"I know how to play blackjack, don't I?"
The realization had come to her as they'd begun eating their sandwiches. Something about the sunshine, the open water and being under the clouds had her thinking of a card game for some reason. Of all things.
Judging by the wide grin on Louis's face, he was beyond pleased at her declaration. Darned if she could guess why.
"I don't know why that came to me," she said. "It's just that I don't think I knew how to play before… I guess before I met you. But now it appears I do. I don't have any idea why it occurred to me just now, though."
"I'll tell you why," Louis said, lifting his hand up to give her a high five. "We spent part of our honeymoon sailing along the French Riviera. We stopped in Monaco for a few days and spent the evenings in the casinos."
She filled in the blank. "Where I learned how to play blackjack."
"That's right."
"Huh. Was I any good?"
His smile widened. "I'm afraid not. We lost a small fortune before leaving. But it was a magnificent time."
How they must have looked. A newlywed couple on their honeymoon. Louis would have struck a dashingly handsome picture in a tux. She might have worn a strapless cocktail dress, much like the one she auditioned in.
Louis's description of that part of their honeymoon sounded like something out of a romantic movie. She could just imagine where those nights at the casino might have led once they'd made it back to their boat.
Longing tugged at her heart. "That sounds magical," she told him. "I hope I remember the details some day."
He leaned over to take her hand in his, gave it a gentle squeeze. "No pressure, Gemma. If you don't get those particular memories back, we'll just have to make sure to replace them with new ones."
His words took her breath away. He was right. It occurred to her that's what they were doing now. This moment, this entire day would be seared in her mind forever.
This time, she wouldn't let anything take any of it away.
An electric current passed between them as they sat there. Louis still held on to her hand, his palm warm and reassuring against her.
Gemma didn't think. Finally succumbing to the longing in her heart, she leaned in to place her lips against his in a soft kiss.
But the current sparked into a burning flame. She couldn't even be sure what happened next. The kiss had grown into an embrace full of need and passion. Her mind vaguely registered that she'd moved onto his lap. Louis wrapped his arms around her waist, a low groan sounding against her mouth. The taste of him sent waves of fire along her skin, heat curling in her middle.
She would never get enough.
It was over all too soon. Louis pulled away, his eyes dark with passion. His heavy panting matched her own. Gemma didn't want to know why he'd pulled away.
She just wanted him back.
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