Page 43 of Gunner

He held up a can of deodorant as a weapon. “One bet with you was enough. Stay back. And for god’s sake, take a shower. You really reek.”

“Fine, but you got an extra shirt I can wear?”

“Wear your own damn clothes.”

“What’s the sense of showering and putting back on this sweaty shirt?”

He pawed through his duffel, picked out something green, and threw it at me. “There. When you’re done, we need to talk about Paddy.”

“What’s to talk about? We’re gonna get that fucker before the cops do. Then we’ll beat the truth out of him.” He looked ready to explode again. “If necessary.”

“We’re not beating anyone up. I already told you everything has to be done by the book.”

“Whatever you say, Chief. You’re the boss, and I’m just here to please.”

I winked and ducked inside the bathroom, the deodorant missing my head by an inch. I was still smiling when I walked out of the bathroom naked, rubbing my balls with a towel.

“Hope you don’t mind we had to share a toothbrush.”

“You used my toothbrush?”

Witter raised his head. He’d been sitting at the white table against the wall, typing away at his laptop. He stared at my naked body, and I couldn’t help posturing, stretching so all my muscles were on display.

After my decline when Mason died, I’d put the work in to get back into shape. The way Witter looked at me was definitely worth the hours I’d dragged my ass off to the gym, even when I didn’t want to.

“You used my toothbrush?”

“Didn’t think you’d mind. We’ve already swapped saliva. It’s not like I ate your ass earlier either. I won’t do that. Ever, so don’t go hoping.”

Witter took up his phone and spoke into it. “Get a new toothbrush.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Is standing naked in my motel room necessary?”

“Don’t act like you’re not enjoying the view. I see the way you look at me.” I ran a hand down my chest, over my definedobliques. “Hate my mind and my filthy mouth all you want, but you got a thing for my hot body.”

A knock sounded on the door. Witter frowned. “You invited someone here?”

“Jealous?”

He scowled all the way to the door, took a peek through the peephole, then jerked back, his face going white. Shit. I didn’t have anything on me but the knife in my boot.

“Who is it?”

He put a finger to his lips and made shooing motions with his hands. The knocking became more persistent.

Witter hurried back to me and shoved me toward the bathroom. “It’s the police captain I spoke to earlier. He must have a lead. Go hide in the bathroom.”

“Why do I need to hide?”

“Just go. Please.”

“All right.” I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him hard, then released him. Witter looked as stunned as I felt.

Why the fuck did I do that? I darted into the bathroom, determined not to analyze it.

Moving as quietly as possible, I got dressed. At first I couldn’t hear anything from the bathroom, even though I had my ear pressed to the door, but then Witter’s voice came through clearly.

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