Right.
I stared out at the empty balcony. I’d been here so many times before, but never like this. Never with a sense of belonging.
The truth was, it felt like an oasis. No phone. No contact with the outside world. Not wondering how many followers I lost, what the tabloids were saying. Here, I could just…be.
I’d gone on many vacations, to private islands, exclusive resorts, palaces in Switzerland—but I was alwayson, alwaysGemma. When I was on the beach, I was thinking about the best photo to take. When I was at a club, it was,who is watching? Who was going to send some stupid blind about how Gemma was drunk with so-and-so?
So of course it had to end.
“Gemma?”
I froze at the disbelieving voice, willing reality to change. Grim’s lips didn’t leave my neck, but he tightened his grip on my stomach, and with that I felt it—felt the violent, possessive glare he shot my brother.
“Grayson?” I squeaked. “What are you doing here?”
I tried to get up, but Grim pinned me. Even if my dressdraped and hid the most illicit parts, he wasstillinside me. His come leaked rivers between my thighs.
Grayson’s attention shifted over my shoulder, to Grim. “Let her go.”
Grim bit my neck. “Gemma can’t go anywhere right now. She’s too busy taking my cock.”
I’d seen my brother this angry only once—the night his wife nearly died. A calm, detached cool slid across his body that didn’t at all match the fury in his eyes.
Grim kissed my neck in that same slow, lazy way he had been. As if my brother wasn’t right there. As if it didn’t fucking matter, because this was hisright.
Grayson clenched and unclenched his fists. “I will use the full force of Crowne power to destroy you.”
“Gemma Crowne belongs to me now,” Grim said. “She’s never going back. Accept it.”
Grayson took a step toward us, his glare reckless. Violent. This wouldn’t end well. Grayson didn’t know when to tap out.
I didn’t know if Grimcouldtap out.
“Grayson,” I said. “Please. I’m fine.”
Grayson’s glare ripped away from Grim, softening on me. “It’s been two days, Gemma.”
“I’ll be home soon,” I said, not sure if it was a lie. Grim tensed at my back, his grip on my stomach even harder.
Grayson’s jaw clenched. His eyes slid back to Grim. “This is not over.”
Then he left.
FORTY-FIVE
GEMMA
The sun was streaming when I woke, a high afternoon light and—oh God, whatwasthat? I squirmed at something delicious between my thighs.
A moan slipped from my lips.
“Good fucking girl,” Grim growled.
I startled at the voice vibrating against my thighs. Grim was there, shoulders pushing my thighs apart, muscles coiled with the effort. I tried to sit up and he gripped my hips, keeping me pinned against his mouth.
His tongue slid inside me andohfuck.
I melted into the mattress, letting it happen. He ate me slow, building it up until I couldn’t take it anymore. Until my hands found his hair and I pressed myself against him, forcing him to go faster and harder.
