by Maggie Mundy
Mitch turned to ram his body into Brandon. Too late. He didn’t see the lamp come down on his head as the world turned to black.
****
Mitch’s head hurt like hell, but he was alive. He opened his eyes and saw he was slumped up against the wall on the far side of the room. Gemma was awake and staring at him. There was no sign of Brandon and the door was closed.
“Mitch. Are you all right? He plans on killing you and keeping me here forever.”
He could hear the fear in her voice as it cracked under the strain. “It’s all right. We’ll get out somehow. Kurt is outside and is calling the police.” Mitch glanced at the lamp on the floor. The glass shade was smashed and shards of glass were scattered about. He shuffled sideways until he could grasp one of the shards in his hand. Hearing the footsteps on the stairs, he shuffled back to his place by the wall again.
Brandon came in holding the large knife from before. It was still stained with Mitch’s blood. Brandon walked over to the bed and sat down next to Gemma.
“I’m so glad to see you are awake again. I wanted you to see when he dies. You have to know he can never come back for us to be together.” Brandon turned and glared at Mitch. “She was always mine.” He turned back and grabbed Gemma’s face and kissed her.
Mitch kept running the shard of glass back and forth on the rope. He gritted his teeth, using the anger and pain to make him keep going. He could feel the cord fraying and getting looser. He wanted to wring this freak’s neck. Brandon strolled across the room and kneeled before him. He placed the point of the knife on Mitch’s neck. It was now or never. Mitch pulled the cord on his wrists apart and brought his fist up to slam in the side of Brandon’s face.
Brandon fell backward and the knife scuttled across the floor. Mitch made a dive for it, but Brandon grabbed his leg and caused him to trip over. Brandon towered over him and kicked his back. Mitch had to stop him, even though the pain was coursing through his body from the assault. He pulled himself up onto his knees and lunged forward to grab Brandon’s knees and bring him down. Brandon’s head hit the dressing table and he appeared out cold as he lay on the floor.
Mitch scrambled across the floor and picked up the knife. He sat on the edge of the bed and wanted to kiss Gemma, but he needed to get her free first. He cut through the ropes.
“I love you, Gemma. I’m sorry I never said before.”
“I love you, too. Now let’s get out of here.”
Gemma put her legs over the side of the bed and wobbled when she tried to stand. He would carry her, but they would never get up the narrow stairs.
“Can you manage?” Mitch asked.
“I can do anything to get away from that maniac. He needs to be locked up for good.”
Mitch held her hand as they made their way up the stairs. He wanted to kill the guy but would send the police down to deal with Brandon instead.
“She’s mine,” Brandon screamed, and Mitch turned to see him grab Gemma’s leg, causing her to topple backward. Gemma lay at the bottom of the stairs and looked unconscious with her left leg bent at a strange angle.
Mitch took the steps three at a time and charged at Brandon, pushing him back across the room. Brandon’s fist connected with his side wound as they rolled about the floor. Mitch willed himself not to blackout. He knew this would be his last chance. Brandon stood above him and held the knife in his hand. He moved forward and Mitch brought his leg up to kick Brandon in the nuts, causing him to bend over. Mitch grabbed the broken lamp and whacked him over the head. Brandon toppled sideways and knocked one of the candlesticks on the floor.
Mitch hobbled over to Gemma. She was still unconscious. He picked her up and placed her over his shoulder. Her leg looked broken, and if she hadn’t blacked out, she would now. He grabbed onto the rail and, with his last bit of strength, pulled himself up the stairs. He heard police sirens and hoped this nightmare was coming to an end. The smell of smoke caught in his throat as he made his way through the kitchen to the front of the house.
Mitch stumbled onto the front porch and down the steps where his legs finally gave out. Police and paramedics were there. He cried with joy. He handed Gemma over, knowing she would be safe, even though his arms felt so empty without her. The scream from behind made him glance back at the house. Smoke was billowing from the front door as Brandon emerged, on fire. His clothes were all alight as the house burned around him. The wide-eyed crazed expression showed Brandon’s mind was gone. The paramedics grabbed a fire blanket from the ambulance and rolled him up, but Mitch guessed it was too late.
Kurt came and stood next to the trolley as the paramedics examined Mitch.
“Thank God you saved her,” Kurt said.
“How is she?” Mitch asked as he tried to stay conscious.
The paramedic smiled and Mitch took that to be a good sign.
“She’ll pull through, but we need to get both of you to hospital. I’m not sure if you have an internal bleeding from this wound, and she has a broken leg and head injury.” The paramedic put an oxygen mask on him and Mitch lay back. He could relax now, knowing she would pull though. As he was pushed into the waiting ambulance, Mitch peered over to see the cops pull a sheet over Brandon’s body. Thank God, it was finished.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gemma didn’t want to move because that meant pain. Then she remembered everything and considered pain was good. It meant she was alive. Someone was clutching her hand and Gemma gingerly opened her eyes and hoped to God Mitch was still alive.
He mother sat next to her and there were tears in her eyes.
“Oh, my darling. You’re awake.” She stood and bent over the bed to hug Gemma. It had been so many years since they had shown any affection to each other. “I was so worried about you.”
Her mother sat down and Gemma put her hand up to feel her own head. It was bandaged and she wondered if they had needed to shave her. It seemed so irrelevant after what she had been through. Her leg was covered in some form of plaster. There was a drip going into her arm and she reckoned the drugs were stopping the pain from being worse.
“What happened? I remember Mitch being in the basement with me and then I passed out trying to escape. Is Mitch all right?”
“He’s fine though a bit sore like you. He saved you, Gemma. I think I like him a lot as a son-in-law.”
Gemma needed to know what happened to Brandon.
“And Brandon?”
“He was killed in the fire when the house burned down. You should have told us more about the troubles you were having with him. You could have gotten the police to do something. Or your father knows a few Italians who could do the job for you.”
Gemma knew the conversation would come up eventually so decided now was as good a time as any.
“I couldn’t go to the police because Brandon had information on someone and he threatened to make it public. I couldn’t allow that.”
“Whoever you were protecting nearly cost you your life.”
“It was you, Mom. He had information about my real father.” Gemma saw her mother’s skin blanch at her words. “I was going to talk to you, but then you had the heart attack and I thought Brandon would go away.”
“I’m so sorry, my darling. I was such a foolish young woman back then. I never once regretted having you and your father loves you.”
“I know. Mitch and I got married to keep Brandon away. We had a deal. He pretended to be my loving husband and I gave him money. His sister is training to be a doctor and I offered to pay her study fees.” Gemma felt a weight off her chest now she had told the truth.
“Mitch is a proud man. I’m surprised he agreed.” Her mother shook her head and grabbed her hand tighter.
“He wouldn’t take it for himself but he would do anything for his sister.”
“But he seems to care for you very much.”
“Over the months we grew closer and were going to get a house together.”
“I think if the two of you can weather thi
s storm you can cope with anything. If my past comes out, we will be headlines for a few days until the next piece of gossip.”
“But what about your friends?”
“If I lose friends, then so be it. I know enough dirt on them from over the years that they won’t say a thing. Now you should rest. I love you, my darling.”
Tears streamed down both Gemma’s and her mother’s face as the nurse walked in the room.
“You’re awake. Wonderful. I’ll let the doctor know. Looks like we need a few tissues here.”
“I’ll go and find your father and tell him you’re awake. I’m sure Mitch will want to see you, too.”
Gemma lay back on the pillow and closed her eyes. She could rest now, knowing she was safe and Mitch was alive.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Gemma looked in the mirror and tried to stop the tears coming to her eyes. It seemed silly to get so emotional about getting married. After all, she had been married for almost a year. Her dress was a beautiful cream lace Collette Dinnigan creation.
“You look beautiful, Gemma,” Cassi said as she stood behind her. Cassi was holding Lara and Jenny and Gemma was so happy everything had turned out well. If Cassi hadn’t been in labor, she would have been up there fighting Brandon off as well. Gemma didn’t want to think about Brandon today. That was the past and this was a new beginning. Sasha walked in the room and gave her the thumbs up. Lili was there too and was happy this time she would be part of the celebration.
“You look amazing,” Lili said.
Gemma’s stomach did a little flip as her nerves hit. “Now, all we need to do is find someone for you, Sasha.
“No thanks, I’m happy playing the field.”
“I thought Jack was interested in you,” Gemma replied.
“Jack is interested in anything female,” Sasha answered and shook her head.
“I hear Mitch has a deal for his book,” Cassi said.
“I know. Everything is finally working out. I gave him money when we did the fake marriage deal. He gave me a check for it. I didn’t want it but understood it was his pride that made him want to give it back.”
“He’s a good man, Gemma,” Cassi said.
“I know.”
“Your dad is waiting outside. It’s time,” Sasha said
The top floor of their family restaurant in New York was usually used for corporate events and parties, but tonight it was their place. The restaurant downstairs was closed too.
As she walked into the large room, she saw Mitch look back at her. He stood with Declan and Jack at the front. He had arranged everything and today they were renewing their vows in front of all their friends and family. This time there would be no limit on how long they would stay together. After what the two of them had been through, she hoped it was forever.
Her father held her arm. It was two months since her kidnapping, and she was still unsteady on her feet. Her hair had been done so no one could hardly see the scar on her forehead. The hairdresser had cut a fringe and she loved the new look.
Her father gave her hand to Mitch and Gemma glanced back at her mother, who dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Gemma hated what had happened, but the fact that it brought her mother and Mitch closer to her was wonderful.
For now, all she wanted to think about was the gorgeous man standing in front of her. All her life, her relationships were one-sided with her doing the chasing and it all going wrong. Mitch changed that the first moment she met him. Her body reacted back then, but her mind took a while to catch up. Her eyes watered, knowing this man smiling at her wanted her as much as she wanted him. How the hell did that happen?
It brought back memories of Cassi and Declan and she hoped one day she would have a family like them.
****
Okay, it was her wedding night again. Why the heck was she nervous? Mitch had seen her naked before. Neither of them had held back in the past, but right now she was consumed with the thought she would not be enough for him. She was used to expensive hotels, but she suddenly felt a fake, as if her career and Mitch had been a fluke.
She couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever. The little blue negligee suddenly felt too small and she wished she was wearing flannelette pajamas. Mitch knocked on the door.
“You okay, baby? You’ve been in there a while.”
She put on her metaphorical big girl panties and opened the door. Mitch didn’t grab her into his arms but just looked at her.
“My wife looks lost. I need to show her where home is.”
Gemma didn’t think a script writer in the whole of Hollywood could have said it better. She had made her peace with her mother, but her inner demons still haunted her. She took his hands in hers as she stood before him.
“Today has been wonderful and I want to thank you so much for doing this for me. A part of me can’t believe this is real. I keep thinking something will happen and I’ll lose you.” Gemma could hear the break in her voice as her eyes watered.
Mitch shook his head. “You’ve been through so much and I’m not surprised. The doctors said the PTSD will get better. You need to know I’m not going anywhere. I was lucky enough that this crazy girl asked me to marry her once and she said yes again today. I’m not letting go. I’ll spend the rest of my life convincing you and making you forget all those terrible things that happened, starting right now.”
Mitch scooped her up and carried her over to the bed. As always, when he looked at her, she could see the adoration in his eyes. Now she saw love as well. He stood, stripped off his clothes, and lay beside her. He was hard for her and the fact she turned him on now as much as when they first met made her stomach do a little flutter. He made her heart skip a beat she wanted him so much.
He moved on top of her, gently pushing her legs apart so he rested between them, and she could feel his erection pressing against her core. She felt protected in his embrace as he rested on his elbows and gazed down at her.
“I love you so much, Gemma. I never thought I’d find love, and then you came into my life. I plan on being here for you always.”
His words were true and she was safe. It would take time, but she was willing to wait as long as he was there.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mitch’s heart ached that Gemma was not tranquil on this special night. This was not only their first new night as a married a couple again but the first time Gemma was prepared to make love since the kidnapping. She would let him hold her the past few weeks, but when it came to sex, she froze. The doctors said it would take time and he was hoping tonight would be a new beginning.
He liked to be the boss and make her do what he said, but tonight he was going to take it slow and worship her body. She bit her bottom lip. He bent down and placed kisses across her forehead, the tip of her nose, and the corner of her mouth. She turned her face so his lips were on hers. He gently ran his lip back and forth across hers until she opened to him. He did tiny nips along her lower lip and then entered the glorious interior of her mouth with his tongue.
He possessed her mouth and searched every corner of its velvety warmth. It wasn’t so much a passionate kiss but more a slow burn. When he pulled away from her mouth, he trailed kisses to her neck. He did tiny circles with his tongue below her ear where he knew she liked it. She wriggled beneath him so her breasts pressed into his chest. Going slow was going to be harder than he thought it would be. He looked her in the eyes.
“You okay, if we go on?”
Gemma nodded.
He moved down the bed and kneeled between her knees so she could sit up and he could remove her negligee. He never got tired of looking at her body. Mitch lay on top of her again and pecked tiny kisses down to her breasts. He pulled her taut nipple into his mouth and heard the little groan she used to give in the past. Maybe things would be like they used to be, but even better.
He made his way lower. She had a skimpy little G-string on and he could smell her need for him. He sucked her clit through the fine material, but he n
eeded his mouth on her flesh. He sat up and eased her underwear off. He lay back, drew her tight nub into his mouth, and sucked. Then he flicked it with his tongue. He legs jerked. He wanted to give her wonderful sensations that would reach out to every part of her body.
He moved down and thrust his tongue into her channel as his hand came and flicked her clit. Her hands were on his head, moving though his hair and massaging his scalp. It sent tingles down his spine. He needed to be in her, but he didn’t want to go too fast. She groaned and his body yearned for her.
“I want you in me.”
He usually set the rules, but this time he was happy to follow orders. He moved up her body as she put her legs around his hips. He pushed into her, feeling her core clench around him. He moved slowly forward and back and stopped.
“Mitch.”
He stopped, worried her old fears had come back.
“I want you so much. I know you don’t want to hurt me, but don’t hold back.”
His mouth descended on hers as he pushed into her core. She responded by thrusting up to meet him. Their bodies moved together in motion. Slowly at first and then he thrust harder. When they both got close, he slowed down to make it last longer. He didn’t want this wonderful feeling of being so connected with his woman to end.
Gemma groaned and panted as her orgasm started to build. He was so close himself he couldn’t stop, and they both screamed their released together. As he lay in Gemma’s arms, he knew in that moment his world changed forever. She was his soulmate. The one he had been born to find. He was home. He left her looking blissful as he went to make them drinks.
Mitch came back to the bed with the two mugs of hot chocolate. He put his mug down and settled in beside her.
“You know what, Mitch? You’re a bit like hot chocolate.”