Page 10 of Paradise (Alphas Forever 4)

Ryan

Well, fuck. That was definitely worth the wait.

After a full afternoon of fucking and making love and fucking and making love again, I feel complete. I feel incredible. I feel like I’m the only man in the world.

I never want to lose this feeling. And I never want to lose Gemma.

Now I’m on the sofa with her and she has her legs wrapped around mine. Her lips are swollen and red and I can still feel the heat coming from her sweet little pussy. She’s lazed against the sofa, her eyes half-closed with a sleepy smile on her face. God, is she beautiful. I can’t help thinking about how lucky I’d be to spend the rest of my life looking at that beautiful face.

My daydreaming is abruptly interrupted, though, when the door to the condo swings open and Brandon stomps in.

I can see his jaw working as he takes in us on the couch, Gemma only in a t-shirt and panties. He drops his dive bag and stares me down.

“Thought that was your truck outside,” he says. He swings his gaze to Gemma. “What the fuck’s going on?”

I feel her tense up and put a hand on her leg to steady her. But Gemma sits up and crosses her arms over her chest with a huff. Her eyes are focused on her brother.

“Do I really have to explain what’s going on here?” says Gemma. “You’re an adult. A whole stupid twelve years older than me, in fact.”

“And so is he!” Brandon shouts, pointing at me.

“So?” says Gemma

“So you shouldn’t be screwing around with him!”

“Hey, cut it out, Brandon,” I say. I stand up and move in front of Gemma. “Stop yelling at her.”

“This is none of your damn business,” Brandon spits out. “She’s my sister.”

When I see Brandon tense and clench his fists, I throw up my hands, palms out.

“I know,” I say. “But I wish you would listen to me. To us. I care about her.”

“Riiight,” says Brandon, clearly not believing me. “I know you, bud. I know how you are with women. With the rich girls who get to ride a different kind of wave when they come onto your boat. With all the tourist chicks we’ve picked up together. She doesn’t know anything about guys like you. I want better for Gemma.” Brandon is snarling at me now.

“Hey, man. I get it.” I glance at Gemma and her face is screwed up like she’s trying not to cry. “I know you’re just worried about your little sister. But I care for her. A lot.” I look back at Gemma again. “And I stopped bringing chicks onto my boat a while ago. That’s not me anymore.”

Forget about Brandon; I need to wipe that hurt look off Gemma’s pretty face. I drop down onto my knees beside her and take her hands in mine.

“I swear, Gemma, there hasn’t been anyone for months. And there definitely hasn’t been anyone since you set foot on my boat. I know you don’t realize it, but you had me that day. From the second you fell headfirst onto my boat, I fell head over heels for you.”

I turn her hand over and press a kiss into her palm. She studies me carefully, then reaches over and traces my jaw with her fingertip.

“Ryan,” she says quietly, “do you honestly think I give two rat shits about what you did on your boat before we met? Anything—anyone—that came before me doesn’t matter. All that matters is what comes after. And you.”

Then Gemma pins her brother with hard stare. “And I’m not eight anymore, Brandon. You can’t try to beat up boys just because you don’t like them kissing me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown up. I’ve graduated college, found a job, and found an apartment all without your help. And I’ll date, and sleep with, whoever I want.”

Gemma stands up, all five feet of her, stomps over to her brother, and pokes a finger into his chest. “Tough shit if you don’t like it.”

I raise a brow at Brandon, who is standing there with his mouth gaping open like a fish.

“And besides,” Gemma keeps on, “you’re never even here. I’ve hardly seen you at all since I’ve gotten here. Ryan’s been the one showing me around, keeping me company. I know you have to work, but you can’t have it both ways. You can’t expect me to act like an adult and then keep treating me like a child.”

Brandon finally throws his hands up and takes a step back from Gemma.

“You’re right,” he says. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it right now. And I’m going to be keeping an eye on you, Ryan. But you’re grown now. So, do grown things, I guess.” He stomps off to his bedroom and slams the door behind him.

I look back at Gemma and her eyes are stunned.

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