Keeping You Away (Ex-Con Duet 1)

She relaxes against my touch. As I cup her face, I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead.

“It’s not the first time I’ve cried over you,” she says with a laugh. “I think I was so hung up on you because you were my first…well, my first everything. Guess it’s true what they say.”

“What’s that?”

“No matter how much time goes by, you never really get over your first love. They’ll always have a place in your heart, whether you want them there or not.”

“Sounds about right…” I mutter. “Never felt that way about anyone again.”

Gemma’s head snaps up. “You didn’t?”

I look down at her, second-guessing if we should be this close or if I should even be admitting these things, but I can’t keep them hidden from her anymore. For years, I’ve held back how much Gemma meant to me and how much I missed her. I’ve wished my stupid head would forget it all, but it’s impossible when my heart still aches for her.

My thumb brushes over her bottom lip, removing it from between her teeth. “No. I don’t think finding love like we had is in the cards for me.”

“Why would you think that?” she asks softly, almost bracing herself for my response.

Grabbing a loose strand of her hair, I slowly tuck it behind her ear, and an electric spark jolts between us.

“No woman compares to you,” I say honestly, then add, “No woman ever will.”

“Tyler…” she whispers on a strangled cry.

I cup her face, bringing our foreheads together. Gemma fists my shirt with her fingers, then wraps her arms around my waist. It’s the closest we’ve been since I’ve been home, and though it’s wrong, it’s never felt more right.

Our heavy breathing fills the silence, and there’s a plethora of raw emotions lingering between us. I’m waiting for her to tell me what to do—back off, leave, stay—and I’ll do whatever she asks.

“What do you want, Gemma?” I’m trying to read her, but it’s impossible.

“Kiss me.” Her words are so soft that I’m positive I misheard her. When I don’t move, she pulls back slightly allowing our gazes to lock. “I want to remember. Remind me?” she pleads.

How can I tell her no? How do I deny the woman I’m still in love with? I can’t.

I slide one hand around the base of her neck and cup her face with the other. We’re so close. Our lips aren’t touching, but I can feel her ragged breathing against my skin.

“Are you sure?”

She gently nods, and before either of us can change our minds, I claim her lips, crashing our mouths together in a hot, needy kiss. My tongue swipes inside, the heat of her breath hitting me with full force. Gemma clings to me, grabbing my shirt and sliding her fingers underneath. Her nails claw down my back, and I gasp out a growl.

“Fuck,” I hiss, lowering my hands down her body until I cup her ass. Her arms loop around my neck, and I lift her body until her legs wrap around me. As our tongues dance together, we quickly lose control. We’re on the front lines, fighting this war of desire, both surrendering and wanting more.

Walking with Gemma in my arms, I manage to find her loveseat, and we sit. She straddles my lap, and as her back arches, Gemma grinds her hips against me. The fire burning between us is so hot, neither of us can stop to put it out.

“Goddamn, baby,” I mutter, moving inside her shirt and cupping her breast.

Pulling back slightly, she grabs the hem of her blouse, then removes it. Without a word, I do the same. Gemma’s beautiful, there’s no doubt about that, but when she’s this ravenous, she’s fucking breathtaking.

I undo her bra in one swift motion, which leaves her gasping. Haven’t done that in years, but apparently, I haven’t forgotten. My cock is so hard in my jeans that it’s becoming painful, and with Gemma rocking against me, it’s not making it any easier.

“Touch me,” she begs.

I move my lips to her neck as my fingers pinch her nipple. I gently suck as her eyes roll in the back of her head. Gemma arches her back as she moans and digs her nails into my shoulders.

“Christ,” I growl, then drag my tongue along her collarbone. “Your skin’s so soft, baby. I still remember the way you taste.”

“Mmm…” she hums with a smile as she fights with my zipper but loses.

I smirk and pull her skirt above her waist. “I bet if I rubbed between your legs, you’d be wet for me right now. Am I right?” Sliding my palm up her thigh, I rub over her panties and feel her arousal. “Fuck, I am.”

Gemma’s so goddamn responsive, it makes me wonder if her fiancé knows how to give the pleasure she damn well deserves. He probably has to take a boner pill just to get hard, or maybe she has to murmur dollar figures to turn him on. Considering he’d rather be at a business meeting than comforting his woman, my guess is he doesn’t do shit when it comes to satisfying her.