Violet's Guns: Book 9 of Colson Brothers Series

by Reese Madison

  “Something funny?” He closed his eye again unwilling to give up my affections.

  “Yeah, you.” A yawned escaped. “Come on idiot. Let’s go to bed.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him to ‘our’ bedroom.

  He reversed control on me and grabbed me around the waist to throw me on the bed. “Listen up Violet.”

  I gathered my balance and sat up Indian-style to listen like a good student.

  He knows me well and gave me a dirty look. “I’m serious here Violet.”

  “I know you are.” I nodded once trying not to laugh.

  He stepped in and put his fingertip on my nose. “Quit. This isn’t funny. How much did you drink today??”

  “Too much. I told you not to ask me to focus.” I tried to bite his finger but missed because he’s fast and I’m drunk.

  He knelt suddenly and started untying my tennis shoes. “You can’t repeat any club business you overhear.”

  “Duh. What else you got?” I asked as he threw the first shoe aside.

  “If anyone asks this is a fleeting thing while I look for an apartment.”

  I snorted again.

  He threw my other shoe aside and glared at me. “If people think you mean something to me it will put a huge target on your back.”

  “Oh, you mean like the one Salina wears, and has worn, for twenty some years?” I’ve been dying to say this to him all day.

  He stood shoving my shoulder so I had no choice but to lay back as he grabbed the backs of my knees and pulled my butt to the edge of the bed to start on my jeans. “I already lost one woman. I’d rather not lose another one.”

  I tilted my head watching his capable fingers work me out of my jeans. “Did you love her?”

  “She was the mother of my child, or supposed to be.” He threw my jeans over my shoes and took my hand sitting me up.

  “That wasn’t an answer.”

  His eyes met mine for a brief second before he pulled my shirt off over my head. “No. We were careless, that’s all. I did the right thing and married her. Maybe over time it’d have- I don’t know.”

  I swatted his hand away when he went for my bra. “Back off big guy.” I stood forcing him to back up a few steps. “I’m going to take a shower.” I pointed at him. “You stay the hell out of it.”

  “And if I don’t?” He almost purred making my knees weak.

  I locked the door behind me, not that he can’t pick it.

  “Oof. Gunner, let up. I can’t breathe.” I turned in his tight embrace and found my nose buried in his now beard. Somehow it had surpassed scruff overnight.

  He hugged me tighter putting his heel in the back of my knee.

  “Jesus. What is wrong with you??” He’s been like this all night. I haven’t slept for shit and it’s making me grumpy.

  He curled in around me until I had no choice but to let him pin me under his big body, and a certain part of his anatomy is pressing into my thigh. Warm breath tickled my ear almost as much as the whiskers on my neck.

  “Gunner.” I whispered unable to push him up with my hands on his chest.

  “Don’t bite me again.” The grogginess in his voice made me giggle.

  “Then get off me. You’re going to leave a bruise on my thigh.”

  He lifted up searching my face with his sleepy eyes. “That’s not all I’m going to leave.” Gunner dropped down kissing me so hard I think I’ll be the one bleeding by the time this is over.

  Some time later the pain he’s inflicting on my thigh made me cry out in his mouth. He broke free and ground in one more time. I got to watch as he lost his self control on my leg. He’s beautiful. The look of pain slid away to pleasure as the tension left his body.

  I shifted just enough so he can lay down without crushing me. Words escape me. What do you say after a man like Gunner loses himself on your leg? I giggled thinking about dogs humping human legs.

  “Shut up.” He groaned.

  I giggled harder. “Get off me you goof. Now I need another shower.”

  He groaned burying his nose in my ear as his hand slid down over my stomach. “Shower sounds good.”

  “Not with you. If you’re serious about this then we’re doing it at my pace. I won’t be rushed.”

  His fingertips slid just under the top hem of my shorts. “Just a touch.”

  I turned looking for his eyes. “Just touch. I mean it. You’re hard to stop when you get started. Don’t go too far.” I begged. “Don’t kiss me or I’ll lose myself.”

  He sat back propping on his elbow. “I’d rather watch anyway.”

  “What?” I felt my back arch as his fingertips walked gently down nudging my legs apart as they went.

  “If I kiss you I can’t watch while you come for me. I’d rather watch.” He clarified definitively.

  I dug my fingernails into the back of his shoulder when he grazed my clit. “Be gentle.”

  “You’re soft. Warm.” He closed in and kissed my forehead. “I can’t wait to taste you.”

  I grabbed for his bicep with the arm that’s not trapped under his armpit as he applied pressure making my back arch. “Shit.”

  He slid a fingertip down finding me embarrassingly wet. “Damn Violet. I thought I was having problems.”

  “Shut up.” I turned looking for his kiss. “Where are you?”

  He’s still buried in my neck. “I can’t. You said no.” He’s panting as he pushes his finger slowly into me. “Jesus. Are you serious??” He suddenly popped up looking down at me with concern in his eyes. “You really are a virgin??”

  “You thought I was kidding??” I thought for sure he’d accepted that truth, even if he can’t accept the truth that he loves me.

  “I- Violet.” He started to take his hand away but I reached down grabbing his wrist.

  “Don’t you dare. You owe me one.” I lifted my chin. “Pay up.”

  He blinked a couple times then came in for a long sweet kiss that got him bit twice as he made me come so hard my toes went numb.

  By the time he rolled to his back I wanted so much more than a touch. “I get why you get so caught up now.”

  He laughed that guttural Gunner laugh. “No you don’t. You don’t get it at all, but you will.” His hand came down to cover his face. “God you smell good.”

  I backhanded his arm. “That’s just wrong.”

  “Oh, it’s exactly right.” He turned his head in my peripheral vision so I did the same looking back at him. “Just how far have you gone with a guy?”

  I felt my face heat up. “I’ve kissed a few frogs. That’s about it.”

  “How is that possible? You were in college.” He reminded me.

  “Do you want the girly truth or what I tell myself every day?”

  “Both.” He dared me to share both.

  “I tell myself I’m too busy. That my getting a Masters inside of four years meant more than some guy who’ll dump me as soon as we graduate. Or he graduates. The truth is I kept looking for you. I’d try to get close to a guy, but then I’d start having these random images of you jumping out of nowhere and kicking his ass.” I laughed realizing now more than ever how ridiculous that was.

  Gunner reached over and ran his finger along my jaw before pinching my chin between two fingers. “I would have killed any man who touched you.” He closed his eyes. “If anything happens to you because of me…”

  I pushed up with my hands on his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “It’s not just that.” He added. “Violet, we don’t have a normal relationship. We’ve slept together, and yet not. You know me better than anyone ever has Violet. Do you have any idea how scared I am of losing you?? What if someone hurts you to hurt me?”

  “I love you too, but I could just as easily get hit by a bus.” I tried to reason.

  “That’s not funny Violet. That bus already changed both our lives. I won’t survive losing you. I won’t.” He set his forehead to mine and closed his eyes.
“I shouldn’t be putting you in this position.”

  “What position? The up against the shower wall position? Or like doggy style?” I cracked up earning a vicious tickle attack. I almost peed my pants before he let me up.

  Gunner’s mood changed a good bit after that morning. He’s backed off on the impromptu shower surprises and hasn’t revisited the whole leg-humping thing since the first time two weeks ago. I’m not sure if I’m relieved that he’s not mad at me, or disappointed he’s holding back his affections. I guess I’m hoping he’s just taking some time to gather his thoughts.

  We’ve reverted back to sleeping all over each other, just not with each other. Again, conflicting thoughts on that one. Part of me wants more, and fast. The other part wants to take it slow. How slow is too slow? Will he get bored and go back to the sluts?

  Okay, to be fair they’re not sluts. What did he say? Three women in four years? For a sexy bad boy biker bachelor, those numbers aren’t bad. Somehow I doubt he sleeps with just anyone. Gunner is intense. The passion I feel in just his kisses blows my mind. Not that I have a lot to draw from.

  The lobby is coming together finally so I’m focused on the parlor where the work is done, and the public restrooms. My office can wait. The kitchen needs to be done next as it’s visible from the parlor when the curtain is open or someone passes through. I thought about putting a door up but when I start the bistro I’d rather have it open.

  The only problem is people getting their ink done may not want to be open to the bistro. The lobby is at a ninety-degree angle and slightly down a hall providing privacy from that side. I’m thinking about knocking down a wall in the lobby and putting in a glass door with a curtain so we can open it up if we want to.

  Right now I’m assembling these insane fucking dentist chairs from hell. Liah can’t come in because she’s golfing with her father. Evidently she lost a bet.

  The screw still won’t go in so I decided the screwdriver was at fault and must pay by being launched across the room at maximum speed. “Fuck this fucking chair!!!”

  Gunner ducked down and spun out of the way just in time. “Jesus Violet.”

  I bit my knuckle when I saw the knife throwing classes I took a couple summers ago had paid off. Thank god it wasn’t poor Gunner’s head. “Shit. Sorry.”

  He looked around for the screwdriver then froze slightly before pulling it from the wall. “I’m going to assume this is a fluke?”

  “Whatever.” I shoved up off the floor and threw the curtain aside to go after the whiskey. “I fucking suck at putting shit together.”

  Gunner set the screwdriver on the counter and watched as I poured myself two shots them him the same in another glass. We did our shots then he asked, “Want me to take a look?”

  “I want you to put all six of those fuckers together before I take them out back and have me the most expensive bonfire ever.” I poured two more shots for myself then slid him the bottle.

  “It’s going to cost you.” He offered sounding like he has an agenda.

  I leaned back against him when his large comfortable arms came around my middle. “You already have everything.”

  It took him a minute. “Everything?”

  The sun is setting making the few wisps of clouds up there turn light orange and pink. It’s mesmerizing, kind of like standing here with Gunner holding me. “Did you really plan to take over the club one day without an old lady to watch your back?”

  He shook silently once with laughter. “I don’t need anyone to watch my back. My job is to watch everyone else’s back.” He informed me.

  “Everybody needs someone to watch their back. Do you trust me?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Are you afraid I can’t handle myself if someone throws a punch my way?”

  “Yes.” One day I’ll stop testing his brutal honesty.

  “Do you think I’m too stupid and weak to handle the responsibility?”

  “I think you’re too young for the responsibility.”

  “Too young for you?”

  “That too. Then again, I do like them young.” I elbowed him in the ribs as hard as I knew would knock the wind out of his arrogant lungs. “Oof. Damn. Maybe I shouldn’t worry.”

  I turned around as he stepped back holding his side. “I took some classes I didn’t tell you about.”

  “I had access to your account. I know what you took.”

  “No. You don’t. These weren’t at ASU.” I walked around him to go refill my tumbler.

  “What are you talking about?” Now he sounds angry.

  After a sip I looked across the kitchen bar and up to brave his eyes. “I’m a black belt in Tai Kwon Do. I can shoot a flea off a dog at five hundred yards, but not with the gun you gave me. I can cook better than anyone else my age, chef or not. And I might or might not have developed a gambling problem learning to count cards.” I cringed at that last one.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about these classes?” He’s too calm. I know that level of calm. It’s usually followed by an ugly ass chewing.

  “Two reasons. I was either going to need them with you, or I was going to need them without you. You can’t always be there to protect me, or hold my hand through life.”

  “Counting cards Violet? What does that have to do with me?”

  I laughed. “That was just a parlor trick to impress you.”

  “You don’t need parlor tricks to impress me. Have you been faking it at the range??” He’s not known for being slow.

  “Bigger than shit.” Whoops. Busted. Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. I lost the battle with self-control and smiled in spite of my best efforts not to.

  “Why?? Why would you keep these things from me?” A hint of anger crept into his tone.

  “Oh don’t look so hurt. It’s not like you didn’t keep things from me.”

  “Like what??”

  I gave him the ‘really?’ look.

  “No, I didn’t tell you about the latest bitch or club business. You don’t need to know that shit.” He sat on a barstool and pushed the glass away. “Grab me a beer.”

  I pulled one from the fridge, opened it, then slid it over. “You never talked about your day, your work, or your family that exists outside the club. I know they exist, but you shut me out every time I ask. Gunner, you’re as closed off as they come. All I know about you I know from what little time we’ve spent together. Add a four year gap, and I don’t know shit.” I went back to the fridge but opened the freezer door. This is going to require French vanilla ice cream.

  “What do you want to know?” He asked into the top of the bottle.

  “I know you talk to your mother. Where does she live? Do you visit? Do you have other brothers and sisters? The list goes on. You’ve heard my questions before but you refuse to answer them. Why?”

  “Because the less you know the better.”

  I stabbed the ice cream with my spoon finding it way too hard to eat. “Is that still the case?”

  “Yes.”

  I grabbed my ice cream, the bottle of Jack, “Well, I guess that settles that.” and stormed out of the kitchen, through the parlor and into the lobby where the stairs will take me up to my room.

  I’d just sat down and turned on the TV when he showed up in the doorway and leaned his shoulder against the jam. “Why do you think you need to know so much about my family?”

  “I don’t.” I turned up the volume having had my fill of his cryptic ass tonight.

  He stayed put pretending to watch what I’m watching for a good three minutes before saying, “My mother collected children like she collected those stupid little spoons people buy at truck stops. I have four half sisters and five half brothers with her. That’s not including the Colson side.”

  “Jesus.” I lowered the volume. “Did your parents ever even see you?”

  He looked over at me from the TV. “What?”

  “I know the Colson story. I know your father was never around. Now I see your mother wasn�
�t either. You might as well have been an orphan.”

  He gave a weak smile then looked back to the TV. “She took in foster kids for the money too. I’m not sure she’s sure which ones she gave birth to and which ones she didn’t.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Slowly losing her sanity in a small house about a mile from the beach in San Diego. A bunch of us pitched in or she was going to wind up in a home. His confession had me getting up setting the ice cream bucket on the nightstand to go to him.

  “Do you see her?” I asked looking up.

  Reserved green eyes looked down into my boring browns. “Occasionally. Like I said, she’s not sure who is who anymore.”

  “Where did you get your name? Charles Walter? Is that right?”

  He nodded straightening in the doorway only to hit his head. “Fuck.” He rubbed his head. “Can we finish this in our bed please? You’re wearing me the fuck out.”

  I turned off the TV and led him back to ‘our’ room. “If you wear out this easy we’re going to have to work on your stamina.” I jumped when he smacked my ass. “OW!!”

  Gunner decided the time for talking was over and the time for kissing was going to begin. Kissing led to some heavy petting. I used my hand, he used his. Then we fell soundly asleep in each other’s arms. We forgot to eat dinner. Crap.

  7

  My stomach growled waking me up just before her alarm started singing that awful song she seems to like so much lately. “Shut that damn thing off. I need food. Fuck. Where are you??” I smacked the bed before reaching for the light. “Violet!!” Where is that vixen?

  Something crashed downstairs sending me barreling down with my gun leading the way. Another crash led me to the kitchen after clearing the lobby and parlor.

  A gun went off and my heart screeched to a halt. Another shot was fired from in front of the refrigerator that sent someone crashing back into the sliding door shattering the glass upon impact.

  “Violet!!” I flipped on the light as she rounded the kitchen counter towards the intruder. “Jesus. Who the fuck is that?” I turned to find some punk ass hipster looking kid holding his dick.