Page 12
Natasa
My stomach gets bigger as time goes on. Five months pregnant. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe there’s a small person inside me. I find myself watching my stomach more and more lately. Seeing the baby move is something out of this world. I never thought I would see anything like this, but now? I love it. I love every second of it.
“What are you doin’?”
“Watching the baby move.” Gunner chuckles before sitting down next to me and resting his hand on the bump that has formed.
“He’s active.”
“He?”
“It’s a boy.”
“How do you know that?”
“I guessed the other two right,” he replies causally.
“You did?”
“Yeah. Knew what they were about this far along, too.”
“Are you happy, Gunner?” I have to ask. The question has been sitting in the back of my mind for a while now, and I need to hear him say it. We’ve gotten closer. A lot closer, and I like it, but I need to know he’s ready for this baby.
“I am happy. Things are goin’ my way, Nat. We’re gettin’ to know each other, and the baby is doin’ good. Everything is good. What about you?”
“I wasn’t sure about all this, but I’m happy.”
“What the hell?” I hear a woman scream before looking up. I see a woman coming toward us full speed ahead before glancing at Gunner.
“Shit.”
“Who is that?”
“My ex. Kiki and Hodge’s mom.”
“What the hell is this?” She roars when she’s standing in front of us. Gunner shakes his head before looking up at her but not bothering to stand.
“You’ve been gone a long time. Why are you back?”
“I live here!”
“You don’t live here, Val. Never have. What do you want now? New man run out of drugs for you?”
“Why is your hand on her?”
“That’s none of your business. What do you want, Val?”
“I want what I’ve always wanted, Gunner. You.” Now I gasp. My mouth falls open as I look over at Gunner. Did he play me? Was he with her? I shove off the sofa, ready to walk away, when he stops me. He’s on his feet, grabbing my wrist so I can’t escape when his ex grabs the other one.
“Get your fuckin’ hands off her, Val.” The threat in his tone causes me to shiver. He sounds like a man possessed.
“Get your hands off her. Let her go, Gunner. This is between me and you.”
“There is nothin’, and I mean nothin’, between me and you, Val! In fact, you’ve been around too long. You gotta go.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I mean it. I mean every fuckin’ word of it. You made a mistake thinkin’ my kindness to let you be here was a weakness. Get the fuck outta my clubhouse,” he orders her. “And get your fuckin’ hand off her before I lose my shit.”
“What’s goin’ on?” I look over as Remy and Whip both appear. They look between us all and notice Val still holding onto my arm. Remy’s eyes widen before he steps in and physically removes her hand. I step back away from her as she eyes me up and down.
“Pregnant little whore.” Gunner releases a growl that thunders through the room before letting go of me. Before I know what’s happening, he has Val around the throat and slamming her against the wall.
“Gunner!” Remy yells as he tries to pry his hand off her neck.
“Oh my god,” I whisper.
“Gunner, come on Prez. She isn’t worth it. You gotta think about Nat and the baby,” Remy tells him as some of the other guys come over to help. Val’s face is red as she stares up at him in disbelief.
“Let her go, Prez. She’s out, brother. I’ll make sure she’s out,” Locke tells him as he peels his fingers from around her neck. Fire radiates off Gunner as he steps back and allows Locke to step in. Then he turns to me and walks closer, grabbing my face in his hands.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I don’t put my hands on women, Nat.”
“I know.”
“She doesn’t get to touch you like that. I’ll cut her fuckin’ hand off before I let that happen again,” he vows. I can tell just how serious he is. I see the look in his eyes.
“It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“She shouldn’t have touched you,” he repeats. I reach up and cup his cheek the way he’s doing mine and slowly pull his lips to meet mine.
“It’s okay.” Then I kiss him like he’s kissed me hundreds of times over the last few months. I kiss him like I need the air to breathe.
Val screams as Locke and the others take her out of the clubhouse.
“What the hell happened?” I pull away from him when I hear Kiki speaking. Gunner takes a deep breath and turns to face her.
“She isn’t allowed back here. She put her hands on Nat.”
“Mom did?” she asks, sounding confused.
“Yeah, she did. I’m sorry, Kiki. I know things were gettin’ better for the two of you, but that’s not gonna happen around here.”
“Are you okay?” she asks, looking at me now. I nod my head as Gunner pulls me into his side.
“I’m fine.”
“Good. He’s right. She shouldn’t touch you. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”
“She hasn’t been around in months. I thought she took off again,” Kiki explains.
“It’s what she does,” Gunner adds.
“Was she always like this?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“She was worse, actually. A lot worse,” Kiki confesses.
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop sayin’ sorry, Nat.”
“Well, I am. Gunner, I think it’s too much with me being here,” I admit to him. Although I have found some sense of peace here, I can always leave. I can figure out something else.
“The fuck did you say?” he asks, turning to look at me now.
“You can’t tell me I’m wrong. You lost one of your girls and now her because of me.”
“It wasn’t because of you, Natasa. They needed to go,” Kiki assures me.
“Try it, Nat. Try to fuckin’ walk away from me,” Gunner says before huffing out a breath and walking away from us. I watch him go with my mouth open when Kiki laughs.
“You have that man by the balls, girl.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He’s attached to your ass now. There is no leaving for you.”
“I’m making things worse.” She shakes her head and reaches over, resting her hand on my stomach as she smiles.
“You’re making things better. Better for him. I’ve never seen him so possessive or happy, Nat. He’s lived a hard life, and to see him like this? It’s … everything.” Something sparks in my chest as she smiles at me.
“You think I’m good for him?”
“I truly do. And he will do right by you. I know this is all new to you, and I know he’s older than you, but let that man take care of you. See where this goes.”
“I’m just scared.”
“I get that, I do. Things with Locke were scary for me, too, but we made it. We did what we had to do, and we’re good now. I’ve never been happier.”
“I should go talk to him, huh?”
“I think that would be a good idea.” I nod my head as her hand falls away from my stomach, and I head in the direction Gunner went. I walk down the hall until I reach the small gym where their workout equipment is. When I step inside, I see him. His shirt is off, his body covered in sweat. I lick my lips as I walk toward him, ready to apologize once more. But when I get close enough, he moves first. He grabs me and slams my back against the punching bag before his hand slips into the front of my pants.
“You like to drive me crazy, don’t you, baby girl?” His finger finds my clit, and a moan escapes my lips.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think you are. In fact, I think you like pushin’ my buttons.”
“Gunner,” I begin as heat builds inside me. How is he doing this to me? How can just his touch ignite a fire inside me? I roll my hips, needing more, begging for more.
“You like it, don’t you? You like drivin’ me crazy.” His head lowers to my shoulder, his lips caressing my flesh.
“Oh God,” I whisper. He takes me higher and higher, and then I let go. I come from just his touch and his touch alone. I’m a panting mess when he pulls his hand free of my pants. He cages me in and stares down at me.
“What am I gonna do with you?”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. I’m gonna fuck you all over this clubhouse. I’m gonna make sure you don’t remember anyone before me. The only cock you’re gonna want is mine. And when you want it, I’m gonna make you ride me hard and fast, baby girl. I’m gonna watch you as you fuck yourself on me.”