At Last (Time for Love, #5)

by Miranda P. Charles

  “Greg,” she gasped, a fresh rush of moisture soaking her further. When Greg captured a nipple with his lips while his finger continued its stroking, she let out a loud, lusty moan. Thank God the other cottages were far enough away.

  Part of her couldn’t believe she was doing this. For years, she had avoided men who weren’t looking for a relationship. Even when she’d dated the three whom she’d thought were looking for something lasting, she’d quickly dropped them when it became apparent they only said what she wanted to hear to get her to sleep with them.

  She looked down at Greg, his tongue laving a rosy nipple eagerly. Tenderness burst within her, potently mixing with the eroticism of what he was doing to her.

  She smiled, leaning down to kiss his head. Yes, she was aware that heartache could be just around the corner. But it was too late to backtrack, and she didn’t want to. For the first time in a long, long while, she was giving herself permission to simply go with the flow. She’d just have to deal with whatever came when it did, and not before.

  Greg rubbed her clit with his thumb and her hips jerked.

  “Feel good, baby?” Greg breathed against her neck.

  “Yes,” she moaned, throwing her head back to give him more access to her throat.

  “God, I want you so much, Gem,” he groaned, lightly nipping and sucking on her skin.

  “Then take me now,” she encouraged, more than ready for his possession.

  Greg straightened, panting and staring at her with hooded eyes. She got wetter just from seeing him so aroused—for her.

  Greg got off the pool and helped her to her feet. “Wait here.” He gave her a hot kiss on the lips before disappearing inside.

  She sat on the daybed, impatiently waiting. Hmm. Maybe she should make herself comfortable.

  She lay down and tried a variety of positions that she thought would look sexy and alluring. Rolling her eyes at herself, she decided for a relaxed pose and closed her eyes, parting her legs a bit for Greg’s benefit.

  A few seconds later, she heard a heavy exhale. She opened her eyes and found Greg watching her, holding a towel, his erection thick and rigid. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi,” he answered, his look predatory and oh so hot. He stalked towards her and chucked the towel on the empty daybed. She saw the condom in his hand.

  Sitting up, she held her hand out. “I want to put it on you.”

  Greg seemed hesitant, but gave her the condom.

  Scooting closer to him, she took it, then held his cock in her hand and pumped.

  “Gemma,” Greg gasped with clear warning, prying her hand loose. “I knew I shouldn’t have given you that condom.”

  She smiled. He was close. But so was she. She tore off the packet, but she wasn’t ready to put it on him yet. Instead, she put his hardness in her mouth.

  “Babe, what are you doing?” Greg asked through gritted teeth, his hips flexing despite his protestation.

  “Don’t you know what this is called? I’m giving you a blowjob,” she teased, surprised by her words. But her openness must be a testament to how relaxed she felt around Greg.

  Greg chuckled. “Much as I love this, I need to be inside you now, sweetheart,” he said almost pleadingly.

  She relented and rolled the condom on him.

  Greg pushed her gently back down on the daybed, and covered her body with his. They kissed passionately, Greg’s hand moving down between her legs and playing with her nub once again.

  “Greg... you... please,” she panted, her arousal at fever pitch.

  With an excited groan, Greg positioned his cock on her eager core and pushed in.

  They both moaned, and continued to make pleasure sounds as Greg moved in and out of her relentlessly, deliciously. He felt incredible.

  It wasn’t long before she started tensing. She tightened her arms around his shoulders, her gasps coming faster.

  “Yes, Gemma. Feel me. Come for me,” Greg gasped, his thrusting increasing in speed.

  With a loud cry she convulsed, stars swimming in her eyes at the intensity of her release. At the exact same moment, Greg erupted inside her, calling her name.

  *

  Two hours later, they were in his bed, panting from yet another orgasm.

  Greg lay on top of her, unmoving, while her legs remained wrapped around his.

  “My muscles don’t want to move,” he murmured.

  She chuckled, feeling stiff as well. “I know what you mean. I think I’m stuck in this position.”

  “Hm, I kinda like that,” he said, planting kisses on her neck.

  She giggled. “Stop. Don’t start another round. I’m going to expire from starvation.”

  “But you’ve eaten a few times in the last couple of hours,” he teased suggestively.

  “Greg!” She swatted his behind for his naughtiness.

  He grabbed her wayward hand and trapped it above her head. “Ooh, are we playing again?”

  “No!” she said, laughter bubbling out of her. This man was insatiable! Well, she supposed she’d exhibited the same trait—which surprised her no end. She hadn’t known that about herself. Or maybe Greg was the cause of it.

  Greg sighed, releasing her and rolling on his back. “I guess we should eat. Do you want me to call Phoebe and get her to bring us something substantial? I have some fruit and snacks in the fridge, but that’s about it.”

  “I think I should head back to the hotel. I’m supposed to be playing the piano for an hour during afternoon tea.”

  Greg frowned at her. “You don’t need to stick to some schedule, Gem. Play only when you want to. Everyone knows you’re a guest here, not a paid entertainer. No one will be expecting you to act like one.”

  She made a face at him. “I do want to do it.”

  He shook his head at her, but let it drop. “Do you want to have another shower before you go?”

  “No. I’ll just sweat again on the way back. I’ll have a shower in my room.”

  “Why don’t you drive the golf cart outside to get back to the hotel? Then just ask the concierge to have it brought back here.”

  “Aren’t you going back with me?” she asked.

  “Um, I was thinking it would be better if we keep this quiet. The other guests have enough to talk about with Liana and Annette. I don’t want you getting involved in any drama.”

  His answer disappointed her, but she saw the sense in it. There was no point dragging the spotlight to them. She didn’t care that the two women’s claws would come out for her, but she also didn’t want to create unnecessary disturbance for the family. Besides, it would be better if she and Greg stayed under the radar, so no one could deliberately plan to disrupt their, uh, fling.

  “I agree we should keep this to ourselves,” she said. “Don’t be surprised though if my best friends find out sooner rather than later. They’re very good at knowing if I’m hiding something.”

  Greg laughed. “Don’t worry. My brothers are the same. But at least we can trust them not to open their mouths to other people.”

  *****

  Gemma entered the hotel and saw her four best friends sitting in one of the lounges.

  “Gemma! There you are. We’ve been looking for you,” Amanda said.

  “Looks like you’ve been for a walk,” Sarah observed, taking in her appearance. “Have you had lunch? We thought we should have it together, then join the guys for the high ropes course later this afternoon.”

  “I’ve already done the high ropes this morning,” she said with a laugh. “But lunch sounds great. I’m starving. I need to shower first, though.”

  “You’ve been to the high ropes? With whom?” Brenna asked.

  “Greg and Robert.”

  “Just you guys?” Rebecca asked.

  “Uh-huh. It was really tough. Be prepared for a hard challenge.”

  “What time did you start?”

  “Seven thirty.”

  “And you just finished?” Sarah asked, her eyes round. “That’s almo
st five hours!”

  “No,” she said hesitantly. “It took me a little over two hours to finish it. But I did miss one challenge. My arms were too tired to do that one.”

  “So where have you been in the last two and half hours or so?” Amanda asked.

  “Just walking around,” she said with a shrug, trying to look nonchalant. Oh, she knew she would eventually cave and tell these women what had happened in those two and a half hours. But not right that minute. She was hungry and in dire need of sustenance. “Can I run up to my room and freshen up? Then I’ll meet you guys at the restaurant. You can order crab pasta for me, and some bread. I’m starving.”

  “Okay,” her friends said in unison, all of them looking at her with question in their eyes.

  *****

  Gemma put on a pretty sundress and flat sandals, then applied some tinted moisturiser on her face. She didn’t bother with too much makeup. At a place like this, it felt natural to look natural, even if she was surrounded by the rich and famous. She’d just reapply her lip gloss when it was time for her to play the piano.

  She went back downstairs to go to the restaurant. Her friends were already seated, speaking in hushed tones. Annette was also there, sitting at a table in the far corner with a woman she hadn’t seen before.

  “Who’s that lady?” she asked as she sat down.

  Rebecca let out a heavy sigh, looking put out. “She’s a reporter.”

  “What?” Gemma asked in surprise. “How come she was allowed in here?”

  “I asked, and apparently, she was personally invited by Annette,” Rebecca said. “Annette was in town earlier today and came back with her. Security had no choice but to let her in.”

  “Jeff was so mad that he gave Annette’s brother some tongue-lashing,” Sarah said. “He said he couldn’t invite Annette again to a Carmichael resort—especially here to the Sanctuary—because of this.”

  “Doesn’t Annette know the unwritten laws of this place?” Gemma asked. “Surely, she wouldn’t have done something like that deliberately. I mean, why would she dare incur the Carmichaels’ displeasure?”

  The others shrugged.

  “Has anyone talked to Annette yet about this?”

  “I don’t think anyone has had the opportunity to, since that reporter is with her,” Rebecca answered. “I’d say she’ll get an earful later on.”

  “Do you think you should hide from the reporter, Gem?” Amanda said. “I don’t think she’s seen you yet. If she does, she’ll be able to confirm the recent article that you’re here with Greg.”

  “What harm would it do, though?” Sarah asked. “It’s obvious that Greg and Gemma are not here on a romantic holiday alone, since we’re all here too.”

  “Hm. You’re right,” Amanda conceded.

  “Ugh, she’s coming this way,” Brenna whispered under her breath.

  “Hello, ladies,” the reporter said, walking up to them. “I see it’s true that you’re staying here, Miss Aldwyn,” she said to Gemma. “What’s your comment about the recent reports that you’re here with Greg Carmichael?”

  “None,” Gemma answered calmly.

  “Uh, we agreed you’re only going to interview me, Veronica,” Annette said, looking nervous.

  “Mrs. Carmichael, Miss Daley,” Veronica said, turning to Rebecca and Sarah. “What do you say about one of your friends being linked to your brother-in-law? Are you encouraging a relationship between the two?”

  “That way please, ma’am,” a security detail said, inserting himself between the reporter and the girls’ table. He stared at Veronica, pointing to the exit and looking implacable.

  Veronica wavered at the man’s intimidating stance and obeyed, followed meekly by Annette.

  “We are so sorry, ma’am,” another security guy said, looking at each one of the best friends. “We apologise for not intercepting her soon enough. She shouldn’t have been allowed to disturb your lunch.”

  “Don’t worry,” Rebecca said with a smile. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  The man gave them a slight bow, then left.

  “I’d say Annette really is in trouble now,” Brenna said, gesturing to the door. Annette’s brother was escorting her off to somewhere, his displeasure apparent.

  “The interview might help boost her profile in the movie industry, but it will certainly dent her friendship with the Carmichaels,” Amanda commented. “Imagine bringing in a reporter inside the Sanctuary.”

  Brenna picked up a spoon and placed it near Gemma’s mouth like a microphone. “So, Miss Aldwyn. How true is the rumour that in the two and a half hours that you went missing this morning, you were actually holed up somewhere with Greg Carmichael?”

  They all chuckled.

  “In which publication is this going to appear?” Gemma asked, matching Brenna’s tone.

  “In the Best Friends magazine, with a total readership of five women,” Brenna said in her reporter voice. “Oh, plus four nosy but incredibly hunky males who are head over heels in love with four of the ladies,” she added.

  “Okay,” Gemma said with a giggle. “The answer is yes. We were holed up in his cottage.”

  Four sets of eyebrows rose.

  “Did Greg Carmichael make you come or was it the other way around?”

  Gemma rolled her eyes at Brenna’s double entendre. “It was both ways, several times,” she answered, deadpan.

  Disbelieving gasps went round the table as Gemma’s friends gaped at her, just as her gaze was drawn to the restaurant’s door.

  Greg was entering, with Liana hugging his arm, whispering something in his ear. His head was bowed towards Liana, listening attentively to what she was saying.

  Jealousy hit Gemma hard. She had to remind herself that Mr. Commitment-Phobic wasn’t hers. And that she had a long, hard road ahead of her if she were to make him consider something more.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “Are you sure?” Greg asked Liana, unable to believe what she was telling him. Why would Annette even think about bringing a reporter into the Sanctuary? That was a major no-no which would ensure she didn’t get invited to this place again. Anything and anyone that destroyed the reputation of the resort got cut off immediately—friend or not.

  “Yes, I saw her here with my own eyes,” Liana answered, clinging to him tighter. “I complained to your security manager. Guests expect complete privacy and we don’t want some reporter nosing around our business.”

  “What did he say?” Greg was sufficiently worried and distracted about what had happened that he didn’t care that Liana was almost leaning on him.

  “He said that because the reporter was in the car with Annette, they couldn’t stop her from entering the premises. And because Annette is a personal guest of the Carmichaels, he couldn’t question her motives. I believe he contacted Zach for directions. I’m not sure what Zach said.”

  “Well, it was very stupid of Annette,” he murmured.

  He spotted someone from their security team, standing by the door of the restaurant. “Was there a reporter here earlier?” he asked the man.

  “Yes, sir. Since she was already inside the premises, Mr. Zach gave instructions to allow her to stay for a maximum of fifteen minutes, confined to the restaurant, on the condition that she not talk to anyone but Miss Annette.”

  “Did she stick to the rules?”

  The man shook his head. “She was escorted off the premises because she posed questions to Mrs. Rebecca, Miss Sarah and Miss Gemma.”

  Greg frowned. “Where?”

  “She went to their table over there, sir.”

  Greg glanced to the direction indicated, and saw the five best friends chatting. They had surprised looks in their faces.

  “Excuse me, Liana. I just want to check on the girls over there. Why don’t you head to our table? I’ll join you in a minute. I’m assuming your parents will be here very soon, too.”

  “Sure,” Liana said, seemingly reluctant to let go of him.

  Well, what w
as new? he thought with a sigh.

  He extricated himself from his companion and approached the five women, who stopped their conversation when they saw him coming. “Everything all right, ladies?” he asked, looking at Gemma. “I heard what happened.”

  “Yeah,” Sarah answered. “It wasn’t a big deal. She was shown the door before she could be a full-on nuisance.”

  “Sorry about that. It shouldn’t have happened. I heard she specifically asked you something, Gem?”

  “Nothing special,” Gemma answered. “She wanted to know if I had any comments about the news that I’m here with you. I said none.”

  “Okay, good. This hasn’t happened before. But now that it has, we’ll have to put in new rules about reporters never being allowed inside, regardless of whether or not they’re with guests. I’ll talk to Zach and Jeff about it. Things like this could ruin the reputation for privacy the Sanctuary has built for years.”

  “I know,” Liana said from behind him. “What was Annette thinking? I bet all she cares about is what an interview like that could do to her acting career. How selfish and unfair,” she said haughtily, stroking his arm in a placating manner.

  Greg noticed Gemma look down at her plate, looking uncomfortable. He raked his hair with the arm Liana was caressing so she’d stop, more worried about Gemma’s reaction than Liana’s gesture.

  Now that Annette would be out of the picture, was the drama now going to be between Gemma and Liana? He meant it when he said he didn’t want Gemma involved with Liana’s competitive streak. Gemma was too guileless and Liana could be a bitch when going after something she was desperate for.

  He repressed a sigh, wondering how he was going to handle this without creating more tension in the Sanctuary.

  *****

  Greg was finishing lunch with Liana and her parents, intrigued by the new business proposition put to him by Tony. There was a lot of merit to Tony’s suggestion to build a similar resort on the Sanderses’ farm land in western New South Wales. The Sanderses hoped that the Carmichaels would partner with them for this particular development.