by Codi Gary
It wasn’t until they reached the door that Gemma saw the sign:
CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT.
“You rented out a movie theater?”
Her voice sounded a little high-pitched, but really, the amount of money that it must have cost!
“I talked with the manager and got a great price. I figured you’d rather have a night alone without people and their camera phones. Besides, if I’m going to try to keep us under wraps, we have to have privacy.”
Gemma shook her head in disbelief as an older man opened the door for them, looking like he was about to keel over.
“Mr. Bowers, welcome.”
Travis and the manager exchanged pleasantries as her husband slipped his arm around her waist. “Are you hungry?”
She’d eaten a wrap for dinner, but the smell of popcorn and hotdogs reached her nose, making her stomach grumble. “I could probably go for some popcorn.”
GEMMA HAD NEVER laughed so hard in her entire life.
She’d sat down with Travis for the first movie, an action adventure, and cuddled into his side when he slipped his arm behind her seat. Twenty minutes in, she had been so done with all the shoot-’em-up-bang-bang, she was fidgeting in her seat.
“Wanna see something else?”
She’d looked at Travis in the darkened theater and whispered back, “Can we do that?”
He’d grabbed her hand and laughed. “For the amount of money I’m paying, we can do whatever you want for the next,” he looked at his phone, “three hours and twenty-four minutes.”
“In that case, I’ve always wanted to movie hop,” she said, grinning.
And that’s exactly what they’d done, hopping from theater to theater until they’d settled on a romantic comedy she’d been planning to see with Gracie. Between the food, the running around like a couple of kids, and the movie, Gemma’s face and stomach hurt from all the laughter.
Of course, cuddling with Travis had been a bonus. A major one.
The credits rolled on the movie, and Gemma yawned as she sat up, stretching. “That was fun.”
She caught Travis’s smile and asked, “What? Do I have nacho cheese on my face?”
“I was just thinking that this is something I could get used to,” he said softly.
“What, paying whole theaters to close down to everyone but you?” she teased.
He leaned over and took her mouth with his, playing across her lips until she was melting in her seat.
“I meant being with you, for real. Nothing between us. No lies. No secrets.” His mouth moved along her neck, and her nipples tightened and tingled. “Just us having fun and being happy.”
“Uh-hmmm.”
They turned to face the manager, who looked very uncomfortable. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Mr. Bowers, but I’m afraid it’s time.”
Travis sighed loudly but helped her stand, keeping hold of her hand as they passed the manager. Gemma tugged Travis to a stop and with her other hand squeezed the man’s arm. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
The man’s cheeks reddened. “It was no trouble, ma’am. Your husband was more than generous.”
They walked out of the theater and into the cool summer air. When Travis dropped her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders, she snuggled in closer, enjoying the warmth and comfort Travis’s arms had always held for her. From the moment they’d met, she’d felt connected to him, like they were kindred spirits. She’d never felt that way about anyone else, ever.
He’d been the first man to ever accept her for the way she was, flaws and all. He’d held her when she’d been hurt and embarrassed, teased her sadness away with his charm. She had never even been tempted by another man, because no one could take the place in her heart that Travis had stolen.
He helped her into the truck, and without a word, she lifted the console, slid over to the middle seat, and buckled herself in. When he hopped behind the wheel, she cuddled into his side and laid her head on his chest.
“So, as far as first dates go, what do you think?”
I think I still love you.
“It was all right.”
His chest shook under her cheek. “How could I have done better?”
She smiled into his shirt. “Ice cream.”
“I’ll remember that.”
TRAVIS PARKED THE truck in the driveway and looked down at Gemma, fast asleep with her head on his shoulder. Her lips were softly parted and deep breaths warmed the front of his shirt as she slept.
Kissing her forehead, he whispered, “Gem, we’re home.”
“Hmmm.” She stirred against him and squinted, a sleepy smile on her face. “You are so hot.”
Chuckling in surprise, he slid his arm down and squeezed her against him. “You’re pretty damn sexy yourself.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He couldn’t tell if she was kidding by her tone and asked quietly, “Is that what you think? That I’m lying to you?” Will she never trust me?
She pushed herself up to look at him. “No, that’s not what I meant. I was just kidding.”
He tried to relax, to believe her, but he couldn’t help wondering whether, if they reconciled and he went back on the road, she would always wonder and have doubts. Would she always worry about him cheating?
Someone knocked on the window, and Travis looked past Gemma to see Jenny Andrews, the babysitter, shivering outside the truck.
Gemma pulled away from him completely and opened the door. “Jenny, is everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, Gemma, it’s just . . . I really need to get home. If I’m out past twelve, my mom has a fit, you know?”
Travis got out and pulled his wallet from his pants. As he came around the front of the truck, he handed Jenny a stack of bills. “Thanks, Jenny.”
Jenny looked at the cash and him with wide eyes. “Mr. Bowers, I only charge four dollars an hour.”
“Put it toward college.” He walked away, leaving Gemma to say good-bye, and headed for the house, a cloud of darkness hanging over his head. Maybe he had reacted so quickly to Gemma’s joke because of her lack of trust ten years ago, but he needed to get a grip. He had been the one to suggest they let go and start over. If that was the case, he couldn’t read something into every little remark or they would never heal.
Chapter Twenty
* * *
TRAVIS SAT IN his room, stroking Stormy’s sleeping form. The tiny cat never moved; the only acknowledgment that she liked what he was doing was the loud purr shaking his hand.
A knock on his door sounded quietly, and Travis called, “Come in.”
Gemma peeked her head in, and her eyes flickered down to his hand. “I just wanted to finish that conversation we started outside.”
“It’s fine, Gemma. I really don’t want to get into it—”
“I don’t think you’re lying to me about making us work. About being a real family.” She walked across the room until she stood right in front of him.
“But . . .?”
“There’s no but. I said I believe you about the girl ten years ago, and I meant it. I trust you.” She reached out and ran her hands over his shoulders, moving them lightly down his arms.
“Yeah, but how are you going to feel when I’m on tour and you see pictures of me and my tour mates at functions, or fans hanging on me? Are you going to believe me when I tell you there’s nothing going on?”
She hesitated, and he figured he had his answer, but she surprised him. “If I see pictures of scantily clad woman hanging all over you, I can’t tell you I won’t be jealous, because I know I will. If I see you with your hands on any part of their body . . . well, I’ll just tell Gracie, and you know how ornery she can be.” She smiled as she continued, “But other than that, I’m going to try very, very hard to remember that I don’t want to jump to anymore conclusions where you’re concerned.”
Feeling a little better, especially as her hands traveled over his chest and down toward his stom
ach, he felt his cock stir with excitement as she flattened her palm, her fingers inching toward the top of his jeans.
“I always wanted abs with bumpy muscles like yours,” she said, bringing a startled laugh out of him.
“You wanted a six-pack?”
“I always thought it was so sexy, all that muscle popping up into hard ridges.”
Her hand slipped up under his shirt, and his erection jerked at the soft strokes. Fighting his desires, he reached down and laced her fingers with his. “Stop.”
“Was I tickling you?” she asked, and he could have sworn her tone held a teasing lilt to it.
“No, you were turning me on, and I’m trying to be a gentleman,” he said bluntly.
There was a pregnant pause, and then a soft whisper broke the tension. “You don’t have to.”
“Don’t have to what?” he practically growled.
Her hair fell forward as she leaned over him, and in a flash he was nineteen again, staring up at the girl he loved.
“You don’t have to be a gentleman.”
She dropped her lips to his, and he let her kiss him, her lips fusing to his. When she slipped her tongue into his mouth, he kissed her back, his hand reaching up to slide into her curtain of hair. Their mouths melded softly, tasting and rediscovering each other, and she shifted over him until she straddled his lap.
Travis used one hand to gently push the kitten out of the way as he scooted back on the bed. Stormy let out a disgruntled meow, and Gemma pulled back. “Did I smoosh her?”
“No.”
“Mmmm . . . hold on.” Suddenly, she was off his lap, picking up the fuzzy kitten, and disappearing out of the room.
The space between them gave him the chance to think rationally. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Gemma; he did, especially since his cock was harder than dry cement. He just didn’t want her having regrets later.
“All right,” Gemma said as she came back, shutting the door behind her. With an evil grin, she started moving toward the bed, her hips rolling with every step. “Where were we?”
In one last attempt to be the voice of reason, he stopped her hands, poised at the bottom of her dress and ready to lift it.
“I thought you didn’t want to do this with Charlie in the house.”
She dropped her hands and leaned over him again, her breasts pressing against his chest. He felt the warmth of her mouth next to his ear as she said, “Don’t worry. If you start to get loud, I’ll just cover your mouth with my hand.”
He jerked with surprise, and before she could try anything else, he flipped her over onto her back. Moving over her, he took her hands and held them on the bed gently. “You don’t have to do this just because you think you’ll hurt my feelings. We can wait.”
He wanted her to want him because she really cared. Not just to make up for their past.
“I’m not. I’ve thought all week about the mistakes I’ve made and the things I regret. I don’t want to waste my time not being with you. There’s a reason why you’re the only man I’ve ever been with, Travis. No other man, even Michael, could measure up to what you meant to me.” She said it softly, her eyes warm. Her gaze never wavered or dropped from his.
His heart slamming in his chest at her admission, he wanted to believe her. He wanted it to be true, and that she wasn’t just being nostalgic or lonely. “Why?”
Watching her face as she stared at him boldly, he held his breath. “Because I love you.” Pulling her hands from his grasp, she touched his cheek softly and pleaded, “Make love to me, Trav.”
Despite his doubts, he wanted her too much to say no.
GEMMA MOANED AS Travis lowered his head and ran his mouth along the sensitive skin of her neck, her hands skimming over his shoulders and back. She could feel the steel of his erection pressed against her and ached to get closer, but Travis wasn’t letting her speed things along.
Slowly, he helped her sit up and pull her dress over her head. His big hands covered her breasts before she had a chance to feel self-conscious, and just the slide of his rough touch on her sensitive flesh made her squirm and cup the back of his head with her hand, bringing his mouth back to hers. Flat on her back again, he shifted off her slightly and moved his hands from her breasts to reach down to her panties.
Wiggling, she tried to help him. Protesting when he pulled away from her, she stopped when he grabbed the sides of her undies, bringing them down one slow inch at a time, exposing her skin to the cool air and his warm mouth. He used his lips and tongue on her flesh, her thighs, the dimple of her knee, and the arch of her foot. Tossing her panties across the room, he made his way back up, brushing her calves and inner thighs with his lips so softly it made her tingle and jerk.
When his hot breath met the sensitive flesh between her legs, she grabbed the blanket with her fists and arched up with a soft whine, wanting him to just take her. Instead, his searching mouth found the small nub hidden beneath her wet folds and tongued her mercilessly, sucking the hard flesh into his mouth and flicking it quickly back and forth.
Grabbing a pillow, she bit into it to smother her cries of ecstasy as she felt the pressure between her legs build until the heavy throb turned into a drumbeat and she came hard. Muscles trembling and legs taut, she shook with the aftereffects of her orgasm.
It took her a minute to come up through the fog and realize that his warmth was gone. Her hazy gaze found him next to the bed, stripping and grabbing a condom from his duffel bag. Holding out her arms, she sighed when he came back to her, settling his hardness against the opening of her spread thighs. She reached up to stroke his face, and he didn’t look away as he slowly slipped inside her, the throbbing starting back up again.
Lifting her mouth to his, she kissed him as he pushed himself all the way in, and she felt so complete that tears filled her eyes. His tongue brushed against hers, and when he still didn’t move, she broke the kiss to whisper, “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head, then dropped his forehead to hers. “No, Gem, everything is just right.”
Slowly, he started to move, and the tension inside her rebuilt as they kissed, touched, and whispered tender words. Gemma held on tight to his biceps as she started to climb again and gasped, “Almost.”
Still moving at a steady pace, he didn’t waver until she fell apart, her cry of pleasure caught by his eager mouth. A few seconds later, she felt him stiffen and flex inside her, his groan of release meshing with hers.
Trying to catch her breath, she said, “I don’t think I can move.”
His laugh was shaky. “Me neither.”
Still feeling his hardness inside her, she squirmed a little. “Didn’t you . . . come?”
“Yeah, I went. It just takes a while to go down,” he said, smiling in the dark.
Slipping out of her, he rolled to his side, and she reached out for him, protesting, “I didn’t say you needed to get off me.”
He kissed her nose and responded, “Staying inside you wasn’t helping my erection go away. You’re so tight and warm . . . .”
“Shut up,” she hissed, covering his mouth with her hand in mortification.
Laughing behind her palm, he reached up and moved it away, giving it a soft kiss in the center. “I’m going to get cleaned up.”
That was her cue, and she climbed off the bed. “Yeah, I should get to my own bed.”
“Hey.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “You don’t need to go yet.”
“But if Charlie has a nightmare or something . . .”
“We’ll hear him. You can grab one of my T-shirts and run to the rescue, but I’m not ready to let you go.” He swung his legs to the floor and pulled her between them, bringing her back into the circle of his arms. Kissing her lips, he held her tight, and she melted into him, unable to say no.
Finally breaking the kiss, he said, “Now get back into that bed and wait for me.”
Standing up, he lifted her back onto the bed with a grin and left the room. She heard the fauce
t turn on in the bathroom and cuddled under the blankets, her eyes drifting as she waited for him. Sleepily, she heard the water turn off and before too long, a warm male body curled up along her body.
Lips settled over the back of her neck, he whispered, “Are you ready for round two?”
Wiggling her butt against him, she teased, “Are you?”
Travis wrapped his hand around her breast and squeezed it gently. “I’m always ready for you, Gem.”
He massaged her breasts and rubbed against her until she felt him grow hard again. Murmuring and clenching her thighs together, she pushed back against him. When Travis released her breast and she heard the sound of a condom wrapper in his hand, she whispered, “I have an IUD, just so you know.”
She felt him still behind her. “What are you saying, Gemma?”
Cheeks burning in the dark, she was glad he couldn’t see her. “I just meant that . . . if the condom rips or . . . or you don’t want to use it . . . it’s okay. We’re protected.”
Strong arms wrapped around her and he said, “Are you saying you don’t want me to use one?”
“I . . . forget it. I just wanted you to know that there wouldn’t be any more accidents, that’s all. That if something happened and the condom failed, I wasn’t trying to get pregnant or trap you,” she said shakily.
When she’d first started to show during her pregnancy, a few people had suggested that was exactly what she’d done, and she’d tried to pretend it hadn’t hurt. Gracie had called them all idiots, and Michael had told her anyone with half a brain would know that wasn’t true. Still, she had worried a few times that if Travis ever found out about Charlie, he might wonder.
His arms tightened. “We’re already married, Gemma. We have a son. I don’t know how much more trapped I could be.”
She tensed. “Is that how you feel?”
“Stop it!” he said, squeezing her. “I was kidding, or couldn’t you hear that in my voice?”
“I just don’t want you thinking that I got pregnant on purpose, or tried to . . .”