He groaned, letting go of her braid. His head fell back as his eyes closed. “All right, you win. I’ve definitely learned my lesson.” A corner of his mouth turned up in a half-smile.
Desire pulsed between Gemma’s legs. Grinning, she straddled his hips and—at a painstakingly slow pace—took him deep inside her. His moan sent a flutter to her core.
She ground her hips against his, leaning back slightly so his cock hit right where she wanted. Her nipples hardened; every inch of her skin tingled. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, picking up the pace, and the sensation of their souls connecting was pure bliss. He was her heart, her happiness, her home.
Loud, breathy moans spilled from both of them as Gemma continued to bounce and rock her hips, intoxicated on the feel of him inside her. She opened her eyes to find Christian watching her, his eyes tight in unrestrained emotion. Then his gaze found hers, and she almost had to look away. There was so much love and affection and adoration in his stare that her chest ached.
Strands of his light brown hair stuck to his forehead as he massaged her clit with his thumb. A crease formed between his brows. “Come with me, love.”
Gemma fought the urge to look away as euphoria trailed from her scalp to between her legs—
She cried out in ecstasy as her walls tightened around his cock. Her orgasm tore through her, taking Christian over the edge with her. Trembling, she fell forward into his strong arms. He slowly thrust himself into her a few more times, letting her ride the ripples of euphoria that had her body quivering. At last, when her shuddering had calmed, he stilled inside her.
He placed a kiss against her scalp. “You’re amazing.”
She smiled against his chest.
“You know I never would’ve asked you to do that,” he said.
“I know. I wanted to.”
Christian’s fingertips trailed down her spine. She shivered.
“Should I ask where you learned all those fancy tricks?” His voice was light and playful.
Gemma’s face burned white-hot. “I . . . may have read a book. And watched a few videos.”
His deep laugh rumbled against her cheek.
Tears flooded her eyes. She was going to miss that sound so much.
He didn’t want to let her go. Halfway through the night, she’d screamed in her sleep, and he’d wrapped her in his arms. She fit so perfectly. He didn’t even care that the arm beneath her had long since gone numb. If he woke her, he’d be forced to face the truth: He might not hold her again for a long time. Maybe not ever.
Christian squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t think like that. She was strong in both mind and spirit. Rami said her implant was failing, yet Gemma’s “powers” hadn’t manifested in the slightest even once. She would find a cure and beat it. Of that, he was sure.
Gemma stirred in his arms. He tightened his grip.
“What time is it?” she mumbled.
“Too early,” he said into her hair.
“The ultralights are almost fully lit.”
“Exactly. Almost.”
The white ultralights framing the floor of their flat mimicked the rise and fall of the sun, a Systems design meant to enforce natural sleep rhythms. But he didn’t care what time it was. Not right now.
Gemma stroked his forearm with her small, soft, unbandaged hand.
“How’s your other hand?” he asked.
Carefully, she unwrapped the gauze from around her palm and fingers. The site was still red, but healing. Whoever invented nanobots needed to be awarded a fucking medal.
“Better,” she said, flexing her fingers with a small wince. She brushed his arm again. “You need to let me get up. I have to pee.”
Christian groaned and buried his forehead against the back of her scalp but loosened his hold. She slipped from the bed. He sat up slowly, raking a hand through his hair. Time apart from the only good thing in his life was going to be brutal.
They didn’t talk much as they got ready, showering separately and dressing in silence. Pulling his backsack from the armoire, Christian packed it with only the barest of essentials. He’d be staying at Gallowood House. It wasn’t like he was going off world with nothing but the clothes on his back.
