Page 125 of Gunner

“Then I’ll feed him whatever I want.”

Gunner sighed. “I have a job to do this evening. Are you going to be okay?”

“I was fine before you came along.”

“That’s not what I asked you. How long are you going to be angry, Ben? I gave you almost two weeks, and you’ve hardly let me touch you.”

“I’d rather not get mixed up with you again.” I kept my gaze fixated on the television.

“It’s a little too late for that. We’re already so mixed up there’s no separating you from me. Just deal with it already.”

He climbed to his feet, and Zeus got up. I gave him a stare, daring him to abandon me for Gunner. He lowered his head back down to the couch.

That’s right. I’m your daddy, not him.

“There’s no use talking to you,” I said.

“Your sister and her husband are coming over to spend the evening with you while I’m gone. I hope you treat them better than you’ve been treating me all week.”

“Naturally.”

Gunner clenched his jaw. In a swift move, he gripped my jaw. “Don’t tempt me to shut that pretty mouth of yours. I haven’t touched you, because I don’t want to cause you discomfort, but if you can run your mouth, it’s still wide open for use. And I will use it, Benjamin, so for once, shut it and appreciate what I’m doing for you here. I’ve never treated anybody else the way I’ve treated you.”

“Liar. What about Mason?”

He frowned. “Is that what this is about? You don’t hate me for getting with you under false pretenses but that I cared about Mason too?”

My heart pounded at the truth of his words. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Don’t lie to me now, Ben. If there’s one thing I can count on, it’s your honesty.”

My heart squeezed. I wanted so much to believe him. That I mattered to him, but he’d used me. I couldn’t help feeling I was some sort of post-Mason exotic pet for him while I’d developed real feelings for him.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“To give me a fair chance to make shit right with you.”

I wanted to. I really did. But the history with Mason between us and the uncertainty of how he truly felt wouldn’t let me trust him. We were doomed to repeat the same mistake as with Mason. Me chasing a relationship that wouldn’t have a happy ending.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.”

Fuck, why did it feel like that hurt me more than it did him? I could hardly breathe under the weight of my words.

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I—”

Gunner kissed me, gentling the grip on my jaw as he explored my mouth. We hadn’t slept together in so long my body automatically curved into him, wanting more of how good it was between us.

“Call me if you need anything.”

He was gone before I could reinforce that we weren’t together anymore. What was the use anyway? He wouldn’t believe me when I kissed him back like I had just done. I didn’t even believe myself.

“Are you sure you will be fine?” Alice asked as I walked her and Jasper to the door. I’d hated Gunner talking to her and making plans for her to spend the evening with me, but I couldn’t deny I’d enjoyed their company. After dinner, we’d sat at the table, chatting and playing poker with a movie in the background.The stakes might have been low, but my sister and her husband made the evening bearable.

“How old am I?” I gave her a hug.

“All right, all right.” She kissed my cheek. “I’m glad Gunner called us. He’s a special one.”

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