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