Chapter Fifty
Gemma stood in her shower for what felt like an hour, letting water pound against her skin on the hottest setting she could stand. The nanobots may have healed her injuries, but after her conversation with Christian, the darkness that had plagued her for years began to creep back in.
You didn’t fight hard enough against Colton. There’s something wrong with you. In a couple of days, if the Dissent has their way, everyone will be dead, and you could’ve stopped it.
Wrapped in a towel, Gemma used the xerothermic to evaporate the moisture from her dark hair then wandered into the main part of her flat.
Christian leaned back against the headrest of her bed, his toned arm draped casually behind his head.
His gaze flitted back and forth, absorbing whatever information he’d cast onto his eyepiece.
Gemma’s body lit on fire as she took in the sight of him. He wore nothing but his underwear; her breath hitched as throbbing desire built deep inside. Her eyes wandered across and down his sculpted chest, arms, and torso, imaging the feel of those muscles beneath her palms.
The feel of him.
On the end of her bed were the panties and sleep top she’d created with the costumery, but she walked right past them and dropped her towel.
Not long ago, she had been terrified to expose herself to him, but now . . .
It wasn’t until Gemma was on the mattress, crawling toward Christian on her hands and knees, that he seemed to notice her.
He did a double take, his cheeks flushing. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” Her voice had never sounded so silky.
A quiet noise slipped from him when Gemma straddled his legs. He was already firm beneath her naked body. She flung her hair over one shoulder, wrapped her arms around his neck, and claimed his lips as her own.
Christian’s hands wandered over her sides and back, drawing little circles on her skin as their kisses deepened. His touch was invigorating, rendering fleshbumps over every inch of her body.
Every time his mouth opened hers, a piece of the dark cloud hovering over her soul evaporated. He was her reminder that she was alive, she was loved, she would never be alone. He didn’t care that she may have been affected by something alien, and he didn’t blame her for Colton being alive.
For as long as they both still had breath, she would not waste a moment with the man she’d come to know and love.
Gemma traced kisses along his freshly shaved jawline to his ear and nibbled the lobe gently, the scent of his musky aftershave like an aphrodisiac.
His breathing deepened, and the sound of his increasing pleasure was the most beautiful melody she’d ever heard.
Twice, he’d been the one to send her over the edge.
This time, she would return the favor.
Her mouth connected with the crux of his neck. She sucked gently, letting her teeth skim the surface of his skin. Christian tipped his head back, a soft noise rumbling in his chest.
His hands squeezed her ribs as his thumbs stroked the outsides of her breasts, the caress lightning in her veins. She wanted to touch more, see more, taste more.
She skimmed her palm along his hard chest and abs, down the fine hair that trailed into his underwear. All of his muscles tightened when she ran her fingertips across the hem. Gemma grinned against his neck and slid her palm between his legs, stroking him through his clothes.
Stars, he was so hard. The wetness between her legs intensified.
Christian swore as he twitched beneath her touch. She smirked and slowly ran her hand up and down the length of him until he tipped his head back, shutting his eyes.
A loud breath released through his pursed lips. “You’re trying to make me beg, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” She held the ecstatic stare that met hers, a corner of her mouth lifting into a giddy smile. He groaned, and the insides of her thighs were soaked. She never knew how sexy that sound was until now.
“All right, Proctor. Let’s see who gives in first, then.” Christian’s eyes brightened with mischief.
Gemma nearly folded when his fingers rubbed circles on that most sensitive spot between her legs.
She panted at his touch but slid her hands beneath his underwear.
She grasped his member, and a shiver ran down her spine.
He was massive right now; his veins swelled against her palm.
Memories of him inside her burrowed into her thoughts.
She wanted him so badly, but she was not letting him win.
“Blazes, you’re dripping,” Christian said against her ear, sneaking a finger inside her—two.
She fell forward, a loud moan plowing through her. Her hand flung out of his underwear to brace herself on the headboard as she ground her hips.
The heel of his hand rubbed against her sensitive spot, and the fingers within her moved. She couldn’t stop the loud, unrestrained noises echoing in the room.
Competing against him didn’t matter anymore—she wanted him. Now.
Christian chuckled before taking his hand away. She could’ve strangled him.
“Underwear. Off,” Gemma said between panted breaths.
His eyes creased from the massive grin on his face, but he did as she asked, lifting his hips just enough to slip himself free without bucking her off.
Once his underwear was at his ankles, Gemma lowered herself onto him.
He groaned in sync with her gasp as he filled her so completely. With her hands on his shoulders, she rode him until her mind left her body, utterly intoxicated by the high that came from the melding of their souls.
He was everything she’d ever wanted, everything she would continue to fight for, everything that would remind her why it was so good to be alive.
Christian moaned loudly, and the feel of his release sent Gemma over the edge with him. He held her tight as waves of euphoria frenzied through her body until she was practically in a trance.
He kissed the side of her head. “I think I won.”
Gemma grinned against his neck. “That was a stupid game anyway.”
His deep laugh rumbled in his chest. She could’ve stayed like that forever.