Page 62 of The Rebel with Broken Strings
They moved through the space in a heated dance, shedding layers with each step. The city’s energy seemed to pulse through them, urgent and alive. Gunner’s heart raced as Aubrey’s hands explored his chest, her touch both tentative and bold.
“Aubrey,” he whispered. “You’re drivin’ me crazy, you know that?”
She smiled against his lips. “Good,” she teased, nipping at his lower lip. “That’s the idea.”
As they made their way toward the bedroom, Gunner couldn’t help but marvel at how right this felt. Aubrey fit so perfectly in his arms, in this space, in his life. It was as if she’d always been meant to be here.
“What are you thinking?” Aubrey asked.
Gunner cupped her face in his hands. “I’m thinkin’ that you belong here, darlin’. With me. In this mixed-up life of mine.”
Aubrey’s eyes widened, a flicker of vulnerability passing through them. “Gunner, I—”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss. “Shh, we don’t need to figure it all out right now. Just be here with me. In this moment.”
As they crossed the threshold into his bedroom, Gunner’s heart swelled with a feeling he couldn’t quite name. All he knew was that Aubrey Hale had waltzed into his life and turned everything upside down in the best possible way.
The soft glow of the city lights filtered through the sheer curtains as they tumbled onto the plush bed. Their kisses deepened, each touch igniting a fire that he never wanted to end.
His hands trembled slightly as he caressed her skin, marveling at its softness. “You have no idea how much I want you right now,” he murmured.
Her eyes locked on to his, passion and vulnerability swirling in their depths. “Show me,” she whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of his face.
As they explored each other with tender urgency, he felt the weight of his past mistakes and regrets melting away. Here, in this moment with Aubrey, he was free from the pressures of fame, free from the chains of addiction that had once bound him.
“I want to give you everything,” Gunner breathed, his voice rough, raw with emotion as he reached for a condom in the drawer of the nightstand. His hands moved quickly, but his heart still thundered in his chest. He looked down at her, bathed in the faint glow of the room, and for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.
When he entered her, she arched into him, her body responding to his touch like she was made for him. Every curve, every soft sound she made, sent sparks through his veins. Their movements fell into a rhythm that was slow and deliberate, a dance he didn’t need to think about because it was instinct. Her hands on him, her skin against his, felt like a fire consuming him from the inside out.
Gunner kissed her, deep and desperate, as if she might disappear if he didn’t hold on tight enough. Her moan against his mouth sent a shiver through him, her fingers tangling in his hair and pulling him closer—always closer. Nothing existed beyond this moment, nothing but her. The world outside didn’t matter; the past didn’t matter. All that mattered was Aubrey and the way she looked at him like he was the only man who had ever touched her heart.
He moved within her, their bodies finding that perfect rhythm that felt like it had always been there, waiting for them to discover it. Every movement, every gasp, left him breathless, like she was pulling something out of him he hadn’t even realized was missing. God, she was beautiful. He watched her, her face flushed, lips parted, and he felt the tension building between them—something wild, something he couldn’t control.
When she trembled beneath him, her release crashing over her, Gunner followed, letting himself fall with her. It wasn’t just physical—it was more. It was everything. His heart hammered as he collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms, her body soft and warm against his.
For a long moment, they just breathed together, their hearts still pounding as if they were trying to sync. Gunner pressed a kiss to her hair, his voice rough in her ear. “Thank you for being here with me.”
As he held her, Gunner knew this wasn’t just another night together—it was a beginning. A promise. Aubrey was everything he’d ever needed, and he was going try his hardest to prove it to her.
Nineteen
Spring came fast. Too fast. Gunner stood in the heart of Timber Falls Ranch, a sea of motion and laughter swirling around him. The crisp spring air carried the scent of blooming wildflowers and fresh hay, mingling with the excited chatter of friends and cowboys bustling about. Jaxon and Charly’s wedding was only days away, and the ranch had transformed into a hive of joyful preparation.
For a moment, Gunner let himself get lost in the scene. His eyes swept over the corral where Eli was helping string up fairy lights, past the weathered barn doors thrown wide to welcome guests and finally settled on the makeshift crafting area near the house. A smile tugged at his lips.
Soon one of his best friends would be getting married, and he couldn’t have been happier for Jaxon.
He unconsciously fiddled with the worn leather bracelet on his wrist. The past few months with Aubrey had been a whirlwind of stolen kisses and late-night conversations, of rediscovering his passion for music and finding a place he truly belonged. The journey to Nashville happened a few months back, yet it seemed as if it were just yesterday. And now…
Gunner’s gaze zeroed in on Aubrey as she laughed with Willow and Charly. Her nimble fingers wove delicate flowers into an intricate garland, each movement precise and graceful. Even from a distance, he could see the sparkle in her eyes, the way her smile lit up her entire face.
“I swear, if I have to make one more of these damn things, I’m gonna lose it,” Willow grumbled good-naturedly, holding up a tangled mess of ribbon and wire.
Aubrey chuckled, reaching over to rescue the decoration. “Here, let me show you again. It’s all in the wrist.”
As he watched her patiently guide Willow through the process, just close enough to hear them, Gunner felt a familiar ache in his chest. How could he even think about leaving this? Leaving her?
But the call of the stage whispered in the back of his mind, reminding him of unfinished dreams. With a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and made his way toward the women, determined to savor every moment he had left in this little slice of heaven.
