23. Elijah
My beautiful gem stands in that elevator like a deer in headlights.
“Well, hello there. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I wanted to say sorry for snapping at you earlier.”
“Already forgotten.”
“Can we talk?”
I step back. “By all means, come in.”
Already prepared dinner.
Gemma steps out of the elevator, the doors closing behind her.
“Drink?” I walk into the living room, followed by her small footsteps.
“No, thank you.”
Brandon’s lasagna is already laid out on the couch table.
“Oh. Do you expect someone?”
“Yes. You.” I turn to face her.
“You knew I’d come?”
“I know my sister, and I know you.” My sister presumably told her everything. I’d bet on it, but still, I wasn’t sure Gemma would come.
She fiddles with the strap of her purse, not meeting my eyes.
“Sit down and let’s eat. It’s already past noon.”
“Don’t you eat at a table?”
“This is more comfortable.”
“Wait, is that lasagna?” She eyes the food.
One of her favorites.
Her eyes shoot up to me, wary. “Strictly business?”
“Strictly.” I clench my fist behind my back, gesturing for her to sit.
She concedes and sits down on the couch. I sit down close to her, our knees almost touching. She tenses but doesn’t move away.
“So, business?”
“Right.” She eyes the lasagna again but doesn’t move to take any. “I wanted to thank you for doing all this. I really like your sister.”
“I’m glad you two hit it off. She doesn’t warm up to anyone.” I scoop some lasagna. “How about we start with you having a taste before we get into business? This is my brother’s recipe. Best lasagna in the city.”
Her mouth opens, presumably to rebuke me, but I give her a begging look as I pass her the plate. “Please, eat.”
“Thanks.”
Gemma takes a small bite, the tension in her shoulders easing as the flavors hit her tongue. The wonders lasagna can do.
I want nothing more than to reach out and touch her, but I resist. It’s too soon.
“Oh wow, this is really good.”
“Told you.” I try to keep my face straight. “Now, for—”
“Did you really end it with Esther?” Her fork rattles against the plate in her lap.
Business?
“Yes, I ended it with Esther.” I meet Gemma’s gaze directly. “I told you before, she meant nothing to me. It was a business arrangement to please my father.”
Gemma glances away, fiddling with her fork. “Right.”
“Hey.” I tilt her chin up gently with my finger so she has to look at me again. “You’re the one I want. The only one.”
Her lips part at my words, eyes searching mine for any hint of deception.
“I don’t expect you to believe me right away.” I pause. “Not after how I hurt you. But I will prove it to you every day for as long as it takes. I’ll earn back your trust. I’m sorry.”
“Elijah...” She blinks like she’s holding back tears.
Unable to stop myself, I capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. At first, she doesn’t respond, but then her mouth moves against mine.
I murmur against her lips, “Tell me to stop.”
But instead of pulling back, she grabs me by my shirt, deepening the kiss.
Fuck too soon.
“I’m so sorry,” I say between kisses.
She melts into me, and I grip her hips, pulling her onto my lap. She gasps into my mouth, her fingers tangling into my hair.
“I’ve missed you. Missed this.” I break the kiss, grazing her neck with my teeth.
Her breath hitches as I find that sensitive spot below her ear. “We shouldn’t… I can’t…”
“Shh. Stop thinking so much.” I nip at her earlobe, making her whimper in response.
My hands travel up her sides, thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts as she arches into me.
“Doesn’t this feel right?” I trail kisses down her neck. “Being here with me?”
“Elijah...”
I love when she says my name like this. Begging me to take her right here. Make her mine.
“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop right now.” I meet her gaze, giving her the chance to put an end to this. But she says nothing, chest rising and falling rapidly, eyes dark with desire.
My hands slip under her shirt, caressing the smooth skin of her back.
“Fuck it.” She leans forward, capturing my lips, fingers tugging at my shirt.
I groan into her mouth, rapidly losing control. “The things you do to me...”
Gemma rolls her hips against the hard bulge in my pants.
A growl rumbles from within me. In one swift movement, I push her onto her back on the couch, caging her in with my body.
I slam my lips back onto hers, devouring her mouth with an animalistic hunger. My hands roam over her body, squeezing her tits through the thin fabric of her top.
“Elijah?” She breaks the kiss, her eyes searching mine.
I’ve got her right where I want.
This gem is mine.
“Yes, little gem?” I trail kisses down her throat. “Something you need?”
“Off. Now.” She tugs at my shirt.
Chuckling, I sit back and yank the shirt over my head, tossing it aside. Gemma’s eyes rake over my bare chest and abs, her teeth worrying that plump bottom lip.
“Like what you see?”
She answers by surging up to crush her lips against mine in a searing kiss. Her nails scrape down my back as our tongues duel for dominance.
“Fuck, Gem...” I roll my hips against hers. I’m fucking hard.
Gemma’s eyes are locked onto me as I help her out of her blouse, my fingers tracing the soft skin of her arm.
I toss the shirt aside and move to her bra, my fingers unhooking the clasp. The straps fall away, revealing her perfect tits. I groan, my cock straining against my pants at the sight of her hard nipples.
A blush spreads across her cheeks as she watches me take in her body. I capture one of her nipples in my mouth, sucking and teasing it with my tongue.
The way she gasps and urges me on by tangling her hands in my hair makes me a beast for her.
I undo the button of her jeans, my fingers hooking into the waistband. She lifts her hips, allowing me to shove her jeans down her legs, taking her panties right with them. Her breath hitches as I leave her completely naked before me. She’s fucking perfect.
I run my thumb over her slick pussy. “Fuck, you’re so wet for me.”
She whimpers, arching her back and spreading her legs wider for me.
I slide two fingers inside her, curling them to hit that sweet spot she likes, and she cries out, her inner walls clenching.
“You like that, don’t you?” I lean down to suck on her nipple.
She nods frantically, her hips bucking as I pump my fingers in and out of her. I add a third finger, stretching her even more.
“Oh god…I’m gonna…”
“Not yet.” I pull my fingers out of her.
She whines in protest, but I silence her with a kiss. The only way she comes today is with me inside her. I stand up and strip off my pants and boxers, my cock springing free.
Gemma’s eyes widen as she takes me in, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
I get back on the couch and graze her ear with my teeth. “I’m going to fuck you now. And you’re going to take it.”
Before she can react, I grab and flip her around to position myself at her entrance from behind. My hands cup her ass, restricting her movement as I bury my thick cock to the hilt inside of her in one swift motion.
“Fuck, you feel amazing.” I pull out and thrust back in. Harder and deeper this time.
Her answering moan is downright sinful. I set a fast, rough pace, fucking her with abandon. God, this feeling of being inside her is so fucking addicting.
She grinds her ass back against my throbbing cock.
“Yes, my little gem, take what you need.”
One of my hands grips her hair at the nape, tilting her head to the side so I can see her beautiful face. Her eyes are closed. Sweet moans escape her parted lips while I hammer into her tight heat.
“I love watching you take my dick.” I lean down, leaving bites on her shoulder blades, nibbling on the soft flesh.
“Eli... I’m…” Her pussy starts clenching around my cock.
She’s panting and writhing, pushing her ass back to meet each snap of my hips. The lewd sound of skin slapping on skin fills the air, mingling with our groans of pleasure. I reach around, finding her clit, and rub tight circles in time with my thrusts, driving her closer and closer to release.
A few seconds later, every inch of her body tightens up as she cums all over my cock. Her slick walls fluttering and clenching around me while I fuck her harder, chasing my own release. I can feel it building up and my balls tightening.
She’s crying out, her voice hoarse.
Although I want this to last forever, I can’t hold back anymore.
Right before I come, I pull out of her and stroke myself once, twice, before coming all over her ass.
She’s panting beneath me.
And now to the best part. I run my fingers over my cum coating her ass, and push it inside her pussy. She moans, her hips bucking as I tease her sensitive clit at the same time.
My cock hardens again, my desire for her insatiable.
I lean down, trailing kisses along her spine as she catches her breath beneath me. The taste of her skin is intoxicating, and I want more.
I gently turn her over onto her back, my hands gliding up her thighs as I settle between them. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, eyes dark with lust as she gawks up at me.
The sight of her naked and willing beneath me undoes me. I plunge back inside her, my cock slick with our mixed arousal. Her lips part in a gasp as I fill her, inch by inch.
“You feel so fucking good, little gem.” I groan as I start to move, thrusting deep and slow.
She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me impossibly deeper. Our mouths meet again and again, tongues tangling together. I can’t get enough of her.
My pace increases as her nails rake down my back, spurring me on. Her moans fill my ears, our bodies moving together in perfect sync.
She’s screaming now, her voice echoing off the walls as I pound into her. I can feel her tightening around me once again, her body shaking as she comes apart a second time.
And I’m right with her. I groan, my hips jerking as I empty myself inside her.
Maybe this was a mistake, but fuck, I would make a thousand more mistakes if it meant I could have her.
Her grip on my back loosens, and her body goes limp on the couch. She’s spent. But she’s the most beautiful like this, her skin flushed with desire and marked by me. This woman is making me go mad. I want her, and I’m not letting her go.
I take a tissue from underneath the table and softly wipe it over her skin to clean her up.
I can’t explain it, but Gemma has a certain allure that affects me.
No, scratch that. It’s the way she talks, the way she moves, the way she looks at me, and the way she stays true to herself, following her passion.
After we’re cleaned up, I grab her hips and pull her onto my lap, my hands settling on her thighs as she nuzzles into my neck.
I draw soothing circles along her spine.
Suddenly, she stiffens and pushes off me. “What are we doing?”
She scrambles for her clothes and puts them on. “This doesn’t mean we’re fine again.”
I catch her wrist. “Stay. Please. Let’s talk.”
“No. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.”
I don’t let go of her, my grip firm but gentle.
“Wait. Don’t go, not yet. Not like this.”
She pauses, glancing back at me over her shoulder. Those eyes pierce right through me, making my heart skip a beat.
“We need to talk, little gem. Properly this time, no distractions.” I put my pants back on.
Gemma sighs, her shoulders slumping. “What’s left to say, Elijah? I can’t keep doing this with you. The back and forth, the mixed signals... it’s too much.”
“I know. And I’m sorry, truly. But things are different now. The engagement, Esther, all of that. It’s over.”
At the mention of Esther’s name, Gemma’s eyes flash. “So what, I’m supposed to fall back into your arms now that you’re free?”
“No, of course not. I don’t expect your forgiveness right away. But I ended things with Esther for you, Gemma. Because being without you made me realize what I really want.” I take her hand in both of mine, running my thumbs over her knuckles. “And that’s you, little gem. Only you.”
Gemma glances back and forth between our hands and my eyes.
“How do I know you mean it this time? That this isn’t another mood of you?”
“You’re going to have to trust me. Please. I know I’ve given you no reason to in the past, but I intend to earn back your faith in me. Whatever it takes.”
“Whatever it takes?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me go.”
Fuck. Everything except that. Why that? You’re killing me, little gem.
How can I make you stay?
She stares at me with defiance.
Whatever it takes.
With reluctance, I let her go.
“Goodbye, Elijah.” She takes her coat, and the only thing I can do is watch her walk away.
Again.
I fall back onto the couch, covering my face with my hands.
That didn’t exactly go as planned.
Leaning forward, I spot her half-eaten plate. How do I stop my little gem from running again? How do I make her stay with me? Forever.
I pull out my phone. Time for Plan B.