Page 26 of Gunner

My knuckles are bloody and bruised. Whip got his ass handed to him too. He knew it was coming. I warned him ahead of time. I wasn’t joking about what I said. For whatever reason, Nat has my balls in the palm of her hand. She can do no wrong, and that makes me feel even more protective of her. I know I’m fucked in the head. I know it’s all wrong, but I can’t help it.

Warm water runs over my hands as I wash the blood-tinged water down the drain.

“You just beat everyone up who pisses you off?” she asks as she sits on the edge of the tub, watching me.

“If I need to.”

“You didn’t need to, though.”

“Yeah, I did. He was touchin’ what didn’t belong to him.”

“I don’t belong to you either.”

“Keep tellin’ yourself that,” I tell her without looking up. I know I barely know her. I know we just met, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling things. Things I probably shouldn’t.

“What does that mean?” I shut the water off and grab the towel to dry my hands as I look over at her.

“It means you’re mine, Nat.”

“But I’m not.”

“You like to keep sayin’ that, but that’s my baby inside you. And that pussy? That’s mine, too.”

“Are you insane? I’m beginning to think you are,” she snaps as she shoves herself up and stands ready to head for the door. I don’t let her get that far. I back her up, taking small steps to close the distance between us until her back hits the wall.

“I might be. Or I might be takin’ what I want. What’s the difference?”

“I didn’t agree to this.”

“You tellin’ me you don’t want me?”

“You know it’s not that simple. You said it yourself. This is complicated.”

“I changed my mind. It’s not as complicated as I thought it was. It’s actually pretty simple.”

“How so?”

“This is mine,” I tell her, placing my hand on her stomach. Then I slowly slide my hand lower and cup her mound, saying, “This is too.”

“This is about sex?”

“No. It’s about more than that.”

“Then what’s it about, Gunner?”

“You said you wanted to be happy, Nat. What if I’m the one who can make you happy?” she doesn’t know what to say. She looks shocked I even said it. Her lips part, but no words form.

“My life is complicated, Gunner.”

“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell her.

“You don’t know me.”

“That’s because you won’t tell me. And do you honestly think I can’t find out? I have my ways, Nat.”

“Then why haven’t you looked?”

“Maybe I have. Maybe I’m just waitin’ on you to tell me. What’s the difference?” I ask her.

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