He groans, his breathing gets heavier and he comes undone above me and I follow him over that cliff.
In this moment, I think I’d follow him over any cliff.
GEMMA IS RESTING HER HEAD on my shoulder as she trails her fingers over my chest. We’re quiet now, after we cleaned ourselves up and laid down on the hotel bed. The only sound is her breathing next to me, still naked, curled into my side.
I knew she would follow me up here. God, I hoped she would.
I wanted to know what she felt like, writhing beneath me, but I didn’t want to force her. I wanted her to choose this. Choose me.
She did.
Neither of us got a choice in this life. We were born into our families, having to play by rules we didn’t ask for. At least, we made this choice to be here. She deserves that much, I think.
It was a heavy choice to make, I’m not blind to that fact. Choosing to be here with me is going against her family, it’s a choice that could get her killed. Not that me being with her is any different. We both put our lives on the line.
And now I’m never going to fucking let her go.
She’s beautiful with her black hair splayed out, her naked body pressed up against mine.
Her fingers trace the lines of the quote across my chest.
Leis an phian a thagann an neart.
"What’s it mean?” She finally asks after her delicate fingers have traced the words repeatedly.
“Pain becomes strength.” I tell her.
That particular tattoo I got when I was eighteen. It’s one of many, I’m not shy when it comes to inking my body, and I like the feeling of the needle on my skin. It’s a sting, not too painful but enough of a bite to make me feel something. I never cut myself like her, instead when I was hurting I had more words and symbols inked onto my skin. While she used the blade of a knife I used a needle.
She hums a sound of interest and continues her explorations. “You have a lot of tattoos.”
I chuckle. “I guess. Do you have any?”
“Nope.” The word pops from her lips. “Not a single one. My father would murder me.” She goes silent after she says the words. “I guess, I’m already disappointing him, so I might as well get one now.”
I turn slightly, so we’re face to face laying on the bed, lifting one hand to rest on her cheek softly. “Princess, they’re not gonna hurt you, I won’t let them.”
She frowns, “Liam, my family would never actually hurt me.”
“Not even for sleeping with the enemy?” I ask.
She rolls away from me now, swinging her legs off the bed and showing me the smooth tanned skin of her back. “No,” she looks over her shoulder. “I mean, they might lock me in my bedroom but they would never hurt me. Why do you think so lowly of them?”
I laugh. She’s too fucking naive for such a smart girl, I’m shocked. She went to an Ivy League college for fuck’s sake.
“You do know what your family does, right?” Now I’m the one sitting up, climbing out of bed, and slipping my boxers back on. “You’re not that much of a princess.”
Her head whips back around at me, there's a tightness in her eyes and her lips are pressed thin. “I know.” She stands now, her body still naked, but she faces me with crossed arms, burning a hole through me with that look in her eyes. “I’m not naive.”
“Clearly, you are.” I cross my arms, mocking her position. She has a fight in her, and I love that.
My mom never fights with my father, despite all the bullshit he puts her through. She’s the type of woman who smiles and nods. I love her with every fiber of my being, but damn, do I sometimes just want her to smack the man.
Gemma’s eyes look dark and murderous, clearly she doesn’t like to be challenged, but I’m not going to stop. She picks up her stray top, shoving it over her head and marching toward me. The tight crop top does nothing to hide her from me, but I don’t think she cares much.
I don’t think Gemma is at all ashamed of her body, nor should she be. She’s gorgeous, and it’s more than just her looks. They way she carries herself, her confidence, her prowess. Everything about her is absolutely stunning.
I want to get into more than just her pants, I want to know her brain, her loves and hates. I want to know everything about this woman.