“Well, now is not a good time.”
“Is Zoe okay?”I ask because Gemma is rarely this sharp with me.
Silence.
“Gemma?”I straighten.
“Yes.I’m just surprised you asked about her.”Her voice softens.“Zoe is fine.I’ve just had a tough couple of days.Highly recommend not having your spouse die on you.Do not recommend.Zero stars.”
My chest tightens.
Has she learned about Sally Wallstone?
“Noted,” I say, but the moment the word is out of my mouth, I know I can’t leave her on her own.I can’t just carry on with my life knowing she’s hurting.“Can I pop over?”
“Tonight is not a good time.My sister—”
“I’m leaving.”I hear a female voice in the background.“I’m meeting the girls for a drink.”
Her voice fades, and I miss the rest.
“I’m coming over.Let me in.”
I hang up and grab my jacket and phone, and I’m out the door in less than sixty seconds.
––––––––
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, I step inside Gemma’s penthouse, and it takes me a second to adjust.She’s standing before me wearing white sweatpants, an olive-colored T-shirt, and her dark hair pinned up.She doesn’t have a lick of make-up on.
She’s fucking gorgeous.
She’s also much shorter without her heels on, and I’m reminded of just how tiny she is.
Tiny and vulnerable.
Fighting the urge to pull her into my arms and kiss her, I notice one last thing: her usual fighting spirit is gone along with her smile.
I glance around.
“Zoe’s in bed.”
Without hesitation, I close the gap and wrap my fingers around the back of her slim neck as our bodies connect, then lower my mouth to hers.
Our kiss is slow, familiar, and has layers of confusing emotions attached.I’m out of my depth here and don’t know what to do or say.
I’d rather keep kissing.
But I came here to see if Gemma is okay, instead of heading to the Obsidian Club to get my cock sucked by someone else.
It’s poignant...for the want of another word.
I want her to be my lover.I want to keep her in my life and see if I can soften the blow if she has found out about Sally.
How, I don’t know.
Perhaps she’s found something in Anthony’s things.
“Tell me what happened,” I rasp when I release her mouth.
