Page 35 of Her Filthy Reverse Harem Romance Collection

There’s no time to prepare, only to feel.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls against my sensitive folds. Teeth take the flesh and I’m arching off the bed and falling prey to another rush of hot liquid spilling between my thighs. He flicks the tip of his tongue over the hard pleasure nub, and a part of me falls away. No longer belonging to me. It’s his. Just like Daemon holds another piece of my heart.

“You’re a treasure, Jemma. A jewel.” His soft words don’t match the lightning fury I see flash across his face. I can only assume he’s as torn up about the end of our fling as I am. His cock tents a pair of low-slung sweats and when I dip my eyes, he pulls away.

“Sleep while you can. The sun is about to rise. Erik will take you to the airport in the morning and join you on the flight.”

Instead of demanding answers, my brain shuts down as he clips a Ferris wheel charm onto my bracelet opposite the dangling Eiffel tower. And just like that I know it is over.

Jemma

There’s nothing colder than Connecticut in February except the silence of not having them in the same room bickering over who makes the next food run while they read contracts, talking out coding issues or quarterly spreadsheets.

Father and Mother have officially cut me out of their lives. I have the icy letter on my dresser to prove it. The final line the coldest of all: Your shame is yours to carry alone.

In the three weeks since the quiet flight home I’ve managed to do absolutely nothing for myself except go to work and sleep.

“I can’t bear to apply for another school.”

“You can’t walk away from getting your degree. You only have a few months left and then you can do whatever it is you want.”

I pick at the ice cream tub sitting between Brooklyn and me the mint chocolate no longer appetizing. In fact, I feel rather nauseous lately at the slightest taste of food.

“I wantthem.”

Brooklyn’s hand shoots out to cover mine with a friendly squeeze. “Have you talked with them? Do they know yet?”

I shake my head. I suspected my upset stomach was due to more than just a broken heart. When Brooklyn found me hugging the toilet yesterday morning, we both had a crying session that ended with my best friend running to the drugstore around the corner.

“I need some space to wrap my head around this. None of this was supposed to happen. But I will eventually, especially with…” I point to my stomach. “But right now, I just need to think about what I’m going to do next. It hasn’t been easy. I miss them. I’ve texted them a few times. Erik especially.”

Brooklyn takes the ice cream away and pushes a bottle of water into my hand. “They haven’t been to the school for class. They’ve brought in your father to fill in for Erik’s lectures. I had no idea class could get harder, but that man has found a way to make me dread advanced mathematics and I LOVE numbers.”

I cringe and take my friend’s hand in mine. My throat grows tight with all the pent-up emotions I have nowhere to release. “I’m sorry. Truly. I didn’t mean to make your life miserable.”

“You need to talk to him.”

“I tried. I went home last Sunday and was promptly informed I was no longer their daughter.”

“And they gifted you that nastygram.”

I nod. Tears burn my eyes but I force them to retreat.

“How about we go to a V-Day party? Something to help lighten your mode. Talk to some peeps, get you out of your funk?”

“The last party is what got me into this mess. I think I’ll grab another shift down at Krista’s, maybe give her the night off. I’ll need the extra money if I want to finish my degree before the baby.”

“Want me to come with? Sit there and keep you company? Make sure you drink enough water?”

I laugh softly. “No, go to your party. I have a couple of things to do before I leave anyway.”

“Are you sure?”

I pull Brooklyn in for a quick hug and tap the heart on my charm bracelet that belongs to her. I already have you with me. Go, have fun. Take pictures of your new boyfriend for me.” My friend is reluctant but she has a life and a new boyfriend. No way I would be the one to keep her from that. There’s no way I’m going to keep her from the first Valentine’s Day with her new love interest.

As soon as she is gone, I lock the door and head to the bathroom for a hot shower and a deep cry.

An hour later I’m serving a warm cup of hot cocoa to a group of students hitting the books hard and I’m hit with Brooklyn’s words about seeking my degree one way or another. I miss my books, but I miss them more.

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