25. Gemma
My eyes dart around the room. Was yesterday a dream? Had it all been a fantasy conjured by my stupid mind?
Thank God. I’m not crazy. His suit jacket lays draped over the armchair in my room.
But where is he?
His shoes are gone.
I bury my face in the pillow, inhaling Elijah’s scent as warmth pools between my thighs. The warmth of his voice... the way he…
God, what is this man doing to me? I’ve never felt like this, like some lovesick teenager.
Somehow, this man has wedged himself in my heart. Again. I’m not sure how it happened or what it means, only that I want more. It’s intoxicating and terrifying all at once.
It feels deeper than anything I’ve experienced before. And though I haven’t known him long, the thought of losing him terrifies me.
I need to get this divorce through as soon as possible.
Getting up, I grab my robe and walk into the kitchen. I scan the room for Elijah. Instead, I see Lil, who’s almost out the door.
“Morning.” She waves.
“Morning.” I nod, still searching for Elijah.
“I have to go, but you have to tell me everything tonight!”
Did she see Elijah? Does she know anything?
“Have fun.” Let’s act fool.
Standing in front of the door, she waves and then closes it behind her with a click.
In the silence that follows, I let myself indulge in coffee and check my phone for any messages. Nothing. Something aches in me. He’s gone without a word.
The door opens again.
“Did you forg—” The words die on my lips as Elijah walks inside our apartment.
“Surprise.” He holds up a bag from the bakery.
“How?”
“Lil gave me a spare key in case she’s already gone when I get back.”
I must be red like a tomato. Lil saw Elijah here. Talked with him, which is… actually not bad, right?
“Thought I’d bring us breakfast.” He places a quick kiss on my forehead as he strides by me to the kitchen counter, placing the bag on the marble top.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving. Would you like some coffee?” I lift the pot of coffee.
“Sure, thank you.”
We settle down on the counter, sitting next to each other. The bread and croissants he brought smell amazing. I take one and smear some Marmelade on it. Delicious.
“I’m glad you like it.” His gaze meets mine. “Among other things.”
“Stop.”
“I didn’t get my fill of you yesterday.”
I nearly choke on my croissant at Elijah’s bold words. Shouldn’t I be used to this by now?
“What’s the matter?”
“I think you’ve had plenty of me already.”
Elijah leans in close, his warm breath tickling my ear. “I’ll never have my fill of you, little gem.”
I turn to face him, our lips inches apart. “Is that so?”
His eyes darken, his voice dropping an octave lower. “I’ve only had a taste. And now I want the whole damn meal.”
His mouth crashes onto mine. A kiss, full of hunger and need. My hands tangle into his hair, pulling him against me.
“Would you like to see my designs... on an actual model?”
“Are you offering what I think you’re offering?”
I nod, heat flooding my cheeks.
“I would love nothing more.”
A thrill courses through me at his words, and I lace my fingers with his, guiding him back to my room.
“Wait here.” I release his hand, moving toward my work desk.
From the purple box, I retrieve the key piece of my collection.
Elijah leans against the wall, trying to play it cool as he narrows his eyes on the piece in my hands. I slip behind the room divider and get out of my clothes before stepping into the bra and panty.
The black lace is combined with a deep red satin fabric, inspired by the dark red blazer he had wrapped around me that night. A butterfly-like ribbon in the middle holds together the daring plunging neckline of the bra.
I take a deep breath as I fasten the final hook and adjust the lace. The plunging neckline and high-cut hips perfectly hug my body, leaving little to the imagination. This is more than showing off my design—it’s me.
“Ready?” I peek my head out.
“You’re really testing my patience here.”
I step out in nothing but the lacy lingerie set I designed with him in mind. He remains silent, his eyes roaming over my figure, causing all my thoughts to vanish.
“Well?” I turn slowly so he’ll see it from every angle. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re trying to kill me.” He pushes away from the wall and closes the distance between us, placing a hand on my waist. “You’re stunning.”
“Thanks.” I bring my hands together behind my back. “It’s—”
“Your key piece.”
“The only people who saw my collection are…”
He reaches out to trace a finger along the lace trim of the bra, leaving a tingle everywhere he touches. “I had Amelia show your designs to me. Every little stitch and detail.”
I pout. “If you already saw it. Should I change back?”
“Don’t you dare.” His fingers travel lower across my stomach.
I take a step back and reach up to the ribbon, tugging at it. “Are you sure?”
That’s all it takes for him to lose control. In an instant, both of his hands grip my waist, and he crushes his mouth against mine in a deep, fervent kiss. The sensation of him nipping my lower lip sends a surge of arousal through my body.
“This was made for you. Inspired by you,” I say.
He growls low in approval, backing me up until my knees hit the bed. I fall onto the soft duvet as he crawls over me like a predator attacking his prey.
“You have no idea what you do to me.” His voice is rough with desire. “The things I want to do to you right now…”
“Then do them.”
A wicked grin spreads across Elijah’s face before his mouth descends to my neck. With one tug, he undoes the knot of the ribbon. I gasp, the sound turning into a moan as he pinches my nipple.
“Every time we’re apart, all I can think about is you.”
He rubs my left nipple between his fingers. “From the moment we met, you’ve been driving me crazy, and I will never let you go, little gem.”
He’s driving me crazy, too, and we’ve barely begun. My self-control melts away into nothing as I give myself over to him. Desperate to show him how much his words mean to me, I pull him down for another kiss.
Elijah’s fingers dig into my thighs. The feeling is electrifying, and I circle my legs around his waist to be closer to him.
“Always so wet for me.”
A whimper escapes me as his fingers stroke my slick folds. I fumble with the buttons of his shirt, impatient to feel his skin against mine. Helping me, he shrugs out of his shirt, throwing it on the floor. I run my hands over his hard muscles up to his neck, craving his touch, his kiss, his everything.
He catches and pins them above my head.
“Open your legs, and let me taste what’s mine.”
I moan, moving my hips and fighting against the restraint of his hands on my wrists.
“Patience.” He bites at my neck, fingers sliding over my stomach and lower to sink into my dripping core. “Be a good girl, and let me eat your pussy first.”
I huff, squirming in his hold. After last night, patience is the last thing I have. I need more of him, all of him.
Elijah, enjoying my torment, begins to trail kisses down the column of my throat. His lips blaze a path of fire over my skin as he makes his way to my breasts, biting and licking each of my nipples in turns.
I cry out as he sucks and teases them without mercy. The sensation shoots through my whole body, and I clench around nothing, aching to be filled.
Elijah glances up at me, eyes dark with lust, and I know he can see the desperation written in my expression. Still, he doesn’t give in. Instead, he plants gentle kisses down to my abdomen until he reaches the lace trim of my soaked panties.
This is tormenting.
He drags the scrap of fabric down my legs and off with one hand while still holding my hands with the other. Self-conscious, I start to close my legs, but he stops me, spreading them wide open.
Finally, his mouth finds my most intimate place, and my eyes close shut as his tongue circles my clit. Then he plunges two fingers into me, crooking them to hit the right spot.
I never want this to end. How is he so good at this?
I cry out, my hands gripping the sheets.
He slows down, and I buck against his hand, chasing the building pleasure.
Elijah chuckles against my pussy, the vibrations adding to my desire. His fingers curl around my thighs, holding me in place.
As the pressure mounts, I bury my hands in his hair, desperate moans escaping my lips.
His fingers pump inside of me faster as he sucks my clit between his lips in the same perfect rhythm.
It’s too much. Too—
I shatter into a thousand glittering pieces, releasing all my pent-up emotions and desires. I scream his name, vision whiting out.
He eases up but doesn’t remove his mouth from my sensitive clit, working me through the aftershocks with reduced intensity.
My breath comes in ragged gasps as I try to recover from the intense orgasm Elijah gave me. My body feels deliciously spent, a warm, tingling sensation spreading through my limbs.
I open my eyes to see him above me, his eyes dark with lust as he licks his lips. He’s immensely pleased with himself for reducing me to a whimpering, trembling mess beneath him. It’s cute.
“You’re so fucking beautiful when you scream my name,” he says.
“Hmm, you’re not too bad yourself.”
Elijah huffs a laugh, nipping at my earlobe in retaliation.
I yelp, swatting his arm as I glare at him.
Elijah groans. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss, tasting myself on his lips. “Not yet. We have a lot of time to make up for.”
“How could I forget?” Elijah kisses me again, deep and passionate, then moves against me in a slow grind. “Round two.”
I push at his chest, and he flips us. “It’s your turn.”