“So we’ve really found the person responsible for all this drama?” Gemma asked.
Zach nodded. “We have a strong case against her that could land her in pretty deep trouble. If she doesn’t stop, we’ll have no choice but to report her to the police.”
“All I want her to do is to stop everything,” Gemma said. “I don’t particularly want her to go to jail, or get a huge fine, or anything like that, especially if she has a child.”
“We don’t want that either,” Zach confirmed.
Gemma nodded.
“Hi, everyone,” Rick said, sitting next to her.
Gemma had no choice but to push aside the topic of Greg and his ex, forcing herself to enjoy the company and the food.
*
When dessert was served, there were oohs and ahhs around the table.
“Wait till you taste them, honey,” Jeff said to Sarah, already gobbling up the food with his eyes.
“Can I take a picture of them before we dig in?” Rebecca asked. “They look incredible.”
“Great idea, Rebecca,” Rick said, pulling out his phone. “Greg’s not the biggest sweet tooth around, but he loves these. And he hasn’t been here in a while. Let’s make him jealous.”
Gemma had to smile, remembering what Greg had said about him and Rick loving to egg each other on just about anything.
Rick asked one of the wait staff to take a picture of their group with his phone.
“Let’s make him insanely jealous,” Rick said to Gemma, putting his arm on the back of her chair and leaning close to her as they posed for the shot.
Gemma put on the biggest smile she could for the camera, although sadness filled her inside.
Greg wouldn’t care. He didn’t love her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Greg said goodnight to the guests he’d been entertaining, glad he could now go back to his cottage. He’d been distracted all night, wondering how Gemma took the news that the woman who wanted to destroy Gemma’s business and reputation had previously claimed that he’d fathered her child. He worried that Gemma might be thinking badly of him.
It also bothered him that Gemma was having dinner with Rick.
Rick was attracted to Gemma, and his cousin wasn’t the type to waste time when he wanted a girl. No doubt that was the reason why Rick had invited Gemma and the others to dinner. Thing was, Rick was just as big a playboy as he'd been, and Rick had no business messing around with Gemma.
He pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket and his eyes narrowed into slits. On the home screen was a message from Rick—with a photo attachment. And Rick had his arm tightly around Gemma, his head bumping hers as they smiled for the camera.
Heat rose to his face, his heart pounding hard. He knew Rick was doing this to annoy him. But why the hell did Gemma look so... happy?
He nodded his thanks to the valet, who had his cottage golf cart waiting for him, and then he drove off, tapping Rick’s number.
“Hey, Greg. How’s it going?” Rick said with infuriating cheer.
“Keep your hands off my girlfriend, Rick.” He’d meant for his words to come out lightly, but he heard himself grind them out.
There was a brief silence before Rick chuckled. “Girlfriend? I didn’t even know you have a girlfriend, dude. Who are you talking about?”
Greg bristled. “Gemma. So don’t even think about making a move on her.”
“Oh, really?” Rick said, sounding surprised. “Are you sure about that? Because Gemma didn’t say. Neither did Zach, nor Jeff, nor the other girls.”
He felt a pinch in his chest. “Well, now you know,” he said.
“Yeah, right, bro,” Rick said with a sarcastic laugh.
Greg suppressed a sigh. Of course Rick wouldn’t believe him. His cousin would think this was about him wanting to compete. “Can you pass the phone to Gem?”
“Oh, she’s in the bathroom.”
“Okay. Can I talk to Zach then?”
“No. They’re not here. I’m at home.”
He frowned. “I thought you said Gemma’s in the bathroom.”
“Yes. My bathroom.”
“What is she doing at your place?” he asked, his gut wrenching.
“Well, I offered to drive her home. And since my place was on the way, I thought I’d give her a tour of it.”
Greg stopped the golf cart and got out, raking his hair. What on earth was Gemma thinking, agreeing to go to Rick’s place?
“I think she likes it here, bro,” Rick said. “I’m sorry, but you lose this one. I’m pretty sure I can convince her to stay the night.”
“Don’t you dare lay a finger on her, Rick,” he growled. “Or I’ll kill you the next time I see you.”
Rick laughed his ass off. “Hell, man. I never thought I’d see Mr. Commitment-Phobic fall in love. Who would have thought?”
In love? Greg froze, apart from his chest heaving from the large amount of air he had to take in.
“Hey, you still there?” Rick asked.
“Yeah. I gotta go. Tell Gemma I’ll call her in a few minutes.”
*****
Greg got to his cottage and made a beeline for the fridge, taking out a bottle of beer. His hand shook as he took a swig.
What the fuck did he know about being in love? And why the hell was he so goddamn scared?
Oh, he knew why. He was a terrible boyfriend. He didn’t know the first thing about keeping a woman. He only knew how to leave them.
But for the first time in his life, he was petrified that he was the one who was going to be dumped.
He took a deep breath and called Gemma. He just needed to hear her voice.
“Hey.”
“Rick, please give the phone to Gemma,” he said, trying not to lash out at his cousin for having the audacity to answer Gemma’s phone.
There was a snicker. “Do I sound like Rick?”
He frowned. “Zach?”
“Yeah. Have you forgotten your own brother’s voice?”
“No, I just... what are you doing there?” he asked, confused.
“What do you mean? I’m at home.”
“Your home?”
“Yeah. Gemma’s here. Bec invited her to stay for the night so they could talk. They’re out having a late-night dip in the pool, that’s why I picked up Gem’s phone.”
“She’s not at Rick’s?”
“No. What gave you that idea?”
“Bastard,” Greg muttered, although a big wave of relief crashed over him.
Zach laughed. “Rick played a trick on you, did he?”
“He told me Gemma was at his place. And that he was going to convince her to stay the night.”
Zach chortled even harder.
“It’s not funny! Do you know what it feels like to think that your girlfriend doesn’t want you anymore?”
Zach stopped laughing. “You know I do. You’re right. It’s hell. Sorry, bro.”
Zach’s tone held meaning which made Greg even more nervous. “Do you think Gemma wants to dump me?” he asked in a low voice, trying to keep panic at bay.
Zach didn’t answer straight away, and Greg found his eyes misting. “Zach, please. Don’t joke around.”
“I think you two should talk.”
“Then I want to go back to Sydney tomorrow.”
Zach sighed. “Okay. Bec and I can fly there for the weekend and welcome our overseas partners. I’ve been meaning to see them again in person anyway.”
“Thanks, Zach.”
Greg hung up and paced the living room. He had a lot of planning to do. He’d never grovelled to a woman before in his life. Now he couldn’t wait to do it to Gemma.
*****
Greg walked to Gemma’s building and faltered when he saw her up ahead, walking slowly and... talking to Matt, the neighbour she’d gone out to dinner with. Matt was gesturing around as if he was telling her a funny story, and she was smiling up at him.
He hastened his pace to catch up to them.
�
��Hi, guys,” he said, interrupting them from behind.
Gemma turned around, startled.
“Hello, Greg,” Matt said—a little coldly, Greg thought.
“What are you doing here?” Gemma asked. “Aren’t you still supposed to be at the Sanctuary?”
“Zach didn’t tell you I was coming?”
“No. Bec did say they were going there for the weekend. She asked me if I wanted to come but... um... I’m busy.”
His heart constricted. Gemma didn’t want to see him.
The three of them rode the elevator in silence, the tension in the air palpable.
When they got off, Matt handed the grocery bag he was carrying to Gemma. “Here you go, Gem. Call me anytime you need me.”
“Thanks,” Gemma answered.
Greg glared at the back of Matt’s head as the man went into his apartment. Didn’t he know Gemma was his girlfriend?
No. Obviously not. They were supposed to hide it. And he no longer wanted to.
They entered Gemma’s apartment and he waited for her to turn around so they could kiss hello. But she didn’t.
“Gem,” he said softly, grasping her arms and making her face him.
He tilted her chin with a finger so she would look into his eyes, but she dropped her gaze and walked away from him.
“Do you want a drink?” she asked nervously, going to the kitchen. “Hot chocolate?”
Unmercifully strong hands squeezed his heart, bringing tears to his eyes. Even an idiot like him could read that body language. She didn’t want him anymore.
It wasn’t surprising. Why would someone as beautiful and wonderful as Gemma want to stay with a known commitment-phobic who hadn’t done anything to let her know she was special? But, damn it, he was ready to change.
“Greg?” Gemma called out from around the corner.
“Yes, please,” he answered, composing himself before following her.
Gemma started preparing the hot drinks while he stood by the breakfast nook, feeling like all joy was being sucked out of him.
“So why are you in Sydney today?” Gemma asked.
“To see you,” he said.
Gemma glanced at him in surprise before taking a deep breath and fully facing him. “Greg, I’ve been meaning to talk to you...”
Her tone was like a dagger to his heart. He knew what was coming.
“I had fun with you,” Gemma said. “But...” She looked down to the ground.
Pain zipped through Greg. Just as he’d thought, Gemma was breaking up with him.
“Gem, I’m sorry I didn’t do anything special for you on Valentine’s Day,” he said, his voice quiet but pleading. “I didn’t even notice the date. My only excuse is that I’ve never celebrated it before, so I wasn’t prepared for it at all.”
Gemma inhaled deeply, but she still didn’t look at him.
“I’m sorry I’ve been slack in not calling you,” he continued, his desperation escalating. “My schedule at the Sanctuary has been ridiculous, especially since Zach and Jeff weren’t around to share the load of entertaining the guests. We just didn’t anticipate that they’d literally want to talk to me all the time. But I did miss you. A heck of a lot. More than I can tell you.”
Gemma chewed her bottom lip, shaking her head as she looked out the window. “I don’t want this anymore,” she whispered.
He sank on a stool and dropped his elbows on the counter, burying his head in his hands. He felt the tears on his fingers.
So this is what heartbreak feels like.
He lifted his head to look at her. “Gem,” he called softly.
She dragged her troubled gaze to him.
“I love you,” he said, tears he couldn’t stop rolling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry that I got so scared by this feeling. I just didn’t know how to handle it. But I realised that I’m more terrified of losing you than anything else. Is it really too late?”
Gemma stared at him with round eyes and a gaping mouth.
He waited anxiously for her response, desperate to hear that the door wasn’t closed to him.
“What did you say?” she asked shakily.
“I said is it really too late—”
“No,” she interrupted. “Before that.”
His heart pounded harder. “I love you," he whispered.
Gemma sobbed as she came bounding to him. He almost toppled over when she launched herself at him, but he caught her.
“Gem?” he asked in disbelief, cupping her face, which was wet from her tears.
“I love you too, Greg,” she said with a sniff. “I thought we had no future together, and I couldn’t stay with you if that was the case. But if you really love me, then I can wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“For you to be ready for commitment.”
He smiled, tenderly stroking her face with his thumbs. “I’m ready, sweetheart. I never thought I’d say that, but I am.”
“Really?” Gemma asked, her face shining with happiness.
“Really,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her and gathering her close.
He felt all heaviness dissolve as they held each other tight, and he knew he’d never want to let Gemma go. How could he, when his heart had finally found its home in her?
She lifted her head to look at him. “Say it again,” she demanded softly.
He smiled. “I love you, Gem.”
With a cute squeal, she went for his mouth and kissed him so sweetly, yet so passionately, that if a human body could literally melt from feeling so much love, he’d be a puddle on the floor.
And with a speed that didn’t surprise him, he was hard and aching to have her.
Without breaking their kiss, he pulled her up so her legs were around his waist. Then he sat her on the bench top. One hand went to stroke her thigh while the other lifted her top to reveal her breasts, covered in black bra. With deft fingers, he unhooked the garment. Gemma helped him by taking her blouse off and discarding her bra.
“I’m already hard for you, baby,” he whispered as his lips travelled to her neck.
“Really?” she asked, unbuttoning his shirt.
“Uh-huh,” he said, his hands roaming her body.
“Do you want to see if I’m already wet?” she asked seductively.
“Oh, yeah.” He grabbed the stool and sat on it again—in front of her parted legs. He gave Gemma a carnal smile, and she responded by biting her lip, her breath coming faster.
He positioned the other stools on either side of him and rested her feet on them. Then he pulled her hips closer to the edge and pushed her legs further apart.
Gemma let out a little mewl.
He started kissing her inner thigh, slowly moving up as he caressed the length of her beautiful legs. He took his time getting to the apex, and by the time he got there, he knew she was soaked. Her smell was intoxicating.
“I guess it’s time to see what’s behind this,” he said, hooking the crotch of her panties and moving it to the side. “Ooh, a nice juicy pussy.”
Gemma giggled.
He licked her slit. “Mm. And it tastes good,” he murmured.
“Honey,” Gemma cried softly.
“Better than honey,” he quipped.
She giggled again, more breathless this time.
He parted her to give him more access to her nub, then he set his eager tongue loose on it.
“Ahh,” Gemma gasped, her hand going to his head to hold it in place.
He laved and sucked, untiring, loving her lusty reaction. It made him so damned horny that he undid his belt and unzipped his jeans so he could stroke himself while he licked her.
“Greg,” she panted, “you’re gonna make me come so soon.”
“Mmm,” he answered, closing his avid lips on her clit.
Gemma tried to push his head away. Instead of obeying her half-hearted gesture, he increased the pressure of his tongue on her.
“Oh God... Greg...I want you inside me when I come,” Gemma moaned.<
br />
Ah, that he couldn’t say no to. He stood up and placed his arms around her. “You’re so hot,” he said.
“I want to burn with you,” she murmured, locking her arms around his neck.
His cock jerked. “And. I. Can’t. Wait,” he said, punctuating each word with kisses on her face.
“Then what are you waiting for?” she asked, wrapping her legs around his waist and trapping his hardness between their bodies.
He groaned, clutching her tight, before carrying her to the bedroom.
He laid Gemma on the bed, but she swiftly sat up and proceeded to run her tongue on his erect cock. He let her suck him—it felt too good to ask her to stop—but he could only take it for so long. He, too, needed to be driving into her when he came.
Swiftly, he got on his back and pulled Gemma on top of him. They kissed hungrily, as if they’d been starving for days, as they touched each other everywhere they could with feverish hands.
“Need you now,” Gemma breathed, raising herself to insert his hardness in her wet core. And then she rode him, taking all of him inside her body and rolling her hips.
He moaned from the incredible sensation, exulting at being joined with her in the most intimate of ways. Their eyes locked, each watching the expression of the other as their bodies moved in perfect sync.
Somewhere in the region of his heart, he felt it again—that connection which touched his very soul and took him to a place he never knew existed until he met Gemma.
He knew she felt it too. He saw it in her eyes as her hips undulated faster, making him groan in sheer pleasure.
“Greg... I love you,” Gemma whispered before she cried out loud, her body trembling hard above him as a powerful orgasm rocked her.
With his heart bursting in his chest, he joined her in ecstasy, shooting hot jets of come inside her while repeatedly saying “I love you, too” almost incoherently.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Seven months later...
Gemma’s face crinkled in amusement at the text that appeared on her phone.
*Boys having too much fun at the race track. Love you.*
She texted Greg back.
*Glad you’re enjoying it, honey. Love you too.*
It was Greg’s birthday today, and his brothers, with Connor and Ash, had taken him out to the car racing track for the whole afternoon.
At Last (Time for Love, #5) Page 16