Page 49 of Rough and Rugged
I finally pulled back a fraction, just enough to sweep her up in my arms. She held onto me, pressing kisses against my jaw, driving me crazy as I pushed through the front door and down the short hallway to my room. I laid her on my bed and followed her down, covering her body with mine, unable to hold back my groan of satisfaction at the feel of her under me. I braced my weight on my forearms to avoid crushing her and captured her mouth again, loving the way she arched up into me as if she couldn’t get close enough.
I skimmed my lips down Gemma’s neck and across her exposed collarbone, inhaling her scent as she tilted her head, silently asking me for more. She pushed her hands under my shirt and dragged her nails lightly across my back, sending any remaining blood flow south. I pressed my hips into hers, letting her feel what she did to me, capturing her mouth again in a hard kiss as her little moan pushed me closer to the edge.
Nearly desperate for her, I sat up, reaching back and pulling my shirt off over my head. Tugging Gemma up along with me, I slipped off her sweater, revealing the pretty light blue bra she wore. My breath clogged in my lungs as she reached back to unfasten it, then slipped it off. I laid her back down, braced myself above her again, and took in the beauty before me.
She was stunning, her blond curls spread across my pillow, her green eyes full of fire, and her gorgeous body bared – all for me. I had to remind myself yet again that this wasn’t a dream. I swallowed hard as Gemma ran her hands over my chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Her nipples pulled tight under my gaze, and I couldn’t resist. I dipped my head, taking one between my lips, rolling the other between my fingertips, reveling in her little sounds of desperation as she arched up into me again, holding my head to her and rocking her hips against mine.
When her hands slipped down to my waist, tugging at the button on my jeans, I levered myself up to sit on the edge of the bed. I pulled off my boots and socks, then stood, pushing my jeans and briefs down and stepping free of them before I turned back to Gemma. Her gaze was like a heated touch as she ran her eyes over me, nearly pushing me to my limit. Watching me, she kicked off her shoes, then I reached for the waistband of her leggings, stripping them off her along with her panties. Then I joined her on the bed again, reveling in the feel of her body, skin-on-skin against mine.
I rolled to cover her again, my hardness pressed against her. She spread her legs a little and I couldn’t hold back a groan as my hard length slipped between them and notched against her hot, wet center.
My control shredded, I knew I wouldn’t last. Tangling my hands in her hair, I leaned down to kiss her.
“This won’t be what you deserve, Gem. It’s been too long for me. I swear I’ll make you feel good, and I’ll make it up to you.”
I swelled even harder as Gemma skimmed her hands down my chest and across my abs.
“It’s been a long time for me, too. I just need to feel you inside me.”
Her words spurring me on, I pushed into her slowly, clamping down on my need for her, heart hammering as her hot, tight walls closed around me. It was the sweetest form of torture – the feel of this woman under me, around me, her scent filling the air, and her sweet little moans and gasps echoing in my ears. She was everything I’d ever wanted and finally, after all these years of denying myself, she was mine.
When I was all the way in, I began to move, dragging myself out slowly, tormenting us both, then thrusting back in as Gemma’s inner walls gripped my hard length. She spread her legs wider, and I slid deeper, ringing a groan from both of us. When she began moving with me, swiveling her hips up to mine to meet every thrust, I knew I couldn’t hold on. I pushed to my knees and gripped her hips, thrusting into her again and again. Her eyes wild, Gemma dug her nails into my forearms, the little spark of pain edging me closer. I reached between us, stroking her hard little bundle of nerves. Her eyes slammed shut, her breath hitched, then seconds later I watched my Gem fly. I gritted my teeth, fighting against the pulse of her walls around me as long as I could, before finally giving in and following her over the edge.
Slowly, I drifted back to earth. I rolled to my back, settling Gemma against me with her head on my chest.
“Your heart’s still pounding,” she said quietly, running her hand softly back and forth across my torso.
“Your fault. You worked me hard.” I pulled her closer and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m out of shape these days.”
She gave a cute snort-laugh as she poked my hard abs. “Yes, you’ve really let yourself go. Tragic, is what it is.”
“Shameful,” I agreed. “Guess you’ll need to keep working me until I improve.”
She grabbed my hand and held it against her chest, nestled dangerously close to one perfect breast, letting me feel the hammering of her heart.
“If you improve any, I’ll probably pass out.”
“Wouldn’t want that.” Needing to look at her, I shifted positions, pulling her under me and propping myself up on one elbow. “Thanks for being the brave one.”
Her forehead wrinkled as she looked back at me.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
I skimmed my fingertips across her cheek, loving the freedom to touch her, making up for way too damn much lost time.
“For coming up here and telling me you love me and need me. And for making me admit it, too.”
“Oh, that.” She stroked her nails across my beard lightly and just like that, I found yet another thing about this woman that had the power to bring me to my knees. “It wasn’t so much brave as it was desperate.”
Desperation, I understood. Still…
“How did you know, Gem? That I love you? I worked hard to hide it, but you still knew.”
Gemma shook her head slowly. “I didn’t. I’ve loved you for years, but I didn’t think you’d ever…” She paused, tilting her head, giving me access as I leaned in, kissing the soft spot just behind her ear, making her shiver. I was listening – I swore I was – but that spot…
Gemma’s breath left her in a rush. “It was Carson. He told me.”
I stopped, my lips still brushing Gemma’s silky skin as I took in her words.