Break Me (The Summer Series) Read online

  “Try Carter. He was dumped at the end of the school year. He’s good and desperate.”

  “Gee, thanks for the compliment.” Kate put her hands on her hips and squared off with Abe.

  “Well, it didn’t sound like you were looking for a love connection.” Abe snorted.

  Puckering her lips to the side, Kate thought for a second. “Good point. Desperate is perfect. See you love birds later.”

  “Want a drink or anything?” He pulled Gemma in and put his lips to the spot where her neck met her shoulder. Everything in her turned to Jell-O, and she reached her arms around his neck to keep from collapsing.

  “No.” She leaned her head to the side, allowing him more access to her sensitive neck. “I think I need to keep my wits about me tonight.”

  “Probably a good idea. I guess I’ll do the same.”

  “You’re welcome to drink. I trust you.” As soon as the words left her lips, he tensed around her. They both knew what those words meant. They knew what was held behind them. It mattered more than either of them would admit that she trusted him completely.

  “Come on.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I want to dance with you . . . finally.” He stepped around her and pulled her forward as he walked backwards and toward a group of dancers. “I had to watch you from a distance the last time we were at one of these. I need to have you in my arms this time.” She shyly smiled up at him, remembering feeling the exact same way.

  “Sounds perfect.” She almost whispered the words. Speaking with volume would require her to have a breath, and due to their proximity and the intensity in his eyes, a breath just wasn’t currently an option.

  When he pulled her into his arms, she felt every ridge of every muscle. The want in her was reaching levels she had never experienced before, and now that no part of her was holding back, her anticipation only grew for what was to come. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, loving that smell that only he had perfected. The music transitioned to a faster song, and she knew she should logically pull away. Since he wasn’t releasing her either, she embraced the extended moment they were creating and let out a satisfied sigh. As she did, she heard him clear his throat and pull his pelvis away from hers. She smirked at the power a simple sigh had over him and kept her head down so he wouldn’t see how much she enjoyed it.

  “Cops,” someone yelled in the distance.

  Abe grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the area of the beach that held most of the cars. “Did you drive?” He asked her, looking over his shoulder.

  “No.” She looked up at him nervously. “We walked. Where’s Kate?” Gemma looked around frantically.

  “Gemma,” Kate yelled from the side of a big truck, “hurry your butt up. Emily and Ryan are going to give us a ride.”

  Abe shrugged at her and ran toward the waiting vehicle. Just then, thunder clapped in the air, scaring Gemma and making her scream. “You okay,” he asked as they neared their waiting friends.

  “Yeah, just anxious. It’s no big deal,” she replied as she shivered in fear.

  “You two jump in the bed. We’re out of room in the cab.” Ryan yelled as he tossed a couple of blankets in the back for them to sit on and under. It wasn’t cold, but the approaching rain had them all a little nervous. “We’re going to the private beach. Since you called in sick, I’m assuming it’s unguarded?”

  “Yeah, just go over near Pete’s. No one ever checks there.”

  Gemma looked over at him with accusing eyes. “You mean there is somewhere I could have gone and gotten away with it?”

  “Shh.” He rubbed her back. “The anxiety has you hearing things.”

  “You jerk.” She laughed.

  “A jerk who earned many nights of your company.”

  “Yes, yes, you did.” She smiled at him and loved the spark she saw in his brown eyes. Ryan started the truck and peeled out as he left the public lot.

  Flying faster than was safe down the highway, they headed back toward the beach and the condo community where Gemma was staying. Just as they neared their exit, thunder rolled in the distance, causing Gemma to jump and bump into the side of Abe, who had somehow landed in the spot beside her instead of across the bed. Her vow of patience and plan for testing him, as well as her sanity, were getting called more and more into question with every brush of his arm and smirk from those full, all-too-inviting lips. When the first drop of rain fell, it hit her bare shoulder. Smiling, she leaned her head back and welcomed the onslaught of drops that picked up in pace until it was a downpour. It wasn’t a hard rain that would make riding in the back of the truck miserable. It was the soft kind. The welcoming kind. This rain was the reason people danced and sang. This rain was what first kisses were made for, and with that dangerous thought, Gemma crawled to the middle of the truck’s bed. Using the back window for support, she raised herself up on her knees and welcomed the downpour and the second it took to put some space between her and the man who would steal not only a first kiss but her heart. Pointing her face to the sky, she laughed and drank the drops that made their way into her mouth.

  ~*~

  Abe

  Abe sat back in awe, watching what could only be described as perfection. How could someone make something like getting rained on look so perfect? He had promised himself two weeks. He had promised himself she would know that she trusted him. He had promised he would never allow himself to hurt her. He couldn’t fail. How could he show her that, no matter what, she mattered more than he did if he couldn’t even keep himself in check this long. Knowing he would torture himself, he eased himself to his knees and crawled over to face her. He used his finger to gently move the now soaking hair from in front of her shoulder, where it was plastered to her shirt and neck, to behind it. As he released the hair, he let his hand go to her neck, cupping it, and then slide up to her cheek.

  Gemma turned to Abe, shallow breaths escaping in rapid succession at the feel of his calloused fingers massaging her neck and head. He leaned forward, his breath warming her damp skin, and stared straight into her eyes. “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.” He drew her slightly forward and leaned to her left ear. “Everything about you draws me in and makes me want.” He pulled back just enough to lean to her other ear, their noses barely brushing in the process. “I will never, ever, find someone I want to cherish and keep as I do with you.” Startled, her eyes went wide. He didn’t let her respond or question. Pulling her completely erect so there was no protection from the wind and rain, he leaned fully into her, aligning them so she could feel the erratic beat of his heart. “You are worth so much more than you have ever known. I want you to see that because of me.” He kissed her eyelid. “I will never, ever, fail you.” He kissed her other eyelid. “I will always value you and fight for you.” He kissed her cheek. “I want you in ways you couldn’t imagine, in places I won’t mention yet.” He kissed her other cheek, and she couldn’t help but sway into him, yearning in ways she had never experienced. “And I could never, ever, fail you as he did because, to me, you will always be so much more than you understand.” He kissed her cheek as she raised her hands and gripped his shirt between them, desperation and fear evident in her eyes.

  “Abe.” She moaned, and he had to grab the truck to keep from doing something in the moment she may regret later. “I need . . .” She groaned. “Just, kiss me, please.”

  “Gem, I can’t. I promised us both I would . . . we would take our time. I want to earn everything you give me, know for a fact that we both want this, and allow you to see if this is headed where I’m hoping it is.” Pain was so thick in his words he thought she would have laughed if she didn’t ache for him just as bad.

  “Abe, I get it. You mean it. You want me. I want you. You aren’t going anywhere. But I swear if you don’t kiss me right now I am going to explode and then come back together to take you out in the most painful way imaginable.”

  Abe fought with himself. She wasn’t laughing. She
was serious. She wanted this as much as he did, and damn it, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

  “Abe, plea—”

  And he kissed her. He kissed her as he had never kissed anyone, so desperate and hopeful at the same time. He craved her and needed her to feel it as he had been for weeks. Their lips only parted long enough for her to pull her hands out from between them and find the back of his head, keeping him pinned to her lips. His hand left her cheek and made its way down her front, causing her to jolt forward. Those fingers continued the journey down her body and then around her back, grasping her and sliding her forward on her knees, connecting them. Gemma moaned into his mouth and began to pull him down, oblivious to the three people in the front of the truck.

  “Gem”—he stopped their downward plummet and pulled her up and along his body again—“we can’t.”

  “Yes, Abe, we can. Now. I don’t want to wait anymore. I’ve wanted you. I don’t want to admit the moment I realized it because it was far too soon. But I don’t just want you anymore. I need you.”

  “Gem, this isn’t a no. This is me saying we literally can’t.” He laughed at her desperate eyes. “We’re in the middle of a storm, soaking wet, in the back of a pickup with our friends and your family looking at us through the back window.”

  He saw when realization set in, and Gemma looked over his shoulder to find Kate staring wide-eyed and giving her a thumbs up. Gemma buried her face in Abe’s chest and laughed. “Well, who’s the slut now?” She groaned and shook her head at herself.

  Abe squeezed her in a hug. “Still Kate. I’m pretty sure I saw her hitting on Trent. Now I know for sure she’s desperate.” They both laughed.

  Just then the vehicle stopped, and the others began to get out of the cab of the truck. Abe leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Any other time, in almost any other situation, you would be mine right now.”

  ~*~

  Gemma

  Gemma shivered at his words, this man just did things to her body, and so far, he had only used words.

  “I’m assuming we’re back on for our two a.m. meetings?” He smirked at her.

  “You’re just lucky these other people are here. We would be heading down the beach right now if they weren’t.”

  “In what world am I lucky because of that?” Gemma chuckled and, only when she finally started to relax, realized that at some point they had not only stopped but so had the quick rainstorm. Now it was just sticky and hot and that plus her frustration had her ready for home and a shower.

  “Hello? Are you two going to sit there and whisper all night? We’re waiting.” Kate jumped up on the tire and put her head right next to theirs. “So, seriously, how was it?” She mock whispered to Gemma.

  “Go,” they both yelled as they stood and started to climb out of the truck.

  “Uh-oh, too much build up. It must have been disappointing.”

  “Kate,” Gemma yelled and started running after her. The two girls took off down the beach as the other three watched on, laughing along.

  Eight

  Everyone made their way to the end of the shore and stood with their toes in the water. Ryan and Emily held hands and whispered to each other while Kate leaned over and let the water run through her fingers. Abe couldn’t take his eyes off of Gemma, and she seemed to be having the same problem. He motioned with his head behind them, and she laughed while mouthing the word ‘no’. He pouted, sticking his lower lip out, and she laughed quietly while shaking her head. Taking advantage of everyone’s distraction as well as the newly elevated level of their physical relationship, he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “I need more. Not more than you want to give but I can’t be done with you, not yet.”

  “I know.” She leaned her head back to rest it on his shoulder while he ran his lips up and down her neck. “You’ll get it, I promise, but I’m not going to walk off and leave my sister.”

  “Later, after we take her home, meet me at our spot.” Before she could answer, he turned her head and their lips met. He made it fast, but it was no less sensual than anything he had done to her before; he tasted her fast but with no less passion. When he pulled away, she simply nodded her acquiescence and then backed into him a little further, resting herself completely against him. “Good. But if you don’t separate yourself from me a little, the waiting will not be an option, and I will have you over my shoulder and in a cove before you have time to protest.”

  “Promise?” She winked up at him but stepped forward, removing her backside from his front. A part of her wondered where this side of her had come from, but she knew she was only lying to herself. She had never been a prude. She was never afraid of sex. She was afraid to trust, and as soon as Abe had gained that trust, Gemma had been ready for him. Hell, if she were honest with herself, she would admit that she’d have given in before the trust was there. There was just something about him, something that drew her in from the beginning and had her wondering if there was any way she would be able to let go.

  ~~~

  Hours later Gemma made her way down the beach and kept her eyes peeled for Abe. He was supposed to have been waiting for her just down the road from her house, but he hadn’t been there. They had been apart for two hours, and she already ached for him. She knew it was only going to get worse as they took things to the next level, and she couldn’t make herself care. Slightly annoyed that he still wasn’t in sight, she kicked a rock as she rounded the corner that brought her to the first entrance to the public beach. As she closed the gate behind herself, she turned and her eyes rounded in surprise. “Abe”—she took a few steps closer so they could hear each other better—“what is this?”

  He smiled as he walked up to meet her. “I remember you saying that if it was possible to sleep in a hammock out here you would.”

  She quickly took the last couple of steps that separated them and jumped, wrapping her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect. You are so perfect.” She smiled as he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her knees up with the other, carrying her to the hammock.

  “As you’ve seen the past couple nights, we have about two hours before they show up at the bakery. We won’t do anything you don’t want to do. We won’t go any further than you want to go. But, Gemma, I’m begging you, please just let me kiss you a little more tonight.” He lowered her on to the hammock and then eased himself up beside her. They rolled toward the middle, facing one another.

  “How can I tell you to stop when you haven’t started?”

  “Good point.” He placed his hand on her thigh and started working it up her leg. She immediately reached down and stopped his progress.

  “I’m sorry.” She winced as he quickly pulled back.

  “Stop,” he whispered as he pulled her chin up so she would look into his eyes. “Don’t apologize.”

  “But I acted all tough and then you touch me and—”

  “And I should have known better than to push it so far so soon.” He rolled so he was back on his side and pulled her head onto his chest. “I’ll do anything for you, Gem. And that includes taking our time so I can prove to you that I’m in this thing.”

  “And what if that means you’re waiting on me until our wedding night?” It dawned on her what she had said, and she considered rolling out of the hammock and running for it until he spoke.

  “One, just the fact that you can think of us and a wedding day shows how much you’re already starting to trust me. Two, if that’s the case, then I take my wife to bed and discover her like millions of men have done before me.” He gently kissed the top of her head and the word “swoon” flashed through her mind. “You, Gemma Andrews, are worth the wait.”

  ~~~

  “Good morning.” Kate stood over a bleary-eyed Gemma and smiled mischievously.

  “What?” Gemma moaned.

  “I need coffee, and from what I understand, your lover boy is busy for the time being. Take me to that shop you always go to.”


  “What about your morning run?” Gemma asked as she rolled away from Kate.

  “I get a day off every week.” Kate rolled Gemma onto her back. “Now get up and come on. I want to do something today. I’m so sick of being bored.”

  “Bored?” Gemma asked as she sat up and threw her covers off. “You’re gone all day every day, and we just spent an entire day shopping. How could you possibly be bored?”

  “I’m at the beach by myself or with my baby brother every day. How is that exciting? Now that you like me I want to do stuff. Please?”

  Gemma was hit with guilt yet again. She had officially lost count. All this time she assumed Kate was here living it up and making the most of her time, but Gemma was starting to see that these long summers weren’t just long for her.

  ~~~

  “There you are.” Abe smiled as Gemma walked toward him with only the assistance of the light from the moon.

  “Hey,” she called out. “Sorry I’m running late. I swear Kate stays up later each night.”

  “She’s probably just doing it to mess with us.”

  “You sure give her a lot of credit.” Gemma smiled as she finally reached him and he pulled her into an embrace.

  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. That girl sees things. She knows what’s up.”

  “If you say so, Mr. North.”

  “I do.” He nuzzled her neck. “And don’t call me that. I feel like you’re talking to my dad.”

  “Ew, gross.” She laughed.

  “Subject change, then?” He smiled down at her as he started to walk.

  “Please.” Just then he nodded in the distance, and she turned to look in the direction he was now smiling. “Seriously? Again with the hammock? How do you get it here?”

  “I have my ways of making you happy.” He winked.

  “Yes,” she said, more to herself than him, “you certainly do.”

  He pulled her to a stop, chuckling to himself before letting her in on the joke. “Are you wearing your bikini again?”