Lemon Cake (Naughty Desserts)

Rider

Holding Gemma’s hand, he led her to the garage where he helped her into his truck. He knew she was more than capable of climbing in herself, but he wanted to show his appreciation. After ensuring she was comfortable, he took his own seat and started the engine.

“You made Dan really happy today.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you by choosing your old number.”

Gemma turned, fixing her gaze out the window. “I just… I don’t know.”

“Did it upset you to watch me today?”

She shook her head and smiled, but there was still an air of sadness in her voice. “No, I enjoyed the view.”

He reached over and entwined his hand with hers. “I need you to be honest with me. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

Gemma took a deep, calming breath. “I never got back into football after the accident. I know I wouldn’t have played past high school even if I hadn’t lost my leg, but it felt… weird. It was like I suddenly missed something I di dn’t realise I wanted.”

“Is it something you don’t want to do again?”

“I definitely want to see you more often. I guess I just miss the old days, you know?”

“When you kicked ass on the field?”

She let out a sweet laugh that made his heart flutter. “Yes.”

“Do you want to pick up some food before we head to your place?”

“No, unless you’re hungry.”

“I’m good too.”

As he sped over the highway, Gemma drifted off into a light sleep, her hand still in his. They hadn’t known each other very long, but what they had was special to . He loved how openly they were able to talk, and even though he didn’t know her whole story, he knew it would come with time—or never at all. He was happy with either option.

Gemma only stirred again once the truck was in park and the engine fell quiet. “Sorry.”

“For what? You must have needed it—and you looked absolutely adorable.”

“Bet you won’t be saying that once you hear me snore and watch me drool on my pillow.”

“Well, will you be drooling over me?”

Gemma shrugged before climbing out the truck. “I’ll never reveal my secrets.” She took his arm in the way he was growing to love and sleepily leaned against him as they walked to her apartment. “I used to be so exhausted after a game. ”

Fatigue swept over as well, knowing comfort was just a few feet away. “Wait until the TV’s on and I have you in my arms, I’ll be snoring louder than you.”

Gemma unlocked her door and stepped inside. “Are you going to stay the night?”

had to pause and check that the fear in her voice wasn’t something he’d imagined. “Only if you’d like me too.”

“I’ve never had anyone sleep over.”

kicked off his shoes and sat on the couch while Gemma retreated to the kitchen. Only when his gaze fell on her wheelchair did it dawn on him why she may feel uncomfortable.

She returned with a bowl filled with chips and he let her set it on the coffee table before taking her hand and pulling her closer, situating her between his spread legs. Looking up at her, he ran his thumbs over her knuckles.

“If you feel uncomfortable with me sleeping over, I’ll leave when you’re ready. I meant it when I said we will take our time.”

Gemma’s face remained stoic, making it hard for to read her emotions. It was a few long moments before she slowly nodded. “Okay.” She pulled her hands out of his and stepped back. “Let me grab some blankets and I’ll change.”

“I’ll be right here waiting.”

Gemma disappeared into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. It didn’t feel right, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d made her uncomfortable somehow. Ten minutes passed before his nerves got the better of him. Another five, and he stood up, starting to get worried. He went to her bedroom door, pausing on the other side of the wood before gently knocking.

“Gemma?”

The answer was an unmistakable sniffle.

“Gemma? Please say something, gorgeous.”

Nothing.

moved for the knob, then stopped himself. Gemma isolated herself for a reason—he didn’t want to upset her any more than he already had. “Do you want me to go home?”

“No,” she sobbed.

“Did I say something that upset you?”

“No.”

“Can I come in?”

Silence. He gave her a few moments that felt like forever and just as he opened his mouth again, Gemma answered. “Okay.”

cautiously twisted the knob and pushed the door open. Her room was spacious, with only a queen-sized bed, nightstand, and small dresser. She sat on the edge of the bed, wearing an oversized t-shirt. A pair of black shorts laid next to her. Red fear-filled eyes looked up at him. ’s gaze travelled south, and then he understood.

Her prosthesis sat to her side, both legs bare and exposed. He stepped into the room and knelt before her, cupping her face in his hands. He wasn’t sure what to say but hoped his touch would be a good start.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears crawling down her cheeks again .

“You have nothing to apologise for.”

Gemma closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Her cheeks felt hot and puffy on his skin, soaked from her tears.

“Do you usually get comfortable without your prosthesis at night?”

She nodded; still avoiding his gaze.

“But me being here threw a wrench in that, didn’t it?”

A soft sob of agreement.

“Because no one ever stayed long enough?”

Gemma nodded in his hands.

“I know this is a big step for you and if you’re not ready we don’t have to take it. I can stand up, give you a goodnight kiss, and walk out. Or I can stay, and we can cuddle wherever you want. Whatever you choose is good with me.”

“I-I don’t know,” she stuttered.

“Gemma, please look at me.”

She took a deep breath before doing as he’d asked.

“Whatever you need, I’ll do.”

“You want to stay?”

“Of course I do, but only if you’re ready for that.”

“You don’t want to leave?”

“Why would I?”

Her eyes dropped down to her left leg, and for the first time, wanted to get frustrated. Not with her, but whoever it was in her past that made her so insecure about herself. “I don’t want to leave,” he said firmly.

took a risk with his next step, but he had to at least try. He laid his hands on her bare thighs and sat back on his heels .

“I don’t know how to say this, and I hope you don’t think I’m an idiot. You are fucking gorgeous.” He let his fingers dance across her outer thighs and to her knees. “You are strong and beautiful and smart.”

He kissed her right knee first, then gently her left. She tensed when his hands travelled past his kisses, her leg ending just a hand’s width beneath her knee. He couldn’t help but run his fingers over the faded white scars. She was still tense, so he looked up at her. “What is our safe word?”

“Lemon.”

“Does it hurt?”

She shook her head.

turned his attention to her right leg, though his thumb still caressed her left. He let his hand trail to her ankle and kissed her below the knee.

“I’m here for the good and bad, Gemma. For the days you feel like you could take over the whole world, and for the days you want to burn it down. I’m here , do you hear me?”

“I’m a mess,” she whispered.

“And you think I’m not?”

redirected his attention to her left leg again. She tensed, though only briefly this time.

“I’m here for all your mess as long as you can handle my honesty. I want you, Gemma, and I will give you all the time in the world if that’s what you need but know that I still want you—all of you.”

Gemma sniffled, swiping tears away with her fingers. “Okay.”

smiled, smoothing his palms over her thighs again. “Do you want to cuddle now?”

She nodded, continuing to try and clear her face.

“Here or the living room?”

“Living room, please.”

picked up the discarded shorts, sliding them over her thighs. She sighed, pulling herself up by his shoulders to allow him to pull the shorts over her hips. He couldn’t help but sneak a peek at what she wore underneath when his hands brushed the silky material: black satin panties with delicate lace accents.

He stood and with her hands still on his shoulders, he pulled her closer by her waist and hauled her up, letting her wrap her legs around him. He grabbed her blanket, then carried her to the living room.

There, he laid on the couch with her still in his arms and made sure she was covered with the blanket. He reached for the remote and turned on the TV. While the show played quietly, he pushed his hands under her shirt and ran his fingertips up and down her sides, doing everything he knew to comfort her.

“Thank you.”

He tilted his head and kissed her hair, soaking in the attention and trust she was gifting him. “Anything for you.”

“I have trouble believing that people aren’t bothered by it. That you wouldn’t be bothered.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I still look at myself and wish I’d never gotten on my motorcycle that day.”

“What happened? ”

Gemma sighed, and for a moment thought she would change the subject again. Then she started to speak. “I sped through a curve. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before, but there’d been an oil spill. I slipped. It’s odd because most people say they see their life flash before their eyes. All I could feel was this feeling of failure. I’d been on top of the world: excelling at football, graduating high school with phenomenal grades and planning my first trip to Europe. Everything was perfect—until it wasn’t. The sense of security I had was gone, whipped away and I guess it never came back.”

hugged her tighter, his mind trying to find words to make her feel better, but the only thing he could do was hold her and listen—which turned out to be exactly what she needed.

“It was that feeling of something you can’t control taking everything you have—it never left. I learned to cope with it, but it will always be there. And then there was the hate towards myself. The constant wishing I could go back in time and stop myself from taking that ride. I couldn’t look at myself for months—any part of me.”

“What helped you get through that?”

“At first, nothing. But one day it clicked in my head, and I couldn’t live my life depending on others. So, I forced myself to get up and work with my physical therapist. I needed the prosthesis to survive, and that was my new goal.”

“Has accepting yourself gotten easier?”

“A little, but it depends on the day. In the beginning, I fell a lot, so I was afraid to go out and embarrass myself. ”

“If it helps, I would throw myself to the ground next to you, cursing the invisible crack in the asphalt that took us both down.”

Finally, Gemma rested her chin on his chest and smiled up at him. “Well, that’s a perfect headline. ‘Star football player falls on invisible pebble. Injured for the rest of the season.’ Not sure how I’ll explain that to your coach.”

He pushed a stray bit of loose hair behind her ear and rested his head back, drawing in the feeling of her weight on top of him. “Thank you for trusting me.”

“Thank you for listening.”

“We all have bad days. Just wait until I fall into one of my moods after losing a game.”

“Well I’m here for you, even though you probably won’t want to talk about it.”

“Just smile at me and know that even if I don’t return the smile, you made the sun peek through the storm.”

Gemma stretched and kissed his cheek before reclaiming her spot on his chest and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

knew that Gemma was his special one. He’d known as much after their first date, but that night solidified it. After seeing her on the bed, crying from the fear of his rejection, he knew he would always want to be there—for both the good days and the bad.

After a single episode, Gemma dozed off in his arms. With a smile, he carried her back to bed and tucked her in beneath the blankets. Just as he turned to leave, a soft, sleepy voice called for him.

“Stay. ”

smiled, his chest swelling with pride. “I’ll be right back, just let me grab my sweatpants from the truck.”

“You came prepared.”

“Always.”

He grabbed his clothes and changed in her bathroom, noting the interior. There was a stool under the sink that he assumed she used to get ready in the mornings. The shower had a seamless entry, with a sturdy shower chair. Nothing was stored too high, and the bathroom was spacious enough to accommodate her wheelchair.

As he walked back to the bedroom, he studied her home closely. The wide hallways with spacious turns around the corners, and the hardwood floors. There were no rugs or carpeting that would prevent her chair from getting around.

Gently, slid into her bed, wrapping his arms around her from behind and moving in close. She leaned into him, emitting a pleased little sound as he pulled her closer, falling into a deep sleep.