Imara’s warning beckoned her again—Christian just admitted he loved her.
She’d been a fool once already. She wouldn’t be an idiot again for pushing him away.
Gemma fully faced him, mirroring his position, and leaned toward him slowly to rest her forehead against his. “I really am sorry for what I did.”
He lifted her chin. “Stop apologizing.”
His kiss melted the nightmarish chill from Gemma’s heart. It was tender yet fervent, stealing her breath away. She placed a hand on his thigh, bracing herself as his hand slid behind her neck, drawing her mouth harder against his.
His supple lips opened and closed around hers in a dance as old as time, the world blurring into insignificance. Gemma leaned back onto the bed, her hand catching Christian’s arm, pulling him down with her.
Draped over her, Christian slid his body in between her knees. Only underwear separated them now, and already she could feel his want for her growing.
He dropped onto his elbows, weaving his fingers through her hair and kissing down her neck to that sensitive spot by her collarbone. Every nerve in her body prickled with electricity, buzzing with longing. With each flick of his tongue, a wave of tingling joy coursed from his mouth to deep within her.
Gemma wrapped her arms under his, her fingers holding onto his bare shoulders, while his lips moved back up her neck to find hers again.
“This won’t hurt your side, will it?” he asked breathlessly against her mouth.
“I don’t care.” She dug her nails into him. “I need you.”
The corners of his eyes creased as he smiled.
Shifting positions, Christian slid down Gemma’s body until his head was at her waist. He lifted the hem of her shirt and left a trail of kisses from below her sternum to the top of her panties.
Her breath caught, and she gripped the strands of his messy hair, a soft anchor as his lips moved across her abdomen. Fleshbumps rose on her skin despite the trail of fire burning where his lips moved, her breaths heavier—louder—with each tender touch.
“Do you trust me?” he asked in between kisses.
“With my life.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Christian pulled off her underwear, kissing down the inside of her legs until his head was in between her thighs. Unease worked its way into Gemma’s stomach—
His mouth closed over a spot that made her squirm.
A loud moan erupted from her core, her back arching as she gripped the bed sheets. Her cheeks burned hot as a string of breathless gaspsescaped, raw and uncontrolled. Ripples of ecstasy streamed through her and sent her mind into another of the Systems’ galaxies. Her hips moved of their own will, and she feared her entire body might explode.
Then a finger slipped inside, rubbing against her top wall, and the crescendo of pleasure that sang through her pushed her over the edge. She screamed his name as her entire body trembled, every hair rising on her skin.
Christian’s quiet growl vibrated against the inside of her calf as he reached back to rip off his own underwear. “Stars, you almost made me lose it.”
Gemma lifted up enough to tear off her top before reaching for Christian, drawing him back so they were face-to-face. She wanted him—neededto feel him—now.
“I love you so much,” she said, her hands on his waist.
His facial expression morphed into something unreadable, then his mouth was back on hers, kissing her like it was the last.
Christian slipped himself inside her and groaned, his face falling into her neck.
Gemma lost herself in the bliss of his soul connecting with hers again. Her heartbeat galloped as he thrust himself into her again and again, and with each of Christian’s warm breaths tickling her skin, her pain, her nightmares—even her terrible memories—all surrendered willingly to the passionate fire igniting inside her.
He rose onto his hands, watching himself move inside her. Seeing his face as he lost himself in pleasure intensified her own euphoria until she fell over the edge a second time, holding tight to his upper arms as she cried out. Christian’s head dropped again as she throbbed against his member. He moaned, his own orgasm unleashing.
Falling onto his elbows, Christian panted against her shoulder. Gemma ran her fingers down his toned back as he kissed the side of her neck.
“You drive me crazy, Proctor.”
She chuckled. “Good.”
