand to my cheek. He stroked it gently, and I closed my eyes for a second, just to savor the moment.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. We knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Sooner rather than later, right?” I said and even forced a laugh. Vincent met my eyes; he wasn’t laughing. He looked like he was afraid.

  “I really don’t want to go, I’ve been having such a great time with you,” he said, moving his hand away from my cheek.

  I threw him a smile again. I was shivering in the hot tub for some reason. I wanted to get out of the water, to get away from him. It was hard holding the tears in, but I wasn’t going to let him see me cry.

  “I’ve had a good time, too, Vincent,” I said and stood up in the tub. He was watching me as I reached for the towel on the side and wrapped it around myself tightly. Even his towels felt great, soft and luxurious and good enough to wear all the time. I stepped out of the tub, and he helped me out, holding my hand in his.

  “Gemma…” he said again, and this time I turned my head to look at him. I knew my face was burning up.

  “What?” I snapped, unable to control the misery I was feeling inside.

  “It doesn’t have to end like this,” he said.

  “Do you mean you want to fuck me again before you go? One last time?” I said, surprised that I had said it aloud. I knew how crude it sounded and it even took him aback when he heard the words. But Vincent always maintained his composure, and he was doing it this time as well.

  “That is not what I meant,” he said, as I drew my hand away from his. I was shivering; goose bumps covered all my exposed skin and I could do nothing but stare at him. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore. I wanted him to go, and I wanted him to stay. I wanted to scream, and I also wanted to cry.

  “How else can it end, Vincent?” I asked, in a softer voice.

  “You could come with me,” he said, looking at me directly. My mouth nearly dropped open when I heard him say that. It hadn’t occurred to me that he could suggest such a thing. Going away with him, leaving this town… had never even crossed my mind.

  “From the look on your face, it seems like I shouldn’t have suggested it. I’m sorry—”

  “I’ll come with you,” I blurted out. Neither of us were smiling; it was as though Vincent was in as much shock as I was.

  “I know it’s too much to ask, but I don’t want to cut this short. Just for a few days… I could show you around LA. You could have a mini vacation,” he said, and I could see his eyes changing again. The idea was sinking in, for both of us.

  My heart had never felt like this, like a crazed rabid dog, beating inside my chest. What had I just agreed to? Holy Fuck! I was going to be whisked away to California by a man I’d known for exactly two days. By Vincent Stoltz, one of the most eligible bachelors in the country!

  “Sounds like a plan,” I said, the smile spreading on my face.

  I was in Vincent’s arms again; he had pulled me close to him. He was kissing my neck, licking the spot at the base of my throat… I closed my eyes. This was too damn good to be real. I didn’t care about the consequences anymore, I just wanted to live for once.

  Thoughts of my parents crossed my mind. They were going to lose their minds when I told them. If I told them the truth. What was I supposed to say to them? In the past twenty-six years of my life, I had never stayed away from home for this long. Wouldn’t they be happy for me? Or would they only worry that I was being taken for a ride? Being used by a playboy billionaire who wanted nothing more from me than my body.

  Vincent was kissing my lips again; I could feel his heart beating against my own chest as he held me close.

  The problem of handling my parents would just have to wait.

  Chapter 20

  Gemma

  I had never been to California before; I had never been anywhere outside Washington. What struck me first was the weather. I’d had to ditch the back sweater long ago, and now I remained in my pink top and the jeans I had been wearing for the past three days. The heat was getting to me already.

  “Thank you,” I said meekly when I stepped out of the black, chauffeur-driven Mercedes that had been waiting for us at the airport. I looked up at the house in awe, struck by how big it was, how much bigger than the cabin we had been shacked up in for the past few days.

  “Welcome to my home,” Vincent said with a smile as he gave me his arm. I clung to him tightly as he led me up the gravel path toward the beautiful red-brick house we were about to enter. A man was holding the door open for us, smiling at Vincent and me politely. Everywhere I looked, I could see lush green grass, decorated primly with flowers and trees. There was even a fountain in the middle of the driveway where the car was parked.

  I felt suddenly small, my neck heating quickly with self-consciousness. I hadn’t known what to expect, but not this much opulence.

  “Do you live
alone?” I asked him in a whisper, as though someone might overhear us.

  Vincent gave out a short laugh and nodded. “I do, yes, I know… what a waste, right?” he said, in his usual calm and friendly way. He led me up the marble steps to the man at the door.

  “Good morning, Tim,” he said, to the man who must have been his what… butler?

  “Good morning, sir. I trust you’ve had a good trip,” the man said, swinging his gaze from Vincent to me. If he was surprised by my presence, he was hiding it well. Or perhaps he wasn’t surprised at all, and Vincent turned up with a woman on his arm every other morning.

  “This is Ms. Ramsey; she will be staying with us for a few days,” Vincent told Tim as he led me into the house.

  I nearly gasped as I stepped inside the palatial foyer. The walls were a rich ivory, with thick red curtains hanging from long French windows. If the cabin was cozy in its luxury, Vincent’s own home was overtly grand and sophisticated. I immediately felt dirty and underdressed, but I had nowhere to hide.

  “I wish I could give you the tour, Gemma, but I have that meeting to go to,” Vincent said, gently letting go of my hand.

  I nodded, looking around me in awe. He had a pleased expression on his face when our eyes met again.

  “I shouldn’t be long, but Tim will show you up to my bedroom so that you can settle in,” he said, turning to Tim, who was still standing with his hands behind his back.

  I nodded again, my words stuck in my throat. I didn’t even want to know what Tim thought of the whole situation. About the fact that Vincent had just commanded him to show this stranger up to his bedroom.

  “Of course, sir. Come with me, madam. Do you have any bags?” Tim asked, passing me by with a ramrod straight back.

  “Umm… no,” I said, blushing as I threw a look at Vincent.

  “Change into something fresh if you like. Raid my closet.” Vincent smiled at me, pushing his hands into his pockets. I was still blushing, still at a loss for words. I was so afraid of saying the wrong thing or doing something horrifically stupid.