27. Elijah
Iwatch the croissants heat in the oven, breathing in the buttery aroma as they turn golden brown. Normally, I’d have someone else handle breakfast, but I wanted to do it this morning. For her.
Glancing out the window, I take in the sun sparkling on the ocean waves. It’s barely 9 AM but I’ve been up for a while, too wired to sleep.
Yesterday, she sang my name like a prayer. We went at it for hours, fucking in every corner of this beach house. I’ll never get enough of her or the way she looks at me with those big green eyes like I’m the only goddamn person in the world.
The timer dings, and I pull out the croissants, arranging them on a tray with orange juice and some fresh fruit. I don’t give a shit about anniversaries or romantic gestures, but I wanted an excuse to get my little gem alone this weekend. No work, no family, no interruptions. Just her and me and a king-sized bed.
I balance the tray in one hand and head upstairs. Pushing the door open, I find her still passed out in bed. She’s on her stomach, face half-buried in the pillows, hair fanned out everywhere. The sheets tangled around her waist, barely covering that perfect ass.
I lean against the doorway, watching her sleep. She’s so fucking beautiful laying there all peaceful. Similar to paintings in a museum or something. I could spend forever watching her rest.
After another minute, I walk over and lay down the tray on the edge of the bed. I brush her hair back and plant a kiss on her shoulder.
“Time to wake up, little gem.”
She stirs and blinks up at me. “Hey, you...”
“Rise and shine.” I lean down to kiss her forehead.
She stretches and rolls onto her back, the sheet slipping even lower. I let my eyes wander over her naked body. Fuck.
“Mmm... what time is it?”
“Early. I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed.” I gesture at the tray I brought up.
“Aww, you made me breakfast?”
“I don’t do this for anyone.”
She sits up, holding the sheet to her chest, and kisses me. “Well, I love it. Thank you.”
“Figured you’d need some fuel after the workout I gave you last night.”
She blushes but meets my eyes boldly. “Workout?”
“Yes.” I slide my hand under the sheet and caress her thigh. “In fact, I’d love another workout later...”
She smacks my hand away. “I’m trying to eat.”
I hold my hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave.”
We chat and eat breakfast together, enjoying the view and the sound of the ocean outside. It’s nice, the two of us here alone.
When we’re done eating, I take the tray and set it aside, then pull her into my arms. She melts into me, pressing her naked body against mine.
“So, about that workout...” My hands explore her curves.
She silences me with a passionate kiss, and I know that’s a yes. I grin against her lips, already growing hard for her again.
Seems like it’s gonna be a very good morning.
I worship every inch of her body with my hands and mouth until she is gasping and writhing.
“Please...”
Needing no further encouragement, I drive into her. We move together, the headboard knocking rhythmically against the wall.
Within minutes she’s crying out, head thrown back in ecstasy, and I latch onto her breast, licking and sucking her nipple as I continue to pound up into her.
She shatters with a sharp cry, her inner walls clenching down on me like a vice. That’s all I can take, and I follow right after, emptying myself inside her with a low groan.
We lay tangled together, sweaty and spent. Gemma traces lazy patterns on my chest as I stroke her hair, enjoying the morning sun streaming in through the windows.
“Happy anniversary, my gem.”
“Thank you for bringing us here.”
“It is our first month.”
“Come on. As if you care about such things. You wanted me at your disposal 24/7. Admit it.”
“Maybe. As of now, you seem to enjoy it.”
“I am.” She nuzzles into the crook of my neck.
“So, little gem, what should we do today?” I squeeze her ass. “I mean, besides each other again.”
She smacks my chest. “Behave yourself. We’re supposed to be on a romantic getaway, not holed up in the bedroom all weekend.”
“Hey, fucking each other is romantic in my book.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Yeah, but that’s why you love me.” I pull her in for a soft, lingering kiss, unable to keep my hands off her for long.
She hums, gently pushing me away. “Come on, let’s go outside. It’s gorgeous.”
“Fine.”
We rise and throw on some swimsuits. The beach house is fully stocked, so I grab some towels and a cooler of drinks from the patio before we head down to the beach. Gemma spreads her towel out and stretches out to soak up the sun. I pause to admire the view, the ocean and her, on full display.
Gemma wears this tiny blue bikini that emphasizes her breasts. It got me half-hard seeing her in it earlier.
After cracking open a beer, I settle onto my own towel beside her and close my eyes, perfectly content. This right here is paradise.
“Want to go for a swim?”
I crack open my eyes to glance over at her, sprawled out on her towel, looking like a fucking goddess in that bikini. Damn, I want to rip that thing off her with my teeth.
Later.
I stand and scoop her effortlessly into my arms.
She shrieks in surprise. “Put me down!”
But I’m already striding toward the water with her clinging to me.
“Don’t you dare!” This time, she’s giggling.
I wink at her right before plunging us both into the cool, refreshing waves.
As I surface from the water laughing, Gemma tosses her wet hair back.
Goddamn. How did I get so fucking lucky finding her? Never met a woman like her before. She’s got fire in her, but also this sweetness that gets to me. It makes me want to be a better man for her.
She sees me coming and splashes water in my direction. “You asshole!”
I wrap my arms around her waist, crushing her against my body. “What, you don’t trust me?”
“Not when you’ve got that evil look in your eyes.” She pokes my chest.
“Evil? Me?”
“Oh please, I know all your tricks by now, Milton.”
“Is that right?” I brush my lips against her ear. “Care to share what other tricks you think I’ve got up my sleeve?”
She shivers against me despite the warm ocean water. “I, um...”
“This bikini should be illegal, you know that?”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
I press her tighter to me so she can feel my hard-on through my swim trunks. “That’s why.”
She kisses me hotly, biting my lower lip. I groan and slip my tongue into her mouth. For a few minutes, we make out like horny teenagers, my hands roaming all over her body.
I break the kiss, panting. “Want me to take you right here, little gem?” I punctuate my question with a rough grind against her core.
“I need a break, you addict.”
“Come on, we’ll be quick.”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Only for you.” I squeeze her ass one more time before she laughs and pushes me away.
We head out of the water and lounge on the towels, soaking up the sun.
After a little while, she turns to me. “So, do I still get the promised burgers later?”
“I’ll make you anything you want. Burgers, steak, hell, I’ll even try my hand at baking you a cake, if that’s what you’re craving.”
She laughs. “A burger does sound pretty good right about now.”
“Your wish is my command.” I give her a quick peck on the lips before standing and offering her my hand.
We head inside to the spacious kitchen. I grab the pack of ground beef from the fridge and start prepping the patties while Gemma chops veggies for a salad. Domestic bliss at its finest. Never thought I would enjoy this. The old man was right.
Once the burgers are done on the grill, I come up behind Gemma at the counter.
Wrapping my arms around her, I nuzzle into the crook of her neck. “Mm, something smells good.”
She tilts her head, giving me better access. “That would be the burgers.”
“Nah, it’s this right here.” I kiss along her neck, nipping at her skin. Delicious.
A needy little moan escapes her when I suck at that sensitive spot below her ear.
“What if we stay like this forever?”
“We can’t stay here forever.”
“Not here, but you could move in with me?”
She stills.
I tighten my arms around Gemma’s waist, waiting for her response. This woman has turned my whole fucking world upside down, and I want nothing more than to have her by my side. Forever.
Am I moving too fast? But when you know, you fucking know. And I know Gemma’s the one for me.
She starts, hesitation clear in her voice. “Elijah...”
I kiss her shoulder, buying myself a moment to get my thoughts in order.
“Hear me out.”
Kiss.
“I know it seems quick.”
Kiss.
“But from the moment I first saw you, I knew you were special. You make me want to be better. And I don’t want to waste another second without you.”
She turns in my arms to face me, her eyes searching mine. “I want that too, but I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“That this is too good to be true. My track record with men…”
I lift her chin gently so she meets my gaze again. “Hey. The past is the past. I’m not those assholes who hurt you.”
She tilts her head.
“Okay. I’ve fucked up, but I swear to you, I’m in this for the long haul. However long it takes to prove that to you.”
The corner of her mouth quirks up. “You always know exactly what to say, don’t you?”
“Only because it’s the truth with you. I’m an open book.” I press my forehead to hers, our breaths mingling. “Give me a chance to show you how good we can be together.”
She melts against me. “I care about you, I do. But we’ve only been seeing each other for a short while. Give me some time. Okay?”
“I know, and if you need more time, I understand. I want to be with you. Waking up next to you, falling asleep together each night...”
Uncertainty clouds her gaze. “You make me happy, too. I’ve never felt this way about someone so quickly. That’s why it scares me.”
I can’t wait to come home to my little gem every night.
“We’ll take this at your pace.”
Slowly, she nods. “Thank you.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
I lean in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. She melts against me, arms coming up around my neck. Right here, holding her in my arms, I’m home.
Once our burgers are plated up, we head out to the patio table to eat. The view of the ocean at sunset is spectacular. But it still doesn’t compare to the woman sitting across from me.
Gemma catches me staring and laughs. “What?”
I shake my head, unable to keep the stupid grin off my face. “Nothing. How do you like the burgers?”
“Delicious.” She winks at me.
As the night stretches on, we take our wine glasses and head to the cozy lounge area on the terrace. The stars above us sparkle brightly against the black sky, like diamonds scattered across dark velvet. We sink into the soft cushions, and Gemma nestles against me as I wrap an arm around her.
I brush my lips against her forehead, and she tilts her face up toward mine. Sensing her gaze on me, I turn to her, unable to keep the smile from playing on my lips. “Enjoying yourself?”
“It’s been a perfect day.”
“Agreed.”
But then she frowns slightly. “I feel bad ditching Lil like that.”
“I don’t think you have to. As if they’re not at it as well.”
“You might be right about that.”
“Only a matter of time. And I owed him one, anyway.”
“I hope Lil’s okay, though. She seemed a bit unsure.”
“She’ll be fine.” I swirl my wine. “Bash may be an arrogant ass, but he cares about her.”
Her eyes narrow slightly. “You didn’t see them in college.”
“You really care about them.”
She nods, leaning her head against my shoulder once more. “Lil, Mary, and I have been best friends for a long time. We’ve been through everything together.”
I trail my fingers up and down her arm absently. “Hmm, I suppose Bash and I are similar in that way. Though we’d never admit it aloud.”
Gemma raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh, really? I always pictured you two as the stereotypical bros, talking about cars and women.”
“It’s a part,” I scoff. “But, Bash and I... we’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect our family.”
Gemma reaches up and runs her fingers along my jaw. “I like this protective side of you.”
“It doesn’t scare you?”
“No, it makes me feel safe.”
“You’re the first person outside my family I’ve felt protective over in a long time.” I press a kiss to her forehead.
Yeah, I’m one lucky bastard. With her by my side, I’ll never need anything else.