Chapter Twenty-Three
Gunner
“Where the fuck is my woman?”
Every minute away from Haizley felt like a fucking needle under my skin. It was incessant, like a tattoo gun hammering away, injecting its ink to create a work of art. But unlike a tattoo gun, there was no art leftover, only constant pricks of loneliness.
Watching her walk into her room with Derek caused those pricks to flare to the point of madness. Nav’s messages letting me know she was ok and seeing her sitting in the main room reading a book did nothing to temper the jealousy and rage that flowed through my system.
Nothing would, short of touching her, checking her over to appease this need I had inside of me to protect her. That wasn’t strictly true. Putting my fist through Derek’s teeth would go a long way to making me feel better.
As I stared around the room, no one said a word. They got like this sometimes when my anger bubbled to the surface. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of my wrath.
A low growl from under the table caught my attention. Tipping my head to look at the dog, I saw he was different from Maureen’s dog. Where did another fucking dog come from?
“I am not yours.”
The exasperated voice dragged me back from my thoughts and a smile slid across my face. She walked through the room like a fucking ice queen.
My fucking ice queen.
To everyone else she was friendly and helpful. They all saw her as someone that would do anything for anyone.
I saw the real her. The tired woman who needed someone to take the weight off her shoulders.
That was my fucking job.
I didn’t say a word as I stalked toward her. Reaching out, I pulled her into my arms. One hand around her waist, the other over the back of her head. Pulling her close, I slammed my lips over hers.
I expected a fight.
I expected her to push me off.
What I didn’t expect was her hands to slip over my hips and for her to submit so quickly and easily to my onslaught.
Whistles and catcalls jerked her from the delirium she succumbed to when my lips touched hers, and she pulled back.
Fucking cockblockers .
“What are you doing?”
“Claiming my fucking woman. Again.” With that, I tipped my head to hers once more, slipping my tongue between her teeth. Her quick submission to my mouth made my dick harden and push against my zipper. I wanted nothing more than to drag her upstairs and finally sink my dick into her pussy the way I sank my tongue into her mouth.
When she pulled back again, she stepped out of my arms with a shaky breath. After closing her eyes briefly, she opened them and looked up at me.
There it was.
She couldn’t hide anything from me. Not with the way her soul called out to mine.
Her eyes sparked with defiance, but it was all a show for the people in the room with us. Behind her eyes lay the truth. The desire to give herself over completely. To allow me to take control of every aspect of her life.
Shaking her head, she walked around me and all I could do was throw my head back and laugh. Oh, my little lamb. The wolf was hunting now and there was nowhere to hide.
Making her a plate, I carried it through the room, setting it on the table in front of her. Without looking at me, she pushed it away, only to have me drag it back to where I placed it. With a glower directed my way, she pushed the plate away once more.
And once more I pulled it back, leaning over with my lips brushing her ear, I whispered, “Eat, or I will feed you.”
“I’m not hungry,” she hissed between her clenched teeth as she pushed the plate back once more. I knew what she was doing, pushing her boundaries to see if I would break.
She didn’t know me; I never broke.
Grabbing a chair, I sat down, crowding her. One leg stretched out behind her, the other bumped up against her knee under the table. Sliding the plate in front of me this time, I picked up the fork. Hash had made lasagna, one of my favorites. I took a bite, and the corner of her mouth turned up in the slightest movement.
That’s right, my little lamb; savor that victory, it won’t last long. As I cut off another piece, I lifted the fork and with the hand resting on the back of her chair, I gave a quick tug on the braid she always wore. When she opened her mouth to reprimand me, I shoved the fork in, filling her mouth with pasta, meat, and cheese.
She sputtered for only a second before chewing and swallowing.
“What the hell?”
“I warned you, my little lamb. Eat, or I would feed you.” I cut another bite and held the fork in front of her mouth. Hitching an eyebrow, I waited for her to make her decision. When she reached for the fork, I pulled it back.
“No. You made your choice. Open.”
Her eyes bore into mine and we argued silently. A few beats later, she submitted, like I knew she would. Opening her mouth, she allowed me to feed her.
“Good girl.”
Jesus Christ, my dick was rock fucking solid as I watched her lips close over the fork and it slid out from her closed mouth, trapping the food inside.
Just like my spent cock would slide from her mouth, trapping my cum inside to slip down her throat. I adjusted myself, trying to alleviate the pressure before cutting her another bite. When I looked up, her eyes were on mine. Her pupils were blown, and her whiskey-colored eyes had darkened to milk chocolate.
She was just as turned on as I was.
“Why was Jack’s brother in your room?”
Haizley blinked back her immediate confusion and asked, “What?”
“You heard me, baby.”
“That is none of your business.”
Scooping up more of the food, I pressed it against her mouth until she opened, leaving traces of sauce on her lips. Leaning forward, my tongue darted out, swiping across her lips to eliminate the red sauce that remained.
“Get a fucking room.”
I couldn’t be sure which of my brothers had uttered the words. My eyes never left the woman before me, who tried to defy me at every turn. Yet, I knew deep down, her desire to submit was stronger. She just didn’t know how to let go. But I would teach her.
“Answer my question, little lamb.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Her lips pursed as she delayed her answer. “Both.”
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Jack shouted, taking Sam’s hand in his.
Before standing up, I leaned in to graze Haizley’s ear with my lips and whispered, “We’re not done.”
She shuddered in her seat, and I knew I had her.
“We had a doctor’s appointment today for another ultrasound. The doctor said Sammy was measuring a little big, and they wanted to take another look.”
Murmurs went up quickly, and Jack raised his hand.
“Everything is ok. In fact, it’s fucking phenomenal.”
Sam rolled her eyes at Jack, and I figured he must have gotten his wish and they were having a boy.
So, he surprised us all when he announced, “It’s fucking twins!”
What the fuck?
Cheers went up, and whistles, claps and stomps were heard throughout the room.
Sam started waving her hands for everyone to settle down. With a sly grin, she said to Jack, “Tell them what we’re having.” Sam stood there with a satisfied smirk, her arms crossed over her protruding belly.
Oh shit.
“They’re both girls.”
The room erupted in laughter at Jack’s expense. He was so certain they were having a boy, assuming that, because they already had a girl, it was only natural.
There was a reason we called him Jackass.
“I thought it was too early?” King asked.
“There is a blood test you can do, and I opted to do it. I just didn’t tell Jack.” Sam laughed.
Congratulations went up. It was good to see everyone here tonight. Cash never left the bar, instead choosing to glare at Ryder all night. The animosity between the two of them had the potential to blow up the fucking club.
The brothers were split in their loyalty. Some believing Ryder should have backed out of the decision regarding a brother’s old lady. Others firmly in the camp that it was Rachel’s decision and hers alone. That was where I was.
I got that Cash was hurting, but Ryder simply adhered to the decision Rachel had made before her death. She had known it could come at any time. She had five years to change her next of kin. She chose not to.
I suspected that was the real rub. Cash’s pride had been bruised. His old lady hadn’t trusted him to abide by her wishes. That led us all to question whether their relationship was as solid as we all believed.
Getting Tank’s attention, he ambled over to my side.
“What’s up?”
“Need you to keep an eye on Cash until Ryder and Ellie take the girls home.”
“Don’t even have to ask.”
Tank was a great brother. He had our backs always. Unless we fucked up with our women. In which case, he threw us under the bus for them. We all respected the fuck out of him for that.
Turning back to Haizley, she was gone. A salacious grin spread across my face. You can run, little lamb. But you can’t hide.
Looking around the room, I caught sight of her standing at the bar, talking to Bane. She had snuck away while I was distracted with Cash’s bullshit.
When I got to her, I bent over, putting my shoulder into her stomach and hiked her over my shoulder. Her scream caused the room to go silent.
“Excuse me, brothers. Takin’ my old lady upstairs for a little chat.”
“Chat implies talking not fucking,” Shotgun called out behind me, and I lifted my hand in the air and flipped him the bird as I walked out, Haizley shouting and pounding on my back the whole way.
“Put me down, you giant ogre!”
I smacked her ass, and she stiffened. “Yea, you fuckin’ loved that, didn’t you?” I laughed at her growl. It was cute the way she thought she had any control over the situation at all.
“Gunner, I’m not kidding. Put me down!”
She pinched my ass with her fingernails.
“Ouch! That fuckin’ hurt.” I smacked her ass again, this time harder, and then rubbed it immediately after. Her lack of control over the groan that slipped from her beautiful lips was evident by the smack, I assumed was caused by her hands covering said lips.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Haizley bounced on my shoulder. It couldn’t be helped. It was imperative we got to my room as quickly as we could, so I didn’t come in my pants from having her ass so close to my face.
It was a beautiful ass, I thought as I rubbed it again. Hearing her groan had me keeping my hand placed firmly on said ass. You know, so she didn’t fall. Once I had her securely in my room, I tossed her on the bed.
She glared at me while I rewarded her with a lustful stare. The snick of the lock was loud in the silence of the room as we kept our eyes on each other without a word between us.
I stood there, leaning back against the wall. My eyes swept lazily over her, starting with the shoes covering her feet, moving all the way up her jean-clad legs. I wasn’t in a hurry. We had all fucking night.
Her shirt had risen up, and I feasted on a slim patch of exposed creamy skin between the hem and the waistband of her jeans. My mouth watered at the thought of running my tongue over that sliver of an expanse, desperate for more.
By the time my gaze roamed over her tits, I knew she was doing the same to me. She hadn’t said a word. Nor had she moved from where she’d landed.
When our eyes finally locked on each other, there was none of the outrage she had shown when I tossed her over my shoulder. There was only heat and desire pooling in her depths.
Two emotions I fully intended to take advantage of.