Gemma laughed quietly and hugged her sister. “Sure, you got it.” And in that moment, Gemma decided to wait, not for some perfect moment and not because she had any reason to hold out. She simply didn’t want to be that cliché; she didn’t want to have sex for the hell of it. She definitely didn’t want to have it planned out for a week. With Abe, she wanted it to be real, genuine, and natural. It had to be the culmination of their time together, love for each other, and the emotional connection they had established. Not a means to an end. Not a way to confirm what they both already knew. It would be a moment that just happened and solidified something so much more than a physical need.
Gemma hurried down the stairs and found Abe waiting for her outside the door, smiling down at her while holding a large bouquet of flowers. “Wow,” he said when he saw her.
“Not too bad yourself.” She looked him up and down. He was wearing jeans and a light-colored shirt. The sleeves were folded tight around the muscles on his forearms. He was beautiful and all hers. When she walked into his waiting arms to kiss him hello, he drew it out, lingering on her lips. There was something so perfect about his taste. That alone told her she had found her match. No one would ever taste as good as Abe.
“You ready to celebrate the best day of my life.” He smirked at her.
She, in turn, snorted at him. “Nice line.”
“I worked on it.” He shrugged as they kept walking.
“It shows.”
“You ready, smart ass?” He shook his head at her as he gestured to his car.
“Yep.” She smiled up at him.
He pulled up to his apartment, and a part of her was relieved. When she was with him, she preferred it if they were alone someplace quiet. Going through the three hours dinner and movie would take would have been torture. However, she couldn’t help but wonder if he, like Kate, assumed tonight was the night and just planned things so they could just come here and knock one out. Frustrated with her own thoughts, she waited for him as he ran around the car to open her door for her. When she was done straightening her dress after standing, he pulled her flush with his body and kissed her lips gently.
“You have never looked more beautiful, you know that?”
“It’s because I’m eighteen now. A woman and all that,” she whispered as he grinned down at her while lowering his lips to hers again.
“Come on.” He reached down and grabbed her hand, turning away from the apartment and heading toward the sand. “I want to show you something.”
She laughed as he pulled her quickly toward the steps behind the complex that led to the sand. Once they were out a little ways, he turned her toward the left, and she was shocked by what she hadn’t noticed. Just down the beach there were candles glowing around a blanket, a basket, and, just beside that, a hammock. She giggled at the sight as they approached. “You always remember.”
“Everything.” He stopped and turned her to face him, staring into her eyes with love and assurance. “When it comes to you, I always will.”
She reached up and kissed him, holding the kiss a little longer than necessary because she just couldn’t pull herself away. When she finally let go, they walked to the blanket and sat down facing each other. He started by pulling the basket closer and handing her an iced coffee in a thermal mug.
“Sorry about the mug; it was too hard to keep it cold in the plastic cup.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” She laughed as she took a drink. “This is amazing.”
“Good. Now, I also brought you some water to go with dinner,” he said as he pulled three containers out of the basket. She watched him getting more and more excited about her birthday dinner. “This,” he said, pulling the lid off the first container, “is some French bread that Emily said you had devoured at her house the other day.”
Her eyes grew wide and she put her hand out to take it. “Have you tried it? This stuff is seriously amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it. Now, this is some pasta that Kate said you apparently claim to hate but everyone knows is your favorite.” He pulled the lid off, revealing the pasta she had been missing out on, and she barely contained her excitement. “The last one you have to wait on. It’s the super special surprise.”
After putting some of the pasta on her plate, she took a bite and smiled up at him. “This is seriously amazing, Abe. How did you do all this?”
“Not alone, so stop being so impressed with me.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin and rubbed her leg. “Emily and Kate came over today. Kate wasn’t actually with Simon; we just made that up. They helped me make the pasta and pack the basket. Emily was finishing setting this up when I came to get you.”
“Seriously?” She grinned and pulled his hand off her leg and up to her lips.
“Yeah.” He pushed their food to the side and sat next to her. “We all know your past birthdays haven’t exactly been something to brag about. We wanted to make it special.”
“I love you.” She reached up and ran her hand along his cheek, studying the man that completely owned her heart.
“I love you too.” He cleared his throat and reached for the basket. “And now, to top off the perfect night.” He pulled the final container toward them, and even before the lid had been completely pulled away, she recognized the scent.
“Peanut butter cookies.” She gasped.
“Word on the street is they’re your go-to vice.”
“Word on the street seems to be trying to get me fat. There have to be thirty cookies here.”
“All for you.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently. “Everything is for you.”
They sat and talked for a while longer, taking turns eating cookies and sharing more secrets and occasional kisses. It was perfect. She was full but not miserable when they were finished, and the sun was completely gone. She looked around, listening to the water. “It’s so beautiful. I’m going to miss it when I leave this year.”
“You didn’t miss this before? The way you are about the beach I would have thought you loved it here.”
She shrugged. “I do. I love it so much. I could just never get myself to miss it. It was fun when I had my alone time, but the rest of the time was filled with so much hatred and regret. I just couldn’t make this the safe haven that it could have been.” She leaned toward him then, placing her head on his shoulder, his cheek soon connecting with the top of her head.
“And now?” he asked, a hint of insecurity in his voice.
“And now this is the place I always want to be. It’s the place I discovered Kate and Gray. The place I finally let go of the hold the decisions my parents made had over me. This is the place I found love. The real kind of love.” She lifted her head off of his shoulder where it had been resting. “Kiss me.”
And he did. She savored his lips on hers. She got lost in the way his tongue tasted as he discovered her mouth. She inched closer and closer to him, aching to feel him against her. When they lay back, he chuckled and gestured to the hammock. “For someone who wants one of those so bad, you certainly never insist on using it.”
She kissed him, pulling his head down to her so his body had no choice but to cover hers. When he pulled back a moment later, she studied his eyes and felt his heart beating against hers. His need for her was obvious. The way he wore his heart on his sleeve it was clear to everyone that his heart belonged to her. “Take me to your apartment,” she said without thinking it through. She was so tired of analyzing things over and over again. She was tired of holding him at a distance for fear he would hurt her. She was ready to have him completely and let him have her.
“Gem,” he whispered, lowering his forehead to hers, “that isn’t what tonight is about.”
“Bull,” she whispered back. “Tell me you don’t love me, you don’t want me, and that you don’t want me in your room, in your bed. Right now.”
“Gem.”
“It isn’t a bad thing, Abe. I’m not saying that in a negative way. I’m literally asking ‘what are w
e waiting for? What am I waiting for?’ I love you. I know you’re it for me. I know this will be beautiful and perfect. All my rules are just getting in the way of us being happy. So please,” she pleaded, “take me to your apartment.”
He stood and blew out the few candles that still had a flame before reaching down and helping her to her feet. She smiled up at him, and they made their way back to the apartment complex. When they were at his door, he pulled her toward him and buried his face in her neck, sending chills down her back and arms. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Gem. I don’t know how this is possible, but I am so damn thankful.”
Nodding, she wrapped her arms around him. “Me too, Abe. Me too.”
He pushed the door open and then didn’t stop for anything as he led her down the hall and toward his room. Once they were inside, he kicked the door shut. And he could see a little of her bravado waiver. “Still okay?”
“Yes.” She licked her lips, drawing his eyes. “It’s just the last time, the only time I’ve done this, it was terrible. If it was me . . . If I’m the one who sucks . . .” She looked down nervously. “Please, just be patient.”
“Baby”—he smirked at her as he ran his hands up and down her arms—“for us, it can’t be terrible. When you love each other as we do, when you’re made for each other in every way, it’s always perfect. It’s perfect because it’s about so much more than just sex.”
Nodding, she stepped closer to him and their lips met. He deepened the kiss almost immediately, but there was nothing forced about it. They were both taking their time and enjoying what they had been waiting on for weeks. He let her lead, giving her time to make up her mind that she was ready for the next step before he would let things progress. When she reached out and stripped his shirt off of him, running her fingers down the lean muscles of his chest and abdomen, she moaned while he ached to release the same sound. He lifted her dress over her head and let his fingers roam over her.
“Abe,” she said before she let out a tormented sigh, “please.”
He eased her backwards toward the bed. When her calves were resting against it, he leaned forward and pulled her forward, connecting their mouths in a searing kiss.
Pushing him off of her, she stepped toward him, causing their chests to mesh. “Abe, enough. I need you. No more of the foreplay. Please.”
He nodded and helped her crawl back on the bed. Suddenly, the same apprehension from before appeared. Abe, being Abe, recognized her anxieties and he took his time, kissing and arousing her all over again.
“Abe.” She panted. “It’s been a little while. I’m sorry if—”
“Shhh.” He kissed her. “Gem, do you trust me?”
“Yes”—she nodded—“with my heart.” He got the implied meaning. With her heart meant with everything that mattered the most to her.
“Then shut up.” He smiled down at her and saw her let go of that final insecurity she was holding on to.
As she lay there completely exposed to him, he knew for a fact that she trusted him completely. He had been able to take her fear of him and all other men away in such a short time. There was no doubt in his mind that only loving him could have done that. When she leaned forward, her lips met his in a passion so instant it physically burned and they both let out a satisfied groan. He pulled back and studied her again, gauging her one last time.
When she looked up at him with wide, clear eyes, he knew she was finally in the moment completely. She understood what this night, this connection, meant for them. This was the beginning of forever. He would never be able to have this moment with anyone else. As they worked with each other to find the climax they were both desperate for, he felt himself falling deeper in love with her. He had experienced sex before—this wasn’t a new thing for him—but something about sharing this with Gemma changed everything.
As she climbed up, up and over the peak with him, he held her in his arms, searching out her every need while fulfilling his own. She wound tight and then unraveled in his hands, and he craved the sensation of making her feel that way. He would do it every day of his life. He would make her happy. Together, they would make each other complete.
“Oh my God.” Gemma panted. “That was . . . That was . . . Oh my God. I have no words.”
He leaned back, lifting his head off her chest, and looked down at her, smiling. “I told you it would be incredible. I knew it would be, but that was just insane.”
“I love you.”
“Gem, you have no idea how much I love you.”
He rolled to the side then and put his boxers on and handed her a T-shirt. “Abe.” She giggled. “I’m pretty sure I have a few more clothes down there somewhere. Can you get me those too?”
“No.” He crawled up on the bed beside her and stroked her cheek.
“Um, I kind of need them.” Gemma looked at him as if he were crazy.
“No, you don’t. It would just be a waste of time,” he said and then pulled her into his arms,
“Oh.” She looked at him with wide eyes.
“Yes, oh. You’re eighteen now, and more important than that, you are mine. Forever. You may as well pack your stuff tomorrow. You won’t be leaving.”
She smiled at him and then kissed his swollen lips. “Deal.”
Sixteen
Rolling over, Gemma reached across the bed for Abe and sat up when she found he wasn’t there. She honestly couldn’t believe he was already up after their night together. He had woken only an hour after their first time and professed his inability to get enough. Now he was gone from their bed, she felt his absence everywhere. One night with him and she knew she would never have enough. Gathering the sheet around her still-naked body, she stood from the bed and started toward the bedroom door. As she was about to pull it open, it came in at her and she jumped back to avoid being hit.
“Oh, sorry, baby.” He walked in and pulled her into a hug. “Morning.” Burrowing into his naked chest, she grumbled up at him. “What?” He laughed.
“Good morning.” She smiled up at him.
“How do you feel today?” He tucked her hair behind her ear and kissed her nose.
“Perfect.” She sighed. “In love. Happy.”
“Exactly what I was hoping for.”
She started to pull away from him so she could go to the bathroom and brush her teeth when he tightened his arms around her. “Hey.” She chuckled. “I need to brush my teeth. I smell.”
“It’s okay.” He kissed her with no less passion than he had all night. “Totally worth it.” He whispered.
“Yeah.” She panted. “Never going to get enough of that; you can count on it.”
“That’s the plan.” He smiled at her before turning to lead her to the bathroom. “I think you need a shower. As a matter of fact, we both do.”
“Oh, good Lord. Don’t you ever get tired?”
~~~
Gemma and Abe pulled up in front of the beach house close to ten that morning, and instead of sneaking up the back steps and through the window as usual, she kissed him goodbye in the driveway and walked through the front door. She almost expected Kate to be standing there with a smile on her face, but instead, Karen was sitting in the front room, reading a book.
“Glad you made it home.” She stood and rubbed her eyes, smiling at Gemma with no malice in her voice.
“Yeah.” Gemma ignored her other than that one word in reply and started toward the stairs to her room. She was too blissed out to deal with Karen and her mixed feelings about her family right then.
“I’ve never known your father to pace. He usually either goes with the flow or takes control of things. He’s kind of an extremist, you know?” She spoke, stopping Gemma after she had taken a couple of steps. “I mean look at him when we’re here. Locked away without any breaks. It’s as if he doesn’t know how to be in the middle. He’s always on high alert or just floating along in his own little world.” Gemma never turned around, but her lack of movement was the go-ahead for Karen. �
��Last night, when we didn’t hear you sneak in by four as usual, he was up and pacing, trying to decide if he should check the beach or that boy’s apartment for you.” She walked up and Gemma could tell she was only a few steps away. “I told him I would sit here and wait on you. I know he’s worn out this summer from the writing and now having to keep track of the two of you girls, instead of just you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gemma bit back a growl.
“Well,” Karen said softly, again with no anger or bitterness in her voice, “let me tell you then. He’s worried about you every day of his life. He knows how much you hate him and still desperately wishes you didn’t. He only went to bed last night because I told him you were fine. I lied and said Kate had a text on her phone saying you would be home soon. Be careful, Gemma.” She climbed the steps and stood right next to Gemma though neither looked at the other. “I want the two of you to figure this all out as it seems you and the kids have. I know I’ll never get your love or respect, and honestly, with the way things went down, I don’t deserve it. But please be careful you don’t cast him aside before you at least give him a chance to apologize.” And with that, she left Gemma on the third step while she climbed the rest of the way up and disappeared.
Gemma wanted to be pissed. She wanted to yell after Karen that she was wrong and had no idea what she was talking about. Who cared if the man knew about her sneaking out and waited up for her? He still wasn’t there. He still spent all their supposed time together shut in a loft. He still hadn’t said more than twenty words to her all summer. What kind of man claims to want to be a father but puts no more effort in than that? As far as Gemma was concerned, she would be packing her bags today and headed to Abe’s for the rest of the summer. After today, she was done with her father, Karen, and, if her current level of communication continued, her mother as well.
Break Me (The Summer Series) Page 12