Page 50 of Sophia, Property of Tracker

“What’s gotten into me?” he replies, pointing at his chest. “You have no fuckin’ idea what you look like right now. Actually, I shouldn’t be pissed at Gunner for wanting you… just look at how you’re dressed.”

“Now wait one minute…” I say pointing to him. “Are you saying that I was asking for this behavior?”

Ryan crosses his arms and looks me up and down as if he’s blaming me for Gunner trying to hit on me.

“Well, when you’re dressed like that in a clubhouse, what do you expect?”

Without even thinking, I slap him hard across the face. He whips his head back with the assault, and my hand begins to sting. Gunner groans, and I kneel back down to help him sit up and rest him back against the wall. “Hey, are you okay,” I ask him, concern filling me when I see blood dripping down from his lip. “You’re bleeding. Let me get you some ice.”

Standing and rushing over to the refrigerator, I open the top half where I’m hoping it will be. I take the tray of ice out and then open the drawer, trying to find a dish towel. When I do, I place a few ice cubes in the towel and fold it over, then rinse another cloth and head back to Gunner.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ryan growls as I busy myself cleaning up Gunner’s face. I ignore the question and continue what I’m doing.

Gunner stalls me by holding my hand at his cheek with the ice. “Thanks, darlin’, I got this. You better leave now. I need to talk to my brother.” His look is sincere, and I begin to feel sorry for him. He didn’t mean anything by what he said or did, yet it doesn’t seem like anyone can get through to Ryan tonight.

I look over my shoulder at Ryan, whose expression is set in stone, and the muscles on his arms and chest are flexed with anger. I contemplate leaving them alone, but the thought that Ryan may hit him again keeps me from leaving. “Are you sure?” I ask, looking back at Gunner. He smiles, and his dimple is on display, and I can’t help but smile back.

“I’ll be fine. You go.”

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me? Get your ass out of here, Sophia. Gunner and I are gonna have words.”

Standing, I place my hands on my hips and ask, “Promise me that you won’t hit him again.”

“Sophia, this is not your concern. This is between me and Gunner.”

“Promise me,” I repeat.

He sighs and runs both hands through his hair, causing his bandana to drop and his hair to look all messy. A look that I have to admit is hot on him.Stop it, Sophia, don’t get distracted.

He stares at me, then takes a few steps and stops once we’re only a hair’s breadth away. His fingers reach under my chin, and he lifts my face to look into his eyes. “The fact that you are concerned for him doesn’t sit well with me. You’re my woman, and that’s all there is to it. Now go back to my room before I carry you back there and give you a spanking. I’ll be there in a minute.”

A spanking? Is he serious?The image of me laying over his lap as he spanks my ass confuses me. Part of me is scared as hell, but at the same time, it kind of excites me.

“Baby?”

“Mmm…” I reply, coming out of my daydream state.

He leans down and kisses me under my ear, then runs his nose up my neck and places a small kiss on my nose.

“Just wait a minute. Who do you think—”

Ryan’s lips smash to mine, stalling my words. His hand grips the back of my head, and he pulls my hair, causing our lips to come apart. He’s letting me know just whose woman I am.

His eyes shimmer, and I hate myself for wanting him so much.

My body came alive with just one kiss.Traitor.

“I’m going to ask you one more time… go back to the room and wait for me there.”

“Fine,” I state. “Beat the crap out of each other if that’s what you want to do. See if I care.” I storm out of the kitchen and return to Ryan’s room, my tea all forgotten. Once there, I pace the floor, trying to calm my nerves.

Who does he think he is treating me this way?

How does he have the nerve to tell me what to do?

When I finally finish pacing, I sneak back under the duvet and tuck it up under my neck.

From the exhaustion of the day and night, somehow, I quickly fall into a deep sleep.

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