Novels by Gem

POV: CameronI should’ve left.My fingers curled around the door handle, my heart thudding so loud I thought it might burst out of my chest. I needed to get out of there, away from the tension choking the air — away from him.But then Brandon grabbed my wrist, spun me around, and before I could even breathe, his lips were on mine.It wasn’t like the accidental kiss from earlier. This one was different. Deliberate. Desperate.I froze. My brain short-circuited. Every warning signal screamed at me to stop this before we ruined everything. But my body didn’t listen.I kissed him back.Hard.Brandon turned away me, and I raised a brow. “What? Is there something on my f—”His hand crashed against my mouth, covering it while the other shoved into my pants. My eyes widened as he stroked my hard, aching cock through my boxers. The soft fabric rubbing against my erection was almost too much to take. My body responded instantly, my hips jutting forward as he stroked me while gazing into my eyes.

POV: BrandonThe cab rattled over a pothole, and Cameron groaned, slumping further into the seat like he was trying to melt into the leather. His forehead pressed against the window, eyes shut tight, and his fingers curled in his lap like he was holding himself together by sheer force of will.I winced, glancing at the driver. “Hey, could you maybe drive a little more carefully?” I asked, trying to keep my voice polite. “He’s not feeling great.”The driver snorted, eyes flicking to me in the rearview mirror. “Maybe your drunk boyfriend shouldn’t have partied so hard,” he muttered, tapping the steering wheel impatiently as he sped up to beat a yellow light.My jaw clenched. I sat up straighter, leaning forward so he could see me better in the mirror. “First of all, he’s not my boyfriend — he’s my fiancé, so use the right term,” I snapped, heat prickling up my neck. “And second, you’re getting paid to drive, not to run your mouth. So how about you do your job without the commentary?”Th

POV: CameronThe street spun under my feet and the pavement tilted like a broken carnival ride. My head throbbed, and my pulse hammered so loudly I swore people could hear it. The muffled beat of music from the bar echoed behind me, but all I could focus on was the weight in my chest. It was heavy, ugly, suffocating. Everything reeked of stale beer, cigarette smoke, and my own pathetic jealousy.I could still see them, Brandon and Hilda were standing and their bodies were too close to each other, their heads tilted together, talking like the rest of the world didn’t exist. The way he stared at her intensely and the way she stared back at him made my heart race, It burned. It burned so badly I felt sick.“Cameron,” Brandon’s voice cut through the haze, low and careful, like he was talking to a wounded animal. “Oh fuck, what have you done to yourself? Come on, you’re wasted. Let’s get you home.”His hand on my arm was steady, warm, and I hated it. I hated how good it felt.I yanked m

POV: BrandonI shoved the bar door open, my heart hammering against my chest like it was trying to break free. The music thudded loudly behind me, but the cold air outside smacked me harder than any bass drop could. My hands were shaking, some was part from anger, part from the mess I’d just left behind.And there was Hilda, stomping down the sidewalk like she hadn’t just wrecked my entire life in one night.Seriously, she looked like a toddler throwing a tantrum.“Hilda, get your stupid ass here!” I yelled, my voice scraping my throat.She didn’t even flinch and I felt my face twitch in annoyance.I jogged to catch up, grabbing her arm and spinning her around so fast her hair whipped across her face. “What the fucking hell was that?” I hissed, my chest rising and falling like I’d just run a marathon.She yanked her arm back like I’d burned her. “Don’t fucking touch me,” she snapped, eyes blazing.“I wouldn’t have to if you stopped acting like a maniac,” I shot back. “Why were you a

POV: CameronThe moment the kiss ended, I panicked.My heart pounded like a freaking war drum, so loud it drowned out everything else. My lips still tingled, swollen from the kiss — from his kiss — and my skin buzzed like I’d been electrocuted.I couldn’t breathe.I ripped myself away from Brandon like he was on fire, chest heaving. His eyes were wide, like he wanted to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance.I shoved past people, ignoring the voices calling my name. The hallway blurred, the music thumped like it was inside my skull, and my hands shook so bad I could barely twist the bathroom doorknob. But I finally managed to push it open and slam it shut behind me.The lock clicked closed except I didn’t feel safe at all.I stumbled to the sink, cranking the faucet up as high as it would go. Ice-cold water splashed out, and I threw handfuls of it onto my face, gasping at the shock. My fingers trembled as I pressed them against my burning cheeks, but no matter how much I tri

POV: BrandonThe game was stupid.Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself as I watched Cameron and Hilda go back and forth like they didn’t even know I existed. I leaned against the wall, gripping my drink so tightly the condensation made my fingers slip.It shouldn’t bother me.I shouldn’t care.But every time Cameron laughed — every time Hilda leaned closer, flipping her hair and flashing her perfect smile — something in my chest burned.I took another sip, pretending to listen to whatever Matt was saying next to me, but the words blurred together.All I could focus on was them.Cameron biting his lip.The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.How he kept fidgeting, rubbing his palms on his jeans like he wanted to disappear.I hated that I noticed all of it.Hated even more that I cared.“You’re fucking staring dude,” Matt said, elbowing me.I flinched, almost spilling my drink. “I’m not dipshit.”Matt snorted. “Dude, you’ve been watching him all night.”“No, I haven’t.”“You

Cameron POV I stood at the edge of the room like I was about to deliver some big speech, arms crossed and spine stiff. Brandon was tossing a hoodie onto his bed, totally unbothered by the fact that I was about to break some sort of weird unspoken routine we’d apparently fallen into."I'm sleeping on the couch," I said, louder than necessary. Like I was trying to convince myself as much as him.Brandon glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow cocked. "Okay."That was it. No protest. No teasing. No smug smirk. Just... "Okay."I blinked. "You’re not even gonna argue about it?"He shrugged. "What would be the point? You already sound like you've made up your mind so enjoy yourself."I hated how logical he sounded. And how calm he sounded. Like it didn’t matter. Like I didn’t matter.I folded my arms tighter across my chest. "It’s just... those matching things we bought today were just for your mom, okay? For show. Doesn’t mean we actually have to—you know—sleep in the same bed."Brandon di

Cameron’s POVWe just got home from the mall and we went to set things down at Brandon’s room.We’d just finished “straightening” the sheets, which should’ve taken two minutes max, but leave it to Brandon to turn it into some kind of Olympic sport.I collapsed onto the mattress with a dramatic sigh, arms flopping out like I’d just survived a battlefield instead of bed-making. “Finally,” I muttered. “A place to die peacefully.”Brandon snorted behind me. “You’re so dramatic, it's just a bed.”“Excuse you,” I mumbled into the comforter. “I nearly lost a limb to that damn fitted sheet. You saw it so why are you sounding clueless?”He chuckled, and I could practically hear the smug grin in his voice. “You wrestled it like it owed you money.”“It did owe me money. And emotional stability because it took us such a long time to get it done.”Just as I started to melt into the softness, I felt pressure hit my side. Not just near me. On top of me.I pulled the comforter off me and I blinked u

Cameron’s POVI woke up to sunlight stabbing me straight in the face and it felt like the universe was against me having proper sleep.Groaning, I rolled over and fumbled for my phone, which had been buzzing for a while.Dad.God, what did he want now?I let it ring for a few seconds, dragging my fingers through my disaster of hair, before finally picking it up. “Morning,” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t still halfway inside a dream.“Any updates?” Dad said with his voice sharp It was obvious he was in business-mode. But he couldn't even say hello.I sat up and let my feet hit the floor. “Yeah. Brandon’s parents are... they’re really supportive.”There was a short pause and I was sure he didn't even flinch “Good,” he said. “Very good. We’ll arrange a dinner between both families. It’s time to discuss future collaborations.”And then he added, like he was commenting on my science project, “Nice work. You picked a good one.”I blinked and stared at the wall. That was it? No how

Cameron’s POVWalking into Brandon’s house felt like stepping onto a stage. I knew the script, knew the role I was supposed to play, but my stomach still twisted like I was about to bomb a school presentation.Brandon’s hand found mine just before we stepped into the living room, fingers interlocking like we’d been doing this forever. He gave me a small smile.Showtime.His mom was on the couch, flipping through some lifestyle magazine like she wasn’t watching the door. But the way her eyes flicked up the second we walked in? Yeah, she was totally watching. His dad glanced up from the TV, remote in hand, expression neutral.“Hi, Mrs. Deville. Mr. Deville,” I said, trying to keep my voice smooth. Like the version of me they’d met before—just… upgraded. Lover-boy edition.Brandon tugged me closer, wrapping his arm around my waist like it was second nature. Like we’d done this before. We hadn’t, not really, but it didn’t feel fake. Not completely.“We’re back,” Brandon announced, like th

Brandon’s POVThere was a brief pause on the line. I could hear Cameron exhale slowly, like the mention of her name triggered something he wasn’t ready to face.“Brandon…” he said quietly, his voice suddenly guarded. “Do we really have to talk about her?”“Yes we need to,” I replied, keeping my tone gentle but firm.He wasn't running away from this, not when I have the control of the situation.“You said you want me to help you, the only way I can help is when you tell me everything that happened.”Silence, I could hear the faint sound of his breathing on the other end but he didn't say anything.“I will come to you and explain,” he muttered.The call ended, and I lay there staring at the ceiling, still holding my phone like it was a grenade that hadn’t gone off yet.He was going to tell me everythingI should’ve felt satisfied. Triumphant. This was the moment I’d been working toward, I was moving closer to my plan.I had everything under control and I will see to it that he is under

Brandon POVI was still pissed. No—scratch that. I was livid.Cameron had the audacity to call me out like I was the villain, like I crossed some line when he was the one playing emotional ping-pong with me. One minute he wanted me, the next he was making googly eyes at Erica like I was invisible.I stormed out of school, music blasting through my headphones. My fists were buried in my hoodie pockets, and my jaw was clenched so tight I half-expected to chip a tooth.When I got home, I barely made it through the door before I heard hushed voices.My parents were in the living room. Whispering.“Um… hey?” I said, kicking off my shoes. “Why do you two look like you're trying to hack the Pentagon?”Mom looked up first, and just from her face, I knew I was in for it.“Brandon,” she said, her voice slow and steady, holding up the phone like it was radioactive. “Care to explain this?”Didn’t need to look. I already knew.The photo.Cameron and Erica. A little too close. Too comfortable.I cu