More than Enough (Book Two in the Enough Series)

30

Once inside, I offered her a drink or dinner. She declined both, taking a seat on the sofa and kicking her feet up. I was happy she was feeling comfortable here. Taking my water, I joined her, scooting as close as I could without being too obvious.

"So.."

"What..."

We both spoke at the same time, then laughed at our obvious nervousness. It was ridiculous considering the amount of time we'd spent together over the last several months, how intimately we knew each other and how intertwined our lives had really become. But I suppose that was part of it, knowing how she'd weaved her way into everything, I was terrified of losing that again.

"I'm really happy you came to the game. Thank you. It was nice having someone in the stands for me tonight."

"I enjoyed it. You played amazing, thanks to Eden explaining everything to me." She laughed. The sound warming me from the inside, as I watched her. "I'll be at as many as I can be, from now on." Her cheeks flushed pink for a moment as my heart swelled.

"How's school going?" I shifted, leaning back into the sofa, trying to keep myself composed when all I wanted to do was grab her beautiful face and place my lips against her plush, pink lips.

"It's good. I have moments where I question why I'm back there again, but I know I can do it."

"Of course you can, you're a badass. You can do anything."

"Bennett..." She shocked her head, a few strands of hair falling over her face. Without hesitation, I reached over tucking them back behind her ear. Taking my time, trailing my fingers down her soft cheek. When our eyes met, I gave her a soft smile.

"I can go on with all the ways you're amazing and strong, or you can just tell me I'm right." My words were light, and my voice low as I continued to keep my hand on her neck.

"Or you can just rip this jersey off me like you promised." Her gaze never left mine, those green eyes full of desire. My body was reacting to her in the way it always had and it was screaming for me to do exactly as she asked. My head though was reminding me of how this was what we did, when things got too serious, too deep, it turned into this. We'd fuck and she'd shut down again. I didn't want to do that, I couldn't do that, not again, not anymore.

"Gem, you have no idea how much restraint I showed when I saw you and how much restraint I'm showing right now. I just... I... remember the first night, when we came back here? I told you I was going to wreck you?" She nods, watching with rapt interest to see where I'm going with this. "You were the one who wrecked me. In every way. I'm not asking you to make some declaration, or commitment or anything like that." I ran a hand through my hair, tugging in frustration that I was most likely screwing this up again.

"I'm not going anywhere Bennett. I'm sorry. I know what you're thinking. I'm going to run out on you again. I'm going to push you away. It's what I've always done." Gemma scooted toward me. "I won't do that. I've worked so hard on myself and I thought, well I thought you wouldn't even be around for the new and improving Gemma."

"You're crazy to think I wouldn't be waiting, rooting for you and supporting you. Whatever way I can have you in my life, Gemma, I want that."

Her eyes lit up as her face was taken over by one of the biggest smiles she'd ever gifted me. She moved over, lifting up and crawling into my lap, straddling me. Her soft hands cupping my face in her hands as her eyes bore into mine. My heart was pounding, thudding and threatening to beat right out of my chest.

"I like where we are, I like how we've become even closer, how we've developed this friendship. I can't lie and say that I don't want to see where this can go though. If you can be patient with me as I continue to find my footing, settle into a life of my own.. Then I'm in if you are."

"I nothing more than for you to finish school, have the career you want and have the life that you deserve. You've gave so much of yourself for too long, it's your turn Gem. I want to see where this goes, what we could have. I've wanted that since the first night. Now I'm scared though, I'm scared I won't be what you need, what you deserve. I don't want you to hold back from anything."

"Bennett Hayes, if only everyone knew what a softie you are." She cooed, leaning in and letting her lips hover over mine before giving them a light peck. "You've been my biggest supporter since I met you, without you and Los, I'm not sure how I would have even made it to this point. You showed me that I deserved and needed so much more than I had. Most importantly, you showed me that I was more than enough as I am, all the brokenness and dysfunctional parts of me. You saw me and I was too scared, too frozen to accept it then."

"You are absolutely more than enough, Gem. You're everything." I whispered, feeling so emotional that it was ridiculous. She was opening up to me, letting me in and it was all I'd wanted. Just a chance, to see what this could be with her. It felt so right. She feathered kisses along my neck as her hands slid up into my hair.

"There's only one thing left to do then." She giggled as my hands found their way to her waist, gripping her to me. "This jersey, it has to go. I'm all in Bennett, it's just not cool to have some other guys name on my back." This minx, she knew exactly how to play me.

I moved my hands with a quickness I didn't know I possessed, grabbing her sweet face and pulling her to me. I kissed her with all the feeling and desire I'd been holding in for months, her lips parted to welcome me and I let out a low growl of approval. I slid my hands down from her face to the front of that stupid fucking jersey, gathering the material in my hands, wishing so badly I could literally rip it from her.

Holding her to me, I stood and moved us both down the hall to my room. She squealed as I kicked open the door then threw her down on the bed. She laid, splayed out in front of me, fully clothed and she was sexier than anyone I'd ever seen. Her hair spread out around her, the wide smile as her chest heaved with laughter. Fuck. Gemma Tabott was mine, and tonight I was going to make damn sure she knew that too.