Fool Me Once (New England Bay Sharks #2)

Chapter 25

I drive home unhurriedly because what the fuck do I have to hurry to? No girl. No dog. Hell, I don’t even have a fucking goldfish. I probably shouldn’t get one either because what the fuck does a goldfish even do? Exactly. Nothing.

I talked to my brother, Silas, earlier. He only lives a few hours from Saylor now and met up with her for dinner. He said he was worried about her and that she seemed off, and even though she tried to sell him on her loving South Carolina, he didn’t buy it.

I’m going to see if I can get any information out of Gemma, which will probably be pointless because when it comes to Saylor and Gemma, they will ride or die for each other. So, if there’s something Saylor has told Gemma but doesn’t want anyone else to find out, I’m fucked because there’s no way Gem would tell me.

It’s been less than a week since the investigator flew here from California to meet with Gemma, and I haven’t recovered from the footage I saw—and I know I never will either. It’s kept me awake at night and made me physically feel sick. I feel like a failure, not only because I left her, but because I failed at being her friend too. In the times she needed me the most, I was here, living out my dreams as a Bay Shark. When I was at the most exclusive clubs, choosing a puck bunny to take home on my arm, she was probably getting choked or kicked.

My hand grips the steering wheel tighter as that same sick feeling settles in my stomach, making me cringe.

Gemma isn’t in Portland right now. Lori and Will came and got her, taking her home to visit and to make a plan for moving forward. Before she met with the investigator, I’m not sure if either of us would have felt comfortable with her being home. But I think it’s made both of us feel better, knowing that, now, Richie is being watched day and night and he likely won’t be coming to Maine to find her.

Pulling up to my gate, I punch in the code, and slowly, it opens. I drive down my short driveway and squint my eyes when I see figures sitting on my steps.

A stupid-ass grin spreads across my face as I take in Gemma and Storm waiting for me. It’s not the sight of them that has me grinning like an idiot, but the duffel bag and few boxes stacked beside her. That could only mean one thing.

She’s coming home.

I slam my truck into park and open the door eagerly, well aware of how pathetic I look, but not giving a fuck. Pushing my door shut, I suddenly feel nervous as shit, and I stuff my hands into my pockets and head toward them. Right away, Storm’s tail begins to wag, and he runs toward me, nudging his nose against my palm, like he always does.

“Hey, buddy,” I whisper, patting his head.

Even though I’ve seen him a bunch of times since she moved out, this time just feels different.

“What are you doing out here, Firefly? I thought you’d be at your parents’ for a few more days.” My feet crunch on the snow-covered asphalt. “You should have gone inside; it’s cold out here.”

She shrugs a little bashfully and a bit playfully. “Figured this made more of a statement, you know? Sitting inside the warm house didn’t seem as grand of a gesture.” Her smile grows broader. “And I was at my parents’, and then … I asked my mom to bring me back to Portland and drop me off here.”

Even though she’s bundled up with a hat on and her jacket zipped high, I watch her cheeks redden.

“It’s not that bad out,” she peeps. “Refreshing really.”

She asked her mom to bring her here, not back to Kolt’s apartment.

I try not to get ahead of myself or get my hopes up too high as to what this could mean, but, fuck, it’s hard when it comes to her. I’ve missed out on so many years with Gemma, and I don’t want to be apart anymore. Every day gets harder and longer, and I’m just ready to have her here with me.

“Bullshit. You’ve always been a wimp in the cold.” I grin before tipping my chin up. “What’s going on? ”

She pushes herself off the steps, walking toward me and stopping only an inch from my body. She raises her chin, angling her head to look at me, and smiles. Reaching in her pocket, she takes out a small piece of light-blue glass. It’s got some roundness to the sides, but could have been left in the sea for a lot longer to smoothen it up more.

“I found this a few days ago. I—I went looking for sea glass and actually picked up a piece. It was the first time in a very long time that I held one in my hand.” She blows out a breath.

“The reason why I never wanted to go combing the beaches for sea glass anymore was because the last memory I have of my collection was having it heaved at me. I ended up needing stitches that night.” She pushes her hat and hair back, and on her scalp, there’s a scar.

“A few days ago, I walked to the beach. I saw this piece by my feet, and I picked it up.” Taking my hand, she places it in my palm. “The edges are smooth enough. It was shattered recently, and it needs a little more time in the sea. But eventually, it’ll be round and beautiful. It’ll be a piece that people will see and think it looks worthy of taking home to their collection.”

She puts her hands over mine. “My edges aren’t smoothed. And I have to be completely honest with you, Smith—I don’t know if I’m ever going to be the Gemma I was before … everything happened . The girl you were with when I was only seventeen, when the whole world looked so … bright and promising.”

She swallows roughly. “And I don’t know if it’ll be too much for you to be with someone with as much emotional baggage as I have. But I hope it isn’t.”

She takes her hands from mine, tucking the glass back into her pocket. “I don’t want to wait until my edges are smooth again, Smith. Because even at my roughest, you loved me. I just want us to finally get our shot.” She looks down for a split second before moving her head back to look at me. “If you want it, that is.”

“Baby,” I whisper, cupping her face, “it’s the only thing I want.” I bring my lips to hers and kiss her quickly. “I would have waited a thousand years for you, Firefly. But I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to.”

“Really?” She sniffles.

“One thousand percent, Gem. Every part of me is forever changed because of you. And I haven’t been the same since I let you go the first time. I’ll never make that mistake again because I never want to have to live through not having you. Not in this lifetime or any other.”

I kiss her, and even though her lips are warm, she shivers.

“Let’s get you inside,” I murmur. “To our house.”

“I love the way that sounds,” she whispers, holding her hands against my sides. “I really, really do.”

Something in her eyes tells me that even though she might not be completely healed, she’s getting there. They twinkle a little brighter than they did a few weeks ago, and her smile, it’s a bit wider.

It’s so good to see her smile. Like, really, really smile.

I would have waited my entire life just to see that once more.

Once we’ve peeled our jackets and boots off, the tension between us is thick as Smith carries my things into the house, and I trail behind him, breathing in the scent of this place that I’ve missed so much the past few weeks.

Storm runs around him, jumping up on the couch and curling up, and we both laugh.

“For a dog that’s supposed to be tough, that dude does not like the cold,” Smith says, shaking his head as he stops in his tracks.

I know what he’s thinking and what he’s going to ask. If he walks straight, it’ll lead him to the hallway where the three spare bedrooms are, but if he goes right … that’s the master bedroom.

His room.

Just seeing him stop and prepare to give me the option because he doesn’t want to assume anything or push me too far or too fast warms my chest. Smith is a tattooed man who has been known to take no shit, and yet for me, he thinks of my well-being before he lifts a finger or does anything at all that could potentially hurt me.

Before he can ask me what room to take my things in, I trudge around him and head toward his room. “Well, what are you waiting for?” I smirk. “If I’m moving in with you—like really, really moving in for good—I’m not staying in a guest room.” I give him a playful expression. “Besides, your shower is bigger, and you have two walk-in closets, so …”

I wish I had a way to capture the smile that spreads across his face, taking me right back to a much simpler time, when we were just a couple of reckless teenagers who didn’t have a clue. For so long, he looked at me like he was scared he was going to hurt me or that he was sad at the way my life had turned out. Right now though, he’s not looking at me like that. He just looks … happy.

I made him happy simply by being here and by feeling better.

If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

Turning, I give him one last little smirk before I walk toward the bedroom and step inside. I have plans for us for the rest of the day, but they don’t include us leaving this room.

I know he’s behind me when I hear him drop the bag and set the boxes on the wooden floor. I spin to face him too fast, speeding up my heartbeat, and I feel giddy.

The other times I asked—no, begged—him to have sex with me, I was running from my emotions. Now, I’m running to him because I want to be close to him.

His eyes rake over me, but just like he has for weeks, he’s afraid to make the first move.

“I truly appreciate what a gentleman you’ve been since I’ve been in Portland, Smith,” I say, strutting toward him. “But now, I’m going to need you to leave that shit at the door because it’s been far too long and I need you.”

“Gem, I can’t fuck you and not tell you how beautiful you are.” He swallows. “It’s impossible, and I won’t do it.”

“You can tell me those things all you want now. I’m done fighting the inevitable when it comes to you and me.” I bite down on my lip. “But while you do that, I want you to be a little rough with me and stop handling me like I’m a flower.”

He’s somewhere between giving in and voicing a concern. Swallowing thickly, he reaches for me, holding my waist. “Does your therapist think it’s a good idea—”

“Smith, it’s not like it was a month ago, when all I was trying to do was numb the pain. I’m not thinking about the past. I’m just living in the now—with you.” I slide my hand to his abdomen. “I want you to treat me like you did before you ever left. When you weren’t scared that you were going to fuck up and do something wrong.” I move my palm under his shirt. “I’m not going to break, so don’t treat me like I will.”

“Are you using sex to run from everything else?” he rasps, clearly concerned.

I shake my head. “Not the way I was before,” I tell him honestly. “Sex with you will always be an escape. But it’s not how it was the last time we had sex. I promise.”

His eyes observe me like he thinks I might change my mind. Finally convinced, he reaches for my shirt, yanking it over my head before unclasping my bra. “There are so many things I want to do with you. Eat your pussy while your ass bounces on my face until you’re screaming out my name, or maybe tongue-fuck your pussy while you’re on all fours.” He reaches for my leggings and peels them down, right along with my thong. “And after all that, I’m going to fuck you into my sheets so hard that my mattress will forever have an outline of you.”

“Yes,” I whimper out from the words alone, desperate for him to do all of this.

He rubs his thumb along my bottom lip, his eyes dark and swirling with desperation. “I might need to fuck your mouth too.” He drags his thumb down to my neck. “Or your throat since my cock is going to be so deep inside this hot little mouth.”

His lips attack mine, and he slides his hands down my body and grips my ass. “Such a beautiful fucking ass,” he growls. “I might need to eat this too.”

I moan against his lips, wrapping one leg around his body and grinding myself against his jeans. I’m crazed for more, and there is no dark cloud looming over me. I’m just here, in this moment, and loving every second of it.

Releasing his hold on me, he peels his shirt over his head before tugging me by the hand to the bed. Lightly, he pushes me forward, then lifts my legs so that I’m on all fours on the mattress. His mouth finds my ass cheek, and he kisses it before biting down slightly .

He palms my ass before bringing his hips forward and rubbing his jeans against me. Even through the fabric, I can feel his steel erection.

“Feel that, Firefly?” he murmurs, palming my ass again. “That’s what you do to my cock. Just the sight of that hot ass and pretty pussy has me almost coming in my pants.”

I crane my neck to look up at him. “Spank me,” I breathe out, surprising us both. “Please.”

I shouldn’t be shocked, I suppose. In the time we’ve been apart, in my fantasies, I thought about Smith spanking me—among other things. At first, I felt like my brain was messed up. Who would want to get spanked after being abused? But it’s so much deeper than that. There’s unwavering trust between us. With Smith, I feel safe.

He drags in a breath through his nose. There’s no hiding the nervousness on his face. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I whimper. “Please.”

He looks unsure for a split second before his hand comes down on my ass cheek. It’s not overly hard, but enough to make me moan and clench my thighs together. Soon after the spank comes a kiss in the same spot before he repeats the same thing over and over, only to different spots on my ass. Each time, he replaces his palm with his lips.

“Such a good fucking girl for me,” he praises, bringing his hand down again, but this time, when he kisses where he just spanked, his tongue drags across my flesh.

With a hand between my shoulder blades, he pushes me forward slightly and loops an arm around my waist, lifting my ass into the air and spreading my legs further apart.

“You’re glistening for me, Firefly,” he groans before sinking a finger into my heat. “Prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen.”

I look back at him, and with his eyes on mine, he brings the same finger into his mouth and sucks.

“So fucking sweet,” he utters. “Hold on tight to the comforter, baby. I’m going to fuck that tight pussy and ass with my tongue.”

I know I’m dripping solely from his words and watching how much he enjoys tasting me. It doesn’t matter that he’s hardly touched me. This is exactly what I wanted. Him to be raw and real and maybe a little rough.

His palms grip my waist, and his mouth dips between my thighs. As his tongue flicks against my heat, his facial hair tickles my skin, but in the most delicious way possible, making me pant.

His tongue works harder, each stroke more deliberate. His hands grab my thighs. Rocking my center faster against his mouth. I struggle to catch my breath. I’m gasping for air so damn hard from being so desperate for him.

He tongue-fucks me, and I let my head fall against the bed, keeping my ass in the air.

“Smith …” I hiss, gripping the bedsheets even tighter.

His tongue swipes back, hovering over my ass as he grips my ass cheek with his hand.

“Harder,” I grit out through my teeth.

His fingertips dig into my flesh, and I moan loudly. It’s been too long since Smith has treated me like he’s not scared I’m going to break. I needed this. I really, really needed this.

He bites my ass cheek, pulling the flesh between his teeth, just before he lets go and flicks his tongue into my ass. I’m scared—and not entirely sure that this is something I’m into. I can’t stop him though. I’m too turned on, and deep down, I don’t want him to stop. Not at all.

He wraps his hands around my waist and moves my body back and forth, driving his tongue deeper inside of me. Dropping one hand down, he brings his thumb to my heat and rubs it against my clit, and I’m done.

“Smith,” I cry out against the bedding just as he moves his mouth to my pussy and his tongue slips inside. “Smith … I—” I can’t even choke the words out, and there’s no point. I can’t stop this orgasm from coming.

My entire body feels like it’s been dipped in warm, soft sand that prickles my skin and makes my brain go numb. I forget how to talk. How to think.

I’m surprised I even remember how to breathe.

My loud moans are muffled by the comforter against my lips, and my body grows weaker as the warm, sandy feeling slowly dissipates.

Pulling his head back, he kisses my back. “God, I missed feeling your pussy squeeze my tongue.” He gives my ass a slight spank. “Roll over, baby. Time for you to show me how much you’ve missed this cock.”

With her on her back and her beautiful tits on full display, I climb on top of her. My cock drips, so ready to fuck her throat that I can’t think straight. Her long brown hair is a tousled mess against the pillow, and her lips are parted wide and ready for me.

I run my hand over the top of her head and through her hair. “Ready to suck on my dick, baby?”

She doesn’t bat an eyelash, but instead licks her lips and nods.

“Yes,” she whispers. “Please, Smith.”

“Please what?” I continue running my hand over her hair, but tug a little harder now. “Be more specific, Firefly. I need to know what it is you’re asking from me.”

“Fuck my mouth,” she hisses, squirming under me needily. “Please.”

I skim my hand down her cheek, smirking at her. “Well, since you asked nicely, baby.”

Bringing my cock to her mouth, I drag the tip over her lips, groaning when her tongue pokes out, giving it a lick.

I thrust in only a few inches at first before pulling back out and going back in, this time deeper and hitting the back of her throat with force.

“That’s it, my good girl,” I somehow coo through my painfully hard cock being sucked by this absolute goddess. “You can take me; I know you can.”

She leans her head up the slightest bit, edging me deeper into her throat, and I rock my hips back and forth, almost a fucking goner because her wet mouth feels so fucking good on my dick.

Another minute or two of her lips wrapped around my cock, and I’m going to be coming down her throat, so I pull out and move back down her body.

“I need to fuck this pussy, Gem,” I growl, parting her legs and running my fingers over her heat. “Are you ready for me?”

“Yes,” she breathes out instantly .

I nudge the head of my cock into her entrance, slow at first, until she wraps her legs around my waist, silently demanding me to go deeper. I thrust my hips against hers, and she cries out the most delicious fucking moan. Her legs tighten around my waist, and her nails dig into my back.

I thrust harder, picking up my pace and burying my face into her neck. “Feels so fucking good,” I grunt. “Your pussy takes my cock so well, baby.”

I don’t hold back as I pound into her small body, pushing her frame deeper into the mattress with every thrust of my hips. It’s been too long since I’ve been buried inside of her, and I count my lucky fucking stars when her pussy starts to convulse around me because my balls are already tingling and my dick is ready to fucking blow.

Rearing my head back, I stare at her while we both come. Her nostrils flare, and her eyes flutter the slightest, but her blue eyes stay on mine.

It doesn’t feel like it has the other times since she’s been back. Those times, I knew she was using sex as an escape from her reality. Right now, she’s here because she wants to be. She’s mentally present, and that’s pretty fucking special to me.

“I love you,” I manage to grunt as my hips continue to smash into hers just before my body begins to tremble.

“I love you,” she says, gasping for air. “So much.”