Page 39 of Lemon Cake

“I-I don’t know,” she stuttered.

“Gemma, please look at me.”

She took a deep breath before doing as he’d asked.

“Whatever you need, I’ll do.”

“Youwantto stay?”

“Of course I do, but only if you’re ready for that.”

“You don’t want to leave?”

“Why would I?”

Her eyes dropped down to her left leg, and for the first time, Rider wanted to get frustrated. Not with her, but whoever it was in her past that made her so insecure about herself. “I don’t want to leave,” he said firmly.

Rider took a risk with his next step, but he had to at least try. He laid his hands on her bare thighs and sat back on his heels.

“I don’t know how to say this, and I hope you don’t think I’m an idiot. You are fucking gorgeous.” He let his fingers dance across her outer thighs and to her knees. “You are strong and beautiful and smart.”

He kissed her right knee first, then gently her left. She tensed when his hands travelled past his kisses, her leg ending just a hand’s width beneath her knee. He couldn’t help but run his fingers over the faded white scars. She was still tense, so he looked up at her. “What is our safe word?”

“Lemon.”

“Does it hurt?”

She shook her head.

Rider turned his attention to her right leg, though his thumb still caressed her left. He let his hand trail to her ankle and kissed her below the knee.

“I’m here for the good and bad, Gemma. For the days you feel like you could take over the whole world, and for the days you want to burn it down. I’mhere, do you hear me?”

“I’m a mess,” she whispered.

“And you think I’m not?”

Rider redirected his attention to her left leg again. She tensed, though only briefly this time.

“I’m here for all your mess as long as you can handle my honesty. I want you, Gemma, and I will give you all the time in the world if that’s what you need but know that I still want you—all of you.”

Gemma sniffled, swiping tears away with her fingers. “Okay.”

Rider smiled, smoothing his palms over her thighsagain. “Do you want to cuddle now?”

She nodded, continuing to try and clear her face.

“Here or the living room?”

“Living room, please.”

Rider picked up the discarded shorts, sliding them over her thighs. She sighed, pulling herself up by his shoulders to allow him to pull the shorts over her hips. He couldn’t help but sneak a peek at what she wore underneath when his hands brushed the silky material: black satin panties with delicate lace accents.

He stood and with her hands still on his shoulders, he pulled her closer by her waist and hauled her up, letting her wrap her legs around him. He grabbed her blanket, then carried her to the living room.

There, he laid on the couch with her still in his arms and made sure she was covered with the blanket. He reached for the remote and turned on the TV. While the show played quietly, he pushed his hands under her shirt and ran his fingertips up and down her sides, doing everything he knew to comfort her.

“Thank you.”