Page 105 of Silver Linings

“I wish I could have stayed over with you, but I couldn’t ask someone to watch Sage with everything that’s going on.”

“Of course not, Lil. I’m glad you’re home with her.” He took a loud breath in. “So, Mrs. Brooks. What are you wearing?”

She laughed. “Gunner, did they give you more painkillers after I left?”

“I’m sadly sober, and bored out of my mind since you went home. Indulge me, baby.”

“No. Absolutely not. You’re hurt and I’m certainly not going to have a nurse walking in on you while we’re…what? Having phone sex?” Even though she whispered the last two words, she still looked out at her closed bedroom door to make sure no one had overheard her.

“Mm, it sounds so dirty when you say it like that. I love it.”

“You need to knock it off. Get some sleep and then you’ll feel good enough to come home in the morning. We can ask your doctor if other things are safe tomorrow.”

“By other things, do you mean me spreading you out on the bed and eating you like a buffet?”

“Gunner!” Her emotions oscillated between red hot embarrassment and fiery need.

“Just trying to rile you up, baby. Is it working?”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s working. Knock it off. You were shot today. My God! You could have died. What if you do this and your blood pressure rises?”

“Now, see, the only person’s blood pressure I’m concerned about is yours, Lil. You need to relax. And I can think of only one way to get your endorphins flowing so you can release all the stress from today.”

“I can’t! Mae is in the room just across the hall, and Hawk is sleeping on the couch in the living room! Isn’t Stone in the room with you? God, Gunner, I’m going to die of embarrassment.”

“There are doors and walls separating you, Lil. Just be quiet and they won’t hear a thing. And I sent Stone out into the hallway to let me say a proper goodnight to my wife.”

“I don’t?—”

“We’re doing this. Unless you plan to hang up on me and make me call you back a hundred times until you are so irritated, you fold and pick up, anyway. So, take off whatever shirt of mine you found to sleep in tonight, Lil. Do it now.”

“It’s my favorite.”

“My gray Navy one?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “It’s so soft against my skin and it smells like you.”

“What are you wearing underneath?”

She laughed as she raised the hem of the shirt, pulling the phone away from her face for a moment to get the top off.

“What do you think I’m wearing? Three guesses and you’ll win a prize if you get it right.”

“A prize…hmm. Do I get to pick what that prize is? Because a day spent actually making love to you while Mae babysits Sage so we have no interruptions is at the top of my list.”

Lily laughed. “I can’t imagine ever leaving her, Gunner. Not after today. We’ll just have to get creative.”

“Oh baby, I’m already thinking of so many ways to be creative. With my tongue. And my cock. My fingers, too.”

“Jesus.”

“Nope,” he chuckled. “But I do plan on making you see heaven the next time I sink into you.”

“Guess,” she said breathlessly. The man could do dirty talk, and while that had never really been a turn on for her before, something about the filthy way Gunner talked to her had her already feeling wet and warm between her legs.

“Something lacy?”

“First strike,” she teased. “Guess again.”

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