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She nods. “He showed me the paperwork. It’s confirmed. I guess my dad took out a second mortgage to take care of my mom’s medical bills years ago and wasn’t able to keep up with the payments. Right before it went into foreclosure, Robert bought it and waited for the opportunity to use it against me so I’d bend to his will. He’s a monster.” She wipes her cheeks, and I hate that bastard for putting her through this.
I grip her face and rest my forehead against hers. “Why didn’t you just say that?”
“He threatened your life, too.”
Rolling my eyes, I scoff. “How?”
“He said he’d make sure Victoria got her revenge without any consequences. Though they aren’t working together—another thing he blamed me for—I believe he’d find a way to cover up her crimes.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Victoria already has an endless amount of money and can pay anyone off. She doesn’t need him to get away with murder. She has done it several times already.
“Sweetheart, listen to me,” I mutter softly, and she meets my gaze. “I’m in this for the long haul, you got me? Be honest with the shit he says or does to you, and we’ll get through it together. Promise me.”
She nods again. “You’re right, I should’ve, but I was so scared. He’s worse than usual and admitted that even though we don’t love each other, he wants me as his wife for his public image. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I can’t lose my cottage or the house my mom and dad built together. He’d be devastated.”
“I don’t have the answers right now, baby, but we’ll figure it out. Okay? If we have to be together in secret until we find a solution, then so be it. It’ll suck, but there’s gotta be a way out of this.”
“There isn’t much time,” she insists. “The wedding invites went out today.”
“Well, he’s not the only person who knows people. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe and for us to be together.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and presses into me. I hold her to my chest and inhale her scent. “We’ve got this, baby,” I whisper in her ear. “I’m not letting you go this time. Never.”
“I’ll have to keep up the act until we have a plan,” she explains. “In public, I’ll have to pretend we’re a perfect couple, but hopefully, we can find a way to end the charade before the wedding day.”
“We will,” I promise.
She leans in and presses her mouth to mine. “Before you kissed me, how’d you know I was lying?” she asks, searching my face.
“Because I can read you, Gemma. Your mouth said one thing, but your body said another. I learned a lot of weird shit in prison, one of them being body language—a defense mechanism—but the two weren’t lining up.”
“Well, you were definitely right about one thing.” Her lips shyly tilt upward.
Brushing hair behind her ear, I grin. “What was that?”
“That I love you. I’m completely crazy, out of my mind in love with you,” she states confidently.
Her confession has my heart nearly beating out of my chest, and I can’t hold back the wide smile on my face.
“You have no idea how happy that makes me, baby. I’m madly, deeply, insanely in love with you. I love you so damn much that it physically hurts when I think about how I almost lost it all.”
Gemma laughs and smiles at the same time, wiping away happy tears. “I can’t believe we’re finally together again and have to pretend we aren’t.”
“It won’t be for long, sweetheart. We can sneak around, and when it’s all over, we’ll be able to appreciate every single minute we get together.” I press my lips to hers.
“I hope so. As long as he doesn’t throw anything else at me, I think I’ll be able to pretend for a couple of weeks.”
“You’re stronger than you realize, Gemma. You always have been.”
She leans into me and presses her mouth to mine. Our kiss quickly grows hungry and desperate, and her hands grasp me as I squeeze her ass cheeks. Gemma rocks her hips, and that sexual urge returns, greedy and eager.
“I don’t wanna wait anymore, Tyler. Please. Make love to me,” she begs with little whimpers that have my cock aching.
“You’re sure?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t change her mind after how she’s touching me.
“Yes. I want you.”
Without muttering a word, I stand and take her with me. She squeals and tightens her arms around me, holding on. Gemma feathers kisses on my face and neck, driving me more insane. I take us to my room, then move to the bed.
Setting her down, she lies back with her legs hanging over the edge. I stand between them and lean over her with a smirk. “How do you want it?”
