Torn Apart: A Standalone Romance

by Michelle Hart

  Gunner came back out swinging a key around. I stepped out of the car and my head felt woozy and my legs wobbly. Gunner rushed to my side and held me up to keep me from collapsing.

  “I'm sorry, I don't know if I can walk.” The weight of everything that happened today hit me hard. I was embarrassed and tired.

  Gunner swept me off my feet and carried me up the stairs and into the motel room. The place was the size of a tin can. An old tube TV sat on a desk with antennas sticking out of it. Gunner gently laid me down on the bed that was hard as a rock. The springs squealed and moaned as Gunner sat down next to me.

  “That was fucked up,” I said.

  Gunner laughed and started crying. I couldn't hold back the tears either. Being so vulnerable around a man I knew nothing about was a first for me.

  There were a lot of firsts today.

  Gunner grabbed my head and laid it on his chest. His heart was racing and so was mine. I looked up at him and he wiped away my tears.

  “Do you know how beautiful you are, Veronica?”

  I flushed. Kiss me now.

  Gunner ran his fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and focused on his touch. His hand ran around the back of my head and pulled me in. Our lips met and thunder roared deep in my core. His tongue entered my mouth and I moaned. He pressed his body to mine and his hard erection was pinned against my hip. His lips kissed my cheek and he tilted my head to nibble on my neck.

  I wanted this man completely.

  I swung my leg over and straddled him. His manliness throbbed between my legs. I rocked my hips back and forth, rubbing against him. I pulled my top over my head and Gunner unsnapped my black bra, unleashing my breasts. His hand trailed up my stomach and cupped my chest. A surge of ecstasy flowed through me. He rolled my nipples between his fingers, pinching and stretching until they became hard. I raised my head up, letting my hair fall, and moaned at the ceiling.

  Gunner quickly took off his leather vest and wife-beater. His body was even more muscular than I imagined. A huge black tattoo of an eagle ran across his whole chest. I ran my finger along the tattoo, tracing the image. This man was too hot for me. I didn't deserve this. I felt the defined lines of his muscles, remembering our car ride together.

  Gunner lifted up and gently kissed my cleavage. He put my nipple in his mouth and bit down on it softly. I cried out from the pain but it felt kind of good. I didn't know I could feel that kind of pleasure from that area.

  Gunner began to undo his belt that had a white skull buckle. My brain suddenly overrode my libido.

  You need to tell him.

  I shook my head. I don't want this to stop.

  “Hold on, Gunner.” I put my hand on his to stop him from taking his pants off.

  “You're right, maybe this is a bad idea.”

  No! No! That's not what I was going to say!

  “I want this badly but there's something you should know—I've never been with a man before.”

  Gunner cocked his head. “You're a lesbian—because that's not a turn off for me.”

  I giggled at his ridiculous suggestion and steeled myself. “No I've never been with anybody before.”

  “You're a virgin?” Gunner murmured.

  I nodded.

  “But how could that be? Look how hot you are.”

  I glanced down at my body and didn't see what he was talking about. Nobody had ever called me “hot” before.

  “Maybe you should wait until you meet that special guy,” he said, getting out from under me.

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him back before he left the bed. “You are that special guy,” I said, planting a kiss on his lips.

  Gunner laid me down and kissed me hard. He pushed his nose into my hair and took in the aroma. “You smell so nice.”

  His hands moved south and unsnapped my jeans. My chest heaved up and down as I watched him grin and slide my pants around my ankles. My pink panties weren't supposed to be seen by anyone—especially a man that was about to violate me!

  He kissed my waistline and grabbed my ass cheeks hard. I wanted him to touch me all night. He kissed my pubic mound over my panties and he was so close. He was driving me crazy. He carefully peeled my underwear down and I held my breath as he spread my thighs. His kisses ran up my leg until he was so close.

  Oh my! His lips hit me and my body convulsed. “That feels so good,” I moaned.

  Gunner worked magic with his tongue, swirling me around and side to side. He moaned quietly as he licked me all over. I'd touched myself down there all the time but it felt nothing like this. My body peaked and I detonated.

  Gunner came up for air and kissed me on the lips. I could taste my salty self and it turned me on even more.

  Gunner kissed my ear and whispered, “I'm going to fuck you now, Veronica.”

  What! My pulse raced. I always wanted a man to talk dirty to me.

  Gunner pulled his pants off and revealed his massive erection. It was so thick and juicy. I'd seen pictures before but nothing up close like this. I wanted him in my mouth. I wanted to taste him like he did to me. But Gunner was on a mission.

  “This might hurt at first.”

  I nodded.

  Gunner knocked at my opening and crammed his entire length inside me, breaking my barrier in the process. I screamed at the top of my lungs from the sudden pain and extreme pleasure.

  “Oh Veronica,” Gunner moaned. He pulled out slowly until I begged him to put it back in. I cried out as he filled me completely. Every thrust sent my body reeling. We stared into each other's eyes as we made love.

  His lips met mine and I devoured him. My breathing hit a peak.

  “It feels so good, Gunner,” I whimpered.

  “Come for me, baby,” he ordered.

  I can't hold back any longer.

  He increased his rhythm, pushing into me harder, faster—and I exploded around him—an orgasm that rocked my soul. Nothing could ever compare.

  Gunner shouted out my name and found his release, pounding me into submission. He collapsed onto me and we were both a sweaty mess. Gunner laid his head against my heaving chest.

  “How was it?” he asked, hiding a grin.

  “I can't even think right now. What just happened?”

  “You just lost your virginity.”

  I looked down to see the white bed sheets stained with my blood. This motel was probably used to it. Gunner raised his head and kissed me on the chin. My body was so relaxed and comfortable that I couldn't move my limbs.

  “I've never felt that good in my entire life. Is sex always this mind-blowing?”

  “It is with me,” he replied with that cocky-asshole smile.

  My finger traced the scar along his brow and Gunner recoiled. “What happened?”

  Gunner averted his eyes. “I had a rough childhood.”

  I held this man's face in my hands and I knew nothing about him. He was a criminal, a killer, and the sweetest guy I had ever met. I let him take from me what I could only give to one man. I needed to know more about him. Time to unlock the mystery.

  “Tell me about it. I want to know everything about you.”

  Gunner looked into my eyes, searching for my true intentions.

  “You don't have to—”

  Gunner interrupted, “My father left when I was six years old. My mother couldn't handle working and taking care of me all by herself—she turned to alcohol.”

  My heart sank. I imagined little Gunner with his mom holding a bottle of liquor. But his story didn't stop there, it got worse.

  Gunner took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. “It was my birthday and my mom told me she was going to get me a chocolate cake when she got off work. I waited all night until she finally crashed through the front door at eleven.” Gunner stared off into space, continuing his story, “She stank of alcohol but I thought she still might've bought my cake. When I asked my mom about it, something inside her snapped. She grabbed the closest empty beer bottle and smashed it against my face.�
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  I gasped and tears welled up in my eyes. How could someone ever treat their child that way?

  Gunner closed his eyes again. “The blow knocked me unconscious. I don't remember anything else until I woke up at the hospital. My mom was hanging over me, crying her eyes out. When the doctor got me alone, he asked me what happened: I told him I was climbing a tree and fell off.”

  “Why did you cover for your mom?”

  “I was just a kid. My mother was the only one who loved me. I would have done anything to protect her.”

  I understood completely. When you're that young, you don't see the whole picture. Hell, it's hard to see the whole picture as an adult. I probably would have done the same thing as little Gunner. I didn't want to pry any further but his story was so interesting. “What happened to you after that?”

  “When am I going to learn something about you?” He smirked.

  “I'll answer anything you want to know, but first you have to finish your story.”

  Gunner's eyes went dark again. “I was fourteen when I finally had enough of my mom. She tried to hit me with a bottle again, but this time I was older and stronger. I hit her square in the jaw and she dropped to the ground. I left that day and never looked back. When I was eighteen, I joined the army and never looked back. That's how I met my brothers. They're the only family I got.”

  His story was heart-wrenching. I suddenly felt guilty for having two loving parents. Not everybody gets the same chances growing up. I truly am lucky.

  Gunner lifted me head by the chin. “Don't look so sad. Look at me now—all that's in the past now. I'm doing really great.” He rubbed his hands in excitement. “Now it's my turn.”

  I had forgotten I agreed to answer any question he had.

  “What's the real reason you stayed a virgin for so long.”

  “But I told you, I was way too busy studying.”

  “No that's an excuse. You could have taken an hour break to have sex with the line of guys at your door.”

  I blushed. “I wish there was a line of guys outside my door.” I laughed. “There were a couple guys in high school that had a thing for me but I felt like I wasn't good enough for them. If they saw who I really was, they'd run away.”

  “So why now? Why me?” he asked.

  “I've never felt this instant connection with anyone before. I probably should have waited a little longer before sleeping with you, but I couldn't help myself.”

  Gunner ran his fingers through my hair. “You're irresistible. There's no way I could have waited any longer.”

  Is he talking about me?

  I turned away from Gunner and he spooned me from behind, his flaccid penis pushing against my ass. His arms wrapped around me and he nuzzled the back of my neck with his nose. I felt so safe that I didn't want this moment to end.

  I had been through so much that day. The sudden impact of everything I went through, hit me all at once. I was so exhausted.

  Chapter Ten

  Gunner

  The sun pierced the blinds and hit my face, baking my skin until I awoke. My legs and arms were entangled with Veronica's. I stared at her calm face while she slept. She looked so peaceful—so beautiful.

  Why did a girl like Veronica pick me? I was no good for her—damaged goods. I'd only end of corrupting her. The VA was no place for someone as smart as her. Veronica was going places and I didn't want to bring her down.

  I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. I didn't want to leave but I had to—it was the only way to keep her safe. I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone off the nightstand. I found my jeans sprawled out on the floor. I quietly put my legs through and raised them up, buckling the belt.

  Veronica shifted in bed. I froze for a second and she opened her eyes. Fuck! This was not how I wanted her to see me.

  “Good morning, lover,” she said, rubbing her eyes. Veronica's gaze went down to my jeans and her eyes shot open. “Going somewhere?”

  I knew I couldn't leave her. She was perfect in very way. “I was just going to make a call to John to see if everything was okay yet.”

  Veronica rolled around, the sheets becoming taut, conforming to her perfect skin. My pants got tighter. How could she have such an effect on me?

  “I'll be right back.”

  “Don't be too long.” She smiled. I needed a photo of her happy face to look at whenever I wanted to.

  I went outside and almost collapsed against the closed door, my heart beating in my chest. I didn't want to leave Veronica. I was scared—terrified because things were moving so quickly. I'd never felt this way about a girl before. This was undiscovered territory.

  I think I'm in love.

  I pulled out my phone and called John.

  “Where are you, Gunner?” John asked quickly.

  “A motel.”

  “Thank God you're safe.”

  “What about Hudson and Bryce?”

  “They're fine. Hudson took a bullet to the shoulder but he's going to be fine. I have the doc working on him now.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “That's good to hear.”

  The memory of Wyatt came flooding back to me. I'd been so caught up with Veronica that I forgot all about it. My throat closed up and I choked on tears. “Wyatt was a good man,” I told John.

  I could hear John on the other end trying to hold it together. “He was family and he'll be missed.” After a moment of silence. “Is the girl all right?”

  “She's a little shaken up but fine. How are we going to strike back at the Russians?”

  “Not over the phone, Gunner, we'll talk later today at the VA.”

  He was right. I shouldn't be talking about business on the phone. You never know who's listening. “See you soon.”

  Now I needed to figure out what to do with Veronica. Could we really be happy together? I hoped so.

  I went back into the hotel room and the bed was empty, the sheets strewn about. The shower was running and steam escaped through the open bathroom door. I stepped softly along the carpet, taking off my jeans as I sneaked into the bathroom. The dense fog barely gave any visibility. I could see the outline of Veronica behind the glass shower door—her figure was a sight to behold. Every curve of her body begged to be touched—worshiped.

  I opened the shower door and crept inside. Veronica didn't notice me as she washed her hair. I wiped the suds out of her eyes and she smiled at me.

  “I was hoping you'd come in.”

  “How could I resist?”

  I wrapped my arm around her back and pulled her to me. Our lips collided with a bang. Veronica moaned as my tongue entered her mouth.

  The way she cried out turned me on so much. My erection pressed against her belly, pulsing with heat. The warm water soothed my skin.

  “Last night couldn't have been more perfect,” she whispered.

  “I want you so badly,” I replied. I tugged on her hair, tilting her head back so I could kiss her throat.

  Veronica put my hands on my chest and pushed me away.

  Did she not want me?

  “I want to make you feel good,” she said with a devilish grin. Veronica got down on her knees in front of me.

  Fuck yes...

  Veronica grasped my shaft with both hands. She kissed my tip, lightly flicking her tongue against it. She looked into my eyes and opened wide before shoving my length into her mouth. I groaned as she wrapped her lips around my manliness. My breathing quickened and Veronica pushed me in and out.

  I brushed her soaking wet hair out of her face and held it into a ponytail behind her head. She gripped my hardness with one hand and stroked as she went down on me.

  I thought she had never been with a man before. Where did she learn to do this?

  Veronica sucked on me hard and then pulled my erection out. It was my turn to pleasure her. I tried to lift Veronica by the arms but she wasn't done yet. Not even close.

  She ran her tongue all the way down from the tip to the base. A shiver ran down my spi
ne as she put me back in her mouth. “Please Veronica, I'm so close. You need to stop.”

  She ignored anything I said and kept going. The pleasure felt so good, I didn't want to argue anymore.

  “Oh Veronica!” I yelled as I unloaded inside her mouth. Veronica's head bobbed up and down on me, swallowing all my semen.