by T. L Smith
He nods, only speaks when necessary.
I search around for the bar with my eyes, and when I spot it, I let go of his arm while he’s in the middle of a conversation. When he feels me release from him, he pulls back. “Where are you going?”
I nod behind him, and he turns to look then back at me. “Don’t be gone too long.”
I smile and glance at the men around him who are all looking at me now with curiosity. I step over to the bar and order a glass of wine, turning back so I can watch him. I see him stealing glances my way as he continues to listen to the men around him.
“He has you under a spell, I see.” I turn to the sound of that high-pitched voice and see Geena standing there. Last time I saw her, her hand was on Gunner’s shoulder as I was leaving the event.
Smiling politely, I turn back around to pick up my drink.
“He has most under some sort of spell. I mean, we all do stupid things for beautiful men,” Geena states.
Offering her a smile, I turn to look at her face to face and take her in. She has so much makeup applied I have a feeling if I wiped it off, she wouldn’t look the same underneath. I don’t say a word, simply wait for her to speak again, because girls like her can’t help themselves.
“He is beautiful, though. Isn’t he?” She turns to face him, stops for a moment then spins back to me. “Men as beautiful as him don’t last. You know that, right?” Geena leans in close. “Has he wrapped his hands around your throat yet, and made you stop breathing? That was a favorite of mine.”
I gasp at her words giving her all the confirmation she needs. Damn it! Then hands touch my waist and I know automatically it’s him.
“Geena,” he says in a dismissive tone. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “You took too long.”
I turn around and don’t miss the shocked expression written all over her face. Her eyes flicker to where his hands are, to his mouth which is so close to my neck.
She’s jealous.
I can see it in her eyes.
Did he not hold her like this?
“I was catching up with your friend here,” I say.
Geena looks at me surprised then smiles her fake-as-faux-fur smile.
“You can leave, Geena,” he says in the most dismissive tone I have ever heard from Gunner.
She does just that, walks away.
So he takes her spot, his hand staying on one of my hips. “I need a few more minutes and we can go. I promise it won’t take too long.”
I nod putting my drink to my lips, so nothing stupid spills out from them.
“What did she say to get you this way?”
I talk around the glass at my mouth, “What way?”
Gunner takes the glass from me and holds it, waiting for an answer. “Everly.”
Reaching for my drink again he lets me take it. “She asked if I like it when you strangle me.”
He shows no sign of anger, just watches me for a reaction. “Well, did you?”
“I don’t like it that you treat me as if I’m one of them.”
He shakes his head, turns it then looks back to me. “I don’t, you know that.”
“Gunner, what a surprise. Geena said you were here, but I didn’t believe her.” He doesn’t look at the man who’s speaking next to him, but I do turn offering my hand to him.
“Everly, nice to meet you.”
He looks at it, then seems to think about it before he takes my hand, shaking it. “You’re with Gunner here?” he asks.
I look him over. He actually looks like Gunner. He has the same dark eyes, just not the curly hair. Well, if he has curly hair I can’t tell. It’s shorter than Gunner’s, cropped close to his scalp.
“She’s with me. Now what are you doing here, Roberto?” Gunner reaches for me and I go to him easily.
“I didn’t think you’d come. The business has to run smoothly at all costs.” His lip turns up and he looks at me again.
“I know how the business runs, Roberto. It’s mine.”
“Yes, of course. Just looking out for your best interests.” He nods his head to me then walks off.
“Who was that?”
“My cousin.”
Ah, that explains the similarity in looks.
Roberto isn’t as good-looking, but he’s very attractive. You’d be a fool not to see that.
“You don’t get along?” I ask Gunner, turning so our bodies are flush.
“No. I don’t like anyone, it seems, except you.”
I smile up at him and kiss his lips. “I like the sound of that.”
He taps my ass and I yelp. “I prefer the sound of being buried deep inside you even better.”
I laugh at his choice of words in a public setting.
“Why Miss Thorne, I do think you are blushing.”
I am, I so am.
“Maybe that won’t be the only cheeks that get pink tonight.” He kisses each cheek and just as he pulls away, someone taps him on his shoulder. They ask to speak to him, so he squeezes my hand then walks away. I turn back to the bar and my drink when Geena decides to walk back over to me.
“I was wrong. I never thought he’d fall in love, you know?”
“Excuse me?” I ask, shocked at her choice of words.
“He’s in love with you, is he not? I saw the way he was touching you in public. The way he whispers in your ear. He never touches a woman in public, and he never gets photographed with them. Trust me, I should know, having him on my Insta would do wonderful things for my reputation and he’s never agreed to one single photo.”
Using him. That’s all she wants from him. No wonder he has such a jaded view of life.
“I see.” And I do. I now understand why his past relationships, if that’s what you want to call them, never worked. They all wanted something from him. I only want him.
“He’s watching you again,” she whispers, and when I turn around, I see he’s watching me while the person who asked to speak to him is chatting away.
“He isn’t who he says he is. I thought you should know that fact at least.” She walks off not letting me utter another word, leaving me to dwell on what she said.
How would she know who he is? She doesn’t know him. How could she? He only fucked her, which is what he did with all the other women before me. I’m his first real anything. And for that, I feel special.
“He’s contemplating walking over here right now to rip off my head.” I swing my head around to be met with Roberto once again. He’s watching his cousin then smiles and turns to me. “How many times do you get him? They all get a certain amount from him before he moves on. What’s your number? Five?”
I’m confused. Then I realize he’s talking about sex.
“That’s none of your business.”
“He doesn’t let them believe there could ever be more. But the way you look at him makes me believe otherwise. Tell me, what’s so special about you?” He leans in close, and I take a step back.
“If you’ll excuse me.”
He nods, then when I turn, I run straight into a hard chest. My hands lie on it, and I know instantly it’s Gunner because the minute I touch him, his smell envelops me. Takes me over, guides me home.
“It’s time to go.”
I nod because I couldn’t agree more.
Gunner’s hand is on the small of my back as he guides me out into the cold air then into the car. Samuel, the driver, nods as we slide in, then we’re off.
Silence. Nothing but silence throughout the car until finally he speaks. “They are all piranhas. You can’t believe a word they say.”
“I don’t,” I tell him. Even if it hurts to hear what they said to me tonight, I know better than to believe the words of people who don’t have my best interests at heart. When I face him, he’s already watching me with haunted eyes.
“Why her, though?” I ask. I have to know.
He shrugs. “She was there when I needed a release. She was nothing more than that. Someone I took to my bed for a whi
le, then I was done with her.”
“You make it sound like she meant nothing. Did all of the women mean nothing to you?”
“I had to have a release. Don’t think they all didn’t beg for it, Everly. They did.”
I believe him. After all, he makes me beg too.
The sex is that good I keep coming back, even when I know I should walk away.
13
“You’re free today?” I ask as he doesn’t get out of bed like he normally would. It’s Sunday and today I visit my parents for lunch. Gunner groans lying next to me. I lean down kissing his back and up to his neck until I reach his hidden face. “Please get dressed, I want you to come.”
“Where?” he mumbles.
“To meet my parents.” I pull back as he finally sits up.
“Why?”
“You said you would. You’re free. Please come,” I beg, showing him my puppy eyes but he shakes his head.
“We need to talk,” is all he gives me back.
I look at him, confused when he slides off the bed. He’s naked, his hair’s not tied back so his curls play on his shoulders. Walking to his pants, he pulls out a small box and comes over to me, gets down on one knee and my heart starts racing. Fast.
What is going on?
This can’t be happening.
No. No. No.
“Everly, we need to talk.”
Words don’t form so I simply nod my head. He opens the box and inside is a very large diamond. Too large. Will that slide straight on my finger?
“I know it’s soon, but I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
My heart is screaming, yes. Fucking say yes.
My head is trying to work out why this man is naked and down on one knee in front of me.
We haven’t been together for long. My mother and father were married after three weeks of meeting. But there’s a difference. It was arranged.
My hand flies to my mouth.
Oh shit! My father won’t like this.
He wants me to marry someone of his choosing.
“Everly,” Gunner says breaking me out of my panic attack. He takes the ring out of the box and lifts my hand. “Say yes.”
“Yes.” I breathe the word out in a huff.
Did I just say yes? I did, didn’t I.
He slides the most gorgeous ring on in one go, then stands and starts to get dressed. My eyes are trained on that ring on my hand. Tears form and I know it’s from pure happiness. I know it’s because I love this man, even if he hasn’t said it back to me.
Damn! I’m stupid. I know.
Sometimes a girl has to be stupid.
Looking up, he’s standing in front of me fully dressed.
“Now we can go to your parents’.” He offers me his hand, and I take it, sliding my ring hand into his. He clasps it firmly and we walk out. It’s moments like this—ones I never saw coming—that make me the happiest. I didn’t even know if I wanted marriage. All I did know was that it was going to be pushed upon me at some stage by my father. But now, with Gunner, I want to breathe the same air as him for as long as possible.
“Do you love me?” I ask, turning to face him as we sit in the car.
“Did I not give you a ring?”
My door opens, and I didn’t realize the car’s come to a stop. I’m too intrigued to know what he will reply to my question.
Perhaps a ring is his way of saying he loves me.
Still, there’s no words.
No, three little words, I am craving to hear.
“Miss Thorne, your parents are in the sitting room waiting for you,” Paul, the driver, speaks, to which I give him a small nod.
Gunner’s hand stays possessively on mine.
I messaged my mother to inform her I was bringing someone with me. Someone they need to meet. Turning to look at Gunner, I want to see if he’s nervous. Instead, all I see plastered on his handsome face is his usual hard look.
“You okay?” I ask pulling on his hand but stopping before we walk in the front door. He nods, turns to the door and walks through it with me still in his grip.
I spot my mother straight away. She’s dressed in a perfectly steamed dress that you just know cost more than some people make in a week, and my father has a glass of scotch in his hand as he reads a newspaper in his lap.
They both look up when we step in. My mother regards me with warm eyes as she looks between myself and Gunner. My father stands, walks over, and shakes Gunner’s hand.
I’m baffled. Why is he shaking his hand and smiling at him the same way he smiles at me?
“Papa?” I ask confused.
He leans in, kisses both of my cheeks, then reaches for my hand and looks at the ring.
“I couldn’t be happier. You’ve made me a happy man, Everly.”
Shocked, I look to my mother who’s wiping away tears as she steps in for a cuddle.
“I can’t wait to plan the wedding.”
“We want it to be sooner rather than later,” Gunner says.
What the actual fuck! I still don’t understand.
All eyes fall to me while I try to take calming breaths. I expected them to hate him, or even to say I was making a mistake. Not this. I’m not prepared for this.
“Everly, dear?” My mother’s hand comes to my shoulder. “Are you okay? You are pale.”
My eyes skim to both of them, and I shake my head again. “What’s going on? Why are you okay with this?”
Gunner looks to the floor and doesn’t make any sort of eye contact with me.
“You didn’t tell her?” my father questions him.
“Tell me what?” My voice is now raised.
“He’s your arrangement.”
I attempt to pull my hand free, but Gunner won’t let me go. He holds tight.
“Everly.” His words rock my world, and this single one always stops me in my tracks, but not today.
“Don’t touch me.” My hand swings free and my father looks at me.
“You should be happy, Everly. He is your perfect match.”
I scoff.
Gunner grabs my arm and pulls me down the hallway and into a bathroom.
His flawless lips are right in my face, his perfect body inches from mine.
How I adore this man.
With everything I am.
Even when I know I shouldn’t.
His eyes skim my body, roam me with a pleasure that shines so brightly.
Rough hands touch me. If he wants to claim me again, I will let him.
I love this man.
I’m love-drunk on him, and I’m afraid I will never get sober.
The problem is, I want to be sober. No. I need to be sober.
“Everly.”
I briefly close my eyes, taking in that word that captures me, steals me, and makes me drunk, so fucking drunk on him I can’t think clearly.
His breath’s on my ear now. He’s fast, always so damn fast. I can’t keep up with him.
“Don’t.” My eyes flash open, and he’s back in front of my face.
“Don’t what, Everly? Touch you?” His hand cups my sex.
Tears stream down my face and fall onto my top.
“Why cry, Everly? I am not hurting you. Yet.”
I shake my head. “Why?”
The tears are now streaming so fast it’s like Niagara Falls cascading over my eyelids. He leans in close again. His breath makes me tingle, and he licks my ear then takes my earlobe in his mouth, biting it.
“I want you. There’s no other excuse.”
I shake my head and he pulls back. His hand is still firmly on my sex, which he’s touched many, many times.
I’ve been in love with him now for three months.
How was I so blind?
How did I fall so fast?
“You don’t lie, Gunner. Tell me the truth.” My tears dry as he pulls back and looks me in the eyes. His gorgeous, dark, hypnotic eyes stare at me like they’re seeing right inside my very soul.
“You can’t handle the truth. And your father won’t tell you the truth either.”
I scoff and shake my head. “I want it from you. Why can’t you give me the truth?”
His hand touches his perfect hair—brown with natural blond highlights. It’s flawless. It’s the type of hair women pay big money for, and he’s somehow naturally blessed with it.
But, as with all blessings—and believe me, he has many—there comes a price.
I was too late to see the price.
To see who he really is.
I’m not sure I even see it all now.
Pieces. Fragments. Scraps. That’s all I have.
Just like one drink when you’re an alcoholic. You tell yourself only one more sip, it won’t do anything. But one sip is never enough to quench that thirst.
He’s like that for me.
I keep telling myself that one more sip won’t hurt, and that I won’t get drunk on him.
What a lie.
I’m always drunk on him.
Totally and utterly intoxicated by him.
“Everly.”
The tears have stopped.
He’s watching me. Waiting. Unsure.
“Did you ever love me?”
His eyes look to the floor for answers that don’t come.
That hurts when there’s no automatic answer.
I turn to walk away, but like usual, he grabs my arm and turns me back to him.
“You know not to speak of that. You know who I am. I have not hidden the fact.”
I pull my arm free, and this time he lets me. “So many things not to do, not to ask, not to feel.” I throw my hands up in the air.
His posture shifts, and he stands tall. “I changed for you,” he says through gritted teeth.
This time, I laugh. “It’s nothing more than what you wanted me to see. Isn’t it?”
Turning, I walk out the door, hopefully taking my love-drunk heart with me.
“I love you, Everly. Is that what you want to hear?”
I stop.
Turn around.
I’m out the front now, he’s followed me outside with his shirt open from my hands—having a mind of their own—unbuttoning it while we were inside. My eyes betray me, they can’t help themselves as they drop to see his gorgeous physique.
