Chapter 11
GUNNER
The simple word slipping past Zinnia’s lips goes straight to my heart and tightens around the organ that barely beats for any other reason than to pump blood through my system.
Walking in on Zinnia and my little girl doing something that I know my woman loves to do was a sucker punch to my stomach.
For so many years, I had dreamt of this very moment.
Delilah might not be hers by blood, but by fuckin’ God, I know Zinnia like the back of my hand and she’ll see her as nothing less once she gets over her fears.
I made plans for Delilah tonight after dinner to go spend it with CJ and Axe. I need to have the night alone with Zinnia in order to finish what I’d started a week ago. My cock has been throbbing ever since, and if I don’t get inside her soon, I’ll explode.
After what happened between us at the clubhouse, I’ve given her time to adjust while planting her ass in my house. I didn’t give her space as I told her. She needs to be comfortable in our home. Considering it’s not just my place. It’s ours—Delilah, Zinnia, and mine.
Having Zinnia at my house rather than at the clubhouse, I think, has been good for her. She’s spent time with Delilah. The two of them are growing close. Zinnia’s also not been as jumpy the last day or so. She’s relaxing finally and not on her toes.
Now with her finally agreeing to give up the idea of running scared and let me show her the way means a fuck of a lot to me.
My woman deserves to be free of the burden that is all that she fears.
I know it’s not easy what she’s doing and that it’s a gift.
One I intend to handle with care. I meant what I told her, and I’ll prove it to her every day if I have to.
Slowly I slip my tongue between her lips, kissing her longingly, my tongue swirling around hers before I pull back and nip at her bottom lip.
“Tonight, Dimples, you’re all mine. Finally, I’m claiming all that belongs to me,” I declare and kiss her once more briefly, because the door to the room is still open. Delilah isn’t far away.
When Zinnia had rushed away, I saw the worry in my daughter’s eyes and know she needs to be reassured everything’s okay.
“I’m scared,” Zinnia admits on nothing more than a breath.
“I know you are, baby, but I’ve got you.
” I pull her out of bed and into my arms. “Delilah’s having a sleepover with CJ and Axe tonight after dinner,” I inform her and reach up to slide my fingers through the long locks of her beautiful hair.
“When I’ve got you alone, I’ll show you just how much I’ve got you. ”
Zinnia’s lips part and I take in the way her eyes seem to glaze over with a hit of lust and arousal. Yeah, she likes the idea of what I intend to do with her.
I give her a smirk and pull her flush against my chest. Loving the way she feels in my arms .
. . soft and warm. “Want to do pizza with Delilah and then ice cream with me later?” Zinnia’s eyes crease in the middle as she thinks over my question, and I chuckle, shaking my head at myself.
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll handle everything, and you’ll love dessert between the two of us. ”
I reluctantly step away and drop my hand from her hair. Though I wrap my arm around her waist to keep her from getting away from me. I’ve got to stay close to her, so she doesn’t get any more ideas about leaving.
Seeing her outside on the deck nearly broke my heart. I swear that the motherfuckers, who caused my woman so much anguish, will pay for what they’ve done.
“CJ,” Delilah squeals excitedly as Axe and his ol’ lady step inside. I grin and look in my brother’s arms at the baby, he doesn’t seem phased by my daughter’s loudness. Swear Axe and CJ’s son can sleep through anything.
“Hey, Pipsqueak,” CJ greets, squatting down, ready for Delilah’s oncoming impact.
CJ had lived in the house across from mine for a little while after moving to the area, having rented it from the club.
Well, from Avery. She was my first neighbor before Hammer claimed her. “You ready to hang with me tonight?”
“What about Zinnia?” Delilah asks, looking from CJ to my woman and then me. “Is Zinnia hanging with CJ tonight too?”
I open my mouth to explain, only to have Zinnia beat me to the punch. “No, sweetie. It’s just going to be you hanging with CJ tonight,” she answers, stepping forward apprehensively, fidgeting her hands in front of her.
“But . . . you’ll be here tomorrow, right?” A look of concern crosses Delilah’s face, and I realize something right away. She’s already deep in with Zinnia like I am.
Zinnia moves and closes the distance between herself and my daughter to kneel down in front of her.
“I’ll be here, Lilah,” she whispers and pulls off a necklace I’m surprised to see her wearing.
It was around her neck when she’d showed up, and I’m one of the few who knows the significance of the necklace.
I had given it to her when she turned seventeen.
My throat clogs with emotions as I watch Zinnia put that necklace around Delilah’s neck.
“How about you wear this for me,” Zinnia whispers. “That way, you’ll know I can’t leave without it. It’s something very special to me, and I can’t go anywhere in the world unless I have it with me.”
“Why is it so special?” Delilah asks cocking her head to the side, but her gaze is on the locket that sits around her necklace.
“Because years ago, someone very special gave this to me for my seventeenth birthday, and it was the last gift he gave me before now.”
That last part is like a sucker punch to the gut, and I silently vow to hurt those who had made it so I couldn’t give her more presents.
I meet Axe’s gaze across the room and see the rage swirling in his eyes.
He knows me. Just as the others know me.
I’m hitting my limit. I’m more than ready to go find the motherfucker myself and kill him with my bare hands.
Long moments later, Axe, carrying his son, moves to the front door with CJ, holding my daughter’s hand, following in tow.
“We’ll see you guys sometime in the morning or around noon,” I call out, wrapping an arm around Zinnia and holding her to me. With dinner being over, I’m ready for dessert.