Chapter Five
* * *
GEMMA STOOD OUTSIDE the hotel, fanning her cheeks. It was still ninety degrees at ten o’clock at night, and she could already feel a sheen of sweat coating her skin. Taking Travis’s jacket off her shoulders, it almost slipped through her clumsy fingers, and she about lost her balance as she reached for it.
Whew, sailor, might want to slow down on those drinks.
She hadn’t planned on getting drunk, just loose, but by the way her world was spinning, she might have had too much.
Travis came out of the hotel, a wide grin on his face. “Let’s take a walk.”
“But I thought you were getting a limo,” she said, confused as he took her hand.
“We are. I just thought we’d walk along the Strip a bit.”
She let him lead her down the sidewalk, her feet screaming in protest. With all the dancing they’d done, and not being used to heels, she didn’t know how far she’d get in the three-inch nightmares. Studying the dirty sidewalk, though, left her even less inclined to go barefoot.
She stopped and pleaded, “Travis, my feet hurt. Maybe we could just . . . whoa.”
Travis had bent over to heft her into his arms, but he took a few steps as if he was off balance. Giggling, she said, “Don’t drop me!”
“I would never!” His words had a slight slur to them, and she held on tightly to his shoulders as he straightened up and kept walking.
They passed a group of women in sequined dresses who stopped and squealed.
“Oh . . . my . . . God, you two are adorable! Did you just get married?”
Gemma thought it was the alcohol at first but realized that the women were actually men, dressed to the nines.
Before she could say no, Travis said, “Yep, just waiting for our limo to take us off so I can get this little honey alone.”
The group laughed and the one in pink asked, “Girl, how’d you find a man that fine? I swear, men that hot can only be found in Hollywood.”
Nashville, actually.
Gemma smiled sheepishly. “I met him in the library.”
Travis laughed, and one of the men asked, “Is that like a club or something?”
“Nope, an actual library.”
“Hmmm,” he said, tapping his golden lips. “I’m gonna have to try that. I’ve heard of grocery stores, but libraries?”
Suddenly, a stretch limo pulled up alongside them. The driver hopped out and ran around the back to greet them. “Evening, Mr. Bowers. I’m Tony and I’m here to take you wherever you want to go.”
Tony opened the door to the limo and stepped back with a wave of his hand.
Travis lowered her back down to shake Tony’s hand, and Gemma waved at the group as they walked away. She had to gather her dress up in her arms as she climbed inside, just to fit through the door, and lost her balance, sprawling across the seat. She tried to right herself, but she was clumsier than usual. When she was finally sitting, she saw several bags on the floor, and the smell of food tickled her nose.
Travis crawled in next to her and reached out for one of the bags, pulling out two containers and handing her one. She opened the lid to find a large bacon cheeseburger and fries inside.
“Oh, yummy.”
He laughed as he brought out two beers and handed her one. “That’s my girl.”
They clanked their beers together, and she took a napkin from him, stuffing it into her bodice like a bib.
“I like the look. Very sexy,” Travis said, taking a bite of his burger and giving her a closemouthed smile, his cheeks filled with food. She threw a French fry at him, which bounced off his cheek and fell onto the seat. He finished chewing in time to protest, “That wasn’t very nice. I was giving you a compliment.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, washing a fry down with a gulp of beer. She had to drink beer fast, while it was still cold, or it tasted bitter.
Though her brain was still pretty fuzzy from all of the drinks at the gala, Gemma ate her food quickly, setting what she couldn’t finish back in the bag. “Thank you. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sitting forward, she started looking through some of the bottles in a brightly lit cooler and asked, “Are these for us?”
“I figured what’s the point of riding around in a limo without a little alcohol?”
“No point at all,” she teased, watching him pour two glasses of amber liquid which she assumed was more whiskey. Taking the glass from him, she tossed it back and shook her head, her face scrunching at the aftertaste. She could feel her hair loosening and reached up to undo the pins, shaking out the curls.
Holding out her glass, she smiled. “Another, good sir.”
Travis filled her glass, but his gaze never left her face. Her cheeks warmed as she recognized his desire, and she clinked his glass. “Here’s to a night to remember.”
He drained his, and just as she set hers down, he tangled a hand in her loose curls and wrapped his other arm around her. “Believe me, Gem, any night with you is unforgettable.”
And then his mouth covered hers and his kiss set her on fire.
TRAVIS TRAILED HIS lips down Gemma’s neck, licking at her salty skin as his hand crept up under the flounce of her dress. Her little gasps were turning him on as he skimmed his fingers over the soft skin of her thighs and found the lacy edge of her panties.
His mouth left her neck and he got down on the floor, kneeling between her legs. The warm haze of alcohol and the way Gemma watched him, her lashes lowered and her mouth slightly open, reminded him of the first time he’d gone down on her, how she’d protested and tried to stop him, but he’d just promised to stop if she didn’t like it.
She hadn’t stopped him then and he knew she wouldn’t now, if her eager look was any indication. Only a thin piece of privacy glass separated them from the driver, but he wanted to taste her, feel her fall apart in his arms again.
With a wicked grin, he dived beneath her skirt and, placing his hands on her inner thighs, pushed her legs apart. The dim lights of the limousine were lost under the thick folds of her dress, so he went by touch, his hands traveling until they hooked in the crotch of her panties, sliding the satin and lacy mix to the side as he bent his head to find her with his mouth. He heard her little cry as his tongue pushed inside her and wanted more. He wanted to push her so far that she’d want more. She’d want him.
The whiskey and beer had gone to his head, but having Gemma’s body spread and open to him was making him hard as a marble statue and just as stiff.
Lifting her up enough to pull her panties down, he hooked her legs over his shoulders and spread her with his thumbs, finding her tight * and sucking it into his mouth. He wanted her trembling under his mouth, and he soon had his wish. It had been a long time since he’d cared more about a woman than as just a warm body to satisfy his urges; now he wanted Gemma to crave him. To need him. He wanted to stamp her as his with every release he gave her. He tongued her hard and fast, flicking her flesh as she swelled in his mouth, and he knew she was getting there. Her legs started shaking as her moans and panting grew louder, until finally she tensed, calling his name as she came.
Pushing up her skirt to her waist, he grabbed the second bag and pulled out a box of condoms. When he’d asked the limo company to pick up a few things for their ride, there’d been no questions asked. Ripping it open, he grabbed one and started unbuckling his belt, her flushed skin drawing him like a moth to a flame. As he pushed down his pants and rolled the condom over his cock, he felt her shift, and her fingers touched his cheek. His gaze fused with hers as he pulled her forward and adjusted his cock at her entrance. He could feel the heat of her flesh against his tip and gritted his teeth, trying to hold back enough to slow things down, but she arched up. The motion brought him inside her, her tight passage squeezing him so hard he couldn’t stop; he had to take her. Gripping her hips in his hands, he thrust into her, and her eyes closed, her head tilting to the side as he pumped in and out of her, wondering how a quickie in the back of a limo could be the hottest sex he’d had in a long time.
It’s her. It’s always been her.
He couldn’t think like that. He could hold out hope for second chances, but he couldn’t lose himself in her too soon. He needed to be sure of her, because if she jumped ship, he didn’t want to be that sorry, needy fool that had gone in headfirst too soon.
Locking his arms around her, he climbed onto the seat and rolled into a sitting position with her legs straddling his hips. The last thing he wanted to think about was old hurts. He wanted to be here and now with Gemma, living in the moment.
Sliding his hands into her hair, he whispered, “Ride me, baby.”
She kissed him as her hips moved fast, rocking on him in quick, even strokes for several minutes, until her pace faltered. Pulling her mouth to his, he felt her cries against his lips, and her muscles clenched down on him as another orgasm took over. Holding onto her, he kept her going until he reached his own peak, breaking the kiss as he came.
How did I ever let her go?
It wasn’t just the alcohol and the incredible sex they’d just shared that had brought the thought front and center. It was the way she stroked the back of his neck, smiling down at him with dreamy eyes. She felt familiar and new at the same time, and deeper than that was that old connection. The one that had always considered Gemma’s presence as a comfort. Like coming home, if he’d ever really had one, and sitting next to a fire; peaceful and beautiful.
“God, I feel relaxed and hot at the same time,” he said, brushing back her curls as he kissed her chest. “You’re better than the whiskey.”
“WHOO-EE!” GEMMA YELLED as the wind whipped her hair. They had been driving around Vegas for two hours and she was completely sloshed.
Travis tugged on her dress and she ducked back inside, falling across his lap. “Hello, sexy.”
“When I dared you to stand up and yell out of the sunroof, I thought you’d duck out and back in, not wave and scream for an hour. You’re going to get decapitated,” Travis warned, his hands squeezing her waist.
“But you should see all the lights!” she protested, rolling her eyes at his stern look. “Whatever!”
Flipping over, she crawled across him to the other window, rolled it down, and stuck her head out, catching the names of the signs they passed.
She felt his hand under her dress, caressing her butt, and she peeked back inside, “Again? Really?”
With a growl, he pulled her back in and whispered, “Why don’t we head back to the hotel?”
“Oh, why? Are you tired?” Her mouth nipped at his ear. “I thought this was the city that never sleeps.”
“You said that was New York.”
“New York, screw York,” she whispered, kissing along his neck. “Come on, it’s your dare.”
“I thought it was yours.”
“Nope. I dared you to stick your butt out of the window at the red light, remember?” she said, giggling.
“How can I forget? Somebody goosed me,” Travis said, scowling.
Squealing with laughter, she couldn’t seem to stop. Trying to breathe, she wheezed, “So?”
“I am too drunk to be making good choices here,” he teased.
“So, make a bad one. Come on!” She pulled him up and toward the window. “What’s your pleasure?”
Everything was so bright, she could hardly look without squinting, which hurt her already dry eyes.
“I’ve got an idea; come on.”
They leaned back in, and Travis rolled down the partition. “Hey Tony, can you drop us off up ahead?”
“Of course, Mr. Bowers.”
The limo came to a stop, and Travis hopped out before Tony could get the door, reaching his hand in to help Gemma. She took his palm and stumbled out of the car, trying to keep her balance while holding up her skirt. “So, where are we going?”
Travis waved behind him, and Gemma squinted at the sign: QUICK WILLIE’S WEDDING CHAPEL.
“Why are we going in there?” she asked.
“You wanted something to do and this is my dare. We’re are going to people watch.”
“In a chapel?” Gemma asked doubtfully.
“Come on,” Travis said, taking her hand and pulling her inside the little white building, which looked more like a fast-food place than a wedding chapel.
Maybe they give out an order of fries with every wedding? The thought got her giggling again.
They walked into the brightly lit lobby, and an older woman with big hair, bright pink lips, and a smoker’s voice croaked, “Name?”
“Name?” Gemma asked.
“You don’t get through those doors without giving me a name and some ID, honey.”
Gemma looked at Travis, who shrugged and pulled out his wallet. Gemma followed his lead and grabbed her license from her purse.
The woman wrote down their names, but then stopped and stared at Travis’s license. Her eyes jumped up and she cried, “Land sakes, Seamus. Get your ass out here!”
An old man with red hair came running into the room with a shotgun a moment later. Gemma screamed, and Travis grabbed hold of her as Seamus yelled, “Damn it, woman, what is that caterwauling about? I thought we were being robbed again.”
“It’s him, Seamus. He sings that song I love!”
Seamus trained his eyes on them and shifted the gun over his shoulder. Gemma breathed a sigh of relief.
“Which song?” Seamus asked.
“‘A Jukebox and a Long Neck’!” The woman came around the corner and threw her arms around Travis. Gemma covered her mouth to smother her laugh.
“It’s nice to meet you, folks, but I’ve got three couples ahead of you, so you’re just gonna have to—”
“Oh no, they don’t, Seamus McGillan! You take these two first or else!”
Seamus’s face went bright red and he snapped, “Well, then, hurry it up! I don’t have all day!”
Gemma wasn’t sure what was happening with all the confusion, but she whispered, “Travis, maybe we should—”
“Oh, don’t mind him, he just hates the night shift,” the woman said, handing them each a form. “Normally we’re just here during the day, but our son is on vacation, and our front-desk clerk called in sick. Here you go. Just fill this out. When you’re done,” she waved her hand across a glass jewelry case, “come back and we’ll get you fitted for your wedding rings. As you can see, we have some beauties. The service includes a wedding video and—”
“I don’t know . . . I mean, we’re not—”
“I understand it doesn’t look like much from here, but I swear, we got the best rates in Vegas and the best videographer in the whole state!” the woman said, pushing the doors open for them. “Why don’t you head on back and have a look-see, and if it’s really not what you’re looking for, no hard feelings.”
Travis’s mouth was pressed against her ear. “Come on. We’ll watch a few ceremonies and laugh.”
His warm, coaxing tone and the soft kiss on her forehead made her lean toward him and close her eyes, contentment warming her. His lips slid down, brushing the shell of her ear, and another one of those shivers shot from her neck to her lower back and spread through her as he whispered, “I dare you.”