Page 8 of Gunner

I move farther into the room, studying the black-and-white artwork that hangs above her bed. I drag my hand across the top of her dresser that’s lined with various perfume bottles and other random knickknacks. Beside her bed, tucked in one corner, is a comfy reading chair with a fluffy blanket draped over the back. I stroll towards it and sit down, flinching slightly when I feel something hard press against my back. I root around for whatever it is, pulling it from beneath the blanket, and see that it’s a Kindle. Lily gasps and runs over to snatch it from my hand.

“Well, that’s suspicious. What ya got on there?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Nothing!” she blurts out, her face turning red. “It’s nothing. You wouldn’t be interested.” Her arm stretches in my direction but I hold the eReader out of her reach.

“Mommy’s always reading on it, and sometimes, she makes these weird faces and starts squirming,” Caleb chimes in, and Lily snaps her head in his direction.

I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. “I like you, kid.” I point to Caleb and he beams.

Lily responds with a sheepish laugh. “You know, I think dinner is ready now. Let’s all leave the room. Like now.” Then she grabs my free hand and tugs me up from the chair.

Caleb flies out of the room, headed for the kitchen, so I take the opportunity to pull his mother in close. “I saw what you had on there,” I whisper in her ear. “I like a girl who reads porn. Or do you prefer to call it smut?” I feel her skin heat as her cheek presses against mine.

Placing a chaste kiss to her face, I lean away so I can see her eyes. I expect embarrassment and am almost knocked on my ass when it’s desire flashing back at me. I lick my lips, dying to give her a real kiss, but she shakes her head and takes a step to the side.

“I… I better go check on the lasagna.”

I let her go and follow her down to the kitchen.

Lily asks Caleb to set the table while I help her with the food. I remove my cut, draping it over one of the chairs, then join Lily at the counter. Her eyes linger on the Satan’s Disciples logo before her gaze lifts to mine.

“So, you‘re really a Disciple, huh?”

“Yeah, quite a few years now.” My chest swells with pride for my chosen family.

She cocks her head. “What’s your road name? Shouldn’t I call you that instead?”

“No,” I respond instantly, and her jaw drops in response.

“Why not? Doesn’t everyone else use it?”

“You’re not everyone.” My gaze dips to her mouth. “And I like hearing my name coming from your lips.”

Her breath hitches while I pin her with my stare.

Fuck, I want to touch her. I want to run my hands all over her luscious body and taste every inch of her smooth skin. Would she let me? Does she still taste the same? Will her body respond to my touch like it used to?

“I set the table, Mommy!” Caleb shouts from the dining room, interrupting whatever the fuck was happening between me and his mother.

Lily clears her throat and grabs the lasagna. “I’ll just take this to the table.”

“Alright,” I reply, my voice a bit gruff while I take the salad and follow after her. “It’s Gunner, by the way. My road name is Gunner.”

Lily blinks, a smile spreading across her face. “I think I like James better.”

That fucking smile. I’ll do anything to keep it there.

Most of dinner consists of Caleb asking me a million questions. As soon as I answer one, he has another queued up and ready to go.

“How many tattoos do you have?” His glare is glued to the ink on my arms.

“I don’t know. I lost count at around fifty.”

“Fifty!” he exclaims. Even Lily’s eyes go wide. “Did they hurt?”

“Nah, not really. I’m used to pain.”

“Your face is kinda scary.”

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